Page 44 of Wish You Were Mine

“Come on through.”

In the examination room, I checked Duke’s weight, his heart rate, his temperature, and performed a physical checkup.

“Everything seems to be in good working order,” I told Grace.

“Good.” She sounded relieved. Probably because Duke had gotten caught up in a dangerous situation last year and been injured as a result. No matter how often we assured her that he’d recovered completely, she always worried about him. I’d be glad for any way I could ease her mind considering she was only a little more than a week away from giving birth.

“I’ll just prepare the vaccination,” I said.

I left the room and took the vaccination from the fridge, then opened a fresh syringe and drew the liquid into it. I carried the syringe back to the examination room, where Grace was now awkwardly bending over to pet Duke, one hand on the small of her back as she stroked the dog with the other.

“Hold still,” I said as I pinched some of the loose skin at the back of Duke’s neck between my thumb and forefinger. “What a good boy.”

The needle pricked his skin, and I pushed the plunger down and withdrew the whole thing before he had time to flinch, then I offered him the second half of his treat. He wolfed it down, his tail wagging.

Grace ruffled his fur and told him how well behaved he was. The professional part of our visit was complete, but I didn’t want her to go yet. She had first-hand experience that could be useful to me.

“Asher brought Cookie in this morning. She’d been exposed to some kind of poison.”

Her forehead creased. “Is she okay?”

I nodded. “Thankfully.”

“Good.” She hesitated, then asked, “How did it happen?”

“He doesn’t know, and until I know what the toxin was, I can’t really guess either.” The uncertainty bothered me more than it should.

Grace cocked her head. “You don’t think someone did it on purpose, do you?”

I pursed my lips. “I don’t know what to think. Surely not. Who would hurt a cat?”

Grace continued to stroke Duke’s back. “It might be nothing, but if your instincts tell you there’s something up, then you should trust them.” She gave me a sad smile. “I didn’t, and it got me into trouble.”

I let out a ragged breath. Until now, I hadn’t realized how badly I needed someone to tell me that my gut might not be completely wrong. “Thanks, Grace.”

She straightened and Duke slumped against her long legs. “I can quietly ask Nate to keep an eye on Asher and Cookie if you like.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Can he do that without making it obvious?”

Nate didn’t exactly do “subtle.”

She just smiles a little too smugly. “If I ask, he will.”

“Thanks.” A shard of envy lodged in my chest. I longed to have a relationship like the one she shared with my brother, but I couldn’t begrudge her for it when she’d had to wait so long for him to get his head out of his ass and realize what was right in front of him.

She’d wanted him for even longer than I’d craved Asher, and if anyone deserved happiness, it was Grace. She was the kindest, gentlest soul I’d ever met.

Grace swept her hair over her shoulder. “Speaking of Asher, I saw you two dancing. It seems like things might be changing between you.”

She didn’t say it in a prying way, but my cheeks heated nonetheless. I liked to think that not too many people were aware of my hopelessly unrequited love, but at least five were in the know: Bailey, Beverley, Cal, Blair, and now Grace. I just had to thank my lucky stars that none of them were likely to spread rumors.

“It could be,” I said slowly. “I really don’t know. After this long with nothing happening, I doubt it.”

Grace dropped her hand to scratch the top of Duke’s head. “If things can change for Nate and me after fifteen years, they can change for you too.”

“God, I hope so.” But I was afraid to believe it. “Anyway, it was good to see you. I’d better check whether the next patient is ready.”

I guided Grace out and, sure enough, another patient was waiting to take Duke’s place.

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