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“All right then, Winnie, let’s get this big guy some relief for his achy joints.” I pulled out some alcohol swabs and lowered the table to the floor to help the big dog who would definitely be getting a dietary recommendation from me later onto the table. “Hold his head and the table will lift him. Do you know if he’s generally nervous? Our regular pet acupuncturist is out, but I’m trained and certified to do this.”
“Oh uh, I have no idea.”
The other dogs stayed sitting, and Pumpkin groaned as the table lifted him up to my reach.
“Keep his head near you and rub behind his ears. That usually calms them and the needle is small so they don’t feel pain, more like a pinch as the pain receptors start working to relieve the joint and muscle pain.”
“Uh huh.”
Prepping what I needed, I glanced up to see Winnie looking decidedly green. This wasn’t good. I’d never had someone faint, but I’d heard stories about it. Her eyes focused on my hands holding the needle.
“Winnie?” I stepped toward her, but she didn’t move, not even a blink.
“Y-yes?” Her throat worked down a swallow, and I had to keep her talking and alert.
“Winnie, look at me. I’m Dr. Calloway.”
Her eyes remained focused on my hands, not my face as I had hoped.
“No, you’re looking at the needle.” I snapped my fingers, causing her eyes to blink and look at me. “You can call me Chase, but look at me.” I put the acupuncture needle down, trying to gauge her level of faint readiness.
“Are you afraid of needles? It’s okay if you are.” I was worried I had a fainter on my hands and those hands were already full of dog, keeping Pumpkin who wanted to roll off on the table.
Her face scrunched with a sarcastic response. “No.” Her head shook. “That’s ridiculous.”
I didn’t believe the weak refusal when she kept talking.
“Um, that’s a really big needle and you’re going to stick that where?”
My mind wandered a second before coming back realizing her eyelashes were fluttering dangerously close together.
“It usually is pretty big.” I slid the first needle in, and Precious blew out a shuddering breath. “Are you all right?” I asked again trying to not think about inappropriate things. Winnie swayed against the table and now was not the time for my dick and my brain to cross signals at work. Making sure she didn’t pass out was a priority to any flirtation I might be entertaining.
“Okay, yeah, I’m good.”
I doubted it, because her voice had gone up a note or two.
“Hey, did the lights go dim in here?” Winnie wobbled, and I reached for her, catching her in my arms before she fell.
“You’re fainting, Winnie.”
She mumbled something, but I was too late to warn her, and she was out cold before she finished whatever it was she wanted to say. I rested my cheek against her head of soft hair that smelled of coffee and expensive shampoo. I felt the soft clammy skin of her hand seeking her pulse. Yeah, she definitely didn’t like needles. I carried her over to a chair and sat her down, calling for Sharon. This looked all kinds of bad with whimpering dogs and an unconscious girl snuggled against my coat.
The dogs started barking again when the door opened, and Sharon gasped. “What’s going on?”
“Can you take these guys to the boarding area while I get Winnie revived?”
“Is she all right?” Sharon tried to take her hand, but I moved Winnie in my arms, keeping her firmly in my grasp.
“She’s fine. Just a little woozy from the needles, I’m guessing. There’s always one.” Awkwardly, I laughed, and Sharon took the leashes, leaving me with a passed out pet-sitter and one stinky hound dog thumping his tail happily on the table.
Looking over, I asked, “Why didn’t you tell me she was a fainter, Pumpkin?”
The dog didn’t respond except to let out a massive dog fart on the table.
“Awesome. I’ll keep that in mind.” Rolling my eyes, I adjusted Winnie up in my lap more securely. I reached for an alcohol pad, getting licked by the dog, and tore it open, waving it under her nose. Her head flopped back from the smell, squinting her eyes. “Easy there.” I rubbed her back and checked her pulse, which was beating strong from the tender spot on her neck that suddenly fascinated me.
“Oh, shit balls,” she grumbled, coming around.
