“That’s Gizmo. He’s one of the dogs from the shelter. I stopped by on my way home to give an exam to some of the new animals that came in, and this one has been there for a while. I guess no one wants him because of his eye. I thought he could use a special night away and some lovin’.”
“Gizmo?” He flips his wide, fat belly over for a rub while his short, stubby legs flail in the air. His tongue hangs out the side of his mouth at an odd angle while his one brown eye keeps an eye on me.
“You know…as in the Gremlin movie. He looks just like Gizmo.”
“Are you sure you don’t mean Stripe? It looks more like the ones that got fed after midnight,” I laugh.
“Don’t listen to him, Gizmo. You are adorable just the way you are.” She studies the two of us with a smile on her face.
“What?” I ask, raising my eyebrows.
“He likes you. He’s usually leery of men, but he’s not with you.” She cocks her head to the side, and I see the wheels turning in those big blue eyes.
“I know exactly where that head of yours is going, and I’m not falling for it again. I still have nightmares from all the strays you snuck into my room when we were little so Mom and Dad wouldn’t find out. You’re lucky I never got rabies or a disease of some kind. That one cat scratched the hell out of me in my sleep.”
“I was five when I brought you that cat. It was raining outside, and I didn’t want him to catch a cold. How was I supposed to know he turned evil after midnight?”
“You named this one after a gremlin,” I say, bewildered. “I’m pretty sure he will do the same.” I stand up and watch Gizmo struggle for a bit like a turtle stuck on its back before he finally flips back over. He sits at my feet with his head cocked. “How is he not biting his tongue off? It’s hanging out the side of his mouth through all those bottom teeth.”
“I think it’s cute and adds to his charm.”
“Cute and charming are not the first words that come to mind when I look at him.”
“You never know. He might grow on you.” Her eyes have that mischievous gleam, and I can’t help but feel I’ve been set up. She knows I can’t say no to her.
“He has one night here, Savi,” I say, narrowing my eyes at her. “I don’t have time to take care of a dog right now.”
“Mmm-hmm,” she smiles, taking a sip of her margarita.
“I mean it,” I say firmly, not backing down on this one.
“He goes back tomorrow,” she throws up her hands in surrender, but the devilish look on her face tells me she doesn’t believe me.
I glance back down at Gizmo, and he’s still got his one eye trained on me. His stubby tail wags when he notices I’m paying attention to him.
Fuck me.
Something stirs in my heart, and I try to push it aside.
Sighing, I walk over and grab the tequila bottle to make a drink.
“You are such a brat,” I mumble, pouring a double shot into my glass.
“You know I love you,” she giggles, reaching up on her toes and kissing my cheek. “I just couldn’t help myself. He came in last month, and not one single person has looked at him. I give him as much attention as I can when I visit each week, but I caved today and brought him home for the night. Now I knowwhy. You two were destined to meet. He adores you,” she smiles down at my feet, where he’s lying now with his head on my boot.
“I’m not making any promises,” I mutter. “I’m giving it one night.”
“I understand. One night.” She grins and bends down to the lump at my feet.
“You’ve got one night, Gizmo,” she says, cupping his squished-up face. “Show him what a good boy you are,” she coos at him and kisses his flat nose.
How does he even breathe through that thing?
I finish making my margarita and take a big sip, knowing it’s two against one at this point, and I’m on the losing end. I decide to change the subject, hoping it might go away.
“How was work today, Dr. Montgomery?” I love using that title any chance I can get. Besides the fact that it makes her light up every time she hears it, I’m also so damn proud of her. She knew at an early age exactly what she wanted in life. Her love of animals runs deep, hence all the strays she would smuggle into my room when we were younger. She knew out of all her brothers that I was the one she could talk into doing anything.
When she told us she wanted to be a veterinarian when she grew up, nobody doubted that she would make it happen. She worked her ass off in school and graduated early. The Blue Haven Veterinary Clinic, run by Dr. Matthews, immediately offered her a job once she moved back here. She had worked for him since she was sixteen, and he had even mentioned handing over the practice to her when he retired.
