The Best Man Plan, стр. 25
He picked up clothes and dog toys, then vacuumed and cleaned the counters and the bathrooms. The floors also needed mopping, but he didn’t have time since he needed to take a shower, and that took priority over a dirty floor.
After his shower, he put on jeans and a T-shirt, then went into the kitchen and downed a glass of ice water. He’d had a full day and most of that was spent outside with horses and cattle. He and the other doctors in the practice traded off outside calls versus clinic appointments. Today had been his day for outside calls. One of the reasons he loved being a small- and large-animal vet was the opportunity to get out of the clinic setting and broaden his practice. He liked helping out the larger animals as well as the smaller ones, and it gave him a chance to roam the countryside. But dealing with farm and ranch calls also made for a longer day, which meant he barely had time to finish cleaning up before Erin was at the door.
He opened it, smiling at how cute she looked in her dress and sandals. Agatha’s tail whipped furiously back and forth.
“She had a nap, and she’s so ready to play now,” Erin said. “I don’t know whether to apologize to you for that, or be happy that she’s so enthusiastic.”
He laughed. “Come on in. Puddy’s out back.”
She handed him a bag. “I brought three bottles.”
He arched a brow. “Planning on a long night?”
She walked in and followed him into the kitchen. “Maybe. We could have in-depth conversations about our childhoods or something.”
“We spent most of our childhoods together. I doubt there’s anything about you I don’t already know.”
“Hey, I kept some secrets from you.”
He pulled the bottles from the bag and laid them on the counter. “First boy you kissed was Steve Gregarian in sixth grade. He shoved his tongue in your mouth and you hated it.”
She gaped at him. “I can’t believe you remember that. Though I seem to recall you telling me about Beth Francis and one night on the football field in seventh grade.”
He grinned. “Oh, right, Beth. She was a wild thing.”
“And now she’s been married three times and has four kids.”
“Told you she was a wild thing.” His lips curved in a knowing smile.
She shook her head.
He took Agatha’s leash. “Come on, Agatha. Let’s introduce you to Puddy.”
Erin followed him out the back door, where Puddy was already wiggling with excitement.
Jason opened the door and there was a tangle of wagging tails and sniffing and excited barks. Fortunately, Puddy and Agatha were about the same age, and Puddy instinctively seemed to know that Agatha was a little handicapped by her cast and her cone, so his play was gentle.
Although Agatha didn’t think of herself as anything but Puddy’s equal, so she nipped and played and tried to run.
Jason took over the leash and walked around the yard with Agatha, giving her enough lead so she could wrestle around with Puddy, but when Puddy tried to take off in a run, he used verbal commands to bring his dog back, keeping both pups in a fairly close circle.
When the dogs were tired out they came inside. Jason closed off all the doors leading into the other rooms, which left only the kitchen and living area. Erin removed Agatha’s leash, and both pups got a long drink of water then went to lie down on the blanket that Jason had for Puddy in the living room.
Within a few minutes, they were curled up together, both of them happily chewing on a couple of soft toys.
“Oh, that’s sweet,” Erin said. “Agatha has a new best friend.”
“She did good.” Jason moved into the kitchen to wash his hands.
Erin came in there with him, washing her hands as well. “She obviously loves having a companion.”
“So maybe you need two dogs.”
She laughed. “She’s all I can handle right now.”
“She makes you happy. You’re smiling again. You needed that.”
She hadn’t realized that, but he was right. Despite how overwhelming bringing Agatha into her life had been this past week, the puppy had also taken her mind off everything that had happened with Owen. She hadn’t had time to think about him . . . or herself. And that had been a huge relief.
“You’re right. She is just what I needed. Thank you for that.”
“It was her, not me. She was yours from the minute you rescued her.”
She looked over to see Agatha and Puddy playing tug-of-war with a long knotted rope. Seeing her puppy engaged and happy made her heart swell. “Yeah, she sure was.”
“Good.”
“Okay, so what are we cooking?” she asked.
“Steaks on the grill. Roasted potatoes. Grilled corn salad.”
“Fire up that grill, then. I’ll start the potatoes.”
“Sounds good. They’re in the pantry. Make yourself at home.”
He grabbed a beer and headed outside while she put the potatoes on to boil. She opened one of the bottles of the wine she’d brought and grabbed a glass from the cabinet, then perused his fridge. It was nicely stocked, so she decided a watermelon salsa also sounded good. While the wine breathed, she chopped watermelon, jalapeño, mango, onion and cucumber, tossing it all into a bowl she found in one of the cabinets.
Jason came in to grab the corn, then eyed the bowl on the counter.
“You’re making a fruit salad?”
She shook her head. “Watermelon salsa.”
“I knew there was a reason I wanted you to have dinner with me.”
“Other than my sweet disposition and charming personality?”
He snorted out a laugh as he walked back outside.
“Jerk,” she said to herself, but then she glanced outside and noticed both dogs were looking up at him with pure love. Sure, because he had the steak, but she had to admit, he was quite the man. Tall, rugged, with nice lean muscle, and he was good with animals? So gentle and sweet but also . . . oh, so damn hot.