Free Beauty and the Chief by Alysia S Knight Page A

in contentment. This was the best date he’d been on in years, not that it was a date. Well, actually, it was. He had asked, she had accepted. It was a date, even if it was a spur of the moment thing with two boys.
    He also learned one very important thing. Jillian Taylor had no problem being around his son. She didn’t act fake with him, didn’t try to play up to Jordan to get his interest. She was herself and accepted Jordan just as he was, a ten-year-old boy, who had a burping contest with his new friend at the end of the meal. Mark wanted to hang his head in embarrassment.
    Jillian laughed and proceeded to tell the boys about one of her friends on her soccer team who could out-burp any guy, and that on an away trip, their coach threatened to tie her to the goal and let the team take shots at her if she didn’t stop. They were all laughing with her when she finished.
    When the waitress came over to see if they needed anything else, Mark got the hint that it was time to go. “Shall we?” He held his hand out for her.
    “I guess so.” She then looked at her watch. “Oh my, I didn’t realize. I have to pick up Abby by two.”
    “We’ll make it. Come on boys.”
    ***
    It took twenty minutes to reach the vet’s office. They made it with five minutes to spare.
    “Sorry I’m late,” Jillian said as she rushed in the door.
    “No problem,” Eliza Jones greeted them. She was a petite woman with a mass of curly brown hair and a lot of energy. “I knew you’d make it, and Abby has just been sleeping. Looks like you brought a crew. Chief Richards,” the woman said to Mark on seeing him.
    “Dr. Jones,” he acknowledged.
    “How much do I owe you?” Jillian pulled her wallet out of her purse.
    “Oh, it’s all been taken care of.” The doctor looked at the police chief.
    Jillian caught the motion and turned to him. “You paid for her?”
    “Let’s just say it was taken care of by someone who wanted to remain anonymous.”
    She eyed him a moment, wondering if he’d covered the bill personally, but his expression gave nothing away.
    “You ready to take her home?” the vet asked.
    “Oh, yes.” Jillian was more than ready. She couldn’t believe how much she missed her and it was worse knowing she was hurt. She followed Eliza into the back room where the kennels were.
    “She’s such a sweetie, very well behaved.”
    “She is. Oh, there’s my baby.” Jillian knelt down in front of the kennel. Abby started to whine and wiggle her whole body. “Sit girl.” Jillian tried to calm her, but the minute the door was open, Abby burst through into her lap. “That’s my girl.” Jillian ran her fingers over Abby, careful of the patches that had stitches.
    “Hey, Abby.” Sam came over to pet her and received a greeting lick.
    “You want to come meet her, Jordan? She’s friendly.” Jillian invited.
    “Sure.” He dropped down by her and immediately received the same treatment as Sam.
    “Abby,” Jillian corrected the dog. “She’s not supposed to lick people’s faces.” Jillian caught the dog’s head between her hands and lowered her forehead to the top of Abby’s. “Ready to go home?” She dodged the tongue, laughed, and pulled the leash from her purse.
    With the boys on either side of Abby, they all said good-bye.
    Mark opened the tailgate then carefully lifted the dog inside while Jillian got into the back seat.
    “If you put the little center piece down, you can reach her easier.”
    Gratefully, Jillian followed the suggestion. Before the others had even gotten in the car, Abby had her muzzle resting on the arm rest between Jillian and Sam. At her condo, Mark again came around to lift her out so she didn’t pull her stitches.
    “Thank you for everything.” Jillian caught the leash.
    “We’ll walk you up.”
    Jillian started to object but thought better of it as Mark raised his eyebrow. “This way.”
    “Jillian, can Jordan and I stop to see if Mom’s home yet?”
    She looked to