“There’s a guy stalking her,” Chet told her. “We’re going to catch him if he tries anything and turn him over to local law enforcement.”
“Stalking you?” Kate stammered.
Cappie glared at the two men. “Thank you so much for making me an employment liability!”
Rourke made her a bow. Chet just glowered. Bentley beamed.
“I don’t mind employing you. Not one bit,” Bentley said. “These two can work for the groomer and we’ll protect you.”
“I’m not grooming anything,” Chet told him bluntly.
“Okay. Then you can deal with surly clients,” Bentley compromised.
Chet gave him an appreciative look.
“Actually I know how to groom things,” Rourke said. “I once shaved a monkey.”
Cappie hit him.
“There you are!” Brenda exclaimed, coming out of the back in a green-and-blue polka-dotted lab coat. “I talked to Dr. Lammers, but he said we’ve already got more part-timers than we can spare. I’m so sorry,” she added miserably.
“What’s your address?” Bentley asked. “I’ll send you flowers.”
“I thought you wanted to marry her,” Chet pointed at Cappie.
Brenda’s eyes widened. “Who are you?” she asked the dark-eyed man.
“I’m a hired…”
“…assassin,” Rourke finished for him.
“I don’t kill people, I just shoot them!” Chet growled.
“I only wound them,” Rourke added. “Are we going back to Jacobsville, then?”
“Who are these men?” Brenda asked again.
“Well, these two are my bodyguards—” she indicated them “—and that’s my ex-boss.”
“Why is your ex-boss here?” she asked, all at sea.
“He was going to get a job here, too, but there are no openings for part-timers or vets, so I guess we’re all going back to Jacobsville,” Cappie said miserably. “That is, if Frank doesn’t shoot me first.”
“Nobody’s shooting you,” Rourke assured her.
“You can bet on that,” Chet said.
Brenda smiled at them. “Thanks. She’s my best friend.”
Cappie hugged her. “Thanks anyway, for trying. I’ll call you. See you, Kate!”
Kate waved as she picked up the ringing telephone. Her eyes were still on Rourke, who grinned at her.
“Come on, let’s go,” Cappie told the men.
“How’s Kell?” Brenda asked, walking them out.
“He’s going to make it. We won’t know if he can walk for several days, though.”