Chapter 5
CHAPTER 5
M allory
Thank fucking God my staff would arrive sprinkled throughout the next couple of days. While the practice wasn’t large by any means, I’d thought I’d have a quiet first week, which would allow the new hires and a few of the old staff who’d stuck around long enough to settle in.
I’d been wrong.
The night would be spent handling paperwork, including processing insurance claims. Pet insurance seemed to be all the rage here.
“You are such a delight, dear,” the older woman said. “I don’t know what I would have done.” Mrs. Samuels had been a regular for years.
“My guess is you and little Sammy would have been fine, but now, he can get the rest he needs. Just have him take the antibiotics for the next seven days in the morning with his food. Okay?”
My feet were killing me, but I kept a smile on my face as I handed over the prescription before hitting the computer so I could take her payment.
“We are so glad you bought the place, Mallory. I mean Dr. McGregor. Your father was such a staple in this town. Everyone misses him.”
“Me too. That would be four hundred and twenty-two dollars even.”
She slid a credit card over the counter, almost immediately pressing kisses to little Sammy’s head. “Your dad would be so proud of you.”
“That’s very sweet of you. Would you prefer a copy of your invoice today or have it emailed to you?”
“Email. The girls finally got me into using it so I might as well.” As she rattled off her email address, I couldn’t help but notice the old adage was really true. People grew more look-alike to their dogs as they got older.
“There you go. Okay, little Sammy. Take care of your mother.” I moved from around the counter, still trying to smile when all I wanted to do was crawl under the covers.
She used her pup’s paw, waving at me before heading to the door. As soon as she opened it, I noticed the snow had started again. Thankfully, the single thing I’d done other than working my fingers to the bone had been to purchase snow boots and a heavy parka. Yay for me.
Once she closed the door, I waited for the familiar sound of her clomping down the stairs to her car. I wouldn’t be rude and lock the door in her face, but closing time was only five minutes away.
I was so finished with the day. But I had to admit, with business already booming, I didn’t fear my decision any longer.
My legs almost refused to cooperate as I moved behind the receptionist’s desk, completing Mrs. Samuels’ transaction and hitting send on the email. I was also thankful I’d networked the system with the one at my house. That would allow me to easily continue working even when I wasn’t here.
I flicked off the beautiful recessed lighting over the desk area and checked my watch, noticing headlights finally leaving the parking lot. That was my cue.
With a bit of spring in my step, I headed toward the door. I didn’t have a chance to flick the lock into place before the doorknob was twisted in my hand.
“I’m sorry, I’m about to close.”
Whoever it was didn’t take kindly to the concept of ‘no,’ continuing to barrel himself or herself in.
I was even forced back a couple of feet by the force used. When I stared at the person intruding on my practice, I gasped involuntarily.
In the brighter light, the man standing in front of me was a walking orgasm. I blinked several times, shoving the ridiculous thought aside as his mouth twisted.
He reached behind him, locking the door. I should be nervous about that, but the moment I caught sight of what he was holding, my mothering and veterinarian instinct took over.
“Jax! What happened?” Oh, my God. He was holding Jax in his arms, the dog bleeding from an unknown wound. Whatever was going on, given the dog’s shallow breathing, he needed instant attention. I beckoned the huge man back to one of the examination rooms, immediately pulling down the stainless-steel platform from its secured location on the wall. “Please put him right there.”
I realized at that moment I had no clue who the man was. Only the dog’s name had ever been used. He was so tender with the pup as he gently eased him onto the cold, hard steel that I was instantly touched.
“Let me take a look at him. Okay? Can you tell me what happened while I do?” I was trying to keep a pleasant voice, but I was deadly concerned by the way the dog was acting. As I moved closer, the big man crowded my space. Enough so I finally lifted my head. “I promise you it’s okay. I really am a licensed veterinarian. If you’re uncertain, there are my credentials hanging in my office.”
He realized I was asking him to back off, doing so even though his jaw was clenched in fear and frustration. “We had a run-in with a hunter.”
“You’re kidding me.” I rubbed the dog’s face, thankful to see his eyes weren’t dull and lifeless. When the man didn’t reply right away, I had the distinct feeling I wasn’t going to get a solid, truthful answer. Sure, there were hunters out there, but generally dawn and dusk were their favorite times.
“Just got caught,” he offered.
“O-kay. I need to see what I’m dealing with and I’ll need to take x-rays. Are you…”
“If you’re asking if I’m good for the money, you have no idea.”
