same second, their fingers accidentally brushing. And that just made Declan want to snag her hand and hold it. Which would be wrong on so many levels. And also very right.
And there was the problem that paralyzed him whenever he saw Evie.
“What did you say his name is?” she asked.
“We’ve been calling him Lusky at the station. One of the guys googled the Husky-Malamute mix, and they called that mix an Alusky.”
“Lusky? Do you like that name?” she asked the dog.
The dog put his big gold and black paw over her hand, lifting his head a little as if he wanted to tell her something. Of course, he did because…Evie. The original dog whisperer.
Lusky opened his big jaw to let out a bellow, but Evie fearlessly covered his snout. “No howling in the bakery,” she warned softly. “It’ll make the cookies crumble.”
And, son of a gun, he shut up. “Whoa, you’re good.”
“Years of training. But when you do this…” She put her hand on his snout again. “Add a little pressure right under his chin with your thumb. It mimics the bite of the pack leader.” She held Lusky’s head steady, looking right into the dog’s eyes for a long moment. “Have you taken him to the vet, Declan?”
“I’ve only had him seventy-two hours, per station policy, waiting for a claim on him. But Molly’s going to look at him today,” he said. “Why? You see something, Doc?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “Something in his eyes.”
He leaned forward, trying to see what she saw. “Not garden-variety abandonment?”
She stroked the dog’s head and studied him some more. “Is that what’s buggin’ you, Lusky? Missing someone you love?”
Declan sat back to watch her work her animal magic. “You always were Dr. Dolittle.”
She smiled, no doubt remembering how he’d often called her that. “What can I say? Animals talk to me, and then I slice them open. Or at least I used to. I hope Molly can do a thorough exam on a Sunday.”
“She can. There’s a full animal hospital at my uncle’s place, almost as big as their vet office in town. In fact, you’d flip if you saw Waterford Farm these days.”
“I’ve heard your uncle transformed it into quite the canine center,” she said, still stroking the dog’s head and carefully watching Lusky’s eyes, gleaning information like she did. “What a wonderful tribute to your aunt. She was the biggest foster failure I ever knew. That woman could not give up a dog.”
He laughed, weirdly warmed by the fact that there was no need to explain a thing to Evie Hewitt. She knew his family—immediate and extended. She knew this town, from the best croissants to secret parking spaces. And she knew him, the good, the bad, and the…damaged.
“I’m surprised Molly hasn’t taken you out to Waterford Farm.” Because then his whole family would have made damn sure he knew Evie Hewitt was back.
“I haven’t called her yet to let her know I’m in Bitter Bark,” she said, finally taking her gaze off the dog to look at him again. “Usually when I’m here, it’s only to check on Granddaddy, then I have to get back to Raleigh. Like I did that time I worked on Rusty.”
“I remember,” he said softly, tamping down the understatement of just how much he remembered.
But she caught the understatement and held his gaze, silent for a few heartbeats, while his chest got tighter and tighter.
“Here we go!” Linda May yanked them out of the moment, plopping a pink bakery box on the table. “There are a few extras for the wait.”
“Thanks, Linda May,” Evie said.
“Thanks for your patience, although…” She regarded one, then the other, a smile growing. “Sure is nice to see two old friends back together.” She gave Evie’s shoulder a pat, then stroked the dog’s head. “And I hope you get things squared away with this guy.”
She turned away, leaving them both suddenly preoccupied with finishing their coffee.
“Anyway, great to see you, Declan,” Evie said with what seemed like a little false brightness as they stood. “I’m sure we’ll run into each other again.”
He nodded, but the voice inside his head was screaming one simple, clear, undeniable word. No. No. No.
No, don’t leave. No, don’t slip away. No, don’t waste this opportunity. Not again, not this time.
Outside on the sidewalk, he put his hand on the dog’s head, trying to telepathically beg for help. C’mon, Lusky. Help me out here, bud. Talk to Dolittle for me. Buy me some time and another