“Pork Chop, you can come back.”
Kimberly Smith stood and Jasmine was struck at just how stunning she looked. Her naturally curly red hair, which she normally wore in a ponytail, was down loose around her face. She wore a white T-shirt that hugged curves that didn’t stop. Her full lips were glossy and her almond-shaped blue eyes popped thanks to perfectly applied eyeliner, mascara and eye shadow.
She looked like she belonged on the hood of a car in a Whitesnake video, not at a small-town veterinary office.
Her ginger locks cascaded over her shoulders as she bent and lifted her stubborn bulldog up into her arms. The position of the dog caused her low-cut V-neck T-shirt to pull down.
Hoping to avoid a wardrobe malfunction, Jasmine offered, “Do you want me to take him?”
“No, I’ve got him.”
Jasmine would’ve assumed that the redhead didn’t know that she was serving up an eyeful, if not for the fact that her eyes had dipped down before she answered. That and she’d readjusted the dog causing the neckline to pull even further down.
The trio walked to the scale and after briefly setting the bulldog down to be weighed, Kimberly picked him back up, and this time actually tugged the hem of her shirt down where it stayed in place.
“We’re going into room three.” Jasmine instructed her, doing her best not to chuckle at the blatant wardrobe adjustment.
“So what’s going on with Pork Chop today?” Jasmine asked as she rubbed the English bulldog behind the ears, to which he grunted.
“He hasn’t been eating like he normally does.”
“Really?” Jasmine referred back to her chart. “He’s actually put on a pound since he was in last month for his shots.”
“His appetite has been less,” Kimberly maintained as she not-so-subtly checked her reflection in the glass-front cabinet that held supplies. “He’s not as interested in food.”
Jasmine asked several follow-up questions, including if there was a chance Pork Chop could’ve gotten into something he shouldn’t have. Kimberly answered all of the question distractedly.
“Anything else?” Jasmine gave her one more chance to voice her concerns.
“What do you mean?”
“Anything else you’re concerned about today?”
“No.” The red-haired beauty shook her head.
“Okay.” Jasmine patted Pork Chop on the head. “Leo will be with you shortly.”
Jasmine walked out and flipped the yellow flag on the door, indicating that there was a patient waiting. She went up to the front, grabbed the next file, and called the next patient. Lana DeMonte’s heels clicked on the tiled floor as she walked Bubba, her lab-mix, up to the scale. She was wearing a bodycon dress that hugged all of her generous curves. Lana’s body rivaled any of the Kardashians, but she usually didn’t wear clothes that showed it off. Even in yoga class, she wore loose fitting tops and bottoms.
“Hey, Bubba,” Jasmine greeted the lab-mix and took the leash, leading him up on the scale. When she handed the leash back, she commented, “You look really nice today.”
“Oh, thanks.” She ran her hands down her torso and bit her bottom lip before blowing out a breath. “How is he?”
Jasmine checked the chart. “He looks like he hasn’t gained or lost weight since your last visit.”
Lana chuckled and placed her hand on Jasmine’s forearm, leaning in closer. “Not Bubba, I mean Leo.”
“Oh, um, yeah, he’s fine.” She wasn’t exactly sure what Lana was asking. “He seems to be settling in.”
As they walked past exam room three, she heard a giggle. She took a deep breath and braced herself, it was going to be a long day.
* * *
“I can’t believe she’s letting you touch her. She usually hates all men.”
Leo ran his hand along Mittens’ belly, checking for any abnormalities. Her weight was in the normal range. There were no ear mites or parasites in her ears. Her eyes showed no retinal abnormalities. Her teeth and gums were clear of tartar and disease. Her lungs and heart sounded clear. And there were no lesions or bumps on her skin.
He removed the stethoscope and the tabby purred as she nuzzled her head against his arm. He’d been examining the feline for the past few minutes and hadn’t seen anything that told him she was anything but a perfectly healthy cat. This was the fifth patient that he’d had today that didn’t show any of the symptoms that their owners were describing.
He was starting to think that he was either being Punk’d, or maybe people were just checking him out to see if he had the goods his grandpa had.
“Look at her! She loves you!”
“I don’t see anything out of the ordinary, but you say she’s been lethargic?”
Danica nodded, her blue eyes widening. “I think she might be depressed because of the divorce. I don’t know if you heard but Mason and I separated a few months ago.”
Leo vaguely remembered Mason Dudley. He’d played basketball and run track, and he’d always seemed like a good guy.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” He stood and held the door open, hoping that she’d take the hint to leave. “Just keep an eye on her and give us a call if anything changes.”
“Thank you! It’s been hard, you know. I’m not used to sleeping alone, in such a big bed.”
“I bet.” Manners dictated that he let a lady go through the door before him, but he was calling an audible. He stepped outside and held his hand out in the direction of the exit.
“See you later. Thanks for taking care of my kitty cat.” Danica waved her fingers and smiled seductively as she walked past him.
He had to suck in his stomach and lean back to avoid her body brushing against his.
