arrived
tonight what was going on. When the
Walkers cal ed a few
days ago and invited him for dinner,
he'd accepted, thinking
he should make an effort to get to
know his neighbors. If
he'd known what they had in mind,
he'd have saved both
Dr. Wil iams and himself the
discomfort of the attempted fix-
up. Once he'd arrived, he hadn't
wanted to embarrass them
or their friend by tel ing them that
he was engaged. He knew
73
INGLATH COOPER
Phoebe talked to Mabel earlier in
the week about inviting
him to dinner, and he had a feeling
his not-so-innocent
housekeeper conveniently neglected
to mention that he had a
fiancée.
He stepped out into the Indian
summer night, the air
warm and fresh smel ing. He stil
hadn't tired of the simple
pleasure to be found in breathing it
in.
From the driveway came the sound of
the engine
grinding again. He crossed the
driveway, and at the truck
door, bent down and tapped on the
window.
Colby's head shot up, sheer
frustration etched on her
face.
The window lowered with a slight
squeak. “I know that
was awkward, but was I that bad? he
said.
She sat back in her seat, failing in
her attempt to look
surprised by the question. “No.
I just— she began, then
stopped, looking chagrined.
“Their intentions
were good. They obviously think the
world of you.
She shook her head. “What's
that old saying? ‘With
friends like that, who needs
enemies?
He laughed then. She did, too, and
he found he liked
the sound of it. The awkwardness
hanging between them
eased, and he realized how good
laughter felt. He didn't
laugh that often. “If
you'll pop the hood, I'll take a look. I
don't know much about engines, but
it sounds like your
starter's bad. Got a flashlight?
74
GOOD GUYS LOVE DOGS
She rummaged through the glove
compartment, then
handed him the light. She popped the
latch, and he said,
“Give it another
try.
She did, and he spotted the problem.
“Yeah, that's it.
You're going to need a new one, he
called out.
“Great, he heard
her say. She got out of the truck and
came around to the front.
He straightened and lowered the
hood, pressing it
closed. He noticed then that a pair
of blue coveral s had
replaced her dress. “I'll
be glad to give you a ride.
“I can't ask that
of you, she said, not quite meeting his
eyes.
“I don't mind.
Let me just go thank the Walkers. Be
right back.
Ian went inside and explained what
happened to
Phoebe and Frank. Phoebe was
anything but disappointed
by his departure. She looked so
happy that he wondered if
she'd ruined the starter herself. He
said goodnight and
headed back outside, where the other
victim of Phoebe's
matchmaking stood unloading some
things from her truck.
“Would you like
to put that stuff in the trunk?
“Yes, please. He
stuck the key in the lock and opened
it. She dropped her bag inside. He
started to close it just as
she reached in again. He grabbed her
arm and jerked it back,
barely in time to prevent the lid
from slamming on it.
They both stood in shock for a
second or two while
his hand stil gripped her arm. She
took a hasty step
backwards. “Thanks.
I forgot to put my keys in the bag.
75
INGLATH COOPER
“No problem. But
I'd hate to be the person responsible
for putting the town's only vet out
of commission.
She smiled, rubbing her skin where
his fingers had just
been.
He opened her door, and she slid
inside the car. To his
surprise, he found himself noticing
that she had a very nice
shape beneath the faded coveral s.
Wondering if it had been
a mistake to offer his taxi
services, he went around and got
in on his side. “You'll
have to tell me where to go.
“Take a right out
of the driveway. It's about ten miles
from here.
Ian backed up and headed away from
the house. They'd
just reached the main road when she
said, “I'm really sorry
for Phoebe's lack of tact.
“It's all right.
From
tonight what was going on. When the
Walkers cal ed a few
days ago and invited him for dinner,
he'd accepted, thinking
he should make an effort to get to
know his neighbors. If
he'd known what they had in mind,
he'd have saved both
Dr. Wil iams and himself the
discomfort of the attempted fix-
up. Once he'd arrived, he hadn't
wanted to embarrass them
or their friend by tel ing them that
he was engaged. He knew
73
INGLATH COOPER
Phoebe talked to Mabel earlier in
the week about inviting
him to dinner, and he had a feeling
his not-so-innocent
housekeeper conveniently neglected
to mention that he had a
fiancée.
He stepped out into the Indian
summer night, the air
warm and fresh smel ing. He stil
hadn't tired of the simple
pleasure to be found in breathing it
in.
From the driveway came the sound of
the engine
grinding again. He crossed the
driveway, and at the truck
door, bent down and tapped on the
window.
Colby's head shot up, sheer
frustration etched on her
face.
The window lowered with a slight
squeak. “I know that
was awkward, but was I that bad? he
said.
She sat back in her seat, failing in
her attempt to look
surprised by the question. “No.
I just— she began, then
stopped, looking chagrined.
“Their intentions
were good. They obviously think the
world of you.
She shook her head. “What's
that old saying? ‘With
friends like that, who needs
enemies?
He laughed then. She did, too, and
he found he liked
the sound of it. The awkwardness
hanging between them
eased, and he realized how good
laughter felt. He didn't
laugh that often. “If
you'll pop the hood, I'll take a look. I
don't know much about engines, but
it sounds like your
starter's bad. Got a flashlight?
74
GOOD GUYS LOVE DOGS
She rummaged through the glove
compartment, then
handed him the light. She popped the
latch, and he said,
“Give it another
try.
She did, and he spotted the problem.
“Yeah, that's it.
You're going to need a new one, he
called out.
“Great, he heard
her say. She got out of the truck and
came around to the front.
He straightened and lowered the
hood, pressing it
closed. He noticed then that a pair
of blue coveral s had
replaced her dress. “I'll
be glad to give you a ride.
“I can't ask that
of you, she said, not quite meeting his
eyes.
“I don't mind.
Let me just go thank the Walkers. Be
right back.
Ian went inside and explained what
happened to
Phoebe and Frank. Phoebe was
anything but disappointed
by his departure. She looked so
happy that he wondered if
she'd ruined the starter herself. He
said goodnight and
headed back outside, where the other
victim of Phoebe's
matchmaking stood unloading some
things from her truck.
“Would you like
to put that stuff in the trunk?
“Yes, please. He
stuck the key in the lock and opened
it. She dropped her bag inside. He
started to close it just as
she reached in again. He grabbed her
arm and jerked it back,
barely in time to prevent the lid
from slamming on it.
They both stood in shock for a
second or two while
his hand stil gripped her arm. She
took a hasty step
backwards. “Thanks.
I forgot to put my keys in the bag.
75
INGLATH COOPER
“No problem. But
I'd hate to be the person responsible
for putting the town's only vet out
of commission.
She smiled, rubbing her skin where
his fingers had just
been.
He opened her door, and she slid
inside the car. To his
surprise, he found himself noticing
that she had a very nice
shape beneath the faded coveral s.
Wondering if it had been
a mistake to offer his taxi
services, he went around and got
in on his side. “You'll
have to tell me where to go.
“Take a right out
of the driveway. It's about ten miles
from here.
Ian backed up and headed away from
the house. They'd
just reached the main road when she
said, “I'm really sorry
for Phoebe's lack of tact.
“It's all right.
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