“I’m not so sure. It’s getting harder to read.”
“I’m sorry to hear that! Let me know if you’d like me to explore getting you some audio books. If you tell me which ones you’d like to listen to, I’ll order them through inter-library loan.”
“Really? You can do that?”
“Sure, Mrs. Farner. We don’t have a large permanent collection, except for a few classics. Do you want me to check and see if I can get some of your romance authors for you?”
She could swear the woman blushed. “Well, actually, I’d like that.”
“Let me see what I can find. Once I’ve researched it, I’ll call you to check and see if you want me to order specific books. It will probably take up to two weeks to get them, though.”
“I’d like to try it and see if I like books-on-tape.”
MJ didn’t correct her, but asked her, “Can you play CDs and tapes? A lot of the books come in digital format now.”
“I know. My daughter in California keeps after me to buy a computer. She’d rather email me than call me on the phone, you know. But I don’t need more technology to confuse me. My new washing machine is complicated enough.”
Mary Jane smiled. “I know what you mean. Sometimes it seems to take so long to learn the new technology that you wonder if it worth it.”
“Exactly!”
“Well, here you go. I’ll check into what’s available in the kinds of books and authors you like for audio. We’ll find something so you can keep ‘reading’ even if not with your eyes.”
“Bless you, Mary Jane. You’re such a good girl.”
Okay, now Mrs. Farner made her feel like she was sixteen again, but she’d needed this interchange to remind her why she loved her job and loved living in Ridgeview. She knew the residents and could help them. It felt good to make a difference, even in some small way.
She looked at her watch again and realized it was fifteen minutes until closing. She headed back toward the stacks to remind anybody there to finish up and get ready for the library to close. Luckily, she was off tomorrow. The library was still open, but staffed with Beth Hanson, a middle-aged housewife who volunteered on Saturdays, and Jennifer Woodrow, a college student from Ridgeview College.
Now that she was in training to handle Maverick, she’d need spare time to practice with him. She couldn’t expect Rob to stay in Ridgeview forever. Darn it, why did the idea of him leaving disappoint her? She shook her head, approaching a few stragglers to herd them back to the front desk to check out.
Chapter Six
Rob sat on top of the picnic table, watching Maverick explore the backyard of their new digs. The dog had already sniffed every inch and now went back for a detailed examination of each tree and bush. It was the most interested and thorough he’d seen Maverick since he’d picked him up in North Carolina. If only he could find something to so easily entertain himself.
His phone rang, and he pulled it out of his shirt pocket. Mary Jane, the display read.
“Hey, M—er, Mary Jane. How was your day?”
“Good. Are you still planning on coming over with Maverick?”
Okay. Business it was. That’s why he was here. “Yes. Do you want me to pick up dinner? I can stop somewhere and get us something.”
“Oh, yes! That would be perfect! I need to go grocery shopping, but I usually save that for Saturday. Do you like pizza?”
He couldn’t stop himself from letting out a laugh. “Doesn’t everybody? I’m Italian, after all.”
“What kind do you like? I can call it in, and you can pick it up on the way over.”
“I like everything. The more stuff on it the better.”
“We usually order ‘Everything But the Kitchen Sink’ pizza from Romano’s. It has sausage, pepperoni, ground beef, mushrooms, onions, green pepper, black and green olives, and extra cheese.”
“Wow. Sounds like my kind of pizza.”
“It’s divine.” He heard her sigh and moan, and his groin tightened. What noises would she make to an orgasm not related to food?
“Why don’t you order an extra-large? I didn’t have much lunch, so I’m plenty hungry, especially for pizza like that. Plus, I’ll bet it’ll be good left over.”
“Absolutely. There’s nothing like cold pizza for breakfast.”
He laughed. “I thought I was the only one who liked cold pizza.”
“Well, of course. You’re Italian. You don’t have the corner on appreciating the delicacy of cold pizza first thing in the morning, though.”
He laughed again. “Make the call. I’ll be there as soon as I pick it up.”
“Do you need directions?”
“No, I’ll find it on my phone. See you soon.”
He whistled and Maverick trotted over. “Let’s bring some food for you, too, buddy. We’re heading to Mary Jane’s, and she’ll need some food for you.” They walked up the stairs, Maverick by his side, occasionally looking up at him.
He rubbed the dog’s head. “Good boy.” He’d have to talk with Mary Jane about Maverick’s PTSD and the appointment he’d made for them tomorrow morning. Hopefully, she’d be on board. If she wasn’t willing to put the work into Maverick, Rob would talk her out of taking ownership of him. The dog had been through too much to put him with someone who didn’t understand.
In the apartment, he picked up a bag of dog food, and threw it over his shoulder, sticking a bag of dog treats under the other arm. “C’mon, Maverick,” he said. He didn’t bother to hook him up, not wanting to be pulled off-balance as they maneuvered the stairs. The dog followed him to the truck and waited while Rob set his burden
