20. Ethan
20
Ethan
Tuesday
G unfire erupted around Ethan as he crawled through thick smoke, desperate to find his men and get to safety. Explosions rocked nearby buildings. His vision blurred as flames engulfed everything ...
“Get down!” he shouted, jolting awake.
Cold sweat drenched his face as he gasped for air. He sat up, feet hitting the floor, and buried his face in his hands.
The vivid images of smoke and fire clung to his mind.
Hero nudged closer before settling on his lap.
Ethan’s trembling fingers found comfort in Hero’s fur, his racing thoughts slowly calming. Sitting up, he swung his legs over the bed and rested his head in his hands.
“Thanks for saving me again,” he murmured, planting a kiss on the dog’s head. “Such a good boy.”
As the remnants of his nightmare faded, Ethan reached for his phone on the nightstand. He swiped through his emails, searching for a response from his psychiatrist about his prescription. Nothing. The sinking feeling from last night returned as he remembered his grim discovery: only one pill left. That would be gone tonight. Despite the early hour, Ethan opened his messaging app. This was too important to wait. He sent a quick text to his psychiatrist.
Ethan: Just following up. Never got a notification about my prescription. Can you tell me where it was filled?
Standing up, Ethan grabbed a shirt and a pair of jeans. He dressed quickly and took deep breaths, steadying himself.
It was just a dream.
With Hero at his heels, he walked into the kitchen and unlocked the back door. Stepping onto the porch, Ethan watched as Hero circled the yard, nose to the ground.
“Good almost afternoon, neighbor,” Clyde called out.
Ethan turned and spotted Clyde sitting on his porch next door, sipping from a mug.
Walking over to the fence, he waved. “Morning, Clyde. Or should I say afternoon?”
Clyde chuckled, raising his mug. “Just brewed some fresh tea. Care to join?”
“I’d like to,” Ethan told him. “I really would. But I’ve gotta get over to the rescue this morning. We’ll definitely catch up before I leave town.”
Clyde nodded, smiling. “Looking forward to it.”
After saying goodbye, Ethan went back inside and made sure Hero’s food and water bowls were full, then headed to the bathroom to get ready.
As Ethan dressed following a shower, his thoughts wandered to Kara, the fun he had last night, and how excited he was to see her again—and the broken promise from twenty years ago. Part of him wanted to explain why he never called, to tell her the truth, but he hesitated.
Opening old wounds now? Seems unwise. Especially when we’re starting to reconnect. And with everything going on at the rescue ... No, I can’t do it to her. Not now.
Heading back to the kitchen, he found Hero munching on his breakfast.
“Gotta run, buddy.” Ethan patted Hero’s side. “Hold down the fort for me.”
As he grabbed his keys and wallet, Mr. Clark, his attorney, crossed his mind. Pulling out his phone, he typed out a message on the way to his truck.
Ethan: Found a safe. Might have the deed in it. Called a locksmith to get the safe open, but he couldn’t do it without ordering tools—might take up to two weeks. I’ll let you know when I hear from him.
Clouds drifted across the sky, offering a brief shade from the May sun, and a cool breeze provided a welcome relief as he stepped out of his truck onto the warm asphalt just outside of Second Chance Animal Rescue.
As he made his way inside, the front desk was empty, so he headed straight for the kennels. The sound of running water and the scent of cleaning supplies guided him toward the back.
“Good to see you finally made it,” Kara called out with a teasing grin, waving a mop in the air as she worked inside a cage.
Ethan rested a shoulder against the doorframe. “What can I help with?”
“Well, I’m almost done with the cages,” she replied, sliding the mop across the floor. “Changed the bedding and scrubbing down the last kennel now.”
“You’ve done all that already?”
“Well, I’ve been able to catch up over the past couple of days with your help,” Kara said as she finished mopping. “I’ve even gotten an early start on the next adoption event, too.”
Ethan straightened up. “We could work on some of those ideas I showed you last night, give Benny his ‘Picture Day.’”
Kara paused, leaning the mop against the wall. “Sure. After all, Benny’s overdue for his close-up. Let me just put this stuff away, and we can get started.”
After returning from the storage closet, Kara headed toward a nearby cabinet, pulling out the grooming kit. She set it on the counter and grabbed a brush and clippers, handing them over to Ethan.
“Ready when you are.”
Ethan took the clippers, nodding as he moved closer to Benny. “Let’s get you looking sharp, buddy.”
Falling into a comfortable rhythm, they worked in tandem, grooming Benny with practiced ease. The soft whir of clippers filled the air as Ethan carefully trimmed the dog’s coat.
