Chapter 5
Five
O utside the building, they stepped onto an extended redwood deck. Metal supply lockets lined the fence. Beyond the deck, the kennels and fenced runs took up most of the property. Norah wondered if this was why Matt had chosen this location. Thick spreading oak trees, tall enough and mature enough to provide massive shade.
She liked that Matt focused on the welfare of the animals in his care. The past thirty-six hours had rolled in with a whole lot of Matt Gray, and she smiled. She had nothing against smiling, but Matt, as the root of her unexpected bursts of joy, overwhelmed her.
Nah, it’s not Matt. It’s Christmas.
And Paddy.
Just a lost dog stirring up her empathy and emotions, that’s all these feelings were, nothing more.
“C’mon.” Matt gestured.
She and Paddy navigated the few steps. Matt opened the door to the large dog run. “Here you go, Paddy. Water, toys, space to romp.”
Unleashed, Paddy zoomed to the far end of the enclosure and found a red Kong. He tossed the toy in the air, grabbed it up, rolled, and played.
“I love young dogs,” Matt said.
“Yes, puppies are great.”
Matt studied her. “But I also love old dogs.”
“What? Are you calling me an old dog?” She laughed.
“Oh heavens, no!” His face flushed. “Not at all. I really was talking about the dogs, not us being middle-aged.”
“So, no foot-in-mouth disease?” she teased.
“No way. I like being my age. Older and wiser is the way to go.”
Norah curled her fingers through the chain-link fence and watched Paddy, thinking back to all the dogs her family had cared for over the years. She could name every single one. “What did you want to show me?”
“The available fosters.” He gestured toward the kennels, and she followed him, leaving Paddy to play.
“Are these the dogs you’re hoping to find a home for with your foster-to-adoption Christmas event?”
He nodded. “Yes, I wanted you to meet them.”
“Matt…” She’d stopped walking.
He stopped, too, then backed up.
“What’s going on here?”
“I need your expertise.”
“You’re the vet.” She eyed him. “I have nothing to offer you.”
“Listen, I’ve never met anyone better with dogs than you. I’d appreciate it if you’d indulge me. Give me a read on the canines. Please? Some have been here longer than others. Some I know better than others. But they’re used to me, Vanessa, and Chris.”
“I’m not sure what you’re asking.” She felt a strange tugging in the center of her chest. The old sense of bittersweet nostalgia over shelter dogs needing homes.
“I’d like to see them with a stranger, but someone who understands dogs. I’d like to know if I’m crazy for thinking I can pull off this Santa Claus stunt and find homes for them all.”
He searched her gaze. She wasn’t sure what he expected to see.
“Yes, okay.” What would it hurt to take a look beyond a deep pang in her heart over the dogs’ plight?
Matt opened the door, and Norah stepped up into the climate-controlled structure. It smelled of dogs, but in a good, clean way—bedding, food, and skin heated by a romp in the sun?that reminded her of her childhood.
“So, the holiday boarders are in the cages at the rear of the building. This bunch up front are the ones needing homes.”
She stepped closer to the bank of cages. Matt joined her, closing the door behind them.
To her left, she spotted a small terrier breed, shaggy and ruffled. The door’s nameplate read Doris .
In the crate beneath her stood a wolfhound mix with wiry gray and black hair. The dog lay curled up on a bed wedged against the back wall. The wolfhound wasn’t interested in saying hello but shoved his muzzle under one enormous paw. His nameplate said Otto.
“Doris? Otto? Did you name them?”
“Vanessa.”
“I see.” Norah strolled to the end of the kennel, meeting all the dogs on the left, then doing the same for the dogs on the right when she walked back. Matt trailed behind her.
They were adorable—big, curious eyes, ready to please, all on their best behavior. Aww! Cute but sad, too. They should be able just to be themselves, not performing for strangers.
“Time for the truth,” he said.
“Oh?” She stopped, turned, and looked at him.
“I thought if you met them, you’d have a harder time turning me down.”
“Turning you down for what?” She didn’t have time to volunteer more than she was doing with Paddy—or this quick meet and greet.
His cell phone rang before he could answer.
“Yeah, Chris?” He held the phone to his ear but gestured for her to give him a minute, raising one finger as he stepped outside.
In his absence, Norah toured the kennel again.
Twelve cages on each side, six down, six up. All packed to capacity. Small dogs, big dogs, medium-sized dogs. White eyebrows, gray snouts, the pearly teeth of the young. Norah shook her head, her stomach sinking. So many homeless darlings tugged her heartstrings.
Matt popped back in.
“Are they all strays?” she asked.
It made a difference if a dog had been on the street for a long time, foraging, hiding, and growing more feral.
“Georgia is a stray,” he said, stopping in front of a cage with a brown, white, and black pointer mix. “Someone found her in the creek behind Mills school. No tags. No chip. Fairly sure she lucked into someone feeding her because she was healthy. No aggression. No fear.”
