3. Chapter Three
Chapter Three
Chase
I can’t stop staring at Millie. She’s standing there in a coat, leggings, and sneakers, her brunette hair a bit frazzled. Her hazel eyes are gorgeous and I can’t help but think, fuck, she’s hot.
I clear my throat and ask her to hold the dog while I put on gloves. As she fusses over the little dog, I watch, trying not to let my gaze linger too long.
“Do you think I’ll be able to find her owner?” she asks, worry evident in her voice.
I gently correct her, “It’s a boy dog.”
“Oh,” she says, looking at the puppy with renewed curiosity.
“And to answer your question, I can keep the records on file,” I tell her. “You should put up some fliers after this. Maybe whoever lost him is already looking for him.”
She sighs, sadness creeping into her expression. “It’s so sad thinking the owner could be gone. This little guy looks like he’s been neglected for weeks.”
I decide to keep my thoughts on that to myself. Instead, I hold the puppy out to her. “Put on some gloves.”
“Why?” she asks, confusion crossing her face.
“I’ll work on the dog pro bono, but you have to at least help,” I say with a grin.
She hesitates for a moment but then nods. “Okay.”
As she puts on the gloves, I can’t help but flirt a little. “So, Millie, what do you do when you’re not rescuing puppies?”
“I’m a social media influencer,” she says, focusing on the dog. “Mostly baking and mental health stuff.”
“Baking and mental health? That’s an interesting combo,” I say, my interest piqued. “I might need some baking tips.”
She laughs and it’s a beautiful sound. “I’ve got plenty. What about you? Besides saving puppies?”
“Just the usual vet stuff,” I say with a wink. “And trying not to stare at gorgeous women who walk into the clinic.”
She blushes and I feel a small victory. We continue chatting as I treat the dog, enjoying the banter and the way her eyes light up when she talks.
When I’m done, I hand the puppy back to her. “He’s ready to go home.”
“Home where?” she asks, looking a bit lost. “I thought you’d keep him here.”
“This is a clinic, Millie. We’re not equipped to keep pets for a long time. Plus, look at him, he seems to already be bonding with you.”
“But I don’t need a dog.”
“It’s better for the dog to have a home until we figure out who the owner is,” I explain, watching her press the puppy to her chest. She really is beautiful.
“I don’t know, Dr…Chase,” she says, uncertainty in her voice.
“How about I help you?” I offer, feeling a bit bold. “I will get you everything you need to keep him for at least a week.”
“What?” she asks, looking up at me. “You’ve already treated him for free.”
“Who said it was for free?” I smile at her. “Let me take you to dinner and then we can call it even.”
She grins, a playful spark in her eyes. “How about I make you dinner and we call it even, doc?”
I like that she’s flirting back. “Okay, but we need to first get to a pet store before they close, so we can get everything this little guy needs.”
“Okay,” she agrees.
I take out a cardboard pet carrier and place the puppy in it. “Wait in the lobby. I just need to wrap up a few things and then we’ll get going.”
She smiles up at me and says, “Okay.”
As she walks to the lobby, I watch her go, my mind racing. There’s something about Millie that’s different, something that draws me in. I can’t wait to spend more time with her.
I finish up my tasks, change into my jeans and jacket, and head to the lobby. I find Millie waiting with the puppy. “Ready?”
“Yep,” she says, standing up.
We head out. I take the carrier from her.
“Where’s the nearest pet store?” she asks, glancing around.
“There’s one a few blocks from here,” I say.. “We’ll get everything we need there. Are you okay to walk?”
She looks at me and chuckles.
“What? Did I say something funny?”
She shakes her head. “You just reminded me of something my dad and I were talking about today…”
“Mind telling me what it is?”
“I’ll tell you at dinner.”
“That’s a deal then, Millie.”
As we walk toward the pet store, I notice how much shorter Millie is than me. She’s barely five foot five. How can one person be adorable and sexy at the same time?
“Think you’ll get in trouble with your boss for treating the dog for free?” she asks, glancing up at me.
I shake my head. “Nah, the owner’s pretty fond of me.”
“Oh, that’s good,” she says, sounding relieved.
I decide not to tell her that the clinic is actually mine. I’ll tell her after dinner.
“Grab a cart,” I say as we enter the pet store. “We’re gonna need a lot of stuff.”
She nods and gets a cart, placing the puppy inside. “What all does he need?”
