Page 53 of Recaptured by the Crime Lord

“How ya feeling?” Phil asked.

“Crappy,” Lyla admitted.

“This heat isn’t helping,” he said and hauled her up.

Lyla swayed on her feet and tried to blink away the black spots marring her vision. Phil tightened his hold.

“Come, let’s get you in air conditioning,” he said and helped her inside.

Alice followed with Beau who nudged the back of Lyla’s leg as if he were worried about her. While Phil led her one way, Alice walked Beau back to his kennel. Lyla silently promised Beau that she’d come back and give him a decent walk. It wasn’t his fault that she fainted on the path. Shit. How long would it be before he saw daylight?

Phil led her to an office not much bigger than a closet. The walls were covered in pictures of dogs and cats. Phil uncapped a water bottle and handed it to her. Lyla took a healthy gulp.

“Here.”

Phil held out a handful of Wheat Thins. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t take crackers from his questionably clean hands, but she was desperate. Lyla nodded to him in thanks and once she began to munch, instantly began to feel better. Phil gave her that direct look again.

“What?” Lyla asked defensively.

“People don’t just pass out. It’s notthathot.”

“I know. I’ve been feeling strange all day.”

Phil cocked his head to the side. “Are you pregnant?”

Even as her body went cold, she shook her head. “No.”

“How do you know?”

She glared at him. “Why do you want to know?”

“I don’t want you to sue me.”

“What?”

“I run this place. Volunteers passing out aren’t good advertisement.”

“Oh. Well, I’m fine now.” But she didn’t get up because her legs were still trembling.

“Maybe you should go to the hospital.”

“No.”

“I insist. If you’re not pregnant it could be something else. You don’t want to take chances. Plus, you look like shit.”

Before Lyla could respond to that, Carmen appeared in the doorway. Her cousin looked as if she'd been in a wet T-shirt contest. Her crop top was nearly transparent, her jeans were covered in fur and her Uggs squelched with each step. Phil perked up.

“I heard you fainted,” Carmen said. “Are you sick?”

“I'm not sick, I just feel queasy,” Lyla said and gave Phil a dirty look.

“Who are you?” Carmen asked, getting right to the point.

“I’m Phil, a vet.”

Carmen raised a brow. “And you’re examining Lyla?”

Apparently, Carmen thought this was hilarious because she grinned. Phil’s head kicked back as if Carmen’s beauty had a physical impact on him. Lyla didn’t know whether to be amused or irritated.

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