Chapter 7
Emma
Iwake up warm and toasty in my bed and find an arm lying across my waist. That's when it all comes back to me. What a night. A night with the man I've been crushing on for as long as I can remember. I slowly slide out from under his arm and out of bed.
Buddy is already awake and waiting for breakfast, or at least that's what I think he's wagging his tail for. I sit down on the sofa and bring him up to me. He must want to go out to relieve himself. With the weather how it is, I'm not sure I want to go out.
I search for the puppy pads I've got for emergencies like this and place it in a corner of my apartment. I tell him to go potty, and he seems to understand. Anger rolls up in me again because who would mistreat such a smart angel like this one?
We agreed last night that I'd keep Buddy today so that the in-house vet can check him out.
I shower and change all the while trying not to wake Tristan.
He looks so vulnerable like this, sleeping in my bed.
A few images of the night before flash before my eyes and suddenly I'm blushing all over again.
Once I'm ready, I pick up Buddy and go downstairs to the shop. Technically, I'm not sneaking out. Although I don't leave a note or even my number so he can contact me. There are a lot of emotions going through me right now, and I think more input from him will just make my brain hurt.
Downstairs things are already getting started. The streets are snow-free thanks to our tax dollars, and everyone seems to be in a good mood. I go up to where the vet is set up with Buddy in my arms. I feel protective of him, and am hoping the other members of the shop will treat him kindly.
I don't know why I'm worried. Everyone here loves animals and treats them with love and care. I make my way to the exam room where Luke works out of. He's on loan from the Storyville Veterinary and we're trying to convince him to come work for us full time.
"Hey, Luke. Are you busy?"
"Emma, Hi. Things are slow this morning. Who do you have there?"
He comes towards me and scratches Buddy on the head. Buddy seems wary of the attention paid to him, but eventually wags his tail slowly.
"This is Buddy. The police found him last night, tied outside a house, and he was badly matted and generally in a bad way. I checked him as best I could while working on him, but wanted you to give him a checkup to see if he needs any additional care."
"I can certainly do that. Bring him over here to the table."
Luke has this thing, where he talks to the patient as if they understand him. It's hilarious, but now that he's doing on a dog I'm invested in, I see why it works. He makes a connection with the animal while talking to it and I'm so glad he's working with us right now.
I wait patiently for Luke's verdict once he's done checking the puppy. From what he's been telling Buddy, everything seems in order.
"Okay, he's underweight and I'm going to give him something to deworm him. Are you going to take him to the shelter?"
"That's the plan, though the officer who brought him might want to foster."
"That's great. This little guy needs all the love someone can give him. Why exactly did you blush when talking about this officer?"
"Um, I didn't."
"You totally did. It's okay, you don't have to tell me. Your sisters will not let it go, however."
Yeah, I wasn't looking forward to facing my sisters. I took Buddy with me to the grooming area and placed him on a play area we have for when the dogs are ready and waiting for their parents. I have to feed him soon, but I need to get everything organized for the interns.
Except the interns have been busy at work and have everything set up for when they get new customers.
"Wow, guys. You've done a wonderful job setting up. Thanks."
"There was someone here looking for you earlier." Marilee says.
I can't help myself, so I blush again.
"Is that right? Did he leave a message?"
"We told him to leave his message at the front with Luna."
"Oh, crap."
Since there's nothing for me to do here right now, I go into my office to do some paperwork for the shop. I don't want to go out to where Luna might start digging for information on Tristan. I work in peace for a couple of hours when finally all three of my sisters come get me to have lunch.
We have a big cafeteria where we normally eat lunch. The girls seem eager to gossip. I stay quiet and pray that Luna doesn't say a thing. My hope is gone when I see her looking at me and smirking. Once a week Felicia makes food for us and serves it buffet style.
This week is lasagna soup with garlic bread and a side salad. We each take our plates and sit down at the big table.
"Is dad coming?" I ask.
"No, I went over there earlier and left them enough food for a couple of days." Felicia says.
I take a scoop of the soup and find it's absolutely delicious. Felicia should have totally become a chef somewhere, but she was always all in with our plan to do something animal-related. She's the best dog trainer I know and wouldn't recommend anyone else unless she was already busy.
"You're very quiet, Emma." Laura says.
"Emma's got a secret." Luna says in a singsong voice.
"You didn't read my message, did you, Luna?"
"He didn't fold it or tell me it was a secret."
"Who left you a message? Do you have a suitor, Emma?" Laura asks.
"Last night Tristan brought over a pup in need."
"Tristan? Oh, you mean Officer Hottie, who you've been drooling over forever?" Felicia says.
I blush profusely and try to hide my face from my sisters. However, they know me too well.
"Oh my God, Emma did you sleep with him?" Luna asks.
"I…"
"EMMA!" All three of my sisters shout, making the other people in the cafeteria train their eyes on me.
"It's fine. It was a one-night thing. Don't worry."
"He said in his note he wants shared custody."
Anger fills me as I realize that Luna has indeed read my note.
"You know better than to read other people's notes. What's wrong with you?"
"Oh you won't get to turn this on me, missy. You effed up. Were you safe?"
All my sisters turn back to me at the question, and I don't think I could turn any redder than I already am.
"I'm on the pill."
"Someone needs to have the talk with her." Luna says.
Suddenly the table goes silent, and I know I'm going to get a lecture. The thing is I'm the big sister. I'm supposed to know better than all of them. How can I explain to them that things felt right at the moment and I wouldn't change a thing?
"He left his number. Are you going to call him back?" Luna asks.
"He'll be back soon. I've still got the dog."
They prod me with questions, and I tell them about Buddy and how he was mistreated. I had taken some before photos of him, and they were all saddened by his situation.
"Are you falling for the dog or the man, Emma?" Felicia asks.
"The dog, definitely. The man, I have no idea."
"Well, tell us the deets. Is he good in bed?"
"All I will say is I had a very good night."
After we have dessert and Felicia and Luna have left, Laura sits down next to me.
"Emma. I know it's been a long time for you, but you need to protect your heart."
"I'll be okay, Laura."
"You give so much of yourself to others, Emma, but I'm worried you won't be careful about this."
"Hey, I'm the big sister here, Laura. I can handle myself."
"I'm not sure that's true with matters of the heart."
Laura is not far from the truth here, but I don't want to seem weak in front of my sister. I'm completely in love with the dog and the man is making giant strides to get inside my heart.
"Laura…"
"Don't. Just promise me you'll try to take it slow. Love is a beautiful journey, and you don't want to miss the scenery in order to get to the end of the path."
"Oh, God. Have you been reading romance novels again?"
"Just be careful, okay?"
"Okay."
We get up and give each other a hug. Then I go to the front desk to get my note.
"You're in my black book, Missy." I tell Luna.
"He's really hot, Emma. Good job."
I want to strangle her, but I don't because there's a line in front of her and I don't want to make a scene. I go back to my office behind the grooming area and open up the note. Hey, it was folded, so she cheated.
We need to talk. I want shared custody of Buddy. Here's my number (555)435-3233 T.
How do I face this man in the light of day? I'm both embarrassed and at the same time turned on when I think of what we did last night. You know what? I'm a modern woman and if I choose to sleep with someone it's my right to do so. I won't let anybody or even myself make me feel bad about it.
Before I go back to work, I send a quick message to Tristan.
Me: Vet checked Buddy. Needs some supplements. He typed up the recommendations. There might be some leftover lasagna soup with your name on it if you come by tonight.
Tristan: I thought you'd never ask.