When did things change? Lucy asked herself. When did I start falling in love?

The words may have been said silently, but to her, it sounded as if they’d bounced off the kitchen walls straight at Logan. The idea was frightening. She’d told herself that this was an affair, nothing permanent, and that she didn’t want to remarry. This time more than her heart was in danger—so was her son’s.

All that didn’t stop her from looking at Logan as if he was the best thing in her life. He leaned against the counter, his hair as rumpled as his clothing due to a late-night emergency. He’d always been handsome, but when had he become downright irresistible? He fidgeted with a fortune-cookie wrapper.

Lucy covered the distance between them and took the cookie from him. “You don’t need this to tell your fortune. I can tell you.” Through a wicked smile she whispered in his ear, and instantly Logan swept her up in his arms.

For once in her life, Lucy wanted to take what she could get. Enjoy the moment and not worry about what might happen tomorrow.

If Scarlett O’Hara could do it, so could she.

Dear Reader,

When the Walker siblings first appeared in My Little One, I had no idea they would be featured in three more books. I’ve had a lot of fun creating the right soul mate for each sibling, but as you know, I didn’t make it easy for them.

Lucy Donner was introduced in Two Little Secrets when she secretly set up her hairdresser, Ginna Walker, with her brother, Zach Stone. It seemed only fair that someone do the same for the single mother. I always knew it would be too predictable for Ginna to be the one finding Mr. Right for Lucy. Not when Lucy’s son, Nick, now a teenager, could come up with a devious plan that involves local veterinarian Logan Kincaid. Before Lucy knows it, she has a terrier puppy and is working at Logan’s animal clinic. And along the way, she falls in love with Logan.

As with the previous books, the rest of the Walker family are present to add to the mix.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about the Walkers as much as I’ve enjoyed writing about them.

Linda Randall Wisdom

Single Kid Seeks Dad

Linda Randall Wisdom

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MILLS & BOON

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Linda Randall Wisdom is a California author who loves movies, books and animals of all kinds. She also has a great sense of humor, which is reflected in her books.

Books by Linda Randall Wisdom

HARLEQUIN AMERICAN ROMANCE

250—WE GIVE THANKS

284—LADY’S CHOICE

293—APPEARANCES ARE DECEIVING

310—CODE OF SILENCE

325—SINS OF THE PAST

350—A MAN FOR MAGGIE

372—O’MALLEY’S QUEST

382—VOICES IN THE NIGHT

401—FREE SPIRITS

422—SOMETIMES A LADY

443—THIS OLD HOUSE

457—UNDER HIS SPELL

470—A MAN FOR MOM

487—THE COUNTESS AND THE COWBOY

515—NO ROOM AT THE INN

541—VEGAS VOWS

561—HE’S A REBEL

596—COUNTERFEIT HUSBAND

608—MOMMY HEIRESS

627—TWIST OF FATE

641—DO YOU TAKE THIS MAN…

671—NAUGHTY ’N NICE

681—MR. & MRS.…& MRS.?

707—BELLS, RINGS & ANGELS’ WINGS

751—SHE’S HAVING HIS BABY

774—THE LAST TWO BACHELORS

831—MY LITTLE ONE

865—BRIDE OF DREAMS

920—TWO LITTLE SECRETS

991—PREGNANCY COUNTDOWN

1059—SINGLE KID SEEKS DAD

Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Epilogue

Prologue

The small, dimly lit room was a contrast to the bright lights and merriment in the nearby reception hall. It was the perfect meeting place for the two conspirators who faced each other.

“I have to say, young man, that your note was intriguing. Are you now going to reveal why we have to have this meeting in private?” The deep voice rumbled as the man settled back in a chair. He eyed the boy facing him. He was impressed that even under his stern gaze, the boy didn’t waver as he spoke.

“It’s very simple.” The boy kept his voice low. “I have a single mom. You have a single son. We both want to see them married off. There’s no reason why we can’t work together to accomplish our objectives.”

The man chuckled. “I suppose you have a plan.”

“Yes, I do. We’re already ahead because your son is hot for my mom.”

The older man shook his head. “I’ve heard that she has told him she isn’t interested.”

The boy shrugged off his statement. “Yeah, but that can change. I did some research on your son and what I’ve learned about him tells me he’s perfect for my mom. All she needs is some time to really get to know him.”

“How do you expect to bring them together?”

Nick Donner smiled. “I’ve worked up what I feel is a foolproof plan.” He then proceeded to outline his idea.

The older man’s skepticism soon turned to interest as he listened to Nick. “I admit that I’m impressed. Do you honestly think something that wild could work?”

“There is absolutely no reason why it won’t as long as you’re willing to do your part,” Nick said with unshakable confidence.

An hour later, their plan was mutually approved with a handshake. Separately, the two participants slipped out of the room and returned to the reception hall just in time to watch Nora Summers Walker and her new husband, Mark Walker, cut the wedding cake.

For the balance of the evening, the young man and his older partner didn’t do anything to betray their plan that, if successful, would bring them together for another wedding real soon.

Chapter One

The sun shouldn’t be shining today. It should be cold and dark and dreary. Or raining. Rain would work.

With a sense of foreboding, Lucy Donner looked up at the modern-styled concrete-block building. She imagined the stairs leading to the front doors were actually steps leading to the gallows. The line of people patiently waiting to go through the security checkpoints in the courthouse lobby were the condemned waiting their turns.

She really needed to stop watching late-night movies where everyone ended up murdered.

She didn’t want to walk up those steps even though she knew her son’s fate hung in the balance up there.

“There you are, dear.” Lou and Cathy Walker came up to her. Cathy immediately pulled her into a hug then cupped her hands around Lucy’s cheeks. The older woman looked concerned as she studied Lucy’s face. “How are you doing?” Cathy asked, clearly not missing the worry shadowing Lucy’s eyes.

“I’ve gone through four bottles of antacids in the past two days,” she whispered, gripping Cathy’s arms as if she needed a lifeline. “What does that tell you? It’s wonderful that you’re here, but as I told you last night, you didn’t have to come. I have an idea it’s not going to be pleasant.”

“Of course, we would come. You’re family,” Lou told her. The relationship was only that Lucy’s brother was married to their daughter, but Lou continued, “We Walkers stick together.” He curved his arm around Nick’s shoulders and tugged him against his side.

Lucy blinked rapidly. The threat of tears quickly dried up when she looked at her son. This was her darling baby boy. The light of her life. The reason they were spending their morning in court.

Once this was over she was grounding him until he was fifty.

And here she’d thought things would change for the better after they moved.

Lucy had seen it as a sign when she’d found a house not far from the Walker homestead in Sunset Canyon, California. She was even happier to find a school that believed in challenging its gifted students without giving them any special treatment just because their IQs happened to be higher than those of most of the rest of the human population. She was even relieved that puberty seemed to settle down Nick’s mischievous nature now that he’d turned thirteen. He spent many of his free hours with Lou Walker during which he learned what went into renovating an antique automobile. Lucy had decorated their new house and made it into a home for herself and her son.

Life was great.

Until it took a crazy U-turn. Lucy received a call from the school’s dean telling her that not only had Nick hacked into the school’s computer, but that he’d deleted all student and personnel files and replaced them with new ones that bore no resemblance to what had been there. The dean explained that Nick’s actions were considered a crime, which was why they would spend this morning at the courthouse.

Lucy was grateful Cathy and Lou had come to lend her moral support. Since the day the dean had called her, she’d alternated between fury at her son for what he’d done and fear he’d be sent to a juvenile facility that would make those late-night bad-boy movies look like a fairy tale.

