Read Courting Alley Cat for Free Online Page B

right?”
                  Justin walked over to stand next to her. He smelled of antiseptic and animals. “Tonight could be crucial,” he said. “I’m glad you came back.”
                  “Ohhh.” With one hand on Charlie’s back, Alley looked up at him, assessed him. “How do you do it?” she asked.
                  “How do I do what?”
                  “How do you go through this with the cats and dogs? When some of them don’t make it.”
                  “How can I not? When I can help some of them.”
                  “But they have such short little life-spans. And people get so attached to them.”
                  He put his hand on her shoulder. The weight of it settled her. “But they give us such pleasure while we have them.”
                  She nodded, swallowed, lowered her gaze. “I’ll stay with him tonight.”
                  “What about your date?”             
                  “Date?”
                  “Yeah, I’ll watch him. You go on your date.”
                  “I don’t have a date. Some friends are here from Dallas.”
                  “Well, same thing. Go out with your friends. I’ll stay with Charlie.”
                  “They’ll entertain themselves.”
                  He removed his hand from her shoulder and she felt him watching her. She looked up at him. “Granny should know, shouldn’t she?”
                  “Yeah.”
                  “I can’t tell her right now,” Alley said, the tears welling again.
                  “Let’s wait until tomorrow. Then we can make that decision.” He reached out, lightly stroked her hair.
                  She didn’t move. Wondered at that small gesture. Knew he was trying to comfort her.
                  Or was he?
                  “I’ll be back,” he said. “Just call out if you need me.”
     
                  Justin stood in his kitchen, took a moment to settle himself. The woman downstairs had him all churned up. He wanted to sweep her into his arms. Hold her. Comfort her.
                  Any resolve he had once had to distance himself from her was shot. Maybe he had over-reacted. Maybe he should give her a chance. He acknowledged it. Accepted it. He would take what she had to give. Maybe she had more than he gave her credit for.
                  His parents wouldn’t be back until much later. He’d heard them mention something about a movie. It was nearly seven. Neither he nor Alley had eaten. Again, that overwhelming need to take care of her.
                  He picked up the phone and dialed the number to The Pizza Place.
     
                  Alley pulled a high stool over so she could sit and gently stroke Charlie’s fur. She had time, now, to study her surroundings. The little exam room was clean and organized. Shelves with small, clearly labeled compartments lined one wall. They were open for easy and efficient access. There was a distinct air of sterilization.
                  She had seen only one other exam room and there was a reception area for patients coming down the stairs. There was a row of filing cabinets behind the receptionist’s desk. There had been, however, no receptionist. Alley concluded that the entire business was family run and there were few patients, especially since Justin and his father before him seemed to specialize in dogs and cats.
                  Such was the way, she presumed, of the small town. She had once had a dog when she was growing up and she remembered waiting in the crowded vet’s office for an appointment. There was a black bag tucked away on the counter. It occurred to her, then, that perhaps Justin made house