Page 11 of Never Kiss Your Brother's Best Friend

“I can't take him to the hotel. They don't allow pets. Come on, Sterling. You don't have any animals at home. What kind of vet doesn't have a dog of their own? You'll be happy to have him around, I know it."

"Well, that's a bold statement," he says with a smirk. "Are you sure? You want to bet on it?"

I giggle and give him a playful shove. "Oh, come on, Sterling. For me?"

He lets out a sigh. "Okay, fine. But only until his leg is better. After that I'll find him a home. Fair?"

"Perfect," I say, my smile wide. "Thank you so much. Have I mentioned you’re the best?"

"Yeah. Don't make me regret this," he warns, shaking a finger at me.

"You know, I didn't realize there were so many strays in Cedar Creek. You said the shelter is already at capacity?" I lean against the exam table, and he nods. "That's too bad."

"It's a very small shelter," he explains. "They have a lot of animals, but not a lot of room. The lake really attracts strays. We started a program where we trap the feral cats. I fix them to limit the population as much as possible, and we release them back out into the wild."

“There's a stray dog population, too. I'm trying, but I can't seem to make a dent in the issue. They're always looking for more volunteers. Not a lot of people are interested in helping out. Plus, there's just no where to put them."

"That's really admirable of you, Sterling. I'm impressed," I say.

He shrugs. "It's nothing."

“It’s not nothing. It's important to help the animals in town," I argue. "I can't imagine how hard it must be to see all the cute puppies and kittens and not be able to bring them all home. I'd have a million little critters running around if I could, but my apartment complex has a no-pet policy, like the hotel. I'm always donating to the shelter back home in the city. I wish I had more time to help out, but I've got my hands pretty full with the thirty or so kids I'm responsible for."

"Oh, that's right, you're a teacher," he says.

I nod. "Yep. Third grade. My classroom is the size of this room, and I'm surrounded by a pack of wild, rambunctious children. I love it, though. Those kids are the best."

"I don't doubt it. You were always great with kids."

"Yeah, but they aren't nearly as cute as this one," I whisper, patting the little dog's head as he limps back into the room. "Hey, buddy, feeling any better?" Sterling gave him some meds after the x-ray and they seem to have kicked in.

He yips and wags his tail.

"Good, then," Sterling says, giving the dog a scratch. As he does so, he catches a glimpse of his watch and jumps. "Oh, crap. It's getting late. I'm supposed to have dinner with my parents. I completely forgot. It's my dad’s birthday."

"Oh, that's right. Tell him, ‘Happy Birthday’ for me.”

"Sure thing. I'd better get going." He places a new collar around the dog's neck, and as he's hooking the leash, he looks up at me. "You wouldn't want to join me, would you? My parents would love to see you. It's been a long time. I'm sure they're dying to catch up with you."

"Heck yeah! I'd love to," I exclaim, bouncing up and down.

"Come on, little doggy. You, too."

"You can't keep calling him ‘Doggy,’ Sterling. He deserves a proper name now," I point out.

Sterling laughs. "What should I call him?"

"Hmmm. Well, let's see... How about Buddy?"

"Buddy? Really?"

"Yeah, I think he'll like it. Don't you, Buddy?"

The little dog yips again in response, and Sterling chuckles. "Pretty generic, but fine. Buddy it is. Come on, Buddy, let's go."

We head back to the reception room, where I scoop up my purse from the desk before we get back into Sterling's truck. He turns the engine, and Buddy settles into my lap again as we veer onto the road.

I look out the window, taking in all the changes in my sleepy little hometown. The streets are a bit busier now that it's summer, and I notice the shopping choices have expanded. They have a few new stores.

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