a double take. “With you? Alone?”
She remembered his reluctance to leave when she’d groomed Sheridan. It dawned on her that man and dog had probably spent very little time apart. “Yes—with me, alone.”
“But he should be training today. We only have three more days, and he’s not ready.”
“A break might be good for both of you.” And she needed a break from the ballooning attraction she felt for the soldier.
He looked lost and for a moment, her heart went out to him. But she stood her ground. “We’ll be back this afternoon.”
“Okay. I’ll give you a ride into town.”
“No, thanks, we’ll walk,” she said breezily. “See you later.”
She felt his gaze burning into her as they walked away from the cabin. But if the man was loath to let his animal out of his sight, Sheridan felt no such compunction. The dog trotted along in front of her on the newly paved road along Clover Ridge where houses were springing up right and left. In fact, the Armstrong brothers themselves were building new homes here along the point where they’d grown up. She was pleased that Sheridan didn’t flinch at the noise of the machinery when they walked past the construction sites, but he did avoid a sprinkler watering a newly sodded yard.
Clover Ridge was a beautiful spot, she conceded, soaking up the postcardworthy view of sprawling blue valley, rolling green hills and soaring red-clay mountains. The walk took them past one of the community’s cemeteries, a hallowed place that was well kept and dotted with cheerful flowers. Sheridan explored at will on the end of his long leash. She was pleased to see his ears perked, his tail wagging. He was more alert and focused, more curious and inquisitive.
Once they reached the sidewalks of Sweetness, she closely observed how he responded to people and other dogs. He remained calm, even when dogs greeted him enthusiastically, but he didn’t relinquish the pink bone to return the welcome.
Lacey stopped by Here Comes the Groom to check on things, gratified to see Betsy was handling everything with her normal competence and good cheer. Lacey spent an hour in the office catching up on paperwork. She allowed Sheridan to roam free in the closed-off area, encouraged by his willingness to explore on his own.
Afterward, she went by the hair salon for a trim. She secured Sheridan to the railing out front—dog tie-ups were as prevalent in town as bike racks. Two other dogs were already there—a cute little French bulldog named Lady, and a Border collie named Ricci, both clients of Lacey’s. She greeted the dogs with a scratch and a pat, relieved to see that although Sheridan wasn’t overly friendly, he didn’t object to their company. She made sure a water bowl was within easy reach, then went inside. The hair salon was a hub of activity, always hopping and always the gristmill for local gossip.
Her friend Traci Miles smiled wide and swept an arm toward a vacant chair. “Sit down and tell me all about that yummy man you’re living with.”
“Yes, do tell,” Julie Whelk said from the next chair.
Lacey’s cheeks warmed. “I’m not living with Mike Nichols. I’m just staying there to help with his dog, Sheridan.”
The women exchanged knowing glances and said, “Uh-huh,” in unison.
Lacey squirmed. She wasn’t sure what frustrated her most—the fact that people thought she and Mike Nichols were fooling around…or the fact that people were wrong.
Traci pinned a drape around Lacey’s shoulders. “What can I do for you, hot stuff?”
Lacey sighed at her reflection—the humidity had turned her curly hair into a nightmare. No wonder Mike hadn’t tried to kiss her again. “What can you do?”
Traci angled her head. “How about a trim and a blowout?”
“That sounds painful.”
Traci laughed. “It’ll straighten your hair…some. Temporarily, of course.” She leaned down. “Muscle man will love it.”
Lacey was flustered. Mike probably was attracted to women who were more well groomed and who dressed less flamboyantly. “I’m game, as long as it doesn’t take too long. Sheridan is tied up outside.” Where she sat, she had an easy view of him through the window.
“I’ll have you out of here in a jiffy.”
The women quizzed her mercilessly about Mike, but her protests that they had no carnal knowledge of one another sounded false even to her own ears. Her permanent blush didn’t do her any favors. True to her word, Traci finished the trim and the “blowout” in record time. Lacey couldn’t believe the transformation in the mirror—she looked polished