Second Chance (2 page)

Or so he’d thought.

He sighed.

“You all right?” Tish queried.

“Hmm?”  He picked up the
thermometer, eyeing Tiny who was happily looking around with no idea of what
was coming.

“You’re sighing.”

“Am I?”  He grabbed Tiny’s tail. 
“It’s okay, boy.”  He slid the thermometer in place.  Tiny swung his head
around to look accusingly at him.  Personally, Grant didn’t blame him, he
wouldn’t have liked it shoved up his rear end either. He gave the dog a
soothing stroke.  “Over in a minute.”

Tiny wasn’t appeased, snorting out
a breath.

Tish patted his head.  “It’s all
right, feller.”

Finished the check, Grant took the
vaccination from the ‘fridge, drew up the liquid and injected it under the skin
on Tiny’s neck.  Giving the dog a brisk pat, he took the lead from a surprised Tish. 
“I’ll take him out to Tam.”

“Really?”

“Yep.  If you can get the next
patient in, I’ll be right back.”

Grant led the dog out the door. 
Yvonne and Morganna were nowhere in sight.

“They’re in consult room two.” 
Elissa gave a half smile.  “Thought it’d be wiser with Tiny coming back out.”

“Good idea, thanks.”  He glanced
around, his gaze settling on Tam where she stood with her back to the room
reading the posters.  “Tam?”

Immediately she turned, the
beaming smile replaced with a polite one as she walked up to him, took the lead
from his hand and gave Tiny a quick pat.  “Thank you very much.  Elissa said
she’d send the bill out to Mr Haddell.”

“No worries.”  He hesitated. 
“Tam, I…”  He halted.  Geez, what to say?  Especially with Elissa standing
behind the reception counter, able to hear and see everything, not to mention
Tish walking into consult room two while studying both him and Tam.

“Thanks once again,” Tam said. 
“I’m sure Mr Haddell appreciates it.”  Turning, she walked out, those generous
hips swaying, the ruffle of the skirt fluttering around her knees.

Damn it.  No way could he just let
her walk out all stiff and polite when she’d previously been all warm and
happy.

Ignoring the surprised expressions
on Elissa and Tish’s faces, he hurried out, smacking the door open with the palm
of his hand.  “Tam, wait!”

The back tray of a small ute was
already down, the door to the big cage securely fastened to the tray open.  The
top was solid to give shade, the back of the cage against the rear window to
give shelter.  She glanced sideways at him while patting the floor of the
cage.  “Up, Tiny.”

Moving up beside her, Grant waited
with his hands in his pockets while the dog obeyed, jumping up into the cage and
panting happily as she secured the door closed.

Only then did Tam look up politely
at him.  “Did I forget something, Dr Wilson?”

Ouch.  Dr Wilson
.  “No. 
Look, I’m sorry, Tam.  You kind of caught me off-guard back in there.”

“I gathered it wasn’t a pleasant
surprise.  I won’t keep you from your work.”  Giving a short nod, she walked
around to the driver’s door.

Grant was right on her heels.  “It’s
not like that, really.”

“Oh, I’m sure it is.”  Opening the
door, she slid behind the wheel, slamming the door with a little more force
than necessary and almost taking his fingers with it.

Bending down, he peered into the
open window, tried once more.  “About that catch-up-”

“I agree, let’s not do it.”  She
started the car, music billowed softly out of the loudspeaker, and drove off, leaving
him staring after her like an idiot.

Shit.  He’d really done it now. 
Not only had he hurt her feelings but her defences were well and truly up. 
Hand ruffling through his hair, he sighed.  It wasn’t like him to be so cool
towards people.  Absent-minded, yes, but not cool.  Yet along came Tamara Banner
and it was like he was that year four kid again, ready to defend himself.

Geez, it wasn’t like she’d tried
to yank his daks down again in the consult room.  She’d been nothing but happy
and friendly, and for God’s sake, she was an adult.  He hadn’t seen her for
years.  Cripes, if Benny Harbour had appeared, he’d probably have shaken his
hand even if Benny had shoved him into the swimming pool when he could barely
swim.  People grew up, people changed.

“Scaring off customers now?” a
voice asked from behind him.

Simon, Elissa’s firie husband, was
standing near the fire truck while munching on a sandwich.

“Nope.”

“That little lady left in a bit of
a snit.”

“You noticed, huh?”

