Puppy Love. Kelly Moran

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СКАЧАТЬ know much about—”

      He ground his teeth. “People manage just fine with one or both legs amputated, don't they? He's young. He'll adjust. Yes or no, ma'am?”

      Startled, her gaze whipped to his. She'd be a stunner with her huge eyes, pouty mouth, and button nose if he hadn't disliked her on the spot. “I… I'm not sure I know what you're asking.”

      He briefly closed his eyes and prayed for patience. “There's a healing period involved. Money to pay for his care. Are you going to be up for that? Because if not, just leave. Either he's your dog or he's not.”

      “He's…” Her brown gaze drifted to the exam table. Surprise flitted in her eyes. She covered her mouth with her hand as tears welled.

      Narrowing his eyes, he turned.

      The little girl stroked the puppy's head, her face pressed to the fur on his neck. She didn't say anything, nor did she appear upset, but the puppy sure liked what she was doing. His tail limply thumped the table and his trusting eyes were watching her. They seemed to have a bond already in place, which would make it even crappier if the woman walked out and never came back.

      Turning to face her, he raised his brows in question, but she paid him no mind. She watched the girl and the puppy with a tentative smile and shock clearly evident. Why the shock? Kids loved animals. This was their dog, after all. It stood to reason the girl would be upset the little guy got hurt.

      Even though she seemed to be having some kind of moment, it was getting late. He needed to get going on an IV. “Ma'am?”

      She flinched and looked between him and the table. After a second, she collected herself and wiped her eyes. “Yes. He's our dog. Do whatever you need to do to help him.” Her gaze softened once more as she stepped closer to the table and tapped the girl on the shoulder. “Time to go, sweetie. The doctor here is going to help…him. We'll come check on him tomorrow, okay?”

      How odd she didn't try to comfort the child. Put her arm around her or offer a hug. Something. The girl had blood down the front of her and had been, no doubt, traumatized by seeing her pet injured. Yet the woman stood there as if she didn't have a heart beating or a compassionate bone in her body.

      This was why he preferred animals to people. “What's the dog's name?”

      “Oh. Um…”

      He sighed. “Let me guess. You don't know.”

      A sliver of irritation flicked in her eyes before it was masked and she looked to her daughter once more. “His name is…” She tilted her head, chocolate eyes glazing over. “Seraph. His name is Seraph.”

      “Seraph?” It was rare someone surprised him anymore. He would've guessed Lucky or Champ or some other cliché.

      “It's another name for angel—”

      “I know.” Still, she just got bonus points. “Head home. I'll get your info from Justine in the morning. You can come visit during clinic hours.”

      She nodded and kneeled next to her daughter. “Come on, sweetie. We'll come see him tomorrow.”

      After they'd gone, Cade inserted an IV filled with warm saline to bring the dog's temperature up a little and started antibiotics. He drew some blood and ran a CBC to check platelets, then did vitals again. The little guy took it in stride. Pleased the puppy was doing well, he yanked a chair up to the exam table and pulled out his cell.

      Drake was going to be pissed, but this couldn't wait until morning. The dog needed surgery, and his oldest brother was their clinic surgeon. Cade could do it himself, but he didn't want to call in a tech and Drake was better.

      “I'm not on call.”

      Cade grinned. “Maybe I just missed you.”

      There was a lengthy pause. “What do you want? And by that, I mean you better be up to your ass in greyhounds needing my cutting expertise. It's almost midnight.”

      “Got a yellow lab puppy requiring an amputation. Does that qualify?”

      Drake groaned. “Is it stable?”

      Cade bit back the string of insults he wanted to let loose. It wasn't as if he wasn't used to being underestimated. “I'm not an idiot, you know. I have a degree and everything. I'm even sure I can spell veterinarian if I try real hard—”

      “I'll be there in ten. Prep the room.”

      Cade pocketed his phone and rubbed the puppy behind his ears, earning two thumps of a tail.

      “Seraph.” He shook his head. “Your owner is really something. Kinda pretty, too. She gave you a great name, even if she did leave you out in the snow, the big meanie.”

      Two more tail thumps.

      “I have to go prepare the surgery room for my ornery brother, but I'll be right back. You just hang out here for a minute.” He stroked the puppy's back. “I promise we'll get you fixed up. You'll be good as new soon.”

      Thump, thump.

      Chapter 2

      After two anal gland appointments and a lethargic guinea pig rounding out his patients for the morning, Cade walked up to the front desk and eyed his aunt, who was baby talking their clinic dog, Thor. The Great Dane hid under the desk, cowering from She-rah, their evil cat. And evil she was. Charts teetered precariously from the long counter. At least the lobby was empty. It had been a damn crazy morning.

      Squawk. “You spin me right round.” Gossip, the cockatoo—yet another abandoned animal—bobbed his head. One of these days, Cade would have to teach him to say something other than song titles or lyrics. As it was, that's all the bird did thanks to his former owner. That, and tease the cat.

      Cade scratched his jaw. “Am I good to go for lunch?”

      Aunt Rosa sighed dramatically. Everything was dramatic with Rosa from her red spiky hair to her cheetah print shirt. “Will you look at this?” She narrowed her eyes at Thor. “Grow a pair and come out of there. It's just a cat.”

      She-rah licked her paw and meowed from the top of the printer, bored by the events. I bet I can get the dog to lose his bladder. Wanna see?

      Thor didn't move.

      Shaking his head, Cade picked up She-rah, much to her disdain—put me down you insolent peasant—and set her in the back room. Returning to the lobby, he called for Thor. The hundred and ten pound dog commando crawled from under the desk and hid behind Rosa's chair.

      Cade lifted his brows. “Now may I go to lunch?”

      Not that Rosa was their boss or anything, but he and his brothers knew not to rock the boat. For twenty years, their aunt had managed the clinic and acted as receptionist. Poorly, but beggars couldn't be choosers. Rosa was their mother's sister and one of what Cade liked to refer to as The Battleaxes. Their mother, Gayle, Aunt Rosa, and other sister, Marie—also town mayor—ruled Redwood Ridge with an iron fist and oatmeal cookies. They were crazy, meddling women who he loved and feared. Mostly feared.

      “Have you found СКАЧАТЬ