Chapter 12 #2
“That’s a very diplomatic way of saying it needs everything—furniture, paint, updated appliances, new bathroom.”
Syd fanned herself and shivered dramatically. “Don’t toy with me this way.”
Luke pulled up to the house and killed the engine. “That’s all it takes to make you hot? Clearly, I’ve been going about this all wrong.”
“Going about what?”
He leaned over to plant a kiss on her neck. “Convincing you to stay here with me permanently.”
“Luke, I—”
Cupping her face, he turned her to receive his kiss.
Her hand pressing on his chest brought him back to his senses.
“Is that what you want? For me to stay here permanently?”
“Of course it is, but only if it’s what you want, too.”
“I’m not... I can’t...”
“You’re not ready to decide anything yet.”
“No,” she said.
“That’s okay. We don’t have to worry about any of that now.” He kissed her again. “In the meantime, knock yourself out here and at Maddie’s.”
“You have no idea what you’re saying.”
Laughing again, he said, “Yes, I do.”
“No, you don’t. Seth used to go ballistic when he’d come home to a whole new living room.” She glanced at him, pained. “Sorry. I don’t know where that came from.”
“It came from your life, and you don’t need to apologize or feel like you can’t mention his name around me.”
Sydney placed her hands on his face and drew him into another kiss that had them both breathing hard by the time they came up for air.
“I’ve had to wait hours and hours,” he said between kisses. “I had to keep my hands to myself in front of our friends. I can’t wait another minute.”
“Then let’s go put you out of your misery.”
They met at the front of his truck for another heated kiss. Luke slid his hands down her back and shocked her when he suddenly lifted her and hooked her legs around his hips.
“Nice move,” she said, linking her arms around his neck.
“You like that?”
“Uh-huh.” As he walked them to the door, their lips met and melted, tongues teased and enticed.
“You’re making my legs weak,” he said, pressing her against the door. His hands slid up her bare legs, under her skirt to cup her ass.
“Luke,” she gasped, tightening her arms around his neck.
Through her shirt, he rolled her nipple between his teeth and pushed his erection against her core.
“Now,” she said as he fumbled with the door. It opened abruptly and sent them sprawling into the house.
“Shit,” Luke said, laughing as he managed to land them awkwardly on the sofa. “That was graceful.”
“And it started so well.”
“It’ll end even better.”
She clutched handfuls of his hair and brought his mouth down to hers. “Promises, promises.”
A low-pitched moan stopped them cold.
“What was that?” she asked. “Where’s Buddy?
” She’d been so absorbed in Luke, she’d failed to notice Buddy hadn’t met them at the door.
“Buddy?” Sydney disentangled herself from Luke and hurried down the hallway to the bedroom where she found the dog’s hind legs sticking out from under the bed.
“Buddy? What’s wrong? Luke!” She reached under the bed to stroke the dog’s body, and he let out another moan. “What’s wrong with him?”
“I’ll call Janey.” Luke rushed from the room.
Sydney swallowed the hot ball of panic that lodged in her throat. “Please God,” she whispered as she ran her hand gently over the dog’s soft coat. “Please don’t take Buddy, too. Please.”
Luke returned a minute later. “She wants us to bring him to the vet clinic. I’ll carry him to the truck. Help me get him out of there.”
They tried to be gentle but Buddy’s discomfort was amplified by their efforts to get him out from under the bed.
Tears burned her eyes as she spoke softly to Buddy, trying to settle him.
Buddy growled and snapped at Luke, just missing his hand.
“It’s okay, boy,” Luke said as he lifted Buddy as carefully as he could. “I know it hurts.”
Stuck under a tidal wave of fear, Sydney couldn’t seem to move.
“Syd.” Luke’s firm tone snapped her out of the daze she’d slipped into. “Go to the truck. I’ll bring him out. Hurry, honey.”
The urgency she heard in his voice spurred her to move on unsteady legs. Her heart beat too fast, and her hands shook as she flew out of the house and into the truck.
Luke followed right behind her, carrying Buddy. He deposited the dog gently onto the bench seat, his head resting on Syd’s lap. “There you go, boy,” Luke said as he got in and started the truck. “Probably just something you ate that you shouldn’t have.”
“You really think that’s all it is?” Syd asked, blinking back tears as she cradled Buddy’s head. This could not be happening. “I don’t know what I’ll do if—”
Luke’s hand covered hers. “Don’t go there. He’s going to be fine.”
While Sydney hung on to his reassurances, the speed with which he maneuvered the winding roads where she’d been so frightened the night before told her he was worried, too.
