“Earlier you said your career is on the line. In a way mine is too. While Dennis might not know what happened, you saw the look on his face. He knewsomethinghappened. What if he goes home and talks to Brenda about us?”
Owen shrugged. “But he doesn’t know anything for sure.”
“You can’t have been away from here long enough to forget how Service loves gossip.”
“Dennis isn’t going to gossip.”
“He wouldn’t but all it would take is Dennis talking to Brenda, and her talking to someone else. When someone on the board hears what’s being said, and they would, the fact that no one has proof might not matter.”
“You’re overreacting. Say people talk. With our past, I can’t see anyone having a problem with us getting involved.”
She clenched her hands together so tightly her nails dug into her palms. “Simply having folks speculating about inappropriate behavior between us could affect the agency’s reputation and cost Horses for Heroes donations and grants. I can’t risk damaging the agency my grandmother, mother, and I have worked so hard to keep alive to help veterans. Plus, I could lose my job.”
“What if I agree to treat you like any other medical professional?”
“I’m not sure that’s possible for either of us.”
“You want the truth, Carly?” No, but she nodded anyway. “Here it is. I’m scared.”
*
The white-hot, sharp,swift panic that sliced through Owen when Carly said she’d turn his case over to someone else started receding as he followed Carly through the barn. Their boots clicking on the cement floor echoed around them as they passed the horse stalls heading for the outdoor arena.
He’d been close to disaster. Carly was the key to his recovery. No matter how rough the journey got, she wouldn’t let him quit.
Walking beside him, Carly retreated behind her professionalism, rattling off facts and statistics about the agency and its clients. At first, he tried to process what she said, but when a headache started behind his left eye, he quit.
He still thought she was overreacting. No one would be bothered if they dated. He smiled. Damn, the passion flaring between them when they kissed had nearly set the barn on fire. Didn’t she realize how rare that was? Only a fool would ignore something so rare.
Still, he’d given her his word, and he’d honor it.
The fan overhead clipping and clanging out of balance sent a whiff of Carly’s herbal, clean scent washing over him. His body tightened. Yup, he’d respect the bargain no matter how uncomfortable he got.
“The assessments done in Germany show if you focus on anything other than your movements, you struggle with balance, so we’ll start there,” Carly said, drawing Owen back to their conversation.
“You saying I can’t walk and chew gum at the same time anymore?”
She laughed. The light, musical sound floated around him, taunting him. “That’s one way to put it, but don’t get discouraged. Horses are great healers.”
He counted on that fact. And her.
When they reached the arena, Dennis stood waiting with a golden tan horse. The gelding kept a watchful gaze on Owen as they approached. Nostrils flared as he took in Owen’s scent, but then he nodded, blew out a gust of air, and shoved his muzzle under Owen’s hand. Rubbing the horse’s forehead, he said, “Glad I passed muster.”
“You two will make a fine team,” Dennis said to Owen before turning to Carly. “I was glad to see your name on the schedule. A lot of us volunteers miss working with you.”
“I’ve missed all of you, too, and working with clients. I didn’t realize how much until I stepped out here. Being in this space reminds me this is what we’re all about.”
The wistfulness in her voice surprised Owen. “If you miss this, then make a change.”
“It’s not that easy. Carving out time to work with you has been harder than I expected. Plus, my working with clients doesn’t make financial sense when other qualified individuals can see to those duties.”
“But today you’re acting as leader and instructor, right?” Dennis asked.
Carly nodded.
Owen’s brows furrowed. “Just what will you be doing?”
Carly turned to Dennis but hooked a thumb toward Owen. “Somehow he managed to grow up in Service and date me for two years without learning a thing about what we do.”
