One Summer by JoAnn Ross Page B

the State University of New York at Buffalo find that pet ownership is better than medication for lowering blood pressure under stress situations, other studies at UCLA found that having a pet corresponds to overall better health and fewer medical visits. As many as twenty-one percent fewer trips to the doctor.”
    “I haven’t been to a doctor since my preseparation exam when I left the military.”
    “Well, you never know. Think of him as a preventative measure. Also, moving around as much as you do, you probably don’t have much chance to interact with people.”
    “That’s actually one of the best parts of moving around as much as I do.”
    He wasn’t making it easy on her. Fortunately, Charity enjoyed a challenge.
    “There have been bunches of other studies showing loneliness reduces fruit-fly life spans and increases the chances of mice developing diabetes.”
    “Guess it’s a good thing I’m not a fruit fly or a mouse.” Balancing the dog on his hip, he pulled out his wallet and handed her a credit card. “Besides, you can be surrounded by people and still be lonely.”
    “Got me there.” She ran the card and handed him the receipt to sign. “Which goes along with another study that suggests just the mental perception of isolation is enough to cause adverse effects in humans, including cardiovascular disease, obesity, and weakening of the immune system.”
    He scrawled his name on the paper, took his card back. But he hadn’t yet put down the dog. “You have an endless supply of those, don’t you?”
    “I wouldn’t say endless. But I did recently read that they’ve also had success using companion dogs to treat veterans suffering from PTSD.”
    “What make you think I’ve got PTSD problems?”
    “Oh, I wasn’t referring to you.” But he had answered just a bit too swiftly. Almost defensively. “Merely repeating what I’d read.”
    “Well, for the record, I don’t.”
    “Good for you.”
    They fell silent as they looked across the counter at each other. Meanwhile, the dog continued to gaze up at him like a religious pilgrim looking into the face of his god.
    “If you’d just keep him for a couple days. While I try to find him a family,” she said.
    “Two days.”
    “Oh, that’s great. Thanks. I promise you won’t regret—”
    “Two days,” he repeated. “If you haven’t found anyone by then, you’re getting him back.”
    “Two days is better than nothing. And maybe you’ll just find that you won’t want to give him back.”
    “Don’t bet your practice on that, Doc. Is the food any good at the Sea Mist?”
    Surprised by the sudden change in subject, but not wanting to say anything that might have him changing his mind about taking the Shih Tzu with him, Charity said, “It’s great, actually. And the view from the patio is one of the best in town.”
    “Great. I’ll pick you up at eight.”
    “What?” Was he actually asking her out on a date?
    “Dinner. You.” He pointed at her. “Me.” At himself. “Together.”
    He was talking date. “I can’t.” But, heaven help her, she wanted to. Even as common sense warned against it. “My mother,” she reminded him, with a glance toward the stairs Amanda had disappeared up.
    “She’s an adult. She can’t spend a few hours on her own?”
    “Of course. But as you probably caught on, from her refusal to face her telephone, she’s here because of a personal problem we need to talk about. I can’t just run off and desert her.”
    He considered that while rubbing a dented jaw broad enough to park his motor home on. “Tomorrow,” he countered.
    “Okay,” she said.
    He nodded as if he hadn’t expected any other outcome. She should have been annoyed by his male arrogance, yet for some reason, Charity wasn’t.
    He paused at the door, the dog still under his arm like a sack of potatoes. “I hope things work out for your mom.”
    And with that, he was gone. Leaving Charity with no choice but to go upstairs and face