I get so far as grabbing Thor’s halter before he yanks his leg free, tearing his skin in the process. Fuck, that’s going to need stitches.
Which means I have to call Dr. Jacob Harris.
Chapter Sixteen
JACOB
“Dr. Harris?”
I look up from my computer, sandwich in hand. I had two more appointments after Josie and my mind kept flitting back to her. And it’s not because her eyes shimmer or because I remembered the way the faint outlines of her nipples were visible through her t-shirt. Due to the heat-wave the last two days, the A/C in the clinic was turned up and no one realized it was still blowing out on full-blast until later in the morning.
No, it’s not because my body is reacting to Josie and her somewhat annoying optimistic personality. It’s because she’s going to have a harder time taking care of those horses than she thinks, and, as the only vet in the area, it’s going to fall back on me. Plus, any decent human being would want to make sure the horses are cared for.
“Yeah?” I lean back in my desk chair and Darla, one of the secretaries, steps into the office.
“I’m so sorry to interrupt your lunch break,” she starts, and I wave my hand in the air, letting her know it’s okay. “We just got an urgent call from the Walker farm.”
“Kim Walker’s farm?” I ask, needing to be sure.
“Yes. I have a Mr. Daniel Walker on hold if you want to talk to him, but it sounds like a horse is in need of stitches. We’re trying to send the call through to Crystal but can’t get a hold of her.”
“She should be administering a neb treatment right about now,” I say, glancing at the clock.
“Do you want me to go get her?”
“No,” I say and direct my eyes to my computer, expecting to see my schedule up like it usually is. But instead of trying to figure out how to fit in just one more appointment, I was actually going over payroll, trying to see how much of a surprise bonus I can give my employees for being rock stars, working long hours, and helping out with my constantly changing schedule. “She has wounds to clean and redress after that.”
“You have the next half-hour free,” Darla goes on, reading my mind. “And then four non-urgent appointments.”
My head bobs up and down as I think over my options. If a horse needs stitches now, waiting could only worsen the situation. “I’ll head out to the Walker farm. See what Dr. Spencer can cover and then call and see if we can reschedule what’s left.”
“Okay. Did you want to talk to Mr. Walker who’s on the phone?”
“No,” I tell her, not seeing the point in talking to this guy. Mr. Walker? Josie made it a point to say she wasn’t married, didn’t she? I mean, she clearly told me she was Ms. Walker and not Mrs. Walker. So, who is this Mr. Walker? “Just let them know I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Will do.” Darla gives a curt nod and slips back out of the office, shutting the door behind her. Letting out a sigh, I take another big bite of the sandwich, not letting my mind wander. Josie had just been in here not even two hours ago, and now I’m going to an urgent call at her farm. Is it fate? If it is, it’s just to prove, yet again, that she’s not the right person to take over the rescue.
I find myself longing to see her, though, to feel her tight waist in my grasp again, to have her pretty face up close to mine. Shaking my head, I inhale the rest of my sandwich, lock down my computer and hurry out of my office, still wearing my white lab coat that has Dr. Harris, DVM stitched onto the breast. It’s not practical for farm calls, and I’ll switch it out for my dirty Carhart jacket once I get into my truck, which is parked out front.
The fastest way to it is to walk through the lobby. This building is only a few years old, and the lobby has large windows that let in a lot of natural light. The functionality of this place was more important to me than the aesthetic, but I’d be lying to say I wasn’t damn proud of how impressive this lobby is.
Though I regret giving myself a second to look around, mentally patting myself on the back for all the hard work I’ve put in, as soon as I see her.
Lisa. My ex-girlfriend.
I don’t feel much when I see her, but just the sight of her face reminds me that people are never who they seem. You might think you know someone and then they’ll turn around and stab you right in the fucking back.