Ride Wild(25)

       
           



       

Haven turned toward her. "No, I mean, what is going on with you and Slider?"

Cora could've smacked herself in the head, because she'd walked right into that one. "Weelll . . ."

On a gasp, Haven smacked her arm. "Shut up!"

That made Cora laugh. "I didn't even say anything."

"You didn't have to. But now you totally have to," Haven said, grabbing  her hand and dragging her back into the room she'd originally stepped  out of-Dare's bedroom, by the masculine look of it. Though Haven's  things were all over it now, too. And actually seeing Haven at home in  such a nice place-a place that was hers, now-was almost enough to make  Cora a little misty. "Turnabout is fair play, missy. You made me spill  all my secrets about Dare when we first got together, and now it's your  turn."

They plopped down on the corner of the bed. "It's complicated."

"Story of our lives," Haven said with an eye roll.

Wasn't that the truth. "Okay, well . . . I like him, and I think he  likes me. And wesortahadsex but we can't do it again because I work for  him and neither of us are really in the best place for a relationship."

Haven's eyebrows were up at her hairline. "You had sex with Slider?"

"Twice. Well, twice in one morning." Downstairs, the front door opened, and voices and footsteps filtered in.

"I can't believe you had sex with Slider!" Haven said excitedly.

"Ssh!" Cora said, and then she dropped her face into her hands. "It was  so good, Haven. Like, so so good. I can't freaking stop thinking about  it. And he sleeps across the hall from me now. It's so distracting."

"How good was it?" Haven whispered, sending them both into a fit of giggles.

"So good. Like, super good. Extra amazingly good."

Haven put her arm around Cora's shoulders. "He invited you on his bike  and took you for a ride. And he's doing better since you moved into his  house. I mean, hell, Cora, from what Dare said, Slider hadn't touched  his bike since before Kim died. All that with what you told me, I'd say  just give it time and let whatever is going to happen between you happen  naturally."

Cora blew out a breath. "How'd you get so good at giving advice?"

She bumped their shoulders. "I learned from the best."

"Speaking of the best, my extraordinary baker friend, any more word on when you'll start at Dutch's?"

"I met with him yesterday and showed him my new menu. He thinks he can  have everything ready for the changeover in two weeks, three tops."

"Oh, Haven, that's so awesome. I can't wait to come sit at the counter and order up all your goodies."

Haven laughed. "You don't have to do that, silly. You can get them any old time."

"Ready when you are, Cora," Slider called.

They went downstairs and exchanged some small talk, along with a promise  to get together for dinner that put that surprised expression on Dare's  face again, and then they were back on Slider's bike and heading home.

Only this time, Slider kept his hand pressed against hers over his heart.

The gesture made Cora feel like her heart might just beat right out of  her chest. Because this like she felt for Slider Evans was getting  stronger every day.





Chapter 13




It was the first time that Cora got to handle one of the dogs that her  new job at the animal shelter became real. Well, not job job, but even  though it wasn't paid, it still felt important to her. Because it was a  step toward figuring out her future, and at almost twenty-four, that  wasn't something she'd had the chance to do nearly enough.

Her first furry friend at the shelter was an eight-year-old basset hound  named Bosco, a beautiful red-coated old man who'd been left behind by  his family when they moved across the country. "How could someone do  that to you?" she asked as she stroked his long, silky ears. "You're so  handsome and so sweet."

He leaned into her pets with a satisfied grunt.

Bosco was the first of the dog walks she got to go on, and it was no  hardship at all walking dogs outside in the early October sunshine, a  breeze blowing through her hair, and a grateful companion at her side.  She enjoyed herself so much that she already worried how she'd wait till  Thursday to return. And her five-hour shift was nearing its end way too  soon.

"Good first day?" the shelter's director of operations, Maria Colter,  asked when Cora came back inside. In her mid-fifties, Maria had  shoulder-length salt-and-pepper hair and a smile that had immediately  put Cora at ease during her volunteer interview.                       
       
           



       

"It really was," Cora said. "How do you avoid falling in love with them all?"

Maria winked. "You don't. At least, I don't."

"I don't think I will, either," Cora said.

"Probably means you're in the right place. I'm glad you've joined us,  Cora. Many of our volunteers are retired ladies looking for something to  do once a month or high school kids needing a few community service  hours, and both are very welcomed, of course. We need every single pair  of hands. But it's exciting having someone here because they're  exploring working with animals as their career."

The online application had required a statement of interest, and Cora  had shared her goal of one day becoming trained to do this work for  real. Hearing Maria take her dream so seriously gave Cora an incredible  boost of confidence in it that she really appreciated. "Well, I'm a long  way off-"

Suddenly, the door to the veterinary clinic pushed open. "Maria, we've  got another one," Dr. Josh said, his dark face set in a scowl. Dr.  Joshua Pierce was the shelter's director of veterinary medicine, a young  guy in his thirties with a nerdy-but-cute look and the biggest smile  Cora had ever seen. Well, normally.

"Damnit. Every Monday . . ." Maria's tone was part worried, part angry.

"Is everything okay?" Cora asked.

Frowning, Maria hesitated. "This might be a lot for your first day . . ."

"I have time, if you need help," Cora offered. A glance at the clock  told her she had seventy-five minutes until the boys' bus reached their  house. Whatever this was, she really wanted to assist and learn.

Maria gave her a nod. "I suppose you'll have to see it at some point.  For today, just observe. This is the rough part, Cora, so if you're not  sure . . ."

"I am." Inside the clinic's exam room, Cora found out exactly what Maria  meant, and realized she wasn't as prepared as she thought. Then again,  how could anyone prepare for this? "Oh, God," she whispered, hands going  to her mouth.

"Dear Lord," Maria said.

"I've got him sedated," Dr. Josh said, frustration rolling off him as he  pushed glasses up on his nose. One of the vet techs coolly cleaned and  bandaged numerous wounds covering a tan-and-white pit bull's body. "But  I've said it before and I'll say it again. This is the face of  dogfighting right here. When is this going to end?"

Dogfighting? Someone had made one dog do this to another? For . . . for  fun? "How can he breathe?" Cora asked, tears squeezing her throat.  Because it appeared that the dog's nose had largely been torn off, along  with part of his cheek. Even sedated, he made a labored, wet, rasping  sound with each breath. Those injuries were the worst, but not the only  ones. Cuts and bites covered his muscled body.

Dr. Josh frowned. "He's struggling. I've called in Dr. Lisa to help with an emergency surgery."

Maria shook her head. "Can he be saved?"

"Time will tell," the doc said. "But I think this is a case for Noah's Arks. See if they're up for a transport if he makes it."

"I'll call them right away," Maria said. "And the police, too. At some  point, they have to start giving this more of a priority."

"Who is Noah's Arks?" Cora asked as Maria nodded.

She gave Cora a sad look. "A rescue down south that specializes in  caring for and rehabilitating abused and neglected animals. This guy's  bad enough off that he needs them."

Cora had to leave just as the docs were taking their newest patient into  the operating room, and she felt like she was leaving her heart behind  at the shelter the whole way home. Not even driving her new red baby  gave her any pleasure. She was a watery, wobbly mess all night, and  finally had to retreat to her room after dinner.

Sitting on her bed, she hugged a pillow to her chest. And burst into  tears. Sadness rolled through her until she sagged sideways onto the  bed, her knees drawn up, her tears rolling over the bridge of her nose  and wetting her comforter. Maybe it was ridiculous to feel this bad, and  maybe it was a stretch to identify with an animal, but it just hurt to  see another living thing used, discarded, and in so much pain.