“Brooklyn?” For a moment the name meant nothing, then those hazel eyes floated into my mind. “The gunshot guy? I mean, not the shooter. Him? Why?” As far as I knew, I’d never met him before.
“He said you asked him to.”
“I did?” Maybe so. I remembered lying on the grass, scared to death, with the stranger a comforting presence I clung to. That’s not embarrassing at all. “You should tell him he doesn’t have to.”
“I don’t have his number. But he told Colin he runs a new doggie-daycare business, so he understands dogs. Even Chili liked him.”
“Colin’s probably lying about Chili,” I muttered because that chihuahua-mix barely tolerated me.
“Maybe.” James chuckled. “But it means he thinks Brooklyn is a good guy.”
“I hope I can pay him back by sending business his way.”
James squeezed my shoulder. “Arthur, you don’t have to pay everyone back for helping you. People like you.”
Maybe so, but it was always safer to reward that. A doggie daycare would be an asset to the community, and I could recommend him to clients—after I checked him out, of course. Win-win.
The nurse Dylan came in with a tiny cup of pills and an ice pack.
James pushed up out of his chair. “I’ll let this guy get you comfortable.”
“You should head home,” I told him. “It must be late, and Colin will be home alone with the kids. I’m just going to sleep anyhow.”
“All right,” James said. “I’ll be back in the morning.”
“No, don’t do that.” I’d no doubt feel like crap in the morning and look it too. “I’ll have them call you when I’m being discharged. Probably afternoon.” Especially if they were going to do another scan of my throbbing head. Nothing happened fast in a hospital unless you were dying. “Okay?”
He hesitated, looking down at me, then said, “Okay. Sleep well.” He told Dylan, “You take care of this guy. He’s one of the good ones.”
After the door closed behind him, I told the nurse, “He’s biased. But a great friend.”
“I can make my own judgements, and I agree with him.” Dylan raised the head of my bed slightly.
That set off some fun swoopy dizziness, but I didn’t complain.
“I have some Tylenol for you, and an ice pack. Yes?”
“You’re a god among nurses,” I told him, and prayed that there was some magic in those little capsules in the cup.
CHAPTER 4
BROOKLYN
“He’s probably going to be cranky.” Colin chuckled. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
I didn’t know Arthur well enough to be able to judge how cranky he might or might not be. When I’d arrived at the shelter that morning—to find Colin and Vicky already hard at work—I’d considered turning around. Except, honestly, I didn’t have anything else to do on a Sunday with no clients scheduled, and, just as clearly, my help could be used here.
I’d put in a good day’s work so far, and felt useful doing it. That’d helped stave off my worry about a man who was essentially a stranger. But who didn’t feel like one. “You said they were doing another brain scan this morning, and along with getting shot, he has a concussion. I think a little crankiness might be allowed.”
Another chuckle from Colin, his Long Island accent a little heavier. “I should record you saying that, for after you deal with him.”
Who knows how long I’ll even be here? Arthur might send me on my way. Hell, I couldn’t even be certain he’d remember he asked me to help. “You said you told James to tell him that I’m still here, right?” Wow, that sentence confused even me.
“James told him. I didn’t hear what the response was, but Arthur’s always grateful for volunteers, so you’re good. Vicky gave you an orientation, and you took care of Arthur’s babies. That was the most important part.”
Chili had been particularly pleased to see me when we arrived that morning. I’d worried about leaving the three dogs and cat alone last night while I’d gone home, but they’d all been fine. And I’d known Ebony would try to put his massive paws on my chest, and was ready to thwart his efforts to knock me over. “They did great.”
A newer-model SUV pulled into the parking lot.
