He watched her walk away, realizing he had more questions than when he’d started working at the hospital. And despite the fact that it shouldn’t bother him, he was finding that it did. Very much. He wasn’t sure how to unravel that. Or if he should even try. The only thing he could do was avoid her as much as he could—until they boarded their bus and drove off into the sunset together. Along with about twenty other people and a whole lot of medical gear.
Ugh! Hollee could not believe it. She and Clancy had joked about giving their dogs a play date and a week later she spotted him at the dog park at exactly the same time as her! Fortunately, he was some distance away and hadn’t seen her yet. He was talking to some woman who was standing way too close, her Afghan hound looking tall and elegant, much like her owner, who was almost as tall as Clancy. And the way the woman looked at him, laughing at something he said…
A sick feeling rolled around the pit of Hollee’s stomach as memories of the past flooded back. She guessed some things never changed. The nurses would probably also be fawning all over him soon enough.
Jacob had once joked that she’d dodged a bullet by being able to see through Clancy. Unfortunately, that hadn’t been the case. But there’d been no way she would have admitted that to her husband.
Could she bear watching him make the rounds at the hospital in a way that had nothing to do with patients?
She should just turn back around and head toward her car, but when she tried to tug Tommie in that direction, her dog planted her feet, head whipping around as if to say, What is this, human? A trick?
“No trick, sweet girl. Just a big old dose of self-preservation.”
Okay, if she couldn’t retreat, she could simply head toward an obscure corner of the park and wait there until he left. Surely she could keep Tommie occupied until then. She had a ball thrower and a tote bag that held an old soft quilt that her grandmother had made. She could just sit on the grass, ignoring Clancy and enjoying the day with no one being any the wiser. Except Clancy took out his phone and put it up to his ear, giving the woman with him an apologetic shrug, and the woman handed him something before heading on her way.
The sick feeling turned into something big and ugly. She would bet there was a phone number on that slip of paper.
Suddenly Gordy—wasn’t that his name?—jerked to the right. Clancy, who wasn’t expecting that or else was distracted by his call or the woman or both, careened sideways, landing right on his lean behind.
And it was lean. Just as lean as it had been ten years ago. Because, shamefully, she’d just looked.
Gordy broke free just as the woman and her fancy dog came back over and offered a hand to Clancy. Surprisingly, he didn’t accept it, just hefted himself back up, but it was too late to catch Gordy, who was moving across the grass, his pudgy little legs moving like pistons. Behind him trailed his leash.
“Damn.” The dog was headed in her direction!
About that time Clancy’s gaze met hers and he cocked his head, bending over to retrieve his phone and the paper. He then started moving…fast, giving his new friend a quick wave as he left her behind. Within ten strides he’d caught up with his dog, snagging his leash and putting a stop to his flight, such as it was.
She realized, despite what she’d just witnessed, she was grinning like a loon. Because of Gordy, she told herself. Not because the incident had foiled the woman’s attempt to hold Clancy’s attention.
He made his way toward them, not saying anything as he let his dog sniff Tommie. Thankfully her dog was as friendly as his seemed to be. “Looks like they hit it off,” he said. “I didn’t realize you came to this park.”
To his credit, he didn’t look behind him to see what had happened to the woman he’d been talking to. It looked like she’d given up, since she was now walking in the opposite direction.
“I do.” She was pretty sure that wasn’t something to be celebrated. “Is this the park closest to you?”
Unfortunately that came out sounding like an accusation, when she hadn’t really meant it to.
If he heard it, though, he didn’t acknowledge it. Instead, one corner of his mouth tilted up. “Yes, actually it is. I’ve been here a couple of times.”
That made her smile fade. Had he already met up with the same woman on other occasions?
She decided to hit neutral and change the direction of her thoughts. “How are Ava and the baby doing? Has she decided what to call her?”
Hollee was off today, and when she’d checked in on them yesterday, the pair had been doing well, with Ava finally being allowed to see her baby.
“Nope. So far J.J. and Jen-Jen are her favorites.” Clancy suddenly frowned and looked closely at something. “Is your dog’s eye okay? She’s squinting.”
Glancing down to check, she shook her head. “She’s actually missing that eye. Glaucoma,” she added.
“I thought glaucoma was treatable. She had the eye removed?”
“It manifests differently in dogs. She’d had it for a while before her former owners had it checked. It was too late to save her vision and was causing considerable pain. She’s adjusted quite well.” She reached down to ruffle Tommie’s fur. “We’re hoping to retain the sight in her other eye as long as possible.”
She hesitated, the tote on her shoulder starting to get heavy. “I brought a blanket—do you want to sit with us for a while?”
There was a noticeable pause on his part, then he lifted one shoulder, whether in irritation or a shrug, she wasn’t sure. “We don’t want to impose.”
The words made her heart ache. Maybe he wanted to go back and find that woman.
Okay, she needed to answer this carefully. “I noticed you were talking to someone. I’ll understand if you have other plans.”
“Nope. No plans at all. Anyway, I think our dogs are enjoying each other’s company.”
A huge rush of relief washed through her, although it was ridiculous. He might not want to go find Ms. Afghan Hound right this minute, but he could always call her later. Or someone else would come along. She could pretty much depend on that.
That was okay, though, because Hollee wasn’t interested in him like that. Not anymore, so there was no reason to sit here dwelling on it.
Why not just enjoy his company and not worry about the other stuff?
“I think so too. We can go over to one of the quieter areas, so they can stay out of everyone’s way, if that’s okay.”
“Yes. Thanks. Gordy and I didn’t think to bring anything to sit on.”
More likely, he didn’t feel the need to sit down, but since her legs had been feeling a little shaky ever since she’d spotted him, she’d better do something about it quickly.
That scar on his face drew her attention time and time again. He had to know she was staring at it. But it wasn’t out of pity. She was fascinated by the changes that had taken place in him since the time she’d known him. Ten years had layered his face with a cynicism that hadn’t been there before, the scars just adding to that feeling. It also added to that air of danger he’d carried with him back then. She’d used to fantasize about riding on that motorcycle of his, and she’d finally gotten her chance when he’d given her a lift home the night of the kiss. She’d been pressed tight to his back, her arms wrapped around his waist, and… God… He’d been lethal to her senses back then, and it