Chapter 23

Fallon

“Can I help you?” I asked the tall, dark-haired man, dressed in a suit and an expensive-looking trench coat, who’d just walked into the clinic.

I’d spent the entire day working off the mimosas and lemon bars Corinne and I had consumed, and I just wanted to go home. Unless this guy had an animal in need of emergency attention, the clinic was closed for the day—hence the “Closed” sign that hung in the front window of the building.

“You’re a good veterinarian from what I hear,” the man said from where he stood just inside the doorway. He had no animal with him, but maybe he’d left his dog in his car while he came inside.

“I am,” I said because it was true. I had my flaws just like everyone else, but I was good at my job.

“I’m pleased to hear that,” he said, leaning a shoulder against the wall. “Too many people take a lackadaisical approach to their work these days, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Um, I guess so.” Beyond the strange conversation, something didn’t feel right. I wanted to shrug this guy off and tell him we were closed for the night, but something had me holding my tongue. It was the way he’d kept his eyes focused on me from the moment he’d walked in the door. Most people smiled politely and then looked around at the waiting area and the posters on the wall, and even squinted a little, trying to get a glimpse of the rooms beyond the reception desk. But not him. He just kept staring at me, and it sent a prickling sensation down my back.

“Is there something I can do for you?” The sooner I could get this guy out of here, the better.

He smiled broadly and pushed away from the wall. “Indeed, there is,” he said, walking toward me with a slow, easy stride.

The urge to backstep away from him was potent, but I held my ground. It was probably all in my head.

It wasn’t like there was an epidemic of veterinary clinic robberies going around.

“You can keep doing exactly what you’ve been doing,” he said. “It’s important, you know? Caring for those that cannot care for themselves.”

“I mean, do you have an animal you need looked at? That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?”

“No.” He laughed, the humor in it nonexistent. It was deep and dark, and it made my palms feel sweaty. “I care for those that cannot care for themselves as well.”

I swallowed hard, unable to stop myself from taking a step back.

He stopped laughing, and something just as dark as his laugh flashed through his eyes. “My name is Tony. It was a pleasure to meet you, Miss Moore,” he said, extending his hand.

The last thing I wanted to do was take it, but I forced my hand to clasp his, hoping this meant he was leaving. He shook my hand once, then held me there for just a moment. His hand felt cold and rough against mine.

When he finally let go, I couldn’t hide the sigh of relief that slipped out. He nodded to me then turned and strode back out the door.

I leaned heavily against the reception desk for support. My legs were shaking, and my heart was racing. I spritzed some alcohol on my hand, rubbing vigorously.

The moment I heard the click of a car door outside, I crossed the room and locked the clinic door. Even though part of me wanted to scurry back to the desk, I forced myself to watch through the window as the man pulled out of the parking lot and drove away.

I stood there for a moment after, half-expecting to see the car come squealing back into the lot, but it never did. I shook my head and laughed at myself. While it might have been strange, it wasn’t like any harm had come to me. Still, I was more than happy to grab my purse from the back room and lock up for the night.

I glanced around once as I scurried across the parking lot to my car, but there was no sign of him. Of course, there wasn’t. He was just a guy who’d been a little off his rocker.

I’d managed to get my heartbeat back to normal by the time I arrived home. Unfortunately, the first sight I saw as I slipped into my parking spot was my dad’s squad car. Out of the pot and into the frying pan. My nerves were just too frazzled for this tonight.

Nevertheless, I smiled weakly at him as he got out of his car and followed me up the walk. He followed me inside and up to my apartment, heading across the living room while I locked the door, then jiggled the handle just to be sure. I’d long since accepted it was a bit of a neurosis, but I had no intention of changing it. Better safe than sorry.

“Tough day, Dad?” I asked, noticing he’d headed straight for the liquor cabinet and poured himself a drink.

“I just need a drink. That’s all,” he said.

“You know, there’s like a dozen bars between your place and mine. They probably would have been quicker.”

“I’ve just come to check in on my daughter,” he said, looking disgruntled. “But, yeah, it’s been a long day.” He gestured for me to join him on the sofa.

“What is it you want, Dad?” I asked. I was already on edge, and I just wanted him to spit out whatever he’d come to say.

“I came to see my beautiful daughter. Am I not allowed?”

I almost scoffed but managed to hold it in. I loved my dad, but I wasn’t so blinded by love that I didn’t notice he only ever came here for a reason.

“Dad, if you’re not here for anything important…” I prompted, hoping to get the ball rolling. He sucked down the rest of his drink and poured another.

“Okay, okay. I just… I wanted to apologize for pushing so hard with the Luca boy.”

A lump formed at the back of my throat, and I had to swallow it back to force words out.

“Thank you,” I said, reaching out to cover his lined hand with mine. It wasn’t often my dad apologized for things, but—

“So, I just want to make sure you’re on for the next date…” he said, cutting into my thoughts, but the look in his eyes was just a little too hopeful.

“I knew it.” I drew my hand back. The chuckle that slipped out wasn’t jubilant or sarcastic. Really, it just sounded sad. “Not that it’s any of your business, but no, we didn’t…”—I raised my hands to make air quotes—“…‘hit it off’.”

His eyes widened in panic. “But… but you have to.”

“What?” Since when did this dating agreement mean things had to end up with some kind of happily ever after?

“I mean, Dominic is a good man, Fallon. I’m sure if you just gave him a chance—”

“What the hell, Dad? You said you owed a guy a favor, so I went out with Dominic, just like you wanted, and it didn’t work. We’re not compatible, end of story. What is it you want from me? Am I supposed to keep going out with a guy I can’t stand? Do you want me to marry the jerk?”

Dad’s face lit up like I’d come up with the best idea of the century. “Well, you know—” “You can’t be serious!” I said, sitting up straight.

His expression fell, and his eyes turned pleading. “I just need you to do this, Fallon. Give it a little more time, all right? For me?”

So, he hadn’t really come to apologize. He was just here to make sure I didn’t back out of whatever deal he’d made. I wasn’t proud of it, but part of me wanted to make him suffer, to make him think I was calling the whole thing off right here and now. But looking at my father’s frantic face, I couldn’t do it.

I wasn’t normally like this. I’d graduated at the top of my class in college, established my own vet practice, and lived a relatively productive life. But when it came to my dad, I would always be the little girl who only wanted to make her father happy, her only family left.

I sighed and leaned back on the couch, staring up at the ceiling.

“Don’t worry, Dad, I’m not backing out on our third date just like I promised,” I said. The relief that washed through him felt like a freaking tsunami.

He took another swallow of his brandy. “That’s my girl,” he said, patting my knee.

Yup, that was me. The little girl who would never stop jumping through hoops and bending over backwards to please him.

“I’m sure he’ll change your mind about him, Fallon. You’ll see. I’ve heard he can be quite charming.”

Charming and ornery and devastatingly handsome and frustrating as hell. Dominic Luca was every good and bad thing, all wrapped up in one crazy gorgeous package. He should have come with a warning sign tattooed across his forehead, but I couldn’t wait to spar with him again.