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“She must’ve. I haven’t seen her move like that all year.”
Lucas navigated his way into the room and quickly shut the door behind him.Shit, it was cold.It reminded me that more snow was headed our way soon.
“Dr. Marshall, I am so sorry I’m late,” Lucas said, between attempts from Maggie to lick his face.I wanted to lick his face.Lucas dodged Maggie’s tongue and continued, “I rushed over here with Maggie from the house, and I didn’t have the number of the clinic programmed into my phone.”
“Oh, don’t worry about it.”
“No, I apologize. Sincerely, I’ve probably been keeping you from someone.”
“Only my assistant, Lydia. She’s making us dinner. It’s become a little tradition of ours before she jets off to somewhere warm for the holidays.”
Lucas smiled again.
Wow.I took a deep breath, waved my hand between us, and said, “It’s fine.”
He shook his head. “No, it’s not. I’m not some smug tech guy who doesn’t value other people’s time. I should’ve at least called, but…”
He sighed and his dimples activated. Heat rushed to the apex of my thighs. I really don’t know what’s come over me, but whatever it was that my body seemed to want, Lucas Valentine was giving it.
“I’m…I had a terrible day. It was so bad, I even got mud in my socks.”
“Oh. Well, that’s bad for a tech guy who’s used to L.A. winters.”
Lucas chuckled. “Californians get a lot of flak for being soft because of that perfect weather, but it’s okay. Have you ever been out there, Doctor?”
I blushed and said, “Born and raised. I was a proud citizen of Los Angeles County until last year around this time.”
His eyes widened. “I can’t believe that,” he said. “We were in the same place and never met until now.”
“Different circles, I guess.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
A silent exchange occurred between us. Lucas eyed me and with my chest rising and falling, I eyed him back.
“Ah, so, how’s Maggie?” he finally said. “What’s wrong with her?”
I snapped back into doctor mode and knelt to rub under Maggie’s chin. Lucas appeared beside us. I took in a deep breath, then looked into his green eyes. “Nothing I can fix, I’m sorry to say. Maggie is… She’s just getting old.”
Lucas’ beautiful face melted into a sorrowful stare, then looked away. He held Maggie’s face in his hands. Silently, he pressed their foreheads together and his eyelids fluttered shut. “Oh, girl,” he whispered.
Immediately, I felt about two inches tall. In doctor mode, I had to relay my diagnosis. I had to give him the bad news, the terrible prognosis. And I had to live with knowing that I made his awful day worse.
“I’m so sorry, Lucas.” I reached out and grasped one of his hands. “If you’d like, I could tell your parents.”
Lucas pulled back from Maggie. We locked eyes again. His thumb brushed against my knuckles, and he cleared his throat. “No, it’s all right. I’ll speak to them, but thank you for offering.”
Slowly, we rose out of our crouched positions and stood up. “It seems like it’s been a long day for you,” I said. “I should let you go.”
He nodded, glanced down at his hands or at Maggie. I couldn’t tell for sure. “Yeah, it has. Do you need a ride? Can I walk you somewhere? To your car, maybe? Do you need to grab your coat out of the back?”
“Oh, thanks. Give me a second.”
“Sure.”
Back down the hall, I typedo-m-w, smiley face, wine glassto Lydia and ducked inside my office. Retrieving my coat and purse, I snapped up the tote I always carry with a change of clothes in case someone’s pet had an accident—all over me. With the office being closed until next year, I figured it was safe to lug the bag up to Lydia’s. We’ll be drinking wine with that risotto, and I might need to crash at her place.
Zipping up my heavy coat, I quickly went through my night-time routine, locking doors and shutting off lights. Lucas and Maggie were still by the front entrance. The golden retriever had curled herself up by his feet and Lucas was typing into his phone.
