“Brother and sister, the only two survivors of being dumped. The others were already dead when the man found them and brought them to the shelter. The staff there told me that it looked like they’d been attacked by some dogs.” Leaning forward, Cherry folded her arms and rested them on the tabletop. “I was looking for a kitten or cat for company, I didn’t mind which, but when I saw those two little scraps all skinny and frightened, huddled in the back of the cage, I couldn’t resist taking them both. I’m glad I did, they’re such good company.”
“You love them,” he stated quietly.
“Yes.” Immediately on guard for ridicule, Cherry unconsciously stiffened.
“I know how you feel,” he surprised her by saying. “I cried when Tim had to put my old dog to sleep.”
She relaxed again. “I’m sorry. Was that long ago?”
“Two years now, but I still miss him.” Rick leaned his arms along the back of the seat and stretched out his legs, his calves brushing hers beneath the table. “He had arthritis and I kept him going on anti-inflammatories, but eventually it got too much for him to cope with, me too, to be truthful. I knew he was in a lot of pain but I couldn’t bring myself to do the right thing and have him put to sleep.”
Sympathy filled her. “So what happened?”
“Tim came down to stay for a few days, saw what was happening, and gave me a stern talking to. He was right, I knew it, so I got him to do it while he was there. Tim helped me bury him in the backyard, then we went back inside and got drunk.” Rick gave a rather wistful smile. “He knew Blue as long as I had had him. Tim’s been my friend from primary school. We both mourned his passing.”
“Did you get another dog?”
“No.” He shook his head. “I was renting and no pets were allowed.” He flashed her a sudden grin. “I just sneakily fed the neighbour’s cats and let them inside on rainy days when the neighbours were away.”
Cherry laughed.
“And tomorrow I move into another rental house, so getting another dog isn’t something I can look at straight away.”
“That’s a shame. Why don’t you just buy a house, then you can get a dog?” A sudden disturbing thought occurred to her. “Or aren’t you planning on staying?”
His direct gaze slid over her face, a small smile playing around his mouth. “Oh, I’m staying all right. Just waiting for the right place to open up.”
She ignored the small, relieved feeling. “What kind of place are you looking for?”
“Nothing fancy. I’ve got my eye on one place already, but it’s going to take some talking to get into it.”
“Name the right price and it could be yours.”
“The owner’s going to take some convincing.” His grin grew wider. “But I’m up to the challenge.”
“I just bet you are,” she replied dryly.
The waitress appeared and set their glasses on the table before leaving again.
Picking up the glass, Cherry took a sip of Diet Coke and looked in surprise at Rick.
“I saw you had a fair bit in your ‘fridge,” he explained. “So I knew it would be your drink of choice.”
“Are you always that observant?”
“Only with those I care about.” He drank down half a glass of Coke Cola. “You have to admit, it’s refreshing.”
Cherry burst out laughing and he arched one brow inquiringly.
“You sound like a bad advertisement.” She took another mouthful of drink and pushed the glass to the side as two trays of hot pizza were placed on the table. “Smells good.”
“I bet it tastes even better.” His eyes held a now familiar glint. “Sure you’re not ready for the spicy yet?”
As the waitress placed a plate before each of them, along with knives and forks, Cherry rolled her eyes.
“Plenty of time to change your mind.” Taking a steaming slice of pizza, he placed it on his plate and followed it with a second slice. “But change it I will.”
Completely relaxed now, Cherry took a slice of her own pizza. “Dream on.” She inhaled and closed her eyes. “Smells like Heaven.”
“Heaven and spice—” He stopped and laughed when she looked at him warningly. “Okay, let’s just eat and save that for another time.”
He was a good dinner companion, she had to admit. While they ate, he talked about his family who, it turned out, lived in a country town two hundred kms away. His best friend, Tim, had moved to the city a couple of years ago, and his mother was the renowned paediatrician, Margaret Clarke.
Margaret Clarke was a good doctor but a cold-hearted bitch as far as Cherry was concerned, though she wasn’t about to say so. She’d had a couple run-ins with her in the past. Good with the hands and brain, poor with the bedside manner.