Her confusion was reflected in Charlie’s expression. “Well, yeah. I mean, Dixie runs the place, but Noah’s one of those hands-on kinda owners, so ultimately he manages everything.”
Her mouth dropped open. “The Miners Tavern ishis?”
“Oops. Guess he forgot to mention that detail while you two were cozied up together.” He shook his head. “Typical Noah. We’ll go there for lunch later, unless you’ve got plans.”
Unable to muster words, she let out an incredulous laugh—right before realization struck. The owner of the Miners Tavern hated food inspectors. Noah was the bar’s owner. Therefore,Noahhated food inspectors. And if he knew what she did for a living, he would hate her too. She stuffed down the disturbing conclusion.
Charlie pointed toward the end of the street, away from the tavern. “Doc Embry’s clinic is a few doors down. I was about to text you to see if you were headed that way.”
“Yes, I am.”
“I’ll go with you.”
When they reached the clinic—a former livery on the edge of town—Charlie threw open the door and motioned for her to enter. A jingly bell caught the attention of a lab-coated woman behind the reception desk. When her eyes landed on Charlie, her lashes fluttered and her face transformed with a sultry smile.
“Hi, Charlie. Happy Saint Patrick’s Day.” Her lilting tone was shamelessly flirtatious. Noah’s description of his brother as a golden retriever women couldn’t stop petting bubbled up in Hailey’s brain, and she stifled a giggle. She got it. Charlie was a gorgeous specimen withimpeccable bloodlines who would have won every ribbon at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show … if he’d been an actual canine.
His cheeriness was MIA when he returned the woman’s greeting. “Hey, Lauren.”
Lauren held a paper shamrock over her head. “Give you any ideas?”
His forehead furrowed with a frown. “I think you’re confusing that with mistletoe. Is Doc Embry in yet?”
“Go on back to exam room one.” Lauren never wasted a glance Hailey’s way.
They entered a small exam room painted pale lilac with a steel table jutting from one wall. Charlie closed the door behind them. A second door beside a sink and counter on the opposite side stood ajar, and a fuzzy brown snout pushed through, followed by a feminine voice.
“Hold on there, big fella.”
A young blond woman with loose curls caught up in a ponytail walked in, holding a leash attached to a dog who resembled Rover. She released the lead, and he slunk toward Hailey, his watchful eyes trained on Charlie. He wore a harness, and the leash skimmed the floor behind him. He stopped, tucked in his tail, and shivered pathetically. Instinctively, Hailey dropped to a knee and waited; his demeanor flipped a switch. Soon he was nuzzling her hand and wagging his tail while she ruffled the happy animal’s neck.
“Wow,” Charlie exclaimed. “Guess I’m chopped liver.”
“Don’t feel bad, dude. He reacted the same way to my male tech.” The blond woman closed the door and crossed her arms. She raised steel-blue eyes to Charlie. “Chopped Liver Charlie? I bet that’sonename you haven’t been called before.”
“Then I won’t take it personally.”
Hailey glimpsed him blowing the woman a discreet kiss and her answering smirk. What wasthatall about? She cleared her throat to get their attention. “Is this the same dog?”
“Yep. Amazing what a bath, food, and rest can do. The meds come in handy too.” The woman extended her hand to Hailey, who rose to her feet and shook it. “I’m Neve Embry. I hear you rescued this poor pooch.”
“DocEmbry?” Hailey blurted, caught off guard. In her mind’s eye, she’d pictured the doctor as a kindly gray-haired man with a walrusmustache, not this dainty woman only a few years her senior.Jeez, sexist much?
“Yes,” Doc Embry laughed. “But you can call me Neve. Let me tell you a little about your dog.”
Hailey pressed a hand to her chest. “Oh, he’s not my dog.”
Charlie winked at Neve. “Yet.”
“No, you don’t understand—”
A panting Noah barged in, startling Hailey but seemingly no one else. She doubted anyone else’s heart skipped a beat or ten either.
“Hey, mind if I join you?” He pulled off his knit cap, and dark strands stood in a chaotic array that made Hailey want to smooth them back. Rover watched, ears cocked and alert, but didn’t cower.
Neve’s grin broadened. “Of course you can. It’salwaysa good day when I’m in the same room withtwoHunnicutt brothers. Now about that third one …”
Charlie shifted his weight from one foot to the other, stealing glances at Neve. Noah opened his mouth only to close it again. Neve raised an eyebrow. Palpable awkwardness charged the air, and while Hailey caught silent signals, she didn’t have the cipher to interpret what they meant.
