Page 55 of Beautifully Broken
Hopefully, it's not too late for these little ones and they can get the care they need to live happy, long lives.
Chapter 4
Ashley
"Heads up, boss. We've got a set of puppies on their way in." Tilly pops her head into my office to give me a warning.
I shut my laptop and follow her out to our intake. "What do we know?"
"Not much. A fish and wildlife officer called it in. Apparently, they were dumped in the river. He found them in a garbage bag hung up on a tree. That was about all I got out of him. He didn't seem like the talkative type."
'I'd really like to get my hands on these fuck nuggets who have been dumping our sweet babies as if they're trash. Only scum would do something to innocent animals."
"I completely agree with you, boss-man. What all do you need?"
"Let's go with the whole works: blankets, warm water bottles, heat lamps, and let's pop a few bags of saline in to warm as well. If they were in the river at all, there's a good chance they are hypothermic. Have you called Dr. Moxie yet? Who else is working today? We might need more hands, depending on how many puppies there are."
"Doc Mox will be here any minute, and Colby is here. I think he's in with the kittens. I can go snag him if you want. We probably have someone out in the barn too."
"Go grab Colby. I think with him and Dr. Moxie, we should be able to handle the little peanuts."
"Okay." Tilly heads out of the intake room as I continue to prep for the puppies. I hate that we have so little information, but that's not abnormal when animals are brought into the shelter.
"Hey, Ash. You're looking fab, as always."
I fluff my hair and preen a little bit, which makes Moxie laugh. "Thanks, Doc. You're not looking too bad yourself. I'm loving the new color."
Dr. Moxie Hart looks like a pixie at barely five feet tall, but she's a badass and won't let anyone forget it. Her wife is a hairdresser and loves to test out new colors or ideas on Moxie, who is always a willing participant. Doesn't hurt that she's stunning, no matter what her hair looks like.
"Tilly said we have some puppies that were dumped in the river coming in. I really wish we could catch the creeps doing this."
"You and me both. This group was found by a wildlife officer, so maybe we'll get lucky and he'll catch them."
"We can only hope."
"Incoming!" Tilly calls as she hurries into the room with a bear of a man trailing behind her.
He's so damn tall that I have to tip my head back, but don't think for a second that I don't get an eyeful of the beast before finally making eye contact with him. He's fit as fuck and sporting the wildlife officer uniform. Never knew a uniform did it for me, but on him, I'm here for it. He's got dark hair that's cut in a style I've seen on military men. I think it's called a high and tight. His face is covered in a brown beard with auburn weaving through it, but it's the eyes that pull me in. They're hazel and pretty, filled with guarded pain.
It isn't until I hear a yip that I'm brought out of the trance this man has put me in. Leaning forward, I peek into the makeshift carrier he has wrapped over his shoulder and tucked into his chiseled chest.
He stiffens as my hands graze his body, and if I weren't so close, I'd have missed the inhale he takes at my proximity.
I know I should be focusing on the puppies that need me, but you can bet your ass I tuck that information away for later. "Oh my gosh. Look at these angels. They are way too young to be away from their mama."
"That's what I thought." His voice is so deep it sounds like sandpaper as it grits out. It caresses my skin and sends a shiver down my spine.
"First things first, we need to get them warm." I look over my shoulder.
Moxie has a smug look on her face, and Tilly is biting her lip.
Great, looks like I'll be getting grilled about this interaction later.
"All hands on deck?" I raise a brow towards Dr. Moxie.
"All hands on deck." She nods at me then turns to the hulking man in front of me. "Hi, I'm Dr. Moxie Hart."
"Talon Connely."
