Matthew frowned for a second when I told him we had to cool it, and I was beginning to think that I was in for more than I could handle. But that kiss stirred something inside me. For the first time in many months, I wanted to be with someone besides Randy, and that person was Matthew. I wasn’t a woman who frightened easily. I was raised with the same backwoods sensibility of many in this part of the state. Whatever confronted you, you either rolled with it or got rolled over.

Hanging with Randy helped me with those things. The two of us had been friends since before I could remember, and many of my firsts were Randy’s too. But the sexual attraction between Matthew and me was getting harder and harder to ignore, and I could tell Matthew was ready. I just wasn’t ready to let myself go yet.

“Hey,” Matthew said. “Did your dog die?”

“What?” I said, snapping out of my reverie.

“You looked like your dog died.”

“Sorry.”

“No. I’m mean I’m not used to a woman looking like I killed her best friend after I kissed her.”

Oh, Lord. Didn’t Matthew just hit the nail on the head? If I pushed ahead with him, if I allowed him into my heart, was I ready for that?

“It’s not you, Matthew. Geez, I just thought about a tax bill I had to pay.”

“Oh, okay.” His tone, however, displayed that he didn’t believe what I had said.

“Let’s get to work.”

“What’s first?”

“Check-in first, then breakfast according to their dietary restrictions. Each of the client animals has a folder.” I handed Matthew one from a stack which was a double-sided sheet with information on the animal, owners, eating schedule, immunizations and vet visits.

“This is very complete,” he said.

“Yes. I know it all by heart, but I clip it to their runs for the dogs and their pins for the animals in the back building, anyway. Note the color strip on the top. When you take dogs out for a walk, take only those that have the same color strips. These dogs get along with each other. Match a dog from another color group, and there could be trouble.”

“We had something like that in the Marines.”

“You did?”

“Yeah, anyone from any of the other service branches didn’t mix well with Marines. Even Navy didn’t mix well though we are part of that branch of the service.”

“Really?”

“Sure.”

“Then I’ll make sure I don’t invite any sailors to the house.”

“Do you know any sailors?”

“In landlocked Russellville? Fuck no.”

“Then that’s a hollow promise, isn’t it?” he teased.

I snatched a clean towel from the grooming area and snapped it on Matthew’s ass. But instead of being a lighthearted moment as I intended, he froze in place, and Parker shot from the position where he sat watching the morning’s work. He got between Matthew and me. He didn’t growl, but he was watchful, and when I stepped forward, Parker stepped toward me as if to warn me off. Matthew stood with a look of shock on his face and then shook his head.

“Settle,” he commanded. “Sit.”

Parker sat on command but looked up at Matthew.

“Good boy,” Matthew said rubbing him behind the ears but not looking at me. “It’s okay. Meleyna was getting rambunctious.” I felt terrible.

“Jeez, I’m sorry Matthew. I didn’t—”

“It’s okay. We were both clowning around. It’s going to take time to get used to this. What else do we have to do?”

If I ever needed a reminder that certain things were off limits, this was it. But I wondered if it wasn’t just Parker that needed time to “get used” to our new situation.

Once the day clients were checked in, I gave Matthew the cleaning supplies to disinfect the dog run that may or may not harbor malicious organisms dragged in by the coyote. While Matthew busied himself with that, the phone rang.

“Harris’ Animal Heaven,” I answered.

“Hey, Meleyna.”

Randy. Fuck. Doesn’t this guy give up?

“Hey, Randy. What’s up?”

“Look, I’ve checked out this guy you’ve hired. You know he’s on probation, don’t you? For attacking a bouncer at a bar?”

This set me back. Yeah, Matthew had told me there was trouble, but he didn’t say he was on probation. Did that change anything for me? I’d have to think on that. I didn’t have enough information on which to base a decision.

“Randy, I told you—”

“Look, Meleyna. I know I’ve been a dick. I dunno. Maybe you don’t want to have anything to do with me anymore. But for your own sake, be careful of that guy.”

“So noted,” I replied coldly. Randy Barker had a hell of a nerve to poke his nose in my business.

“Look. How about lunch? At the pork place. I’m buying.”

“Why are you doing this, Randy?”

“I’d just like to talk to my friend. Can I do that?”

“I’m very busy.”

“Please, Meleyna.”

I knew I should say no.

“How many times—”

“Please. I have to talk with you.”

I was an idiot. I couldn’t turn down the pleading tone in Randy’s voice.

“Okay. Noon. But I’m not waiting for you. If you don’t show up, I’m leaving.”

“You really need a cell phone.”

“And you need to be there, or don’t bother calling me again.”

“Okay, okay. I get it,” Randy said. He sounded slightly annoyed, but he had no business being that either.

“I’ll see you then,” I said. And I hung up the phone.

Matthew passed by the office with a bucket of cleaning supplies.

“Hey,” he said. “Mind showing me where the water outlet is so I can hit the back.”

With Parker trotting behind us, I showed Matthew were the hose, and water hook-up were located.

“I’ve got to go into town,” I said. “Can you keep an eye on things.”

“Sure,” Matthew said as he scrubbed the concrete with the disinfectant and the push broom wide brush. “Are you going to be okay driving with one arm?”