Now they were in court to learn Nick’s fate. Determined to look the part of the most responsible mother in the world, she’d chosen a black skirt and a cream blouse. She mentally cursed the black high heels that were killing her feet. She’d chosen the extra three inches for courage. Judging by the condition of her stomach, it hadn’t worked very well. For once, she hadn’t had to resort to threats to get Nick into a dress shirt and tie. Even his usually unruly sandy-brown hair was brushed into submission.

“What judge did you draw?” Lou asked.

Lucy had to think for a moment. “Judge Kincaid.”

The man’s face darkened.

“What?” Lucy felt her fears return. “How bad is he?”

“It’s nothing like that, dear,” Cathy soothed as she shot her husband a warning look. “Everything will be fine.”

“The man should have retired years ago,” Lou muttered.

“He’s the same age as you are,” Cathy reminded him.

“He has no heart.”

The bantering was halted by the arrival of Lucy’s brother, Zach, and his wife. They hurried toward her and Zach wrapped his arms around her for a warm embrace then hugged Nick.

“Everything will be fine,” her sister-in-law, Ginna whispered.

Lucy wasn’t as confident, but now was the time to find out. Together, they all walked up the steps and went through the security checkpoint, then they looked for the courtroom in which Nick’s case would be heard.

Lucy was relieved to see Nick’s attorney already there. She only wished he didn’t look like Opie from The Andy Griffith Show. It didn’t help that at their first meeting he had told her to call him Ritchey. All that did was bump him up to the teenager from Happy Days.

Oh my God, she wailed to herself, I’d forgotten that my son’s lawyer looks twelve years old! She dredged up a faint sickly resemblance of a smile.

“Hey, Mrs. Donner.” Ritchey grinned as he offered his hand. He nodded at Nick. “Are you ready, Nick?”

“Sure,” the boy said, sounding almost adult.

“Maybe he is, but I’m not. But I guess that won’t matter, will it?” She touched her stomach, which sent out burning signals again. “You don’t think—” She found herself afraid even to say the words. “He won’t be—” She stopped because she just plain couldn’t go on and voice what had been giving her nightmares since this had all begun.

“I wouldn’t worry, Mrs. Donner. I’m sure Nick will be put on probation and assigned to community service,” he assured her. “We’ll be in and out of here in no time.”

Lucy breathed her first sigh of relief in days.

“I’m sorry, Mom,” Nick said quietly as he touched her shoulder.

She didn’t hug him, because she knew a display of affection would only embarrass him.

“No matter what the judge does to you, you are still grounded until you’re a hundred and five,” she told him as they went inside.

“You told me I was grounded until I was fifty,” he reminded her.

“I changed my mind.”

Lucy’s sense that things would turn out all right disappeared the moment the judge entered the courtroom and settled into a high-backed black leather chair. Her blood turned to ice as she saw the man’s stern expression.

We have Opie for an attorney and Boris Karloff for a judge. My son is going to Devil’s Island!

The five adults sat in the front row with Lucy in the middle.

The judge leveled a piercing gaze at Nick.

“Come up here, young man, and let’s talk,” he ordered in a rumbling deep voice that rivaled Orson Welles’s.

Lucy again silently vowed to stop watching late-night television. Her imagination was running away with her. She could see her baby being led off in chains to a dark and dank hole where he would spend the remainder of his life unless he managed to escape by digging through dirt and stone with a small spoon.

She was vaguely aware of Cathy taking her hand between her two.

“Frank’s a fair man,” Cathy whispered.

Lou refuted her assessment. “He’s an idiot.”

The judge’s head snapped up and he scowled in their direction.

“If people can’t respect the court and be quiet, they’ll be thrown out,” he threatened.

Lucy heard a small sound of distress travel up her throat. The last thing she needed was anyone putting Judge Kincaid in a bad mood.

As the judge questioned Nick, she vaguely heard his attorney interject a few times, but each time the judge ignored him.

Again he addressed Nick. “Young man, what you did was more than malicious mischief. You knowingly destroyed Fairfield Academy’s computer files.”

Lucy felt her heart sink down to her toes. This was it. Her baby was going to prison for the rest of his life. She was so lost in her misery she barely heard the judge’s pronouncement.

“The dean and I had a long talk about this, young man,” the judge said sternly. “Expulsion would be too good for you, namely because I don’t believe that expulsion from school is a punishment. I'd rather see that student punished in school, loaded down with extra work. And that is what you will be doing for the rest of the school year. Be prepared to write a lot of book reports, young man.”

Lucy’s spirits started to rise. Lots of homework for Nick? Not a bad thing, in her eyes. She’d never believed in expelling students either. But she realized the judge wasn’t finished.

“Along with your extra school work, you will have six months community service to be spent working at the Valley Animal Clinic and Shelter,” the judge ordered.

“What?” She felt her neck crack as she whipped her head from side to side to look at Cathy and Ginna.

Lou shot to his feet. “Your Honor, may I speak?”

The judge scowled. “Why?”

“Young Nicholas has been working at my garage for the past four months. Is there any reason why he can’t serve his time there?”

“There is an excellent reason why he cannot. I didn’t order him to work there,” Judge Kincaid snapped. “From what I can see, it didn’t do him any good to work under your supervision if he felt he needed to find an outlet by committing this act. I can assure you he will be working very hard at the shelter, and he won’t have the time or energy to think up ways to create mischief.”

“An animal clinic? He refuses to clean the cat’s litter box!” Lucy blurted out without thinking. “I’m sorry, Your Honor,” she whispered, wilting under his condemning glower.

The judge focused on her. “Madam, it seems your son needs more supervision than you can give him. If he knows what’s good for him, he will use this time to reconsider his actions. He will also tender a letter of apology to the Dean of Students at Fairfield Academy and will not be participating in any computer labs for the next semester.” He turned back to Nick who looked about as solemn as Lucy had ever seen him. “Report to Dr. Kincaid at three-thirty tomorrow afternoon, young man. If you know what’s good for you, you won’t end up in my courtroom again. I can assure you the next time I won’t be so lenient.”

Nick didn’t flinch under the older man’s harsh regard. “I understand, sir.”

After tendering his judgment, the judge dismissed the court.

Lucy was smart enough to keep her mouth closed. At the moment, she wouldn’t have put it past the judge to sentence her to hard labor.

“There was no reason why he couldn’t work under my supervision,” Lou grumbled, as they filed out of the courtroom. “The old bastard just didn’t want to appear human.”

“Please, don’t make him angry,” Lucy pleaded.

“Don’t worry, dear, they’re two old fools who have been carrying on an old feud much too long,” Cathy reassured her. “Come, let’s stop somewhere for lunch. You need something more substantial in your stomach than antacids.”

“She’s right, Mom,” Nick chimed in.

Lucy looked up at her son and saw his concern for her. Now that he’d passed his thirteenth birthday and sprouted several inches almost overnight, she had to look up at him. She must look bad if he was that worried.

Lou took charge. “Nick, you ride with me and Cathy will ride with your mother. We’ll meet you at Stewie’s.” He called over his shoulder, “Ginna, Zach, are you going to join us?”

“We’ll follow you over,” Ginna said.

“Eating at Stewie’s means he won’t be watching his cholesterol.” Cathy heaved a sigh. “I wouldn’t worry about Nick, Lucy. Logan Kincaid’s not the grump his father is. I’m sure you’ve met him at some of our parties.”

“Logan’s a sweetheart,” Ginna added. “He went to school with my brother Brian.”

“Logan Kincaid?” Lucy flashed back to the various Walker parties where she’d met the family veterinarian. He’d let it be known he was interested in her. In turn, she’d let him know she wasn’t interested in him. “He’s who Nick will be working for?” She closed her eyes. “I think I need more antacids.”