Janey chugged a steaming cup of coffee in the vet clinic break room while Joe massaged her shoulders. She’d been tense from the moment Luke called Joe looking for her.
“What’re you thinking?” Joe asked. He’d insisted on coming with her to the clinic.
“That I wish Doc’s niece hadn’t chosen this week to get married.”
“There’s nothing he could do for Buddy that you can’t do, too.”
“What if he needs surgery? Oh my God.” She shuddered and fought back the need to puke and hyperventilate at the same time. “I’ve certainly never done that on my own.”
“But you could. If you had to, you could.”
“Keep reminding me of that, will you?”
“I’ll be right here, baby. Whatever you need, I’m here.”
She leaned into his strong embrace. “Thanks.”
He turned her to face him. “You’ve been training for this your whole life, Janey. Whatever Buddy needs, you’ve seen Doc do it a million times.”
“I know.” Janey took another deep breath and released it. “You’re right. I can do this.” She rolled the tension from her shoulders and mentally prepared to fly solo.
“Luke said he’s a young golden retriever, so it’s probably nothing serious.”
“Let’s hope not. Otherwise, he’s got a second-year vet student on his case.”
Before Joe could reply, they heard the clinic’s main door push open.
“Janey!” Luke called out.
“Showtime,” she whispered to Joe, who squeezed her hand and released it.
“Right in here.” She ushered Luke, who was carrying Buddy, and Sydney into an exam room. Janey took one look at the dog, who was clearly suffering, and could tell right away this was no simple case of an upset belly. Figures. The dog cried out in distress when she examined his rigid abdomen.
“Oh God. Buddy.” Sydney seemed to be trying—and failing—to keep a lid on her panic. “Will he be okay? Janey, please, tell me he’ll be okay.”
“Let me get some films of his belly so we can see what’s causing his pain.
” Drawing on her years of training and observation, Janey walked through the steps Doc would’ve taken—exam, X-rays, blood, pain management.
She was shakier than she should’ve been, and it was easier to blame the single beer she’d had earlier than the fact that she had no business handling an emergency of this magnitude on her own.
The X-rays revealed a blockage in Buddy’s intestines. She stepped into the exam room to update Sydney and Luke.
Janey pointed to the X-ray. “He swallowed something, and now it’s lodged in his lower intestine. It’s got to come out. Soon.”
“What do we do?” Sydney asked, her face devoid of color.
The arm Luke had around Syd seemed to be the only thing keeping her on her feet.
Janey felt Joe’s hand land on her back and was grateful for his support.
She squared her shoulders, fortifying herself for what needed to happen.
“Here’s the thing—Doc Potter is off-island at a wedding.
His backup vet was due to arrive today, but he missed the last boat and won’t be here until morning. ”
Sydney moaned, and Luke tightened his hold on her.
“Can Buddy wait that long?” Luke asked.
“This kind of thing can go bad really quickly. He’s still strong, and in my opinion, he’d be better able to withstand the surgery now than he will be in eight or nine hours.”
“But if Doc Potter is off-island, who’ll do it?” Sydney asked, wiping tears from her face.
Janey made an effort to keep her voice strong and confident.
“I will. I’ve seen it done a hundred times, and I’ve assisted Doc in surgery since I was eighteen.
” Her stomach surged with nerves and nausea, but Janey kept her expression calm to reassure Sydney.
“I’m not yet a veterinarian, but I’m Buddy’s best hope. ”
“Let her do it, honey,” Luke said. “She can save him. I know she can.”
“Okay,” Sydney said with only a hint of reluctance.
“I’ll need you to sign a release and fill out some other paperwork while I get him prepped for surgery.” Janey took a few steps to close the distance between them and hugged Syd. “I’ll do everything I can. I promise.”
“Thank you, Janey.”
“I’ll give you a minute with him.” Janey and Joe stepped out of the room.
She turned to Joe. “Will you track down Cal Maitland for me?” The island’s new medical doctor had replaced Doc Robach when he retired the previous winter.
“His on-call number is the same as Doc Robach’s was. Should be in the phone book.”
“What do you want me to tell him?”
“That I need him to assist in an emergency surgery. Tell him to hurry.”
“Could I help?”
“I appreciate the offer, but I need someone who won’t pass out cold on me when I’ve got poor Buddy’s guts in my hands.”
Joe winced. “When you put it that way, let me find Cal for you.”
Janey went up on tiptoes to kiss her fiancé. “Thank you—for all the support. It helps.”
He returned her kiss and gave her a tight hug. “I have no doubt you can do this, Janey. No doubt at all.”
“Let’s hope you’re right.” While Joe went to get a hold of Cal, Janey called Doc Potter to let him know what she was about to do in his clinic.