by Sarah Barrie
She studied him, studied how she felt about the compliment and the accompanying look on his face. No, this was not what she wanted. It was what she’d hoped she might have wanted, she admitted to herself, but the wanting to want it just wasn’t working.
‘What was it you wanted to discuss with me?’ she asked, hoping to shift the conversation.
He chuckled quietly. ‘I wanted to talk to you about your requirement for a new vet.’
‘Oh, you know someone?’
‘Not exactly. I was thinking I could give you two or three days a week.’
Ebony stared. Had she heard right? ‘Are you kidding?’
‘No, of course not. Like I said, the wildlife park is still setting up. The work is only part time. By the time there’s more work there, you’ll have no doubt found someone more permanent for the surgery.’
Ebony immediately held out her hand across the table. ‘You are so hired.’
He took her hand, held it, skimmed a thumb across her fingers. His eyes were laughing. ‘That’s great, but do you think you should at least look at my resume first?’
She tugged her hand away. ‘You have it with you?’
‘Pretty much everything is living in my car. I’ve been staying at the pub, waiting for a rental to come up. It’s wearing thin. You walked here, right?’
‘Yeah – it’s too close to drive.’
‘When we’re done with dinner I could run you back to the surgery and dig it out?’
Invite him back? Alarm bells were faintly ringing, but damn it, she wanted him to work for her. She needed him. And she could probably handle any awkward ulterior motive, should it arise. ‘Sure, I’ll take a look.’
It was another hour before they arrived back at the surgery. Rather than going upstairs, they sat at the lunchroom table while she flicked through his resume and skimmed a couple of references.
‘This is impressive. You’re still hired.’
‘Thanks.’ He stretched out, looked around. ‘Like I said, I can do two or three days a week depending on what’s happening at the park, and all your after-hours call-outs, though I want double time for that, plus petrol. That suit?’
‘That … sounds like heaven.’
‘And you don’t happen to know of anywhere available for rent do you? I’m really keen to find somewhere.’
‘I’ve promised the new flat to Louise for the rest of her contract, so the place she’s in now will be free in the next two or three weeks. They want a twelve-month lease, though.’
‘That’s understandable. If you give me the details, I’ll look into it.’
‘Just head down to the real estate agents and say you’re enquiring about renting the Myers place.’
‘Thanks, I will.’
Ebony got to her feet and Nick followed suit. When she handed him back his resume he took it, his fingers covering hers. She felt the gentle pull of his hand, knew what it meant, and stepped back, slipped her hand away.
His flash of annoyance was quickly tempered. ‘Is that your final answer?’ he asked with a smile in his voice.
‘Um … look, Nick, we’re going to be working together and I don’t know if –’ Her sentence was cut short when he pressed his lips lightly to hers.
‘Just so you know,’ he said, stepping back easily. ‘Goodnight, beautiful lady.’
‘Goodnight.’
She watched him go, then breathed a sigh of relief, which was quickly followed by a growl of frustration. He was hot, available and willing. They had heaps in common. She liked him, enjoyed his conversations. And she was … left cold. That kiss sealed it. Not one spark. Nothing.
There was no hope.
CHAPTER
15
Lee spent most of the next day thoroughly pissed off. He’d stormed over to Fiona’s last night ready to tell her what he thought of her, only to discover she wasn’t there. So he’d left again, stewed over it all night. Why hadn’t Ebs told him what had happened? Surely she wouldn’t think that whatever rubbish had come out of Fiona’s mouth had anything to do with him? Weren’t they closer than that?
He smacked the hammer down on his finger and performed a short jig while clutching it and swearing. He needed to concentrate on what he was doing.
But as pissed as he was, the edge of his temper had dulled and he couldn’t be bothered creating the drama that would accompany a confrontation. So he considered going with ‘I’m sorry, this is just not working out,’ rather than leading with, ‘Where the hell do you get off upsetting Ebony?’ But he’d see how it played out. No promises.
