Page 41 of Jenna's Threatened Sanctuary

Calvin slid onto the quiet street and spared her a quick glance. “Are you okay?”

She swallowed past the lump of fear wedged in her throat. “Milo caught me in his office. He was pissed.”

“Shit, Jenna. Did he hurt you?”

Her arm throbbed from where Milo had grabbed her, but the anger in Calvin’s voice warned her not to mention it. “No. He showed his true colors, though, and they aren’t pretty.”

Calvin growled and turned away from the law office. “I’ll figure out another way to get information from Milo. We should head back to the shelter and regroup.”

Jenna’s phone dinged, announcing a text message. With her hands still shaking, she plucked her phone from her pocket and read the message. “That was my boss. Dr. Kent moved two towns over, the same town where the flower shop is located, but he still works in Pine Valley.”

Calvin tightened his grip on the wheel and cast her a quick glance. “Quite the coincidence.”

“Let’s go talk to him.”

Groaning he turned toward the opposite end of town, away from the cluster of local businesses. “I had a feeling you’d say that. Are you sure you’re up for talking to him now? I can take you back to the shelter and do this myself. You don’t have to be there.”

She tenderly touched the flesh along her throat that still burned from the night before. Fear licked at her belly, but she had to do this. Had to face the man who may be out to destroy her. “I’m sure.”

He nodded then put the address she looked up in his GPS. The velvety smooth voice on his phone chirped out directions, and he maneuvered toward neatly maintained neighborhoods. A few signs hung outside of houses transformed into places of business. A white Victorian nestled between an apartment building and a vet’s office boasted a sign for a family practice.

“Is this it?” she asked.

“Looks like it.”

“It’s hard to imagine Dr. Kent as a primary care physician. That’d be quite a downgrade in pay for a seasoned neurologist.”

Calvin drove past the narrow lane that ran along the front of the house. “Driveway’s full, and I don’t see a lot attached. I’ll have to park on the street.” He looped around the block, pulling along the side of the road a few spots away from the doctor’s office.

After Calvin cut the engine, Jenna jumped out and wiped her palms on her thighs. So many years had passed since she’d last seen Dr. Kent. Nerves knotted her stomach, but she forced herself to put one foot in front of the other. Time was ticking and she needed to do everything within her power to find Stella’s killer.

Calvin followed close behind her, the heat of his body chasing away the bite of the wind. Just like he’d had warmed her while she’d slept. Heat swirled inside her, but she couldn’t simmer in the feelings she’d woken up with. Not now.

At the door, Calvin opened it wide and waited for her to enter then stepped inside.

She glanced over her shoulder before pivoting into the small waiting room.

“Are you ready for this?” He molded his palm against her back, leaning close to her ear as he spoke. “Doesn’t sound like you two have a very good history.”

She blew out a long breath. “Don’t worry about me. I can handle it.”

Turning into the square room Jenna marched toward the receptionist, ignoring the twenty-something man who sat on a chair pushed against the wall with a magazine in his hands.

A perky woman with round glasses and a tired smile sat behind the long counter. “Hello. May I help you?”

Jenna trained her most sincere smile at the woman. “Hello. I’m here to see Dr. Kent.”

The woman frowned. “Do you have an appointment?”

Jenna grimaced. “No, sorry. But I’m sure he’d be fine with seeing me.”

The receptionist dipped her chin, obviously not buying Jenna’s bullshit. “Dr. Kent has one more patient before we close the office for the evening. I suggest you make an appointment and come back tomorrow.”

Crap. Not knowing what else to do, she splayed her fingers on the tender skin of her throat. “I was attacked last night. I went to the hospital, but I’d feel much better if I could have someone I trust examine me and make sure everything’s okay.” She worked up a misty-eyed stare and forced a catch in her voice.

The woman glanced at the clock then back at Jenna. “I’ll see what I can do.” She disappeared down a hallway for a full minute then opened a second door that connected the waiting room to the rest of the office. “Follow me.”

Pictures of smiling patients and children’s homemade artwork lined the walls. Not the impression Jenna expected from the workplace of the stuffy doctor she’d once known. Keeping her mind open, she passed the receptionist on her way into the exam room.

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