Page 39 of Texas Scandal

“Whatever you need to do,” Tiernan said.

“He’s young and strong,” Dr. Paul reassured. He must have heard the slight note of panic in Tiernan’s voice. “His cuts aren’t very deep, so that’s good. Although, I do need to deal with them. Wouldn’t want to risk infection.”

“He’s been to your clinic before,” Tiernan said. “He’ll be comfortable there.”

“I’ll stay with him overnight to make certain,” Dr. Paul promised.

There were no words for the appreciation Tiernan felt for Dr. Paul and his quality of care. He offered a handshake as the vet stood.

“What do you need help with?” Tiernan asked.

“I’ll grab the stretcher from the truck,” he said before heading out the front. He returned a few moments later with stretcher in hand.

With Tiernan’s help, Loki was inside the truck curled in a ball within a couple of minutes. A knot lodged in Tiernan’s throat as Dr. Paul pulled away. The thought of something bad happening to his own kids someday nearly gutted him.

The walk to the living room was slow. He needed to get on his laptop after dinner so he could update his clients on the status of their orders. Like it or not, Christmas was coming with the speed of a roaring freight train. If someone had told him that he would be in the thick of a murder investigation right now he wouldn’t have believed them.

Tiernan moved into the kitchen and heated a couple of plates of food before setting them on the granite island. As he turned around, he stepped on one of Loki’s squeaky toys. Tiernan wasn’t big on displays of emotion, but the reminder caused a squall to rise up in his chest. His ribs squeezed around his heart to the point he had to take a couple of slow, deep breaths to right himself again.

“Everything okay?” Melody asked as she walked into the room. He’d seen her out of the corner of his eye. She glanced around the room and her face dropped. “Where’s Loki?”

MELODY’SHEARTWENTout to Tiernan the second she saw the look on his face when she entered the living area. There was an indescribable emptiness in the space now, which was strange considering she’d never owned a pet. She could barely keep a plant alive. It was good to know herself. No innocent lives died due to her neglect.

“Dr. Paul took him to his clinic,” Tiernan said, his voice rough. He cleared his throat, no doubt trying to cover.

“Why?” she asked.

He gave the quick rundown.

“Sounds like it’s better to be safe than sorry,” she said, trying to offer some reassurance.

He motioned toward their plates that were filled with rib eye steaks, spinach and baked potatoes. At home, Melody usually ate a TV dinner before bed. Eating here reminded her of everything she was missing in homemade meals. Granted, the ready-made ones were decently edible. This was on another level.

Melody took her seat and then started eating. Tiernan grabbed his laptop.

“There are two plates here,” she said, hoping he would join her.

He nodded.

“You forced me to shower a little bit ago and it made a huge difference,” she said. “I hope you’ll let me return the favor by pressuring you to eat.”

Tiernan stared at her for a long moment, indecision written all over his features.

“Please,” she said.

Her plea worked because he walked over and sat down next to her. She reached over and touched his forearm.

“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry,” she said.

Tiernan’s muscles tensed. “It’s not your fault.”

“It feels like it might be,” she said. “I came into your life and look what’s happened.”

“Don’t do that to yourself,” he countered. “Don’t blame yourself for things outside your control. You didn’t ask for any of this, either. Bad things happen to good people.”

He was making sense. And yet, guilt still slammed into her at the thought Loki was in a clinic tonight rather than home in his bed. If she’d left last night, would the fire have happened?

“Still,” she said.

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