I glanced at the man, narrowing my eyes. There was pain in his. His dog’s injury was troubling him tremendously. “I wasn’t suggesting that because I don’t care. Even if you didn’t have a penny to your name, do you honestly think I’d ever allow a dog or any other animal to suffer? Please. I was going to ask if you’re okay with me taking x-rays.”
He was appropriately embarrassed for his assumption, even having the good graces to look away briefly. “Anything you need to do.”
“Okay. Good. I’m going to see what we have.” I pulled out some rags and antiseptic, taking a quiet few moments to clean his wound. A few seconds later, I nodded and the unknown stranger was right there by my side once again.
“What?”
“It’s okay. It looks like the bullet went all the way through and I doubt it hit any vital organs, but we’re going to make certain of that. Why don’t you come back with me so I can take x-rays.”
“Can I… carry him?”
“Of course you can. He’s a beautiful and very large dog so that would be helpful.” I kept the door open heading into the back for the man, still surprised at his reactions. It was really true you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. “You never gave me your name. That would be of assistance instead of calling you something like ‘hey dude.’”
I was trying to break the man’s rapt attention, but as he placed Jax on the gurney, I could tell his world revolved around the dog.
“You can step just outside the room. It will only take a few seconds. I promise I’ll be right back.”
He finally backed out and I took the needed x-rays, returning to the other room.
“The name is Beckett. Beckett Callum.”
I threw out my arm. “Well, Beckett Callum, it’s nice to meet you.”
As soon as he shook my hand, blood that had seeped through his shirt was highlighted by the angle. Shit. What had really gone on? “You’ve been shot as well.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“Yeah, it does. Get your jacket and shirt off. Don’t argue with me on this.” I dropped all thoughts as I grabbed my iPad, shifting to Jax’s x-rays, able to breathe a sigh of relief. “Your baby is lucky. I was correct. No vital organs were hit, the bullet going clean through.”
I could tell Beckett was a master of control, never allowing his emotions to take over under any circumstances. He said nothing yet winced when he removed his leather jacket.
‘I’m going to start Jax on some fluids including an antibiotic and I’ll clean the wound thoroughly.”
“You got your truck fixed.”
“Yes, I did. A new battery this morning. The mechanic told me I’d likely need a new everything soon.”
“Why keep it?”
“Sentimentality, plus it comes in handy while fixing up my dad’s old place. Take off your shirt, please.” At least he hadn’t grilled me about the truck or my dad. I wasn’t prepared to enter into any normal conversation with a stranger. Besides, it was all too personal.
He tilted his head, studying me with such fierce intensity I was pulled into a moment of blackness. As he yanked off his shirt from the back collar, I was completely and thoroughly mesmerized, trying not to fall into a moment of shock and awe.
His body was even more chiseled than I’d originally believed. Or maybe I should say had fantasized about. While his tight jeans allowed me a vision of his thick, powerful thighs, my mind swirled about his biceps and chest muscles, along with his six-pack abs.
They were carved to perfection as well, highlighting years of strict discipline as defined by weights. I did my best not to lick my lips. He tossed the shirt aside, but all the while kept his eyes burning into mine.
I was caught so off guard I cleared my throat, gave a quick glance over my shoulder to my other patient, and moved closer. Wow. Just being able to gather a scent of him was incredible, so musky that my breath was momentarily taken away. No man should have a scent so masculine and yet almost ominous.
“I just want to see how bad your injury is and then I’ll get Jax comfortable.”
“I’m fine,” he barked.
“You’re not fine, Beckett. You’ve been shot. I don’t think I need to remind you that if the bullet is still inside your shoulder or chest cavity, you’ll need to head over to the ER.”
He shook his head vehemently. “No. You’re a doctor. You get it out.”
He hadn’t been much of a talker up to this point, but what few words he growled sounded almost like orders. I eyed him warily, doing my best to keep my anger in check.
“I’m a veterinarian. There’s quite a bit of difference. But you wouldn’t know that unless you went to medical or veterinarian school.” There was a distinct aura of intrigue and danger with the man, so much so I was forced to blink several times the closer I came to him.
“I don’t care. You’ll do as I say. You also don’t know jack about me.”
“Other than you’re a surly asshole, you’re right.” I offered him a smile, but my anger was increasing. Why did he need to be so damn insolent?
“I got my reasons.” His chest puffed out. Did he think he was intimidating me? Not a chance.
A part of me wanted to toss his ass to the curb, but they were both injured. “And I got mine. Just sit on the table. Please. Let me take a look at the injury.”
He took and held a deep breath for a full thirty seconds before complying. No matter how hot the man was, I didn’t expect to be treated the way he was treating me. As I moved closer, I dragged my tongue across my bottom lip. Some people, usually men exuded an excessive amount of heat. He was one of the lucky ones that did.
