Page 84 of Caught in the Crossfire

At 6:30, Nicole booted up the salon’s computer and waved her brother-in-law to a stool behind the counter. “If the phone rings, grab it.”

“I’m not your receptionist, Nic.”

“You are today. Ryan has classes until noon, and we have back-to-back appointments today.”

“I already have a job. Babysitting you.”

She grinned. “Today, you’re demonstrating the time-honored skill of multitasking.”

“Brat.”

After a few quick instructions on how to work the software program to book appointments, Nicole placed a noisy kiss on Trent’s cheek. “You’re the best, T.”

“Uh huh. A kiss won’t pay off the debt.”

“Look at it this way. You’re earning serious brownie points with my sister by helping out.” She nudged him with her elbow. “And if you play nice with my customers, I might stop at the clothing boutique across the square and purchase a very slinky nightgown for Grace.”

His eyes lost focus for a moment before he growled. “That nightgown better be extraordinary.”

With a laugh, Nicole patted his cheek and hurried into the workroom to help Dawn set up for Titan and Elmo. By the time the dynamic duo left the shop clad in spiffy new neckerchiefs, Nicole and Dawn had two scratches each from Elmo’s claws, and they’d combed enough fur from Titan to practically make another dog. Considering the number of scratches they’d had in the past from Elmo, the women considered today’s appointment a success.

A few minutes before noon, Trent poked his head in the door to the workroom. “Nic, Rod’s here. He says he needs to talk to you.”

She shook her head. “I’m elbow deep in suds here. He’ll have to wait.”

“I already told him you were booked solid until closing. The detective wasn’t impressed.”

Nicole rolled her eyes. “Fantastic. Tell him if he wants to talk, he can come back here. I don’t have time to stop working. We have two Great Danes arriving in twenty minutes. The big babies are 150-pound chickens who are afraid of everything, including water.”

Soon, Rod Kelter strode into the workroom with a grim expression. “I have questions, Nicole.”

Nicole hoped she had answers to satisfy him.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Nicole eyed the red-haired detective. “As you can see, I’m a little busy at the moment.” She currently had her hands in the suds-filled fur of a Wheaton Terrier. “If you want to ask questions, you’ll have to do it while I work. Otherwise, I’ll draft you to help with the Great Danes due soon for a bath and nail trim.”

She inclined her head toward the stool to her right. “Pull up a stool and make yourself comfortable, Detective.”

Rod set the stool where he could see Nicole’s face. She turned back to Pierre and lathered more shampoo into his fur.

“Are you always so busy?” he asked.

“Most of the time. We’re the only pet groomers in town, and most pet owners don’t want to drive to the Cherry Hill pet store to use their groomers. Pet Palace does a brisk business every day. If you think this is bad, you should come in during the holiday season. Last year, Dawn and I worked 16-hour days for six weeks running from the middle of November until the first of the year.”

He looked puzzled. “Why? Aren’t people too busy shopping and cooking for holiday meals to schedule pet grooming?”

Nicole grinned at him. “Pet owners want to show off their fur babies during the holidays when friends and relatives visit. I guess you and Megan don’t have a pet.”

“Does a gold fish count?”

“Nope.”

“Our schedules are too crazy for anything except fish.” He waited until she’d rinsed off Pierre and rubbed him with a towel to start the drying process before he slid a notebook and pen from his pocket.

“I’ll take Pierre to the back room,” Dawn said. “He loves the dryer.”

“Thanks.” As Dawn led the Terrier from the room, Nicole glanced at the white board to see who was next. “Can you wait for one minute while I get Princess?”

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