“Yeah, I can handle it. I never told you about my newspaper delivery days, did I?”

“You were a papergirl?”

“Not quite. More like a paper teen, and I was sixteen. To pay for my first truck, I took to delivering newspapers. Many mornings I rolled a paper with one hand and drove with the other. “

“How did that work out?”

“Not so good. We had an ice storm one night, and a tree struck me.”

“Damn tricky trees. They strike when you least expect it.”

“Yeah. After that grandma had nixed the idea of delivering papers again, so I had to get a part-time job at the local fast-food restaurant.”

“And how did that go?”

“Interfered with softball, so that had to go.”

“I’m detecting a pattern here. Have you ever held a steady job?” Matthew put his shoulders into pushing the broom, and I found the bunching and un-bunching of his muscles fascinating.

“Nope. I’m downright unemployable.”

“I see why you work here. If your grandma fires you, then you really are a hard case.”

“Thanks. That’s the way to stroke a woman’s ego.”

“I aim to please.”

“Um,” I said. “Get the walls all away around.”

“I intend to. Is there anything else I can do?”

“Just make sure my grandmother doesn’t overdo herself. She’s getting spunky again, and I worry she’ll fall. She’s been bed bound for a few weeks, and I’m sure she’s lost some muscle strength.”

“I’ll keep an eye on her. Anything else I should know about the animals?”

“Their walk schedules are on their information sheets.”

“I’ll check it out. You know, I’m not a total newbie to kennels. I did gain my trainer’s credentials.”

“Sorry. I’m a little OCD when it comes to the animals.”

“I noticed that. But that’s good. Better a tight ship than a sloppy operation.”

“Thanks, then I’ll see you in a couple hours.”

Matthew didn’t look up from his work though Parker nudged his nose into my knee. The pooch gave me a pleading look as if begging me not to go.

No way. I’m just imagining that. He can’t know where I’m going.

“I’ll be back soon, boy. Keep a good watch for me, eh?”

Parker sunk to the ground and looked up at me with sad doggie eyes.

I walked to my truck feeling as if I was betraying both Matthew and Parker, which was crazy. Matthew and I had nothing but an amazing kiss and a couple intimate moments. He was handsome, caring, funny and sexy and stirred my desires, that’s for sure. But the man I was about to meet had a hold on my heart.

It was a fucked-up situation.

I drove automatically to the barbecue restaurant where we often hung out while in high school. To my surprise, a sheriff’s cruiser, which I assumed was Randy’s, sat in the parking lot. This was a change. Randy used to keep me waiting.

Randy sat at one of the booths and smiled when I walked up to him.

“Good to see you, sweetie,” he said.

“Randy.” I slid into the booth. And ice tea was waiting for me on the table.

“I ordered your usual.”

“Thanks.”

The conversation lapsed into an uncomfortable silence that was broken when the waitress brought the platters of barbecue, coleslaw, and cornbread.

Randy stared at this food.

“Okay, Randy. Why did you call me here?”

“I just wanted to spend some time with you. Can’t I spend time with a friend?”

“So, you have nothing new to say to me.”

“What can I say?”

Damnit. This was a waste of time. I moved to get out the booth.

“Meleyna, please, just sit and eat. I do have some things to say to you. It’s just—I’m no good at this. Give me a couple minutes, okay?”

I sat and stirred the shredded pork on my plate around. My stomach clenched, and my appetite had left me. Randy did the same, then he looked up from his food.

“I’m worried about you,” he said.

“Don’t.”

“I think you are jumping into something that you have no idea how it is going to end up.”

“And I think you have your own reasons to not to like it.”

Randy pursed his lips.

“You’re right about that. I thought . . . I don’t know what I thought.”

“You are dating someone, Randy. What am I supposed to think?”

Randy shoved a hunk of barbecue to the side.

“It’s not going well.”

“That’s a surprise.”

“Damn it, Meleyna.”

“Do you seriously expect me to discuss with you the problems with your girlfriend?”

“A friend would.”

“We had that discussion, Randy. And I’m not going to revisit it. Waitress.” I waved the server to the table. “Please wrap my food.”

“Certainly, ma’am.” She took the plate away, and I pulled out a couple of twenties from my purse.

“You don’t have to do that,” Randy protested.

“Look, I care for you, Randy. You know that.”

“Keep your voice down,” Randy hissed.

“And that’s the other thing we’ve had a discussion about. At least with Matthew, I don’t have to worry about him hiding anything. Or whispering in booths, or making an effort to be seen in public sharing affection on purpose, then parting ways so you can find your real pleasure in someone else’s bed. I’m sorry, Randy. I’m just not prepared to be your friend, or best buddy, or anything else that is less than what I want. And I’m certainly not going to discuss the problems you have with women. We know where those come from. I really don’t know how many ways I have to say it, but if it isn’t clear to you now, it never will be.”

The waitress came back with my food. I handed her a five dollar bill as a tip. “Thank you,” I said. “You have a good day.”

“Meleyna,” appealed Randy.

“See you around, Randy.”

“Meleyna—”

“And another thing,” I said, leaning close to Randy. “Don’t you dare give a minute’s trouble to Matthew Rees. I won’t have it. And you know as well as I do that this could turn ugly if you don’t back off.”