shoulders dropped in relief. “Yes, please.”
He picked up the replacement bulb and climbed the ladder as if it was a step stool, then screwed the bulb into the fixture. She took advantage of the moment to drink in the full impact of his big, athletic body. For him to perform such a simple task seemed like a waste of his abilities. It was easy to picture him in battle, or in a crisis. The man was built for action.
He descended the ladder, then scanned the ceiling. “Do you have any other bulbs that need to be replaced?”
Lacey blushed. “No. But thank you. I’m sure you didn’t drop by to do handyman work.”
“No,” he agreed amiably. “Not that I mind. But I came to make an appointment to have Sheridan groomed.”
She was surprised, since he’d made no secret he didn’t appreciate her input on his dog. “Just a haircut?” she supplied with a smile, using his words.
“And a bath if you think it’s necessary.”
She eyed his dog, still standing obediently near the door, holding the pink toy in his mouth. “Probably not. Labs don’t need to be bathed as often as other breeds—it dries out their skin.” She checked the clock on the wall. “I have time to groom him before my next appointment, if that works for you.”
“Good.” He looked at his dog. “Sheridan, come.”
The dog moved forward slowly, his head down and his eyes unfocused, dragging his leash behind him.
“Has Dr. Greenwood found anything wrong with him physically?” Lacey asked.
Mike’s mouth tightened. “Not yet.”
Realizing she was treading on touchy territory, she added, “I just want to make sure I don’t do something to inadvertently aggravate a situation. Is he on any medication?”
“Just standard tick and flea treatments.”
“Okay. Why don’t you come back in about forty-five minutes.”
He balked. “I’d rather stay and observe.”
Now it was her turn to balk. “I’m sorry—it’s my policy that the owner not be around when I’m working with their animal.”
Suspicion darkened his eyes. “Why?”
“I assure you I have nothing to hide,” she said, pushing down her irritation. “It’s just too distracting for the pet.” And in this case, too distracting for her.
“Sheridan isn’t a pet.”
“I understand, but this is the way I work.” She waited, sure he would take his dog and leave, but more sure she wasn’t going to back down…his excellent handyman services notwithstanding. “You can wait in the lobby if you like. I have better magazines than Dr. Greenwood.”
He didn’t smile, but he finally conceded with a nod. “Okay. I’ll be in the lobby if anything…if Sheridan needs me.”
Her heart pinched. The man was worried about his dog. “I’ll take good care of him and bring him out when I’m finished.”
With a look akin to a parent dropping off their child at day care for the first time, he retreated backward toward the lobby. Sheridan started to follow him, and not only did Mike not stop the dog, but he took a step toward it.
“Mike,” she said firmly.
He looked up, his eyes belligerent.
“Out.”
His mouth twitched, then he looked back to his dog. “Sheridan, stay.”
The dog whined, but obeyed. Lacey went to the animal to distract it before it could become distressed. With one last look at his dog, Mike disappeared around the corner.
Lacey led an anxious Sheridan to a grooming area and whispered, “Your master could use some training of his own.”
Chapter Five
For the better part of an hour, Mike’s ears were piqued for sounds of distress coming from the grooming area, but the only noise he heard was Lacey’s voice, unintelligible and constant, like a song playing low, over and over.
And even the quality magazines in the waiting room couldn’t keep his mind from wandering back to the citrusy scent of her soft curls, and the silky slide of her lithe body against his when he’d helped her down from the ladder. He only hoped she hadn’t been able to feel his animal reaction.
Mike squirmed in the chair and checked his watch for the hundredth time.
When they finally emerged from the grooming area, his heart bounced unexpectedly at the sight of Lacey’s sunny face. While he digested his response with a hearty dose of dismay, he zeroed in on Sheridan. The difference in the big black Lab was noticeable. The damnable pink toy was still lodged in his mouth, but he seemed more alert and his tail wagged. Mike was instantly on guard. “What did you do to him?”
The little wrinkle between her brows reappeared as she handed over the leash.