“IS THERE A REASON I have to get all of your hard cases?”

Judge Frank Kincaid calmly ignored his son’s outburst. He dipped a tortilla chip in the spicy salsa and brought it to his lips.

“The best reason there is. You need additional help at the shelter. I provided you with a living body. Now you don’t have to worry about finding someone.” He perused the menu. “My stomach won’t like anything I order, but I’m still ordering the shredded-beef enchiladas.” He looked up at the waitress, gave his order and waited as his son gave his.

Logan picked up his beer and sipped the cold brew.

“The last person I need caring for my animals is some juvenile delinquent you’ve foisted on me.”

“Chad Matthews worked out nicely.”

“No, Chad Matthews broke into my drug cabinet and relieved me of all my Ketamine.” The animal tranquilizer had apparently turned into a popular drug of choice. “Kristi and Jeremy worked out, but that’s because they both love animals.”

“There you have it!” Frank beamed. “I wouldn’t worry about Nick Donner. He appears to be a good kid. He just needs some direction. That’s the problem with single mothers of sons nowadays. They don’t give their boys the firm structure they need.”

“Donner?” Logan frowned in thought. “Is his mother named Lucy?”

Frank tipped his head back and momentarily closed his eyes in thought. “I believe that’s her name. Why, do you know her?”

“Not exactly.” He recalled sun-streaked light-brown hair and flashing green eyes along with a pair of kissable lips that had firmly told him she didn’t require, nor desire, his attention. He quickly masked his thoughts. His dad had been trying to get him married off since his divorce had been finalized five years ago. The older man didn’t seem to understand that while Logan didn’t mind having a woman in his life, he wasn’t looking for anything permanent. He preferred keeping the opposite sex tucked in a nice tidy compartment that wasn’t long-term.

“The boy isn’t your run-of-the-mill troublemaker,” Frank Kincaid explained. “Psychologists would say he’s one of those child geniuses who needs constant stimulus. I say forget the psychobabble. He just needs to put in some hard labor.”

“Aha!” Logan held up his glass. “If you had your way you’d have everyone doing hard labor.”

Frank recognized his son’s sarcasm and blithely ignored it. “It didn’t hurt you any.”

Logan didn’t bother saying any more. After all these years of verbal sparring with his father he knew he’d only lose. Instead, he settled on looking at the positive part of this deal. He’d have a chance of seeing Lucy Donner again.

“YOU KNOW, Mom, pretty soon you won’t have to worry about picking me up from school,” Nick said as he settled in the passenger seat of Lucy’s pewter-gray Murano. He looked out and waved at a classmate. “Pretty soon I’ll be able to apply for my learner’s permit.”

“Not in this lifetime, bud. Being grounded for the next forty years means no driving ever. I don’t care if I have to drive you to your college graduation.” She checked her side-view mirror and moved away from the curb. “There’s a pair of old jeans and a T-shirt in the back seat.” Her knuckles turned white as she tightened her grip on the steering wheel. “I should have sold you to the gypsies when I had a chance.”

He grinned. “That threat hasn’t worked since I was five.”

“That’s no threat. You have to work at that shelter for six months,” Lucy muttered. “I guess it could be worse. Some hackers aren’t allowed to use a computer for years.”

His upbeat nature dimmed. “I can’t use the computer lab at school. I have to go to study hall instead.”

“Just be grateful the school didn’t expel you.” She mentally calculated the easiest way to drop Nick off at the shelter and make a getaway without having to deal with Logan Kincaid. She knew a conscientious mother would go inside and insist on seeing just where her son would be working. And she was a conscientious mother. But she was also a woman who found Logan Kincaid a little too attractive for her peace of mind.

Instead of running from him, she should be making herself available. The man had asked her out on a date, after all, and she’d turned him down without a good reason. Unless you counted deciding she couldn’t handle anything resembling a love life right now. After what had happened with Nick, she knew she’d made the right decision. If she couldn’t control her son, what made her think she could control her own life?

Lucy looked at the ranch-style building bordered by grass and colorful flowers. Farther back she could see a small house with what looked like a waist-high wooden fence around it. Off to one side was a wire-fenced-in area. She would have thought this was a lovely residence if it weren’t for the sign out front declaring the premises to be the Valley Animal Clinic and Shelter—that and the cacophony of barking coming from the rear of the building.

“Maybe I should have taken you to the doctor first. For all we know you might require shots to work here,” she mused aloud. “Was there anything in the court order about shots?”

“It’s more like the animals need shots,” Nick pointed out, as he opened the door. He glanced over his shoulder. “Aren’t you coming in?”

For a second she saw the little boy she’d walked every day to the Sunny Day Preschool around the corner from their house.

“I guess I should.” She climbed out and walked around the front of the vehicle.

They stepped inside a waiting area that was divided down the middle of the large room by a waist-high wall. Lucy noticed one side appeared decorated for the feline patients while the other side was indicated for dogs. She almost yelped when she saw a teenage boy seated on a bench with a python wrapped around his shoulders. She hoped the expression on the snake’s face didn’t have anything to do with hunger.

“Can I help you?” asked a young woman behind the counter. Light-blue medical scrubs decorated with tiny kittens wearing wings and halos covered a large pregnant belly. She smiled at the two of them.

“I’m Nick Donner. I’m supposed to be working here.”

She nodded and pressed down on a button on the phone console. “Gwen, the kid is here.” She looked at him. “The vet tech will be out here in a second.”

“I’m Lucy, his mother,” Lucy said, keeping as much distance from the snake as she possibly could. She transferred her attention to a silvery gray dog that looked like a husky that sat near the woman. What appeared to be a cell phone was lodged firmly between his jaws. She hoped the dog had been fed lately because he looked awfully hungry. Between the python and the dog, she felt like an afternoon snack.

“Nick Donner?” A spritely blonde walked out from the rear. She greeted him with a broad smile. “Hi, I’m Gwen.” She introduced herself to Lucy and then explained, “Don’t worry, Mrs. Donner, he won’t be around anything dangerous. “He’ll be under the supervision of our shelter staff along with Dr. Kincaid and myself.”

Lucy was reassured by the young woman’s matter-of-fact manner. “I’ll be back at six, then. Nice meeting you.” As she made her way out, she determinedly kept her eyes down instead of looking around for Logan Kincaid. With Nick working here for the next six months, she knew she’d be dealing with the veterinarian sooner or later.

She was hoping for later.

NICK FOLLOWED Gwen to the back. She walked swiftly while talking over her shoulder. “The shelter has two regular employees who work a rotating schedule. Kristi is working today. She’ll show you the ropes. I’m sure Logan will come back to see you when he finishes with his patient.”

“Okay.” Nick looked at the framed color sketches of dogs, cats and exotic animals that lined the hallway walls.

“You’re our youngest worker,” Gwen told him as she pushed open the rear door. Barking and feline yowls greeted them as they stepped into the large room. “Just don’t let Kristi scare you off.”

Nick gulped as he entered the shelter. For a brief moment, he wondered if he should have found another way to accomplish his goal. It had seemed so easy when he’d mapped it out to the judge.

“Kristi, this is Nick Donner. We’ve got him for the next six months,” Gwen announced.

Nick stared at the young woman dressed in a midriff-baring black tank top and camouflage pants tucked into Doc Martens. Light danced off the tiny gold ring hooked to one nostril and another bisecting an eyebrow, while a red stone sparkled from her navel. A barbed-wire tattoo circled one slender upper arm. Her short spiky hair was as black as her top. Dark-brown eyes surveyed him with clinical interest.

