Phone Tag (Shidge/Klance)

Chapter 9

"Never thought I actually would want Lance's expertise," Katie grumbled as she dusted eyeshadow over a heavy eyelid. It came out too dark. Lance had been kind enough to give her the products he'd used on her for free. She wasn't about to bother him for help again. He'd only tease her more.

"Should I top it off with the golden glimmer stuff? But what if that makes everything look more obnoxious? Or should I start over again?" A whine from Rover reminded her to stop rambling and just finish the job.

"Okay, okay, Rover. Sheesh." Katie might have gone a bit overboard on the glimmer shadow—which actually did tone down the pink. She tucked a decorative, star-shaped hairpin into the corner of her bangs. She didn't have much hair in her face, but it was a little cute. It had been a gift from Matt at one point.

She slipped into a pair of white chewed-up flop flops. It had been one of Rover's favorites when he was a puppy. Naturally, they had been one of Katie's favorites, too. But the teeth marks didn't stop her from wearing them. "I'm allowing myself one comfortable article of clothing. Today, it's the shoes." She'd pulled the same dress from last time out of the closet. It was the only dress she owned, but she wasn't about to go on a shopping spree for another one.

"Rover, wanna go see Hunk?"

The dog was way ahead of her. Rover already had his leash in his mouth. He dropped it on the floor, waiting for Katie to hook it up to his collar.

"I'll take that as a yes."

Hunk decided to stay behind the counter for this one. Luckily Rover liked him, but for some reason, the little dog hated most men. He growled if a man even approached him. But if a guy got too close to Katie, he would need someone to pry the dog off his pants—that, and a skilled tailor. Hunk was neither that person nor a skilled tailor. He was going to let the fresh batch of peanut butter cookies cool and watch from a safe distance.

Shiro came prepared and wore an old pair of jeans. At one point, they must've been dark wash, but they'd been worn out to a patchy sky blue. If it weren't for the logo on his shirt, the apron and the broom in his hands, he looked like a very handsome handyman.

"She's here."

Shiro stopped sweeping and set the broom aside. The last thing he wanted to do was make Rover perceive him as a threat. The broom wouldn't have helped him look less threatening. Not that he was much of a threat. Not anymore.

"Hi, guys." Katie's arms were full of a soaking wet, squirming dog. Her white cardigan was a filthy mess—and yet everything else seemed in place. "He rolled in a puddle," she explained to the two men. "I tried to wipe his paws off before we came in. All I had was my sweater to dry him off."

Shiro started to untie the back of his apron, which was slowly becoming as messy as Hunk's was. He slipped it over his head and offered it with a trembling hand.

Katie quickly pulled back—nothing personal. She just didn't know how Rover would react to Shiro. Somehow Katie's swift movement allowed Rover to wriggle his way out of her hold. He sprang at Shiro. "Rover, no!"

Shiro slammed his eyes shut and forced himself to stay still. He anticipated Rover's fangs sinking into his skin, but the painful sensation he expected never came. He cracked open an eye.

He saw Rover running a small, pink tongue over Shiro's prosthetic arm—more specifically, its palm. It seemed as if he was trying to lick some sort of painful injury away. He sighed, relieved. For one, he didn't react like the dog was an enemy, which might have led to serious injuries on Rover's part. Secondly, Rover liked him.