And I was the unlucky recipient of his cold, hard stare.
Again.
At least I knew the man had two emotions. Surly and surlier. After slipping on a new pair of gloves, I took a fresh and wet towel, blotting the area gently. As I pressed my fingertips against the wound, a shot of electricity roared through me. “I can’t tell visually if the bullet is still lodged in the wound and I don’t have a CT scanner here.”
“But you do have an x-ray machine.”
“That may or may not tell me anything.”
“Use it.”
“Then you’re going to need to wait until I get Jax settled. Oh, and he’s staying the night. I need to ensure no infection develops.”
“Then I am as well.”
The audacity of the man to just make demands was close to grating my last nerve. He had the kind of expression that meant he’d break into my facility if that’s what it took to be with his dog overnight. “Well, then I guess we’re having a party.”
Beckett glanced over my shoulder to where Jax was sleeping in one of the large cages. With no other overnight guests, he’d had his choice. My first overnight guest. How joyful.
I hated the fact my hands were still shaking even after I’d spent over an hour with the man sitting half dressed in front of me. Personally, I wasn’t certain I liked being this close, but I had no choice.
He wouldn’t allow that to happen.
“You’re lucky the bullet didn’t rip through your deltoid, shattering a bone.” Thankfully, the wound had been fairly uncomplicated, but the two injuries had prompted several questions in my mind. For about a million reasons, I doubted he would answer any of them.
After carefully placing the bandage into position and taping, I took a step away, not only noticing but also feeling his heated gaze. His eyes had never left mine the entire time I’d worked on him.
The man was not trusting at all. He was also not likely trustworthy.
When he flexed his muscles before sliding off the table, I couldn’t help but pay attention. His tattoos were also sensual and added to his dangerous persona.
I immediately tossed the gloves and bloody gauze into the trash, doing everything I could to keep my eyes off him. It was much more difficult than I could have imagined.
With my hands dry, I finally removed the scrunchie holding my long hair out of my face. I’d worn scrubs, which were comfortable, but not particularly warm in this kind of weather. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t put my foot down and told him he was not staying the night. Sure, concerned ‘pawrents’ did it all the time, but my trust factor was also low, even if he’d helped me out of a bind.
The moment I turned around, I was confronted by his massive body crowding my space. I was shocked by how close he’d come, becoming startled and stumbling just enough that I was forced to place a palm on his chest. Bad move. I instantly gasped and he seemed amused at my reaction, the corners of his mouth upturning into a smirk.
“You don’t have to stick to me like glue, Beckett. I’m not sure what you think I’m going to do.” I purposely sidestepped him and he didn’t object or try to mimic my movements. Of course that was the moment I realized he’d tossed his shirt and jacket on the table where I’d been standing. Well, duh. I grimaced and my jaw ached.
He chuckled in a dark and demanding way as I cowered in shame. When I heard the rustling of clothes, I couldn’t help myself, glancing over my shoulder.
In his attempt to pull the shirt into his fingers, he opened his jacket. That allowed me to sweet the clear outline of not one, but two guns. I didn’t make a sound even as a cold jolt of fear trickled through me. Who was this man?
A hitman. Maybe that was it. He was living in a small town just waiting for his target to arrive. Or a criminal hiding out from the law? Maybe a tax evader hoping to remain out of prison. Well, he’d been able to afford a high seven-figure home, for God’s sake.
As he slipped into his shirt, I couldn’t tell if he’d noticed my discovery. I refrained from my usual need to spit out something caustic, instead moving to check on Jax. I crouched down and opened the door to the cage, stroking his soft fur. He didn’t budge, the slight sedative I had him on keeping him in la-la-land.
“You’re a good boy, Jax. You’re going to be just fine.” My whispers weren’t meant for my unwanted guest to hear, but he was suddenly by my side, sticking his hand into the cage and scratching his pup behind the ears.
With Beckett being so close, I couldn’t help but notice the slight smile while his expression was laced with concern.
“I meant what I said,” I told him. “Jax is going to be perfectly fine.”
At least I was answered with a nod instead of complete silence. He continued stroking Jax’s head while I stood, leaning against the group of empty cages against the wall. When Beckett addressed or touched his dog, his demeanor was entirely different. There was obvious love in his eyes and because there was, I chastised myself for making up stories about him.
“He was a rescue. Bad situation. The pup was close to death from malnutrition. He had sores all over his body from where his former owner used to burn him with cigarettes. He walked with a limp for six months after I took him in. He was broken mentally, psychically, and spiritually. The exterior wounds healed.”
