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“Please, you have to get that, that animal out of my car.” Her voice rose with near hysteria. She shivered under his light grip.
“Let me get this injured fox inside, and I’ll come help you.”
She twisted her hands together and shifted back and forth. “Thank you.”
Thunder rolled across the sky and lightning flashed. A sharp crack sounded as the lightning hit the ground somewhere close. She jumped into his arms. Her body brushed his. She fit his body like she was made for him. For all that they were drenched, having her this close felt like coming home.
“Oh!” she exclaimed. “I hate thunder.” She faked a laugh and backed away leaving him filled with longing to hold her tight and comfort her.
“That was a close strike. Let’s get inside.” He turned her toward the door and rounded his truck to get the fox. Little Red’s chest rose and fell with a regular rhythm that was reassuring. “Can you get the door for me?” He pulled out the box, shouldered his truck shut, and strode to the entry. “King, come.”
She rushed ahead and yanked open the door. She stood way back as King raced in out of the rain. Zander hurried inside with Heather right on his heels. Despite the humidity in the air and the scent of spring rain, she smelled of lemon and vanilla. It wasn’t strong, but it was definitely there. It reminded him of lemon sugar cookies. Delish.
“Please, wait here. I’ll only be a minute.” He headed for the back, his cowboy boots squishing with each step. It was a good thing they were durable because they frequently stepped in things they shouldn’t. After this drenching, it would take days for them to dry out. “I’ll get my tech to start some exams while I help you.”
Though distracted by his concern for the fox, he couldn’t help thinking about Heather. She was only about five inches shorter than he was. He usually liked a woman he could look right in the eye. Heather’s blue eyes were intriguing. Her hair was slicked down her back, water ran down her cheeks. She stood straight and tall despite her obvious distress. A smile crossed his face. She looked like a drowned rat, yet still had grace and dignity. Beautiful. Breathtaking. He shoved down the need growing in his heart.
Chapter 2
Zander was as enticing today as he was the first time she’d seen him at the inn’s grand opening. He’d darted here and there, seeming to lend a hand everywhere. He’d been around a lot since then. They hadn’t had many conversations, but she knew he was dependable and very easy to talk to. That’s why, in her somewhat panicked state, she turned to him for help.
The fact that Zander Bellamie was extremely handsome was irrelevant. Tall, with neatly trimmed dark-blonde facial hair and lean strong muscles, he was temptation incarnate. She loved a man with a beard. He walked through a swinging door and greeted someone named Jenny. Jealousy prickled along Heather’s arms. Who was Jenny?
She rolled her eyes at her own foolishness. Jenny, whoever she was, was of no consequence, because Heather had no interest in the very handsome Dr. Zander Bellamie. Forcing her mind away from the man, she looked around.
The clinic was spotless. Nothing out of place. Tall racks of pet supplies, toys and food lined two walls. There was a seven-chair waiting area in front of the reception desk. Zander’s enormous black dog sat on a rubber mat near the door.
Beside him was a bin of neatly folded towels probably meant to dry off damp pets. She seriously needed one of those towels.
“Hey, boy,” she said softly. She was afraid of dogs, okay, anything with four legs, but those towels were tempting. “Stay, okay?” Her voice shook. Dang it. Why did she have to run into two animals in one day? The last year had been horrid. Wasn’t she due for a change in luck?
The dog tipped his head and stared at her, his tongue hanging out. He looked, dare she even think it, friendly? She inched over and grabbed a towel and quickly backed away. The dog didn’t move. He seemed well trained. His head bobbed up and down like he was laughing at her. She scowled.
Heather squeezed moisture from her hair. She was growing out a short bob. Now it was just past her shoulders, and she could put it up again. She loved an updo, but she’d cut it for her ex who preferred short hair.
“Stop thinking about him,” she muttered. “He’s gone from your life. His opinion doesn’t matter. You’ve moved on.” She hung the towel on a chair and looked around the room. She laughed at the comical pictures of puppies and kittens on the wall. Zander had created a welcoming space. Obviously, he cared about his clients as much as he cared about his family.
He was a genuinely nice guy. Dating material … except that he was her boss’s brother. Besides, she wasn’t looking to date after her last disastrous relationship. But if she was, she wouldn’t look towards her employer’s family. Not even if they were as attractive and compelling as Zander.
Zander stepped back into the waiting room and smiled. “There, Little Red’s getting some x-rays and I can help you.”
“Little Red?”
“The fox.” He chuckled. “I name all my rescues.” His phone chimed and he pulled it out and looked at the screen. He frowned and stuffed it back in his pocket. “Okay, Heather,” he said, “tell me about this animal.”
She felt a little silly now that she was away from the immediate danger of her unwanted passenger. She winced knowing she was pulling him from his patient. “Um. There’s an animal in my car and I don’t know what to do. I came here because you know animals, right?” She locked her knees to keep her legs from trembling as her fear resurfaced.
“Animal control might have been a better option, but you’re here now, and I am good with animals. What kind of critter is it?” he asked as he headed to the front door.
She hurried behind him but didn’t answer. This is the part she hated. Admitting her fears.
“Well?” He stopped by the door and looked at her, his brown eyes assessing.
“It’s a huge cat of some kind.” She stared down at the floor.
“There’s a lynx in your car?” He blinked twice. “You drove here with a lynx in your car?”
“Not exactly.” Heat flooded her face. She wanted to crawl into a hole and vanish.
