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The dogs were not amused by our laughter. Major’s bark was an accusation like I was at fault for Georgie’s condition and needed to fix it. Georgie whined and held up a paw tangled with burrs, looking for help from either me or Wilson.
“I’ve got a set of electric horse clippers in the barn, but if we don’t want to end up learning how skilled Rae is with the bloodless castrator, we’re going to need a professional.”
“Should I call Dr. Stanley?” Wilson reached into his pocket for his phone to call the vet.
“No, this is a job for Lois and Colin. Come on, boys, we're going to town.” I walked toward my truck, the dogs following.
“Who?”
“Dog groomers.”
“Perfect. Seems like you have this in hand. Thanks, Atley! Let me know if you need me to do anything here while you fix up Georgie.” Wilson wagged his phone in the air and bolted for his truck. The man was a billionaire. He had people like me on hisstaff to deal with shit, so he didn’t have to. It was good to be the king.
“Yes, sir.” My reply was more a reflex than anything else, my mind already focused on the next phase of the Georgie crisis.
The drive into town was a blur. I parked my truck on the main square in the shade of the courthouse. The Hill Country Hound was the only dog grooming parlor in Elmer. I’d never stepped foot inside as Major was more a wash-and-wear kind of dog. Lois and Colin, I considered good friends of Blue Star as they were long-time farm subscription box buyers.
The bell tinkled as I pushed open the door and let Major enter ahead of me, into a doggy spa as nice as any for humans. Everything was sparkling white and chrome. Serene music played almost loud enough to cover the hum of blow dryers and dogs barking in the back of the shop.
“Welcome to the—oh my lord. Colin! Hurry, we have an emergency.” Lois came around from her spot behind the reception desk as she shouted to her husband. She was one of those older ladies who epitomized the word frail. She reached out one blue-veined tiny hand to pet poor Georgie’s head while she surveyed the mess.
“Atley, old chap, what brings you…” Colin stopped in his tracks, his question trailing off as he too took in Georgie, his British stiff upper lip going soft. “Poor bugger, what happened?”
“We think an unsanctioned mouse hunt. Georgie is my boss’s sister’s dog.” I placed Georgie on the counter so they could absorb the full effect.
“He’s sweet Miss Rebecca’s dog?” Lois plucked a few brambles from Georgie’s head. He curled his lip in displeasure and gave a warning growl.
“Yes.” I forced a relaxed smile and braced for a question or comment about Rae’s and my non-relationship.
“Lovely girl. I met her at bunco.”
I nodded in agreement.
Lois and Colin had retired to Elmer about the same time I moved here. The English couple found sitting still mundane, so they went back into the dog grooming business. The vacationers and locals kept the shop busy and supplied Lois and Colin with not only an income but plenty of town gossip. I was thankful today Georgie’s condition kept either from prying into my private life.
“I’m afraid he is going to lose most of his hair.” Colin lifted a matt of brambles. “I sympathize.” He rubbed his bald head.
“But not to worry, pretty boy, we will give you some style.” Lois scooped up Georgie. “Are you waiting here, or do you want me to call when he’s done?”
I looked at Major, who sat at my heel. “I’ll take Major home and wait for your call.”
I pulled out my cell to share my contact info with Lois and hated that my message to Rae was still unanswered.
I left the shop and drove back to Blue Star. I didn’t even bother with turning on the radio. The angry green hornet buzzing around my chest transformed into the pterodactyl of jealousy. It grew bigger and more irrational with every minute I didn’t hear from Rae. I wasn’t blaming the flying dinosaur. I too wanted to go full Jurassic Park on Gabriel. Then drag Rae home to my bed and keep her there all night. Like the first night in Dallas, only on repeat.
And unfortunately for me and the jealous pterodactyl, that was so much more than sex.
Chapter 20
Rae
“You’ve got the lobsterrolls, pad Thai, and empanadas,” I said, eyeing the precarious stack of food containers that Gabriel had balanced in one hand. In the other hand, he held a fabric wine bottle carrier with six bottles of Blue Star wine. “I’ve got the burgers, the loaded fries, the shawarma, and the Cuban. You sure we want to skip the tacos and the BBQ?”
I craned my head to look around the food truck park. The BBQ truck had a long line of hungry-looking folks in front of it. The taco place’s line was much shorter. Scratch the tacos.
“In Elmer, people love to support local businesses. You can’t bring in anything that someone in town is already making and making well. Kelly Green’s BBQ makes all the best of Texas BBQ lists and there are seven taco places, one to meet every taco need.From authentic street to Americanized Tex Mex.” He added a very French puft sound of dislike to illustrate his thoughts on American versions of real Mexican food.
“And there’s Elena’s too.” The memory of my first bite of her carnitas and homemade tortillas made me think of Atley. I had yet to give our situation a name beyond the horrible “booty call,” but if the slang term fit, embrace it. Right? And it did fit. Sex,Jeopardy!, and dinner about every third night—okay, every other night for over two weeks.
