Page 34 of Taming Grumpy Dr. Beast

Other than my small circle of close friends, I wasn’t used to people being happy with me. It made me feel oddly vulnerable. But it was a feeling I could get used to.

Chapter Ten

Lily

Isat on an uncomfortableplastic waiting room chair as Jaxon conferred with the Vet Tech. I took out my phone and tapped a message to Cece.

Me: I think Jaxon almost kissed me.

Cece: OMG! Are you serious? So did he or didn’t he?

Me: He leaned in like he was going to, and I turned away.

Cece: Whhhyyyyyyyy? Did you not want him to do it?

Did I want him to kiss me? With every fiber of my being the answer to that was ...yes.

The feel of Jaxon’s body had imprinted itself into my cellular memory. His broad shoulders dwarfed me, as they pressed against mine, reminding me how hard his chest was. As we knelt together to attend to the dog, the heat of his thighs seared into mine. If I’d shifted my butt back just the slightest, I would’ve been cradled between his legs. Beads of sweat had broken out across my forehead, as my nerves jangled in anticipation.

Cece: Just so you know, I’m hyperventilating right now while I wait for your reply.

Me: I did. I really did want him to kiss me. If the dog hadn’t interrupted us, I would’ve gladly let him.

Cece: Dog?

Jaxon’s voice exploded across the waiting room. “What do you mean, I have to take it home with me?”

I discreetly snapped a photo of Jaxon in all his angry glory and texted it to Cece. It was stupid of me to do, and if he caught me, he would be furious. But after Cece had gushed over how attractive Jaxon was, I needed to prove to her what a grump he really could be. I sent her the first picture after we got to the Vet’s office, he had his hands on his hips, and he was glaring at the receptionist. My heart pounded when he turned and almost caught me.

I thought that would be the end of it, but instead I’d gotten back a text from her demanding I send her more. Now, it had become sort of a game, trying to take pictures without him noticing. Cece was having a blast, and I had to admit it was sort of exciting. The thrill of almost being caught was addictive.

“Dr. Beast, we’ll keep the dog for two nights, continue to give him IV fluids, introduce small amounts of food, and treat the fleas. If you don’t take the dog after that, then he will be sent to a shelter. He doesn’t have a microchip, indicating who owns him, and it would be a shame to save his life only to have to bring him to a place where he may be euthanized.”

“I said I’d pay for the cost to make him better, not keep him. Don’t you have a list of people waiting for a pet?”

This guy was unbelievable.