Gabe. Ugh. Just thinking of him got her insides in a twist. It would’ve been so much easier if she’d found her phone. But she hadn’t. So tonight she’d be headed for the phone store after work. Ava had helped her feel better by reassuring her that if he’d left her any voicemails, she’d be able to access them on a new phone. If he hadn’t, she could even see about having her phone company download her recent texts for her.

Or you could just stop by his office. Let him know you lost your phone and give him an update on the pointer.

As the sun climbed up in a pink-and-orange sky, promising a beautiful spring day ahead, Olivia was feeling optimistic enough to want to try it. To put aside any worry over being the one who’d initiated the kissing or who’d confessed to sharing something pretty scarring in common with his ex-fiancée.

She could even stop by this morning instead of putting it off until Friday. She had a sub coming in for the first part of the day so that she could take the dog to the shelter when it opened at eight. Shaving another half hour off her school day wouldn’t inconvenience anyone.

Seeing that the pointer wasn’t losing interest in licking his empty bowl, Olivia scooped it up and set it on the table. She sank onto her heels and switched the leash to her other hand. She held her flattened palm up to show it was empty, and to her surprise, he began to lick it as well.

“Look at that. I’d almost swear you’ve noticed I’m here.”

To Olivia’s delight, the pointer wagged his short tail hard enough to sway his hips along with it. His solemn brown eyes even connected with hers for a second or two.

“You know, you’re so gorgeous it just about stops my heart. What do you say I get dressed and take you for a walk before we go check out your new digs? Temporary digs, anyway. I’m holding fast to the hope that you’re adopted before you even have time to settle in.”

As if in answer, his tongue swiped across her chin and nose before he turned his attention to the yard and the birds in the trees.

“On an affection scale of ‘largely indifferent’ to ‘joined at the hip,’ that might not be much, but it’s good enough to make my morning.”

* * *