Page 81 of Reckless Harmony

“I don’t care about that. Do you have time to speak with the vet clinic and make the donation this afternoon?” he asked.

Hollis nodded. “Sure.”

“Thank you, Hollis.”

“Paid off? The entire bill was paid?” Shock made her knees wobbly, and Rayna sank onto her worn couch beside Bea, absently scratching Bea’s stomach when the beagle immediately rolled onto her back.

“That’s right. They donated the full amount.” The receptionist at Harmony Falls Vet Clinic sounded a little dazed herself.

“Who donated it?” Rayna asked.

“I can’t tell you. They were very clear about it being anonymous,” the receptionist said.

“Are you serious?”

“I am,” she said. “Anyway, Dr. Felton asked me to call and let you know the account has been cleared, and you can book appointments again.”

“Okay, well, that’s amazing. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Bye, Rayna!”

Rayna set her phone on the couch before staring at Bea. “Bea, it’s a frickin’ miracle.”

The beagle snored loudly, and Rayna laughed before leaning over and kissing the old dog’s forehead. “I don’t know who paid that bill, but if I did, I’d kiss them, too.”

Bea opened one eye, her tail thumping happily against the couch before she farted.

“Oh God,” Rayna said, jumping off the couch. “Way to ruin a moment, Bea.”

Waving her hand in front of her face, she left the living room and headed down the hallway. Freddie was sitting in the laundry room doorway, and he meowed disapprovingly at her. She nudged his stocky body with her foot. “I know you’re pissed because your kittens got adopted, but don’t worry, there will be more. Hell, you’re lucky Krysta could take Louis Hapson’s bloodhound, or you’d be sharing your space with him right now.”

Speaking of which, she texted a quick message to Krysta and then folded the laundry she’d left in the dryer while she waited for Krysta’s reply. Her phone dinged out a reply, and she scanned the message, grinning at Freddie, who had leaped onto his usual spot on the laundry supplies shelf. “Krysta says Red is doing really well. Eating and resting comfortably.”

She reached up to pet Freddie, who growled and gave her a swat. “All right, Mr. Crabby Pants, I’ll leave you alone.”

She walked upstairs and started the shower. She stripped off her clothes and stepped under the hot water spray, letting the water beat down on her shoulders and back. The heavy weight she’d been carrying since this morning when she’d returned Jasper’s donation had disappeared, so why did she still feel so damn tired?

Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because you spent your entire weekend barely sleeping and your brain either rehashing the disaster that was your date with Jasper or asking you to knock on Stark’s door and beg him to fuck you.

She sighed and washed her hair, trying to keep the thoughts at bay, but they wouldn’t be denied. She’d been upset by her disastrous date with Jasper, but by late Saturday morning, she’d been back to obsessing over what had happened with Stark. She’d spent the entire weekend fighting her urge to text him. Hell, to just show up on his doorstep. How pathetic did it make her to be so desperate for sex that she would happily fuck the guy trying to take her house from her?

You could have had sex Friday night with Jasper, and you didn’t. So, are you sure you’re desperate for sex, or are you desperate for sex with Stark?

She wouldn’t think about that. What she would think about is the enormous bullet she dodged by discovering Jasper’s true nature before she slept with him. Even thinking about how she’d found him charming and funny made her furious with herself. She was usually a much better judge of character.

Stark might be an asshole, but at least he’s upfront about it. Hey… quick thought… you should text him for a booty call.

She muttered a curse and quickly finished her shower, toweling dry and slipping into a cotton nightgown before putting her wet hair in a messy bun on top of her head. She lifted the nightgown and studied her crotch in the full-length mirror before turning to Bea, who had wandered into her bedroom and was stretched out on the floor. “You’re too blind to see it, but my cooch looks ridiculous, Bea. She looks like my grandma in a bathing cap.”

Bea thumped her tail against the floor in reply. Rayna reached between her legs and touched the two waxed areas. Even just the thought of finishing the wax job made her shudder, and she stared at Bea again. “Nope, not doing it. It’ll just have to look weird until the hair grows back. It’s not like anyone will be seeing it, so who cares what it looks like, right?

You could ask Stark to wax it. He’s done it before, remember?

“Gah!” She stomped to her closet and yanked on her robe, tying it off at the waist before turning to Bea. “C’mon, Bea-Bea. It’s time for dinner.”

At the word dinner, Bea popped up like a jack-in-the-box, grinning happily and her tail wagging furiously. She followed Rayna down the stairs, her tail whacking against Rayna’s leg when she pushed past her.

“You know, sometimes I think you have selective hearing rather than being deaf,” she told the dog as she gave her some dry food with a heaping spoonful of wet mixed in. “You never have any trouble hearing when it’s time for dinner.”

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