Page 8 of Absolute Harmony

Holding Izzie’s leash, Savina followed Warren through the lobby and past the swinging door that led to the back. Warren headed to his office, and her nerves singing high soprano, she ventured further into the back. She found Hal in the cat room and smiled tentatively at him. “Hello, Hal.”

He set the big black cat he held in one of the smaller kennels and latched it. “Hi, Savina.”

“How are you?” she asked.

“Good. How can I help you?”

He was all brisk business and no-nonsense professionalism.

“Izzie might have a UTI. Warren is on a phone call, but he asked me to bring her back to get a urine sample.”

“Okay.”

She moved back, trying not to gasp when Hal walked past her, and his bare arm brushed against hers.

Oh, good, new masturbating material.

Her face flushed, and she wasn’t sure if it was from Hal’s touch or the embarrassment that a brief brush of his skin against hers was all it took to turn her on.

Probably a little of both.

Hal grabbed a clear container, and she and Izzie followed him down the narrow hallway that led to the side exit. The yard was fenced in, and she dropped Izzie’s leash to allow her to wander.

Hal gave Izzie a pat when she walked over to him. He followed her around patiently, the container in hand, as Izzie sniffed and snorted her way across the lawn.

“Go pee, Izzie,” Savina said. “Go pee, good girl.”

Izzie’s tail wagged at the sound of her voice, but she continued her investigation of the lawn. Five minutes later, Izzie had sniffed what Savina assumed was every blade of grass in the yard but hadn’t peed.

“Sorry,” she said to Hal, feeling embarrassed for some reason. “I don’t know why she won’t pee.”

Hal picked up Izzie’s leash and rubbed her head when she sat at his feet and leaned against him. “Just being stubborn, I guess.”

“Yeah.” The cold air gave Savina goosebumps, and she rubbed her arms briskly.

“Instead of waiting in the cold, I’ll give you a container, and you can get a sample at home to bring into the clinic,” Hal said.

“Okay.” She couldn’t fool herself into thinking Hal wasn’t trying to limit his time with her. She could practically smell his discomfort.

You need to apologize, Savina.

She did and now seemed as good of a time as any. Better to get it over with, right?

“I want to apologize for Thursday night,” she said.

He continued to pet Izzie’s head without looking at her. “You weren’t the one acting like an asshole.”

“No, but I’m sorry that you got dragged into that mess. My dating life shouldn’t be affecting you.”

His whole body was now weirdly tense, and she took a few steps toward him and Izzie. “Hal, are you okay?”

He raised his head, and she caught her breath at the anger on his face. Why would apologizing make him angry?

“You need to be more careful, Savina,” he said.

“Excuse me?”

“With who you date,” he said, “and how you behave around them.”

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