“You don’t look like the typical juvie Judge Kincaid sends here,” she drawled. “What’d you do?”

“I hacked into my school’s computer system and gave them a whole new set of records.”

She looked impressed. She gestured for him to follow her to the back of the large building. “Cool. Okay, here’s how it goes. You do the dirty work. I supervise. Gwen or the doc handles any medications that need to be administered. Jeremy or I handle the records. That means you keep your paws out of the medication cabinet in case it’s unlocked, which is pretty much never. What you’ll be doing is hosing down and cleaning the kennels. You’ll also exercise the bigger dogs, which means you take them out to the fenced-in dog park the doc set up out back. They can run free out there, but you still have to stay in there with them. Most of them enjoy chasing a ball or chasing you. You have a dog, right?”

“No, we have a cat. Luther.” He eyed one rambunctious German shepherd with a trace of unease. “He’s real old and cranky.”

She shrugged. “You’re a kid. You can handle a dog.”

“Nick Donner?”

Nick turned around to see a tall man with dark blond hair coming toward him. Sunglasses hung from his T-shirt neckline.

“Logan Kincaid.” He held out his hand. “You’re Lou Walker’s grandson, right?”

“I guess you’d call me more a nephew or something by marriage. My uncle is married to Lou’s daughter,” Nick explained, taking his hand.

“And you reworked the school’s computer records which now has you slaving away here.” He shook his head. “You’re going to regret it real fast. Work around here is pretty dirty.”

“Don’t scare him off,” Kristi warned her boss.

“I don’t have to. That’s your job.” Logan looked her over. “New tattoo?”

She glanced down at her arm. “It was time. You can’t see my other one unless I’m wearing a bikini.” She turned to Nick. “Don’t even try to imagine where it is,” she warned him.

“I know it’s hard to believe, but Kristi’s bark is worse than her bite,” Logan told Nick.

“Yeah. Uh, yes, sir.”

“Just call me Logan. We’re pretty informal around here. Do you understand what we do here?”

“You’re a veterinary clinic. You treat sick dogs and cats.”

“That along with treating pretty much any other critter that shows up. We’re also an animal shelter. The county shelter is usually overloaded. This area was growing enough that we needed a more local place for dogs and cats dumped on the back roads or given up by owners. We have a successful adoption program.”

Nick must have looked uneasy, because the doctor gave him an assessing look and said, “Look, if you have a problem with this, I’ll talk to the judge about putting you somewhere else. Just because you’re ordered here doesn’t mean it’s written in stone, no matter what he says.”

“That’s not it. I’m not used to being around dogs except at the Walkers’s and Jasmine’s real low key.” He mentioned Cathy and Lou’s German shepherd. “We only have a cat.”

“Then I suggest you make friends with the dogs first. Don’t worry about them. They’re all friendly and love the attention. Just make sure to read the tag on each door and always greet them by name. Also, if the tag has a warning about biting, don’t do anything with them. Let Kristi or Jeremy handle those animals.”

“Uh, boss.” Kristi held up a broom. “The kid’s got work to do.”

Logan laughed. “Okay, he’s all yours, Kris.” He walked to the front of the clinic.

“Come on, it’s time to earn your keep.” Kristi chuckled. “So to speak.”

She showed Nick how to clean out the first dog run then handed the cleaning tools over to him.

In record time Nick was wielding the hose, a heavy bristled broom and a bucket.

Kristi stood back and observed him at work.

Nick figured he was doing all right since she hadn’t offered any criticism.

“Once the kennels are clean, take the dogs outside to the fenced area. They all play together pretty well, but we only take two or three out at a time. It’s easier to keep them under control that way. We try to give them at least a half hour out there. When they’re all exercised, clean up the area. Right now, we don’t have any puppies and only a few cats. The cats are in what we call the cat palace. You’ll find two litter boxes in there that have to be cleaned.”

Nick nodded. “Okay. I’ll get it all done.”

Kristi studied him. “What are you? Thirteen, fourteen?”

“Thirteen and a half,” he replied. “Have you been working here long?”

“About three years. Old Judge Hard Ass gave me the choice of working here or going to a youth facility. Trust me, juvie would have been easier.” She started measuring dog kibble into metal bowls. “Logan worked my butt off.”

“So you’re under a court order, too?” Nick asked. He hated to think what she had done if she was still working here.

“Nah, I finished up a couple years ago. Logan gave me a real job here. It helps pay my college expenses.”

“Gwen said someone else works here, too,” Nick said.

“That’s Jeremy. We work a rotating schedule. You’ll meet him tomorrow.”

Nick stared warily at a black-and-tan rottweiler sitting docilely by the gate. “Is he friendly?”

“That’s Ginger and she’s a sweetheart, aren’t you, baby?” Kristi cooed to the dog as she opened the run. The dog stood up and greeted her with a slobbering kiss.

LOGAN REMAINED out of sight for a few minutes to see how the two got along. He’d had problems in the past when either Kristi didn’t like her new helper or the helper wasn’t too sure he or she could get along with a young woman who looked as if she just stepped out of a Goth club. Despite her tough exterior, Logan knew that Kristi had a true heart of gold.

He heard Nick speaking to the dogs in a low voice that didn’t show any of the trepidation he’d first shown. He gave the kid credit for not flinching at the prospect of dirty work. He knew Kristi would find a way to make the tasks dirtier than usual. She claimed they might as well find out right off the bat that it wasn’t easy. Seeing that the two were getting along fine, Logan went up front and stopped by the desk.

“Brenda, do me a favor. Would you let me know when Nick’s mother shows up?”

The receptionist nodded.

Logan might not feel he needed another helper, but he might as well take advantage of the situation to see Lucy again.

LUCY PULLED INTO the clinic parking lot promptly at six. She noted a large sage-green SUV parked along the side of the building with a small compact car and a motorcycle parked next to it. When she stepped inside the building, the receptionist was on the phone. She waved her in.

“Go on back,” she mouthed.

Lucy hesitated.

The receptionist covered the mouthpiece with her hand.

“It’s okay. Just go all the way down the hallway to the end door. That leads to the kennels.” She returned to her phone call.

Lucy kept an eye out for Logan as she made her way down the hallway to the rear door. The first thing she heard when she entered the shelter area was her son’s laughter accompanied by a low, rumbling male voice that sent a shiver along her spine. She remembered that voice only too well. The last time she’d heard it had been at a barbecue at the Walker house. Not that she had a problem with the voice. Low-pitched with a slight rumble to it, it was the kind of voice that seduced a woman into feeling safe and cared for, two things Lucy didn’t believe most men could accomplish. No, it wasn’t the voice she was worried about. It was the owner of the voice that prompted her to keep her guard up.

She started to back out through the door, but the two noticed her before she could make her escape.

“Hey, Mom!” Nick called out.

Lucy stared at the dirt-covered lump that had called her Mom. He looked as if he’d rolled in the dirt. She doubted she’d find one inch on him that wasn’t filthy.

“What on earth did you do?” She didn’t think there was enough soap in the world to get him clean again. “Or should I say how much earth did you get on you?”

“Hello, Lucy,” Logan said, looking cleaner than Nick but not by much.

She ignored the tingle starting in the pit of her stomach at the sight of his welcoming grin and brown eyes dusted with gold. “Hello, Logan. I hope Nick did an acceptable job today.”

He looked more amused than put off by her formal tone. “He did fine. For a kid not used to dogs, he handled the pack without any problems.”

“Pack?”

He gestured to the kennels. “I guess you could call these guys my pack.”

Just then a young woman came out back. She stuck out her hand and said, “The kid did great. Hi, I’m Kristi.”

