Jake laughed. “Jesus, Sax. If I tried conscripting the subs, Z would hand me, balls up, to Mistress Anne.”

“So, you didn’t…?”

“Rainie’s between jobs and heard I fired Lynette. She volunteered to man the desk until the middle of February.”

Saxon let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Deity of All Veterinarians.”

“We can hope it works out. I didn’t check for references. Hell, I don’t even know what kind of job she had before.” At Saxon’s skeptical stare, Jake shrugged. “She’s an honest woman. If she says she can do something, I figure she can.”

“Pretty trusting for you, bro.”

True enough. However…Jake shot him a pointed look to remind him of who’d hired Lynette.

“Right. Shutting up here.”

* * * *

Not long before noon, a retriever pup was brought in, having tried to eat something sharp. After handing the case to Saxon, who loved surgery, Jake, who preferred his patients awake, took over the exams. Hairballs, cancer, ear abscesses, removing stitches. Helping and healing. He loved his job.

If only running a vet clinic didn’t involve running a business, he’d be a happy man.

When he finally emerged from the exam rooms, Rainie sat behind the reception counter, looking as calm and collected as when she’d first walked in. Although she’d removed the jacket to her dark red suit, she was still too classy for the clinic.

He eyed her, trying to decipher what appeared different. Ah. Her tattoos were completely covered by her three-quarter-length sleeves. With her hair pulled back in a French braid, she was a poster child for professionalism.

“Doctor Sheffield,” she said, making him smile with her formality. “When you’re free, I have a list of calls for you to return.” She gave him a notepad with several—completely readable—messages. “Nothing is urgent, and they’re all willing to wait until you take a break.”

“That’s—”

“Your tech Ceecee said the kennel attendant schedule hadn’t been done, so I took a stab at creating one. Kris gave me the pile of vacation requests from your desk and the usual hours each person works.” She handed him a neatly labeled folder. “I printed out a tentative schedule and put it in here with the requests. I think I satisfied them all, but you should check it over and okay it.”

“I could use you at my office. What are you doing working as a receptionist?” a new client holding a cat carrier asked from the waiting area.

Rainie smiled. “Just helping Dr. Sheffield out temporarily.”

With her terrier perched politely beside her on the bench, Mrs. Pritchert peered over her reading glasses. “You lucked out with this one, Doc. That snippy receptionist last week wasn’t worth the ink on her paycheck.”

He found no discreet answer available, so he nodded his response, then studied the papers in his hand. “Excellent work, Rainie.”

At his pleased smile, pink bloomed in her cheeks. Submissive. And delightful.

Obviously flustered, she rose to greet Mrs. Flanders, who’d brought in her grumpy Doberman. Even the techs were careful when dealing with the ancient canine.

But when the old woman dropped her checkbook, Rainie hurried around the counter to pick it up. She remained crouched and held out her hand. “Good grief, you’re a big guy. You’d probably eat my little dog for breakfast and still want more.”

Prince Albert’s ears pricked forward. After sniffing her palm, he gave a butt-wiggle of approval. Know how you feel, old man. Rainie was soft, caring, and a real heart-tugger.

“Where is Rhage, by the way?” Jake asked, hoping she hadn’t left the animal at home. A bored pup could rip an apartment to pieces.

“Under my desk. Kris was a sweetheart and took him outside when she walked the other dogs.” Rainie grinned. “She wore him out so thoroughly he’s been sleeping since.”

Jake glanced over and saw the dog sprawled in a hand-fashioned bed. “Good enough.”

“Are you taking your lunch now?” Rainie asked.

He snorted. “Hardly. Lynette never bothered to schedule breaks or lunches.”

“Seriously?” She scowled. “That surly, sway-backed strumpet.”

“Excuse me?”

She waved an airy hand. “I’m practicing pirate curses.”

At the thought of her sumptuous curves beneath him while she cursed him like a fishwife, Jake laughed. And his body hardened.

She didn’t notice, but with her beautiful mouth set into a determined line, she stared at her monitor. “I’ll make sure you get time for lunch tomorrow.”

