by Sarah Barrie
‘Ebony!’ Carla hugged her tight. ‘How are you feeling?’
‘Not too bad. How is everything going?’
‘Working remarkably well. We’ve got the consults running in here, when Nick’s not doing house calls. Only thing is –’
‘Ebony, hi!’ Nick appeared from the back of the building, leading out a client with a carry cage. Carla automatically stepped away to fix up the bill.
Nick’s gaze dropped to Ebony’s neck and his expression was pained. ‘I won’t ask how you’re feeling.’
‘It hurt, yes – but I’m much better now. Where’s Louise? I want to talk to her about the flat.’
‘Ah … that might be a problem,’ Nick said.
‘What do you mean?’
He rubbed his forehead, sighed. ‘I haven’t seen her. The day after Martin ram-raided the surgery I overheard her on the phone talking about how we’d be closed for a few days. She was making plans to meet up with one of her friends, then she didn’t turn up for work. From what I heard, I gather she’s gone off on that holiday she was talking about. I’d say she’s having second thoughts about coming back.’
Ebony’s mouth fell open. ‘She just left?’
‘It looks that way.’
‘I’ll try calling her, see if she answers. She shouldn’t have dumped everything on you. It’s unforgivable.’
‘It’s fine. Carla and I have it sorted. It isn’t perfect, but it’s working well enough.’
‘Thank you. Ben says it’s okay for me to come back on the days when you’re in, so that’ll double what we can get through.’
‘Sounds good,’ Carla said. ‘I have a list of people to call when appointments become available. Shall I start ringing?’
‘Yep.’
‘I can work every day, if you like,’ Nick told her.
‘Every day?’
‘The wildlife park isn’t working out for me, but I’ve been offered a position at Dubbo Zoo starting in February. You can have me full time until then.’
‘Nick, that’s fantastic!’
‘Yeah, well, I was hoping – if Louise doesn’t come back, you wouldn’t mind if I stayed in the flat? It would be easier for me if I could stay on site, but I understand if you want to keep it new for the next permanent vet.’
‘I don’t want Louise back. Something like this happens and she sees it as an opportunity for a holiday? Takes off without asking? No way. I would appreciate you staying in the flat, Nick. You’d be doing me a favour.’
‘Thanks, Ebs. Oh – and I know it’s not quite finished but I have a few things in storage. Would you mind if I brought them in – maybe stacked them in the bedroom? It’ll save me paying another month’s fees on them.’
‘No problem at all.’
‘Help!’ Fiona raced through the doors clutching a brown tabby cat. ‘He’s been bitten by a snake. Silly thing was trying to kill it.’
‘Bring him through,’ Ebony said. ‘I’ll get the –’
‘Not you,’ Fiona said bitterly. ‘Him.’ She nodded to Nick, whose gaze immediately fell on Ebony.
Ebony shrugged. ‘Fine, whatever. Go.’
‘She really doesn’t like you, does she?’ Carla said. ‘She should be grateful you let her in.’
‘I can’t let a cat die because the owner doesn’t like me. I’ll start taking Nick’s appointments as they arrive.’
Ebony got through two appointments and was about to call in a third when Nick reappeared with Fiona. ‘We’ll just have to hope for the best,’ he was saying. ‘We’ll do everything we can.’
‘You don’t know how much I appreciate that.’ Fiona cried prettily into a tissue and put a hand on his arm as though for support.
Ebony caught Carla rolling her eyes. ‘That’s a bit harsh, Carla,’ she whispered.
‘You wouldn’t think so if you’d been in there,’ Carla muttered under her breath. ‘Took me five minutes before I’d had enough and left them to it. She spent more time falling all over Nick than she did worrying about the cat.’
‘I’ll give you a call later,’ Nick told Fiona. ‘Let you know how she’s getting on.’
‘How is it?’ Ebony asked Nick a moment later.
‘Not great, but I think it will live. You want to take a look?’
‘Nope,’ Ebony said. ‘That case is all yours.’
