From the tiny acorn...
He gave his head a shake. It was probably a fake. Who planted an oak tree in their atrium lobby?
Ellie Stone, that’s who.
He scrubbed a hand through his hair and made himself examine the place with a more practised eye. This was, after all, to be his workplace for the next few weeks. If Ellie didn’t chuck him out on his ear.
Pushing her reaction to the side, he scanned the atrium. The interior, whilst modern and clearly designed for animals, was as warm and welcoming as a classic country hotel. A huge stone and wood reception desk stood a few metres back from the door. In lieu of the near obligatory plastic chairs or benches most vet surgeries had, the Dolphin Cove Veterinary Clinic had inviting sofas and window seats built into the multi-angled reception area in addition to the bench seat round the tree. There was a floor-to-ceiling cat scratch and even a little cave off in a corner with a sign on it reading ‘For pooches who prefer a quiet space.’
Behind the reception desk, a young woman who would’ve looked more at home on the back of a horse at an elite show jumping event was tapping something into the computer. She looked up when he approached. ‘Hello, may I—? Oh, my gawd! Are you...?’ She waved at the other two people sitting in the reception area. An elderly woman with a cat in a soft carrying case and a stylish young man with a tiny Pekingese on his lap. ‘It’s the Uber-Vet!’
Lucas shook his head. Fame and recognition were his least favourite aspects of his job. That and the non-stop rumours about his imaginary engagements. He’d barely had time for dating let alone having enough head space to think about falling in love. And that was the thing, wasn’t it? You didn’t think about falling in love. You just did it. Precisely as he’d done with Ellie.
‘Don’t move!’ The girl scuttled round the desk with her phone pinched between her immaculately manicured nails, ‘Can we do a selfie?’
Check that. Selfies were his least favourite part of being the Uber-Vet.
‘I’m getting a selfie with the Uber-Vet!’ The girl sing-songed at the two pet owners as Lucas resisted a sigh and put on an obliging smile.
The flash on her phone went off, and then, as she took a couple more, she launched into a monologue. ‘I’m Tegan. I work here. Obvs. This is Mrs Cartwright and her very well-loved Siamese cat, Tabatha.’ She stage-whispered, ‘Bit of a hypochondriac but we love her.’ She raised her voice. ‘Mrs Cartwright? Would you and Tabatha like your photo taken with the Uber-Vet?’
‘Who?’ Mrs Cartwright, an immaculately turned-out, birdlike woman, peered at him with bright blue eyes. ‘Oh, no,’ she said, after she’d given him a quick once over. ‘No, thank you. I’ll wait for Ellie. As you know, I’d far rather Tabatha saw Drew as he is very familiar with her ailments, but...’ She heaved a weary sigh. ‘My poor, poor Tabatha.’
Tegan dropped to her knees in front of Tabatha and began making meow noises.
‘I’d like a photo,’ the young man holding the Pekingese said. The dog’s immaculately groomed coat flowed over his arms as he swept her up and alongside Lucas. ‘Here...’ He handed him his phone. ‘Can you take it? Your arms are longer. And stronger. My boyfriend would be so totally jel if he knew I was cuddling up to you. Teegs! Come over and get in the photo with us.’
Tegan obliged, happily squishing Lucas into the centre of a Tegan and Pekingese sandwich.
Lucas grinned and bore it. Nearly six years on Britain’s television screens had kept his father’s clinic from closing and miring his family in debt, so...he held up the phone. ‘Ready? Smile!’
When the flash went off, he saw stars for a moment. When they cleared his heart smashed against his chest. There she was.
Ellie Stone. Even more beautiful than he’d remembered her. Wild golden red curls. Her lean, athletic body wearing scrubs as if they’d been handmade for her every curve. A pair of trendy trainers on her feet. No surprise there. Shoes had always been her weakness. Green eyes, as pure and welcoming as the sea beyond the clinic. They flashed brightly then narrowed.
Maybe not so welcoming.
‘You’re late.’
‘Ellie!’ Tegan swotted at her arm. ‘Don’t be rude. It’s the Uber-Vet!’
‘I know exactly who he is,’ she bit out.
‘Cool.’ Tegan grinned. ‘Then you won’t mind if I run out and get Torky, yeah?’ She turned to Lucas and gave his arm a squeeze. ‘He’s my twin and, like, totally wants to be a vet, just like you.’
Lucas sucked in a breath. Not the right thing to say in front of your boss who was an excellent vet herself.
Tegan continued, oblivious to the icy stare Ellie was giving her. ‘Ells? Would you take our picture when we get back? Me and Torks. What? Why are you so frowny?’
Lucas’s eyes zapped to Ellie’s. He’d stupidly held on to a sliver of hope that enough time had passed that she might be the tiniest bit happy to see him. She arched an eyebrow as if to say, This is a veterinary clinic, not a red carpet.
No smile. No glimmer of delight. No, Oh, my goodness, my Prince Charming has just walked through the door.
Not quite the happy reunion he’d been hoping for.
Ellie sniffed and gave Tegan what he used to teasingly call her ‘Mum look’. Teasing because he’d imagined her giving that look to their own children one day. He’d loved that look. Hell. Who was he kidding? He’d loved all her looks. Happy, triumphant, giddy, loving...
‘I do mind, Tegan. Torquil is busy in the surgical ward and you should be busy answering the phone.’ She tipped her head towards the reception desk, where the phone was, indeed, ringing.