“Kristi’s in charge back here,” Logan explained. “She and Jeremy keep things humming.”

Lucy silently prayed that Nick wouldn’t get the idea that a tattoo or body piercing was a good idea. It had taken a couple months for his self-drawn tattoo, courtesy of a semi-permanent ink marker, to wear off. She’d made him wear long-sleeved shirts any time he had to leave the house.

Her gaze skipped from one kennel to another. It seemed they were all filled with large dogs. Didn’t anyone have a Chihuahua out here in Southern California’s Riverside County?

“I cleaned all the dog runs then took the dogs out to this fenced area in the back where I can run with them,” Nick explained with enthusiasm. “It’s really cool!”

“And did you also roll in the dirt with them?” She indicated his dirty clothing.

He looked down. “I guess this is why you had me wear old clothes, huh?”

Lucy turned to Logan. “He’s safe being alone with these animals?”

“No one’s been bitten yet. And I guess Nick’s had his shots so the animals are protected.” He blew out a low breath. “It’s a joke, Lucy.”

“Yes, I gathered that.” She mentally hated herself for acting so stiff but couldn’t seem to stop herself.

“I have to clean up first,” Nick told her.

“Use the antiseptic soap,” Kristi reminded him.

Nick nodded as he loped off.

“He’s not a typical juvenile delinquent,” Lucy stated almost defiantly.

“I never thought he was,” Logan replied mildly. “I read the judge’s report, Lucy. It sounds like Nick has a knack with computers that will give Bill Gates a run for his money in a few years. I think the judge wants Nick to see a different side of life so he uses his skills only for good and not evil. Another joke.”

“I know that! He’s on the basketball team at school.” Now she sounded defensive. “And he’s worked on cars with Lou Walker since we moved here. He just has too much imagination and sometimes does something before thinking of what his actions might cause.”

“And what have you done since you moved here?”

“I’ve taken kind of a sabbatical from my travel agent job in order to get my house in order. It’s not an easy task,” she replied.

“That’s right, your other house was crashed into or something.”

“The engine landed ahead of the jet,” she said dryly. “Unfortunately, it landed inside my house. Luckily, the jet didn’t.”

“Since you’ve been so busy you probably haven’t seen too much of the area,” Logan surmised. “Perhaps one weekend you’d like to go for a tour.”

“Right now you’re in charge of my son’s community service. I think that’s enough interaction.” She raised her voice. “Nick, I’ll be in the car.” The smile she directed at Logan was patently insincere. It turned more genuine as she looked at the young woman. “It was nice meeting you, Kristi. Dr. Kincaid.” She made her escape.

“It’s Logan,” he called after her departing figure.

Before he could say anything further, Nick emerged, wiping his wet hands on his jeans.

“My mom’s not usually this cranky,” he explained quickly. “I think it’s because I got in trouble. I’d promised I wouldn’t get in any more trouble and then this happened. I think she was afraid I’d end up in jail.” He leaned over to confide, “She kept saying my lawyer looked like Opie, whatever that means.”

Logan chuckled. “I know who you’re talking about. Ritchey Owens does look pretty young to practice law, but he’s good. Besides, the judge doesn’t like to send boys to jail. He believes in a strict work ethic.”

“He just likes you getting free labor,” Kristi teased her boss.

“The judge is your dad, isn’t he?” Nick asked Logan.

“Guilty.”

“You must take after your mom, then.” He shot the vet a grin. “Good night, Logan. ’Night Kristi. See ya tomorrow.”

“Good night, Nick.” Logan turned to Kristi and cocked a questioning eyebrow.

“He did good,” she told him. “He took orders without any arguments. He actually listened to everything I said. Of course, he hasn’t given the dogs their baths yet.” She grinned.

“The ultimate test.” He looked around. “It all looks great. Go ahead and take off.”

She sketched a salute. “See ya on Thursday.” She snatched up a backpack and headed out the rear door. A few moments later the roar of a motorcycle could be heard.

When Logan walked into the reception area, Brenda was shutting down the computer and locking drawers. He looked at her big belly and winced. The fear she might go into labor during working hours had haunted him for the past month.

“I’m out of here,” Brenda announced before breezing out the door.

“Good night,” he called after her.

“Have you seen Beau?” Gwen asked, coming into the room.

He shook his head. “You know how he is when we’re closing up.”

“Come on, you little monster! Show yourself!” Gwen called out.

Beau, a bright red macaw with turquoise and green wings, waddled down the hallway. A flap of his wings bore him up to the counter. He cocked his head to one side.

“Tigger is in his bed, Beau.” Logan held out his arm and the macaw hopped onto it, content that the cat he somehow believed to be his pet was down for the night.

“Magnum,” Beau uttered in his raspy voice.

Magnum was Logan’s Malamute.

“He’s on guard.”

“Like anyone would dare break in here,” Gwen muttered. She eyed her boss. “So that’s Lucy Donner.”

“Nick’s mother, yes.”

“I heard she’s one of the few women to turn you down.” Gwen grinned broadly. “She shot you down again tonight, didn’t she?”

“I didn’t give her any reason to shoot me down,” he defended himself.

“I really like her.”

Logan huffed the exasperated sigh men expel when women think they have the best of them.

“Shouldn’t you be nicer to the boss when you’re due for a raise?” he asked as he set the macaw in a large black wroughtiron cage and secured the door with a lock; the macaw had a habit of escaping.

“I already gave myself a nice one last month. ’Night, boss.” She waved her hand over her shoulder as she headed out the door.

“’Night, boss,” Beau echoed.

“Right, like I’m in charge,” Logan muttered.

Before locking up, he took one last tour of the clinic to make sure all was in order. He was impressed to find the bucket Nick had used rinsed out and hung on its hook on the wall, the broom set back in place and the hose neatly coiled in a corner by the faucet. No trash was left out and covers on trash cans were secured. He didn’t think this was a boy behaving himself because it was his first day working here. He was positive Nick had acted like himself that day.

“I wonder if Dad would consider giving him to me for an additional six months. Magnum, guard!” he ordered the Malamute who lay on a dog bed in one corner. As always, the slightly chewed cell phone lay within reach.

For once, Logan left the clinic not thinking about work. Lucy Donner dominated his thoughts as he walked outside to the small house he used as his living quarters. He chuckled as an idea came to mind.

“Too bad Dad can’t order her into community service.”

Chapter Two

“How is Nick doing with his community service?” Ginna Stone asked when she met Lucy for lunch a week later.

Ginna had called her that morning and suggested that since she had the day off from the hair salon they get together for lunch. Lucy was always glad to see her best friend and new sister-in-law. Lucy had always thought Ginna would be a perfect match for her brother, Zach. She proved it when she’d secretly paired the two for an island getaway. Now they’d been married for months, and Lucy had never seen them happier. Ginna joked that she was going to return the favor by fixing Lucy up with Mr. Right, but so far her matchmaking efforts had failed.

“He’s doing very well. He goes over to that clinic and cleans up after animals and cats and exercises the dogs, but he still won’t go near Luther’s litter box,” Lucy told her. “His excuse is that he’s so tired from his work at the clinic he only has enough energy left to do his homework.”

Ginna chuckled. “But he finally acknowledges Luther has a litter box. I remember when he pretended it didn’t exist. Isn’t that a step in the right direction?”

“I guess so. I still don’t understand why Nick did this. He’s always had an inventive mind, but he’d outgrown that mischievous streak of his. He was really behaving himself. Until now.”

“Zach once told me about some of Nick’s more colorful antics.” Ginna sipped her iced tea. “And to think you let Nick live,” she teased.