In the week since he’d come home, he’d felt like prey to the domesticated female species. For years he’d been so far removed from civilization that he’d truly forgotten the mating rituals of a first world society. The people that he’d been living with cared more about survival than anything else. He was having a difficult time relating to people who didn’t recognize that the things they were complaining about were classic examples of first world problems.
Oddly enough, there was one woman that he felt shared the same values he did, and having the feelings he did for her went against his moral code. Talk about a dichotomy.
As if he’d summoned her with his mind, that woman rounded the corner. Like every time he laid eyes on her, she took his breath away. He’d assumed that he would become immune to her after prolonged exposure. But if anything, his symptoms seemed to be getting worse.
Today her hair was up, revealing the gentle slope of her neck. Her skin was glowing, her cherry lips were shining, and her large eyes beckoned him like a lighthouse in a storm.
“Jasmine! You poor thing!” Danica exclaimed when the women crossed paths. She set the cat carrier down and pulled the curly-haired woman who’d infiltrated his every waking and sleeping thought into a hug that she looked very uncomfortable participating in. “I heard what that asshole did to you! What a piece of shit.”
Leo couldn’t help but sense the lack of sincerity in Danica’s tone, even as she was offering her sympathy.
“He’s not a bad guy,” Jasmine pulled back as she defended her ex. “We just grew apart.”
How could she stand up for the man that she caught screwing someone on their kitchen table? Leo’s chest tightened with pent-up rage.
Danica’s brows lifted and she made a cringing face. “Is it true that he’s with Jessica now?”
Leo’s eyes protectively shot to Jasmine’s. He was ready to step in if he saw that she was getting upset, but her expression remained calm and passive. There wasn’t even a flinch of emotion. “You’d have to ask him. It was nice to see you, Danica, and you too, Mittens.” Jasmine rubbed the top of the carrier before continuing down the hallway.
She kept her head down as she passed by him, not making eye contact. His entire body tensed, waiting, anticipating the moment when he’d feel her brush agai
nst him. It was a moment that never came. The only evidence that she’d been so close to him was a whiff of fresh flowers that wafted in her wake and Leo inhaled, loving the scent of her.
The yellow flag was pulled out indicating that he had a patient in exam room five, but instead of heading in that direction, he turned on his heel and followed behind Jasmine. When she opened the back door, he wondered if she was feeling sick and needed some fresh air.
She stepped onto the back patio area and he was only a step behind.
“Are you okay?” He asked before the door shut.
“What the!” she screeched, jumping in start.
“Sorry, I wanted to make sure you were okay after what Danica said to you.”
Jasmine waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, that. That’s fine. I’m fine.”
Leo knew that it was none of his business, but he just couldn’t help asking, “Why would you defend him? He’s an asshole.”
A sad smile tilted Jasmine’s mouth and Leo instantly regretted saying anything. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”
“No. It’s fine.” Jasmine’s eyes dropped down and she placed a hand over her belly. “He is an asshole. But he’s also the father of my baby. I never want this perfect little life to be tainted because of who its father is.”
Leo’s chest tightened. It had a tendency to do that around Jasmine. “Do you have any idea how perfect you are?”
She let out a forced laugh. “Ha! Me? Perfect? No.”
She was. And the fact that she had no idea made her even more perfect.
Chapter 12
A loud knock sounded and Jasmine’s heart slammed into her chest. It took her a second to realize that the reason her heart had just acted like a crash test dummy was because she thought it might be Leo at her door.
When she’d left work earlier, he’d asked her what her plans were that weekend. It was a normal thing to ask a co-worker, so there was no reason to think that he was the person standing on her porch. And even if he was, that didn’t mean anything.
He’d stopped by the night before to let her know that he was going to take the garbage bins down to the street because the next morning was trash day. She’d thanked him profusely because, in truth, she hadn’t even thought to check when trash day rolled around.
At work, he checked in to make sure that she took breaks and didn’t lift anything too heavy. As a doctor he should be aware that she was fine doing anything she did before she got pregnant. Although he was a doctor of animals, not people. But, still.
Her palms dampened as she stood and walked toward the entry, hoping Leo was on the other side stopping by for another neighborly reason.
No, she admonished herself. What was she thinking?
All of her energy needed to be spent focusing on her little one. She placed her hand over her stomach as she opened the door. When she saw who it was, her arm fell to its side.
Her ex, Corbin, stood on her porch, his shoulders slumped and his hands in his back pockets. The stance used to make her see James Dean, now she just saw someone working way too hard to be cool. She wanted to tell him to stand up straight and stop slouching.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I need to talk to you.”
“What’s up?”
“Can I come in?”
No. She didn’t want him in this space. This was her space. It was a safe space. It was the space that had only been shared with Leo. Just like the news that she was pregnant.
She’d given herself until the end of the weekend to tell Corbin about the baby. In her mind, she justified keeping the information from him since she’d spent the better part of last week trying to cope with moving and being cheated on. And, hey, it was only Friday. Technically she still had two more days before her self-imposed deadline.
Two days where she hoped to get her mind around the situation. Two days where she could settle into her new house. Two more days before she had to deal with people’s opinions about her life choices.
