Page 112 of Wishing Hearts

“Surprise,” I say weakly.

Harrison laughs, hand coming up to squeeze the side of my neck. “And the dog?” he asks, looking over at where Carl and another employee—Tessa, I think her name is? I’m still learning—are crouched down near the hound a few feet away.

“Well,” I mutter. Here goes the next part of my plan. “I wondered if maybe Abbott—”

“What’s this?” the man himself asks, coming out from the hall that leads to the patient rooms. His brows are drawn in as he walks towards the congregation in the lobby, but as soon as his eyes land on the hound mix, his expression softens. Bingo.

“Heya, Abbott,” I greet warmly. “We found these two on a call today. Figured we’d stop by to get ’em checked out before we bring that little lad”—I point to the dog—“back to Animal Control.”

Abbott stops in front of the hound, who, although not Irish Wolfhound entirely, could very well have some in his lineage. The dog is tall—not by Irish Wolfhound standards, but tall nonetheless—and wiry. And if Abbott really has been feeling lonely, maybe a new companion is just the ticket.

The older vet examines the dog as Piglet squirms in my shirt. I give her a calming pet as I watch Abbott quite possibly fall in love. Harrison shakes his head in my periphery.

“Don’t worry, Abbott,” I say. “We’ll clear out before long. Sorry for causin’ a ruckus.”

Realistically, I know Abbott isn’t in charge around here—all the vets own shares in the practice—but I figured a tiny nudge might…

“You, uh.” Abbott clears his throat. “You don’t have anybody lined up to take him?”

“Not yet,” I say with a smile. “But somebody will surely snatch him up quick. He’s a handsome dog.”

Abbott nods, and the hound sits regally as the vet pets his head. The older man looks around at his coworkers before clearing his throat again. “Perhaps he could come home with me? I have room, after all,” he adds gruffly.

“Well, dang. You sure?” I say. “That’d be great, Abbott. The dog would be lucky to have you.”

He looks pleased at that.

“I can help you with the paperwork,” Carl adds, the perfect wingman. He leads Abbott and the dog over to the counter in front of Reception.

I turn back to Harrison, and the expression on his face bowls me over.

“Sam,” he says simply, grabbing my arm and tugging. I follow Harrison into one of the exam rooms as the rest of his coworkers get back to work, and Harrison shuts the door behind us. He’s shaking his head again, but then he smacks a forceful kiss against my lips. “You are the sexiest, sweetest, kindest person I’ve ever known.”

My heart takes off as my grin stretches wide. “Yeah? Sexiest? It’s the pig in my shirt, isn’t it?”

Harrison laughs. “Sexy as fuck, Sam. You brought that dog here on purpose, didn’t you?”

“I did,” I admit, rubbing Piglet’s head. She’s calm again; otherwise, I would let her down. “I figured after what you told me, the man could use somebody in his life. Even if that somebody is a dog.”

Harrison’s hand lands on the side of my neck again, his thumb rubbing over my skin. I like it way too much, the way he’s looking at me. The way he’s touching me. But I push my want away for later.

“Sam, you have such a big heart, you know that?” he says. “I’m so glad it found its way to me.”

My insides do a complicated pop and melt routine that reminds me of Winnie’s volcanoes. “Even if said heart added a pig to your family?” I check.

“Even so. Especially so,” he says, looking down at Piglet and sighing from deep within. “Welcome to the family, Piglet. I think you’ll be right at home. Let’s give her a check, shall we?”

Heart feeling oh so full, I pull Piglet out of my shirt and hand her over. She fits right in Harrison’s palm. He’s gentle and calm as he checks her over, completing a full exam and administering a few vaccinations against common bacteria that could harm our new little pig. We’ll have to bring her back in two weeks for boosters, but then she’ll be good to go for another year.

“All set,” Harrison says gently, smiling down at Piglet, who’s happily munching up a treat. I must audibly sigh because Harrison looks my way. “What is it?”

“I love these kind eyes,” I tell him, stepping around the exam table and brushing my finger near his temple. My mind flashes back to that first day I met Harrison in Plum Valley, when we were working together with the sheep. “Y’know the first thing I noticed about you?”

“My kind eyes?” he asks with a smirk.

“Actually, no,” I admit. “It was your ass.”

Harrison barks a laugh, and I chuckle with him, one hand on Piglet to make sure she doesn’t take a plunge off the exam table.

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