Page 24 of Midlife Animal Rescuer Bear

A gleam appeared in her eyes, and a small smile tugged at her lips. “Thank you, Cal.”

“Don’t mention it.” He stared at his glass, wondering if he hadn’t just made matters worse for himself. Sure, a vet was just what the sanctuary needed right now. But after what happened earlier today, he couldn’t help but wonder about the possible consequences.

They’d already failed to keep their hands off each other, and she’d only been at the sanctuary for a couple of hours this morning. What if it happened again? What if he found himself kissing her like he had earlier? And what if, this time, he couldn’t stop himself? Things were already complicated enough, without sex being thrown into the equation.

It wasn’t enough to remind himself that she’d broken his heart. It didn’t put out the desire burning him from the inside out. It certainly hadn’t kept him away from her. There was only one logical solution to their problems.

Was that why she’d moved after she left their wedding? Had she been trying to put distance between them to keep something like this from happening? They had their problems with each other. His true nature was revolting to her, and she’d broken his heart. They shouldn’t be together, shouldn’t even be speaking to each other. Yet ever since she moved to Sylva, they’d kept running into each other.

Working together sounded like a recipe for disaster.

Cal smiled back, holding up his glass, and she did the same, clinking hers against it.

“Welcome aboard, Dr. Kinley,” he said.

Chapter Ten

Creature in the Woods

The next few days didn’t fly by, and Melissa was starting to wish they had.

She’d spent most of her time working at Green Sanctuary, patching up newly rescued animals and checking to make sure the rest were in good health. Since she began working full-time at the sanctuary a few days ago, there had been more attacks in Paradise Woods, but Cal and the other animal rescuers had been more alert, finding more casualties and bringing them to the clinic in time for her to save them.

All in all, Melissa thought working as a vet again was great. It had been her initial plan, after all, when she moved to Sylva. Still, the growing number of attacks and casualties in the woods was starting to wear on her. Once or twice, she’d ventured into the woods with the animal rescuers and come across a few animals they’d been too late to save.

That in particular was becoming more and more of a problem. These creatures might not be human, but she found the sight of them to be disconcerting, to say the least.

It’ll be over soon, she told herself one morning, as she prepared to leave her house for Green Sanctuary. Cal, Bryon, and Henry were already working harder than ever, determined to catch whoever or whatever was responsible for the animal attacks.

She suppressed the doubt that immediately arose alongside that thought, and headed out of the house, opting to walk to work instead of taking her car. She was just heading down her driveway, a cool morning breeze brushing her face, when a couple of dark shapes appeared in the corner of her vision.

Dale?

It was him alright. Across the street, her neighbor was headed for his house, Leto next to him. Had they gone for an early morning walk? She started to wave at them, but paused, frowning. Both Dale and Leto looked like they’d just dragged themselves out of sleep. Dale had on a dirty-looking jacket, one arm tucked underneath it.

Before she could stop herself, Melissa walked across the street.

“Good morning,” she said.

Leto’s tail wagged at the sight of her. Dale, however, looked almost like he’d seen a ghost.

“Morning,” he said. His gaze darted between her and the dog, and he shoved his arm deeper under the jacket.

What the heck is going on?

“Is everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine,” Dale snapped.

She looked from him to Leto, whose fur looked like she’d been rolling around in dirt. Was Dale having trouble looking after his dog now that he’d fired her?

Speaking of...

“I’m really sorry I broke your trust,” she said. “I know I’ve apologized a bunch of times already, and I know how much Leto means to you. I should’ve fed her when I needed to.”

She thought she saw Dale’s jaw clench. His brown eyes drifted to his front door. “Yeah, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”

He turned away from her, heading up his driveway.