Groom in Training by Gail Gaymer Martin

andwork for me. I need someone with a brain.” He pressed his hands against the chair arm and rose.
    “Thanks for acknowledging I have one.” The plea was an old one Nick had heard since he’d left Martin’s employ and had gone into business for himself. “But is it necessary to belittle my company, Martin? Give it a chance. No one starts a new company on top. They’re small before they grow.”
    His brother swung around to face him. “Why not stay at the top?”
    Nick ran his fingers through his hair. “I don’t want to work for you. I’m happy being my own boss. There’s nothing else to say.”
    Though Martin’s mouth opened as if to continue, he closed it, and silence fell between them.
    Counting the seconds, Nick waited until he couldn’t keep still. “For an intelligent man, you either speak or act before you think. You don’t give me credit for having enough intelligence to run my own business, and you’ve created hard feelings with your neighbor…and a woman to boot.”
    “What’s the difference?” He shook his head. “Forget it. I don’t want to argue with you, too.” Martin tossed his cell phone onto the lamp table.
    Nick leaned back against the cushion, his mind whirring. “I don’t want to argue with you, either. It seems as if you’d want to try and be neighborly to whoever lives there. It makes life easier.”
    Martin snorted. “For you.”
    For you? The comment meant something, but Nick was at a loss.
    “Don’t give me that deer-in-the-headlights look. I saw you there today, coming out of her house with her and that mutt. What’s going on between you two?”
    The question knocked the wind out of Nick. He’dwanted to have a serious talk with Martin about his feelings and hoped to get to the bottom of his confusion.
    Martin tossed his hands in the air. “I realized she meant more to you than her dog, but I’m not going to jeopardize Suzette for any reason if that’s what you’re trying to do.”
    “We’re friends. I admire her, and I’m not doing anything that involves Suzette.” He felt heat rise up his neck and his blood pressure soar. “In fact, dear brother, I spend more time with your dog than you do. Do you realize that?”
    Martin rolled his eyes.
    “Who runs over here every time you work late or have a business dinner—which is often. Who takes her for walks?” Nick rose and slapped his chest. “Who jumps at your beck and call? And by the way, Suzette needs obedience training. I’m sure you won’t have time for that, either.”
    A smirk rose on Martin’s face. “So that’s it.”
    Nick drew back. “What does that mean?”
    “She’s twisted you around her finger, and now she’s getting even by telling you not to give me the time of day.” His eyes blazed. “I thought you’d given up on women. You’re still moping over Cara.”
    “Keep Cara out of this. It has nothing to do with Steph.” Fire burned in his gut. “This has nothing to do with either of them anyway. It has to do with how you treat people.” Martin’s accusation rang in Nick’s ears. He wasn’t moping over Cara. He was wounded by her attack. But why had he clung to it?
    “Here’s how I feel.” Martin thrust his index finger at Nick. “This is my home, and I don’t want that mongrel messing with Suzette.”
    Nick caved into his chair and threw himself against the cushion. “Martin, Suzette is a dog.”
    “An expensive one.” He shook his head and sent Nick a piercing gaze.
    “What’s the difference? Fred won’t hurt her.”
    “You don’t get it. I paid mucho bucks for a purebred from a good line. I plan to breed her.”
    Nick felt his eyebrows arch to his hairline. “You’re kidding. I thought you wanted a companion.” Companion? Suzette had become his companion.
    “She is, but I can still breed her. What would I do if she had a litter of mixed puppies?”
    Nick gritted his teeth. “Fred’s neutered.”
    “It’s a matter of principle.”
    Nick straightened his