Cindy Kirk - The Doctor And Mr. Right

For the rest of the week, Michelle was too busy to think about her next-door neighbor. But when Saturday rolled around, he was hard to ignore, trimming bushes and watering his lawn, wearing cargo shorts and Nittany Lions T-shirt.

With the thin cotton stretched tight across his back as he cut and pruned, it was obvious he had some serious muscles. Of course it wasn’t as if Michelle was sitting out front in a lawn chair watching him. No, she was walking Sasha around the block while she waited for July Wahl.

July was a friend who’d been a photojournalist before getting into nature photography. She had an excellent eye and had been the first photographer Michelle had thought of when she and her partner had decided to update their website.

They wanted photos on the site to show them looking friendly and approachable. If anyone could make that happen, it would be July.

Michelle was just rounding the corner when she saw her friend pull into her driveway. She tried to hurry Sasha along but the dog would not be rushed. Just as she feared, by the time she reached the front of her house, July had walked over to speak with Gabe.

Ever since the After-Hours event Monday night, Michelle had tried to confine her interaction with her neighbor to a simple nod of the head.

“July,” Michelle called to her friend as she drew close. “Thanks for coming over.”

“My pleasure.” The auburn-haired beauty looked stylish as always in yellow capris, a multicolored scarf belt and white cotton shirt. “Gabe and I were just talking dogs. He owned a lot of different breeds growing up.”

Yep, her neighbor was a true Renaissance man. Sexy. Great listener. Dog expert.

Michelle smiled.

“David and I’ve been discussing getting the boys a puppy,” July said to Gabe. “Perhaps one of these times at The Coffee Pot you’ll let us pick your brain about what breed might be a good match.”

“Sure.” Gabe’s crooked smile encompassed Michelle. “It’d be my pleasure.”

“Are you ready to go inside, July?” Michelle asked, feeling suddenly warm. “I’ll make us some iced tea and get Sasha fresh water.”

“It’s good to see Sasha again.” July reached over and gave the dog a pat on the head, then cocked her head. A tiny frown furrowed her brow. “Is it just me or is Sasha’s coat not as thick? And she looks like she’s lost weight.”

Michelle saw the question—and the worry—in Gabe’s eyes.

“I took her to the vet Tuesday.” Michelle answered July but kept her gaze focused on Gabe. “Dr. Pitts did a thorough exam, ran a bunch of blood work and diagnosed her with hypothyroidism.”

July’s green eyes grew puzzled. “The hair loss fits that diagnosis, but don’t you usually gain weight with that condition, instead of lose it?”

“Normally,” Michelle admitted. “But some dogs become so lethargic they just don’t feel like eating. To complicate matters, I’d recently switched Sasha to a food she ended up not liking.”

“Thank God that’s all it was,” Gabe said and Michelle heard the relief in his voice.

After chatting with Gabe for a few more minutes, July followed Michelle inside. Once in the kitchen, Sasha ate the rest of the food in her dish, then looked up and whined.

Michelle smiled and patted the top of the dog’s head. “You’ve had enough for now, sweetheart.”

“Gabe sure seemed concerned about her.” July leaned back against the counter, a speculative look in her eyes.

“He had a Golden who’d died of cancer.” Michelle added fresh water to the dog bowl. “He worried Sasha might have the same thing.”

July wanted to get right to work, so instead of enjoying a glass of iced tea, Michelle spent the next hour smiling for the camera in a variety of different outfits.

While July took the photos, Sasha padded around the house, barking at a squirrel running across the back deck and playing with a fuzzy blue-and-white soccer ball. Seeing Sasha active again made Michelle want to laugh with pure joy.

After the session concluded, Michelle poured her and July a glass of iced tea and they headed to the back deck with a plate of peanut butter cookies. Of course, when they’d decided to sit outdoors, Michelle didn’t know Gabe would be out in his yard tossing a softball back and forth with his daughter.

Even though she’d seen the teenager in passing, this was the first time Michelle had gotten a good look at her. Finley was tall with dark brown hair like her father, but her complexion was fair. From where Michelle sat she couldn’t see the color of her eyes. The girl talked as much as she threw, the conversation with her father interspersed with laughter.

According to Lexi, Finley was a good-natured girl and she and Addie were on their way to becoming the best of friends.

July cocked her head. “Did you hear a car drive up?”

The words had barely left her mouth when a car door slammed. Seconds later, the doorbell chimed.

“Looks like whoever it is came to see us.” Michelle stood. “I’ll check and be right back.”

When she opened the front door, she saw David, July’s husband. “This is a pleasant surprise.”

“It’s good to see you, again.” David smiled. “I hope I’m not interrupting your session?”

Dressed in khaki shorts and a white polo shirt, Dr. David Wahl was a handsome, confident man with dark hair and piercing blue eyes.

“Actually we just recently finished and were enjoying some iced tea.” Michelle motioned for him to follow her.

By the time they reached the back deck, July was standing, a look of worry on her face. “I heard your voice. Are the boys okay?”

“They’re fine.” David leaned over and kissed his wife’s cheek. “My parents took them to some event at the Children’s Museum. They wanted to keep them overnight. I told them it was okay.”

“I wonder why your mom didn’t ask me?” July mused, puzzlement furrowing her brow. “She usually calls me for stuff like that.”

“Reaching you might have been a little difficult considering this was at home.” He pulled a tiny smartphone from his pocket and pressed it into her hands.

“Oops.” July blushed. “Michelle and I were so busy I haven’t even missed it. Thanks for bringing it to me.”

“Would you like some iced tea, David?” Michelle asked. “Or a peanut butter cookie? They’re homemade.”

David glanced longingly at the platter of cookies. “Very tempting, but I actually wanted to see if July was interested in stopping for dinner on our way home.”

July’s expression turned thoughtful. She turned to Michelle. “Do you have plans for this evening?”

“No,” Michelle said cautiously. “Why?”

Her friend clearly had something up her sleeve. While Michelle didn’t know what it was, she had a feeling she would soon find out.

“We could grill. It’s a beautiful evening. David could run to the store and get the steaks and beer.” July’s voice trembled with excitement. “You and I could whip up a salad while he’s gone.”

“Sounds good to me.” David glanced at Michelle.

The last thing Michelle wanted was for July and David to feel sorry for her. She’d already planned to have a simple dinner, finish the book she’d been reading and go to bed early. Unless, of course, she got called out for a delivery.

“It does sound like fun, but this is your night without the kids.” Michelle reminded her friends. “You should spend it alone. Or with another couple. Not with me.”

“Are you worried about being a third wheel?” July’s voice rose. “Seriously?”

“If that’s your concern,” David exchanged a look with his wife. “I know how to remedy it.”

Without saying another word, David headed down the deck steps and across the lawn with Sasha on his heels.