AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Maybe someday,” she said. “But I’ve got to see Doc now and check her over.”
He grabbed his dog’s leash and followed Avery to the exam room and shut the door. “Josie wanted me to see Betty. I’m glad it worked out.”
“It’s not a problem you were there. You know this building better than me,” she said. “I know you were scheduled to see Dr. Mullins today.”
“I heard that you are seeing anyone in the software,” he said.
She got down on one knee to look Doc over, then glanced up and grinned at him, quietly saying, “Yeah. He doesn’t like computers.”
Dr. Mullins was over retirement age but still liked to practice. He lived in Boston and came over once a week more as a favor than anything else, Carter was sure. He was probably thrilled he’d be done with this soon.
“Not everyone does,” he said.
“Kendall could have given Doc her shot, but I want to see all patients myself if I can. I had the time for this. Plus I wanted to thank you for letting me know about Betty. As you can see, Josie is in love with her puppy.”
“I’m glad it worked out,” he said.
Avery was in black scrubs that hid the body he’d noticed the first time they saw each other. She’d had scrubs on last Wednesday too and he was disappointed, but he supposed it was no different than him with his coveralls.
Her chestnut hair was pulled back from her face in a ponytail, hints of red in it when the sun landed just right.
“It’s getting there,” she said. “Josie wants Betty in bed with her but no way are we even close. Not until Betty can hold her bladder through the night. For now she’s in a crate in the living room where I can go out and check on her and let her out.”
“I was thrilled when Doc could hold it through the night,” he said. “It helps that Dopey is almost training her and teaching her things.”
“Hopefully Dopey is a good dog and not teaching bad habits,” Avery said.
“Dopey is the best there is,” he said.
He meant it. He’d had a lot of dogs in his life, but there was something about Dopey that fit his personality and the two of them had an instant bond.
Doc needed a little bit more loving and he was fine with that. Though his couch was starting to suffer from the weight of him and two dogs on it. He should figure that out or get bigger beds on the floor for them.
“It’s like a member of the family,” she said. “This one looks and sounds wonderful. No issues?”
Avery stood up now next to him after doing her exam. He supposed that was easier than having his dog lifted on the table. He wasn’t sure if she could lift the dog and would have done it for her if need be.
“She’s doing well. No problems.”
“Then we should get this over with. Does she need to be distracted? I can call Kendall in to help.”
“I’ll hold her,” he said. “Sometimes it’s probably better.”
“That’s fine,” she said.
He stood next to Doc and put his arms around her body as if to give her a hug like he did at home. He wasn’t going to feel embarrassed over that.
Avery got the shot ready, picked the spot and pulled on Doc’s skin. Then she injected the needle while talking softly to his puppy telling her what a pretty girl she was.
“That was better than the other times,” he said. He was shocked that Doc didn’t seem to flinch at all.
“Sometimes they need a few whispered words of praise in their ears,” she said. “And a treat.”
She turned and was fishing one of the bigger ones out of the jar.
Doc was quick to grab it out of Avery’s hand and gobble it up.
“She lacks manners though,” he said.