Norah thought of her parents. “You must have better networking opportunities than my folks did.”
Matt nodded. “Petfinder is a great resource and there are others, but we still hang up flyers and post on our social media pages.”
“Hello, Georgia.” Norah leaned forward to get a better look at the dog. Her eyes were observant and intelligent but almost mournful. “How old do you think she is?”
“Her teeth say eight. Maybe seven. They’re in fairly good shape, so she’s had some dental care at one point.”
Norah thought of the broken teeth she’d seen, hungry dogs chewing on sticks, and some even eating rocks. Her stomach tightened. Why was she here?
“This is Milkshake,” Matt said. “She was a surrender. Her owner had to go into a nursing home.”
“A greyhound! She’s beautiful!”
“She is and raced her heart out. She just needs someone with a comfy couch and lots of time for belly rubs.”
Norah smiled at the lean dog’s long, elegant face. Milkshake looked so… alone. She closed her eyes and lowered her head.
Clearing her throat, Norah stood, not yet ready to meet Matt’s gaze. “I need more time to get to know them, but they all seem adoptable.”
He nodded. “I’ve thought of doing a foster-to-adoption event in the past but never had the help until I could afford to hire Chris full-time.”
Norah moved to the next cage. A tiny dog, definitely a mixed breed. She had a bald spot between her ears. Allergies? “And who’s this?”
“This is Cotton. She’s been here longer than most. The dogs I’m able to place are usually young and playful, but she’s all out of play.”
“A great dog for seniors,” Norah said.
Norah spent the next hour walking through the kennels again, taking her time with each dog. She knelt by Doris’s cage and watched the small terrier inch closer, curiosity in her dark eyes.
“Hey there, little one,” Norah murmured, offering her hand to sniff.
Doris’s nose twitched, and after a hesitant moment, she gave a gentle lick.
Norah smiled, scratching behind the terrier’s ears. “You’re going to make someone very happy, aren’t you?”
Moving on, she approached Otto’s kennel. The big wolfhound mix peeked at her through sleepy eyes, barely lifting his head from his paws.
“You’re a laid-back fellow, aren’t you?” She reached in to softly stroke his muzzle.
The dog nudged her hand with his nose, then closed his eyes again as if comforted by her presence.
She took a few of the dogs outside for a quick walk, starting with the lively Labrador mix, who was practically bouncing off the walls with excitement. “Let’s burn off some of that energy, shall we?”
The dog dashed ahead, eager to explore the yard and she let him off the leash to romp with Paddy. Afterward, she took out the shy spaniel, speaking in a calm, encouraging voice as they strolled.
The dog stayed close to her leg, peeking up occasionally with uncertain eyes.
“You’ll be okay,” she assured him, giving a gentle pat. “You just need someone who understands you.”
Each dog had their quirks and their own stories to tell, and Norah wished she could find the right home for every single one of them.
While she worked with the dogs, Matt watched her, arms folded over his chest, eyes trained on her. “You think I can pull this event off?”
“With help, sure. Do you have volunteers?”
“I do.” His gaze held hers.
“What else do you need from me?” she asked.
He gestured to the exit, and they walked outside. “I was hoping you could bake dog treats. All the adoptees will go home with current shots, spayed or neutered, and with a year’s worth of free wellness care. Food and water bowls. A collar and a leash. Tags and a chip.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged. “I thought treats would be a nice way to top things off.”
“You’re very generous.”
“I’ll pay you.”
“I wasn’t talking about the treats. I meant doing all of that for the families.”
But Matt shook his head. “Not families. I’m doing it for the dogs.”
She looked at him then, holding his gaze. Dr. Matthew Gray was one of the good ones. A dog’s best friend.
“How many biscuits do you need?”
He grinned. “As many as you want to give me. I’ve got a freezer so that I can stockpile for future events.”
She nodded, figuring the dogs weren’t the only ones who enjoyed the treats. “All right.”
“Great. Great. Thank you.” He stepped forward, and for a moment, she thought he might hug her, but he only reached for her hand and squeezed before letting her go.
Overcome, she curled her trembling fingers into her palm. “And you are welcome to come hang out the day of the event, too. The more, the merrier.”
She considered that and nodded. If she got to know more about the animals looking for homes, she’d be able to answer questions. She’d see if Vanessa had a list with any of the details, like allergies and the like. She glanced over to the run where Paddy was still playing with the Kong.
“Do you want to grab some dinner?” Matt asked. “It’s the least I can do to thank you. We could try that new fish place on Main Street.”
“Or you could come over. I’ve got everything except charcoal for grilling burgers.”
“I can bring the charcoal.”
“Okay. I’ll see you in a bit.”
Norah watched Paddy dart around the run, his boundless energy reminding her of days long gone. Something tugged at her, a familiar mix of nostalgia and warmth. Matt was right—there was something about old dogs. Maybe that’s why she couldn’t shake the feeling that her heart, long guarded, was starting to find its way back to familiar ground. She swallowed, pushing the wayward thought aside.
