I’d been nervous enough about taking over the front desk for Patty without that good-looking guy coming in and getting me all rattled. Jesus, I was sweating like a pig, and he kept staring at me which only made me fumble around even more.
When the phone rang I pounced on it, grateful for anything that would distract me from the guy holding the little Chihuahua mix. I focused on booking appointments and greeting patients until Dr. Hazelton buzzed me to let me know he was ready for the next patient.
I called the next person’s name and led them to the office door. When I opened it, Dr. Hazelton was standing near the examination table. “Thank you, Scottie.” His voice was warm. I would always be grateful to him for taking a chance on hiring me to manage his kennel.
“No problem.” I dropped my gaze and stood aside for the customer to pass.
“Patty has you on the front desk again?”
I grimaced. “Yeah.”
“I’m sure you’ll do fine.”
I grunted and closed the door and returned to my seat at the front counter. When I glanced up, that dark-haired guy was watching me again. I touched my scar self-consciously, wondering if that was why he couldn’t stop looking at me. I felt ugly and conspicuous when I met his gaze again because he was really good-looking. I’d noticed that the second he walked into the clinic. He had a nice body and glossy chestnut hair that brushed his collar. His eyes were a honey brown that had made my pulse speed up whenever he held my gaze.
It had been a long time since a guy had made me feel interested sexually. I’d almost forgotten what it felt like to have my cock warm and hard between my legs. But something about that guy got to me. I had little doubt he was only staring at me because I was acting so odd. I’d barely been able to get a word out when I’d signed him in. I was well aware I’d been less than charming to him. It hadn’t been intentional. My antisocial behavior rarely was. But he’d still been nice and polite to me. It had been kind of sweet the way he’d tried to reassure me I was handling the front desk well. We both had to know he was full of shit.
The clinic was busy today, and I couldn’t wait for my hour on the desk to be over. Patty had said it would be good for me to run the front while she was gone. She was always trying to help me get out of my shell. I didn’t have the heart to tell her it wasn’t just that I was shy. I had a real reason for not trusting mankind. It was best I stuck to my dogs. They loved me and I loved them. We understood one another in a way humans rarely could.
My heart began to bang in my chest when the dark-haired guy stood and approached me. “Can I help you?” I was annoyed when my voice wobbled.
He twisted his lips. “I can see you guys are super busy today. Do you think maybe I should rebook and come back another time?”
I looked down at the big appointment book. “You’re next.”
He glanced at the clock over my head. “It’s just that I have to get to work by five thirty and it’s four forty-five now.”
“Well, it’s your choice.”
He sighed. “I guess I’d better. Pinky’s only here for a checkup. It’s not like she has a disease or anything.”
I looked at the dog, noting her bright eyes and wet nose. “She looks healthy to me.” He smiled and my stomach did a somersault at his sexy dimples. “Not that I’m a doctor.”
He put his hand on the appointment book. “Is it okay if I make a different appointment, then?”
His fingers were tanned and long. I couldn’t help but wonder what they’d feel like on my skin. I shook myself, embarrassed at my stupid reaction to him. Jesus, I was acting like I’d never met a nice-looking guy before. “Do what you want.” My tone was way snippier than I intended.
He pulled his hand away and gave a short laugh. “Okay. Can you book me another appointment for this week, maybe earlier in the day so I can get to work on time?”
“Sure.” I searched the register and found a few openings. “Two o’clock Thursday?”
“Sounds good.” He smiled at me again.
“What’s your name?” I felt my face warm. “Never mind. I’ll just put your mom’s name again.”
“Either. My name’s Lance by the way.” He held out his hand.
My heart banged against my ribs as I stared at his hand. I wanted to touch him. I wanted to feel his smooth flesh against mine so much it was ridiculous. But I was afraid my hand would be sweaty. In fact I knew my hand would be sweaty since I felt like I was having a panic attack.
He surprised me when he leaned closer and took my hand. A spark traveled up my arm straight to my chest. He grinned. “You’re cute.”
I just stared at him, embarrassed that my crotch was bulging and grateful for the counter that hid that fact.
He still held my hand, and he swept his thumb over my tingling skin. “Will you be here next time I come in?”
I shook my head. “God, I hope not.”
He frowned. “That’s not very flattering.”
Heat filled my cheeks yet again. “I mean I don’t like working the front desk.”
“Ahhh.” A flirty gleam entered his brown eyes. “That’s okay, then.”
