Page 23 of Second Act
“Khonsu is out of the woods,” Jessica said to the director. “Shaq’s doing fine, too.”
“Diego told me. That’s wonderful news,” Emily said. “Thank you so much for caring for them through the night. We’re so lucky to have you.”
“It’s just my job,” Jess said. She swayed a little, so Hugh stepped closer and slipped his arm around her.
“I appreciate your telling me where to find our dedicated doctor,” he said. “Now it’s time to make our exit.”
Emily held out the bag with a wide smile. “I had a feeling you might want this.”
Jess reached for the bag, but Hugh snagged it first, slinging it over his shoulder. Emily’s smile turned approving. “I like a man who can handle a purse,” she said.
Hugh winked and steered Jess out the front door. Anticipation flickered through him as they walked down the steps to the limo. Being with Jess reminded him of a time when everything seemed possible, even love.
Jessica slid onto the leather seat of the limo, making a quick scan of the opulent wood paneling, the thick gray carpeting, and the heavily tinted windows. She knew she was loopy from sleep deprivation, so she went back to debating whether she should really go to a hotel with Hugh. The thought of eating food someone else fixed for her and taking a long, luxurious bath had tempted her beyond resisting. But there was more to it than that. There was Hugh himself.
When she’d awakened to find herself cradled against the hard, warm wall of his chest, held by the tensile strength of his arms, it had felt...wonderful. He had smelled good, too, something she appreciated after a night with sick dogs. She had turned her head into the place where the soft cashmere of his black sweater stopped at his throat to inhale the combination of sandalwood and clean man.
She groaned as she wondered what odorsshewas exuding.
Just then the car door opened, and Hugh settled onto the seat beside her. As the limousine glided away from the curb, he smiled. “I promise you won’t regret coming with me.”
The slightly crooked slant of his lips was so familiar and so tempting. She shook her head. “I’m confused. It’s only ten o’clock in the morning. Aren’t you supposed to be shooting blanks at bad guys?”
“We had some permit problems, so my scenes got canceled for today.” There was a funny note in his voice that she couldn’t quite pin down. “I decided it was the perfect opportunity to spend more time with you.”
She ignored the flutter of gratification that gave her. “How did you even find me?”
He barked out a short laugh. “It wasn’t easy until I got hold of Aidan.”
She sucked in a breath when he took her hand and twined his fingers with hers, his touch on the sensitive Vs between her fingers setting off a tingling awareness. He looked down at their hands. “Thank you for spending your day off with me.”
His words pinged against her heart. How could this man at the pinnacle of his world feel gratitude toward her for agreeing to spend a few extra hours with him? Yet she could tell he meant it. “I may spend most of it sleeping, so don’t be too grateful yet,” she said.
“Well, Iwouldrecommend a bath first,” he said, his turquoise eyes lit with amusement.
That stung, even though she knew it was true. “I was taking care of two sick dogs. What do you expect me to smell like?”
The amusement left his face. “I know all about it. Emily is a staunch admirer of yours. She says you’ve saved more than one of their rescue dogs.”
“That’s what veterinarians do.” But she couldn’t help the flicker of pleasure it gave her that Hugh had repeated Emily’s compliment.
“Not all of them. You’ve always been extraordinary in your commitment to your patients.” She wasn’t sure if he considered that a good thing or a bad thing, since it had caused much of the friction intheir past, but then he continued. “That passion is what makes you a great vet.”
His grip tightened, and the press of his palm against her skin sent licks of heat up her arm. She slipped her hand out of his grasp and spread it open on her thigh. She didn’t want Hugh to affect her that way.
“I appreciate the endorsement.” When she glanced up at him, his smile was gone and he had folded his arms across his chest. Did it bother him that she had withdrawn her hand? “Do you have any pets now?”
The tension eased in his body language as he stretched out his long, black-denim–wrapped legs and crossed them at the ankles. “My lifestyle isn’t conducive to keeping animals, except maybe goldfish. Too many lengthy absences in foreign countries.”
“You were never much of a dog person, anyway.”
“Ironic, given how we met, isn’t it?” The shadow of hurt had left his eyes. “I didn’t encounter any dogs at your house when I stopped by to persuade Aidan to tell me where you were. I assumed you’d have several, probably three-legged, blind, and missing an ear.”
Jessica laughed at his jibe about veterinarians’ propensity for adopting animals whom no one else would. “Same problem as yours. Too many hours away from home. Although we have an office cat who tolerates very few people other than me.”
“Because you’re an animal whisperer. That hasn’t changed,” he said.
“I’m the same as always. You’re the one who’s become so different. A superstar. Famous the world over. Meeting kings and queens. You even have my office manager, Carla, awestruck, and she’s almost impossible to impress.”
