Page 56 of The Chemistry Coach
Half an hour after they were supposed to have been working, they showed up.Relief washed through her and she opened her mouth to greet them when Valentine put his hand up to cut her off.
“We’re here for the dogs, Daisy.Not for you.Tell us what we need to do.”
Tears prickled at her eyes again, but she didn’t let them fall.They were doing general grooming and intake for a few new special cases.She showed them how to use the grooming stations.The Connors would be working with dogs who were used to being handled and groomed.When they finished setting up, she led them to the kennels and showed them which puppies they’d be working with.There were different ages and breeds, but it didn’t matter.All dogs were puppies.
Hazy picked up a small, long-haired dog, and Daisy’s heart melted.It wasn’t a cute dog, but Hazy cuddled it close and let it lick his face.
Valentine chose a large lanky dog that trotted beside him and hopped into the bathing tub without hesitation.
Connor stood in front of a kennel with three bully breeds inside.He unlatched the kennel and stepped inside it, giving all three babies love before wrestling the wiliest one into a leash.She could have died from the cuteness.
The last available grooming station had a tiny sink, so she retrieved a cat carrier and a clean plastic tub filled with blankets.
The Connors seemed to be happy to work in silence.Before she got started, she did a circle of the room, checking on the progress of baths and giving head pats to the puppies.She filled the tiny sink with water and soap, then pulled a scared, filthy, emaciated kitten from the carrier.Daisy started with a quick once over for any sores or other obvious issues.She didn’t see any so she dipped the kitten into the soapy bath.The kitten didn’t struggle too hard, but knowing how scared he could be she hurried to get the dirt and other gunk off him.Then came the hard part.These kittens had fleas.You could bathe and treat, but if you didn’t comb the fleas out, the infestation would never go away.She rolled a stool out from under the counter and sat the kitten in her lap while she combed the fleas and eggs out of its fur.
Valentine finished his project first, the big dog being compliant every step of the way.The dog shook out his wet coat and trotted over to Daisy to investigate.She held the kitten closer, ready to react if the dog wasn’t gentle, but the wiggly giant was only curious.He sniffed at the kitten and then politely sat and asked Daisy for attention.She laughed and set her comb aside to stroke his ear.
“You’re such a handsome boy, aren’t you?All fresh and clean.And so sweet!Somebody better snatch you up quick.”
Valentine wrangled the dog into his kennel and came to offer Daisy help with the kittens.“Have you flea-combed before?”she asked.
He nodded.“I know you have to get them all.”
She walked him through the process as she finished the first kitten.
He worked at the sink for a few minutes before he wrapped his mewling kitten in a towel and started rubbing it dry in slow, gentle circles.“You know he’s married, right?”
Her heartbeat ratcheted up a few notches, but she remained focused and gentle on her task.“Patrick?”she asked.
“Yes, Patrick.He’s married.”
“Yes, I know.I was his best woman.”
“You were the best woman at his wedding, and you still think it’s okay to sleep with him?”
She looked away from the baby in her lap to examine him, unsure if that was a serious question.He looked at her with deep hurt and sincerity.She couldn’t help the nervous giggle that bubbled out of her.
“I’m so sorry.I’m not laughing at you.I get why you might think that, given how our relationship was presented to you.”The irony of the reason they were so hurt was not lost on her, but it was lost on them, and that was the funniest thing she’d ever heard.
When she calmed enough to breathe, she waved a hand in front of her face.“Okay.Sorry.I cried myself to sleep the last two nights, so worried I wouldn’t be able to fix my relationship with you.And you’re not even mad for the right reasons.”
Hazy and Valentine watched her with curiosity, but Connor scowled.“Are you going to tell us the right reasons?”
She shook her head and spoke directly to Connor.“I’ll tell you some of it, but a big chunk needs to be between you and me.There’s a lot you don’t know, and that’s my fault.But this is not the place.”
“Go put your puppies away.We’ll comb kittens while I explain.”They did as she asked, and she used the time to gather herself.When they sat in a circle holding helpless baby animals, she explained.“I told you about my first kiss with a boy named Patrick.I told you he was my best friend.I told you he got me into hockey.But I left out the key detail that my Patrick is Patrick Mills.I thought that’s why you guys were mad.I wanted to tell you, but I planned to be choosier about the timing.I wasn’t going to say, ‘I’m going to help you bond as a team, and, oh, by the way, I’m besties with the enemy.’”
Valentine seemed to be softening toward her a little as she spoke.Hazy was hesitant, and Connor’s gaze remained hard.“I am pissed about that,” Valentine said, “but I’m more disappointed in you.I thought you were better than to sleep with a married man.”
This again.Daisy couldn’t help but chuckle.“I’m not sleeping with Patrick.”
Hazy wasn’t sold.“I don’t believe you.You ran into his arms.He was all over you!”
Daisy sighed and held up a finger as she called in backup.Sophia answered on the second ring.“Daisy!Have you talked to Connor yet?”
Daisy grimaced.“You’re on speaker, all three Connors present.They’re convinced I’m sleeping with your husband.”
Sophia’s giggles were infectious.“Gosh, I miss you.Never a dull moment.”
