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“Go ’way,” she mumbled, pulling her covers over her head to block out any hint of light.
“Mom, you have to get up.”
“Mom doesn’t exist.”
A corner of her blanket was pulled back and something warm and aromatic was practically shoved under her nose.
Lucy opened one eye to see if the aroma was real or a dream. Nick held out her largest mug filled with coffee. Light streamed in from the hallway. At least he’d been smart enough not to turn on the light in her bedroom.
She kept her eyes slitted. “What time is it?”
“Four-thirty.”
She groaned loudly as she pulled the covers back over her head. “I changed my mind. In fact, drive yourself to the shelter. I’m sure you can whip yourself up a fake driver’s license in no time. I promise not to tell.”
“Mom, you said you’d help us,” he reminded her. “You always said we have to honor our promises.”
Lucy bit back a curse. There was nothing worse than a son spouting back what a parent had taught him. She reached out and took the coffee mug from him. She sighed happily as she sipped the strong brew.
“I even turned the shower on for you, so by now it’s a nice warm temperature,” Nick said in a coaxing tone. “And I’m making waffles.”
Lucy perked up a little. “Waffles?”
“And bacon and eggs scrambled just the way you like them.”
She was starting to give in. “You hate getting up early just as much as I do.”
“I need to help get the dogs ready for Adoption Day.”
“And if you’re not there, who knows what that cranky old judge would do to you.” She pushed the covers back more. That was when she noticed that Nick was already dressed in a pair of ragged denim shorts and a faded T-shirt that she thought she’d thrown away a week ago. Considering what he’d be doing that morning, it was probably just as well he wasn’t better dressed. She slurped more coffee and held the mug out. “Please refill this for me while I shower.”
Nick took off. The refilled mug was returned before she finished crawling out of bed.
Lucy realized how important this day was to Nick when he cleaned up the kitchen after breakfast and she found Luther’s litter box filled with fresh litter. The stormy gray cat peered at her through golden eyes filled with feline suspicion before he stalked off to his favorite corner in the family room where he always took his morning snooze.
Her only problem was what to wear. She knew she should wear something she wouldn’t care about if it ended up ruined, but the feminine part of her didn’t want to look like a hag in front of Logan. Just because she was leery of dating him didn’t mean she didn’t want to look her best.
She dug through her drawers until she reminded herself that she was over thirty and wasn’t looking for the perfect outfit to wear to school, so she could impress the captain of the football team.
She also reminded herself that she wasn’t interested in Logan. She had a full life and didn’t need a man in it. A couple of times she’d considered getting back into the dating game, but it only took a few dates for her to realize dating wasn’t anything like she remembered. She wasn’t sure if she was dating the wrong men or she was the wrong woman for them. Either way, she’d come to the conclusion she was better off going solo.
“Just pick something.” She finally closed her eyes and pulled out a pair of old cotton shorts and an oversize T-shirt that she knotted at her waist. “Nick, please pour the rest of the coffee in a travel mug for me!” she called out. “The really big mug.”
“Already done. Like I’d let you leave the house without enough caffeine to send you rocketing into another galaxy,” he hollered back as he headed for the garage. “Come on, Mom! We’re gonna be late.”
Lucy started to leave her bedroom then paused and ran back to the bathroom to apply a hint of blush and lipgloss.
“Don’t want to scare the dogs,” she muttered to herself.
LOGAN HAD just checked on his patients who had remained in the clinic overnight when he heard shrieks and laughter coming from the kennel area.
“Bertie Beagle is starting to wake up,” Gwen announced, looking into the closet-sized room that doubled as Logan’s office. “He looks good, so does the pug. However, you look like hell. What time did you get to bed last night?”
He stretched his arms over his head. “Who says I got to bed? The Sullivans called about 2:00 a.m. and brought in their iguana. Sigfried wasn’t doing well.”
Gwen shook her head. “I guess you need this more than I do.” She set a coffee shop to-go cup on his desk.
“Is that one of those fancy drinks you like? The nonfat, no-foam, double-shot whatever?”
“Just be darned grateful I’m willing to share, Logan. Unless you want to wait while I make what you consider coffee.”
“Because I’m a wonderful boss who wouldn’t dream of depriving his favorite vet tech of her beloved coffee, I’ll wait for the coffee.” He smiled winningly. “What’s going on outside to cause all the laughter? Kristi isn’t known for having anything even close to a funny bone.”
“Nick Donner has one and it seems his mother does, too.” Gwen picked up the coffee carafe and carried it out to the sink. “The dogs are giving the crew a run for their money.”
Logan uncoiled himself from his chair. “Maybe I should take a look out there.”
