Sasha sat forward, her cup of tea forgotten. “Uncle Camden was arrested?”
One corner of Jackson’s mouth turned up. “Your godfather was quite the radical in his youth.”
“And you were arrested, as well?”
“No, my dear.” He shook his head and a chuckle escaped his lips. “I wasn’t the kind of man to have been that idealistic and foolish. I was in jail on charges of theft.”
“You’ve got to be kidding?”
He sat back. “Afraid not. My mother died at childbirth and the old man dropped me off at an orphanage when I was ten years old. When I was eighteen, I’d hitchhiked to London with only a few pounds in my pocket. I fell in with a group of kids and learned how to make easy money lifting merchandise from stores and partaking in a bit of illegal gambling.”
“Now, that’s a surprise. You don’t…”
He finished her sentence. “Seem like the law breaking type?”
Sasha bit her bottom lip to keep from smiling. “I was going to say that you don’t fit the mold of any gambler that I’ve ever met.”
“Have you ever visited Las Vegas?”
She shook her head. “I spent a few weeks at the Grand Canyon during a field study.”
“Well, gamblers cross all walks of life.”
Still curious, she asked, “So Jackson, how did you end up working for Uncle Camden?”
“Your uncle was a smart man, particularly because he knew his own weaknesses and strengths. Twenty-four hours in a smelly concrete room and being the only occupants not thoroughly soused, we did quite a bit of talking. Camden had a passion for saving the environment and he realized early on that he could use his trust fund to fuel his ambitions. He never really explained why he chose to engage a barrister to take on my case, why he arranged for my matriculation into university or why he hired me to manage his affairs while he worked abroad, but he believed in me and I did my best by him.”
She sipped her tea as the look of affection on Jackson’s face conjured up a question that she’d left unvoiced for years. From behind her closed eyelids she reflected on every meeting, every moment she’d spent with her godfather. Piecing together the memories wove an unfinished tapestry. She could never figure out why her uncle spent his life as a bachelor. She’d met two of his female companions and they had both been intelligent, rich and attractive. She’d never doubted her godfather’s sexual orientation or that he’d be a great father. But…
“Jackson, can I ask you a personal question?”
He nodded. “Of course. Keep in mind that I may choose not to answer.”
Sasha nibbled on the bottom lip. “Were you and my godfather…” She paused trying to thing of an appropriate word.
“Lovers?”
Sasha felt heat rise from the nape of her neck to the top of her head. All she could do was nod.
“I wondered when you would ask that question.”
She sputtered. “I just keep trying to find a reason for why he never married.”
“Rest assured your godfather fancied the women and they loved him. He never talked about it, but I always had the feeling that he’d been in love once and it had ended badly.”
“I’ve had my fair share of heartbreak, but I haven’t given up hope and I’m sure Uncle Camden would feel the same. He just had so much to give.”
“And he did give to charity, animal rights, field research, his organizations, the community and his pets. Your godfather was a simple man in a complex world. And there’s one thing that we both know is that when he’s made a decision, he goes about his business with an unwavering determination. It wouldn’t be a surprise to know that once he gave his heart, he’d never give it to another.”
Suddenly things became clear in her mind. “He was like a father to you,” she said softly.
Jackson looked down at his cup. “More than the man who left me at the orphanage.”
His statement summed up why he’d stayed to manage the estate and why he continued to take care of Sasha. Her godfather had left Jackson two million dollars in his will. He was free to enjoy a life of leisure, but he’d stayed to look after her. Of course, it was more than loyalty that tied Jackson to her uncle—it was love.
Sasha reached out a hand and placed it on his arm to get his attention. “Thank you.”
His hand reached out and grasped hers. “He may have treated me like a son, but he loved you like a daughter, Sasha.”
She swallowed past the lump in her throat. “I know. The hard part is that I don’t understand why he left me all that money.”
“Because you want to save the world.” He grinned.
She looked over at the antique wall clock. “I guess I should start by picking Darwin up from the vet.”
“I can do that for you.”
“No,” she said quickly. “I’d like to speak with Dr. Blackfox.”
“I think that would be a good idea.”
“Could I borrow your car?”
“There is no need to borrow. The cars are yours to do with as you wish. Not to mention, I can drive you, Sasha.”
“I know. It’s just that I feel funny about being driven when I can drive. Plus, I’m sure you have better things to do than drive me from point A to B.”
“All right. This way.”
They walked down the hallway, past the entertainment room, the kitchen and the laundry. Finally, Jackson opened a door and flipped a light switch to the garage. Sasha blinked rapidly as her eyes adjusted to the florescent lights. “Goodness,” she said, stepping away from him.
“Which would you like? They are all in excellent condition and full of gas.”
Sasha’s gaze started at the left. Mercedes, BMW, convertible Masarati, Bentley. She’d been around rich people. For a period of time she’d lived in the palace of a Middle Eastern prince while training his pet cheetahs. But this was different because she’d never been offered the keys. She thought back to the first car she’d ever driven. The family had been on an expedition in the middle of Bolivia at the time of her fifteenth birthday.
