23
Ruggedly roguish
At the light rap on the doorframe, Brandy-Lyn looked up from her cellphone, grimacing at the stiffness in her neck, but also thankful that the brace was gone. She slumped back when seeing the identity of her visitor. “Sheriff,” she murmured, unable to keep the disappointment from her voice.
“Morning, Ms. Powers.” He walked closer, his lips quirking. “Expecting someone else?”
She cursed her red hair as heat flooded her face. “Rafferty’s on his way.” According to Preston, the man had left a short while ago to come and fetch her.
“He giving you a lift home?”
“Yeah.”
His mouth widened into a full-blown grin.
“He’s a friend, Sheriff,” she snapped. The nursing staff had been relentless with their curiosity about her relationship with the ruggedly roguish (their description, not hers … but it was rather fitting) Rafferty Lawson.
Sheriff Wheeler held his hands up. “No offense meant, ma’am. After all, the man is my brother-in-law. Just glad you’re sorted getting home. Was gonna offer myself.”
She deflated. “Thank you. Rafferty … he stayed with my kids last night.”
“How’re they doing today?”
“Stiff and sore. Amelia had a bad night. They’re staying home today.”
According to Olivia, Amelia woke up from a bad dream during the night and went to get a drink.
The noise woke Rafferty, and he stayed up with her, watching Buffy, the Vampire Slayer .
After breakfast (Rafferty made pancakes, even though it was Olivia’s breakfast duty week), Amelia finally fell asleep on the couch, and Rafferty carried her up the stairs to bed.
Brandy was so grateful he was there for them. “What brings you here, Sheriff?” she pushed the words past the lump in her throat.
“Deputy Cruz went out at first light to look for the animal that caused her to swerve. Although there was no indication that she struck an animal, the possibility of an injured one roaming around did not sit well with him, so he went searching. He found it. Or rather, a dog found him, then ran off. He chased after the hound, a smallish terrier mix, and it led him straight to another dog. An injured golden retriever. Not sure which animal caused the accident, maybe neither and finding them is a coincidence, but he took both to the clinic.”
A wave of concern washed over her. Poor animals. She couldn’t help but picture the dogs, vulnerable, afraid, and in pain, and the thought tugged at her heartstrings. And poor Amelia. It would devastate her sensitive daughter if they discovered she had hit the animal.
“They’re at BVC?” Bulwark Veterinary Clinic was the main domestic animal hospital in town.
He nodded. “Siobhan’s on duty this morning.”
Movement behind the sheriff drew her eye. Her heart skipped a beat.
Rafferty swaggered through the doorway, dressed in a black leather jacket, snug blue jeans, worn boots, ballcap worn backwards, and a wicked gleam in his bright blues as they swept over her, setting her belly aflutter and her lady parts atingle.
Lordy, why did he have to be so … ruggedly roguish.
It galled her that the description suited him so freaking well.
He dropped a duffel on the visitor’s chair. “Morning, Red. Kurt.”
There was something different in his voice today, something buoyant.
He moved nearer and gave her a devastating smile.
“You’re looking a lot better today.” Bracing his hand against the upright back of the bed, Rafferty leaned down and placed a brief kiss on her forehead.
“And smell rather … fruity?” he said close to her ear.
Her heart skipped a beat as his warm breath whispered over her skin, the tip of his nose brushing against the shell of her ear before he straightened.
Caught off guard by the display of affection, she patted her still damp hair. “I showered.”
Duh. That was obvious, Brandy.
And wow, he smelled divine — an earthy yet woody scent with a hint of cardamom. It suited him. All dark and mysterious and sensual. And dangerous.
Unfortunately, his glorious scent dissipated as he stepped back, smile dimming. “Hopefully not with help from that brawny nurse out there.”
“Nurse Juan?” The senior nurse was delightful. And yes, brawny and attractive. “He’s gay.”
Rafferty folded his arms and growled, looking at her down the length of his nose. “He’s a man.”
“He’s a nurse .” She tipped her head to the side. “And why should it bother you that Nurse Juan saw me naked?” The idea that it bothered him pleased her.
He scowled, his brows meeting above that perfect nose. “It just does.”
Kurt chuckled.
Rafferty swung to look at his brother-in-law. “Nothing funny here.”
“Beg to differ. Must say, did not see this” — the sheriff waved his hand between the two of them — “coming.”
“Not your concern, Kurt,” Rafferty muttered. “What is your concern, is to ensure the accident won’t affect Amelia’s provisional driver’s license.”
