Bride In Training. Gail Gaymer Martin

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СКАЧАТЬ brother chuckled. “You’re asking for trouble when you bring a female into the house. You don’t get along with them, remember?” He set Nessie on the floor.

      Emily’s face flashed through his mind, then Steph’s. “You can’t forget anything, can you?”

      Nick strode closer and gave his shoulder a hug. “Just pulling your chain, bro.”

      “Fine, but enough’s enough.” He turned away and strode to his recliner with Nessie following him with a longing look as if she wanted someone to play with her. One day he wanted to know about the dog’s last owner. As he sank into the chair, he motioned toward the sofa. “How’s Steph?”

      “Better today. She did fine at work.” He strode to the French-pane picture window and looked outside. Nessie pattered beside him and curled up into a ball in a sunny spot.

      Martin’s brow furrowed. “I thought her doctor told her to take it easy.”

      “She has been.” Nick faced him. “Steph hired a young woman to come in and help with the dogs so she can do desk work and stay near the phone.”

      He acquiesced, hoping they were making the right decision. Nick oozed a positive attitude. Martin wished he could follow his brother’s example. “Tell me about this woman that works at Time for Paws?”

      “I don’t know her. Steph just hired her a few—”

      “Not the new one. I meant Emily.”

      Nick did a double take. “Emily? I don’t know much about her.” He gave Martin a scrutinizing look. “Why?”

      Martin managed to act indifferent. “No reason. She has quite an attitude.”

      Nick sputtered into a guffaw. “Attitude? You’re the king of attitude.”

      Struggling with a rebuttal, Martin covered his lack of words with a groan. “I’m working on it.”

      His brother stopped chuckling. “You are. I’ll be the first to admit that.” He crossed the room and plopped onto the sofa. “What happened yesterday?”

      “Nessie gnawed the handle of my attaché case. This morning I found my Italian belt covered with teeth marks.”

      Nick shrugged. “I can’t help you with that. Anyway, I meant what happened between you and Emily?”

      The past evening fell into Martin’s mind, and he relayed her abrupt refusal to add him to her waiting list of customers. “I think she’s heard too many rumors from Steph, and—”

      Nick leaned forward. “Wait a minute. Steph doesn’t spread rumors. If she said something it was true. You were horrible to her when you first met, and you know that, but you’ve made great strides, and I’m sure Steph has also mentioned that.” He flung his hands in the air. “I don’t know why they’re talking about you now, anyway, but don’t blame Steph.”

      Too late to undo his blunder. “I wasn’t blaming Steph. I deserved every remark she might have made about me, but you know I’m working on my attitude. I monitored my comments with Emily.” He revisited his evening with her. “Well, most of them.”

      Nick crossed his ankle over his knee and pulled up the sock. “You’re upset because she wouldn’t add you to her waiting list for what?”

      “For her dog-walker services. You know that I work late sometimes, and—”

      “And you don’t have me to run your errands for you anymore.”

      Martin drew back at Nick’s harsh comment. His stomach tightened. “Okay, I deserve that. But I haven’t asked in a long time. You have your hands full with a new marriage and Steph’s high-risk pregnancy. I worry about her, too.”

      “I know you do, and I appreciate it. That’s the new side of you I really respect. You’re thinking of others more than ever. Although I will admit, you were always good with Mom. Much better than I ever was.”

      “You’re too tender-hearted.”

      Nick shook his head. “I suppose.” He leaned back again, looking more at ease. “How are you getting along with Nessie?”

      The terrier heard her name and made her way back to Nick. When she realized he wasn’t going to pay attention to her again, she curled up at his feet and used his shoe as a pillow.

      “She’s a nice dog, but…” That but again. Martin wished he could remove the word from his vocabulary. “That’s another thing about Emily. She suggested dog training, then pushed me off on Molly. I hate the idea of dog training, but if I decided to try it, I can’t go to Molly. Her husband and I do business together. What happens if I do something that riles Molly? There goes that relationship.”

      Nick looked thoughtful. “And Steph isn’t training now.”

      “Right.” He didn’t want to work with Steph, either. They had finally become friends. One wrong move could destroy that.

      “Emily’s been employed there less than a year. Maybe she doesn’t train dogs.”

      “She must know something to be a dog-walker and sitter. She told me herself she has a lot of clients. I don’t need classes. Just a few tips.”

      Nick looked toward the ceiling as if he’d find the answer there. He finally turned to Martin. “I can ask Steph if she’d talk with Molly. I don’t know if it will do any good if Emily refuses, but Molly loves dogs, and I’m sure she wants you to do a good job with Nessie.”

      “That’s all I want. I suppose I could look in the yellow pages for a trainer, but—”

      “Hang on before you do that.” He reached down and petted Nessie’s head. “The poor dog has been shifted from one person to another. Time For Paws is familiar to her.” He eyed Martin. “Should I talk with Molly?”

      “Yes. Thanks. It’s not really training for the dog. It’s for me.”

      “You?” A silly grin stole to Nick’s face and he chuckled. “Even better. Let me see what I can do.”

      Martin opened his mouth, then closed it. Let Nick laugh. One day the laugh would be on him. Nick had provided renewed motivation for Martin to be on his best behavior.

      His pulse gave a kick. Talk about motivation, he sensed an ulterior motive going on in his brain, but he didn’t want to face it. The least likely person in the world to interest him would be someone like Emily. Nothing in common but a dog. He pictured Emily’s amazing eyes, her protective cover and her vulnerability. Then again, maybe they weren’t so different.

      Emily tightened the boxer’s leash. Like most larger dogs, he had the strength of a bull, and she was glad she’d gained a little more muscle mass. She remembered taking her first couple of dog-walking jobs and feeling like the word “failure” was emblazoned on her forehead. When she’d let herself go a few years earlier, she looked gaunt, emaciated to some people, but now that her life had gotten back on track, she continued to work toward a healthier body. Dog-walking provided her a solid means to keep in shape.

      Though СКАЧАТЬ