Page 34 of Second Act
Very physical nostalgia. Her body still hummed with a bone-deep satisfaction. When Hugh’s image drifted into her thoughts, satisfaction changed to anticipation, which would remain a profound, unfulfilled ache. Their farewell at four in the morning had been pretty final, although Hugh had promised to send her tickets for the movie’s premiere next winter. She gave a mental snort. Or he would ask his assistant, Trevor, to send the tickets.
“You were engaged to Hugh Baker?” Carla’s eyes went wide. “And you never mentioned that?”
“We haven’t been in contact since I gave back the ring, so it didn’t seem relevant to my current life.” Nor to her future life.
“What about your friends who want to live vicariously?” Carla said, but her tone was softer. “You can tell me later when you’re not worn out from whatever wore you out.” She winked and sashayed out of the room.
Jessica couldn’t help smiling. Carla’s sass always lifted her spirits.
“Here’s your first victim,” Caleb said, carrying in a huge tomcat. “Ready to get denutted.”
Her surgery schedule was light, mostly spays and neuters, which she could do in her sleep, so she finished up in time to take a full hour for lunch. She was reading a newly arrived veterinary journal with her feet propped on her desk and Geode on her lap when Carla leaned in.“This is your week for good-looking male visitors,” she said. “This one’s blond.” And she was gone.
Jessica lifted Geode off her thighs and dropped her feet to the floor with a thump, guilt spearing through her as she assumed it was Pete. She hadn’t spared a thought for him since Hugh had awakened her in the storage closet at the Carver Center. She tried to straighten her bun as she heard heavy footsteps coming down the hall.
But the man who came through the door was a stranger, albeit a striking one. He wore a well-cut tweed jacket and charcoal trousers and held a large vase of vividly hued flowers that could barely compete with his brilliant green eyes. “Dr. Quillen?” he said in a cultured voice. “I’m Will Chase. I’m on the board at the Carver Center and wanted to thank you for your care of Khonsu and Shaq.”
Jessica stood up to accept the vase he held out. “You didn’t need to bring me flowers for doing my job, but I appreciate their beauty.” She sniffed at a rose and smiled. “They smell a lot better than the sick dogs, too.”
He smiled back. “Spending the night with them in the basement storage room went above and beyond. Those dogs happen to be important to some kids I am especially fond of, so I wanted to express my gratitude in person.”
“That’s very kind of you.” She set the flowers on top of one of her filing cabinets, where their extravagance looked out of place among the cheap furniture. She’d put them out in the reception area after he left so they would cheer her clients. Jessica plunked back down on her ergonomic chair. “Have a seat,” she said to her still-standing guest. His manners went with his voice.
Will eased himself into the rickety chair in front of her desk, crossing his legs in an elegant motion. “I’d like to make a donation to the clinic,” Will said.
“Seriously, the flowers are enough.” Her clinic wasn’t a nonprofit, so she couldn’t accept donations, anyway.
He shook his head with a smile. “Would you like me to give it to the Harlem Animal Shelter? I know that’s where most of the K-9 Angelz come from.”
His relentless refusal to accept no for an answer reminded her of Hugh, although Will Chase covered his obduracy with a veneer of smooth charm.
“The shelter does great work and they could use the money,” Jessica said. “They would be a worthy recipient.”
He rose and held out his hand. “Carla says you’re on your lunch hour, so I won’t take up any more of your time, but I had to meet the miracle worker of the K-9 Angelz in person.”
His grip was firm and warm, exactly what she would expect, given his refined exterior. “No miracles involved, just some metronidazole and IV fluids. Nice to meet you, though.”
He released her hand with another beguiling smile. “To a layman, that seems miraculous enough. The Carver Center is fortunate to have you.”
Jessica didn’t have long to wait before Carla strolled into her office. “You know who that is, right?” she asked.
“A Carver Center board member,” Jessica said.
“He’s Kyra Dixon’s fiancé. And a billionaire.”
“No wonder the flowers are so nice,” Jessica said. “Wait, is he the person who started Ceres for Canines, all because Shaq has a sensitive stomach?”
“Nailed it. You know, if I didn’t like you so much, I’d go work at the Carver Center,” Carla said. “A lot of hot, rich men hang around there. Of course, now they’re starting to hang around here, so I guess I’ll stay.”
Jessica chuckled and stood to pick up the flowers. “You can put these on the reception counter so everyone can enjoy their beauty.”
“You know, you’re allowed to keep something for yourself every now and then,” Carla said as she took the vase.
“I don’t spend enough time in here to hog the flowers.” Jessica glanced at the time on her computer screen. “And we both have to get back to work.”
However, when she returned to her office after she’d finished her afternoon appointments, a water glass filled with a handful of blossoms sat on her desk. Carla had shared the wealth.
Jessica dropped into her chair with a smile and pulled out her cell phone to check her text messages. She’d felt a couple of vibrations while she was examining her last patient.
