Page 83 of Resisting Fate
Hailey shrugged off her coat. White fur clung to her chest where Rose had been resting.
Missy gestured to Hailey’s shirt. “You should probably get a lint brush.”
Hailey glanced down at what was no doubt a designer shirt and picked some off with her fingers. “Guess I better get used to it.” She took the carrier back and unzipped it. Rose sat up, looking all around, her nose twitching as she sniffed the air. “Come on, I think Rose would like one of those pigs in blankets.”
“Sure.” Missy followed her over there, checking for a text from Ben.On my way.That was weird. She’d thought for sure he’d be here by now.
They got to the table, and Hailey took Rose out of her carrier.
“What is that?” Josh asked, appearing suddenly, staring at Rose. He poured fresh tortilla chips into the warming bin.
Rose growled.
“What do you mean, what is that?” Hailey asked. “This is my dog, Rose. She’s learning socialization.”
Josh closed the distance between them. “You sure she’s a dog? She looks like a rat.”
Hailey gasped, indignant beyond words. Rose bared her tiny teeth at Josh, growling, making the little dog look even more homely.
“Not much of a looker,” Josh said, reaching out to pet Rose. The dog barked and barked and barked. Ear-piercing, high-pitched, teeth-jangling barks.
Hailey stepped back from Josh, staring at Rose, who finally quieted, then at Josh. “She doesn’t like you.”
Josh bared his teeth at Rose. “Maybe I don’t like her.”
Hailey stroked Rose, talking to her soothingly as she retrieved a pig in a blanket, feeding Rose a tiny piece.
“Those are for paying customers,” Josh said.
“I’m paying,” Hailey said.
“No dogs allowed,” Josh said, crossing his arms.
Missy took a quick peek around for signs of Clarissa. If Josh and Hailey were going to get into it, Clarissa would surely intervene. She didn’t see her.
“Is Clarissa here?” Missy asked Josh.
“No,” he said, his eyes glued to Hailey’s dog. “There are health codes, you know.”
Both Hailey and Rose growled at Josh.
“Will Clarissa be here soon?” Missy asked Josh.
A muscle ticked in Josh’s jaw, but he remained quiet, staring at Hailey.
“She’s no trouble,” Hailey insisted, wiping Rose’s muzzle clean of flaky pastry crumbs from the pig in a blanket. “Are you, babykins? You just stay in your little carrier, happy as can be.”
Josh stepped closer and Rose erupted in ferocious earsplitting barks.
Hailey stared at Rose and eased away from Josh. “My goodness, that is some bark.” She looked to Josh. “You’d better go. She really doesn’t like when you get close.”
“This is my bar!” Josh snapped. “If anyone has to go, it’s that little rat.”
Hailey scowled. “It is not your bar. You just manage it.”
Josh clenched his jaw, glaring at Hailey before stalking off.
Missy watched him go, hoping Clarissa would be here soon because Missy had never seen Josh in such a foul mood. Josh retreated behind the bar and went back to work, filling drink orders.
