Chapter 7

Molly

“Dr. Andrews’s office. This is Molly, how may I help you?”

Rosie grins from beside me, giving me double thumbs up. She’s shown me at least ten times how to answer the phone, what I need to say, and how to address concerned pet owners. She’s watched me like a hawk since the moment I showed up. I’m unable to tell if she thinks I’m an idiot, or if she just takes so much pride in her job that she won’t let anyone make mistakes on her watch. I’m hoping for the latter.

“No, Ma’am,” I answer the customer. “We don’t require an appointment for rabies vaccinations.”

I go on to explain the same thing verbatim that Rosie told a customer only moments ago before disconnecting the call.

“Dr. Andrews will be in shortly. Think you can handle it on your own? We have a pretty tight surgery schedule today.”

“You don’t mind if I ask for help if I have trouble, do you?” I have no doubt I can answer a phone and plug appointments into the calendar. The damn thing is color coded to the nines, making it so easy a baby could do this job. The only reason I ask is because she seems the type who needs to be needed and the last thing I want to do is alienate others on my first day on the job.

“Of course not,” she beams. “There’s an intercom on the wall in the surgical suite. Follow me, and I’ll show you how to use it as well.”

Rolling my lips between my teeth, I follow Rosie, so she can show me how to press a button and speak into a box on the wall.

“Is she all lined out?”

Smiling sincerely for the first time since I got here, I turn in Owen’s direction.

“She knows to ask if she needs help,” Rosie says matter of factly before disappearing into the back room.

“She’s intense,” I huff when the door swings closed behind her.

“She’s been here longer than I have. When I took over for Dr. Prescott, she would actually give me pointers in surgery. The only thing she lacks to run this place by herself is the degree and licensing.” His smile spreads across his face. “You look great in scrubs. I knew you’d be a great fit.”

I look down at the salmon-colored clothes with a grin. “I kinda feel like a doctor.”

“You definitely look the part. Plus, you’re still young. Medical school is a possibility.”

“I’d have to graduate high school first.”

His smile immediately disappears.

“I’m eighteen,” I vow. “I just left school recently.”

“Education is very important, Molly.”

I’d tell him he sounds like my dad, but my father never saw a point to any type of formal education. He left those duties up to my brothers and Briar.

My jaw tenses just thinking about the club’s VP.

“I know,” I respond. “I plan on going back, but probably online. I’m not one for the classroom setting.”

He nods, but his eyes continue to assess me.

“You have a busy schedule today, Dr. Andrews. Better get to it.”

I leave him standing in the surgical suite when I hear the bell above the door chime. Rosie and I have already checked in several patients, but two on the schedule hadn’t shown up. Rosie was quite flustered over people who weren’t punctual. Since she showed me the process on how to get them checked in, I’m in my element when I return to the front.

I’m in the middle of getting the paperwork completed for an anxious pup that will be leaving today with a little less than he came in with when I feel eyes on my back.

I’m startled when I turn around and see a man standing in the back doorway. His eyes rake over me the way I expect men to look at me. Cold chills race up my arms.

“C-can I help you?”

“Oh,” he says with a crooked smile that doesn’t quite meet his eyes as he steps forward with his hand extended in my direction. “I’m Lance. I do a lot of the heavy lifting around here.”

He drops his hand when he realizes I’m not going to touch him. That’s one thing about being raised in the club. Niceties and common courtesy aren’t a requirement, especially when we feel uncomfortable.

You own your body, Lynch told me a million times growing up. If you don’t want someone touching you, don’t let them.

That always came with a lesson on how to make someone bleed out with a quick stab and twist of a blade to the inside of the thigh, but with the way Lance backs off, I don’t imagine I’ll be needing that skill just yet.

“Rocco,” I tell him with a nod in the collie’s direction, “is ready for you.”

His eyes stay on me for a second longer than I’m comfortable with, but eventually, he strides past me and scoops up the puppy while I wrap up the paperwork with Mrs. Crumpton.

“Watch out for him, honey,” she warns before leaving the office.

I plaster a fake smile on my lips and wave the next person forward in line.

***

“Rosie is in surgery with Dr. Andrews,” I explain for the third time to the caller. “Tuesday next week is booked, but we do have an appointment for Wednesday morning.”

An annoyed huff rattles through the phone. “I think I need to speak with Rosie. She’d be able to get me in on Tuesday.”

My cell phone lights up beside the office phone, and I stab the ignore button as I try my best not to lose my shit on the snobby, insistent woman on the phone.

“Ms. Doyle, Rosie wouldn’t be able to schedule you on Tuesday either.”

I stab my vibrating phone again. I imagine Boston is going crazy right now, but I have a damn job to do, and answering to anyone in the club isn’t a priority.

“We do have an appointment the following Tuesday if that fits your schedule.” My tone is so fucking sweet, my own teeth begin to ache.

“Have Rosie call me,” the woman on the phone snaps before she hangs up.

I stab the ignore button once again before scribbling out the message to Rosie.

“Boyfriend trouble?”

I jolt in my chair at Owen’s voice right over my shoulder. I chastise myself internally for letting the woman on the phone get me flustered enough to not be aware of my surroundings.

“Not my boyfriend,” I assure him once my pulse starts to calm at the realization that I’m safe.

He cocks an eyebrow when my phone begins vibrating once again.

“Long distance relationships are hard,” he adds when Boston’s name flashes again.

“Not in a relationship,” I repeat as I power down my phone. I should’ve left the damn thing at home. With how many times he’s called today, I expect him any moment.

“I just wanted to ch—”

I hold up my finger when the office phone rings.

“Dr. Andrews’s office. This is—”

“Have you lost your fucking mind, Mo—”

I yank the phone from my ear and drop it back in place.

“Wrong number,” I assure Owen when he looks at me with confusion.

“Molly!”

“Fuck,” I hiss when the front door opens with force and Boston strides with determination in my direction.

“Let’s go,” the club treasurer snaps as he comes to a stop at the front counter.

“My shift isn’t over.”

“Don’t fuck with me.” Boston’s eyes narrow when Owen takes a step closer to me. “Your brother will lose his shit if he finds out you’ve been gone all day without telling anyone.”

“I think you’ll be in more trouble than me,” I challenge.

Boston’s face pales slightly. He knows he’s supposed to keep an eye on Zoe and me. He hates babysitting, but he does the job to the best of his ability.

“Molly?”

The concern in Owen’s voice pulls my eyes from the stubborn club member to my new boss.

“Is there a problem?”

Boston snorts, knowing a man like Owen wouldn’t be a challenge for him at all.

“Everything is fine,” I assure him before turning a glare in Boston’s direction. “I get off in two hours.”

Owen moves closer, his warmth and the intoxicating scent of his cologne seem to wrap all the way around me. Boston tenses so hard his knuckles pop on the counter.

“You know I have to tell Briar about this,” he warns.

“Please do.” My pulse races with the challenge. “I’m doing exactly what he told me to do.”

“Turn your phone back on. Answer the fucker when I call,” he snaps before turning around and leaving.

Owen doesn’t step away from me until the roar of Boston’s Harley fades into nothing.

“I’m ready to listen when you’re ready to explain what just happened,” my boss says before he disappears into the back of the office.

I stiffen my back, facing the front with a fake smile on my face when the door chimes again.

“Mrs. Crumpton,” I greet. “Rocco did an amazing job today, but I imagine he’ll be ecstatic to see you.”

I carry on for the next couple of hours, wishing time would slow down so I can postpone the hell I’m going to catch when I get home.