Object of My Addiction (Sweet Life in Seattle #4)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

"Miss Fancy Pants is here, and, girl, her daddy is so hot."

Tori looks up from the computer. "Her daddy?"

"Yes, that little dog's human daddy." To emphasize her point, Peyton picks up a patient folder and fans herself. "I just checked him in at the front desk, and that man is six feet of heaven."

"I've never seen him here before." Miss Fancy Pants, a little white shih tzu who comes in to the animal hospital regularly for checkups and teeth cleaning appointments, is an office favorite. However, she’s usually accompanied by her owner, Rachel.

"He’s as handsome as Dr. Adrian. "

"Really? I find that hard to believe."

"Oh, trust me. He is."

Tori doubts that’s true. Dr. Adrian, the new vet who started at the animal hospital two months ago, was exceptionally handsome. Most of the female staff was in love with him. Tall, blond, and with striking blue eyes. Even Tori, who usually goes for guys with dark hair and eyes, thinks he’s appealing.

Dr. Adrian Grant is the perfect man.

Tori happens to know he’s interested in her too. Right after they met, he gave her a dazzling smile, but then his eyes dropped briefly to her chest. It happened in a flash.

But she knew what it was—a look . He was checking her out.

That’s when Tori began paying attention to him, and she couldn't help but notice how Dr. Adrian is a great guy. The way he always puts everyone at ease. And with his shiny blond hair and square jaw, he looks just like Prince Charming from a fairy tale.

Then last month something else happened. A patient’s owner sent Dr. Adrian flowers as gratitude for a surgery he performed on her dog. Tori was standing by the back door, and just as he was leaving, he stopped in front of her.

"For you," he said with a smile, pulling out a flower from the bouquet.

It was a pink daisy. She loved pink. And she loved daisies. How did he know?

"Thank you," she gushed.

Captured under the spell of his blue gaze, she decided it was time to try something new, something different, something called Dr. Adrian.

So what if he isn’t exactly her type? She’s been dating her type for years, and where has it gotten her?

Still single at thirty-three.

She’s been fantasizing about the happy life they’re going to have ever since he gave her that flower. The long walks on the beach together. Picnic lunches in the park. The Christmas cards they'll send to family and friends of them wearing cozy sweaters alongside their dogs. She's always wanted to send out cards like that. She's already knitting dog sweaters, though it's only May.

"Speaking of Dr. Adrian, I heard he volunteers three hours a week at an animal shelter," Peyton says, leaning closer.

"He does? I didn’t know that!"

"Don’t you do the same thing?"

"I do."

Peyton grins. She’s the only one at work who knows about Tori’s crush. How Dr. Adrian gave her a look along with that flower. "Girl, you two are going to make the cutest couple."

Tori smiles. "I know. We’re perfect for each other." She can’t wait for those Christmas cards. "I hope we’ll be as happy as you and Lamont."

Lamont is Peyton’s husband. The two of them are one of those lucky couples who’ve been happily married for years.

"Oh, honey, you will be. I just know it."

As far as Tori can tell, there’s only one thing standing in the way of her and Dr. Adrian’s happiness. He’s nursing a broken heart. Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem interested in a new relationship.

Tori knows this because she overheard him talking to a woman named Renée on his phone one day. It happened in the parking lot outside the animal hospital where Dr. Adrian was sitting in his midnight blue Tesla with the window rolled down. He was obviously upset. She heard him pleading with Renée about their canceled engagement.

She told Peyton about it, and they agreed to keep it to themselves. They figured he wouldn’t want his broken heart broadcast to the whole office.

Tori closes out the patient file on the computer and reaches around for her green smock. There's a patch in the left corner with her name embroidered on it.

When the phone rings, Peyton reaches for the receiver. "Oh, I almost forgot. Would you mind prepping room three? Dr. Adrian is squeezing Miss Fancy Pants in before closing tonight."

"Sure, no problem." Tori leaves to go wipe down and set up the room. When she's done, she heads out to the reception area.

Right away she sees who Peyton was talking about. There's a tall, broodingly handsome guy with dark hair and eyes standing next to Miss Fancy Pants’s pink purse carrier. He's studying his phone.

She walks over and peeks inside. The little white dog, who's usually a bundle of energy, whines as she halfheartedly wags her tail.

"Hey, sweetie," Tori says softly. "What happened?"

"There appears to be something wrong with her left rear leg," the man standing beside her says in a clipped tone.

She nods. "Hi, I'm Tori. Why don't you come on back, and we'll have Dr. Adrian—I mean, Dr. Grant take a look."