When he hit the same finger again, he dropped the hammer with a bad-tempered curse and decided he was done for the day. He needed to stop before he started breaking bones.
May as well get it over and done with.
He saw Fiona’s car in the drive when he turned down her street and she was at the door before he was out of his. Hair perfect, make-up perfect, leg-hugging jeans, pretty frilly top.
She waited for him to reach the veranda then opened the door to let him in. ‘This is a nice surprise.’
‘We have to talk.’ Original, Dalton. Original.
He made it as far as her living room and considered sitting down. Best to stand, he decided.
Fiona searched his face. ‘What about? Are you okay?’
He rubbed a hand over his face. She could be so damn nice. This was the woman he had been attracted to in the first place. ‘Fiona, when we started this, it wasn’t supposed to turn into a serious relationship. That’s not what you said you wanted.’
Her smile turned uneasy. ‘I know. And it wasn’t. But we’re so good together. Aren’t we?’ He was pretty sure her chin wobbled.
Damn, no tears, please.
‘Look, I don’t want to hurt you. If I misled you, if I gave you reason to believe there was more to it, I’m sorry.’
‘What have I done wrong? If you want to keep things casual, we can do that.’
‘That’s not what you want, so it’s not fair to you.’
‘Fair to me? Since when do you worry about fair? You’re the king of casual relationships. Everyone knows that. What’s this really about? Ebony?’
She went from wounded doe to pit viper so quickly it took him a moment to catch up. His jaw clenched in annoyance.
‘Interesting you should bring her up.’
‘Is it? What did she do – whinge to you about the other night? She did, didn’t she?’
‘Ebony didn’t tell me anything.’
‘Yeah, right. And now you’re here giving her exactly what she wants, that little bitch.’
‘You might want to stop there.’
‘Oh, of course. No one can say a bad word against Ebony.’ She strode back to the front door, opened it. ‘When you come to your senses, I might take you back.’
‘I’ve come to my senses all right. Goodbye, Fiona.’
He got in the car and drove down the road, made it to the first intersection and pulled over, dropped his head back against the rest. King of casual relationships. Was that how everyone really saw him? That’s not how he looked at it – he just hadn’t found the right woman, that’s all. What was the point of staying with someone if they weren’t it? Had he been hurtful? He hoped not. Looking back, he didn’t think so. And yet, Ebony had been hurt because he’d somehow hurt Fiona.
Not somehow, no – he’d hurt her because he always put Ebony first. That’s what she’d constantly insinuated and, mostly, she was right. So he wasn’t blameless, but if he could go back, change that, he wouldn’t. Because at the heart of it, Ebony meant more. He just had to hope he could somehow fix what he’d inadvertently broken.
Ebony heard the engine cut off and moved to the window, where she saw Lee get out of his car. Shit – if she’d been five minutes faster she would have been out the door before he got here.
He looked up, meeting her gaze. He headed inside.
She swallowed nervously and waited to see if he would come up to the flat. She heard his
feet on the stairs; yeah, he was coming up. For what? He didn’t knock – just opened her door as casually as he had the surgery doors. It annoyed her.
‘Um … sure, come right in.’ She tried to insert some haughtiness into her tone, ended up sounding about as nervous as she was feeling.
‘Yeah – remember me? I’ve been trying to talk to you all week.’
‘You saw me nearly every day.’
‘And we still haven’t sorted this out.’
‘There’s nothing to sort out.’
‘Okay, great. Are you busy?’
She looked at him suspiciously. ‘Why?’
‘I need to pick up some things in Mudgee. Do you want to come? Cam said you need a new computer. We can get some lunch somewhere. I want to talk to you.’
‘That’s what you’re doing today?’
‘Yeah.’
‘That’s all you’re doing today?’
‘Okay … what am I missing?’
She looked at the ceiling then went to the table and snatched up the present. ‘Here, take this.’
‘What’s it for?’
‘It’s your father’s birthday.’
