Page 80 of Hold Me Instead
He realized he was watching Charlie again as she chatted with local pet hotel reps. She had on a striped knit hat, her hair in a loose ponytail over her shoulder, cheeks pink from the snapping breeze.
“Oh, helloooo there, Doc.” Amber loped into position next to Cleo—who was studying him—and nudged his arm with her knuckles. “Pretty great work our girl did, huh?”
“Yeah, amazing, actually.” He looked between the two women, Cleo huddled in a bulky gray sweater, Amber wearing a black fleece and standing hands on hips. “What?”
Cleo grinned.
Amber adjusted her black ball cap. “We didn’t get to chat much the other day, since my cousin so rudely rushed me out of the clinic.”
“You mean, had your dog examined,” he supplied, fighting a chuckle.
She waved away the detail with her hand. “How’s it going, working under Charlie?”
He cleared his throat.Under Charlie. “Going well.”
“Are you following her protocol?”
“Yes.”
“How long will you be in town?”
“Not sure.”
“Are you trying to take over, kick her out of the running?” Amber ignored the elbow jab from Cleo.
“What?” He looked between Charlie’s two bodyguards. “No, that’s definitely not my intention. Does she feel that way?”
“She works her ass off and would do anything for the people she cares about.” Cleo gave Amber a look she clocked but continued anyway. “She loves your dad. And this place. She doesn’t need someone else coming in with their Jedi mind games.”
Cleo shook her head, and with reluctance, said, “Mindtricks.”
“I know, Amber,” he said. “Wait, who used mind tricks?”
“Just, don’t be a dick. I know you’re”—she flicked a hand up and down as she scanned his body—“tall. But you’ll have to answer to us. Notjustus two, there are others.”
“Okay, maybe a little less moxie in your morning coffee tomorrow,” Cleo said.
“Trust me.” When they both looked at him, he continued. “I admire the hell out of Charlie. Sure, the arrangement was awkward at first, but we’ve sorted it out. We…” He saw her by the adoption tent, squatted next to that little girl and the cocker spaniel. “We work really well together. The last thing I want to do is hurt her. She’s my friend.” The word sounded insufficient.
He watched as Charlie coaxed the dog to stretch for a belly rub, and the little girl’s face lit up when she got to try. Charlie beamed, and she stood, spotting him. Her smile was contagious and grew as they stared at one another.
It was hard to remember why he’d told himself not to pursue whatever this was with her. Not when she looked genuinely happy to see him. That morning, his resolve had crumbled instantly. All he wanted was to stay in her orbit.
Her expression faltered when she registered Cleo and Amber.
Cleo waved as though there was nothing unusual about the three of them together. Amber stared at him with a frown, but as she scanned his face, a smile broke free. She laughed, almost maniacally, as Charlie hustled over.
“What are you saying to him?” Charlie demanded, slightly winded, reminding him of her strong dislike for running.
“She was being supportive,” Cleo said as she unwrapped a piece of gum.
“That doesn’t make me feel better.”
“Nonsense, little sugar butt,” Amber said. She threw an arm around Charlie. “Only making sure our guy Zachary knows how amazing you are. And he does.”
Charlie’s eyes widened.
“Yes, he told us quite frankly that he admires you as a veterinarian,” Cleo supplied.