I pulled my hand from his and stammered, “You’re all set. Two o’clock on Thursday.”
“Trying to get rid of me?” His full lips curved in a smile.
“No.” I was certain he was aware of how much he affected me, and it was getting painful trying to act normal. Normal-ish.
“I’m just teasing.” He twisted his lips. “So I’m all set for Thursday at two?”
“Yes. I guess we’ll see you then,” I said quietly. “I mean… I probably won’t because I’m usually out back.” I swallowed. “Anyway…” God, had I always been this lame around other guys?
He gave me another one of his sexy grins. “Maybe Thursday I’ll come out back and say hi.”
I opened my mouth to speak just as there was a loud growl and one of the dogs behind him lunged for another smaller dog. The owner of the bigger dog was taken completely off guard. She was a thin, frail-looking woman who didn’t have a prayer of holding the huge Rottweiler back from the smaller yellow Lab. Without thinking, I raced around the counter and got between the two dogs.
The bigger dog had the lab by the throat, but he hadn’t really latched on very well. With my heart pounding, I grabbed his jaws and tried to pull them open. “No! Let go.” My voice broke as anger got the best of me. “Let go, now.” The lab yelped, sounding panicked and scared, and the Rottweiler pushed against me, trying to get a better grip on the Lab. I elbowed his muscled chest and strained to open his mouth. “Stop,” I yelled.
Miraculously the Rottweiler suddenly obeyed and sat back on his haunches still growling but eying me warily. I breathed hard as I wedged between them completely, shielding the Lab with my body. “You’re okay, boy.” I stroked his head, and he whined and pushed his face into my chest.
I was surprised and relieved to discover Lance had moved to help restrain the bigger dog. His hand was latched on to the dog’s collar, keeping Pinky safely tucked on his other side. “I’ve got him.” His jaw was tight as he held the huge animal.
I spoke to the owner of the Lab. “Follow me. Let’s get him somewhere safe so he can calm down.”
The examining room door was flung open and Dr. Hazelton raced into the room. “What’s going on?”
Still panting after my tussle with the dogs, I tried to get the words out. “Rottweiler attacked the Lab. I broke it up.”
His eyes dropped to the Lab. “Is he hurt?”
I shook my head. “Don’t think so. There’s no blood.”
“Thank goodness for that.” He stood back as I led the Lab into one of the examination rooms. He followed and stroked the Lab’s head. “You’re a good boy.”
I met Dr. Hazelton’s gaze. “Is it okay if he stays in here until his turn? He’s shaking.”
“Of course. I’ll see him next so we can get him home ASAP.” The doctor narrowed his gaze and then said, “You need to be careful getting between two dogs in a fight.”
“I had to do something.”
His brown gaze was admiring. “I know. I just don’t want you getting hurt. You did a good job, Scottie.”
“Thanks.” I flushed at the praise.
He patted my shoulder. “That was enough excitement for one day.”
“Yeah.”
He left me and returned to his other patient, and I lifted the dog onto the examination table. The poor Lab was still trembling and uneasy.
“Thank you so much,” the owner of the Lab said. She was an older woman with white hair and steely blue eyes. “I thought Robbie was toast. I didn’t know what to do.”
“That woman has no business with a big dog like that,” I muttered, stroking the soft fur of the Lab and feeling his neck for any broken skin.
“You were very brave,” the Lab’s owner said softly. “I don’t know how to thank you.”
I grimaced. “I didn’t do anything anyone else wouldn’t do.”
She laughed gruffly. “You were the only one who jumped between them.” She frowned. “I was too frozen with terror.”
“Me too.”
When Lance spoke behind me, I twitched uneasily and faced him. “I didn’t know you were here.”
“I wanted to see if the dog was okay.”
My pulse spiked as I met his pretty brown eyes. “Thanks for your help.”
“Of course. But I didn’t do much.”
“You did more than you know.” The skinny owner of the Rottweiler had been like a paper doll on the end of the leash. I’d felt much better once Lance had stepped in.
I checked over the Lab thoroughly, making sure he wasn’t hurt. The dog was nervous, but he seemed unharmed. I patted his fluffy head. “Poor thing. You were just sitting there minding your own business, weren’t you, boy?” The dog licked my face and I chuckled. “Awww. I like you too.”
Patty opened the door of the room and peeked in. “Everything okay?” She bit her lip. “I mean other than the dog fight in the waiting room.”
