from Fort William had arrived to take the injured woman to the hospital. Lyle had stitched the gash on the man’s forehead and sent him home with family members. After a quick check on Cass he was headed for his cottage and bed. The adrenalin spike of handling an emergency had worn him out.
He knocked lightly on Cass’s door in case she was already sleeping. After waiting a minute and getting no answer, he turned to leave. He would see her tomorrow.
The door opened a crack. “Yes?”
He could only see a sliver of her but it was enough to tell that her hair had been pushed back and her face was freshly scrubbed. She looked adorable and unsure at the same time.
What was it about her that captivated him? That pulled at him like no other woman he knew did. Was it her strength? Determination? Her vulnerability? He needed to solve the puzzle and move on. Cass wouldn’t be here long and he wasn’t going to waste his emotions on anyone he didn’t intend to keep forever. He’d already gone down that road.
The dirty street behind him was graveled with disappointment and heartache. He had vowed the lane ahead would be paved with the love and loyalty of a woman who wanted him as much as he did her. A lifelong partner. The next time he fell in love, he would get it right.
He shoved that fantasy aside and concentrated on what he was there for. “How’re you doing?”
“Better after a hot bath.”
“Good. You were impressive out there, Cass. You stayed in control. I know you must have been in pain. You should have said something. More than that, I should’ve thought.” Guilt filled him. “I’m sorry.”
She opened the door wider. “Hey, I’m an EMT. I’m trained to help.”
“True, but you’re also a patient here. I should have remembered that.” She looked cute in her T-shirt with her pink-tipped toes.
“I’m fine.” For once her eyes weren’t clouded with hidden feelings. In fact, there was a hint of a smile in them.
“I’m glad. Then I’ll let you get some rest.” He needed to go. Right now. He started down the hall.
“Hey, Lyle.”
He almost kept going, but curiosity got the better of him.
“You were pretty impressive out there too.”
He smiled. It felt good to have someone praise him, especially Cass. He was confident in his abilities, but it didn’t hurt to have others notice. His father certainly hadn’t. “Thanks. Sleep well, Cass.”
CASS’S HAND SHOOK as she wrapped it around the handle of the glass door of the canine therapy center the next afternoon. She had said she’d keep her appointment and she would. But she wasn’t looking forward to it.
The thought of having anything to do with a dog made her want to break down and cry. The pain of losing Rufus was still too raw. It might be silly for a grown professional woman to feel this way, but she didn’t care. Rufus was gone. Some part of her clung to the irrational hope he would be waiting with his tail wagging when she returned home. No other dog could replace him.
She would do what she had to, then hurry to her room for a good cry.
When she jerked the door open the young man sitting behind the desk started. This was the same high-ceilinged room with the rough board walls where she and Lyle had brought the puppy a couple of nights before. He’d said it used to be the stables and she could now see that. The other night all that’d filled her mind was that she had a dog in her arms.
“Can I help you?” the man at the desk asked.
“I’m Cass Bellow. I’m a resident at the clinic.”
He looked down as if checking a list, then back at her. “Oh, yes, we’ve been expecting you.” As he got to his feet he added, “Come with me. Margaret assists with the canine therapy program. She’s back here.”
Cass forced her feet to move and followed him down a hall. It wasn’t the same one Lyle and Esme had led her down to the examination room the other night. The man pushed through a swing door. Cass entered a room furnished with easy chairs.
A dark-haired woman was down on her heels next to a woman seated in an easy chair holding a small black dog of no pedigree. Cass recognized the woman in the chair from the dinner table at the clinic. Lyle had introduced them, but Cass didn’t remember her name. Shame pricked her. She hadn’t even tried.
“Margaret, this is Cass Bellow,” the man announced.
The dark-haired woman looked at them, stood and came toward Cass with one hand outstretched. She smiled. “It’s great to finally meet you.”
Was that her subtle way of reprimanding her for not showing up for her earlier appointments? The temptation to run grew.
“I help Esme with the canine therapy here at Heatherglen,” Margaret continued.
The man quietly left the way they had come in.
Staring at the small dog that was enjoying the woman’s gentle pats, Cass’s chest tightened. She wasn’t ready for this. She had no interest in doing anything with a dog.
Margaret was saying, “I thought you might like to meet Muffin. He’s a sweet little dog. He’ll be your companion during your stay. Let me get him and you can get acquainted.” She stepped through a side door.
Cass stood, knees shaking, in the middle of the room, looking everywhere but at the other woman. She didn’t want any responsibility for a dog for the next month. Especially one named Muffin. Her breathing became shallow. Her mouth turned dry. She shifted from one foot to the other. The need to leave intensified. This was too much. A meltdown was building if she didn’t get out of there. She wasn’t ready, might not ever be. What if she became too attached to the ridiculous Muffin? She would be leaving soon. All this pain would be there again.
Without thought Cass bolted for the door and up the hall to the front room. She had to get out of there. Ignoring the man behind the desk calling her name, she shoved the door open and stumbled into the cold air. Sucking in a deep breath, she kept going, heading toward the castle. By way of a side door she’d found yesterday, she slipped inside unnoticed.
Instead of going to her room, where someone would surely look for her, she headed for the conservatory. While exploring she’d also found an alcove hidden behind some large palm plants and banana trees with only a small sofa. There she could lick her wounds in private.
Relief washed through her when she found the floral fabric-covered settee empty. She sat, pulling her legs up under her and wrapping the coat Lyle had loaned her tighter. When would the pain go away?
She had no idea how long she had been sitting there staring off into space when she heard, “Cass?”
Lyle.
She stiffened. How had he found her? It didn’t matter. She had no intention of explaining herself. Why couldn’t