“There were times when I wondered which one of us would survive his childhood,” Lucy admitted. “When Nick was eight, the school psychologist told me that Nick was acting out because he didn’t have a father figure. Zach had gone to the appointment with me and told the man that Nick had him as a male figure in his life. He felt the school needed to do its part by offering Nick and kids like him more challenges. That’s why I was so happy when we moved out here and I found Fairfield. They offer just the right programs for a boy with his smarts. Until this happened. Now I’m just grateful they didn’t expel him.” She sighed.

“Look at it this way. Nick had a lapse of good judgment. He’s becoming a teenager, Luce. Collectively, my brothers don’t have intelligence anywhere close to Nick’s. Trust me, they pulled some pretty wild stunts in their day. Mom claimed it’s because of them that she had to start coloring her hair so young.”

“No wonder I have highlights done so often.” Lucy laughed. “How are Emma and Trey doing?” She mentioned her niece and nephew, Ginna’s stepchildren.

“They both love second grade. The principal talked to us about putting them in different classes. They prefer splitting up twins unless the parents object. It gives the kids a chance to be more individual. Zach and I thought it was a good idea since Trey seems to follow in Emma’s shadow too much. Now that he’s in a different class he’s had a chance to come into his own more. He stands up to her in ways he wouldn’t have dreamed of before, and last weekend he even pulled a practical joke on her. It’s great to see him turn into his very own little individual.”

“For someone who didn’t want kids, you’ve sure turned into Super Mom,” Lucy teased. “And to think you were so mad at me for setting you up with Zach on your trip.”

“Which you will never let me forget,” Ginna verbally tossed back, but she looked very happy as she uttered the words.

Lucy grinned back. “You’ve loved every minute of it.”

“Yes, I have. In fact—” she leaned forward “—it’s nothing definite yet, but Zach and I are looking at property out this way.” She held up her hand. “We haven’t said anything to my parents yet. For Zach, writing his magazine column and now his books means he can work anywhere, and while I enjoy working for CeCe at the Steppin’ Out Salon, the idea of having my own salon has been calling me for the past year or so. If it works out, Nora and I would look for local space. She and Mark are looking around here, too.”

“Abby said she and Jeff found a house in the area. They don’t want to say anything to Cathy and Lou until the escrow closes,” Lucy said, mentioning Ginna’s oldest brother and sister-in-law. “She said there’s another fire station opening and Jeff has already put in for a position there. Lou said if the rest of the Walker sons would return to Riverside County he could have his very own fire-fighting department and paramedics.” She grinned.

“They’ll love having everyone around them. Dad used to joke about his Walker Dynasty,” Ginna said. “Which, whether you like it or not, you are a part of.”

“I learned that the day of Nick’s hearing. I was very grateful for everyone’s support,” she confessed.

“That’s the way they are. Dad always hoped that at least one of the boys would go into the auto renovation business with him, but he should have known better; Jeff wanted to be a fireman since the day he accidentally set the garage on fire, and Brian and Mark are naturals as paramedics. Now Dad hopes one of the grandkids has grease in his or her veins.” She chuckled. “Don’t you find it odd that Nick is working for the man you’ve avoided all these months?”

“Not the way my life is going.”

“I thought for sure Logan was going to be successful at Grandpa’s birthday party.”

Lucy shook her head. “Luckily, Mark’s proposal to Nora took the spotlight off us.” She remembered that evening very well. It seemed every time she turned around Logan was there. While she was attracted to the blond, good-looking veterinarian, she was also wary. She had an idea the man knew just how cute he was and capitalized on it. Since Lucy’s ex-husband had been blond and good-looking, she tended to stay away from the type.

Ginna peered at her closely. “Lucy. You’re not—” She suddenly burst out laughing, “You are! You’re blushing. Lucy, you’re blushing!”

Lucy resisted the urge to feel her cheeks to see if they felt as warm to the touch as she sensed. “I am not.”

“Yes, you are!” Ginna was delighted with her friend’s loss of composure. “Logan is very good-looking.”

“If you like the aging-surfer look.”

“Blond hair and a tan don’t automatically make you a surfer. Besides, I understand he gave that up after he graduated from veterinary school.”

“That type plays the field as if they’re still in high school,” Lucy pointed out. “Besides, I don’t need a man in my life.”

“Yeah, right.” Ginna held up her left hand with its sparkling diamond wedding band and engagement ring displayed on the third finger. “That’s what I said and look what happened.”

LUCY MENTALLY CURSED Ginna for planting ideas in her head. She even felt a little nervous when she arrived at the clinic to pick up Nick. She never suffered from paranoia until all her friends wanted to do some matchmaking for her.

As she walked into the clinic she steeled herself to come face to face with Logan. She hadn’t seen him the past few days, but she didn’t expect her luck to continue to hold.

“Mom, I need to come in real early tomorrow,” Nick greeted his mother.

She wrinkled her nose at the smelly young man standing in front of her. “And you have to do this because…?”

“It’s Adoption Day. The dogs have to be bathed and brushed and the cats have to get cleaned up,” he explained. “Jeremy can’t come in early because he’s got an exam. I thought maybe you’d come in with me and help. You will help us, won’t you?”

“Nick said you wouldn’t mind helping us out, Mrs. Donner,” Kristi spoke up.

Lucy wondered if the young woman owned anything other than black crop tops and camouflage pants. Each time she’d seen Kristi the wardrobe had been the same. Still, she doubted the young woman had trouble deciding what to wear when she got up in the morning.

Nick beseeched her. “Please, Mom?”

She could never turn him down when he used the magic word. “Just don’t make a habit of this.”

“We’d appreciate it, Mrs. Donner,” Kristi said.

“Logan, Mom said she’ll help us tomorrow,” Nick called out.

When Logan walked into the kennel area a large macaw with green and turquoise feathers was perched on his shoulder. Lucy noticed that the hungry-looking Malamute trotted along beside him. He still had a cell phone in his mouth. The dog, that is.

“Maybe this is a silly question, but is there a reason why that dog has a phone in his mouth?” she asked, gesturing to the husky who watched her with an unblinking silvery-blue gaze.

“He’s hoping to hear from a cute little collie who was in here a few months ago,” Logan said glibly.

“He’s better off without her. I heard collies can be fickle,” she said. “Also high-maintenance with all that fur. So what’s his real story?”

He looked down and grimaced. “I found Magnum on a side road about eight months ago,” he replied. “Poor guy had been hit by a car and wasn’t in good shape. When I was checking him over, I set my cell phone down on the ground. It started ringing and I guess Magnum didn’t like the sound. He picked it up and growled every time I tried to get it back from him. To this day, I’m not sure if he’s waiting for a call or still figuring out how to make one. Since he nominated himself as the clinic’s guard dog, I decided he wants to keep it on hand in case he has to call nine-one-one.”

“You mean you just let him keep your cell phone?”

“See that jaw? Those teeth? Trust me, you’d let him keep it, too.”

Lucy studied the black-and-silvery-gray Malamute, a hundred pounds-plus of pure muscle. “I see your point.”

“Here kitty, kitty, kitty,” the macaw cooed. A faint meow sounded before a ginger-colored cat trotted up to Logan. The cat sat back on his haunches and raised a paw, batting at the air.

“That’s Tigger, Beau’s cat,” Nick explained, stooping to stroke the cat, who immediately purred and arched under his touch. “He’s really sweet.”

“If only you paid that much attention to your own cat,” Lucy pointed out.

“Luther’s a hundred years old and hates me.”

“Luther is fifteen years old and merely cranky,” she said.

“Every boy should have a dog,” Logan said.