Her father had put her behind the wheel of a straight shift, diesel truck that couldn’t have been less than two decades old. It backfired every ten miles and the shocks were nonexistent but it was the best vehicle she’d ever known. Because of her travels, she never needed a car outside of work and now she apparently owned four.
Sasha nibbled on the inside of her lip before turning back to Jackson. His eyes held a devilish crinkle of amusement as if he could sense her discomfort. “How about the least expensive one.”
Trey looked down at the sheets of expenditures and revenues and sighed heavily. Even having hired one of the best accounting firms in Atlanta, nothing seemed to keep him from having to do paperwork. Every other month it was his duty to review the clinic’s finances and he hated it. Almost as much as he disliked looking at his personal finances. Yet, his uncle and father’s warnings always seemed to come to the forefront. Never take the Blackfox name for granted, thank God for every breath you take, never get complacent and always keep an eye on your money. He looked around the office that he’d help design in the building he’d paid to build, and that sense of rightness returned.
Samuel Graham Veterinary Clinic was one of a handful of not-for-profit operations in the southeast devoted to pet care. He’d started the clinic in the memory of his late grandfather on his mother’s side. Trey had spared no expense in creating a pet-friendly environment with state-of-the-art technology. He’d had to use a combination of charm and bribery to start the practice three years after his veterinary internship. The people who worked at the clinic were more than adequately compensated for their skills and willingness to sometimes work long hours.
Each patient was charged a fee based on income and in emergencies no pet was turned away. The clientele covered the spectrum of Georgia’s population—from drug dealers and the income challenged of Atlanta’s inner city, to corporate executives, sports figures and politicians. He’d treated scores of geria
tric dogs and cats with everything from renal disease to cancer. On any given day, he and the other four vets treated rabbits, iguanas, birds and chinchillas. Not to mention the high-strung owners of pedigree champions or spoiled-rotten mongrels.
Deep in thought, Trey hadn’t heard the footsteps of someone entering his office.
“Dude, it’s fate.”
“What?”
“She studies animals. I help them. She just moved to Atlanta. I did, too. She’s into documentaries and I’m a history minor—we’re perfect for one another.”
If he hadn’t looked up at his assistant, Trey would have sworn the dreadlocked intern was a blonde surfer fresh from the California coast. He shook his head. Jo had only been with them for three months but in that short time he’d proved himself to be a valuable member of their staff. Jo fell hard and fast for a girl. Trey, on the other hand, didn’t fall at all. He reached out and picked up another bound report. “So who’s the new crush?” he asked off-handedly.
“Sasha Clayton.”
Now, that got his attention. Technically the lady wasn’t his type. She had commitment written all over her. She didn’t want or need his money, high maintenance wasn’t in her vocabulary, and he could see himself getting along with her too well. They had too much in common. Regardless, the memory of her tear-stained face hadn’t been too far from his thoughts in the last twenty-four hours. Trey stood up and began to straighten out his desk. “Don’t go there, my man.”
“Serious, Trey. She’s got a rich uncle. No, wait. She had a rich uncle. I’ve got a rich boss and thirty thousand in student loans.”
“She’s older than you.”
“Age is just a number on a driver’s license. Besides I’ve never been a boy toy before.”
“Jo, we’re not having this conversation. This clinic is not a bar and Sasha Clayton is not only a client, she’s off limits—” he paused “—to you.”
Jo raised and lowered his chin as a super-size smile lit his face. “Oh, now I get it. Dude, you can’t take the competition.”
“No, I can’t take the noise and I’m fresh out of tissues for your future broken heart.”
“Whatever, you’ll see that she likes me.”
“I’ll bet that she like animals, kids and old people, too.”
“You’re cold, Trey.” Jo pretended to shiver. “Icy. You might want to try some bedside manners. Take a people skills class. You know, relate to us regular people.”
“I’ll put that on my schedule. Now could you bring Darwin into room four, please?”
“Oh my God!” Jo exclaimed, and placed his hands over his heart in feigned shock. “The man said ‘please.’ It’s a miracle.”
Trey picked up his stethoscope and hung it around his neck, all the while laughing. This was what got him up in the morning and kept him coming back although he had enough money to pursue any situation he wanted. The people and the animals. The fact that he was not only needed but also wanted. He grinned—it didn’t help that being nice to animals was always a help with the ladies.
Trey Blackfox had the most unbelievable complexion, Sasha observed as he entered the room with Darwin in his arms. The deep brown shade was so smooth she couldn’t believe that he’d ever had a pimple. Just looking at him made her want to touch. Good looking and warm clear eyes with chestnut colored irises.
Earlier, Sasha hadn’t even looked at the chair after the assistant had led her into the examination room. All she wanted to do was pace. And because there wasn’t enough space in the ten-by-ten space, she began to examine the objects on the countertops and the numerous pictures of various animal, bird and reptile life.
Trey paused for a moment and just seemed to stare at her intently before placing sitting Darwin on the examination table. More nervous than she should have been, Sasha stepped closer and smiled. “You look surprised to see me.”
“You’re early,” he replied with a half grin she felt all the way down to her toes.
