Ch. 4 – Prem
“ W ho the hell are you?” Prem demanded of the strange woman he’d discovered in his clinic.
But he already knew the answer.
The veterinary listservs were filled with stories of drug addicts breaking into vet clinics to steal opiates. Of late, exotic vets were a particularly vulnerable target. Addicts were going after xylazine, a powerful horse tranquilizer called “tranq-dope” on the streets.
Yet, as Prem glowered at the woman in front of him, he had to admit she didn’t exactly fit his notion of a criminal.
First, there was the outfit.
For her crime spree attire, the woman had chosen a flower-patterned tank top matched with a pink ruffled skirt and pink sandals covered in winking sequins.
Second, she was absolutely gorgeous.
That wasn’t to say thieves couldn’t be beautiful, but this woman exuded an air of innocence. She blinked up at him with wide azure eyes while opening and closing her rosy mouth. A flush bloomed across her porcelain chest.
A soft metallic hum forced Prem’s gaze from the woman. Looking over her shoulder, he noted the orange tabby strapped in a mobility cart batting the fallen pepper spray bottle across the room.
There was that, too.
“You’re… you’re the new owner?” the woman stammered.
“I am.”
A wide smile broke out on her face. “Oh my gosh! Wow! Hi!”
And Prem had thought she was beautiful before. Her smile was the first rays of sun breaking across the twilight. It was the trill of a songbird in a tranquil forest. That first great gulp of air after touching the bottom of a deep lake.
The woman’s smile lit something inside of Prem. Something that had been cold and dark for far too long.
Her smile terrified him.
“And who are you, exactly?” he managed.
“Oh! Silly me.” The woman laughed. “I’m Layla, the receptionist.” She stuck out a small, delicate hand. “I thought you were a burglar.”
“And I thought you were… never mind.” He reached out and enclosed her hand in his. “Dr. Prem Dhawan.”
At the touch of her skin, the flames inside his chest licked higher. The heat pulsated through his body, cascading downward…
Prem dropped her hand abruptly. Focus, he ordered himself. He absolutely could not have the hots for his receptionist!
“I believe Mrs. Goldman mentioned you,” he said curtly. In fact, the widow had waxed poetic about Layla, even calling her “an absolute angel.” Prem had assumed the older woman was exaggerating.
Now, he wasn’t so sure.
“She’s so wonderful, isn’t she?” Layla sighed and clasped her hands to her chest. The movement forced his eyes to the swell of her breasts beneath the fabric of her tank top. They looked perky and round, the perfect size to hold in his hands… or put in his mouth.
STOP!!! Prem ordered himself. What in the ever-lovin’ hell was wrong with him? This woman was his employee . In absolutely no universe could his mouth get anywhere near any part of her. Even if he dragged her out of the ocean after a tsunami, he’d probably get his ass sued if he gave her CPR.
Layla dropped her hands, and Prem’s eyes landed on the glittering rock swallowing her left ring finger.
Married. Or at least engaged.
Of course. A woman so exquisite couldn’t possibly be single.
Even as a cold disappointment fizzled the flames of desire, Prem also felt relieved. Layla was taken. Promised to another. It made things easier. Simpler. Even if pursuing an employee wasn’t already completely unethical, he’d never cross the bonds of marriage.
Still, something ached deep in his chest where the coals of attraction still glowed.
Prem clenched his teeth to re-center himself. When he spoke, his voice sounded harsher than he meant. “I didn’t realize employees were allowed in the clinic when it was closed.”
“Oh.” Layla pulled an impossibly long rope of golden hair over her shoulder. Prem had never seen that much hair outside the flashy Bollywood movies his mom occasionally forced him to watch.
“I was just doing some physical therapy with Sunny.” She motioned toward the cat, who had managed to bat the container of pepper spray beneath a floor cabinet. He stuck his paw under the cabinet, waving it back and forth in clear frustration at his lost quarry.
Prem focused on the cat, his curiosity immediately piqued. Moving across the room, he knelt and assessed the feline’s condition. Standard short-haired orange tabby. Young. Barely a mature adult, he estimated. Underweight. Dull fur. Clear Indications of nutritional deficiency.
A stray?
Avoiding direct eye contact, Prem held out his hand. The cat’s ears swiveled back, and he retreated into a crouch. The animal was obviously wary. “What happened?”
