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“At least I’ve got time off.”
Chapter Five
Pepper
“Mr. October.”
My hand slipped as I tried to put a leash on our new resident when Miss Adeline made the announcement. I’d heard the front door to the rescue chime. But surely that old woman hadn’t gone so far as to track him down?
I stayed crouched by the dog, who didn’t move. She just looked up at me with sad eyes. I ached for her loss.
“The one and only.” That deep wry tone had me closing my eyes. Except when I did, all I visualized was the man I’d seen yesterday. That seemed to be happening frequently.
Probably because Miss Adeline kept leaving that calendar around open to his month.
“Personally, Mr. December is more my type. They definitely saved the best for last.” I covered my mouth to keep from laughing. “But you’re not so bad to look at.”
“If I tell Walsh you like him the best, his big ego will never deflate.”
I recognized the voice. It was definitely the one that belonged to Mr. October. But yesterday, it had been harsh. Today, it was . . . playful?
“You can keep hiding behind the desk, but you’re missing out on a hell of a view.”
I cringed when Miss Adeline’s voice was directed at me. Heat crept through my whole body. Slowly, I stood and faced Mr. October.
Those dark eyes flashed with recognition. “You.”
“Did you need the rest of your tires rinsed off?” Crap. I hadn’t meant to say that.
Miss Adeline raised a gray brow. She and I ribbed each other all the time, but I didn’t do it often with others, especially not people who came to the rescue.
One corner of his mouth twitched, but he kept a straight face.
I held up two leashes. “Muffy’s ready for a walk.”
At the sound of his name, he leapt up from Ash’s side. He hadn’t left her since she’d arrived earlier today.
Woof.
He rounded the desk and ran toward Mr. October at full speed.
“Muffy. Don’t”—he put his two front paws on Mr. October’s stomach—“jump,” I finished weakly.
Mr. October winced. I held my breath, waiting for the jerk from yesterday to emerge. Instead, he rubbed down Muffy’s sides.
“You are something else, aren’t you?”
Muffy wagged his tail and attempted to lick him.
Ash perked up and peeked around the desk. She tilted her head, sniffed a couple of times, and pushed to her feet. Carefully, she moved toward Mr. October with her long gait. She licked his hand.
“Well, hey,” he said in a soft tone. If this had been the man I met yesterday, I’d have been goo on the sidewalk.
Miss Adeline looked at me as I watched the scene and her eyes glittered dangerously. I shot her a warning look, which was useless.
Mr. October gently put Muffy’s paws back on the floor.
“Looks like he got you dirty. You’re going to have to take that shirt off,” Miss Adeline said. Good Lord, she was serious. The woman had no tact.
