Page 39 of Reckless Harmony

“Yes.” Laila smooched Mr. Magoo again, who licked her face happily.

“Isaac Stark, the millionaire?”

“Well, I heard he’s a multimillionaire, but yes. He called around eleven this morning and asked to speak to the office manager. He has the deepest voice, doesn’t he?” Laila’s gaze went distant. “I’ve only seen him once at Grind My Beans, but I was not prepared for how handsome he is. Those eyes of his are something else. Anyway, he said he’d helped you last night with the dog, and he wanted to pay for her to have x-rays.”

Rayna continued to stare at her. “I can’t believe it.”

“It’s true,” Laila said. “He also paid Mr. Magoo’s bill in its entirety and paid to have the stray cat you brought in neutered and vaccinated.”

Rayna hadn’t thought her shock could go any deeper, but holy fucking shit, she was wrong.

“He paid for everything last night?” she asked.

“Yes.” Laila studied her. “Was it wrong to accept the donation?”

“No, no.” Rayna slumped against her chair, shock and lack of sleep making her feel slow and stupid. “I don’t know why he did it. He hates me.”

“I’m sure he doesn’t hate you,” Laila said. “Nathan said he stayed and helped you all night. Why would he do that if he hated you?”

“I… I don’t know,” Rayna said. She was too tired to think straight, and her shock over Stark paying for the treatment was draining what little battery she had left.

She sat up straight and smiled at Laila. “Okay, well, thank you. I appreciate you letting me know, and I’ll get one of our volunteers to send him a thank you card.”

“You bet.” Laila stood, and she and Rayna squeezed out of her office. As they headed toward the main treatment area, Rayna said, “So, you’re still good for the fundraiser on Friday?”

“Sure am,” Laila said. “Although I’m a little nervous that no one is going to bid on me.”

“Just do what I’m doing.” Dr. Warren Brandt, the original owner of the clinic before he sold it to Nathan and one of the nicest people Rayna had ever met, had left Nathan’s office to examine a poodle that Hal held on one of the exam tables.

“What’s that?” Laila asked.

“Make someone promise to bid on you if the room goes awkwardly silent when you’re standing on stage,” Warren said.

Hal laughed as Laila said, “Who did you ask?”

“Wanda Taber,” Warren said. “I made her swear she would bid on me if no one else did.”

“That’s kind of brilliant,” Laila said.

“Not bad for an old man, am I right?” Warren grinned at them both. “But honestly, Laila, it isn’t something you’ll need to worry about.”

“Thanks, Warren.” Laila squeezed his shoulder before heading toward reception with Mr. Magoo. “See you Friday night, Rayna.”

Nathan stuck his head out of his office. “Rayna, hey. You have a few minutes to talk about treatment plans for Maeve and Mr. Magoo?”

“I do,” Rayna said. With a wave to Warren and Hal, she followed Nathan into his office.

Stark dipped his head under the shower spray and rinsed away the shampoo. He adjusted the temperature, grumbling about the lack of hot water under his breath. His penthouse had a never-ending supply of hot water and a walk-in shower with multiple shower heads that wasn’t the size of a damn linen closet.

He soaped his body and rinsed clean. If it weren’t for Rayna Abrams and her refusal to sell her property, he would be well on his way to having a perfect shower built in his new house.

“Do you mind if I join you?”

He jerked wildly, nearly slipping and falling on the slick shower floor before he whipped around and stared wide-eyed at Rayna through the foggy glass door. “What the fuck?”

“Hey. I don’t have any hot water at my place. Can I use your shower?” She grinned at him. She wore a long t-shirt, and he studied her bare legs and how her nipples pressed against the thin fabric.

“How did you get in my house?” he asked.

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