“Sorry.” I held my hands stiffly at my sides. I was embarrassed that a dog fight had broken out on my watch.
She frowned. “I’m not blaming you, silly. You were the hero in the room.”
Scowling, I said, “No. Not even close.”
“You’re my hero.” Lance had a big grin on his face.
My heart fluttered and I shoved away those sappy feelings. The guy was way out of my league. I was stupid for even talking to him. I met Patty’s gaze. “Can I get off the desk now?”
She nodded with a sigh. “Yes. Run away back to your animal pals.”
I started to leave, and Lance grabbed my arm. “Hey, mind if I come out back?”
“What?” I frowned. “Why?”
He twisted his lips. “Um…” He brightened as if an idea had come to him. “Well, if anything ever happens to Pinky and she has to spend the night here, I want to know what the facilities are like.”
I squinted at him. “Are you just making that up?”
Patty laughed and addressed the Lab’s owner. “Mrs. Brown, I need you to sign a few papers about the incident with that other dog. Can you follow me?” She guided the other woman out of the room with a little smile on her face.
Lance waited until they were gone, and then he asked, “Is it against the rules to give a customer a tour of the facilities?”
“No. But I thought you had to hurry off for work?”
Smiling coyly, Lance said, “I have some time.”
I didn’t like how nervous he made me. I preferred to be left alone in my little bubble. I felt safer that way. I didn’t want to know him better. I didn’t want to know anyone better.
“M… maybe another time.” I took a step back from him.
His mouth turned down at the corners, but he pressed closer to me. I caught a whiff of his spicy cologne and my body responded again, my crotch warming. His gaze fell to my mouth and he licked his lips. He was so close I was self-conscious about my scar. I put my hand over my jaw and swallowed uneasily.
“Do I make you nervous, Scottie?” His voice was husky.
I wasn’t the type of person who picked up guys or got picked up while out shopping or running errands. I knew a lot of people thought nothing of meeting people that way, but that wasn’t my style. And I definitely didn’t pick up guys at my work. Not to mention how mystified I was that anyone like him would be bothering with a guy like me. Even before I’d turned into an antisocial weirdo, Lance probably would have been out of my league. It was obvious the guy had money. His clothing was all designer labels, while I was wearing the same ratty jeans I’d owned for years. Was he just messing with me? The idea of that made me pissed. I hated fake people who toyed with others’ emotions. I hated them with a passion.
Apparently unaware of my inner turmoil, Lance winked and said, “Come on, take me out back.”
I sucked in a big breath and said, “No.”
He frowned. “Why not?”
“You don’t really want a tour.”
He grinned. “Sure I do.”
I kept my hand over my scar, feeling inadequate and grumpy. “I’m working.”
“Aren’t you ever spontaneous?”
“No.” Not anymore.
He pouted his lips. “You’re no fun.”
“I’m not here to have fun. I’m here to work.”
He leaned closer. “All work and no play makes Scottie a dull boy.”
That annoyed me even more. Did the guy have no boundaries? I needed this job. It didn’t matter how good-looking he was, making out with customers in the back would get me fired. I wasn’t about to fuck things up at work because this guy got his jollies flirting with the help. “What exactly do you think is gonna happen here?”
He laughed. “I don’t know. Maybe we can go out back and see how good of a kisser you are? Or maybe I can get your number and we can have a little casual fun one night.”
“Oh really?”
“Sure.” He frowned. “Did I read the signals wrong? Are you straight?”
“No.” I was mortified I’d apparently been giving off signals of some kind. “But that’s not the point.”
“What is the point, then?”
I felt like my face was on fire. “We just met.”
“Even better.”
“Seriously?”
“Sure. Why not? You’re cute.”
Irritation flushed up my neck. The more he talked, the more I realized what a shallow jerk he was. Did guys usually just roll over and stick their asses in the air for this routine? As anger rolled through me, I turned and lifted the Lab to the ground. His owner would be back in a minute, but I didn’t want him falling off the table when I left the room.
“So what do ya say? I can see you’re kind of shy. Can I at least get your number?” Lance’s voice was velvety and coaxing.
I faced him and I could feel the veins bulging in my neck as I spoke. “No way.”
He looked completely floored. His eyes widened and he laughed. “Why not?” He touched my arm softly. “I can tell you’re attracted to me.”
I pulled my arm away and glared at him. “I don’t know what kind of stupid game you’re playing. But I’m not interested.” I turned around and left the examination room, shaking with anger.