“Not when I’d be the one who’d be cleaning up the backyard.” Lucy looked at the kennels. She decided the dogs had grown even larger since the last time she’d seen some of them. “Are your Adoption Days successful?”

“Pretty much.” Logan transferred Beau to a series of thick manzanita branches set up as a macaw playpen in one corner of the large room. “We have it all set up outside. We have volunteers to help out with the animals and assist people in filling out the adoption paperwork, but we can always use more live bodies to help out.” He looked hopeful.

Lucy swore Logan’s expression when he turned her way echoed Nick’s. She feared he could prove as difficult to resist as her son was.

“I already said I’d come in and help wash the dogs when doing all this is actually his job and not mine,” she said.

“I’d call it mother/son bonding.”

“We already do plenty of bonding.” She tried to keep her eyes off a world-class male butt as Logan turned around when Gwen called out his name. She felt a blush burn her cheeks when she noticed Kristi’s attention was centered on her. The younger woman flashed her a cheeky grin. She held up her thumb and forefinger circled in a sign of approval.

Lucy was relieved when she and Nick were finally leaving the clinic.

“See you in the morning,” Logan called after her.

“Yes.” Why did she feel his words sounded more like a threat than a polite good-bye?

As they climbed into the Murano, Lucy looked at her son.

“The last thing most boys your age want is to spend more time with their mothers,” she said. “Especially if they’re working with a young woman like Kristi.” Please, do not have a crush on her! she silently begged.

“Kristi is really cool,” he said enthusiastically. “She’s been working hard to get her grades up because she wants to be a vet. I’ve been helping her with her chemistry. She kinda sucks at that.”

“Chemistry, terrific,” she muttered, switching on the engine.

Lucy decided it was a good idea she was helping out at the shelter tomorrow where she could see just how her son and one of his bosses interacted.

“Oh yeah, we need to be there about five-thirty,” Nick told her.

She almost slammed on the brakes. “In the morning?”

He patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Mom. I have faith in you.”

“Sweetheart, there are many things your mom can do. Being civil in the morning is not one of them.”

She silently vowed she wasn’t doing this because Logan had asked.

The first time Lucy had met Logan Kincaid she’d thought he was a good-looking man. He was the kind of male specimen who had her hormones sitting up and taking notice. Besides the blond hair, there wasn’t a physical resemblance to her ex-husband, but he had the same charm Ross had always exhibited. She decided Logan was one of those love-’em-and-leave-’em types. It was too easy to imagine him as a man who was convinced all he had to do was flash his pearly whites and the woman would instantly swoon in his arms. Luckily, she wasn’t the swooning type. Nor was she looking for a permanent man in her life. In fact, she wasn’t looking for anyone short-term either. Since her divorce she’d closely guarded her heart.

Her ex-husband had left her long ago after finding out she was pregnant. He’d told her he wasn’t father material and had no desire to learn how to be one. Her brother, Zach, and his first wife, Kathy, were there to help her get through her pregnancy and her new single state. Lucy did the same for Zach when his wife died in childbirth, leaving him with twins.

Lucy always regretted Nick not having a brother or sister. She thought her son might not have given in to his mischievous tendencies if he’d had a sibling. Then again, she rationalized, he also could have ended up with another partner in crime.

“MOM.”

“Umph.”

“Mom.” A hand touched her shoulder and gently shook it.

“Go ’way,” she mumbled, pulling her covers over her head to block out any hint of light.

“Mom, you have to get up.”

“Mom doesn’t exist.”

A corner of her blanket was pulled back and something warm and aromatic was practically shoved under her nose.

Lucy opened one eye to see if the aroma was real or a dream. Nick held out her largest mug filled with coffee. Light streamed in from the hallway. At least he’d been smart enough not to turn on the light in her bedroom.

She kept her eyes slitted. “What time is it?”

“Four-thirty.”

She groaned loudly as she pulled the covers back over her head. “I changed my mind. In fact, drive yourself to the shelter. I’m sure you can whip yourself up a fake driver’s license in no time. I promise not to tell.”

“Mom, you said you’d help us,” he reminded her. “You always said we have to honor our promises.”

Lucy bit back a curse. There was nothing worse than a son spouting back what a parent had taught him. She reached out and took the coffee mug from him. She sighed happily as she sipped the strong brew.

“I even turned the shower on for you, so by now it’s a nice warm temperature,” Nick said in a coaxing tone. “And I’m making waffles.”

Lucy perked up a little. “Waffles?”

“And bacon and eggs scrambled just the way you like them.”

She was starting to give in. “You hate getting up early just as much as I do.”

“I need to help get the dogs ready for Adoption Day.”

“And if you’re not there, who knows what that cranky old judge would do to you.” She pushed the covers back more. That was when she noticed that Nick was already dressed in a pair of ragged denim shorts and a faded T-shirt that she thought she’d thrown away a week ago. Considering what he’d be doing that morning, it was probably just as well he wasn’t better dressed. She slurped more coffee and held the mug out. “Please refill this for me while I shower.”

Nick took off. The refilled mug was returned before she finished crawling out of bed.

Lucy realized how important this day was to Nick when he cleaned up the kitchen after breakfast and she found Luther’s litter box filled with fresh litter. The stormy gray cat peered at her through golden eyes filled with feline suspicion before he stalked off to his favorite corner in the family room where he always took his morning snooze.

Her only problem was what to wear. She knew she should wear something she wouldn’t care about if it ended up ruined, but the feminine part of her didn’t want to look like a hag in front of Logan. Just because she was leery of dating him didn’t mean she didn’t want to look her best.

She dug through her drawers until she reminded herself that she was over thirty and wasn’t looking for the perfect outfit to wear to school, so she could impress the captain of the football team.

She also reminded herself that she wasn’t interested in Logan. She had a full life and didn’t need a man in it. A couple of times she’d considered getting back into the dating game, but it only took a few dates for her to realize dating wasn’t anything like she remembered. She wasn’t sure if she was dating the wrong men or she was the wrong woman for them. Either way, she’d come to the conclusion she was better off going solo.

“Just pick something.” She finally closed her eyes and pulled out a pair of old cotton shorts and an oversize T-shirt that she knotted at her waist. “Nick, please pour the rest of the coffee in a travel mug for me!” she called out. “The really big mug.”

“Already done. Like I’d let you leave the house without enough caffeine to send you rocketing into another galaxy,” he hollered back as he headed for the garage. “Come on, Mom! We’re gonna be late.”

Lucy started to leave her bedroom then paused and ran back to the bathroom to apply a hint of blush and lipgloss.

“Don’t want to scare the dogs,” she muttered to herself.

LOGAN HAD just checked on his patients who had remained in the clinic overnight when he heard shrieks and laughter coming from the kennel area.

“Bertie Beagle is starting to wake up,” Gwen announced, looking into the closet-sized room that doubled as Logan’s office. “He looks good, so does the pug. However, you look like hell. What time did you get to bed last night?”

He stretched his arms over his head. “Who says I got to bed? The Sullivans called about 2:00 a.m. and brought in their iguana. Sigfried wasn’t doing well.”

Gwen shook her head. “I guess you need this more than I do.” She set a coffee shop to-go cup on his desk.

“Is that one of those fancy drinks you like? The nonfat, no-foam, double-shot whatever?”

“Just be darned grateful I’m willing to share, Logan. Unless you want to wait while I make what you consider coffee.”

“Because I’m a wonderful boss who wouldn’t dream of depriving his favorite vet tech of her beloved coffee, I’ll wait for the coffee.” He smiled winningly. “What’s going on outside to cause all the laughter? Kristi isn’t known for having anything even close to a funny bone.”