She shot her boss a knowing look. “Right.”
Logan ignored her parting shot and headed down the hall.
“When Nick was little he hated baths with a passion, but he was never as bad as these guys!” Lucy laughed and jumped back but not fast enough as a wet soapy tail slapped her in the face.
“Thanks, Mom, just what I want people to hear.” Nick stood at another tub hosing down a Labrador mix that was happily enjoying his bath.
“Mothers love to embarrass their kids,” Kristi told him. “You should hear some of the sh—uh—nonsense my mom dishes out.” She caught the expression on Lucy’s face and quickly amended her words. “My mom told me I’ll do the same when I have kids.”
Kristi grabbed a tighter hold on the Labrador’s collar as he twisted around under the stream of water she directed at the dog. “Joey, you are a true water dog.”
Lucy drizzled shampoo on her rottweiler’s head and lathered it up with a steady stream of water.
“Why not wear a bikini?”
At the sound of Logan’s voice Lucy spun around from the tub, forgetting she still held the hose in her hand. Even though the water wasn’t turned on high, it was strong enough to hit him square in the face. She gasped in shock and quickly turned off the faucet.
“I am so sorry!” she apologized, handing him a towel until she realized it was too damp to do any good. Without saying a word, he took it from her and mopped his face.
“Wish I’d done that,” Nick chortled.
“No, you do not!” Lucy glared at her son.
“More than once we’ve all thought of soaking the boss,” Kristi said, “but he always stays inside all nice and dry while we’re out here getting as wet as the dogs.”
“But you enjoy it so much,” Logan reminded them as he tossed the towel to one side. He paused to look at Lucy. He’d seen her dressed up at a couple of local parties and he’d seen her dressed casually when she dropped Nick off here. But he’d never seen her like this. Her faded navy T-shirt with Basketball Mom From Hell on it, and her equally faded navy shorts were more wet than dry. He’d learned the hard way about the rottweiler’s love for water, so he wasn’t surprised she looked like the proverbial wet rag. Even wet, with her perky ponytail and lack of makeup, Lucy still looked cute, although he doubted she would want to hear that description.
Logan recalled that it was Lucy’s laughter that had first caught his attention. Full-bodied like a heady wine, rich like pure gold, the throaty sound traveled along his spine.
“And you hold your Adoption Day here?” Lucy asked, picking up a dry towel and drying off the large dog.
“We’ve got wire cages set up outside for the cats and dogs and a tent overhead,” Logan explained, watching Lucy put the rottweiler in his kennel then choose a medium-size terrier mix to bathe next. She picked him up and placed him in the tub. “If you’re up to hanging around for the day, we can always use the help.”
“I don’t know anything about dogs,” she pointed out.
“You have a cat.”
“Luther isn’t a cat. He’s a thug in a furry coat,” she explained. “I think he was a hit man for the mob in another life.”
“Logan doesn’t let just anyone adopt an animal,” Kristi said. “He wants to know they’re going to a good home. Who knows, maybe you’ll end up with one of the dogs.” She wrestled a young black Labrador onto a table and began drying him with a hair dryer.
Nick looked expectantly at Lucy. “A dog would be good. Every boy should have one,” he piously announced.
Lucy rolled her eyes. “I’m sure after working here for six months you’ll have your fill of dogs.”
“Didn’t you have any pets when you were growing up?” Logan asked her.
She shook her head. “My dad claimed he was allergic to goldfish. My mom told my brother and me that he was my pet and I was his. We agreed it just wasn’t the same.”
“At least you didn’t have to worry about fleas.” Logan walked over and draped a towel over the terrier before picking him up from the tub and carrying him over to a table for drying.
“Or getting him neutered,” Lucy said, tongue-in-cheek.
“Uncle Zach neutered.” Nick snickered.
“It’s not a word we guys like to hear,” Logan told him. He stepped back and watched Lucy towel-dry the terrier and mutter nonsense words to the dog. For a woman who claimed not to understand dogs, she was doing a good job of using the dryer, brush and comb on the dog and talking to him in the slightly high-pitched tone dogs enjoyed. She laughed when the dog jumped up on his hind legs and offered her a wet kiss.
“Who couldn’t resist a charmer like you?” she cooed at the dog.
Abruptly, he called out to Kristi, “Get one of the Adoption Day T-shirts for Lucy, will you?” Then he made for the door leading to the clinic.