Except the guy doesn't move. He's gone completely motionless and is staring at her for some reason.

"Is everything okay?" she asks. Oddly, he looks sort of familiar.

Finally, he blinks and clears his throat. "Yes, of course."

Reaching down, he picks up the pink carrier and follows her into the examination room. He places the carrier in the middle of the table. Tori unzips it to look inside.

Right away, it's obvious the shih tzu isn't her normal self. Besides being in pain, the dog's long coat, which is usually well-groomed and pulled into a ponytail, looks knotted and is falling in her face.

"I came home for lunch today, and she escaped out the front door chasing a squirrel," the guy tells her. "When I finally caught up, her left rear leg was injured, and she was limping."

"It sounds like it might be a sprain or even a torn ACL. Dr. Grant will diagnose it for sure." She glances at him and notices the way he's still staring at her.

Before she can say another word, the door to the exam room opens and in walks Dr. Adrian Grant.

Tori sighs to herself. He's wearing a blue shirt tucked into his khaki pants. The shirt is one of her favorites because it brings out the color of his eyes.

He introduces himself, then asks a few questions as he examines the little dog. His tone is soothing as he handles the shih tzu with quiet competence.

Tori's worked with a number of vets over the years, and Dr. Adrian is one of the best she's ever seen.

After some discussion, they agree to give Miss Fancy Pants a mild sedative and run some tests. The guy waits in the lobby, studying his phone again. After some X-rays and an anterior draw, they determine it's not a torn ACL.

"Good news," Dr. Adrian says once they're all back in the exam room. "It's only a sprain, which should heal on its own. Try to restrict her movement for the next week, and take her on shorter walks."

Tori gently pets the sleeping dog, who's back in her carrier. She tries to smooth out some of the tangles in her coat.

Dr. Adrian continues to explain how Miss Fancy Pants will need rest and can't be allowed to run or chase anything. "If it's still bothering her after a week, you might want to bring her in for physical therapy."

"Physical therapy?" The guy frowns, glancing down at the dog. "Is that necessary?"

Dr. Adrian describes the benefits and how it can increase mobility, though Tori notices the guy seems put off.

"The thing is, she's not exactly my dog." His voice is deep, and when he speaks, Tori notices his bottom lip is fuller than his top one. His mouth has a sensual look about it.

He glances her way, and their eyes meet. His are a rich dark brown. There's something about him tickling her memory. She figures maybe she's seen him around the animal hospital, but doesn't think that's it.

Dr. Adrian nods. "No problem. Just have Rachel call me if she has any questions." He turns to Tori. "Would you make sure he gets a copy of all the care information? I'll write up a prescription for painkillers."

"Of course." She smiles and watches him leave the room, nearly sighing out loud.

So brave. And always so professional too, though he's suffering from a broken heart. It breaks her own heart at how well he's hiding it. But if this Renée can't see what a wonderful man he is, then she's not good enough for him.

Tori senses the dark-haired guy still watching her and is getting annoyed.

"Are you Rachel's husband?" she asks. She's not usually nosy with their patients’ owners but figures maybe this guy needs a reminder that he has a wife.

"No," he says, picking up the dog carrier. "I'm not married."

He follows her out to the reception area. Peyton is manning the front desk, and Tori’s glad to see her. She eyes the time on the wall clock. It's already after six, and she's supposed to meet her brother, Road, and his wife, Blair, for dinner tonight. Apparently they have some news. Tori hopes it’s that Blair's pregnant.

"Would you mind taking care of this?" she asks Peyton, motioning at the guy who's standing in front of the main desk. "He needs all the care information for a sprain printed up."

"No problem," Peyton says with a grin. "Go find out if you're going to be an auntie."

Tori heads into the back and takes her smock off, then remembers she forgot to mention the painkillers Dr. Adrian prescribed.

When she arrives back out at the desk, Peyton has printed up the information for the little dog. "Can I add your name for the contact information?" she asks him.

"Sure, it’s Liam Castillo."

Tori stops in her tracks and stares over at the guy. The one who's noticed her hovering in the doorway.

Liam?

Their eyes meet again, and this time the truth hits her on the head like a cartoon anvil—an ironic image in this case. Her pulse shoots up. Even after all these years, she still remembers what he did to her.

That's why he looks so familiar. That's why she thought she knew him from somewhere. Because she does. He's changed and isn’t the same teenager he was in high school. He's all grown up now.

I'll bet he's still the same asshole though.