“Nick Donner has one and it seems his mother does, too.” Gwen picked up the coffee carafe and carried it out to the sink. “The dogs are giving the crew a run for their money.”

Logan uncoiled himself from his chair. “Maybe I should take a look out there.”

She shot her boss a knowing look. “Right.”

Logan ignored her parting shot and headed down the hall.

“When Nick was little he hated baths with a passion, but he was never as bad as these guys!” Lucy laughed and jumped back but not fast enough as a wet soapy tail slapped her in the face.

“Thanks, Mom, just what I want people to hear.” Nick stood at another tub hosing down a Labrador mix that was happily enjoying his bath.

“Mothers love to embarrass their kids,” Kristi told him. “You should hear some of the sh—uh—nonsense my mom dishes out.” She caught the expression on Lucy’s face and quickly amended her words. “My mom told me I’ll do the same when I have kids.”

Kristi grabbed a tighter hold on the Labrador’s collar as he twisted around under the stream of water she directed at the dog. “Joey, you are a true water dog.”

Lucy drizzled shampoo on her rottweiler’s head and lathered it up with a steady stream of water.

“Why not wear a bikini?”

At the sound of Logan’s voice Lucy spun around from the tub, forgetting she still held the hose in her hand. Even though the water wasn’t turned on high, it was strong enough to hit him square in the face. She gasped in shock and quickly turned off the faucet.

“I am so sorry!” she apologized, handing him a towel until she realized it was too damp to do any good. Without saying a word, he took it from her and mopped his face.

“Wish I’d done that,” Nick chortled.

“No, you do not!” Lucy glared at her son.

“More than once we’ve all thought of soaking the boss,” Kristi said, “but he always stays inside all nice and dry while we’re out here getting as wet as the dogs.”

“But you enjoy it so much,” Logan reminded them as he tossed the towel to one side. He paused to look at Lucy. He’d seen her dressed up at a couple of local parties and he’d seen her dressed casually when she dropped Nick off here. But he’d never seen her like this. Her faded navy T-shirt with Basketball Mom From Hell on it, and her equally faded navy shorts were more wet than dry. He’d learned the hard way about the rottweiler’s love for water, so he wasn’t surprised she looked like the proverbial wet rag. Even wet, with her perky ponytail and lack of makeup, Lucy still looked cute, although he doubted she would want to hear that description.

Logan recalled that it was Lucy’s laughter that had first caught his attention. Full-bodied like a heady wine, rich like pure gold, the throaty sound traveled along his spine.

“And you hold your Adoption Day here?” Lucy asked, picking up a dry towel and drying off the large dog.

“We’ve got wire cages set up outside for the cats and dogs and a tent overhead,” Logan explained, watching Lucy put the rottweiler in his kennel then choose a medium-size terrier mix to bathe next. She picked him up and placed him in the tub. “If you’re up to hanging around for the day, we can always use the help.”

“I don’t know anything about dogs,” she pointed out.

“You have a cat.”

“Luther isn’t a cat. He’s a thug in a furry coat,” she explained. “I think he was a hit man for the mob in another life.”

“Logan doesn’t let just anyone adopt an animal,” Kristi said. “He wants to know they’re going to a good home. Who knows, maybe you’ll end up with one of the dogs.” She wrestled a young black Labrador onto a table and began drying him with a hair dryer.

Nick looked expectantly at Lucy. “A dog would be good. Every boy should have one,” he piously announced.

Lucy rolled her eyes. “I’m sure after working here for six months you’ll have your fill of dogs.”

“Didn’t you have any pets when you were growing up?” Logan asked her.

She shook her head. “My dad claimed he was allergic to goldfish. My mom told my brother and me that he was my pet and I was his. We agreed it just wasn’t the same.”

“At least you didn’t have to worry about fleas.” Logan walked over and draped a towel over the terrier before picking him up from the tub and carrying him over to a table for drying.

“Or getting him neutered,” Lucy said, tongue-in-cheek.

“Uncle Zach neutered.” Nick snickered.

“It’s not a word we guys like to hear,” Logan told him. He stepped back and watched Lucy towel-dry the terrier and mutter nonsense words to the dog. For a woman who claimed not to understand dogs, she was doing a good job of using the dryer, brush and comb on the dog and talking to him in the slightly high-pitched tone dogs enjoyed. She laughed when the dog jumped up on his hind legs and offered her a wet kiss.

“Who couldn’t resist a charmer like you?” she cooed at the dog.

Abruptly, he called out to Kristi, “Get one of the Adoption Day T-shirts for Lucy, will you?” Then he made for the door leading to the clinic.

He felt a tightening within his body at the idea of Lucy giving him the kind of attention she gave the dog. He wouldn’t mind a kiss on the nose. Or any other part of his body…

Lucy hadn’t missed the vibes practically jumping off Logan. If she didn’t know any better, she’d swear he had looked at her the way a big ol’ tomcat looked at a fat mouse. Not that she’d call herself fat. The man was interested. And why wouldn’t he act interested now? she asked herself. She’d been tracking him like a cat who hadn’t been fed in days.

“Three hours here and I’m already thinking in animal metaphors,” she murmured.

“Animal metaphors?” Kristi said, walking up with a bright red T-shirt in one hand. “This could be interesting.” She held out the garment.

“Cute.” Lucy looked at the black-lined heart centered on the shirt with “Adopt With an Open Heart” written inside it. “But there’s nothing on here to advertise the clinic.” She wasn’t surprised to see that Kristi’s shirt was black with a red heart.

“Logan doesn’t have these adoption days to promote the clinic. He does it to find homes for the animals.” Kristi stroked the head of the terrier who leaned contentedly against her leg. “Which is why I have two cats and a turtle at home. Jeremy has two dogs and Gwen has three. Brenda says she refuses to give in to the animals. But how can you resist these faces?” She bent down, cupped the terrier’s face in her hands and gave him a smooch. “Huh, Sweetie Pie?”

“Kristi named her that because she’s so sweet,” Nick explained, coming out from the rear of the kennels, now wearing an oversized red shirt himself.

Lucy felt as if she was seeing a new side to her son. He’d quickly become a part of this group. He might have been thirteen to Kristi’s nineteen, but the young woman treated him as an equal. Lucy felt a sudden constriction in her chest.

My baby’s growing up.

She suddenly turned away to hide the tears she could feel forming in her eyes.

“I’ll be right back.” Her voice sounded thick to her ears.

“Lucy, are you okay?” Kristi asked.

“I’m fine. Maybe I’m allergic to one of the dogs,” she muttered as she grabbed her tote bag and made her escape to a nearby bathroom.

When she left the small room later, her eyes were mercifully dry and she wore the T-shirt over black shorts she’d brought with her. She was walking with her head down, so intent on not looking for Logan, that she didn’t realize she was on a collision course until she literally walked into his chest.

“Oomph!” She reared back so quickly she would have fallen on her butt if Logan hadn’t grabbed hold of her arms. “Sorry.” She tried to step back but he still didn’t release her.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“You have a hard chest,” she said, and then could have kicked herself when she saw the amused glint in his eyes. She noticed they were deep, brown and dusted with gold.

Cat eyes. She mentally gave herself a good shake. Stop with the animal metaphors!

“Lucy.”

It wasn’t until then she realized he must have said her name more than once.

“Sorry. I’m not used to being dragged out of bed at the crack of dawn.”

He grinned. “Not a morning person, are you?”

“Not even close. It usually takes four or five cups of industrial-strength coffee to get me going.”

Logan’s smile was slow and way too dangerous for Lucy’s peace of mind. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

He walked away before she could ask for clarification. She decided she was better off not knowing.

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