But she did monitor the old cat between consults when Nick went out to do house calls, and was happy when, as the day progressed, it seemed to be responding to the antivenin. Overall she was having an easy afternoon, a good first day back. There were three more clients waiting, but she was running pretty well to time. Then the door opened again and in walked a complication.
‘Fiona,’ Ebony said as professionally as she could manage. ‘Tiger is doing much better this afternoon. Would you like to go through and see him?’
Fiona’s face closed up in a sneer. ‘I’m not dealing with you. Where’s my vet?’
‘Your vet?’ Carla repeated, amused. Ebony noticed a few clients’ ears perking up.
‘Nick is out on house calls. He’ll be back shortly.’
‘Right.’ She turned on her heel and headed for the door.
‘Fiona? Your cat?’
‘I’ll see him “shortly”.’
‘She must just be sick with worry.’ Carla slapped a file on the desk and picked up the next one to give Ebony.
Fiona halted her exit halfway out the door and turned slowly, eyes narrowing. ‘I heard that.’
‘Heard?’ Carla asked, all innocence. Carla never generally carried on, and Ebony wished she’d let it go.
‘I’ll come back when Nick is here. What I won’t do is deliberately stay in the company of this jealous, manipulative, boyfriend-stealing bitch one second longer than I need to!’
Now the ears in the makeshift waiting room were well and truly pricked, Ebony noted with an embarrassment she tried her best to hide.
‘I don’t know if she actually stole anyone,’ Carla replied matter-of-factly, ‘but if she did, I can see why she wouldn’t have much trouble.’
‘Carla, that’s enough,’ Ebony said calmly. ‘Fiona, I’ll let Nick know you were here.’
‘Don’t do me any favours. I have his number!’ She tossed her hair back and looked Ebony up and down. ‘Why didn’t you just stay gone?’ she said, and stalked out.
Lee strolled into the surgery, noting Carla turning the sign over.
‘Hi Carla. I saw Fiona’s car out front. Everything all right?’
‘Don’t know why the car’s still here, but Fiona’s not. Ebony is, but she dealt with the last of the clients and took off to her flat. I think she’s after a bit of time to herself after the run-in.’
‘Run-in?’
‘Yeah, she had a – thing. You haven’t heard yet? I’m surprised it’s not right around town already.’
‘A what kind of thing? Is she okay?’
Carla collected her bag from behind the counter. ‘That ex-girlfriend of yours gave her another mouthful.’
‘Another one? What other one – not the one at my place other one? What was this one?’
Carla stared, blinked, shook her head. ‘I probably shouldn’t have said anything but this was a doozy.’ When Lee just waited, Carla shrugged. ‘Something along the lines of how Ebony’s a – now let me get this right – jealous, manipulative, boyfriend-stealing bitch … yep, pretty sure that was how it went. And there were a lot of dramatic hand gestures and crazy facial expressions – did I mention this all took place out here in front of clients?’
Lee took a deep breath. ‘Thanks, Carla.’
He found Ebony cross-legged in the middle of her lounge room. Scattered around her in way too many pieces to comprehend were the makings of what looked like might have been a table.
‘What are you doing?’
‘I’m making a coffee table.’
‘You’re making a mess. I can’t see much table.’
She muttered in disgust and flopped onto her back to s
tare at the ceiling. ‘The salesman assured me it would be “a piece of cake” to snap together. The guy has a warped sense of humour. He didn’t mention the need for tools, he didn’t mention instructions I need to be bilingual or a member of Mensa to figure out. He didn’t mention what the extra little bits in the small plastic bag that look like someone’s idea of a bad joke are for. No. He did not.’
He grinned and sat beside her. ‘Would you like some help?’
‘No. I’d like you to do it for me, while I – what does a woman do in these situations? Pass you tools? Get you a beer? File my nails?’
‘Have a facial?’
‘Yeah, that’s constructive. Useless but moisturised.’
‘Ebs, you’re one of the most capable people I know.’
‘Except when it comes to coffee tables apparently.’ She rolled up to her feet in one graceful movement. ‘So you want anything?’
Lee took a quick look at the pieces. ‘I’ll start with a drill, then take you up on that beer.’
Ebony paused, thought about that, nodded. ‘I’ll just … call Cam.’