“Kind of hard not to.  Like it was
kind of hard not to notice that you were begging her to go out with you.”

“I wasn’t begging,” Grant growled.

“You had your head almost in the
window with your tongue practically dangling out.”  Simon grinned.  “Maybe
you’re hanging around with the dogs too much.  Is that a hazard of being a
vet?”

“Do you ever stop eating?  Has
Elissa had you wormed?  It might be tapeworms.”

“You want a sample of my poo to
check?”

“Want me to take your
temperature?”

“Have you got a little crush on
me?”

Grant shuddered.

“Hey, don’t laugh.  I’m quite a
catch.  Ask my wife.”  Simon popped the last of the sandwich in his mouth.

“I take it you’re here for a
reason?”

“My wife works here.”

Grant brushed several of the
sprayed bread crumbs off his shirt.

“You don’t want remnants of my
sandwich, don’t ask me questions when my mouth is full.”  Simon held up a paper
bag.  “I’m dropping off Elissa’s lunch.”

“Is there any left?”

“What are you insinuating?”

“You ate one of her sandwiches,
didn’t you?”

“I bought extra for me.”  Simon
grinned affably.  “I plan ahead.”

Grant started back towards the
clinic.

Simon fell into step beside him. 
“So, that pretty little sheila.  What did you do to upset her?”

“What makes you think I did
anything?”

“We’re going in circles here. 
Remember the begging, the tongue hanging out?”

“It was nothing.”  Opening the
door, Grant walked into the reception.

His gaze landed on Elissa and
Tish, finding his receptionist and nurse both standing near the window, both
studying pieces of paper they held.  Oh yeah, like they hadn’t been spying on
him out in the car park trying to make amends with Tam.

Rolling his eyes, he started for
consultation room two.  “Tish, I’ll need you with me.”

“In case you upset this customer,
too?” Simon queried, dropping a kiss on Elissa’s head while handing her the
lunch bag.

No, more like protection.  Yvonne
was chasing him shamelessly.  With the four most eligible bachelors in Gully’s
Fall all married, her sights had fallen on him.  Apparently he was next on the
list.  He’d find it funny if he wasn’t a little wary of the man-hungry piranha
waiting for him.

Simon’s laughter followed him into
the consult room.  Shutting the door behind Tish, he turned to face Yvonne and
Morganna.

“Oh, Grant.” Yvonne pouted a
little.  “That woman had no right to bring her dog in here when she couldn’t
control it.”  She started to reach out to touch him.  “Are you all right?”

Tish neatly inserted herself
between Grant and Yvonne.  “What can we do for you today?”

Shamelessly using his nurse as a
screen, Grant slid behind the examination table.

“Just a little check-up for my
baby.”  Yvonne looked almost downright hungry as she eyed Grant.

Ye gods.

“I think she’s in heat.”  Yvonne tried
to look coy, but the man-eater couldn’t quite manage it.  “Wanting a man dog…if
you know what I mean.”

“I see,” he said, very much afraid
he did know what she
really
meant.  “Not such a good idea to bring her
out of the yard or house in this condition.  Other dogs will scent her.”

“Scent her?” Yvonne asked coyly.

“The bitch is on heat,” Tish said
bluntly.  “Every unsterilized dog will be wanting to shag her.  You’d know all
about that.”

Uh-oh
.  Biting his lip to
stop the grin from forming, Grant reached for the stethoscope.

Yvonne’s gaze narrowed.  “I beg
your pardon?”

“Having an unsterilized female dog
attracts the males,” Tish explained slowly, as though Yvonne wouldn’t have a
clue.  “Remember we went through this when you first bought Morganna but
wouldn’t have her fixed?”

“I want to breed her.”

“And breeding comes with
responsibilities.”  Tish turned briskly to Grant.  “Ready for the exam?”

“Yep.”  Amused, he moved around
the exam table.

With an expert move, Tish nudged
Yvonne back and squatted down, putting herself neatly between Grant and Yvonne,
forcing Yvonne to stand in the corner.  Barely managing to contain her scowl,
Yvonne folded her arms beneath her barely covered breasts and watched.

Listening to Morganna’s steady
heartbeat, Grant caught Tish’s eye.  She winked at him and he winked back.

As soon as he’d finished the exam,
Yvonne took Morganna’s lead and smiled up at him.  “So, how about a drink
tonight?”

“Ah - no, but thanks.  I have
plans.”