He wasn’t telling me anything I hadn’t already seen. “It’s amazing the lengths rescue organizations will go to. Then there’s the amazing foster parents and adopters like yourself. Thank you for adopting him and giving him a better life.”
“I didn’t adopt him.”
“What do you mean?”
He lifted his head ever so slowly. “I took him from his previous owners.”
“Oh, they gave him up.”
“Not exactly.” There was that smirk again. There was another frigid chill running all the way down my neck and spine to my toes as well.
“I don’t blame you. They didn’t deserve him. I hope you turned them into law enforcement. In most states, animal cruelty that severe is a federal crime.”
He stood, his huge figure looming over me. “Not exactly. I’m going to get us dinner.”
“Oh, um…” The switch was so abrupt I didn’t have a snappy comeback. Not exactly. I could easily read between the lines.
A lesson had been taught. Oddly enough, I wanted to learn the details.
“Take care of him, Doc. He’s all I have.” Without asking me what I’d like or where in town was a good place to grab us a quick bite, he grabbed his jacket and returned to the front room. The man wasn’t threatening me exactly, but I knew better than to cross him under any circumstances.
As soon as he’d walked out, I let out a captured breath, feeling completely lightheaded.
“Your daddy dog is something else, baby boy. Whew.” I closed the cage, checked the fluids, and turned out the overhead bright light. Jax needed his rest.
Breathing out to gain full control, I hadn’t realized how nervous he made me until I moved into the reception area, noticing he’d already left. I briefly thought about locking him out and heading home, but everything in the back of my mind told me he’d break in, hunt me down, or both.
I locked the door behind him, at least wanting some sense of control, and immediately grabbed a bottle of water from the mini fridge before heading to my office. With him gone, I could use the time to see if I could find anything on the internet about him.
Barely fifteen minutes into doing so and I realized there was literally zero on the man on the worldwide web. That wasn’t crazy abnormal, but in this day and age, it seemed like everyone had a footprint. The mystery was increasing.
I continued searching, lost in the pages when I heard a hard thumping on the front door. Jumping involuntarily, I hissed and pressed my hand against my chest. How hard could my heart beat at this point?
After cutting off the monitor, I hurried to the entrance, peeking out before daring to open the door. Beckett stood covered in snowflakes, looking far too handsome for someone I considered a killer. The thought brought butterflies to my stomach. Then my stomach growled in appreciation of the incredible smells associated with whatever dinner was hiding behind the two paper bags.
“I must admit that smells incredible.”
“I shoulda asked what you wanted. I picked. Chinese.”
“Who doesn’t adore Chinese? Come on, I have a tiny breakroom, but I have napkins, forks, and a little table for us to sit at.”
He locked the door behind him just like he’d done before, his boots stomping on the tile as he trailed after me. The breakroom was incredibly small for a massive frame like his, but at least he didn’t crowd my space. Yet being around him was still oppressive. There was no reason for me to think that way.
After he took off his jacket, he moved to one of the bags, pulling out a six-pack of beer. The purchase struck me oddly, making me smile.
“You should have one, Doc. You deserve it,” he told me, the tone still commanding, but not threatening in any way.
“Technically I’m on duty. I’ll get my bottle of water from my office.” I pulled out a couple of cartons, shocked at the amount of food he’d purchased. Now my stomach was really rumbling.
“I’ll get it for you.” He popped the top on one beer, took a huge swig, and thudded the bottle down on the table before walking out of the room.
I blew out and his jacket caught my attention. Without thinking it through, I moved toward it, riffling through the pockets. When I found two cellphones, I became certain my assessment of the man was close to accurate. Maybe one for business and one for pleasure. I also found a wallet, hating how much I was shaking as I tugged it free.
After a quick glance toward the door, I couldn’t help myself and opened it. Another man’s driver’s license was right there in front, a few bills of cash in the sleeve, but nothing else. That in itself was odd, unless the unknown owner’s credit cards had been stolen.
I didn’t take Beckett for a common thief. A wave of nervousness rushed through me and I slipped it back into the pocket where I’d found it, quickly grabbing a couple of plates from one of three cabinets.
Beckett’s presence loomed in the doorway. I felt it. Every inch of skin tingled because of it.
I turned around with plates, forks, and napkins in my hands, ceasing all movement from the way he was looking at me.
“Everything okay?” I asked.
“Why wouldn’t it be?” He moved closer, grabbing a second beer and popping the top. When he thumped it and the water bottle on the side of the table where I’d be sitting, I swallowed hard.
“Have the beer, Doc. It’s obvious you need it.”