Love's Taming(69)
“What’s the animal?”
“The lady didn’t have an animal with her. She just said she needed a consultation with you. Oh, and she asked for you by name so I couldn’t even send Dr. Ogden in.”
“That’s odd. In this neighborhood we don’t get too many clients wanting to check us out first,” she laughed. “I guess I had better make sure I make a good impression.”
Entering the examination room, she stuck out her hand as she said, “Hello, I’m Dr. Dona…” She stopped mid-sentence, staring at Rochelle. Rocky. Shane’s Rocky. Tall, blonde, lots of tits and ass, rocking a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Even casual she looked elegant.
The beautiful woman’s gaze roved quickly over Annie and she smiled tentatively as she approached her. “Dr. Donavan. Yes, I know who you are. I’m Roche…”
This time it was Annie that interrupted. “Rochelle. Rocky. Yes, I also know who you are.”
Rochelle glanced sideways for a second before bringing her eyes back to Annie’s. “I see.”
The two women stood staring at each other, the silence stretching between them as uncomfortable as an itchy sweater. Annie found herself wanting to shed the silence. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I have other patients to see.”
Rochelle seemed embarrassed as she said, “Yes, of course. Forgive me. I can’t contact Stoney…I mean Shane, anymore. I’m still trying to work on things. I wanted to tell you though that I think you may be in some danger. I don’t have anything concrete, just murmurings about a vet operating on a couple of the dogs.”
“I’m in danger?” Annie repeated, fear crawling from her stomach to her throat. “But I thought the drug dealers were all in jail.”
“Most of the group we were targeting are, but Dr. Donavan, there will always be others to take their place. And a few of the ones that were higher up are still free.” Shrugging Rochelle added, “That’s why I’ll always have a job, I suppose.”
“But I don’t know anything. I’m nobody.”
“I don’t have any facts for sure,” Rochelle added. “I just wanted to warn you to be careful.” Looking speculatively, she continued, “And I wouldn’t say you’re nobody. I always wondered if any woman could tame the wild Stoney.”
Licking her lips, Annie drew herself up and stared into Rochelle’s eyes. “I won’t discuss Shane with you.”
Rochelle’s eyes softened. “Oh, Dr. Donavan, you misunderstand me. I know he’s yours. I knew that the night you saw us together. He was torn up about what you saw and what you thought. I’ve never seen him like that. I knew then that he loved you.” Sighing while picking her purse up from the counter, she slung it over her shoulder as she prepared to leave. “Please be safe, Dr. Donavan. And thank you.”
She passed Annie as she opened the examination room door, turning only to say, “Thank you for loving him.”
Rochelle walked briskly out of the room and collided into Carl. He reached out to grab her arms so that she would not fall.
“I’m so sorry,” he exclaimed as he steadied her, scanning her from head to toe, staring intently.
“I’m fine. Actually it was my fault for not checking the hall first,” she said staring at him intently.
Flashing his smile, he couldn’t help but add, “Well, if I have to run over a client, I am certainly glad it was one so beautiful.”
Laughing, Rochelle glanced back at Annie before heading out of the door. Annie, still in shock over the visit, didn’t hear Carl when he first asked about the client.
“Annie,” he repeated. “Who is she? She didn’t have a pet with her.”
“Oh, just a potential client. I think she just wanted to check me out,” she answered cryptically.
“Well, if she does choose us, make sure I get her next appointment!”
* * *
“You have got to be shittin’ me!” Shane growled.
Annie, giving him a minute to control himself, held her phone against her shoulder while she gave the cats a treat. Knowing that she needed to let Shane know about Rochelle’s visit, she had excused herself from the clinic and ran back up to the apartment. Stepping over Sarge and his food bowl, she managed to get the cats fed.
“Of all the goddamn, fuckin’ moves she coulda made, that one really rips it!”
“Honey, I know you’re mad, but you haven’t let me tell you what all she said. She didn’t come by to start trouble between us. She came to warn me.”
She could hear him speaking to someone in the background. “Yeah, goddamn Rocky came by the clinic to visit Annie. Got no fuckin’ clue but that shit doesn’t fly.” He must be talking to Matt.