Kara gently held Benny still, murmuring soothing words.
“He’s so calm with you,” Ethan noted, checking his work. “You’ve got the magic touch.”
Kara smiled, scratching behind Benny’s ears. “Years of practice. Though I think he knows he’s in good hands with us.”
Ethan grinned as he buzzed the last patch of fur, giving Benny a final once-over with the clippers. “Teamwork makes the dream work, right Benny?” He set the clippers aside and reached for the nail trimmer.
“I’m impressed,” Kara said, adjusting her grip as Ethan started on Benny’s nails.
Ethan chuckled, carefully clipping each nail. “Trust me, it wasn’t pretty at first. Got the scars to prove it.”
“Scars?” Kara raised an eyebrow. “From dog grooming?”
“Hey, don’t underestimate those puppy teeth,” Ethan glanced up.
Kara laughed, settling back on her heels as they worked. A few minutes passed, the steady snip of the trimmer filling the air, before she spoke again. “So, what’s next for our old boy?”
Ethan finished the last nail. “Now? Bath time.”
They maneuvered Benny into the large sink. As Kara lathered Benny’s fur, Ethan noticed a stray bit of soap on her cheek.
“You’ve got a little—” He gestured, then gently wiped it away with his thumb. Their eyes locked for a moment.
Clearing his throat, Ethan reached for the hose. “Allow me to rinse him off, Madam,” he said in an exaggerated butler voice, bowing slightly.
Kara giggled. “Why, thank you, kind sir—” Her mock formality dissolved into laughter as Ethan “accidentally” sprayed her arm. “Hey!”
“Oops,” he grinned. “My hand slipped.”
“Oh, it’s on now,” Kara said, scooping up a handful of suds and smearing them across Ethan’s cheek.
Their playful water fight escalated into a full-blown soap opera, peals of laughter echoing off the walls as they ducked and weaved, flinging suds and spraying water. At first, Benny stood stoically in the middle, but when Kara reached for more suds, he couldn’t resist joining the fun, snapping at the bubbles with comical chomps, his mouth opening and closing as he tried to catch the elusive soap. By the time they finished rinsing Benny, they were both damp and breathless from laughter.
As they dried Benny, their hands brushed more often than necessary, each touch lingering longer than the last. Ethan found himself drawn to the same spots Kara was tending to, subtly seeking out those moments of contact. The warmth of her skin sent a quiet thrill through him each time their fingers met—a silent connection that neither seemed in a hurry to break.
After a brief pause, Ethan reached into the grooming kit for the blow dryer. “Ready for the grand finale?”
Kara nodded, positioning Benny so they could dry him more easily. As Ethan flicked the dryer on, the hum of the motor filled the space, warm air blowing through Benny’s fur. Ethan guided the dryer over the dog’s back, the fur fluffing up with each pass. Kara followed closely behind, smoothing Benny’s coat with a comb. Their hands grazed again, and this time Ethan’s fingers lingered over Kara’s, gently squeezing before they parted.
A quiet warmth passed between them and before Ethan could say anything, Kara reached up with her free hand, her fingers playfully threading through his damp hair. “Missed a spot.”
Ethan grinned, keeping her hand gently in his. “Hey, Benny’s getting the makeover, not me.”
“Just keeping you on your toes.” Kara didn’t move, her lips curving into a playful smile.
Ethan chuckled, his thumb brushing over her knuckles as he met her gaze. “I’ve got a feeling Benny’s getting jealous of all the attention you’re giving me.”
“Pretty sure Benny’s just thrilled that you’re the one doing all the hard work.”
Ethan shook his head, still holding her hand. “Well, I don’t mind sharing the workload—or the company.”
Their hands lingered a moment longer, their eyes locked.
Ethan’s thumb traced slow circles on her palm, and he noticed a shiver run up her arm.
The space between them seemed to hum with unspoken words, and for a heartbeat, it felt like the world had shrunk to just the two of them.
Then—Benny barked, and they both jumped before bursting into laughter.
Kara turned her attention back to Benny. “Well, look at you, handsome,” she cooed, running the comb through his now-fluffy coat.
Ethan stepped back. “He looks amazing. I think we make a pretty good team.”
“We do, don’t we?” Kara agreed, her smile warm. “So, what’s next for our glamorous friend here?”
“Time to take the picture. I’ve got the perfect spot in mind.”
“Where?”
“It’s a surprise, but we’ll need to drive to get there. You up for a quick adventure?”
“With you two?” Kara grinned, scratching Benny behind the ears. “Always.”