Free Natural Born Trouble by Sherryl Woods

memory was followed by an echo of his promise that they would become friends and nothing more. She couldn’t seem to help feeling just a little disappointed that he’d taken her at her word that that was all she wanted. Why the heck hadn’t he just swept her off her feet and made mincemeat of her ridiculous claim to be immune to him? They both knew what a lie it was.
    Could it be that he was truly a rarity, an honorable man who stood by his word? Did he intend to back off and leave her completely alone except for chance meetings? That prospect left her feeling thoroughly disgruntled.
    â€œEnough,” she said sternly and marched herself into the animal clinic. Work had always been able to dull the most painful memories. Surely it could take her mind off of Duke Jenkins for a few hours. She had a half hour before regular office hours. She would spend it with Honeybunch.
    Thankfully, the German shepherd was improving daily, though it would be another week or two before she felt confident enough of his health to send him back out to Betty Lou’s. The old woman had hitched a ride with a neighbor every single day to check on her dog. Dani was fairly confident that it was the sound of Betty Lou’s voice as much as her own medical expertise that had kept the dog alive through several touch-and-go incidents.
    â€œCome here, big guy,” she called softly. The dog’s tail thumped once, and he struggled to his feet. He limped over to the edge of his pen and licked her hand. Dani hunkered down in front of him. “You feeling better? You know, you gave us all quite a scare the night the sheriff brought you in here.”
    Honeybunch’s responding woof sounded creaky from disuse.
    â€œNo, no, don’t apologize. It’s not your fault that creep slammed into you,” she said as she expertly ran her hands over his body checking his injuries. Everything seemed to be healing nicely. His stitches would come out tomorrow and then it would be mostly a matter of letting him get his strength back. His appetite was slowly returning, and he was regaining some of the weight he’d lost.
    â€œBetty Lou is going to be very glad to get you home again,” she told him. “She misses you.”
    The dog cocked his head at the mention of his mistress’s name, then uttered a plaintive woof that had Dani smiling.
    â€œSoon, boy. She’ll be here soon,” she promised.
    â€œWhat happened to him?” a familiar male voice inquired, causing her to jump.
    She glanced over just as Duke hunkered down beside her, his expression sympathetic as he allowed the dog to lick his hand. He seemed oblivious to the danger of getting dog hair all over his expensive suit. For some reason that pleased her deeply. Nor could she help noticing how strong his hands looked, yet how gently they moved over the injured dog.
    â€œHit by a drunk driver,” she told him.
    â€œDamn fool,” he muttered, never taking his eyes off the dog. “I suppose he left the scene, too.”
    â€œOf course, but the sheriff caught up with him. A neighbor spotted the car and turned him in. He’d had his license revoked the month before.”
    â€œBut he was still behind the wheel,” Duke said with disgust. “Maybe sooner or later someone will start taking away their cars, instead of their licenses.”
    â€œMy sentiments exactly,” Dani said, standing up and giving Honeybunch a dog biscuit to chew on. She managed to inject a casual note into her voice as she asked, “What brings you by? And how’d you get past Maggie?”
    â€œIs Maggie that perky young lady out front reading a veterinary medicine textbook?”
    â€œThat would be the one,” Dani said. “Forget I asked. If Maggie was studying, she’d let Martians invade without batting an eye.”
    â€œI hope I am somewhat less formidable than Martians,” Duke said.
    Dani wasn’t so certain, so she let