Page 20 of The Rescuer

She did have a fellow vet backing her up in Ouray—Dr. Lark Bunting—but she was new-ish in the area, and Neve’s clients hadn’t exactly warmed to her yet, despite her having the same name as Colorado’s state bird. Probably had more to do with Lark being an outsider and Neve being a local. Or maybe it was her clipped East Coast manner. In Neve’s few dealings with the vet, that manner had verged on abrasive, which would certainly rub folks around here the wrong way. And there was that other grating habit: Dr. Buntinglovedto boast about her high-brow education and how she came from a long line of other high achievers. She wasn’t beneath dropping names either, which amused the hell out of Neve, since most people—including Neve—weren’t all that sure who they were or why they were worth mention.

Neve tapped Leo’s arm, and he turned to her with a smile. “I bet you’re about to tell me it’s time to call it a night.”

Charminganda mind reader. “Would you mind if I scooted? I can walk from here.”

His brows flew to his hairline. “Excuse me?”

“Neve,” Reece barked behind them, “the weather is shit. Cantrell—”

“I got this, Hunnicutt.” Leo sent him a sidelong stink-eye, but his expression softened when he turned back to Neve. “Call me old-fashioned, but I insist on taking you home.” To Reece, he said, “Ready for the check.”

Reece snatched a handheld receipt thingy that rolled out tape like a white tongue. He handed Leo the receipt, then straightened to his full six-four frame, crossed his muscular arms over his chest, and narrowed his eyes. No nice black check presenter, no pen. Just a white piece of tape with numbers on it, accompanied by a glower.

What the hell was his problem tonight?

Leo flipped Reece a Platinum Amex card held between his fingers. Despite her protesting sputters, the two men completed the transaction in under a nanosecond.

She bounced her gaze between them. “Can I at least cover the tip?”

“Already covered.” Leo slid the card back into his wallet.

“Much appreciated,” Reece deadpanned, not an ounce of gratitude in his tone. In fact, a thundercloud knotted his dark eyebrows. Maybe Leo had stiffed him—not that she could blame him. Reece was behaving like an ass. If she didn’t know better, she’d mistake his surly attitude for that of a jealous boyfriend.

Back in Leo’s truck, she directed him toward the clinic, where her car and her dog were parked. “I’ll drive myself home from there. It’s only a few blocks.”

Leo nodded. “Seems like you and Reece Hunnicutt have some history, or am I reading that wrong?”

“No! I mean yes,” she sputtered. “You’re reading it wrong. We grew up together, but there’s never been anything romantic between us.”

He hummed a skeptical note.

“What?”

“I hope I’m not speaking out of turn here, but take it from a guy. He wouldlikefor there to be something romantic between you.”

She let out a high-pitched laugh. “No way! He thinks of me as his little sister, and he’s very protective.”

Leo’s silence told her he wasn’t buying it, butshewasn’t buying Leo’s opinion either.

Moments later, they reached the clinic, and Leo hustled around the truck to open her door. She wasn’t used to men with polished manners—which was a sad state of affairs—and she fumbled her way out.

He waited as she unlocked the front door. He didn’t move from the threshold, but his gaze did. It lifted over her head to the interior of the clinic. “I’ve never been inside. Would you mind showing me around? I’d like to see where all the magic happens.”

She gestured him in with an awkward movement. “It’s more science than magic.”

“Maybe. Back in the Middle Ages, the practice of medicinewasmagic. I’m not sure much has changed. To someone like me, it’s a mystery, and therefore, magic.”

Pearl padded out to greet them and made a beeline to put Leo through her sniff test. His eyes widened, a reaction Neve had seen often when humans came face-to-face with pit bulls.

“She won’t hurt you,” Neve assured him, “unless she thinks you’re a threat, but that’s true of many dogs.”

He held out a cautious hand for Pearl to inspect but didn’t appear terribly convinced it was the right move. “Is she a pit bull?”

“Yep. They look intimidating, but the breed has a bad rap. Pearl is as docile as your average golden retriever.”

With a nervous laugh, he gingerly moved his hand away. “I’ll take your word for it.”

His unease was palpable, so Neve closed Pearl up in her office and led Leo from room to room. Self-satisfaction swelled as she showed him the world she had created. The thought occurred that she was right where she was supposed to be, where she had always wanted to be, with a clinic of her very own in her hometown, even if itwasfloundering. Even if she hadn’t liked the man walking beside her—and she definitelydidlike him—she needed to be gracious. He might be the one keeping her pride and joy afloat.

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