Page 35 of A Chance at Forever
He smiled. “No need to be so formal. I’ll be in touch.”
A little more than two hours passed before Doc Roberts joined them in the waiting room. Both Rusty and Victoria leaped to their feet.
“How is Bud?” she asked and gripped Rusty’s hand.
“Weak. He lost a lot of blood, and as with humans, being shot in the gut is nearly always fatal. The good news is, I expect Bud to make a full recovery. We’re keeping him here for a few days so we can monitor his condition.”
Victoria burst into tears of relief and buried her head against Rusty’s broad chest. His strong arms wrapped around her and held her close in a warm embrace. When his body heat seeped into her and she felt his heart pounding beneath her cheek, her face flushed with embarrassment. She stepped out of the circle of his arms and brushed her tears away. “May we see Bud?”
“Only for a couple of minutes. He’s still sedated.”
They followed Doc Roberts down a narrow hallway into a recovery room. A vet technician monitored Bud. Victoria and Rusty rubbed the dog’s head and spoke softly to him.
“We’ll be back to see you tomorrow,” Victoria promised. She met Doc Roberts’ sympathetic eyes. “Is that okay? I know you’re not open on Sundays.”
“Call ahead. Someone will be here to let you in.”
“Thank you. For everything.”
“My pleasure. I’m glad I was able to save Bud.”
Victoria followed Rusty to his truck. He helped her inside and closed the passenger’s door. She leaned against the headrest and closed her eyes. Tears traced a salty path down her cheeks.
“I almost lost him,” she murmured. “I almost lost my Bud. The idea of losing him is unbearable.”
Rusty reached for her hand. Before she could guess his intent, he brought it to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss against her palm. The fiery feeling from earlier consumed her, starting in her core and burning its way through the rest of her body. When his thumb caressed the sensitive skin on her wrist, he robbed her of breath.
“You didn’t lose him, Tori.” His voice, rough with emotion, added to the sensations swirling inside her.
“Thanks to you. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been there to help.”
He squeezed her hand. “I’m glad I was there.”
Rusty didn’t let go of her hand until they reached her house. “Sit down,” he ordered. “I’ll make you something to eat. How about a cup of hot tea in the meantime?”
“Yes, I’d like that.” She curled up in a recliner. As she gazed at Bud’s favorite chew toys, her tears fell anew.
Rusty noticed the fresh tracks down her cheeks and brushed his palm against her face. He handed her the hot tea. “Here. This will make you feel better. Do you like grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup?”
Victoria nodded.
“Relax and drink your tea. I’ll bring the soup and sandwiches to you.”
His solicitousness made her feel small-minded and petty for her snippy attitude toward him. She needed to knock the chip off her shoulder caused by Alan’s actions. Victoria didn’t like this new, hard, suspicious version of herself. Being friends with Rusty didn’t mean opening her heart to him. She didn’t know when she’d be able to do that again without fearing the worst.
Before he carried in plates of sandwiches and bowls of soup, Rusty set a wooden TV tray in front of her and one for himself next to the other recliner. The comfort food smelled and tasted delicious.
“This is just what I needed,” Victoria told him with a smile. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He returned her smile. It hit her belly along with the hot tomato soup and warmed her.
After they ate, Victoria helped Rusty clean the kitchen. When he believed he’d worn out his welcome, he said, “I’ll get out of your hair now.”
“No, please don’t leave.” She reached out and touched his forearm. The muscles leaped beneath her fingers. “I don’t want to be alone. It’s too quiet.”
He appeared confused for a moment. “Okay, then. I’ll stay. Anything in particular you need done around the house?”
“Actually, there is something I need to do. Borrow your truck. Want to go to San Francisco with me? There’s a second-hand furniture store I like where I can buy some props for the drama department. We don’t have anything for sets.”