He barely managed to refrain from stroking her hair. Instead, he took the folder she’d given him and headed into his office.

Saxon would be praying to his Deity of All Veterinarians to keep this woman.

Jake might set up an altar himself.

* * * *

The sun was rising when Rainie unlocked the clinic by herself two days later. Good thing Jake had given her a key since a client had arranged to arrive early to drop off her puppies to be vaccinated. Ginger hadn’t wanted to be late to work.

Having experienced the joy that was Cory, Rainie understood all too well.

“Hey, come on in,” Rainie said. With Rhage tucked under her arm, she held the door open for Ginger to edge past with her big box.

Rhage’s ears pricked up at the squeaking noises.

“You can put them behind the counter,” Rainie said. “As soon as one of the kennel staff is free, she’ll get them settled in the back.”

“I really appreciate you taking them early.” Ginger set the box down and lifted up one of the puppies. “Y’all be good for Rainie, you hear?”

“Oh, they’re adorable.” When Rainie made an involuntary movement, Ginger put the tiny squirming ball of fur in her hand.

Plush and soft. Rainie held the baby up to her face, and a teeny tongue touched her chin.

Ginger grinned. “It’s difficult to imagine they’ll grow to seventy pounds or so.” She rubbed the little perked-up triangular ears. “Shepherds make such cute puppies.”

Rainie sighed. “I don’t know much about animals, but so far, I haven’t met an ugly puppy.” And she’d managed to hold most of them. It was a weakness.

Rhage planted his paws on her knees, stretching up for a sniff.

“Don’t worry, my hero dog,” she told him, tucking the puppy back into the box. “You own my heart.” Although the puppies had stolen a piece or two.

Ginger glanced at her watch. “I’m gone. I’ll see you at lunch to get my batch of fuzzy-butts.”

“They’ll be ready for you.”

In the wonderfully quiet office, Rainie worked steadily for an hour until the staff showed up, followed by the first appointments. As time passed, the waiting room filled.

Jake and Saxon were keeping up fairly well. It helped that the technicians handled the shots and initial exams. The clinic hadn’t yet achieved the super-smooth functioning that was Rainie’s goal, but the work was totally fun.

And then it wasn’t.

A man entered with a slender black dog. “Rainie, what are you doing here?”

Her heart leaped at the familiar tenor—and crashed. She wiped away her expression. “Geoffrey, it’s good to see you.”

Her ex-fiancé looked…good. His lightly tanned face showed off his clear blue eyes and a new trim mustache.

“Are you working here?” he asked. His white shirt was stiff and bright, his silk tie perfect for the silver-gray pinstripe suit. Beautifully tailored, as always.

Not her. She grew keenly aware of the bloody splotch on her sleeve, and the stain from where Rhage had put his paws on her skirt. At least her legs were under the counter; a fleeing kitten had climbed her like a tree and snagged her hose.

“I’m working here temporarily.” Submerging herself in the safety of business, she opened the schedule. “Ah, I see there’s a miniature Doberman scheduled for a routine physical and shots. He belongs to Kailie Hollingsworth.”

He smiled sheepishly. “She’s my wife.”

Married. Her mind went blank.

“Geoff, good to see you.” Jake walked out of his office. The two men shook hands with the brotherly buffet on the shoulder that meant an extra dollop of friendship.

“Doing great. I don’t know if you heard. Kailie is pregnant.” Geoffrey’s chest pumped up as if he’d invented procreation all by himself.

The first kick in the teeth hadn’t even dissipated before the pain of the second hit Rainie. Pregnant? What happened to not wanting children for years, maybe not at all?

“Congratulations.” Jake grinned. “That would be why you’re stuck dealing with Kailie’s demon Doberman?”

“That would be why. Kailie can’t manage more in the mornings than looking green. At least, she has a ton of international clients and later in the day works well for contacting them.” Geoffrey handed Jake the leash and nodded to Rainie. “It was good to run into you again.”

“And you,” Rainie managed past the blockage in her throat.

Jake turned a speculative gaze on her and Geoffrey. “You two know each other?”