Read Online Blackmailed by the Billionaire Brewer by Rachel Lyndhurst - Free Book Online

“Cat.”
    The doctor looked up at her briefly and appeared to decide it would be best to concentrate
     on the animal in front of him.
    “You should give the poor thing a name,” Matt whispered as the vet felt around the
     cat’s abdomen and peered into her eyes with a slim mini-flashlight.
    “I should do a lot of things,” she hissed back. “But maybe you’d like to choose one
     as you’re so generously footing the bill.”
    Man, she was prickly. “I’ll take you up on that when we’re out of here.”
    Her chin jerked upwards. “Good, you do that, Superman.”
    Matt leaned over and whispered into her ear. “Can you cut it out? You’re making this
     guy feel uncomfortable when we should both be concerned for a distressed animal, not
     scoring points on who can be more snarky.”
    Piper leaned away and frowned like he had a bad smell around him. “I didn’t want to
     give her a name because I was convinced her real owner would show up. She’s such a
     pretty thing. I didn’t want to get too emotionally attached in case…” She shrugged
     and looked at the floor.
    “Ah, I see.” Dr. Uvi clicked his light off and rubbed his chin. “Then maybe we should
     see if she has a microchip before we go any further?”
    Matt watched Piper’s shoulders tense as she said, “Cats can have microchips?”
    The vet nodded. “I’d be surprised to find a nice Bengal like this without one.”
    “Is that what she is? I wondered what breed she was with that spotty tummy and those
     big markings.” The vet picked up a white plastic paddle-shaped device and Piper’s
     hand flew to her chest. “So if there’s a microchip, she goes back to her owner?”
    An uncomfortable silence followed. Uvi shrugged and gave Matt a loaded look. Piper’s
     eyes suddenly looked over-bright and her chin quivered for a second until Matt reached
     out and put his hand on her shoulder. “It would be the right thing to do,” he murmured
     as Dr. Uvi waved the microchip wand up and down the length of the cat’s body.
    “No chip,” Dr. Uvi said with a smile. “I’ll just check the online missing cat register.
     How long have you had her with you?”
    “About a month,” Piper murmured and looked at her toes. “I put an ad in the local
     newspaper and some posters in store windows around town, but nobody’s come forward.”
    “That was exactly the right thing to do. Generally, if an original owner can’t be
     traced within a week, you can consider her yours.” He looked at her seriously. “If
     that’s what you both want to do. Pets are a huge commitment.”
    “Um, we’re not together actually,” Piper said awkwardly.
    Matt responded to the vet’s curious look. “Just a friend.”
    “But I want to keep her,” Piper added. “And I’ll take good care of her.”
    “Okay, that’s the good news out of the way.” Dr. Uvi tickled the fur between the cat’s
     ears. “I can’t save the exposed bit of her tail. I’m afraid it needs to be amputated–just
     half an inch or so, and it won’t affect her long term.”
    Piper looked alarmed. “Are you sure?”
    “I’m sure.” His voice dropped into a sympathetic tone. “I would never resort to surgery
     unless absolutely necessary, but it’s the kindest thing to do. She’s in pain and at
     high risk of infection. Cats are very good at hiding pain, it’s a defense mechanism,
     but trust me when I say she’s hurting and will be much happier if I operate.”
    As if in agreement, the cat snapped her head around and attacked the end of her tail,
     her claws skittering on the smooth surface of the examination table as she spun around
     twice before being restrained by the vet.
    “Poor little thing,” Piper said and sniffed. “Please, just fix her.”
    “I’d say her pregnancy is about halfway through, which gives us four or five weeks
     to get the op done and for her to recover before she births.” Dr. Uvi made soothing
     noises, but held the cat firmly. “So should I