A Dog Named Nate by Inglath Cooper

Author:Inglath Cooper
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2019-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

A young man with a compassionate smile appears in the waiting area with a gurney. “I’m one of the vet techs,” he says. “You can put him right on here. I’ll make sure he gets a safe ride back.”

Gabe gently lowers the dog onto the rolling bed and then straightens, rubbing his side. Nate thumps his tail, although the gesture is weaker now than his previous attempts. I reach out and rub him once, pulling my hand back as the young man wheels him off through a set of double doors.

The silence in the wake of their exit is awkward. I fold my arms across my chest. Gabe looks down at the floor, shoving his hands in his pockets, and I wonder if he’s feeling what I’m feeling.

“He’s going to be all right,” he says.

“Yeah,” I say, clearing my throat. “Anything has to be better than the way he feels right now.”

“How about some coffee?” Gabe asks, pointing at the pot in one corner of the lobby.

“I could use some.” I glance at my watch, surprised to see it’s now after nine o’clock and suddenly remembering my car. “Oh, no.”

“What is it?”

“I forgot to call the garage.”

“They’ll be closed now. When we’re done here, I’ll take you wherever you need to go.”

“Thanks.”

We head for the coffee maker. Gabe passes me a Styrofoam cup, then takes one for himself.

“Is this an everyday thing for you?” I ask.

“Coffee?”

I shake my head and smile. “Rescuing damsels and dogs in distress.”

“Oh, that,” he allows with a grin. “I could say yes to make myself look good.”

I hold my cup out as he fills it with coffee, then offers me the cream and sugar. “Plain is good,” I say.

“It has its good points, though.”

“The cream and sugar?”

His smile widens. “The rescuing.”

We take the two nearest chairs. I sip from my coffee and then say, “Such as?”

“Meeting a beautiful and interesting woman is always a plus.”

There is something sincere in his voice, and I feel warmth steal into my face. I don’t feel beautiful, and it seems impossible he would have made this assertion about me.

He sets his coffee down, reaches a hand out and tips my chin toward him. “Hey,” he says. “That’s an honest assessment, you know. Not just of the outside package but the inside as well.”

I let myself meet his gaze then. Gabe has honest eyes, and I think I actually believe him. “Thank you,” I say, insignificant though it sounds. “Thank you.”

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