Show Me, Baby:A Masters of the Shadowlands Novella(31)

He halted so suddenly she tripped. "Mrs. Grayson? New York?"

She nodded. "Management. Like I've always wanted." And you'll be free of  the low-class woman who'd ruin your life. Even if-someday-she grew  enough to be equal to him, he'd never move out of this state.  Veterinarians didn't relocate. "I'm going to accept."

"You're leaving? Just like that?" His hand dropped from behind her waist, and he stepped back. "Decision made. No discussion?"

The disbelief in his eyes stabbed through her ribs and right into her heart.





Jake took another step back. He'd been thinking marriage; she'd been  thinking career. Last year, he'd been butted by a ram. The massive  animal hit, sent him flying, and knocked the air out of him so  completely he hadn't managed to inhale for a good minute.

This was worse.

He stared down into Rainie's wide eyes, a compelling mix of green and  brown that normally sparkled like a sunlit cypress forest. Fucking  beautiful. Tonight her eyes were dimmed. Worried.

She should be. Jesus. She was leaving. Going to New York. Hell, Z's mama  had probably offered a bonus for moving-a few extra bucks to treat  their relationship like an annoyance to be discarded.

Just like that.

Fuck, maybe he was the only one using the word relationship.

"Jake?" She put her hand on his arm.

"Congratulations." The word tasted bitter. "Guess I need to start interviewing new staff right away."

"I-yes. I told her I'd stay until the middle of February, like I promised you."

"Aren't you an honorable … person?" he said, and despite his care, sarcasm invaded his tone.

She flinched. "It's best for both of us."

"Uh-huh. Glad you had the brains to realize I needed someone to make my  decisions for me." He removed her cold fingers from his arm. "I believe  that answers the question of whether you're coming over tonight."

His jaw clamped over further foolish words, and he strode away, leaving  his plans, his life, and his heart behind him in a pile of ash.





Chapter Eleven



She might not survive two more weeks in the vet clinic, Rainie decided.  At the reception room counter, she hit the backspace and retyped in the  correct amount. Perhaps she wasn't screwing up the files as badly as the  old receptionist, but only because she rechecked every entry three  times.

With a sigh, she stroked the ancient, stick-thin cat snoozing in her  lap, grateful for its jagged purr. Grateful for any comfort.

When Jake had walked away from the wedding reception two nights ago, she  knew it was for the best. Because really, what did they have between  them? He'd been happy with her, sure, but he didn't truly need her. Any  woman could give him food, sex, and someone with whom to talk.

She'd been right to sever their relationship. She'd found that out quickly enough.

At the reception, after waving off the brides and grooms, she'd joined  the exodus. In the parking lot, the nasty redhead had been talking to  Jake. Laughing and flirting, she'd gotten into his car.

Jake had driven away, redhead beside him, not looking back once.

She'd hated him then, as pain had driven deep, deep into her heart. And yet … she couldn't blame him.

Rainie hit SAVE on the document and pulled up another bill. Considering  the cruel way she'd broken off their relationship, he wouldn't pine over  her. Only … couldn't he have? At least for an hour or two? The hurt of  seeing him with the redhead had been horrible. Even worse was the hurt  of not being with him now …

The melody of her days continued, but the low notes of pain were only getting louder.

Poor Rhage didn't know what was wrong with her. He'd lick the tears from  her face, sit in her lap, and try to coax her into playing with him.  But holding the little dog was bittersweet, because Rhage had been the  one to bring her to Jake.

Why, oh why, had she said she would work in the clinic these last two  weeks? Every time she saw Jake or heard his voice, her heart shredded  even further.

But she couldn't leave until they hired someone else. Even if she hated  Jake-and God, she never could-she had to be fair to Saxon.

Okay. Okay. Get over yourself. Like the survivor she was, she  straightened her spine and printed the last bill and put it into a  folder, ready for Mrs. Atkinson to pay when she picked up her pretty,  newly spayed cocker spaniel.         

