Page 26 of Dangerous Obsession

Paul Bunyan chuckled next to her, and she jabbed her elbow into his rock-hard midsection.

“It’s not funny. I mean, seriously?” She flung her hand out toward the door. “How rude is it to flirt with a guy when he’s with another woman? How did she know we weren’t a couple?”

“But we’re not a couple, are we?” Was that disappointment in his voice?

“I know that, butshedidn’t.” She dropped onto the padded bench against the wall. “Never mind.”

“If I didn’t know better, I would almost think you were jealous.” The corner of his mouth twitched.

“Yeah, right.” She totally was, and it was a new sensation for her.

Marigold had never been jealous a day in her life. Even when she’d suspected Cliff was cheating on her with the waitress at the pub. Because, frankly, any time he was out of the apartment was a much-needed reprieve from the constant uneasiness she felt waiting for the other shoe to drop. Unfortunately, she never knew what kind of mood he would be in when he finallydidcome home.

The kitten wiggled in her arms and started squalling.

“It’s okay, baby.” Marigold tried to calm the kitten … and herself. “That nasty old woman is gone now.”

“She’s got a strong set of lungs, doesn’t she?” Viking said.

“Who, Nicky or the buxom Tiffany?”

He chuckled and started to sit next to her. “Scooch.”

Marigold shifted over until her shoulder was against the wall, and still he was tight against her side. He smelled so damn good, and her entire body responded—certain parts clenched; other very important, long-ignored parts softened.

Keep it together, Marigold.

“So, about the vet tech.” He nudged his shoulder against her.

“Who? Oh, her.” She feigned disinterest. “What about her?

“I agree it was inappropriate for her to flirt that way.” He curved his hand over her thigh and stared right into her eyes. “But it’s important you know that my romantic interests lie elsewhere.”

She stared up at him, not knowing how to respond. Marigold was saved when the door swung open.

A man with thinning steel-gray hair, holding a green folder, swept into the room. His lab coat had colorful cartoon cats and dogs printed all over it.

Viking let go of her leg, and they both stood.

“Hi, I’m Doctor Camaletti.” He crouched to see the kitten. “And you must be—” He looked at the blank folder tab, then at Marigold.

“Nicky.” Until that very moment, she’d been stumped on what to call her. “Her name is Nicky.” She looked up at Viking, and he nodded his approval.

“Well, hello, Nicky. Aren’t you a cutie.” The doctor scribbled her name at the top of the form in the folder and set the pen down. “May I see her?”

Nicky meowed long and loud as Marigold handed the extremely put-out kitten over to him.

Dr. Camaletti asked a few questions, then began his exam by setting her on the scale. “Just at three pounds.”

He made a note and asked a few more questions while he grabbed a rectal thermometer and took her temperature. She hissed and growled, voicing her displeasure at having her body so rudely invaded. Totally unbothered by all of her vocal protestations, Dr. Camaletti continued his examination by looking in her ears.

“Okay, other than this little nick on the edge, her ears are in good shape. No ear mites, which can be problematic if not treated.” He moistened a cotton ball with alcohol and cleaned the nick.

Of course, Nicky was not happy at all and let them all know it. She tried squirming from his grasp, but she was too little and he was too experienced.

“Because we don’t know how she got that injury, I’d really like to do a blood draw and test her for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. We’ll also test her for feline leukemia.” He noticed the concern on Marigold’s face. “It’s nothing to worry about. We just like to be cautious with strays who have injuries. Even very minor ones like this.”

“You’re sure?” Marigold rubbed her fingertip on top of the kitten’s head.

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