“Sunny was hit by a car,” Layla spoke behind him. “Dr. Goldman operated on him the day he…” her voice caught.
Little by little, the cat craned his head forward, then sniffed Prem’s hand. After a moment, Sunny’s body relaxed. Not really afraid. You’re just a little shy, Prem thought. He took a calculated risk and carefully stroked Sunny’s head.
The cat stiffened.
“It’s okay. I’m a friend,” Prem said soothingly. The cat didn’t relax but he didn’t run either as Prem moved his hand in gentle strokes down Sunny’s back. He could feel the pins and swelling from the surgery. Spinal surgery was always tricky, especially after such a serious trauma. But Goldman had done a damn impressive job. The cat’s spine was straight and sturdy.
Prem gained a newfound respect for his predecessor. “You are one lucky cat,” he said to Sunny.
“He is,” Layla agreed.
Prem sat back on his heels and noted how the cat’s back legs were held up in the straps of the chair. Was the cat fully paralyzed? “I’d like to see the x-rays and surgery notes if you don’t mind.”
“Of course. It’s your clinic.” Layla laughed softly. “Wow, that sounds so strange to say.”
Pride washed through Prem. It was his clinic. He petted the cat, scratching along the animal’s ears. After a few moments of hesitation, the cat turned his head, helping guide Prem’s fingers to his desired spots.
“I’d like to give Sunny’s owner a call to review his care plan,” he said, glancing over his shoulder at Layla. “I’ll honor Dr. Goldman’s boarding price, but we should get Sunny back home as soon as possible.”
“Boarding price?” Layla echoed softly.
“Well, it’s not like we’re boarding this cat for free, are we?” Prem joked.
“Oh… of course not.” Layla laughed, the sound notching up in pitch.
Prem studied the cat’s shortened tail. The amputation was clean and healing well. Clearly, Sunny had been receiving top-notch recovery care.
“I’ll also need the pricing for Sunny’s care plan before I speak to the owner.” Prem stroked a thumb across Sunny’s cheek. “Goldman undercharged for everything. If you’re providing this level of physical therapy, I’m guessing I’ll need to work out a new pricing agreement moving forward.”
“The owner is…uh, traveling right now,” Layla spoke abruptly.
“So?”
“Ms. Fiddlesticks can’t be reached. She’s, um, in the Amazon.”
“What?” Prem glanced over his shoulder at Layla. Pink hues crawled up her pale neck, and she massaged her braid. Still, she met his incredulous stare.
“Ms. Fiddlesticks is very adventurous,” she insisted, her voice growing louder. “She’s been planning this trip for years. It couldn’t be helped. Sunny was hit just before she left. She couldn’t reschedule. So, she entrusted Sunny into our care until she returns.”
“Which will be when?” Prem stood and turned to face Layla.
She tilted her chin up ever so slightly. “Hard to say. Ms. Fiddlesticks’ plans were open-ended. She’s very…”
“Adventurous?” Prem guessed.
“Exactly.” Layla broke his gaze and walked past him.
Prem stiffened as the edge of her skirt grazed his leg and he caught just the faintest whiff of strawberries from her hair.
“Don’t worry,” Layla continued. “Ms. Fiddlesticks has already agreed to pay weekly for Sunny’s boarding and physical therapy. The cost is covered.” She didn’t look at him as she gently unstrapped the cat from the cart. She lifted Sunny into her arms and carried him to a large kennel in the back corner of the room.
“You did so good today, Sunny,” she cooed to the cat. “I’m so proud of you.”
Those soft words, filled with kindness and love, nearly melted Prem’s kneecaps. The small boy he’d been, the boy who’d only ever received dictates from his parents, ached for that kind of love.
Cold, hard reason intercepted his longing and Prem suddenly felt ashamed for his momentary weakness. What was this woman doing to him?
Making him feel like a fool, that’s what. Clouding his judgment. Tempting him without even seeming to notice.
Prem cleared his throat. “Speaking of payments, Mrs. Goldman mentioned that you were in charge of billing and accounts payable.”
Layla moved to the sink and filled a small bowl with water. “Uh-huh.”
“I’ve looked at the books, and I have questions.” Prem pegged her with a hard stare. It was time to take the reins. Be the boss. “Lots of questions.”