Not Your Ex's Hexes (Supernatural Singles, #2)(89)
“What I’m doing—especially with Rose—is none of your damn business. Stay away from me. Stay away from her. Just … stay away.”
Damian shot off a few more glares as he passed through to the exit and fought not to dwell on Julius’s words. As much as he wished they had no foundation, they did … and he’d known it before he’d agreed to their fuck-buddy arrangement.
And he hadn’t cared.
22
Dr. Pleasant
Rose tucked one of the puppies beneath her zippered coat and giggled as a little pink tongue flickered out, gifting her a multitude of chin-kisses while the pup that Callie snuggled close to her chest did the same with her.
They’d met at the sanctuary earlier in the morning, well before any civilized human beings should be awake because the other witch had to catch the first flight out of JFK. After being laid up for days at her grandma’s, and then confined to her own apartment for a few more, Rose nearly ran through the city when the other witch called to check on her and offered to bounce around ideas for the sanctuary’s adoption fair.
Callie rubbed the puppy’s forehead. “I can see why you love it here. I may stage a ‘rescue’ so I can be sentenced to community service hours at a place like this, too.”
“It definitely doesn’t suck. I mean, I wasn’t thrilled with the idea in the beginning, but it turned out to be what I needed. Even the cantankerous owner grew on me.” Rose grinned, picturing Damian in his faded jeans and work shirt, his stethoscope tucked into his back pocket.
Yeah, he’d definitely grown on her.
They’d played phone tag the last few days, and he’d popped up at her front door a couple times to check on her in the guise of making sure she was taking Edie’s herbal supplements. But he’d only stick around for a few minutes and then he’d make an excuse to leave like he did the night of the Gryndor attack.
Or maybe that was her being self-conscious and seeing things that weren’t there. It wouldn’t be the first time, at least according to her sisters.
Callie watched her curiously, a smirk pulling on her lips. “Something tells me that cantankerous owner has done a lot more than grow on you.”
Rose’s cheeks flushed. “Maybe. But I’m only here temporarily so there’s no point in getting too attached.”
“The thing about temporary is that it doesn’t take much for it to transition to permanence. Think about all those failed fostering attempts. A bighearted animal lover takes in a litter of kittens, ends up falling in love, and they never leave the house again. Just saying, it wouldn’t be the first time for it to happen and it definitely wouldn’t be the last.”
Rose shifted awkwardly on her feet and tried pulling the focus back to the fair. While snuggling their puppies, they walked through the grounds and toward the large open space between the two equipment barns.
Callie assessed the area with a critical eye, nodding. “There’s definitely more than enough space for you to do what you want. And you said that back barn up on the little hill is empty?”
Rose nodded. “It goes mostly unused now so it’s in a bit of disrepair, but with a few nails and some heavy dusting, it could be the perfect meet-‘n’-greet spot for the animals and their prospective families. Doc wants to keep the main barn and clinic as free from people as possible, so if we keep most of the activity up this way, that would be best.”
“And you wouldn’t have a problem relocating the animals up for adoption?”
“Jasper isn’t quite ready for the public yet, but Bella and the puppies will be easy-peasy, and definitely Butternut and Squash. Then we have the extra benefit of the training ring right there, so families can interact with the horses one-on-one and see how well they fit together.”
“And you’re putting vendors along the left side?”
“It’ll be a who’s who of food trucks, all of whom volunteered to give the sanctuary a huge chunk of any revenue made. And then a few local stores offered their time and supplies. The party store in the next town over offered to hand balloons out to the kids. Sometimes I forget how generous people can be.”
Having walked back around to Callie’s car, the two witches stopped. “This will be a fantastic event, Rose. There’s no way you won’t find homes for all these animals.”
“And the animals from the nearby shelter. I extended an invite to them, too, so they’ll be bringing some of their adoptable animals as well. The more, the merrier. But it’s not about finding them homes. It’s about finding them the right ones.”
Squirming, the puppy beneath her jacket—whom she’d dubbed Cusack—licked her cheek as if in agreement.
“You’re off to an incredible start.” Callie reluctantly handed over her black-and-white puppy. “But if I don’t get out of here, I won’t only be late for my flight, but I’ll get caught smuggling this little one on board with me. Not only would the airline frown at that, but so would my fiancée. We already have four rescues of our own and are fostering a fifth. She told me no more.”
“Ah, so that’s how you know about failed fostering.”
“I’m practically a professional at it.” Callie laughed. “So, good luck, and make sure to send me all the event details so Nisha and I can be here for the big day. Maybe I’ll even convince her we need one more. It’s always more difficult to say no in person.”