‘What? No that’s not until –’ He immediately checked his phone. ‘Shit. It’s the eleventh. When did it become the eleventh?’
‘After yesterday, when it was the tenth.’
For the first time since entering her apartment, he smiled. ‘I’m the worst.’ He shook the box, heard it rattle. ‘Not that I don’t trust your judgement, but what’s this?’
‘It’s a new fishing lure he was after.’
His face reflected his surprise. ‘How the hell do you know that?’
‘He couldn’t get it at the shop. They’re only available online and he won’t give out his credit card details – you know what he’s like – so he was complaining he’d have to go without. I’m relatively sure it’s the right one because I watched the ad with him. It comes with all sorts of “But wait, there’s more!” stuff, hence the size of the package.’
‘Ebony, you’re a star, thank you. We’ll give you all the credit.’
‘We?’
‘You’re coming, aren’t you? You were obviously planning on dropping it in anyway.’
‘Ah …’
‘I really do need to talk to you.’
Her hands pressed to her forehead before dropping back to her sides as she spoke. ‘Can you please just stop? You’re always expecting things and manhandling me and letting yourself into my apartment and talking to me like … like …’ She threw up her hands. ‘It’s inappropriate. You’re with Fiona. And I can’t –’
‘Can’t what?’
She turned away, shook her head. She hadn’t meant to explode. She was not going to lose it.
‘I didn’t realise you felt that way. I’m sorry,’ he said quietly. ‘I won’t expect, or handle, and from now on I’ll knock. I do, when I come up here, except today because I wasn’t sure you’d open the door. How do you want me to talk to you? Because I need to know. And you need to know I broke it off with Fiona. It was over anyway. But the way she treated you made it a hell of a lot easier to have the conversation.’
She turned and stared. ‘You know about that?’
‘You should have told me.’
‘If she was who you wanted, why would I ruin it?’
He reached for her and at her warning look, dropped his hands to his sides. ‘You’d decided you’d just fade into the background, and you’re upset because I won’t let you. Ebs, I can’t let you. You’re one of my best friends. I love you.’
That did it. Her eyes welled and she took one long, steadying breath. That was a big part of it; best to let him think that was all of it. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t know how else to handle it.’ That, at least, was the whole truth.
He hesitated. ‘I want to give you a hug.’
‘Oh, damn it, Lee.’ She stepped in, squeezed and stepped back before she wanted to. He smiled at her the way she loved him to smile at her and her heart pounded.
‘Will you please come to see Dad with me?’
What the hell was she supposed to do now? She was doomed. ‘Okay.’
CHAPTER
16
‘Well, Nick’s been here a week,’ Carla said, watching Louise race in on time for work again, ‘and Louise is showing no signs of cooling her heels. She’s got a thing for him.’
‘At least she turns up, on time and with a good attitude. On the days Nick’s in, anyway.’ Ebony scanned the day’s appointments. Nick was doing home visits this morning and he’d freed her day up considerably. Not only had his arrival at the surgery given her the eighteen extra hours per week she desperately needed, he was a good vet and was quickly becoming popular with the locals.
‘Unfortunately for Louise, seems Nick’s got a thing for you.’
‘Don’t go there, Carla,’ Ebony pleaded. ‘I’m not interested in starting a relationship with someone who works for me.’
‘He seems to me like a pretty persistent sort. Maybe he’ll change your mind.’
‘He won’t. Now shush, he’s going to be here any minute.’
‘He offered to take Louise on house calls this morning.’
‘Yeah, she asked. That’s fine.’
‘And by the sound of it, here’s your first client.’ As the doorbell sounded Carla wandered out and appeared again a minute later. ‘You’re going to be very interested in this one.’
‘What is it?’
‘Another pup.’
‘The world’s full of them.’
‘Another Martin pup.’
‘Really? Would you mind calling Louise in?’
‘You sure?’
‘Yeah. I think she should be involved.’
