Trey relieved me of puppy duty. “Wow, she smells horrible.” His face screwed up as he looked her over. “Wasn’t she wearing a collar?”
I shook my head and prayed lightning wouldn’t strike me for the giant fibs I was telling. “No, that’s why I’m so dirty, too. I chased her around and couldn’t grab her properly.”
He looked me over briefly. “Did you hurt yourself?”
“No, I’m good.” Thank goodness dirt was soft.
He looked at his watch. “Let me call Barnes. He’ll know what to do.”
“She’s really beenthrough the ringer,” Dr. Barnes stared right at me.
Gosh.
I hated lying.
But there was a purpose for this one.
“I know, that’s why I took her home.”
He nodded at me. “Trey, take her to the back and give her a good scrubbing. I’ll take another look at her afterward. But, from everything I can see, she looks to be in good health.”
Trey looked at me. “You want to come help?”
I opened my mouth to accept his offer, but Dr. Barnes got there first.
“Before I report the puppy as lost, I have a few quick, questions for Lexi. Give us a minute?”
Trey nodded, then smiled down at the puppy. “Is it time for a bath? Hmm?” he spoke to her in such cute babytalk—I’m pretty sure I just ovulated as they walked out of the exam room. Watching how happy he was with the puppy made me happy, too.
Dr. Barnes cleared his throat, and brought me back to real life.
“You didn’t find her beside the trash bin, Lexi. Did you?” he asked as he stared down at me.
Dr. Barnes was hot.
He was also Trey’s brother.
So, I tried really, really hard to ignore how hot he was.
They shared a father—not a mother.
Before Dr. Barnes’ biological mother flaked out—she asked for an undisclosed amount of money. She’d also insisted he keep her last name.
According to Trey, it had been a real mess.
Anyway, Trey and Barnes were the products of hockey pro, Doug Turner.
He’d had a decent career, don’t get me wrong.
But nothing like my dad’s.
Anyway, Doug and Marianne had divorced years ago.
Something that had also been a mess—according to Trey.
We’d had Dr. Barnes over for pizza one night, but he and Trey spent most of the time outside in the courtyard with the other guys.
“Uh, yeah, of course, I did. She was rummaging around. I had to help her,” I lied my face off. I could tell from his expression—he wasn’t buying it.