Page 86 of Animal's Reformation
Red blotches mottled the dentist’s face. “Stay out of this or I’ll have to ask you to leave.”
“You’ll do no damn thing because I’m sure you like your pretty-boy looks and want them to stay like that. Do you get my meaning?”
“Animal, please,” Olivia whispered as she clutched the files against her chest.
Dr. Canty just stood there glaring, and a woman in bright pink scrubs came into the area. She glanced down at the sign-in sheet and said, “Lucy Walsh.”
“That’s my daughter,” Animal said, his hard gaze still fixed on Dr. Canty.
“Let’s go on back,” she said, darting her eyes from Animal to Olivia to Dr. Canty, and then back to Animal.
“Lucy,” Animal said, without moving a muscle.
His daughter went over to him and the friendly lady in pink opened the door wide.
“Hi, Lucy, I’m happy to see you again. Remember we met at the burger restaurant a while back? I’m Ivy.”
“I remember. Hi,” the young girl mumbled.
“Hi,” Ivy smiled at Animal. Did you want to come too?”
With clenched jaw, Animal nodded then tore his gaze away from the dentist. “I’ll talk to you later,” he whispered to Olivia as he pushed away from the counter and followed Ivy down the hallway.
As Animal sat on a metal chair, all he could think about was rearranging the fucking dentist’s face. When he saw the way Dr. Canty was treating Olivia, it was like a hot poker stabbing him, and Animal couldn’t just stand there and let it happen. He was pretty sure Olivia would call him on it, but no matter what she’d say, Animal would never just stand by and watch someone disrespect his woman.
He glanced over at Lucy and her hands clutching the sides of the dental chair so hard that her knuckles were white. Animal stood up from the stool and crossed over to her.
“There’s nothing to be scared about, kiddo,” he said, placing his hands on top of hers. “I heard this doc is really nice and gentle. You know who works here?”
Lucy met his gaze and shook her head.
“Olivia—Ms. Mooney.”
His daughter’s eyes widened, and he could feel her hands relax under his. “Really?”
“Yep. She works the front desk, and she’s the one who told me that you’re so lucky to have Doc Linney as your dentist.”
“Really?”
“Really. When you get done here, you can say hi to her.”
“Okay.”
The door opened and a tall and slender man in his late thirties walked in with a folder in his hands. A wide smile crinkled the lines fanning out from his eyes, and he walked over to Lucy and held out his hand.
“Hi there, Lucy. I’m Dr. Linney. How are you?”
Lucy glanced over at Animal, who lifted his chin at her, and then she took the dentist’s hand, a small smile spreading across her lips. Animal leaned back on the stool, happy that Lucy’s dentist wasn’t the fuckface who’d berated Olivia, and smiled at his daughter.
An hour later, Animal and Lucy—a glittery unicorn sticker in hand—walked into the reception area, and the young girl rushed up to the counter.
“Hi, Ms. Mooney,” she said. “Look at my sticker.”
Olivia smiled. “You picked an awesome unicorn. I love the way the rainbow shines. How’d you like Dr. Linney?”
“He’s nice. My teeth are real good.”
Every so often, Olivia would glance over at Animal, her eyes sparkling, and he wanted to take her in his arms and kiss the hell out of her. He watched as Lucy and Olivia chatted, and beneath his cool exterior beat a warm heart.
