Page 24 of Hold Me Instead
“We?”
“This can’t be high priority right now.”
“It’s the fortieth one.”
“So?”
Charlie returned to the office, voice taut as she said, “We’ve got it handled.”
Zachary followed. Maple scoped out the room, sniffed a dog bed next to the desk, and promptly curled into it.
Charlie watched, her smile slight. “She got comfy quickly.”
“She sleeps anywhere. Charlie.” Her eyes shot to his. “Who cares what number cookout this is?”
“Zachary,forty years. That’s a huge deal for your dad.”
“Yeah, well, he won’t be here for it, so what does it matter? Things happen. We’ve got enough on our plate, people can deal.”
Charlie stepped closer. “This isn’t just for the community. We do this for the practice.”
He rolled his eyes. “The effort to put it on can’t be worth the one or two extra clients we get, or the little money we earn from food.”
“Remind me how long it’s been since you’ve attended one of these.”
He hesitated, taking the opportunity to remove his coat. “Some…years.”
“Uh-huh. Did you know we bring in local vendors geared toward various pet services?”
“Again, supporting the community.” Zachary crossed his arms, warding off her approach.
She took another step, coming toe-to-toe in the stifling room. “Yes, they get exposure. And they donate goods for a raffle, where all the proceeds go toward our Dale Fund.”
“Dale Fund?” Zachary straightened at the mention of his childhood dog.
“Yeah. The program we started to help cover medical costs for pets in dire need. Strays or clients who need financial assistance.”
He relented. “Okay, well, that’s a nice addition to the event.”
Her eyes brightened, determination fueled. “There are even a few game tents, also sponsored by people in the community, who lend their time to help us bring in more funds.”
He grunted.
“And did you know that the rescue we feature typically ends up with applications for almost all the pets they bring?”
His shoulders dropped slightly. “I can get behind that.”
Charlie crossed her arms, the phrase on her shirt perfectly framed. “Which tends to bring us more than ‘two extra clients.’”
“Look, I get it, it’s clearly more than what Dad started it as. It’s impressive, actually,” he grumbled. “Maybe we can just postpone it. People will understand.”
Charlie straightened her glasses, lavender wafting up to Zachary’s nostrils. “We’re moving forward as planned. It’s under control, everyone knows the drill. And it helps set us apart from all the corporate-owned clinics.”
Again, he wasn’t needed. Zachary tamped down the swirling emotions at the realization that the practice had grown, and he hadn’t been part of those changes. But the woman in front of him certainly was, with her wide hazel eyes and frizzing hair that looked soft to the touch.
Zachary leaned forward, her small intake of breath catching him off guard as he narrowed the distance. It was her hair, that sweet, earthylavender scent, inviting him closer. “This fund…” His voice sounded rough, his lowered tone accidentally…intimate.
Charlie nodded, her eyes bouncing between his, scanning his face.
