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He nodded stiffly, clearly readying himself for another attack.
“There’s a new vet who just moved to town last week. He’s not set up or anything yet, but maybe he can help you. Dr. Winters. He’s at the old Humphries place. You know it?” she asked.
Callan was already moving towards the door. “Yes ma’am. Thank you.”
“You go on now and I’ll give him a call to let him know you’re coming,” she ordered as she marched up to the reception desk and stood on her tip toes so she could reach the phone. She tucked her dog under one arm, then grabbed the whole phone with her free hand and pulled it up on the counter so she could dial.
“Mrs. Greene,” the vet began, but she quelled him with a sharp look and he snapped his mouth shut.
“Wendy, be a dear and find me the number for Dr. Winters,” she said sweetly to the technician who quickly moved to do her bidding.
Rhys followed Callan out the door and took the calf from him once he was once again settled in the bed of the truck. “Greene? Any relation to-”
Callan nodded stiffly. “She’s Hunter Greene’s grandmother.”
* * *
“You do it,” Rhys muttered as he resisted the urge to clap his hands over his ears to drown out the sound of the screaming baby. The last thing he’d expected when they arrived at Dr. Dane Winters’ house was to be handed a car seat with a sleeping baby girl in it.
“I don’t know the first thing about kids,” Callan snapped.
“And you think I do?” Rhys shot back as he used his boot to rock the car seat back and forth gently in hopes it would put the kid out again like she’d been when they’d gotten here.
Dane Winters hadn’t been anything like they’d expected, but Rhys had been relieved when the man had greeted them in the driveway and led them to a small building behind the old Victorian style house. Rhys hadn’t even noticed the vet was carrying the baby until he’d asked Rhys and Callan to watch the child while he got to work on the calf. Callan had managed to remember to wash his hands before he grabbed the car seat and they’d headed to the waiting room, or what Rhys guessed would someday be the waiting room since a couple of plastic, foldable chairs stuffed in the corner amidst a sea of boxes probably didn’t really count.
“He said to give her the bottle if she got fussy,” Callan said as he carefully searched the diaper bag that somehow Rhys had also missed. “Here,” he said, shoving the bag at him.
“What the hell are all these pockets for?” Rhys mumbled as he looked through the contents and finally found what he assumed was the baby’s milk.
Callan was trying to work the car seat straps free and asked, “Is there a towel or blanket in there or something?”
Callan rolled up the bloodied sleeves of his work shirt and took the fluffy blanket with pink and grey elephants on it that Rhys handed him and draped it over his shoulder so the baby wouldn’t come into contact with the dried blood on his shirt. It took him a couple of minutes to maneuver the squirming baby free of the seat, but he managed to get her cradled against his blanket-covered chest. Rhys handed him the bottle and nearly shouted for joy when the baby instantly started sucking on it and the room was drenched in blessed silence.
“Thank God,” he said as he lowered the diaper bag to the floor. He watched in amusement as the big man stood awkwardly as the baby stared up at him while she drank from the bottle.
“Looks good on you,” Rhys said with a smile, then nearly laughed at the horrified expression that crossed Callan’s face. “What, you never thought about kids before?”
“No,” Callan managed to choke out.
Rhys leaned back in his chair. “Too bad Finn isn’t here. I bet he’d be a natural at this.” A flash of longing went through Callan’s eyes before he turned away and walked a few steps to the window. “Heard he gave his notice,” Rhys probed. Callan tensed slightly, but didn’t respond otherwise. “Probably for the best. Once he’s gone, all your problems go with him, right?” Still nothing.
Several minutes passed before Callan turned around and carried the now sleeping baby and gently placed her in the carrier. He didn’t bother with the straps, but he did turn the carrier around so that the baby was facing away from them. Then, without warning, Callan grabbed Rhys by the collar, dragged him out of the chair and slammed him back against the wall.
“You say shit like that to me again about Finn and we’re going to have a problem!” he said harshly, though Rhys suspected he kept his voice down for the baby’s benefit.
“You going to fire me again, big guy?” Rhys said lightly though his body was drawn tight with the adrenaline rush of having Callan’s body pressed against his, his big hand wrapped around Rhys’ throat. Rhys dared to drop his hand over the erection he suspected Callan was fighting and he wasn’t disappointed. “Or you going to do something else to me?” he drawled.
The need to drive this man to lose control was overwhelming and he actually stopped breathing when Callan’s eyes dropped to his mouth. Rhys stroked Callan through his pants and was rewarded with Callan grabbing his hand. But Callan didn’t stop him. He just covered Rhys’ fingers with his own, following the motion as Rhys rubbed his hardness over and over.
The sound of footsteps had Callan abruptly stepping away from Rhys and all the air rushed out of his lungs at once making him light headed.
“Mr. Bale,” the vet said as he came into the waiting room. His eyes darted from Callan to Rhys as he went to the baby’s car seat and leaned down to check her.
“Call me Callan,” Callan managed to get out, his voice sounding a bit shaky.
“The calf is doing as well as can be expected, considering the circumstances. I got him stitched up and the fluids are helping to ease the shock. He’s not out of the woods, but I think you guys got to him in time,” Dr. Winters said as he lifted the car seat from the floor and placed it on one of the chairs. His eyes softened as he gazed adoringly at the baby. Rhys guessed the man to be in his early forties and just the slightest hint of silver glinted in his chocolate brown hair. Dark brown eyes melted as he watched the baby snuggle further into the car seat.
“Thank you, Dr. Winters,” Callan said.
