Chapter 1
“Nate! Nate!”
A shout rang out from the front of the bank where the tellers worked all in a row. The urgent tone of the female voice pulled bank manager Nate from his seat and propelled him from his office with a pounding heart. Not before he jammed his keys deep in the soil of his potted plant.
Don’t let this be the day I have to deal with a hold up. I’m not handing over those keys!
He rounded the corner and skidded to a stop at the unexpected scene unfolding in front of him.
Two giant huskies greeted him on one side of the bank, held back by their desperate owner, his hand twisted around their short leads. A tiny terrier defended his position from six feet away; his barks telling his two larger enemies that he would not be intimidated. The terrier’s owner, a blonde in a red dress and red high heels, tottered toward the dog several times, but each time he darted just out of reach before barking again. Three of the female tellers shouted that the dogs had to leave the bank as customers pressed themselves against the back wall. In the middle of the carnage, an old man waved his walking stick at the little troublemaker, demanding the owner get him under control.
Nate strode forward into the fray. He pulled the lead of the nearest husky from its owner’s grip and dragged the dog toward him. The man gave him a grateful look and yanked against the strength of the remaining dog. They wrangled the animals toward the door together, and Nate almost fell as the lead went slack and then pulled taught when his charge tried a final leap toward the tiny dog still dodging his owner. They spilled out onto the street and dragged the dogs out of sight of their foe.
“Thanks so much for your help. That was crazy!” Sweat trickled down Nate’s back as he handed his lead to the shaking man. The owner wrapped both leads around his hand and pulled the dogs further away from the entrance.
“It was. I’d suggest you don’t bring these guys next time you do your banking.”
The man laughed as his breathing slowly returned to normal. “I didn’t bring them into the bank, that would be even more crazy! I was on my way to have them groomed when that little rat thing popped its head out of that woman’s handbag. Two barks was all it took and they lunged after him. All I could do was hang on.”
“Oh, sorry. I’m glad, because if you thought it was okay to bring them, that was quite unbalanced!” Nate laughed and shook the man’s hand before taking a deep breath and heading back into the bank. If he expected the atmosphere to have calmed down in his absence, he was about to be disappointed.
The terrier crisscrossed the bank foyer, his little legs moving like lightning as he dodged first his owner, then the outstretched hands of the others who made a grab for him. His ears flew as he ran under chairs and around tables, avoiding capture. The old man was swiping his walking stick in long wide strokes as he tried to hit the dog. People ducked out of the way as he used his walking aid as a weapon. He also shouted about untrained animals.
The dog’s little eyes were bright; like he was enjoying all the attention. Nate surveyed the room and noted his staff were back behind the counter and serving customers. They’d given up and left someone else to catch the naughty dog who’d started a riot just a few minutes earlier. He took his second turn at dog catching for the morning as he pushed his foot out in the path of the speeding dog. Before he could blink sharp teeth sank into his pants as the dog snapped at him, then let go just as quickly and continued his trajectory. Nate swore and brushed his hand over the fabric. No holes.
With a renewed determination to get his branch back to normal, he stepped behind the woman in the red dress. As she feigned to the left to catch her dog, he darted to the right and scooped up the wiggling bundle as it changed direction. His little body squirmed as Nate held on and turned to the woman, ready to deposit his captive into the handbag she held open. As he placed the dog in the bag a small, black, head turned and sharp teeth sank deep into Nate’s thumb.
***
The woman in the red dress had introduced herself as Kelly Foster right before she’d insisted on driving Nate to the doctor. He’d reassured her that he was fine to take himself but she was having no part of it. Now he sat in the passenger seat of his own car since she’d confided that she didn’t own one.
“I know I said it before, but I am sorry.”
“It’s fine. It’s just a small bite.”
“Yes, but it’s deep.” She pulled up at the red light and glanced at the bandage on his hand where a few drops of blood had soaked through. “He’s never bitten anyone before. I think he was frightened.”
“Really?” Nate tried to keep his voice neutral. This woman was a bank customer after all. It wouldn’t be smart to tell her that her dog was just a little shit. “He seems happier now.” Another bite of his tongue as she glanced into the back seat, where the dog sat to attention in the middle seat. His bright eyes looked from Kelly to Nate as though he expected one of them to offer him a treat.
“Good boy,” Kelly said to him as the light turned green and she eased forward. She’d nursed Nate’s car all the way from the carpark, driving carefully and at low speed the whole time. Now he ground his teeth together.
I hope I can get rid of her once we reach the doctor. If that dog pisses in my car…
“Turn right here.”
She eased the car to the right and he indicated the undercover carpark. She found a spot, turned the car off and reached for her handbag and the dog who’d caused this problem in the first place. The split in her dress moved apart and the creamy skin at her neck called out for Nate’s attention. Any other day he’d have been tempted to peek. Today his thumb was throbbing and he wanted her, and her mouthy dog, out of his car.
He quickly exited and stood beside his door. “Thanks for the lift. I hope you’re not too far out of your way to get home.”