     



 

Rainie wrinkled her nose at the other folder, which contained her ideas  for the clinic: Expanding into an emergency hospital. Stocking and  selling specialized foods and medicines. Offering boarding. Streamlining  the scheduling with new software. Improving the invoicing system  and … enough.

She opened a drawer and tossed the folder inside. As with the  suggestions for Bart's tow truck company, her notions for the clinic  would simply die away, not wanted, not used.

Around her, the place hummed with quiet noises-a complaining cat in the  feline room, low voices from the treatment area, cupboards slamming in  the pharmacy. The waiting room had emptied as the staff took lunch.  Despite emergencies, Rainie usually managed to give everyone a chance to  sit down and eat. Since she'd come, the stressed expressions and  general unhappiness had disappeared.

The clinic needed her. And she was happy here. Involved in everything.  The animals added an incredible dimension of reward she'd never known  before. I don't want to leave.

The emaciated cat in her lap rubbed her fingers, marking her with his scent as if to emphasize she belonged … here.

Way to realize that too late, Rainie.

But, even if she'd known, she'd still need to leave. To get away from her past.

No, she had no choice, especially since Mrs. Grayson had offered this  big chance. In New York, she'd make herself into someone better.  Respectable. Classy. And she'd never have to run into old classmates or  be called a whore again.

At the thought, she smoothed down her jacket. She'd worn her most  conservative suit for its ability to deflect Jake's cold stares. If her  clothing could only deflect the way her heart leaped at the sound of his  voice-and even his damned footsteps. When had she learned what his  boots sounded like?

Swallowing the ache in her throat, she looked up as Jake strode out of the pharmacy room.

"Rainie."

"May I help you, Doctor?"

A muscle in his jaw tensed. "Can you schedule an exploratory abdominal surgery, please?"

"For?"

"Old Buckingham, Jed Parker's basset hound. Probably has cancer."

"Oh no." Oh God. The elderly man was crippled with arthritis and lived  in the country. "He will be all alone without Buck. His son lives in  Miami and doesn't get over here often. And-"

Jake cupped her cheek; his thumb brushed away the tear she shed. And then he simply stood there, staring at her.

She put her hand on his wrist. Pushed. "Don't, Jake."

He didn't move. His piercing green eyes shot steely anger through her  ribs, straight to her aching heart. "How can you leave, Rainie? You love  it here. People share their personal lives with you." His gaze took in  the Siamese curled in her lap. "You cry over puppies and carry cats  around. What the hell will you find to like in some frigid advertising  company?"

Her mouth opened, but the words didn't come out. She, who never had trouble expressing herself, was mute. "I … "

He waited and then let her go with a disgusted noise. "Not the first  time I was mistaken about a woman," he muttered, picked up a chart, and  headed to Exam Room Two.

Yes, you're wrong about me. He had no idea who she'd been. How having  her in his life would impact his own future, his relations with his  family. She closed her eyes, feeling her emotions boil up out of  control.

Why did he have to act as if he cared about her? He didn't. When he'd  learned she planned to move? Snap-he'd found himself another woman  before even leaving the wedding grounds. He was rich and important. His  world didn't admit her.

But … God, she hated making him unhappy.

"Mrow-ow-ow." The cat's complaint sounded like a feline buzz saw.

With her back still to the waiting room, Rainie checked her lap, but the  Siamese lay sleeping. She stiffened. Had someone come in while she was  talking to Jake? How had she not noticed?

Because Jake took up her entire world.

She plastered on a smile, spun her chair around, and saw Master Z.

He wore a white shirt and a dark gray tie that matched his eyes. She'd  helped Jessica pick the tie out a couple of months before. "You're in  white," she said like a total dumbass.

"Indeed." His eyes crinkled. "I work with children, pet. A psychologist in all black is frightening."

"Um. Right." She straightened, realizing he held a cat carrier. "Can I help you?"

"Jessica and I realized Galahad is due for his shots. Can you fit him in?"

As he spoke, she brought up the records on the computer. "He's not due for another couple of weeks."         

     



 

"However, I'm here now." He set the carrier on the counter.