Free Playing for Love (Summer Beach Vets 1) - Escape Down Under by H.Y. Hanna Page A

playing games. This seemed to be upsetting her as much as it was annoying him.
    “I… I just came to check on the Beagle,” said Sara, still not meeting his eyes. “Um… Megan on reception said it was okay for me to come back here and say hello. I thought if I came early, I wouldn’t get in anyone’s way.”
    And I wouldn’t see you.
    She didn’t say it, but the words hung in the air between them. Craig felt his mouth tighten. The silence stretched awkwardly between them.
    “Um… how’s the puppy? Megan said things were looking hopeful.” Sara gestured towards a crate on the other side of the room.
    “Yeah, I was up half of Saturday night with him but it looks like he’s going to make it,” said Craig. “The family will be thrilled. Those kids would have been gutted if they lost him.”
    Silence descended over them again. Craig glanced at the crate next to Sara. The Beagle was sitting up, its head cocked to one side as it looked up at them. It was wagging its tail slightly and its caramel-brown eyes were bright and curious. Its front right paw was still bandaged, but Craig had checked it yesterday and the wound seemed to be healing nicely.
    He crouched down next to the crate and, after a second’s hesitation, Sara dropped down beside him. The Beagle put its muzzle up to the bars of the crate and sniffed Craig’s hand, its nose cold and moist against his skin. Then it turned to Sara and whined softly until she laughed and reached out to pat him too. The Beagle moved its head at the last moment, so that her hand missed and brushed Craig’s instead.
    Craig felt a surge of awareness from the brief contact and he saw an answering colour in Sara’s cheeks. Her hand trembled as she quickly moved it away from his. So… she wasn’t as unaffected by him as she liked to pretend, he mused. Somehow the thought made him feel better.
    “He’s doing well,” he said at last, keeping his voice carefully neutral. “If we can just find the owners now…”
    “I’d love to know his real name,” said Sara, stroking the Beagle’s fur through the bars of the crate.
    “If you’re free later, would you like to take him for a short walk? Not far, especially on that paw, but he needs a bit of exercise anyway and I thought since you—”
    “I’d love to!” Sara looked up at him, her eyes shining.
    Craig caught his breath. Anyone would think that he had given her a designer handbag or jewels, not a limping dog to walk. She looked so beautiful with her lips parted in delight and her blue eyes sparkling. He had to resist the urge to reach out for her. Something of his thoughts must have shown in his gaze, though, because he saw Sara’s cheeks flush even more and her eyes darted to his mouth for a second before skittering away.
    Sara stood up hastily. “Well, I guess I’ll leave you to get on with work…”
    She turned to go. Craig stood up too and looked at her retreating back, frustration surging within him. This was bonkers! Was she really going to act like nothing had happened, that they hadn’t shared that amazing evening together?
    As if she read his thoughts, Sara swung around just before she reached the door. “Sorry… I forgot. I meant to say ‘thank you’ for a lovely meal on Saturday. I… I had a really good time.”
    Craig moved swiftly to her side. “So did I. And I was hoping we could repeat it the next day—did Ellie give you the message that I called on Sunday morning?”
    “Yes, she did. I’m sorry… I was busy.”
    Craig frowned. “Sara—did I say something to upset or offend you at dinner on Saturday night?”
    She looked up in surprise, finally meeting his eyes properly. “No, why?”
    “Well… I thought we hit it off really well at dinner. I thought you enjoyed yourself—”
    “I did,” said Sara quickly.
    “So… I can’t understand why you seem so reluctant to see me again?”
    She licked her lips. Craig groaned silently to himself as his eyes watched the tip of her tongue