His eyes darkened even more, if that was possible. “And just what in the hell do you think last night was, doc?” he growled.
“I thought…that we…I… it was…” Her blush had deepened and her eyes grew wide at the tone of his voice.
“What?” he growled louder.
“I just thought that you… thought of me…as… convenient,” she stammered.
Lifting his hands to cup both sides of her face he pulled her in close as he lowered her head. “Let me spell it out for you, darlin’. You’re no fuck. You got that? I don’t spend the night with a fuck. You let me in. You talked to me and you let me in. That means something to me. Things between us may be fucked up for a while until I can get some shit settled in my life, but last night was no fuck. You with me?”
Slowly nodding, she stood on her tiptoes again to press a kiss against his lips. “I gotta go, Stoney. I gotta get down to the clinic.”
He let his hands drift down to her sides as he released her.
“But if you want to come back later… or tonight… that would be fine,” she whispered. Annie then witnessed a sight that stole her breath. Stoney smiled. His face which was handsome, but always so stern, broke into a smile and it moved right through her.
“You get to work, but I gotta let you know, you spendin’ the night in my arms was the best thing that has happened to me in a long time, baby. You lettin’ me come back again, makes my fuckin’ day.”
She jumped as Leon yelled back up the stairs. “I’ve got to go. See you later?”
Touching his lips to hers once again, he replied, “Absolutely darlin’. I’ll be back.”
* * *
After checking on Sarge and giving Suzanne and Leon an abbreviated explanation of how the dog ended up in their clinic, she started to walk to the front rooms.
“Are you going to tell us what you’ve really been doin’ this weekend?” Leon asked with his hands on his hips, staring her down.
Annie turned, looking at him. “Wh…what? What do you mean?”
“Doc, you’ve got a look about you that you haven’t had since I met you.”
Suzanne’s lips twitched upwards as she stood next to Leon.
“And just what look is that?” Annie asked.
“Honey, you’ve got well-kissed lips and sex hair.”
Annie’s hand immediately went to her hair, unconsciously smoothing it back down into her ponytail. “I don’t know what you are talking about,” she protested.
Leon laughed as he walked to her, leaned down to kiss her forehead, and said, “Don’t worry Doc. You haven’t had a man since I’ve worked here and it is high time you got some!” With that, he headed out to the front desk.
Annie’s eyes latched onto Suzanne’s face. “Does it really show?” she whispered.
Suzanne walked over, following Leon’s direction. “Annie,” she said, remembering to not call her Dr. Donavan, “It only shows to those of us who know you. You look great. You just look…happy.” She squeezed Annie’s hand and walked to the front rooms.
With that revelation flowing through her head, Annie began seeing the scheduled patients. Monday wasn’t surgery day, so she just needed to get through the rooms of appointments.
By lunch time, she was tired and hungry. “Leon, are you going to the deli?”
“You want me to pick you up something?” he asked. “Suzanne, you want something too?”
Just then the front door opened and Leon swung his gaze around. Seeing the tall, well-built man entering without an animal, he quickly said, “We’re closed for lunch. But can I make an appointment for you?”
“I’m just here to check on my dog, see if I can take him home.”
Leon’s eyes widened, as did his smile. “So you’re the mystery man?”
Stoney looked at him, lifting an eyebrow, not saying a word.
Leon nodded, his smile getting even wider. “You’re Sarge’s owner. The one Dr. Donavan helped over the weekend. Makes sense now.” Looking down at the bag Stoney was carrying, he saw the familiar logo from the deli. “And you brought her lunch. I’m liking you so far, Mr…?
Stoney, lifting the deli bag in his hands, said, “I brought sandwiches for everyone. And the name is Stoney.”
Suzanne walked from the back and came to a stop next to Leon, staring up into Stoney’s dark eyes. She wasn’t smiling. Instead, she seemed to be evaluating him, measuring him, trying to figure him out.
“I’ll get the doc,” Leon said. “Suzanne and I can eat here where we can keep an eye on the front and you can have lunch with doc and Sarge.” Leon headed toward the back rooms, calling, “Hey, Doc. Guess who’s here for lunch?” in a sing-song voice.