The Best Man Plan - Jaci Burton Page 0,31
get to explore more of them.
“Agatha, we have a date tonight.”
The pup was already asleep.
CHAPTER
eleven
AFTER WORK, JASON stopped at his favorite meat market to pick up some prime cuts of filet, then hit the grocery store for the rest of the stuff he’d need for dinner that night.
Since Puddy had been at the clinic with him today, the dog wagged his tail, happy to be back home. He jumped out of the truck and ran straight inside, lapped up an entire bowl of water, then went to the back door. Jason let him out and went to the truck to get the groceries, put them away, then looked around, realizing he’d left a mess here that needed cleaning up.
He picked up clothes and dog toys, then vacuumed and cleaned the counters and the bathrooms. The floors also needed mopping, but he didn’t have time since he needed to take a shower, and that took priority over a dirty floor.
After his shower, he put on jeans and a T-shirt, then went into the kitchen and downed a glass of ice water. He’d had a full day and most of that was spent outside with horses and cattle. He and the other doctors in the practice traded off outside calls versus clinic appointments. Today had been his day for outside calls. One of the reasons he loved being a small- and large-animal vet was the opportunity to get out of the clinic setting and broaden his practice. He liked helping out the larger animals as well as the smaller ones, and it gave him a chance to roam the countryside. But dealing with farm and ranch calls also made for a longer day, which meant he barely had time to finish cleaning up before Erin was at the door.
He opened it, smiling at how cute she looked in her dress and sandals. Agatha’s tail whipped furiously back and forth.
“She had a nap, and she’s so ready to play now,” Erin said. “I don’t know whether to apologize to you for that, or be happy that she’s so enthusiastic.”
He laughed. “Come on in. Puddy’s out back.”
She handed him a bag. “I brought three bottles.”
He arched a brow. “Planning on a long night?”
She walked in and followed him into the kitchen. “Maybe. We could have in-depth conversations about our childhoods or something.”
“We spent most of our childhoods together. I doubt there’s anything about you I don’t already know.”
“Hey, I kept some secrets from you.”
He pulled the bottles from the bag and laid them on the counter. “First boy you kissed was Steve Gregarian in sixth grade. He shoved his tongue in your mouth and you hated it.”
She gaped at him. “I can’t believe you remember that. Though I seem to recall you telling me about Beth Francis and one night on the football field in seventh grade.”
He grinned. “Oh, right, Beth. She was a wild thing.”
“And now she’s been married three times and has four kids.”
“Told you she was a wild thing.” His lips curved in a knowing smile.
She shook her head.
He took Agatha’s leash. “Come on, Agatha. Let’s introduce you to Puddy.”
Erin followed him out the back door, where Puddy was already wiggling with excitement.
Jason opened the door and there was a tangle of wagging tails and sniffing and excited barks. Fortunately, Puddy and Agatha were about the same age, and Puddy instinctively seemed to know that Agatha was a little handicapped by her cast and her cone, so his play was gentle.
Although Agatha didn’t think of herself as anything but Puddy’s equal, so she nipped and played and tried to run.
Jason took over the leash and walked around the yard with Agatha, giving her enough lead so she could wrestle around with Puddy, but when Puddy tried to take off in a run, he used verbal commands to bring his dog back, keeping both pups in a fairly close circle.
When the dogs were tired out they came inside. Jason closed off all the doors leading into the other rooms, which left only the kitchen and living area. Erin removed Agatha’s leash, and both pups got a long drink of water then went to lie down on the blanket that Jason had for Puddy in the living room.
Within a few minutes, they were curled up together, both of them happily chewing on a couple of soft toys.
“Oh, that’s sweet,” Erin said. “Agatha has a new best friend.”
“She did good.” Jason moved into the kitchen to wash his hands.
Erin came in there with him,