Tegan, full of attitude, swept back behind the reception desk and very pointedly answered the phone, ‘Hello, Dolphin Cove Veterinary Clinic, Tegan speaking. How may I help you?’
‘Sorry about that—’ Lucas began, but Ellie cut him off with an eye-roll.
‘She’s young. She’ll get over it.’
‘It’s good to see you, Ellie,’ Lucas said, meaning it. ‘How are you?’
She crossed her arms over the dark blue scrubs dotted with...were those toy poodles?...and glowered at him. Funny how toy poodles took the edge off a glare.
‘Hmm. Good question.’ She tapped her chin with her index finger. ‘Do you mean...how are you, Ellie, after six years of not ever speaking to you? Or, how are you, Ellie, seeing me swan into your clinic as if I owned the place. Or...wait a minute.’ She put her finger up in the air as if a light bulb had just gone off, her green eyes blazing with emotion. ‘Best yet...how are you, Ellie, after I dumped you and made it very clear there was no place in my life for you despite the fact you were the one to always say there is no I in team?’
‘What?’ screeched Tegan from the reception desk, hand over the phone receiver. ‘You used to date the Uber-Vet? Ells. You are a dark horse, girlfriend! Ellie and the Uber-Vet. Who knew?’
‘His name’s Lucas!’ Ellie ground out.
At the same time Lucas said, ‘Lucas is just fine.’
‘Ah! Lucas!’ Henry appeared from one of the long corridors stretching out beyond the reception desk. ‘There you are. I see you’ve caught up with Ellie.’
‘Henry.’ Ellie wheeled on him. ‘This was a terrible idea. I’m going to find someone else.’
‘Someone else to who can do the Bernese surgery?’ Lucas said, knowing he was on solid ground. ‘I don’t think so. The only one on the British Isles who can do that surgery is standing right here.’
Ellie opened her mouth, presumably to protest, but nothing came out.
‘Oh, dear. Well, I...’ Henry’s eyes bounced between the pair of them as his brows dived towards his nose in consternation.
‘Actually, Henry,’ Lucas continued with a smile, ‘Ellie and I were just discussing where I should put my things. Weren’t we, Ellie?’
‘We were doing no such thing,’ she growled.
‘Oh, well.’ Henry gave his beard a thoughtful stroke. ‘You’re more than welcome to stay in the guest flat with me. I believe there’s a sofa bed for the night or I can move out of the bedroom tonight and sleep on the—’
‘No!’ Ellie snapped. ‘My house? My rules. My veterinary clinic? My decision whether or not you even touch one solitary hair on an animal’s head.’
The young man with the Pekingese piped up, ‘It’s a bit late for that. He’s already held my Audrey here.’
Ellie’s eyebrows shot up to her hairline. ‘And you are?’
‘Caspian Smythe-Bingham.’
She opened her mouth, presumably to say ‘Who?’ when a look of recognition flared then softened her features into a welcoming glow of recognition. ‘Caspian, yes, of course. I’m ever so sorry. I’m not normally so...um...’ She gave Lucas a dismissive flick of her eyes then looked at Henry. ‘Henry, if you don’t mind showing our temporary guest into the coffee room, I’ll meet with you both after we take a look at... Audrey, right?’ She reached out her hands for the Pekingese who curled up against his owner’s chest.
‘Oh, no.’ Caspian stroked his dog’s long hair. ‘Audrey doesn’t seem to like you.’
Ellie gave a nervous laugh. ‘Not to worry. Sometimes it takes a minute or two to get to know one another. Why don’t you bring her into the examination room, and we’ll take a look there?’
Caspian arched an imperious eyebrow. ‘If you don’t mind, I’d really rather the Uber-Vet took a look at her. They have a bond already, you see?’
The expression on Ellie’s face was so cross it took all of Lucas’s power not to laugh. Not that he wanted to irritate her more than he had, but...this was actually a little bit funny. Maybe the funnier later variety of funny, but...
‘Why are you laughing?’ Ellie’s glare bored into him.
‘I’m not laughing.’
‘Course you are,’ Ellie snipped. Her eyes darted to the door as a young boy and an older woman who looked very familiar came in. Ellie’s entire demeanour changed. ‘Exam room three,’ she crisply instructed Lucas. ‘You take Audrey. We’ll all have a look.’
‘Only if you’re sure.’ Stepping on her toes was the last thing he wanted to do.
‘Of course I’m sure.’ She pointed him down the corridor towards the exam room then gave a little hip-height wave to the two who’d just come in.
‘Did you want to see them?’
‘No,’ she snapped. When her eyes met his, the sparks flew hard and fast. Like a fresh log had been thrown on a bed of hot coals that had been lying in wait...smouldering...waiting for the perfect moment to flare and burn as brightly as they once had.
‘Right you are, then.’ Lucas stepped to the side so that Caspian could follow Ellie. ‘After you.’
With a rather pointed swish, Ellie whirled around and headed down the corridor as briskly as her trademark trendy trainers would take her. Henry mouthed a silent ‘Good luck’ to Lucas as he followed in her wake.
It was going to be an interesting few weeks. Truth be told, he hadn’t been convinced she’d let him in. But now that she had he was going to keep his foot firmly in the door, no matter how many times she tried to slam it. The fire in her eyes had told him everything he’d needed to know. There was something to salvage between them. And he wasn’t leaving until he found out exactly what it was.
Copyright © 2020 by Annie O’Neil
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ISBN-13: 9781488066665
Falling Again for the Single Dad
Copyright © 2020 by Juliette Hyland
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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Falling Again for the Single Dad Page 19
