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lot of phone calls to make and some explaining to do if she couldn't carry on with her regular routine. Wait, she thought, I can still lead the yoga classes, just have to hold off on the extreme moves for a while.
    Walking the dogs, well, that was another matter. Every afternoon during the week, she had six dogs on each of her three runs to exercise.
    The first batch, the smallest group, she picked up at the local SPCA, and that wasn't a problem because she could take them to the nearby yard and let them run or, if she wasn’t available, there were other volunteers to take over.
    It was the hoity-toitys’ pets that required more of her time and stamina. Eight frisky dogs whose rich owners paid her top dollar to be responsible for their daily workout. To pick them up in her van, get them to the park, walk and run the scheduled two miles and deliver them all back home in an hour and a half required vigilant clock watching and a whole lot of patience. 
    Those animals weren't your run-of-the-mill, happy-go-lucky, glad-to-see-you kind of dogs. Many expected to be carried. Others pulled and tugged on their leashes, stubbornly trying to wield control.  Still others, the shit disturbers Sadie called them, purposely ran back and forth getting the leads twisted, acting ornery, growling, biting at each other until separated.
    But over time Sadie knew she'd worked wonders. Most of them had settled into their routines and even looked happy to see her now, rather than running to hide or flatly refusing to move. 
    Now what'll I do? It had taken her many months of hard work to get to this comfortable zone. It could all be undone in a matter of days with the wrong person to replace her. If she only had to walk, it might be doable, but the way she felt right now, managing and controlling those dogs would be impossible.  Alone, anyway.
    "Something's bothering you. I can see by the changing expressions on your face." Liam's soft voice interrupted her worrying.
    "No. Nothing's wrong."
    "Hell it's not."
    Sadie decided, since he asked, she'd hit him with truth. "Here's the thing. I can't be laid up right now. I need to work…" She stopped talking when he frowned.
    "Don't ask if you don't want to know." Sarcasm ripped through the words.
    "Hey, settle down, Miss Doomsday. I'll be happy to reimburse your wages during this time—"
    "I don't need or want your money, Hotshot." She lowered her voice once she heard herself yelling.  "I need someone reliable to replace me for the days I can't do the job." Sarcastically she added, never expecting he might agree, "So if you want to walk my canines, you might be of some help. Otherwise…" She didn't say the words, but the smirk she glared at him was more than adequate to let him know her thoughts.
    "I'll do it." The plus side was that he hadn't hesitated. The minus was that he'd offered, and she was tempted.
    "Give me a break. I'm serious."
    "So am I. Look, I might not have a great reputation as a driver, but I assure you, not only can I walk, I've been doing it with no problems to speak of since I was a year old."
    Sadie's stomach somersaulted. Warnings went off in her head like church bells ringing in the New Year. That man's smile is lethal, she thought. How can I spend the next few days near this charmer—yet how can I not? On the weekends, she'd have had all kinds of help. But during the week, it would be nigh on impossible to find someone with two days open.
    "What about your own work? How can you take the time off?"
    "I'm between posts right now. I've finished my stint in Iraq, and not sure if I want to sign up for another placement. Still have a few weeks to think on it. So, I'm free and all yours."
    Not even tempted, you cheeky bugger! The thought popped into Sadie’s head and wouldn’t be dismissed.
    "If you don't want him, can I have him?" Her sister Dora arrived just then. Her voice actually whined with desire.  "Pretty please?"
    "Settle down, Sis. He's not mine to give. But I can