Brandy gasped. Amelia losing her license hadn’t even crossed her mind. She surged upright. And whimpered as pain shot through her neck and into her head. Snapping her eyes shut, she slumped against the pillows. Maybe she still needed that neck brace.
“Whoa. Easy, darlin’.” Rafferty was back at her side in a flash.
Grabbing hold of his forearm, she whispered urgently, “Accident wasn’t her fault. Dog ran across the road. Ask Sheriff Wheeler.”
Trailing his fingers along her hairline, he said, “Nothing’s gonna happen to Mimi’s license.” He twisted his neck to look at the sheriff. “Right, Kurt?”
“Correct. The accident won’t count against her.”
“Thank you, Sheriff.”
“No thanks needed. And as we’re as good as family, there is no need for formality. Kurt will do.”
*
Brandy-Lyn winced, her head pounding, but she was determined to see the dogs. Rafferty walked beside her, his presence and his hand on the small of her back a steadying force. She noticed how he kept glancing at her, a mix of concern and quiet understanding in his eyes.
They were led to a small examination room, and her eyes fixed on the golden retriever lying motionless, tubes snaking out of its body, ribs visibly showing beneath its grimy fur.
The other was a wiry terrier mix, as grubby as its friend.
It lay with its snout up against the wire of its cage, clearly in discomfort but not taking its eyes off the retriever.
Siobhan greeted them with a nod, a curious gleam in her eyes as her gaze moved between them. Then those blue eyes, identical to her brother’s, fixed on Brandy. “Glad to see you’re up and about, Brandy. It could’ve been so much worse.”
“Thanks. And yes, we were fortunate.” She nodded to the injured animals. “How are they? Will they be okay?”
Siobhan took a deep breath, glancing down at her notes before answering. “The retriever is the one who’s injured. He has a broken leg, likely from a few days ago. And some internal bruising. Nothing life-threatening, but it’s clear that he’s been through a lot. He’s under sedation.”
Rafferty shifted and leaned against the counter, his expression tight. “So, you’re saying this injury happened before the accident?”
“Yes,” Siobhan confirmed. “None of his injuries are fresh, and the trauma to his leg is significant. It’s possible we might have to amputate. We’ll have to assess the nerve damage once he’s fully awake.”
Brandy’s breath hitched. “That’s awful,” she whispered.
“Both of these animals are malnourished. I suspect they’ve been wandering for a while, without proper care or food. It’s possible that they were abandoned, or perhaps they’ve been living in an unsafe environment.”
Rafferty grunted and crossed his arms.
Brandy took a step closer to the retriever.
“We had a retriever. Tucker died a few months before we moved here.” Heart hurting, she knelt beside the kennel.
“I’m sorry you’re hurting,” she whispered.
A low growl from the neighboring cage took her attention away from the retriever.
The terrier was on its feet, teeth bared.
It gave a sharp bark, the sound piercing Brandy’s already sore head.
“Hey, little one. I’m not gonna hurt your friend,” she pacified.
Siobhan continued, “The terrier’s in a better condition. She has some scrapes and bruises, but she’ll recover.”
The small dog’s gaze was back on the retriever, her body tense, as though she was guarding something precious. “She’s really protective of him,” Brandy remarked, her voice soft.
“Yes, she’s been very attached to him. It’s clear that they’ve been together for a while.”
Brandy’s heart tightened, and she looked up at Rafferty.“Do you think … maybe she was trying to get help for him when the accident happened?”
He crouched beside her, viewing the little terrier.“It’s possible.”
Siobhan added, “From the way she’s been behaving, I think you’re right.”
“You’re a good sister,” Brandy murmured, her voice thick with emotion. “But you can rest now. We’ll take care of your brother for you.”
The dog gave a soft whine and lay back down, resting her head on her paws, her eyes once more on her friend. Then she exhaled. And lowered her lids. For a heart stopping beat, Brandy thought the dog had died, but the steady rise and fall of her body quickly dispelled that dramatic notion.
Rafferty stood and helped her up, his hand under her elbow. He dropped his arm and turned to his sister. “I’ll take care of the cost for their recovery.”
Brandy sucked in a breath. “You don’t have to do that.”
He snagged her gaze with his. “I want to.”
She read the finality in his voice and pursed her lips. “Okay. Just don’t think that makes them yours.”
His eyes glittered with amusement. “I wouldn’t dream of thinking that, Red.”
“You want to adopt them, Brandy?” Siobhan asked.
“I do.”
“Normally, we would follow a process of trying to locate their owners—”
“Over my dead body,” Brandy snarled, “are they going back to whoever tossed them away.”