Ebony walked into the exam room and saw the little bundle in her owner’s arms, so similar to the one she already had in the surgery.
‘Hi, Sam,’ she said. ‘Got a new baby?’
‘Hi, Ebony. Yes, and I’m a bit worried about her, thought I should bring her in for you to check.’
Ebony examined the puppy, reached for her stethoscope. ‘When did you pick her up?’
‘Martin dropped her off yesterday. She was covered in fleas and as you can see she’s really thin. If I hadn’t felt so sorry for her I wouldn’t have taken her. I said that to him and he said we could just have her for the three hundred we’d put down as a deposit – bargain – just feed her up a bit and she’d be fine. I was left with the impression he just wanted to get rid of her.’
‘Okay, let’s take a look.’
Louise burst in. ‘Another Martin puppy – hi,’ she said belatedly to Sam.
‘Meet Lacey,’ Ebony said. ‘She’s thin, her colour’s not great – there are a few fleas, all looking crook. I gather you treated her?’
‘I gave her half of one of those Capstar tablets. I had a packet on hand for Duke. I’ve never seen so many of the damn things. They were packed in like scales around her face.’
‘With her general lethargy, pale gums and knowing that many fleas have been on her, I’m going to suggest flea anaemia, but we’ll do a quick blood test and check for injuries. We’ll fix her up, don’t worry. We’ll worm her too, discuss a vaccination schedule.’
‘Thanks – whatever’s necessary. Did you say there’s another puppy of Martin’s here?’
‘Came in last month.’
‘Is it going to be okay?’
‘Yes, and so will this gorgeous girl. Sam – do you happen to remember how many pups there were?’
‘Five. Four boys and this girl. Um … Lacey here and two of the males were red and white merles, and there were two solid red boys as well. At least, that’s what Martin told me when I enquired.’
‘Thanks. Louise, why don’t you call your friend on this case and let her know about this little development? I’m sure they’d be pleased to hear that Martin seems to have found the dogs.’
Louise gave the cringing pup a sad little pat on the head. ‘Absolutely.’
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‘And ask Carla to come in, please. She can help me with these bloods.’
Ebony had just sat down for lunch with Carla when the door signalled another client. She held back a groan, and got to her feet. ‘I’ll get it.’
Mia strolled in before Ebony reached the door, with some sort of large folder under her arm. ‘Hi, Ebs, Carla.’
‘Oh good – it’s just you. Come have a cuppa.’
‘Just me?’
‘As in the most you need is a cup of coffee. I want to put my feet up for a minute or two.’ But she made Mia a coffee and put it in front of her. ‘What’s in the folder?’
‘The ads I made up from the photos I took of Lee on the bike.’
Ebony slid them in front of her and flicked through. ‘These are really good. The photos on their own are too.’ She held up one of Lee sailing over the camera, bike and man twisting in the air.
‘I thought he might like some to keep.’
Carla examined the photos. ‘How much would it cost to get you to take some photos of my daughter on her horse?’
‘Is it out at Ally’s?’
‘Sure is. We’ve got a paddock of our own at home but do you think she’ll leave it there?’
‘Then you get a discount. I’ll email through my rates.’
Louise came in and dropped into a chair. ‘House calls are done.’
‘How was it?’ Ebony asked.
‘Good. I like doing call-outs with Nick. He just dropped me off for lunch while he runs out to check on that stag with the horn thing.’
‘How’s Mrs Dawson’s rabbit?’
‘Okay. You should have seen the woman drooling over Nick.’ Louise rolled her eyes. ‘It was embarrassing.’
Ebony bit back a grin. ‘Did you get a chance to talk to the RSPCA before you left?’
‘Val is the inspector in charge. She was very interested that Martin was able to drop a missing puppy off yesterday. I gave her Sam’s number and she said they’d follow up.’
‘I wonder what he’s done with the other poor things?’ Carla said.
‘Hopefully none of what he suggested. Maybe they were already sold too. At least that way, they might be safe somewhere.’