Page 42 of Reckless Harmony

Nathan gave Stark a thoughtful look. “Molly shows all the classic symptoms of mastitis. However, if you want to be completely sure, we could take a blood sample to check for infection and perform a bacterial culture to identify the bacterial strain, ensuring we use the correct antibiotic. We could also do a milk cytology to check for bacteria and white blood cells. But the testing is expensive, and the rescue -”

“Do all of those tests,” Stark said. “I’ll cover the expense.”

Nathan glanced at Rayna, who said, “I appreciate the gesture, but -”

“I have a work meeting at the office that I can’t miss,” Stark said to Nathan, ignoring Rayna’s protest. “But it should only last a couple of hours. Can I leave Molly and the babies here at the clinic while you do the testing? I’ll take them home after my meeting is over.”

“Molly and the babies will need extra care and attention,” Rayna said.

“I’m aware, Ms. Abrams,” he said before turning back to Nathan. “I’m happy to pay a boarding fee to keep Molly here while I’m at the office.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Nathan said, glancing at Rayna. “We’ll run the tests and then keep Molly and the babies until you’re available. I’ll draw up an estimate for the procedure cost, and you can sign it before you leave.”

“It won’t be more than a couple of hours,” Stark said. Rayna’s mouth dropped when he bent and kissed the cat’s head. “I won’t be gone long, sweetie, and then I’ll be back to take you home.”

He straightened and held out his hand to Nathan. “Thank you. I’ll leave my number with the receptionist. If Molly worsens or anything changes, call me immediately.”

Nathan shook his hand with a bemused look. “Okay.”

Stark bent and kissed Molly’s head again. “Be a good girl, sweetie. I’ll see you soon.”

He reached into the crate and gently petted each of the kittens before striding toward the foyer. Rayna stared at Nathan, and he said, “That was… unexpected.”

“You have no idea,” she said and chased after Stark.

She found him at the front desk, where he was giving Fatima his phone number.

“Molly’s staying at the clinic for a bit to do some more testing,” Rayna said to Fatima. “Nathan is just doing an estimate for us to sign.”

They waited in silence for a few minutes. Stark was texting rapidly on his phone, and Fatima looked him up and down before giving Rayna a look that she had no problem interpreting. Fatima was married, but Rayna couldn’t blame her for eyeing Stark like a tasty steak. Rayna might hate him, but he was objectively hot. And even hotter when he was paying the vet bill for a foster cat.

Fatima checked her computer and then printed off a piece of paper. “Okay, Nathan finished the estimate. You know the drill, Rayna.”

She held it out, but Stark took the paper before Rayna could. He scanned it and then picked up a pen and started filling it out.

Rayna leaned a little closer as, alarm in his voice, Stark said, “Why is this here? Molly isn’t dying.”

“That’s a standard section we have you fill out whenever you’re leaving an animal in our care. Obviously, the risk is very low that Molly will go into cardiac arrest or crash on us. Still, there’s always a risk, so we ask that you let us know if you want life saving measures taken as we’re trying to contact you, or if you want us to wait until we’ve spoken to you,” Fatima said.

Stark gave her a withering look. “Obviously, I want you to save her life.”

“Okay, well, um, just initial there,” Fatima said.

Stark initialed as Fatima said, “We also need an amount you’re willing to spend on life-saving measures until we can speak with you.”

“Put five hundred dollars,” Rayna said to Stark. It was her typical number for this sort of thing. She hated having to put a price on an animal’s life, and such a low one at that, but she had to be practical. She couldn’t spend all of the rescue’s funds on one animal.

Stark glared at her before writing ‘No Limit” in big letters next to the dollar amount. He turned his gaze to Fatima, and she returned his look nervously as he said, “There is no dollar limit for the life-saving measures for Molly. Is that clear? I don’t care what the final cost is. You don’t stop helping her.”

“Okay,” Fatima said.

“Stark,” Rayna said. “Are you -”

“Do not argue with me, Ms. Abrams,” he snapped. “Molly’s life is not up for debate.”

She rolled her eyes. “All right. Christ, don’t get your underpants in a twist over it.”

Fatima stared at her with wide eyes as Stark signed and dated the form and handed it back to her. He texted again on his phone before shoving it into his pocket. “I need to get to the office, but I’ve arranged for an Uber to pick you up here and take you home.”

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