“Oh, I’m not leaving you here. I’m coming in.”
“No need. I might be here for hours since I don’t have an appointment.”
“Then we’ll wait for hours,” she said, and suddenly she was smiling a perfect cheerleader smile at him. If they’d been outside she might have given the sun some competition.
Deep inside his gut an all-male response stirred at the sight of that smile. One that he pushed right back down as he turned toward the entrance. “Suit yourself.”
Her heels clicked across the concrete as they made their way to the sliding door and took the elevator to the first floor. They passed through double glass doors with warning signs posted all over them.
No helmets. Patients must wear shoes. No cash or drugs kept on premises overnight. Then the best sign Nate had seen all day. A cute little fluffy face with a big red line through it.
“Looks like you’re out of luck. Cujo can’t come in.”
She smirked at his use of the name but her brow crinkled as she stared at the sign. “Hmmm. My doctor allows pets. All places have to accept service dogs.”
“True. We allow them at work. But no dog I’ve had the misfortune of having in the bank today could pass as a service dog.” He tilted his head at her and raised his eyebrows. Time for you to go home and leave me in peace to get this injury seen to. I need to get back to work. “It was nice of you to offer, but I don’t need a babysitter. You should go home.”
“But I feel so guilty, that’s why I wanted to stay.”
“No need. It could have happened to anyone.”
“Maybe I can wait outside.”
“It could be hours. Think of how many people could be sporting bites right along with me if you don’t get him home.” He nodded at the dog and she pursed her lips.
“I told you, this is the first time he’s ever bitten anyone. He’s not a rabid maniac prowling around biting everyone he sees.”
“Just unsuspecting bank managers.”
Her combative expression softened and she put her hand over her mouth. “Oh God, you’re the manager?”
“Yup. You went straight to the top to inflict your injuries.” He directed his words at the dog. “Anyway, honestly, you can go. This is minor.” His eyes met hers and she frowned.
“Okay, if you’re sure.” She stood in the doorway, still undecided, and Nate watched with mild amusement as another patient stepped out of the elevator and walked up the hallway. The man’s eyes widened as he got closer and took in Kelly’s long legs. He tried to pretend he wasn’t ogling her but as soon as she turned her back his gaze raked over her frame from head to toe. She was quite a site in the drab hallway of the doctor’s surgery, dressed as she was, completely in fire engine red. “Can I come and check on you Monday?”
“There’s no need.”
“I’d like to.” She bit her lip as she stared at him. Her dog, the instigator of all this trouble, whined in her bag. His head poked out through the handle and she absently stroked his ear. “Please.”
The guilty tone in her voice inspired his own glimmer of guilt for insisting she get lost, and he sighed, “Fine. Stick your head in on Monday if you want. Can you leave the dog at home, though?”
She smiled. “I can. I only had him today because we had a photo shoot.”
“You’re a model? Or the dog is?”
She laughed and the man who’d passed them in the hallway looked up. Nate stared at him until he dropped his eyes.
Men. We are such obvious beasts. Make sure you aren’t ogling her yourself, Nate.
“I’m the model but today we needed a puppy, so I brought him along.”
“A great decision, in hindsight.”
“That quick trip to the bank to make a deposit might not have been the best part of my plan today.” She grinned at him and took a step back. “Anyway, I’ll leave you in peace and see you Monday.”
Nate smiled and said nothing. A plan was already forming for him to leave a message for her with one of the tellers on Monday and to be in a meeting when she dropped in. She’d get her answer that he hadn’t died, and he could go on uninterrupted all day.
He watched for a moment as she sashayed down the hall. Then he pulled his eyes away from where they’d settled on her red backside and turned to announce himself to the medical staff.
***
A drop-in visit to the doctor usually meant a long wait and today was no exception. A dog bite didn’t count as an emergency and Nate found himself waiting with coughing adults, sick toddlers and their carers. He flicked through his phone to check for work messages but besides that, he had nothing to do but sit and stare. His thoughts inevitably turned to the woman who’d caused his injury and insisted on driving him to the doctor.
Nate hadn’t missed the spectacular sight that was Kelly Foster. From the second he’d rushed into the waiting room to find three dogs taking over his well-ordered branch, he was hyper aware of her. Her hair was the first thing he’d noticed even over the room full of movement; he was a sucker for long blonde hair. Her tight red dress left nothing to the imagination and the same legs that had mesmerised the male patient earlier had held his attention, even while he had chased her dog around her feet.
A beautiful woman was the last thing he needed on his mind right now, though. He wanted to get his thumb seen to as fast as possible and get back to work. Or maybe he’d just go home. It was nearly three o’clock and he wasn’t needed at the bank now. His afternoon appointments had been rescheduled to Monday and it might be nice to have an early afternoon on a Friday for a change. Usually he was the last one to leave every single night. No wonder his mates ribbed him about being married to the job.
Just after four he emerged from the surgery, with a prescription for an antibiotic in hand. As he walked down the hallway to the elevator, he felt around in his pocket and an awful realisation hit him.
He didn’t have his car keys.