‘Honey, I don’t need help.’
‘No, but I need him to tell me if I own a drill.’
‘Tool box, back of my ute. Here.’ He dug out his keys, handed her the right one. He’d seen the wary look in her eyes when he’d come in – knew she’d covered her discomfort with coffee table talk. Couldn’t quite bring himself to bring up what Carla had just told him. What the hell was with Fiona? Ebony hadn’t had to steal him away – she’d already had him.
It was a problem. And since she’d laid one on him it was a problem that had been in the forefront of his mind pretty much every waking moment. The excuses rolled through again: They were friends, damn good friends. She was way out of his league, deserved better than some second-rate disgraced ex-cop. He was so much older. Different backgrounds – completely. Her father hated him. That would cause a rift between father and daughter. No, despite what he felt, he knew he shouldn’t be thinking like that – had no right to be thinking like that.
By the time she came back five minutes later, he had his thoughts pretty much under control, and little pieces of coffee table neatly laid out.
‘Thanks,’ he said, taking the drill.
She went to the kitchen, got a couple of beers and cracked the tops.
‘Come over here. Sit.’
‘Why?’
‘Because you’re going to put this together. Here, look.’
He took her through it, and while she did as instructed, he got up, took a swig of his beer. He looked at the label. It was one of those fancy boutique ones – that was Ebony all over. He watched her attach a leg to the table, her face a study in concentration. Her hair was caught in a ponytail up on top of her head. Stray wisps fell everywhere, yet the effect was somehow more chic than messy. Everything she did was classy and he knew it was unconscious on her part. She had no idea how goddamn gorgeous she was – that was part of her appeal. And right this minute, a big part of his problem. He pulled his thoughts up for the second time in ten minutes, shook his head.
Friends. Good friends. I’m good friends with an off-the-scale hot woman with sexy hair and never-ending legs, and a really adorable, infectious grin that – okay, okay, that’s it.
Disgusted with himself, he took a few steps away, looked out the window. He’d coped with these feelings for years. It was only because the idea of more had been put in his head when she’d put on that damn dress and followed it up by pressing that gorgeous mouth against his. Told him she was a woman. For fuck’s sake, it wasn’t as though he hadn’t noticed. So the idea was there. He just needed to get rid of it again.
Ebony’s phone beeped and she put down a screw to look at it. ‘Oh damn, Nick’s in the flat. There’s a problem.’ She got to her feet.
‘I’ll go,’ Lee offered. ‘Why don’t you keep doing that?’
‘I’ll get this last leg on, then I’ll follow you. I’m curious.’
Lee headed over to the other building and up the stairs. The door to the apartment was open so he walked in. Surprise, it’s not Ebony, he thought as he rounded the corner. Stopped dead.
‘Terribly sorry to interrupt,’ he said loudly.
Fiona was in Nick’s lap and Nick’s face was buried between her bared breasts. Both sprang apart and began righting their clothing.
‘Don’t you knock?’ Nick said angrily.
‘Your door was open.’
Fiona’s face was white. ‘Where’s Ebony?’
‘Why would you want to know that? And why,’ he added for Nick, ‘would you ask her to come up here when you’re in the middle of – that?’
Nick looked blank. ‘I didn’t ask her to do anything.’
‘You sent her a text.’
‘I never sent her any text.’ He scanned the room, found his phone on the table, frowned when he looked at it. ‘This is –’ He turned on Fiona. ‘Did you do this?’
‘No! I – I –’ Her face hardened as Ebony came in.
‘Is everything all right – oh.’ From the look on her face, Lee gathered she caught the general drift of what was going on. Nick was looking ruffled and Fiona’s lipstick was smeared but her eyes were gleaming.
‘Ebs, I’m sorry. I didn’t send that message,’ Nick explained.
‘That’s the part you’re apologising for?’ Lee shook his head in disgust.
‘This didn’t mean anything. She just came on to me.’
Ebony held up her hand in a stop sign. ‘I’m sure she did. You obviously, ah … rose to the occasion. And, so what? Your taste is appalling but there’s nothing between us, you can … do whatever you were doing with whoever you like.’
