Read Online Vet's Desire by Angela Verdenius - Free Book Online Page B

but as soon as
she met his gaze he dropped it to the kitten as he reached out once
more and gave it a little rub on the head. “Well, that’s about it
for now.” He was all business suddenly, straightening and taking
the kitten from her to settle him in the carrier. “The formula is
in the bag, as is the instructions on how to make it up. Any
queries, don’t hesitate to phone.”
    “Okay.” She
picked up the carrier.
    “Oh. I forgot.
Who are you doing?”
    Cindy went
blank. “What?”
    “I mean, who is
doing you?”
    “ Doing me?” What the heck was he asking?
    Thrusting a
hand through his hair, Tim took a deep breath. “Sorry. Got a bit
tongue-tied there. I mean, who was doing - looking after - your cat
before? Your old cat?”
    “Oh.” Cripes,
the man was actually a little red-cheeked. Surely Tim Clarke, the
playboy vet, wasn’t embarrassed? “I was going to Bellacross
Vet.”
    “Right. Did you
want to take him there?”
    “The
kitten?”
    “Yes.”
    Cindy thought
for a few seconds, her gaze sweeping over Tim, remembering his
gentleness with the kitten, how he’d actually said he was pleased
she’d phoned him. In fact, phoning her own vet hadn’t even crossed
her mind when she and Marty had found the kittens. The first thing
she’d done was phone the clinic where Tim worked, and when there
was only an answering service, she’d rung Tim. He’d come through
for her, so that pretty much answered the question as far as she
was concerned. That and the fact that he seemed genuinely fond of
the kitten and had helped it live through the night.
    “Actually,” she
replied quietly, “I’ll bring him here, if that’s okay.”
    Was it her
imagination, or did his eyes soften just a little?
    “Good.” Tim
nodded. “Glad to have you on board.”
    “Glad to be
here, Cap’n.” She saluted him briskly.
    Grinning in
amusement, Tim came around the table, picked up the cat carrier and
placed his hand in the small of her back. “Time to pull up anchor,
mate. I have pirates filling the deck.”
    “Oh, I’m so
sorry.” Remembering the time, Cindy picked up the bag containing
the bottle, teat, formula and instructions. “I’ve taken up too much
of your time and-”
    “Cindy, taking
care of orphans and injured or sick animals is never taking up
valuable time.” Tim looked down at her. “I’m here if you need
me.”
    His brown eyes
were warm and his hand in the small of her back flexed slightly.
His cologne, faint and clean, tantalized her nostrils, and his
nearness made her acutely conscious of just how close they were
standing.
    Feeling her
knees go just a little weak, she had to sternly remind herself that
this was the playboy vet, the charmer, the man who chased and
boinked women as though it was his personal hobby.
    Hell, maybe it
was his personal hobby, what did she know?
    However, she
wasn’t on his hobby list, this was her new kitten’s vet, and she
had no business imagining things or going weak at the knees at a
little show of caring on his part.
    Reaching for
the door, Cindy swung it open and smiled up at him. “Thank you,
Tim, I’ll remember that.” She walked ahead of him into the waiting
room.
    “I hope so,” he
muttered.
    “Pardon?” She
turned to look up at him.
    “Hmm? Oh, just
thinking aloud.” He handed her the carrier. “Let me know how
everything goes, and remember, I’m here for you.” He tacked on
hurriedly, “ We’re here for you.”
    Just what was
going through his mind? Not sure what to think, she went up to the
reception desk and looked at the vet nurse. “How much do I
owe?”
    “Nothing.” The
vet nurse smiled. “We don’t charge the first consult to people who
take on orphaned animals.”
    “Really?” Cindy
was surprised. “But what about the call-out last night?”
    The vet nurse
shook her head. “Nope. Call-outs for abandoned animals, hurt or too
young to fend for themselves, aren’t charged.”
    “But the milk
and stuff?”
    “We’re not