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"Worth a shot. Come on, big guy." The tiger hesitated for a moment, head low as it glanced around the brightly lit exam room. Then, with Ben's encouragement, it stepped out of the cage and leaped fluidly onto the metal table. While Tess spoke softly to it and stroked its large head, the animal sat down, sphinxlike, more patient than the most well-behaved house cat.
"So," Nora said, "do you need anything else right now, or can I take off?"
Tess shook her head. "Sure, you can go. Thank you for staying so late tonight. I really appreciate it."
"No prob. The party I'm going to won't even get started until after midnight, anyway." She flipped her long blond braids over her shoulders. "Okay, so, I'm off, then. I'll lock up on my way out. 'Night, you guys."
"Good night," they answered in unison.
"She's a great kid," Ben said after Nora had left.
"Nora's the best," Tess agreed, petting Shiva and feeling for skin lesions, lumps, or other problems beneath its thick fur. "And she's not a kid, Ben. She's twenty-one, about to start her degree in veterinary medicine after she finishes up her last semester at the university. She's going to make a great doctor."
"No one's as good as you. Got a magic touch, Doc."
Tess shrugged off the compliment, but there was a bit of truth in it. Just how much, she doubted Ben really knew. Tess hardly understood it herself, and what she did understand, she wished she could blot out completely. Self-consciously, she crossed her arms, concealing her hands from view.
"You don't have to stay either, Ben. I'd like to keep Shi--" She cleared her throat, arching a brow at him. "My patient, that is, for observation tonight. I won't start any procedures until tomorrow, and I'll call you with my findings before I do any work."
"Dismissing me already? Here I thought I might be able to talk you into dinner."
"I ate dinner hours ago."
"Breakfast, then. My place or yours, you can call it."
"Ben," she said, hedging as he came over and stroked her cheek. His touch was warm and tender, comfortably familiar. "We've been through this already, more than once. I just don't think it's a good idea... "
He groaned, and it was an entirely too sexual sound, low and throaty. There was a time when that sound turned her self-control into butter, but not tonight. Not ever again, if she had any hope of maintaining her personal integrity. It just seemed wrong to go to bed with Ben, knowing he wanted something from her that she couldn't give him.
"I could stay until you wrap up," he suggested, backing off now. "I don't like the idea of you being here all by yourself. This area of town isn't exactly the safest."
"I'll be fine. I'm just going to finish my examination here, then do a bit of paperwork and close up shop. No big deal."
Ben scowled, on the verge of arguing until Tess blew out a sigh and gave him the look. She knew he read it clearly, since he'd seen it more than once during their two years of couplehood. "All right," he agreed finally. "But don't stay too much longer. And you call me first thing in the morning, promise?"
"I promise."
"You sure you're comfortable handling Shiva by yourself?"
Tess glanced down at the haggard beast, which immediately began licking her hand again as soon as she put it near him. "I think I'll be safe with him."
"What'd I tell ya, Doc? Magic touch. Looks like he's already in love with you too." Ben ran his fingers through his golden-blond hair, giving her a defeated look. "I guess if I want to win your heart, I'll need to grow some fur and fangs, is that it?"
Tess smiled and rolled her eyes. "Go home, Ben. I'll call you tomorrow."
Chapter Three
Tess came awake with a start.
Shit. How long had she been dozing? She was in her office, Shiva's case file open beneath her cheek on the desk. Last she recalled, she'd fed the malnourished tiger and put it back in its containment so she could begin writing up her findings. That was--she glanced at her watch--two and a half hours ago? It was now a few minutes before three A.M. She was due back in the clinic at seven o'clock.
Tess groaned around a big yawn and a stretch of her cramped arms.
Good thing she woke up before Nora reported back to work, or she'd never hear the end of--
A loud bump sounded from somewhere in the back of the clinic.
What the hell?