‘There’s nothing between you?’ Fiona growled at Nick. ‘So why did I just …?’
Nick’s grin was wide and bemused. ‘You tell me, sweetheart.’
‘So this was designed purely to hurt Ebony?’ Lee spoke what he’d already surmised.
Fiona’s face was furious. ‘Why should she have both of you hanging off her?’
Lee shook his head in disbelief. ‘I was actually feeling sorry for you – feeling like a bit of a bastard. Thank you for the clear conscience.’
‘Lee, wait!’
He didn’t. He took Ebony’s arm and steered her back down the stairs. ‘You all right?’
‘Yes, of course. Surprised, maybe annoyed. Okay, that was uncomfortable. But not as uncomfortable as earlier when she carried on. The surgery wasn’t too busy, but a few people heard her talking about you – about us. Not that there’s –’
‘I’m sorry, Ebs. She’s out of control.’
A car pulled in. ‘That’s Ally come to pick me up.’
‘All right. I’ll wait for them to take off, then lock up.’
‘Don’t worry. Nick has the code, he’ll do it.’
Fiona pushed past them and strode out. Didn’t look back.
‘Hi, Fiona,’ Ally said, getting out of the car.
‘Fuck off, Ally.’
Ally’s expression was amused as she watched Fiona tear off down the road. ‘She really is an impressive human, that one.’
Ebony bit back a grin. ‘You should hear what she has to say about me some time.’
CHAPTER
25
Lee drilled a curtain bracket into the wall, climbed down the ladder, moved it, repeated the process. Nick was going to be living here, and since he wasn’t a fan of Nick, his enthusiasm for the job had waned. It would be good to get this seemingly endless project over with. He understood Ebony needed the guy, and that she wanted him in here, so he’d get the damn flat finished. But he hadn’t forgiven him. It was just lucky for Ebony that she hadn’t had a thing for him when they’d found him with Fiona. It was also lucky for Nick, because he’d avoided a punch in the nose.
He moved the ladder again, picked up another screw, another bracket. The whole situation annoyed him. Then again, everything was annoying him this week. But it had nothing to do with
the fact he was keeping his distance from Ebony. Of course it didn’t. That was just necessary, for the time being. He was all over the place – wouldn’t trust himself within ten feet of her until he had those thoughts under better control.
And he was pretty sure she hadn’t had time to notice; she’d been so busy catching up on the work. He guessed with how screwed up everything was, she welcomed the normality of it. He knew she’d rather be in her own flat, but on that she had to compromise and stay with Ally and Cam, until the work on the front of the surgery was finished, so working every day was good. And she could do that because Nick was around. So he’d tolerate Nick, and get the damn flat finished. Because it made Ebony happy. But he didn’t have to like it.
‘Hi.’
He dropped the screw. Ebony was in the doorway. Damn, it was good to see her. ‘Hey.’ She moved into the room and picked up the screw, handed it up to him. ‘Thanks.’ He drilled it in.
‘I’ve got some time free. I thought I could help.’
He should send her straight back down to the surgery. ‘I could use a hand with getting the bathroom walls up.’
‘Okay.’ She looked around. ‘So should I grab one of those sheets of gyprock?’
‘That’s just leftovers – the stuff for the bathroom is over there.’ He doubted she’d move it far, though she’d give it her best shot. ‘I’ll lift it. Bring that box of stuff sitting next to it for me.’
‘Sure.’
He picked up a sheet and carried it into the bathroom, then slipped it into place. ‘Put a hand on this for me?’
Ebony had a bit of trouble getting round him in the small, messy room, and ended up leaning over him to hold it in place. He dropped the first screw twice before driving it into the board. Proximity was not doing him any favours. Cut it out, Dalton.
What the hell was that scent she was wearing? It was barely detectable, but it smelled like heaven and had his head spinning.
‘Got it.’
He turned and her face was inches from his, the delicate column of her throat at eye level. Bruises still gently coloured it and he felt a quick resurgence of anger towards the man who had put them there. It was forgotten as he breathed her in again. That perfume was a drug. It had to be.