Page 3 of Collars & Kittens
When the door opens, I casually drop the magazine back in the rack, trying to look nonchalant. Agnes has a little bandage on her leg where he drew blood, and she clearly isn’t happy about it. My heart goes out to her. Poor baby.
“All done. Agnes was very brave,” Dr. Harrington says gently as he sets her back on the table. Agnes gives him an indignant glare, and I have to stifle a laugh.
He nods, gently stroking Agnes’s back in a way that makes me envious. “It’s always scary when our fur babies are under the weather. But Agnes seems like a real fighter.”
His words are reassuring and professional, dispelling some of the charged tension. Everything is over quickly after that. He returns Agnes to her carrier and brings her out to the lobby, with me following.
“Once you pay at the desk, I’ll take her out to your car for you,” he offers.
That makes me laugh weakly. “Oh, no need. I have to call for a ride. My car is in the shop.”
He glances at the clock on the wall. “Well, it’s around lunchtime. I can give you a lift home if you’d like. I was going to pick up a package at the post office anyway.” He turns to the woman at the front desk. “Sue, you’ll lock up when you go to lunch, right?”
Sue beams. “Of course, Dr. Harrington. You two go right ahead.”
He didn’t exactly ask if I wanted a ride, just assumed, but I’m not going to turn down a free trip. And, if I’m being honest, the idea of being close to him in the confined space of a car is far too appealing.
“Thank you so much. I really appreciate it,” I say, hoping I don’t sound overeager.
He gives me a grin that makes my toes curl. “Happy to help. Shall we?”
I quickly pay the bill, hyper aware of his presence beside me as the clean, woodsy scent of him envelops me. Before I can think better of it, I’m saying, “Ready when you are.”
Well, at least I’ll have a few more minutes to admire him. He switches his lab coat for a jacket, and as we walk out to his SUV, I wrack my brain for something normal to chat about. I want to give him a better impression of me, and I’m running out of time. “So, do you enjoy being a small-town vet?”
Dr. Harrington smiles over at me as he opens the back door to settle Agnes in. “Yes, I really do. The community here is great.”
We slide into the front seats, and the leather creaks softly beneath us. I give him directions to my little cottage as we pull out of the parking lot. Now that we’re in the vehicle, I try not to stare at him and watch the passing town as he talks. It’s not even the middle of January, and some of the businesses are already gearing up for Valentine’s Day.
“I actually grew up in Colorado,” Dr. Harrington continues. “My neighbors were both vets, and I looked up to them so much. I think that planted the seed early on that this is what I wanted to do.”
“That’s really sweet,” I say with genuine interest, turning back to him and picturing him as a younger, animal-loving version of himself.
As we chat, he tells me his parents are retired and still living in Colorado. His eyes are mostly on the road, but he keeps stealing glances at me. Is he checking me out? Nah, I doubt it.
All too soon, we pull into my driveway. He insists on helping me take the carrier inside despite my protests.
“It’s no trouble at all,” he assures me with a smile. “Agnes is lucky to have a doting owner.”
When we step into my living room, I reach for the carrier handle, suddenly shy. “Thank you again for everything.”
He hesitates, holding my gaze. “Of course. Let me know if you need anything else.” His voice drops lower on the last words. “Anything at all.”
Heat floods my cheeks at his meaningful tone. Is he saying...? No, I’m imagining things.
“I will. T-thanks again,” I stammer out.
I set Anges’ carrier on the floor while he pulls a business card from his wallet with deft fingers. “Call me if she gets worse, but she should be fine. The results will take two to three days, and I’ll let you know once I have them.”
Our fingers brush as I take the card, sending a current of energy through me, and his eyes widen slightly. Did he feel that too?
For a long moment we stand there, the air thick with sexual chemistry. I get lost in the depths of his gaze, the rest of the world falling away. I wish he would touch me.
Agnes’s indignant yowl breaks the spell, and we step apart quickly.
“I should let her out,” I say with an embarrassed laugh. “Thank you again, Dr. Harrington, for everything.”
He laughs, the sound rich and warm. “I’m glad I could help, and please, call me Dalton. It’s not often I get to enjoy a car ride with such a good kitty.”