“He looks to be about four months old, so he’s going to need food, a leash, and toys to keep him from chewing up your shoes,” I explain as we start walking through the aisles.
I point out the basics first. “We’ll need a bed, some bowls, a collar, and maybe some grooming supplies.”
She nods, grabbing each item as I list it off. “This is all so new to me.”
“You’ll get the hang of it,” I assure her.
“How did you get into being a veterinarian?” she asks, her eyes curious.
“I’ve always had a soft spot for animals,” I say, grabbing a bag of puppy food. “Ever since I was a kid.”
“Same here,” she says, smiling. “But I never had any pets growing up.”
“Why’s that?” I ask, genuinely curious.
“My dad was always working,” she explains. “And then my ex was kind of allergic to fur.”
“That’s unfortunate,” I say, noticing a flicker of sadness in her eyes.
“Yeah,” she says softly. Then she schools her features, pushing the sadness away. “So, what’s the deal with taking puppies for walks?”
“Well,” I start, grabbing a leash from the rack. “You need to start slow, especially if they’re not used to it. Short walks around the block, gradually increasing the distance as they get more comfortable.”
She nods, taking mental notes. “Got it.”
We continue shopping, filling the cart with everything the puppy might need. I explain each item as we go, enjoying the way her eyes light up with each new piece of information.
“And you’ll need to get him checked regularly,” I add, placing a grooming brush in the cart. “Puppies grow fast, and you want to make sure he stays healthy.”
“Got it,” she says again, her voice determined.
As we move through the store, I can’t help but notice how easy it is to talk to her. The conversation flows naturally and I find myself looking forward to spending more time with her.
“What about training?” she asks as we pass the aisle with training pads and clickers.
“It’s important,” I say, grabbing a pack of training pads. “Consistency is key. Positive reinforcement works best—lots of praise and treats when he does something right.”
She smiles, looking down at the box that holds the puppy. “I think I can manage that.”
We get to the checkout, and I see Millie’s eyes bulge out as the grand total flashes on the screen—four hundred dollars.
“Fuck, that’s too much,” she says, shaking her head.
“It’s okay,” I smile at her. “I’ve got it.”
The cashier bags our items, and we step outside. The cool air hits us and I turn to her. “This is a lot of stuff. Maybe I should…”
“I’ve got it Chase. You have done more than enough.”
“I’m really sorry I can’t drive you home.” This is the first time since I got my bike that I actually regret it.
She waves it off. “Don’t worry about it.”
“How about I get you an Uber instead?” I offer, not wanting her to carry all this stuff by herself.
She shakes her head. “I’m okay, really.”
I step closer, catching the sweet scent of her hair. She’s absolutely breathtaking. “I have a feeling you don’t like people taking care of you.”
“You got that after just a few hours around me?” She raises an eyebrow, a playful glint in her eyes.
I smile. She’s sassy. I like that. “Pass me your phone,” I say. “I’ll give you my number, so you can ask about the puppy whenever.”
She nods, handing me her phone. I type in my number and pass it back to her. “You sure you’re okay?” I ask again.
“Yes,” she assures me. “I’ll be fine.”
“I need to go check if Victoria was able to close up,” I say, glancing at my watch. “Bye!”
“Bye!” she waves, a soft smile on her lips.
I start my walk back, feeling a bit lighter. About three minutes later, my phone buzzes. It’s a text from her.
Thanks for today, doc!
I smile, replying: You’re welcome. Text me if you run into any issues.
A few seconds later, another text comes in.
I’ll save all my questions for tomorrow at six. We still on for dinner?
Hell yes! Looking forward to it.
As I walk, I think about how the day unfolded. Meeting Millie wasn’t on my agenda, but I’m glad she showed up. There’s something about her that intrigues me and makes me want to know more. She’s beautiful, smart and has a great sense of humor. And the way she cared for that puppy, it’s obvious she has a kind heart.
I reach the clinic and find Victoria just locking up. “Hey, Vic. Everything good?”
“Yeah, all set,” she says, turning the key. “How’d it go with the dog?”
“Good. Got him all checked out,” I say. “And met someone interesting in the process.”
“Oh?” She raises an eyebrow. “Do tell.”
“Later,” I say with a grin. “I’ve got dinner plans tomorrow.”
“Ooh, exciting. Well, good luck,” she teases. “See you tomorrow, boss.”
“See you, Vic.”
I head home, the events of the day playing over in my mind. Millie’s face, her laugh and the way she looked so worried about the puppy.
I can’t wait to see her again.