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“The pet store allowed you to be around animals.” He nodded at the waiter when he set down a cup of coffee and the dessert menu and left.

“Yes. The money was okay. I saved every penny I could, then I volunteered at the shelter when I wasn’t working.”

“Why the shelter?” She had such a big heart. “Why are you so drawn to animals?”

Her face lit up with a smile. “Animals have good instincts, but they also give unconditional love. I would feed strays when I was kid, even if it meant I didn’t eat. The shelter gave me a chance to be with different types of dogs and cats. At the same time, I started taking online classes for grooming.”

Another piece of the puzzle. She’d been doing this all on her own, working a job, volunteering at a shelter, and going to school. “That’s a lot.”

“Yeah, but it was heaven to me.” She offered him a shy smile.

He nodded and picked up the dessert menu with his free hand. “Let’s see. How does chocolate lava cake sound to you?”

“Delicious.”

Anthony waved at the waiter and gave his dessert order. “How long before you actually groomed a dog?”

“Almost a year. It took me nine months to finish my online classes, then I did an apprenticeship with one of the groomers at the pet store.”

“How long before you struck out on your own?”

“Four years. It isn’t cheap to be a groomer.”

“I imagine not.” He’d seen the equipment she carted in to groom Nugget, plus the vehicle itself. Dessert arrived, and he picked up the fork, cut into the cake, and lifted a piece to her lips. His cock jumped as her lips closed over the fork.

He pulled the utensil back slowly and watched her chew and swallow with a dreamy look on her face.

“Absolutely yummy.”

Anthony grinned and took a bite. “It is. How was it for you, striking out on your own, business-wise?”

“It was slow at first. I still worked part-time grooming at the pet store and once a week at the shelter. But business built. Your grandmother was one of my first clients.”

“Nugget is her baby.”

“It’s so nice of you to stay with her while she’s healing.”

His lips twitched. “Actually, I live on the property, so it’s no hardship for me to sleep on the sofa in the sunroom for a few weeks.” It wasn’t. He owed his grandmother more than he could ever repay.

“That’s nice. To be close to family.” There was a wistful note in her voice.

He fed her another piece of cake while he thought about her words and dismissed them. It was nice to be close to his grandmother, but not his parents. Or should he say—adoptive parents. He glanced at his watch. It was almost eight thirty, and he needed to get Kaley to the club for her bartending shift.

“I hate to end this, but we need to get to the club.”

“Oh goodness, I totally forgot.” She pulled away from him, and he let her go.

Anthony drank his coffee and motioned the waiter over. “Bill, please.”

“No bill, sir. The manager took care of it as a thank you for you removing the patron who was causing a fuss.” The waiter walked away.

Anthony stood and held his hand out to Kaley to help her up.

“That was nice of them,” she said.

“But not necessary.” Anthony grabbed the bag with their leftovers, and they walked to his SUV.

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