Exam One was empty. Selina went in and carefully set Gary on the table. He didn’t want to let go, but he was getting heavy. The little guy has to be a good twelve pounds.
Fortunately, there was an open jar of dog treats on the counter. As she bribed him on to the table, he grabbed the cookie with paws that reminded her of a raccoon. No wonder they break out of ordinary cages.
“Don’t give him too many of those,” said a soft male voice from the doorway. “You should really be looking for grain-free products.”
Selina felt like a mom caught feeding her infant french fries. Heat flared in her cheeks as she wheeled to face the door. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”
Oh! She caught sight of the speaker. “Dr Jake, I presume?”
He was young, in blue jeans and a navy T-shirt under a rumpled lab coat. The look was more outdoorsy than doctorish, his footwear sturdy hiking boots. His eyes and wavy hair were both a rich brown that made her think of dark chocolate fudge.
“Jake Hallender,” he offered a hand.
“Selina Pearson.” As she grasped his hand, she felt the same heat that had radiated from the receptionist’s skin. Wolf. She resisted the urge to flinch away. It wasn’t hard. His smile was filled with easy-going, good-humoured amusement, with just a pinch of mischief. There was nothing obviously threatening about the vet, unless one could weaponize male charm.
I bet he knows he’s cute. He has that look, like he could get away with anything and you’d forgive him. Who knew male arrogance crossed species lines? The doctor’s gaze was travelling up her body, eventually coming to rest on her face. From his expression, he liked what he saw. She took back her hand and turned pointedly to the exam table, avoiding inspection.
Gary was poking at his wing again. He’d abandoned the treat.
“I think my gargoyle’s wing is broken,” she said, getting right down to business.
“How long have you had him?” Dr Jake picked up a stethoscope and hooked it into his ears.
“About an hour.”
He stopped short. “An hour?”
“Yes, I got him this afternoon,” Selina looked at her watch. “And, I’m sorry, but I need to be back at the office by five for an appointment. I’ve already put it off once.”
The vet all but rolled his eyes. “If you’ve got a full schedule, maybe you should adopt a cactus instead of a pet.” Although his tone was polite, there was a sudden edge of frost.
She felt the heat in her cheeks deepen. “I didn’t set out this morning to adopt anything. It was an accident.”
Dr Jake gave her a curious look before pressing the end of the stethoscope against Gary’s back and stomach, making him squirm. “An accident, huh? Gargoyles need at least some attention, and they’re not small. This boy will grow to seventy-five pounds or so.”
“Well, that’s a relief.”
Dr Jake raised an eyebrow. “A relief?”
“The pet store said one-twenty.”
“Stores often don’t know what they have. The big gargoyles are the European breed. The greys like yours are smaller. Friendlier, too.”
As if to demonstrate, Gary made a gentle squawk into the stethoscope, grabbing it in one paw and then trying to stuff it into his beak. The vet winced, pulling the earpieces out and hanging the instrument around his neck. “Well, there’s nothing wrong with his heart or lungs. You’re lucky. Domestic specimens are often so inbred there are birth defects. Your boy’s just fine.” He turned Gary around and began examining his damaged wing. Gary chittered a protest, but didn’t try to bite.
Selina watched Jake’s square, competent hands as he worked. Firm but gentle. What else were those hands expert at?
He administered a shot, explaining it was to freeze the wing. Then he cast her a sideways glance. “So what made you accidentally buy a gargoyle?”
“I rescued him from a guy with a broom. Gary was on the lam from the pet store and took a dive into the cereal aisle at the Save-It Store.”
The vet looked at her with new interest, one that went beyond physical appreciation. Rescuing Gary had obviously scored her points, which should have been a good thing. For Selina, not so much. Her empathic gift told her more than she wanted to know. She could feel his attention like a klieg light. That was the difference between a human and a wolf. When a wolf chose to notice you, he really looked. But Selina spent her life flying under the radar, and that much scrutiny was uncomfortable.
“I’m not sure I can keep a pet,” she said flatly, hoping that would put him off. “I work in an antiques gallery. I’m gone most of the day and I live in a small apartment.”
“Does the landlord allow pets?”
“I guess so. The lady next door used to have a parrot.” She watched him dab what looked like a gel on the back of Gary’s wing. Despite herself, she leaned closer to get a better look. “What is that stuff?”
“Glue, actually. It will help immobilize the wing while the bone heals.” He carefully folded the wing into a natural, closed position. “Can you hold him just like that?”
Selina slipped her hands next to his, conscious of the warmth of his skin and the soft fuzz of Gary’s hide. Dr Jake began binding the closed wing against Gary’s back, wrapping the bandage just below the creature’s armpits. “The worst habit baby gargoyles have is a tendency to swallow small objects. Rings, erasers, marbles—”
“Stethoscopes.”
He laughed, a quick flash of white teeth. “Yeah. You have to watch them pretty carefully. Otherwise, they’re excellent company. Easy to house train. As long as they have a window and somewhere to perch, they’re pretty content to watch the world go by.”
“Good to know,” Selina replied. “How long is it going to take the wing to heal?”
He caught her eye, a smile lurking at the corners of his mouth. He brushed her hands more than was strictly necessary as he fastened the bandage. “About a month. There will be follow-up visits.”
Selina caught the teasing tone in his voice. “Is that so?”
He gave her puppy dog eyes. “Several.”
He held her gaze. She felt like ice cream slowly turning to a sticky puddle. Don’t go there. Really. Do. Not. Encourage. Him.
Jake’s smile was taking over his face, one dimple at a time.
Dammit. “Are you flirting?” Stupid question.
“Would you like me to?”
“I didn’t think wolves dated humans.”
“But you’re fey.”
Selina’s whole body jolted with shock. Oh, crap. She was busted.
“Ah, sorry,” he said, smile fading. “From the look on your face, you’d rather keep that private.”
“I’m only half fey,” Selina countered, feeling her heart skitter. “You’re the first person in town who’s guessed.” And you’d better be the last!
“I knew quite a few fey back in my home town. I recognized your scent.”
“Guess I’d better wear heavier perfume.”
“Your secret’s safe with me.”
“There are professional reasons. .” No one does business with a fey. The humans think we’re all tricksters. I’d lose my job.
“Say no more.”
“Please. .”
“Don’t you trust wolves?” His eyebrows arched. “Why don’t I try and convince you of my honesty over coffee?”