Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 100277 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100277 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
When Rafe appeared in the reception, I felt hyperalert; every inch of me felt sensitive and awake. Goodness, he was tall. I kept forgetting how tall and broad-shouldered he was. His white coat almost strained across those shoulders. He wore a light blue button-down shirt underneath and he’d left one button open at his throat. My fingers itched to undo the next one.
Oh boy.
An older man walked at his side, holding a cat in a pet carrier. “Just once a day,” Rafe instructed. “And bland food for the next week.”
“Thank you, Dr. Whitman.” The older man’s lips pinched together in worry.
My heart fluttered as Rafe’s gaze caught mine as he crossed the room to the reception desk. He gave me an almost imperceptible nod, that stoic, hard expression on his face, before he turned to the reception desk. The guy behind it had reappeared from the mystery room while I’d been engrossed in my historical fiction book about an Old Hollywood starlet. “Finn”—Rafe’s voice caused a pleasant sensation in the pit of my stomach—“can you arrange an appointment for Millie and Mr. Danvers to see me in one week’s time?”
“Of course.” Finn smiled warmly at the older man. “And I have Millie’s prescription ready for you.”
Satisfied, Rafe patted Mr. Danvers on the shoulder and pivoted toward me. “I have an emergency appointment and then I’ll be right with you.”
“Sure.” I shrugged, waving my e-reader. “I have something to keep me occupied.”
His eyes narrowed on the device in what might have been curiosity, but it was difficult to tell with him. Rafe focused on the woman and her Chihuahua. Though he didn’t smile, his tone was a hundred times warmer as he inquired, “Ms. Van Alstyne, what brings you and Gilbert to my office today?”
Gilbert? I eyed the tiny dog, who did not look like a Gilbert.
As if sensing my amusement, Rafe shot me a look out of the corner of his eye.
Gilbert? I mouthed.
He gave me a quelling look, though I could have sworn I saw a twinkle of humor in his gaze. However, since that seemed impossible, I decided I’d imagined it.
Ms. Van Alstyne was quietly spoken and I watched as Rafe lifted Gilbert into his arms, petting him gently and murmuring words of greeting as he also bent his head toward Gilbert’s owner, listening patiently to her as they wandered out of the reception together.
Yup, the whole vet thing was definitely an issue for my libido.
A little while later, another patient and her dog entered the practice. I observed her interaction at the reception desk, hoping it wouldn’t further delay my meeting with Rafe.
“Rocco and I have an appointment with Dr. Hayes,” she relayed.
Dr. Hayes?
There was another vet here?
The young woman moved to take a seat on the bench, but her pit bull, Rocco, stopped her by pulling on his short leash to get to me.
I dropped my e-reader on my lap to scratch behind both his ears. “Hey, you,” I murmured to him, grinning. “Aren’t you just the most handsome guy?”
“Do you hear that, Rocco?” his owner cooed. “Another admirer.”
Laughing, I released him so she could take a seat. “He’s gorgeous.”
She smiled. “Thanks. He’s got some knee issues, so he’s getting used to this place.”
“Yeah, he doesn’t seem bothered to be here at all.”
“He likes Dr. Hayes.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to ask who this mysterious Dr. Hayes was, but there was no need. Footsteps sounded down the hallway, growing louder, until a tall figure appeared where Rafe had disappeared with Gilbert. I raised an eyebrow at the sight of the good-looking blond dude wearing a set of green scrubs. He couldn’t have been much older than me, putting him around Rafe’s age. His gaze swept the reception, stopping on me with a slight frown, before returning to the woman and Rocco. As he approached the pit bull, however, his attention kept flickering to me.
“And how is Rocco today?” The man lowered to his haunches to pet the pit bull as he wagged his tail and made delighted chuffing sounds. I’d never seen a dog so happy to see his vet.
“Hi, Dr. Hayes,” the woman said, beaming at him. I didn’t blame her. He was even more gorgeous up close. “He’s been struggling lately, so I thought I better bring him in for another checkup.”
Dr. Hayes.
This was the other vet.
Oh.
Oh, I got it.
A small smile played on my lips.
Two young handsome vets running a clinic together on the Upper West Side. I bet they made a killing. Maybe Rafe wasn’t so uptight that he didn’t know how to use good looks to his advantage.
“Okay, Rocco, let’s have a look at you.” Dr. Hayes stood and his dark gaze came to me. “Are you being attended to?”
“She’s here to see Dr. Whitman,” Finn replied.
Interest gleamed in the vet’s chocolate brown eyes. He gave me a brief, curious smile. “All right.”