She shook her head and shyly glanced away. Instinct made her want to stare at him and purr like a cat watching a canary. Good old common sense, however, grabbed her by the back of the neck and made her look down and focus on the tile flooring and how nice it looked in contrast to her shoes. She drew in a deep breath before responding. “I was worried about Darwin.”
“That’s the first step in becoming a responsible pet owner. Before you know it you’ll be planning your life around your pet.”
“Seems that way. Looks like I’ll be here for a while,” she answered simply. As soon as the words left her mouth, Sasha’s stomach flipped. Somehow she’d known since the moment the plane had circled the campsite in Malaysia, her life would never be the same.
“Well, I think Darwin and I are in agreement.”
“On what?”
“We’re both glad that you’re going to be sticking around.”
She smiled and placed her hand under Darwin’s chin and scratched. “Will he going to be alright?”
“With a little TLC and a prescription diet to increase his appetite, he’ll be barking up a storm and digging up holes in the backyard in no time.”
“Thank you,” Sasha rushed and in her excitement stepped forward and hugged Trey. She buried her face in his shoulder and just breathed for a moment as the rush of relief almost made her weak in the knees.
Speechless for a moment, Trey’s arms hung on the side and after his brain kicked in, he lifted his arms and only gave her a quick squeeze while a part of him wanted to toss caution out the door and kiss Sasha like he had last night. “Just doing my job,” he partially mumbled into the top of her head.
When she drew back, he cleared his throat and stuck his hands in his pants pockets. “Now that we’ve gotten one thing pretty much squared away, when do you think you’ll be able to handle the heavy stuff?”
“What heavy stuff?”
“Finding someone to take over for your godfather’s foundation?”
“That. To be honest, I don’t know as to where to start. The attorneys sent over an encyclopedia-size stack of resumes.”
“You only have to ask and I’ll be there to help.”
“Thank you. I have a feeling that I’ll be needing help soon.”
“Then we’ll have an even trade because I need yours, as well.”
Her brow furrowed. “You need my help?”
He nodded. “Now that I know you’ll be sticking around, I have a project that’s perfect for you.”
“Trey, really, I’m not sure how long I’ll be staying. I’ve never not been traveling.”
“Wait before you turn me down. At least see what it is I’m asking for.”
“Why don’t you just tell me?”
He grinned. “Have you ever heard of a car salesman who could sell a car sight unseen?”
“Well…” Sasha smiled.
“Exactly. It’s not really possible if there’s no trust and you can’t see exactly what you’ll be getting. So we’ll have dinner Thursday night and work on establishing trust. Friday, how about you meet me at Atlanta zoo about eleven a.m? We can have lunch afterwards and come up with a plan to tackle those resumes.”
“I’m not making any promises.”
“And I’m not asking you to make any. Just think about it and drop by. If you don’t, then give me a call.” Trey pulled a business card from his pocket. “My cell phone number is in the bottom right corner. You can call anytime.”
When Trey got back to his office later that afternoon after a consult at the zoo, the sun was blazing through the windows and the smell of lemon deodorizer permeated the air. Harriet, the office manager, smiled after dropping a bundle of mail in his inbox, and Johann Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major played over the intercom system. So much to do and so little time, Trey thought. He dropped his notebook on the wooden desktop, pulled out his leather chair, logged on to his computer, and prepared to update the health records of his patients. The first one up for entry would be to order a second round of tests on Ruffle, a
seizuring Akita mix.
His phone buzzed before the receptionist’s voice came over the intercom. “Dr. Blackfox, I have Jared Gresham on line one.”
Trey grinned. “Thank you.” He hit the button and leaned back in his chair. “Speak on it, brother.”
“Man, Trey, you are a genius.”
His brows shot upwards as he searched his memory for the reason behind his best friend’s declaration. It took him a few seconds to recall Big Boy, the Labrador retriever with an almost fatal penchant for chocolate. “I take it he’s recovered?”
“He’s back at home stirring up trouble,” Jared said.
“That’s good,” Trey replied.
“That’s not all,” Jared continued. “I’m looking down at two sets of courtside season tickets for all of this season’s Hawks home games.”
“Congratulations,” Trey replied.
“No, my brother. Congratulations to you. The second set is yours. Dang, man, I just tell you about tickets most people would kill for and you’re not even excited.”
“It’s just I’ve got other things on my mind at the moment.”
“Your family okay?”
“Yeah, everybody’s fine. My mother’s busy planning my grandfather’s birthday.”
“Okay, if the family’s well and I know that you’re not having work or money problems, then what’s her name?”
“Who?”
“The female that’s keeping you from doing a happy dance.”
“You’re nuts,” Trey said. “I’m just busy with work.”
“Cool, you don’t want to talk about her yet. I understand. I was like that in the beginning, too. Now on to the other two things I called to talk to you about.”
“There’s more?”
“Yep. Can I put you down for Steve’s bachelor party?”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Trey responded wryly. Damn. The last thing he wanted to do was sit through hours of reminiscing about the way things were in college, how many women he’d be giving up, the days of jetting to the West Coast for a party or the fact that he would be giving up all of his closet space and selling his two-seater Mercedes convertible.
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