It was so strange to think that exactly one week ago, almost to the hour, she’d gotten engaged. She’d thought the two of them were going to be together forever. So much had changed since then. Now they were going to be together forever, but in a completely different context. They would always be their baby’s parents. And because of that, she knew what she had to do.
“Sure.” She stepped to the side and held the door open.
As her ex walked in, he did it placing his heel first and then lowering to his foot as if he wasn’t sure about where he was stepping. It was his go-to move whenever he thought she was mad or “acting crazy.”
It had never bothered her before, but now she saw it for what it was. A ploy for attention. He needed to make a show of how uncomfortable he was so she’d notice and ask him about it.
That used to work, but not anymore.
“Wow, this place is…” He sighed. “Cozy. Homey.”
Coming from Leo, those words had been compliments. Coming from Corbin they weren’t. Her ex was very materialistic. They’d renovated the entire house within the first year of moving in, even though they’d—or more like she’d—barely been able to afford it, because Corbin was always trying to keep up appearances. He’d just had to have an open concept, state of the art appliances, and engineered hardwood floors.
His high-end taste didn’t stop there. He had to drive a flashy car. Wear designer suits. Own a collection of expensive watches. And sleep on imported silk sheets with a high thread count.
None of those things ever mattered to Jasmine. Material things had no value in her world. Of course, she cared about having a vehicle, a roof over her head, clothes to wear, and a bed to sleep in. But she bought a used car and shopped at second-hand stores. She wore things until they were falling apart.
Case in point, as she had discovered while moving in the rain, her tennis shoes that had no tread.
His extravagant ways had always made her uncomfortable. The more distance she got from the breakup, the more she questioned why the two of them had been together in the first place. Why had she stayed with someone she couldn’t even say she liked, much less loved?
Clarity about her relationship aside, there was still big news that she’d yet to share with Corbin. “I’m glad you’re here, actually. I needed to talk to you.” She took a fortifying breath as she closed the door behind them.
“About what?” he asked, as if he couldn’t imagine what she could possibly have to say to him. Had he forgotten that they’d spent twelve years together?
Not exactly the mood she’d wanted to set for this conversation. Still, Jasmine wasn’t sure that a good way to break this news even existed. If it did, she sure as hell had no idea what it was. “Um, well, there was a reason I went back to the house on Monday. I was coming home to tell you something.”
“What?”
“Something I found out at the doctor’s.”
“Do you have, like, a few months to live? Is that why you flipped out and broke up with me?”
Jasmine easily saw through Corbin’s childish attempts to goad her. Whenever he was on the wrong side of an argument, he did everything he could to turn the tables on her. Even if that meant using a fictional terminal illness to justify her reactions to his deplorable behavior.
“No, Corbin. I broke up with you because you asked me to marry you even though you were still dating other people.”
“One other person. And she’s why I’m here, actually.”
Jasmine thought about steering the conversation back to the doctor’s appointment and her pregnancy news, but she honestly didn’t have the energy. She’d let Corbin get out what he needed to say and then she’d fill him in.
He started pacing around the small space. She had no idea if he was doing it for dramatic effect or if what he had to say was really that hard for him to spit out.
After several more trips back and forth in front of her, he stopped, turned toward her and took in a deep breath.
&n
bsp; His behavior made it crystal clear to her that the whole pacing thing was in fact for dramatic effect. She honestly had no clue how he didn’t see how transparent he was.
“Well, Jessica and I were talking, and she thought…”
She thought? Jasmine was waiting with bated freaking breath to find out what thought Jessica might have had.
“We thought…”
Now they were a we? This just kept getting better and better.
“I was wondering if you still had my ring.”
Jasmine shouldn’t have been surprised by anything that Corbin did or said at this point but, somehow, she was. “Your ring?”
“Yes.”
“Do you mean my engagement ring?” Jasmine had been planning to give the ring back to Corbin when she broke the news to him that she was pregnant, but things had just taken a turn. Now that he was asking for it back, for some reason she didn’t want to give it to him.
“I bought that ring when I thought we were going to get married. You called it off so you should give it back to me.”
His argument might be sound, but he sounded like a whiny child pouting, not a grown man stating a reasonable position.
“I ‘called it off’ because you were having sex with Jessica on our kitchen table.”
At her directness, his entire demeanor changed. She could see that he was getting defensive. Defensive Corbin was probably her least favorite of all the different Corbins his moods turned him into. “I didn’t come to talk about the past—”
“The past? It happened Monday.”
“Whatever, I just came because I need the ring back. Jessica’s not comfortable with you having it.”
Every time he opened his mouth, her desire not to return the ring amplified.
She was torn. Part of her wanted to keep it out of spite. But she knew better than to let someone turn her into a person she wasn’t. Still, it took everything in her not to tell him exactly where he could shove her ring.
Knowing the right thing to do didn’t make it any easier when she started down the hall to the bedroom. When she felt him following her she spun back around and held out her hand. “Stay here.”
Just One Touch - Leo & Jasmine (Crossroads Book 16) Page 11