Page 49 of Dreamboat

“Hold the door for the nice lady,” she tells her son. “I bet she’s going to leave with a kitten.”

Or a handsome veterinarian.

I keep that thought to myself, but I offer them both a wide grin. “Your dog is beautiful.”

“He’s handsome,” the boy says, his toothy smile on display. “We named him Midnight. It’s cool, right?”

“It’s the coolest,” I tell him as I raise a hand to hold the door open myself so he can get back to hugging his dog. “I think he’ll be really happy with you.”

“He is already,” the boy says, tears welling in his eyes. “He’s going to sleep in my room tonight.”

“We’ll see about that.” His mom skims a hand over his forehead as he yawns. “It’s getting late. The nice lady needs to get inside and we have to get home.”

“Bye, nice lady!” He waves a hand at me, so I do the same back.

“Hey, nice lady,” an achingly familiar voice says, sending a shiver up my spine.

I don’t need to turn to see who is standing near me, but I do.

Donovan, wearing the same lab coat he was in the image he posted online earlier, smiles at me. “Can I help you, nice lady?”

I nod slowly while I relish in the sight of the smile on his face. “You can tell me what time you’ll be done here.”

“Twenty minutes or so, give or take.” He glances over his shoulder. “I’ve got a couple more new intakes to check over and a kitten or two to cuddle, but I’m all yours after that, Delia.”

“I can wait at the café down the block.”

“Or you can lend a hand.” He points toward a corridor. “I happen to know that there are a few dozen dogs and cats here who’d love some one-on-one time with you.”

“Seriously?” I smile. “I get to pet dogs and cats?”

“For as long as you want.” He tilts his head slightly. “Or until you’re ready to tell me what brought you here.”

An hour later we exit the shelter and step into the warm evening air.

Donovan points at the random black hairs clinging to the skirt of my red sundress. “It looks like someone got a little too close to a certain cat named Ralph.”

Laughing, I try to brush off the hairs but they’re not giving up easily. “It was worth it.”

He shoves both hands into the front pockets of his navy blue pants. “You’re a natural with animals, Delia. Did you ever consider following in Matthew’s footsteps?”

I shake my head. “I hate the sight of blood.”

“You do?”

I nod. “I’m okay with very small amounts but if it’s more than a few drops, I’ll faint.”

“That means you would have gone down for the count on the cruise if your foot was injured more seriously?”

“Probably,” I whisper. “I’m sure Clever would have caught me.”

He barks out a laugh. “Fucking Clever.”

“Do you think we’ll ever see his name in lights?”

“Absolutely not,” he answers succinctly.

I can’t help but laugh. “Ye of little faith.”

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