Chapter 19
HaleyToo busy to think about anything but the pets they’d rescued yesterday, Haley assisted Barkville’s in-house groomer with the grueling task of cleaning the animals they’d taken in the night before. Bathing, scrubbing, shaving, cutting, blow-drying, and brushing had granted no time to reflect on Austin. By late afternoon, Haley leaned against the grooming table and stretched her back. Every single muscle in her body ached. With the back of one gloved hand, she swiped a chunk of wet hair from her forehead.
"Phew, Frankie. I’m so glad we’re finished for now. This one,"—she beamed at Bentley, whose droopy eyes peered at her with indignation—"he sure was a lot of work, but who’s this handsome boy now?" Drawing the side of her hand to the edge of her mouth, Haley tossed Frankie
