the Sandbox? Or the frozen tundra of Siberia? Both are incredibly too good for him, but it’s a start.”
“For a woman who would give up her own life to save any four-legged creature, you’ve got a surprising mean streak.” Fiona stood, still holding Morpheus. “Did you hear your Mommy, Morph buddy? I know, I’m shocked too, but I like it. Not sure what that says about me.”
“You’ve got incredible taste in friends?” Risa suggested.
“And horrible taste in men.” Fee set down the cat and automatically went into a Mountain Pose. She breathed deeply and twisted to the side. “He’s someone else’s problem now. He blew off his week with Dylan because this was the only week he could take his honeymoon.”
“Your ex got married and didn’t tell you ahead of time?”
“Nope.” She twisted the other way, exhaling. “Not sure if he thought I’d show up and stop the wedding, or what. If it wasn’t for the crushed look on my baby’s face, I’d be dragging you out to celebrate.”
Risa got the hint; Fee was ready for their yoga workout, but first she needed to change out of her work clothes. She headed inside, followed by the dogs, cat, and her friend. “Where is Dylan?”
“With my parents.”
Stripping off her scrubs, Risa paused. “Then what’s stopping us from going out? This deserves at least a nice dinner and maybe some chocolate lava cake.” She smiled at the thought.
Fee snapped her waistband. “Uh… yoga pants. Plus, you look exhausted. So how about we call for pizza, and while we wait, do some yoga. You can tell me about your day and why you came home looking all frowny.”
So much for lava cake. But Risa agreed and finished changing. First she called in the pizza order, then kicked the four-legged children out to play, or else Eir would be sticking her nose in Risa’s face the minute she went into Downward Dog.
As Fiona led her through the now-familiar poses, Risa tried to clear her mind like instructed. It was so easy for her friend. She was a pro and had discovered yoga before they hit their teens. For Risa, it was a time for her mind to go into overdrive.
Risa’s brain kept circling around to her last patient, and even more so around her human. Striking hazel eyes, hair that was neither blond nor brown but somewhere in between, and a smile that did funny things to her insides. Add all that to a man who cared deeply for his dog, and you had a near perfect package.
“Near” being the key word.
“Yo, earth to Risa.” Fiona waved her hand in front of her face. “Hello, pizza’s here.”
“Has it been an hour already?” Risa asked as she went to pay for the pizza and let the crew back in.
“Yep. I have to say, I’m impressed. I’ve never seen you so in tune and lost in meditation before.” At the look that must have passed on Risa’s face, Fiona narrowed her eyes and pointed a finger. “You weren’t meditating, were you?”
“I tried. It’s not my fault my brain won’t settle down.”
Fiona slid two slices of loaded pizza onto her plate and headed for the recliner. “At least your body is healthy. As for your mind, I give up.”
“It’s my last patient, Bella. She’s a military working dog.”
“The one with the broken hip.”
“Yep, but that will heal on its own in a couple of weeks. I’m more worried about her mental state. She seemed despondent. When Jax carried her in to the exam room, she just laid there. Most dogs show some kind of stress, or try to get closer to their humans or… something, but it was like she had given up on life.”
“Did this Jax say anything about her behavior?”
“He didn’t want to tell me, but finally said she’d been non-responsive to commands recently. They were playing Frisbee, which is how she got hurt. It could be that she’s experiencing burnout. It happens.”
“I thought Doc What’s His Name handles the military dogs.” Fiona had finished off her two slices of pizza and had gone back for more. Risa had no idea where she put the food, as there wasn’t an ounce of fat on the woman.
“Normally he does, but he’s on holiday right now. Jax asked me not to report my suspicions just yet, and I agreed, but I’m going to keep a close eye on her.”
“What else did Jax ask you?”
Risa looked up from her plate. “Huh? What do you mean?”
“Who is this Jax guy? Usually when you talk about work it’s Fido’s dad or Fido’s mom. I’ve never heard you call them by their name, much less their first name, especially since you started at the base clinic. It’s almost as if the people are simply accessories to the animals, and you really don’t see them.”
“Bollocks!” Risa tossed her paper plate down on the table next to the couch and stared at her best friend. What a horrible thing to say. Yes, it was true that she preferred animals to most people, but animals loved unconditionally and didn’t play mind games. Still it didn’t mean she ignored those around her. “That’s not true.”
“Did he ask you out?” Fiona asked.
“No. Why would he?”
“You honestly don’t see it, do you?” Fiona sat down next to her and gave her a one-arm hug. “You’re intelligent, fun, beautiful, and have one of the most compassionate hearts I know.”
“Doesn’t matter. He’s active duty. I would have said no.” It was a steadfast rule of hers; one she didn’t plan to break.
“Not all men are like Salvador and move you far from home, cheat, and then leave you stranded.”
“They all leave eventually.” Risa felt tears burn as old injuries resurfaced. “My feet are happily planted here in Connecticut, near you and Dylan and Mum and Dad, who need me. Plus, Dr. Lagasse is talking about moving to Florida, and that means I’d be in the running to be head vet.”
Fiona clapped with excitement, her eyes lighting up. “That’s huge. When will you know for sure?”
She shrugged. “He and his wife are on an extended holiday right now, road-tripping through the Sunshine State. Hopefully when he returns in a couple of weeks, he’ll have made up his mind, which means I don’t have time for a relationship. I need to be on my toes and proving I can handle the role.”
“Puh-lease. Everyone has time for love. You just have to be open and receptive to the idea.”
Risa looked her friend dead in the eye. “Oh, really? When was the last time you went on a date?”
Her friend squirmed and broke eye contact. Seems the pot didn’t like the kettle calling her out. Too bad, because it’s what friends were for—keeping it real.
“Totally different scenario. I’m a single mom. Guys don’t line up to date me.”
Risa snorted with laughter. “And you think they do for a woman who smells