“See you soon,” she said, giving him a quick wave.
But as she and Paddy walked to her car, the tender glow lingered. Maybe it wasn’t just the dogs that deserved a second chance.
The juicy aroma of grilled burgers lingered in the damp evening air. Matt helped Norah clear the patio table, juggling ketchup, mayo, and mustard bottles. Strings of backyard Christmas lights twinkled softly, their glow reflected in mist rolling in off the ocean. Paddy sniffed the air and shot them a longing look as if to say, Hey, where’s my burger?
“That was delicious,” Matt said. “Just like old times, huh?”
Norah’s smile was gentle, if a bit reserved. “Thanks for your help with the cleanup.”
“Those sweet potato fries were inspired.” Matt followed Norah into the kitchen. “Where’d you get the recipe?”
“Would you believe TikTok?”
Matt raised an eyebrow. “You? On TikTok?”
“Don’t look so surprised.” Norah offered him a teasing grin. “It’s not all dancing teenagers, you know. There are some great tips.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
“Not a social media fan?”
He shook his head. “Not my style. Hey, you rinse, and I’ll load the dishwasher.”
“Deal.” Norah frowned, pulled her bottom lip up between her front teeth, turned on the water, and started rinsing the dishes.
“What is it?” he asked.
Norah handed him a plate. “Dwight Whitley came by the office today for his year-end review.”
Matt opened the dishwasher and bent to load the plate. “Everything okay with his books?”
Norah’s shoulders tensed. “I can’t talk about his business.”
“Of course not.” Matt felt his ears burn. Why had he asked that?
“It’s Colleen. That knee replacement surgery hit her hard. Dwight says she’s not bouncing back like the doctor hoped.”
“Damn,” Matt muttered. He’d seen Colleen at the grocery store last week, slow with a cane.
“I’m not saying this as idle gossip,” she said. “I have a purpose for bringing it up.”
He hadn’t thought she was. “Of course.”
Norah passed him another plate. “Dwight mentioned Colleen needs to walk more, and he said she used to walk twice a day when their dog was still alive.”
“Ah, you’re thinking companion animal?”
He straightened from placing the dish and met Norah’s gaze. Gosh, she had the most beautiful blue eyes. He’d forgotten exactly how clear and bright they were.
Norah nodded. “If we had the right fit…”
She held his gaze, and he felt transported back twenty years. He’d once loved this woman with a fierceness that scared him. Now, he didn’t fear those feelings. He welcomed them.
“Georgia,” they said in unison, then laughed together.
“Why not give Dwight a call tomorrow and see if he’d like us to bring Georgia by for a visit? You’ve got a better eye for matching temperaments, and I can handle the paperwork if it works out.”
A glass squeaked beneath Norah’s fingers as she rinsed it. “I was thinking you know Georgia better than anyone.”
Did this mean she didn’t want to go with him to introduce Georgia to the Whitleys? Disappointment settled into his belly. But this had been her idea.
“Two heads are better than one, right?” Did he sound desperate to spend time with her? He didn’t want to come off as clingy, but he was interested in seeing where this relationship might go.
She met his gaze again. “Are we moving too fast?”
“What do you mean?” he asked, confused. “We had one meal together, and now we’d be taking an adoptable dog to meet a deserving couple.”
“I didn’t mean us,” she said. “I wondered if we were moving too fast for Dwight and Colleen.”
His face burned. “Oh.”
She studied him, amusement dancing in her eyes, and passed him the last dish. “ Should we talk about us?”
“Um…” Feeling put on the spot, he pressed his palm to his nape. “I don’t want to rush you.”
“But you’d like to date?”
He studied her face, unable to get a read on her. What the heck? Might as well just put it out there. “Yeah,” he said. “I would, but if you don’t feel the same, I totally get it. No pressure. No expectations. Nice and easy. Friends works too.”
“Friends?” Was that doubt in her voice? How on the fence about him was she?
“Or more.” He shrugged as if he wasn’t holding his breath, waiting. “Whatever works for you.”
“Let’s see how it goes,” she said. “Friends is a great start.”
“Friends,” he echoed, even though he wanted so much more. “Well, it’s getting late. We’re both earlier risers…” He paused. “Unless you’ve changed.”
“I haven’t.” She and Paddy walked him to the door.
At the threshold, he held out a hand. “Good night.”
Laughing, Norah ignored his outstretched palm and leaned in to plant a soft kiss on his cheek. “Good night, Matt.”
His toes curled inside his cowboy boots. “What about Georgia?”
“I’ll call and see if Dwight and Colleen are open to it and give you a call tomorrow.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
He walked to his truck. A glance back revealed Norah still in the doorway, silhouetted against the warm glow of the Christmas lights dangling from the eaves. He raised a hand.
She waved back and disappeared into the house.
Leaving Matt dreaming of a life with the woman he’d let slip through his fingers so many years ago.
Hope. What a dangerous thing.