Love's Taming(6)

As though reading her thoughts he spoke, this time more softly. “Doc, I’m not here to cause trouble. I just trust you and my dog needs you. Please.”

It was the last word that came out of his mouth that caused her to reconsider. It was soft. Pleading. His need speaking.

Sighing deeply, Annie hung her head. “Mister, this is probably going to be a huge mistake. Sarge could die under my hand if we don’t do this right. But, if you’re refusing other treatment, then we can try.”

“That’s all I ask, doc. I trust you,” his voice carried across the room, this time less gravelly.

Nodding to the sink on the side, she ordered, “Go scrub in.” Looking at his open jacket which had seen better days, she added, “And ditch the jacket. Scrubs are in the cabinet over there,” she said pointing to a corner closet.

Turning away, she went over to prep Sarge and scrub-in herself. What the hell are you doing? You don’t even know his name? Thinking back on Leon’s words, she tried to remember the last time she did anything spontaneous. Or dangerous. Or out of the ordinary. Well, Leon, you won’t believe this when you come in on Monday!

* * *

The sweat beaded on Annie’s forehead as she struggled with the surgery while keeping an eye on the anesthesia. This is never done. Never. Jesus, what did I get myself into? She had placed the IV catheter in Sarge’s front leg and with assistance managed to administer the Propofol to make him sleepy. After intubating and hooking him up to the anesthetic machine, she gave rudimentary instructions, but she was essentially doing both the job of the vet and the tech at the same time.

Earlier, when the man had walked into the brightly lit surgical room, washed clean and wearing fresh scrubs, she couldn’t help but notice how handsome he was. Tall, muscular, a strong jaw covered in a beard, but somehow it looked sexy. His eyes were so dark though. They didn’t seem to fit his face, but she found herself not wanting to be on the end of an angry glare from him.

Looking back up at the x-rays after making the midline incision she felt confident that she could get to the object, but her focus was divided. Glancing over at the man, seeing the concern for his dog on his face, she realized she did not know anything about him.

Without looking up, she asked, “So, what’s your name? I mean, if we are in this together, I should know who’s helping Sarge.”

“Stoney,” came the solitary response.

Confusion wrinkled her brow. “Stoney? What’s stoney?”

“No. My name is Stoney.”

Annie was too good of a veterinarian to look away from where her scalpel was, but the look on her face showed her surprise. “Stoney? Your name is Stoney? Or is that a nickname?”

“It’s what I’m called,” he answered truthfully.

Sparing a glance at the anesthesia machine, she noticed that his eyes had not left the machine he was monitoring and admiration for his diligence filled her. “I’m Annie. Annie Donavan.”

Her attention was back on Sarge’s surgery, so she missed the slight smile curving his lips.

He watched her in between watching the machine carefully. Copper hair pulled up and tucked in a surgical cap. Perfect complexion – pale with a hint of pink on her cheeks. Her green eyes, sharp and clear, never wavered from her task. In the past couple of years, the only women he had been around had the glassy eyes of users. But Annie Donavan…Smart. Beautiful. Caring. Trusting. Damn! It was the trusting part that bothered him. She was trusting him now and he’d have to betray that trust.

“So, I haven’t seen you around the neighborhood Stoney. Do you live around here?”

“I come through sometimes.”

“Do you work around here?”

“I meet some friends near here sometimes.”

“You don’t give very informative answers, do you?” she asked glancing up at him.

Stoney took his eyes off of the anesthesia machine just long enough to look at her, surprised to see her smiling at him.

“It’s okay. I mean, you don’t have to tell me anything. I’m just curious.”

Nodding, he went back to watching Sarge.

“I’m used to my techs being in here with me, so I’m used to some noise. Leon tends to prattle on and on, so sometimes I just tune him out, but my other tech is quiet so I usually have to do the talking when she is helping me. We can turn the music on if you would like.”

Stoney moved his eyes back over to her. Her voice was soft and clear, not harsh with too many years of smoking or slurred with alcohol. I could listen to her all day. God, I forgot what that was like. He watched as her brow furrowed with concentration as she was bent over his dog. Her green eyes clear and shining not, dulled with drugs.