“Can I help you?” a young woman asked when Noelle pushed open the door to the vet’s office. She tried not to wrinkle her nose over the smell and reminded herself that lemons were better than the alternative.
She wasn’t sure what she was expecting, but the modern office with the young girl sitting there sporting a huge smile wasn’t it. When she heard clicking, she turned her head to see a dog the size of a small horse come trotting into the waiting room.
“I’ll let you take care of him first,” she said, stepping back and giving him wide berth.
The young receptionist started talking to the dog in a childlike voice, saying, “Duke, did you do good today? Do you deserve a treat?” If her voice was a little too high pitched, the dog didn’t seem to notice as a treat was placed in his mouth. The receptionist didn’t even seem to mind that her hand was covered with slobber when she pulled it away.
What was she doing here? Damn Emma for putting this idea in her head.
“Now, what can I help you with?” the overly cheerful receptionist said to her.
“I just moved to this area. I’m a photographer and was wondering if the shelter was in need of photos to help with the adoption process. Pro bono. I’m just looking for something to do in my spare time.”
She was guessing the receptionist didn’t know what pro bono meant when she replied, “Dr. Martin is the person you need to speak with and does all the hiring. He runs the shelter too. You’re in luck because we had a cancellation this morning and he’s currently in his office. Can I have your name and I’ll just go back and let him know.”
“Noelle Bennett,” she said, hoping no one recognized it. Then she wondered why she was thinking that when no one recognized her face, so they sure the heck wouldn’t know her full name. Hell, most didn’t know her by anything other than Noelle.
Of course, since she’d moved here she hadn’t worn anything remotely in fashion, trying to blend in like everyone else.
“Why don’t you have a seat then.”
She turned and sat down to wait, but didn’t have long. When the receptionist returned, she wasn’t alone, though Noelle hadn’t heard any other footsteps. Surprising too, since the man that was following behind had a good half a foot on her own five foot ten inches. She guessed he probably had eighty pounds on her too.
“Noelle,” he said, reaching his hand out for hers. “I’m Chase Martin.”
She stood up and took it, marveling at how soft it was...the complete opposite of his voice. She wondered if that ever scared the animals. Probably not, but she found it pretty darn sexy. Most men she’d been around in her life didn’t have deep voices. No one other than her father.
“Hi,” she said, liking that he didn’t add doctor in front of his name. Of course, did vets do that? They were considered doctors, right? Not real doctors, but still had that title.
“I’m not sure if”—she turned, realizing she didn’t know the name of the receptionist— “told you the reason I’m here.”
“Brianna did. She said you’re looking to take pictures of the animals in the shelter to help with the adoption process.”
“Yes. I’d like to volunteer my services. I’m new to the area and thought it might be a good way to give back.”
“I think we can work something out. If you’ve got some time, why don’t you come back to my office.”
“Have a seat,” he said after he opened his door. He sat across from her in the opposite chair.
He was thinking he was like Duke that he’d just seen with a treat being shoved in front of him. His tongue wanted to roll out of his mouth and he was pretty sure he was drooling. Somehow he managed to not spit when he spoke, so that was a plus.
The woman in front of him was a vision out of a dream. Clear blue eyes that reminded him of the Caribbean, a sprinkling of freckles over the bridge of her nose, with hair so dark it could only be called midnight. She was stunning.
There wasn’t a lick of makeup on her face and it didn’t matter. She’d be able to stop traffic in the street looking like she did right now in green shorts, sandals, and a white T-shirt. Even her sleek hair was pulled back in a ponytail.
Casual looked mighty fine on her indeed.
“How did you hear about us?” he asked, hoping to find a few brain cells that he was afraid might be dropping into his pants right now. Talk about embarrassing. He couldn’t remember the last time he had a reaction like this to anyone. Not even when some of the single owners came on to him during exams of their pets.
“I pass by here on my way in and out of town often. As I said, I’m new to the area and thought it might be a good way to get involved and pass the time. I’ve seen pictures around of the dogs and saw them on your website. I know I can make the dogs look a little bit more attractive to potential homes.”
“Anything would be better than me snapping them with my cell phone.”
She smiled and it seemed like she transformed again. Her eyes, they were just sucking him in like one of those super duper vacuums at the car wash.
“I know I can do that. Do you need to see some references of my work?”
He laughed. “Nope. Anything is better than what I do.” She frowned and he knew he put his foot in his mouth. “No insult intended. I’m just saying that I’d appreciate anything or any time you can manage.”
“My time is pretty flexible,” she said. “I’m self-employed, so if you give me an idea of what works for you, I’m sure I can fit it in.”
He knew there was a lot he could say that worked for him, but he kept his lips sealed. He and women just didn’t seem to mesh well for some reason.
He’d tried. He wanted a relationship. It just seemed that most of the time he was too preoccupied with his practice and the outside world got fed up with his lack of focus on anything but the animals.
Or that was what he was telling himself, because the alternative was that he just sucked at relationships.
The thing is, the animals were oftentimes nicer company and better behaved.
“My office closes at six tonight. If you don’t have plans, we can meet at the shelter after. There aren’t that many dogs there right now, thankfully, but I’d love to get them set up with better pictures and explain the process to you.”
“That works.”
She stood up and held her hand out to his and then he escorted her back down the hall and to the front. He was looking at the rack for all the pamphlets left in the waiting room and noticed a lot of empty slots. When did that happen?
“Brianna, can you give Noelle a few pamphlets on the shelter for me?”
Brianna reached behind the desk and pulled one out. “We only have one other left. More need to be ordered. I asked you last week if you wanted me to do it, but you mentioned there were things you wanted to change.”
Crap. He’d forgotten about that. It seemed like he had so much going on, that the little things were getting lost in the shuffle. “I completely forgot. Can you send me an email as a reminder and I’ll get on it tonight?”
Noelle had already pulled it open. “What do you want changed?” she asked.
“Just some of the wording. I want the layout different. More appealing, I guess you could say. I put that together myself two years ago when I first opened the shelter. I just can’t seem to find the time to do anything like that, or find someone to even do it for me.”
“Do you mind if I play around with it a bit?”
Now he knew he was dreaming, he had to be. Beauty, brains, and a willingness to volunteer. “Be my guest,” he said.
“I’ll have something in a few hours when we meet. I’ll just find some random pictures to put in it so you get an idea.”
“Even better. But like the pictures, I’m sure anything you do is going to be aces above what I did.”
“Aces, huh?” she asked, smirking at him. Another look in her eyes right now. One he couldn’t decipher. Was she flirting? Making fun of him? Maybe he needed to spend more time with humans than canines.