Kiss Me in the Summer - Barbara Dunlop Page 0,69

a lawyer. I might have been giving myself away in negotiations all these years. I definitely needed to change that.

“You’re doing it now,” he said, pointing to my eyes.

“Stop.” I pushed his hand away.

“Now, aren’t you a precious one?” A man’s voice interrupted us.

He was sharply dressed in slim black slacks and a burgundy dress shirt. His dark hair was trimmed short, his shave was close, and a pair of sunglasses were perched on his head.

“Is she a purebred?” he asked.

“Maltese,” Josh said. He moved around me and held out his hand to shake. “I don’t have her papers, but I’m a vet. Dr. Rowin. She’s a purebred in my opinion.”

“Dustin Knowles.” The man let go of Josh’s hand and crouched down to get a better look at Pooh-Pooh. “Look at that conformation.”

“You know the breed?” Josh asked.

“I breed the breed.” He reached over the fence and rustled his fingers. “Come here, my beauty.”

To my surprise, Pooh-Pooh came over. Her nose was in the air, and she took her time about it, but she did come to the man.

He scooped her up, taking a close look at her face then feeling her hips and back legs.

I expected her to growl, but she didn’t.

“I’m not worried about papers,” Dustin said. “We can do genetic testing and find out exactly where she’s from.”

Victoria joined us then. “The shelter doesn’t have the budget for genetic testing.”

The man looked around and seemed to take in the signs around the booth. “Oh, I see. You’re a shelter.”

“Yes, we are. I’m Victoria Zoe, the manager.”

“Well, Victoria Zoe, my company has the budget for genetic testing. But I’m with Dr. Rowin, this gal is a purebred if I’ve ever seen one.”

“And you’re from . . .?” Victoria asked.

“Halsforth Kennels over in Manchester. But dog breeding is just a hobby, my passion. My day job is Knowles Technology. That’s what pays the bills.”

I recognized the name of the company.

Clearly, Victoria did not. “I have to warn you, Dustin, that Pooh-Pooh is not the most social dog.”

“That’s because she’s a champion, and she knows it.”

I stifled a snicker. What a great way to look at Pooh-Pooh.

Josh gave me a nudge. “Would you like to take her for a walk?” he asked Dustin.

“Great idea.” Dustin put Pooh-Pooh down on the grass, and watched her closely, walking in a circle around her.

“I’ll get you a leash,” Victoria said.

“No need. She knows the drill.” He started to walk. “Pooh-Poon, heel,” he said in a tone of authority.

Pooh-Pooh followed his command and the two headed out of the booth.

“Wait!” Victoria called, hurrying after them.

Josh and I shared a grin.

Without exchanging a word, we both hustled outside to watch what happened.

The three walked along the pathway, Pooh-Pooh trotting at Dustin’s side and Victoria looking confused by what was happening.

I was confused too. This was a totally new side to Pooh-Pooh.

“Laila!” The voice sounded like Cecily. It came from twenty-five feet away.

I twisted in surprise, wondering if it could be real.

It was. Cecily was running toward me. Breaking into a happy grin, I rushed forward to meet her.

She pulled me into a tight hug. “It’s so, so good to see you!”

I pulled back to take her in. “What are you doing here?”

“I had an idea. We had an idea.” She turned, and I looked to see Elizabeth was with her. Elizabeth waved as she approached.

“What . . .?” I couldn’t find a more specific question.

“Hi, Laila,” Elizabeth said.

Cecily gave my arm a little squeeze.

“How are you doing?” I asked Elizabeth, reminded that she was going through the same career crisis as me. “I’m so sorry this is all happening to you.”

“It’s not your fault,” Elizabeth said. “I couldn’t believe how they treated you. There was no excuse, none at all for that. No way was I sticking around to support them. Plus, who knew which one of us would be next?”

“And by us,” Cecily said. “She means the women.”

“The misogyny was getting harder and harder to take,” Elizabeth said. “At first, I thought it was my imagination. But when I became a partner it got worse. You were my excuse, Laila. But if it hadn’t been you, it would have been something else, and soon.”

“But why are you here? How are you here?” I couldn’t get over seeing them in Rutter’s Point at the summer festival of all things.

“To ask you to join us,” Elizabeth said.

“I quit too,” Cecily said.

I gaped at her. “You what?”

She was nodding, brushing her palms together. “Done and done.”

“But—”

“We’re starting