Chapter 11

Note in Chart: Don't give up on lost causes.

Alex stood back from the table, his lips thinned as he went over what he'd done, wondering if there was more he could do. Sometimes when people brought dogs in, they heard how much it would cost, and they didn't want to pay, so he had to put the dog down. Tonight, when Mrs. Bannif had called, he hadn't even thought of the cost or whether the owner wanted the dog saved.

Maybe the owner would be angry, but he hoped not. The money was another thing. He didn't plan on charging since he considered this a favor to Mrs. Bannif. The older woman had been in his office so much that he almost considered her a friend—not a friend, but maybe more like an aunt. This town was different from the big city. The people here saw him at the grocery store, bars, restaurants, and around town. In New York, none of his clients ever saw him out at the park or at one of the stores around town. In Foggy Basin, he was in the situation where he actually saw people around town. Maybe he could count Mrs. Bannif as kind of a friend.

The dog was out and would be for another thirty minutes or so. Alex cleaned up and made sure he didn't have blood on his shirt before stepping out to the reception area. He was thankful Ryan had stayed with Mrs. Bannif. Both of them gazed up at him, expectation shining in their eyes.

"Is he going to be okay?" the words tumbled from Mrs. Bannif in a rush.

Alex nodded. "Most likely. I need to keep an eye on him."

"That's wonderful!" Mrs. Bannif exclaimed.

Alex tried for a smile as exhaustion worked through him. He stretched his neck to one side and then to the other. He noticed Ryan's eyes narrowing as he stared.

"Oh, thank goodness. When do you think he'll be able to go home?"

"Not for a few days."

The bell above the clinic door jangled harshly, and they all glanced over to see a man stumbling in, worry etched in the lines of his face.

"Daniel." Mrs. Bannif's voice cut through the silence.

Daniel's gaze flew to Mrs. Bannif. "Albert, my dog."

Alex stepped forward and held out his hand for a shake. "I'm Alex Engle. Albert is in the back."

"Oh God, is he dead?"

"No, sir. I had to do a procedure on him and need to keep him for observation."

"Oh, thank God. Albert is my life after my wife died. I don't know what I'd do if something happened. I don't know how he got out, either. I wasn't home. Can I see him?"

Alex nodded. "Sure, but he needs to stay calm, so it would be best if you left before he really wakes up."

Daniel nodded and looked like he was about to cry. Alex understood the man's emotions. His last pet had passed away almost a year ago, and he hadn't gotten another dog. Honestly, he was waiting to adopt an animal no one wanted. It was hard to look after senior dogs who had issues, but as a veterinarian, he could afford the medical cost, and that usually was the problem with older dogs once they started needing more frequent care.

He led Daniel back to the operating room. Tears poured down the man's face, and he stepped out, leaving the door open so Daniel could cry over his injured dog.

Ryan stepped into the back area, and Alex met his gaze and held it. They weren't alone, but it felt like they were based on the meaningful look Ryan shot his way.

"Um, Mrs. Bannif took off. She said she would call you tomorrow."

Alex chuckled. Of course, she would. She called almost every day now. He needed to find a group for her to get involved with. She needed someone or something to distract her.

"Are you thinking of leaving?"

"Not until you do."

Alex shook his head. "I need to stay the night. You don't have to."

"Where will you sleep?" Ryan asked.

"Excuse me," Daniel called out from the other room.

Alex turned and headed into the room, hoping nothing terrible had happened in the last few minutes. "Yes."

"He's starting to wake up more. I don't want to upset him." The man swiped at his eyes, sadness evident in his expression.

"Ah, yes. Let me see."

Alex moved to the dog, checking out his handy work. Albert was waking up, but he was still in that hazy, confused state.

"I'll stay all night. You can call in the morning and check-in. He might be able to go home tomorrow evening. I just need to keep an eye on him for a bit of time."

Daniel sniffled. "Thank you."

"I'm glad I was able to save him."

Daniel nodded, then took down information before leaving. Alex expected Ryan to leave, but instead, after moving Albert to a low cage where he would be safe, he found Ryan in the lobby with the picnic basket.

"You're still here."

"I'm staying," Ryan said.

"You really don't have to."

"Sometimes it's not about needing to be there but wanting to be there."

Alex really looked at Ryan. They hadn't spent much time together, but from what they had spent, he could see Ryan meant what he said. If Ryan wanted to stay, he wasn't going to tell him no. "I'd like it if you stayed. But it will be uncomfortable sleeping here. The couches aren't the best."

Ryan shrugged and took a step closer. "I can at least keep you company, and I've slept on worse."

Alex's stomach twisted with emotions and hunger. He glanced at the basket. "I am hungry. Though I shouldn't have more wine."

"Agreed. I've capped the wine, and we can save it for later."

Did Ryan mean later on another date, or just in general? He wanted to see Ryan again, but how did they go from a very arranged meet-up to actually dating?

The rain picked up outside, but this time, there was no lightning. Ryan stepped closer, closing the gap. The tension in Alex's body seemed to unwind the closer Ryan got.

"Let me grab some stuff from the basket."

Alex nodded, wishing Ryan had kissed him. "Sure." Alex felt like he was lost in a haze as he followed Ryan over to the couches. Ryan opened the basket and Alex pulled out cheese and meats, along with the crackers. They'd already consumed all of the mac and cheese.

"How bad was the dog?" Ryan asked.

"He wouldn't have lived if Mrs. Bannif hadn't found him."

"Oh, that's bad. Yeah, some dogs are runners and have no idea what they've done once they've escaped. They don't watch for cars or anything. It's sad."

"I've never had a pet."

Shock pulsed through Alex. "Ever?"

Ryan shook his head. "No, my parents didn't want the responsibility."

"Dang, that's wild."

"Yeah. How about you?"

"I don't have a dog right now or a cat. Usually, I take in animals that people don't have the money to care for. Not all of them, but if I'm without a pet and someone brings in a dog or cat and they can't keep up with the bills, the pet becomes mine. They are usually older, but most of them have had at least one good year with me. Some of them it's weeks or months, but they get some good time at the end of their life, and they are happy."

"Wow, you are a good person."

Alex snorted. "I don't know. I try but I'm mostly good to animals."

"I think you're good."

Ryan's compliment made him heat. They were just getting to know each other but he really wanted to spend more time with Ryan. They ate a little more and he started yawning a lot.

"We should sleep," Ryan said.

"Yeah. I haven't had to sleep here in this clinic, but I've done it at other places. I'll be up and down with the dog, so if I'm moving around too much and you want to leave, just tell me."

"I'm not leaving you here alone tonight."

Alex nodded and glanced away, not sure he could keep the desire off his face, and he wasn't sure he wanted to be that transparent. "Thank you."

"Sure."

They both stretched out, Alex wondering what it would be like to sleep with Ryan. This was intimate in its own way, but they hadn't even kissed. Silence settled inside. The rain provided a hum of noise that made it feel like they were cocooned, separate from the world. The sound of Ryan's breathing made his stomach tingle. It had been a while since he'd slept in the same room with anyone other than his ex, and toward the end of their relationship, that hadn't happened often.

He had to concentrate on something other than the excitement of a possible new relationship. They weren't together, not yet. They weren't even friends, just two people sleeping in the same room after an abbreviated date then him saving a dog. It would certainly be a story to tell if more came from this night. Their relationship may amount to nothing, though. He didn't want to get his hopes up too high and be disappointed.