Flirting with Love by Melissa Foster

Author:Melissa Foster [Foster, Melissa]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2014-11-18T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

ROSS WOKE UP Monday morning to the sound of his vibrating cell phone. He reached for it, then remembered that he had stayed at Elisabeth’s, and reached for her instead. His hand fell on empty sheets.

“Lis?” The bathroom light was off. The only sound in the room was the dogs’ lazy breaths. He looked at his cell. It was five o’clock, and the text he’d received was from Jim. Gracie was having trouble. It was time.

Ranger and Sarge stretched while Ross pulled on his boxer briefs and brushed his teeth. He’d brought Storm back to Denton late yesterday, and he wasn’t surprised to find Knight missing, too. He followed Elisabeth everywhere. Ross and the other two dogs went downstairs in search of Elisabeth. They found her out on the back deck with her arms outstretched, one knee bent toward the rising sun, the other leg stretched behind her, her back and shoulders straight and square. She reminded him of a flower reaching for the sun. Ranger and Sarge made a beeline for Elisabeth. Knight ran in from the yard to greet them.

“Want to join me?” she asked without turning around.

The cool, predawn air washed over his body. Elisabeth walked into his open arms and heated up all that brisk air.

“I just got a text from Jim. I think Gracie’s time has come.” He felt her body tense.

“Oh, Ross.” She breathed deeply, then touched his cheek. “Let me change, and I’ll go with you.” She grabbed her water bottle and walked inside.

“Lis, this is the end for Gracie. I have to put her down.” He didn’t want to be there to see an animal’s last breath, much less a dog he’d cared for since he’d become a veterinarian. It wasn’t something he thought anyone other than the pet’s owner should have to endure.

“I want to be there for Gracie, and for Jim.” She reached for his hand. “And for you. I’ll stay out of your way completely. I promise.” Her brows were knitted together, and her pleading eyes made it difficult for Ross to say no.

Forty minutes later they were with Jim, Kelsey, and Gracie. Jim’s eyes were puffy, his skin was dull, and his tone was heavy.

“Thanks for coming out, Ross. Elisabeth, I appreciate you coming along. I think your massage helped Gracie make it a little longer.”

Elisabeth embraced him. “I’m so sorry that you’re losing her.”

Kelsey wiped tears from her red-rimmed eyes and Elisabeth hugged her, too.

As she drew away, Kelsey reached for her hand. “Thank you for what you did for Gracie. That was really nice.”

Elisabeth smiled in answer and nodded softly.

They all left the room for a minute to give Jim privacy to say goodbye to Gracie.

Ross touched Kelsey’s shoulder. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I’m sad for Grandpa, though. I hate that he’ll be alone again.” Kelsey glanced back toward the living room.

“He’s been through a lot, but he’ll pull through. He’s got you and the rest of your family. Just be sure you give him time and space to grieve,” Ross suggested.

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