LITMIR.BIZ

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switched off the screen and wiped a mass of gooey jell from Duchess’s fur with a gauze square. “Well, for one thing you’re going to give this little cutie the attention she deserves while she’s carrying her puppies,” Dee announced. “Once they arrive, Duchess can take care of everything else herself.”

      “You know what I mean,” Cassie snapped.

      Taking a doggy treat from a canister on the counter, Dee rewarded Duchess for her cooperation during the test. “No, I don’t know what you mean. You’ve been obsessing over this ordeal for over two weeks now, Cassie, and I really can’t understand what you’re so upset about.”

      “Does Lenora’s wrath ring a bell?”

      “Oh, please. Lenora will get over it,” Dee scoffed as she placed Duchess back in her crate. “Besides,” she added, “Duchess isn’t the first champion to whelp a litter of mongrel pups, and her little indiscretion can’t take away the title she earned at Westminster.”

      “But what about all those endorsements Lenora’s been bragging about all over town?” Cassie quizzed.

      Dee rolled her eyes. “You of all people know how your mother likes to exaggerate. Lenora may get a few requests from suppliers wanting to use Duchess’s picture to promote their products, but the pictures they’ll want are the ones taken at Westminster. Duchess’s real earning power will come from providing champion breeding stock.”

      Cassie slumped onto Dee’s examining stool. “Current litter excepted, of course.” Cassie grumbled.

      Dee sighed. “Yes, current litter excepted, but it’s the current litter that we have to be concerned about now. I wasn’t kidding when I said I wanted to examine the male. I hope you took my advice and patched things up with Nick Hardin.”

      Cassie winced. “I’m surprised you haven’t already heard about the horrible episode he created at the Grove Park Inn last night.”

      Dee raised an eyebrow in Cassie’s direction, then listened intently as Cassie recounted the entire gruesome story. And Cassie wasn’t the least bit impressed when her best friend burst out laughing.

      “Oh, come on, Cassie. You have to admit it’s hysterically funny. I’d have given anything to see the look on Evelyn Van Arbor’s face.”

      “Well, it wasn’t funny to me,” Cassie argued. “And it isn’t funny that everyone in Biltmore Forest thinks I’m carrying that idiot’s child, either.”

      Dee’s mouth twisted in a knowing smile. “You can call Nick all the names you want, Cass, but you can’t fool me. You have the major hots for this guy, and from what you just told me the feeling seems to be mutual.”

      Cassie blushed, thinking about the scoundrel’s warm lips against her neck and the toe-curling kiss he gave her by the side of the road. “I’ve never met anyone like him, Dee. He makes me swoon one minute and infuriates me the next. It’s like having a crush on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”

      “Sounds serious to me,” Dee teased.

      “Seriously dangerous,” Cassie said, and sighed.

      “Well, you can’t stay a virgin the rest of your life, silly,” Dee goaded. “Maybe if you let Dr. Jekyll jump your hide, you’ll find out you like him just the way he is.”

      “You know I’m not a virgin, Dee. You were in the other room swapping spit with that oily-haired geek who gave you mono.”

      Dee laughed. “I take it you’re referring to our senior year at summer camp?”

      “No, I’m referring to the most horrible two seconds of my life,” Cassie groaned.

      “Sorry, my friend, but that little disaster doesn’t qualify you as being totally devirginized. You need a real man to show you what it means to be a woman, Cass. And from where I’m standing I think you’ve already found him.”

      “And wouldn’t Lenora be pleased if I came home with some motorcycle-riding moron on my arm?” Cassie sneered.

      Dee frowned. “When are you going to get a real life and stop worrying about what your mother wants, Cassie? Geez, you’re twenty-eight years old and you still let Lenora call all the shots. This man is educated, he’s funny, not to mention being gorgeous. What more do you want?”

      Tired of the lecture, Cassie placed her hands to her temples and tried to massage away the tension headache that had grown to a monumental roar inside her head. “I don’t know what I want, Dee, but I just can’t deal with Nick Hardin right now. If you really have to examine his mutt, you call him.”

      “Okay. I can do that,” Dee agreed. “I’ll call him at the radio station first thing Monday morning.”

      “And I wasn’t kidding about you sending him an itemized bill for Duchess’s care. Including this ultrasound you just did,” Cassie added.

      “That certainly won’t score you any points with the guy,” Dee grumbled. “The ultrasound alone runs close to a thousand dollars. And if you add in all the other charges, including my treating the champion sire for the big bite Duchess took out of his nose…”

      “I don’t need a rundown of the charges, Dee,” Cassie interrupted. “And I’m not trying to score any points with Nick Hardin. His cur is responsible for this mess. The least he can do is pick up the tab for the trouble he’s caused me.”

      Throwing her hands up in defeat, Dee grabbed a notepad from the counter and began scribbling across the page. “Fine. But I’m writing down some instructions for the special diet I want Duchess on while she’s carrying the puppies. She’s hardly eaten a thing since she’s been here and it’s extremely important for her to have the proper nutrition during her gestation period. She’ll also need to be exercised regularly, at least three times a day….”

      “Hel-lo,” Cassie interrupted. “Have you forgotten that I put in twelve hours a day at the office? What do you expect me to do, Dee? Take a family leave of absence until the puppies are born?”

      Dee paused. “I’d say you could leave Duchess here, but I don’t think it’s wise, Cass. Dogs occasionally get depressed when they’re left in a kennel for long periods of time. That’s probably what’s causing her poor appetite now. I really think she’ll do much better at home.”

      “And who’s supposed to baby-sit her all day?” Cassie demanded.

      Dee thought for a moment. “You can always call her trainer. I’m sure John’s recovered enough now to help out, but he sure isn’t going to be pleased about her current condition.”

      “Absolutely not,” Cassie argued, shaking her head. “John has five other dogs that he boards on a regular basis. Duchess won’t get any special attention if she’s put back in that situation.”

      “Then, what about Louise?”

      Cassie paused, thinking about the woman who’d been the closest thing Cassie ever had to a grandmother. “I guess I could ask her to come every day and stay until I get home. But only if you really think it’s necessary.”

      “I wouldn’t have mentioned it if I didn’t think it was necessary,” Dee insisted. “We can’t afford to take any chances with Duchess’s health now. Especially since she may have trouble whelping these off-brand puppies.”

      Making a mental note that Louise’s salary would be another bill she would forward straight to Nick, Cassie nodded in agreement. “I’ll call her tonight and arrange things.”

      “Good,” Dee said, handing Cassie the page of instructions. “I want you to call me if Duchess’s appetite doesn’t improve, or if you notice even the slightest change in her behavior.”

      “I may have to call you from the emergency ward when Nick gets your bill,” Cassie mumbled.

      Dee laughed. “Well, if nothing else, I think it’s safe

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