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don’t…”
    He pulled out some dollar bills. “I can pay for the privilege.”
    She frowned. “I wish you’d put that thing away.”
    “It’s called a wallet and it has made life very easy for me.”
    “I bet.”
    “You don’t sound as though you approve.”
    “It doesn’t matter if I approve. What you’re stating is a fact. Money means ease and special privilege.”
    “But it doesn’t necessarily mean happiness.”
    “A tired cliché.”
    He leaned on the sink. “You don’t believe it?”
    “No. You may want to turn your face for this.” She was happy for an excuse to create some distance between them.
    He watched her put on a pair of latex gloves. “Why? What are you going to do?”
    “Squeeze her anal sacs.”
    “Her what?”
    Yvette lifted Queen’s tail; Nate diverted his glance.
    “Oh.”
    Yvette tried to remain professional, but all she could think was that she had the chance to finally meet him again and here she was cleaning a dog’s anus. Not very attractive. Why did he have to stay? Why couldn’t she make him leave? Naturally, he looked every bit as handsome as she remembered. Even more so. His black jacket complemented his medium-brown skin and his unrelenting gaze hadn’t changed. At their first meeting he’d been in a hurry, but he certainly wasn’t in a hurry now.
    “I’m surprised it doesn’t smell like I thought it would,” he said glancing around.
    “How did you expect it to smell?”
    “I expected it to stink, I guess.”
    She tightened her lips, offended. “A grooming salon should never stink. That’s why we give our clients the drop-off rules. This ensures that when you bring your family member to us, they won’t get sick or have a messy accident while in our care. At times, that still happens but rarely. The only smell there should be is that of a wet dog.”
    “I was just making an observation,” he said by way of an apology.
    “Now you know the reason.”
    He nodded. “I also know that I was right.”
    “About what?”
    He turned to her, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “I told my sister you were smart.”
    Yvette looked away and turned on the faucet. “Thank you.”
    “But you’re wrong about one thing. It’s not a cliché that money doesn’t buy happiness.”
    “Yes it is. You have to know how to be rich to be happy at it. People who are born into money take it for granted, but if I were given money I would cherish it every day and enjoy every penny.”
    Nate frowned as Yvette took off her gloves and tossed them in the wastebasket. “Do you have to do that with all of the dogs?”
    “Some owners check the sacs themselves, but most request that we do it for them.”
    “What a job.”
    “Some people have to earn their money.”
    “I get the hint.” Nate folded his arms and rested a shoulder against the wall. “Take it from me. Being wealthy isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”
    “I think rich people only say that so others won’t try to join them.”
    “It’s true. There are the luxury business trips, the lavish parties and numerous wealthy and influential friends. But there are times when I just want to get away from it all. I thought I would get a chance this month, but then my sister scheduled two very important functions I’m supposed to attend with Queen and King.”
    “I’d love it. The parties, the socializing.” Yvette began bathing Queen, feeling more relaxed.
    “The endless chatter.”
    “The conversation.”
    Yvette finished shampooing and rinsed.
    “The boredom.”
    “I could never be bored at a formal party or any high-society event!” She dried Queen with a towel, then led her to a large table to be blow-dried.
    Nate stared at her in disbelief with a renewed interest. “You really mean it, don’t you? You would like to go around socializing with two dogs?”
    “I wouldn’t want to be just a dog sitter, if that’s what you mean,” Yvette shouted over the sound of the dryer. “I’ve had enough of entering