“Plans?  In Gully’s Fall?”  She
laughed, sidled closer, giving him a lungful of heavy perfume.  “What could you
possibly have to do tonight that’s so urgent?”

Looking down into her sharp eyes,
the slight hardness in her beautiful features, he thought how different she
looked to Tam with her genuine humour and happiness.  Which he’d crushed.

“I’ve an old friend to catch-up
with,” he replied quietly.

There came the pout.  “Oh, but-”

 Tish opened the consult room
door.  “All done, Yvonne.  Elissa will fix up the bill with you.”

“Maybe another time?” Yvonne
asked, not yet ready to give up.

“No, she’ll do it now,” Tish said
before Grant could say anything.

Yvonne sent her a murderous
glare.  “I meant drinks.”

“Who?  Me?  That’s sweet of you, but
my husband is expecting me home after work.”

Taking the chance to beat a
retreat, Grant slid out the door in the back of the consult room.  Shaking his head,
he walked into the first consult room and checked the computer schedule.  Mrs
Winters would be in shortly with her black and white cat to get his stitches
out.  While he waited, he made himself a cup of coffee in the little
kitchenette and contemplated his next move.

Yep, after work he had an old
school acquaintance to catch up with and amends to make.

~*~

Well, that had certainly been
humiliating.

Blowing back a strand of hair that
flopped into her eyes, Tam glanced into the rear view mirror to see Tiny
looking in at her.  The big dog wanted to sit beside her but he was safer secured
in the cage.  One thing her Aunt had just about beaten into her brain was that
the big and medium sized dogs got secured in the cage, while the  little dogs and
other small pets went into a carry basket on the front seat.  Beguiling
expression or not, Tiny was staying in the cage.

 At least the dog’s expression was
more friendly than Grant’s had been.  Back to the humiliation.

Indicating, Tam swung the ute into
a side street and continued onwards.

When she’d heard that Grant Wilson
was the local vet, she’d been looking forward to saying hello, maybe catching
up on old times.  Apparently her memory of school was vastly different from
his.  For sure he wasn’t interested in catching-up with her.  Fine.  All good. 
She had her own problems to sort out anyway.

But still…she chewed her bottom
lip. He’d been a good-looking boy at school, now he was all grown up, well, no
wonder Yvonne had been eyeing him like she wanted to suck him up.  Literally
and dirtily.

Yeah, Grant was something else. 
Thick black hair trimmed tidily, pale grey eyes that were startling between the
thick, black fringes of his eyelashes.  That square jaw and firm lips.  Tall,
with a lean strength evident  in the way he filled out his shirt so enticingly,
the way his pants clung to his long legs.  Long fingers and gentle hands that
handled Tiny with such care but firmness.

His befuddlement while he’d tried
to figure out who she was had been cute, but there was nothing cute about the
way his eyes had cooled when he’d recognised her.  Talk about an arctic freeze.

Blowing out a breath, she forced
the image from her mind.  Bugger him, anyway.  If he was willing to judge her
on what had happened years ago, that was his problem.  No way was she taking
that on board as well.

Besides, she had a job to do, not
a handsome vet to worry about.  Another man to be bothered about she didn’t
need.

Speaking of men, there was Mr
Haddell standing by his fence, his crutches leaning against the gate as he
chatted with his neighbour.  They both watched as she parked in the driveway.

“All done,” she informed Mr
Haddell brightly.

He held the door open for her as
she got out.  “Thanks for that.  I really appreciate it.”

“No worries.”  She opened the cage
door, catching Tiny’s lead as he jumped down.

Tail wagging furiously, Tiny snuffled
up his owner’s trousers before placing his big jaw in Mr Haddell’s cupped hand.

“He’s a good boy.”  Mr Haddell
shook the dog’s head gently.

“Heard he was almost a lucky dog,
too.”  His neighbour, Harry, looked at Tam with amusement.

“Wow, that was quick.”

“You’d be surprised what makes the
rounds quickly.”

“A bitch in heat certainly makes
waves.”

“Which one?”  Harry laughed.

Mr Haddell tsked.  “There’s a lady
present.”

“That’s really sweet of you.”  Tam
dimpled up at him.  “But he has a point.”

Harry high-fived her.  Coming from
a man in his seventies, that was pretty impressive.

Mr Haddell shook his head.  “You
shouldn’t encourage her.”