He felt a tightening within his body at the idea of Lucy giving him the kind of attention she gave the dog. He wouldn’t mind a kiss on the nose. Or any other part of his body…
Lucy hadn’t missed the vibes practically jumping off Logan. If she didn’t know any better, she’d swear he had looked at her the way a big ol’ tomcat looked at a fat mouse. Not that she’d call herself fat. The man was interested. And why wouldn’t he act interested now? she asked herself. She’d been tracking him like a cat who hadn’t been fed in days.
“Three hours here and I’m already thinking in animal metaphors,” she murmured.
“Animal metaphors?” Kristi said, walking up with a bright red T-shirt in one hand. “This could be interesting.” She held out the garment.
“Cute.” Lucy looked at the black-lined heart centered on the shirt with “Adopt With an Open Heart” written inside it. “But there’s nothing on here to advertise the clinic.” She wasn’t surprised to see that Kristi’s shirt was black with a red heart.
“Logan doesn’t have these adoption days to promote the clinic. He does it to find homes for the animals.” Kristi stroked the head of the terrier who leaned contentedly against her leg. “Which is why I have two cats and a turtle at home. Jeremy has two dogs and Gwen has three. Brenda says she refuses to give in to the animals. But how can you resist these faces?” She bent down, cupped the terrier’s face in her hands and gave him a smooch. “Huh, Sweetie Pie?”
“Kristi named her that because she’s so sweet,” Nick explained, coming out from the rear of the kennels, now wearing an oversized red shirt himself.
Lucy felt as if she was seeing a new side to her son. He’d quickly become a part of this group. He might have been thirteen to Kristi’s nineteen, but the young woman treated him as an equal. Lucy felt a sudden constriction in her chest.
My baby’s growing up.
She suddenly turned away to hide the tears she could feel forming in her eyes.
“I’ll be right back.” Her voice sounded thick to her ears.
“Lucy, are you okay?” Kristi asked.
“I’m fine. Maybe I’m allergic to one of the dogs,” she muttered as she grabbed her tote bag and made her escape to a nearby bathroom.
When she left the small room later, her eyes were mercifully dry and she wore the T-shirt over black shorts she’d brought with her. She was walking with her head down, so intent on not looking for Logan, that she didn’t realize she was on a collision course until she literally walked into his chest.
“Oomph!” She reared back so quickly she would have fallen on her butt if Logan hadn’t grabbed hold of her arms. “Sorry.” She tried to step back but he still didn’t release her.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“You have a hard chest,” she said, and then could have kicked herself when she saw the amused glint in his eyes. She noticed they were deep, brown and dusted with gold.
Cat eyes. She mentally gave herself a good shake. Stop with the animal metaphors!
“Lucy.”
It wasn’t until then she realized he must have said her name more than once.
“Sorry. I’m not used to being dragged out of bed at the crack of dawn.”
He grinned. “Not a morning person, are you?”
“Not even close. It usually takes four or five cups of industrial-strength coffee to get me going.”
Logan’s smile was slow and way too dangerous for Lucy’s peace of mind. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
He walked away before she could ask for clarification. She decided she was better off not knowing.
Chapter Three
Lucy was in the midst of a sight and sensory overload. All around her dogs barked and cats meowed. There were even two hamsters racing on squeaky exercise wheels.
“Is it always this crazy?” she asked Kristi, who’d just presented a happy family with the equally happy Joey.
Kristi reached down and hugged the dog. “You be good, sweetie,” she whispered in the dog’s ear. Her smile was wistful as she watched them walk away. The dog danced alongside the little boy who held on to the leash. “I’m always glad when they’re adopted, but I also feel as if I’m losing them.” She looked around. “As to your question, yes, it’s always this crazy. Probably why Logan only has Adoption Day once a month unless we’re overloaded with animals.”
“Excuse me, you’re one of the adoption people, right?” A woman holding a furry bundle stopped Lucy.
“Yes, I am, can I help you with something?”
“That’s why I’m here. Adopt this one.” The woman thrust the dog into Lucy’s arms.
“I, uh—” Lucy looked down at the white and black spiky fur surrounding a tiny muzzle and black shoe-button eyes. Small pointed ears—one white, one black—perked up as the puppy returned her studying gaze. An odd-shaped black patch covered one eye while the rest of his face was white. He looked as if he’d been hurriedly stitched up. She mentally searched the dogs they had brought out that morning. She knew she would have remembered this little one. “I’m sorry, but I don’t recall this one—”
“Oh no! I’m not adopting him. I’m giving him to you to adopt out or whatever you do,” the woman said in a bright voice.
Lucy instantly felt out of her depth. She looked around, desperate for some assistance. She breathed a sigh of relief when Logan looked her way and started walking over. “I don’t think—” She tightened her hold when the puppy wiggled in her arms.
