Scott pulled out his wallet.  “Right, how much do I owe you?”

I pulled up his invoice on the computer.  “For the operation, anaesthetic and antibiotics, it comes to a total of five hundred and seventy dollars please.”

“Fuck me!  You sure that’s right?”

“Yes,” I replied, wondering if I was going to have an argument on my hands.  I sighed.  This was the least favourite part of my job; arguing with pet owners who didn’t want to spend the money to get their pet better.

He shook his head and ran his hand over his hair, visibly annoyed, but he handed over his credit card.  “Christ, I hope he won’t need a follow up appointment.”

I put the payment through and gave him his card back.  “You’ll need to bring him back in ten days, but there won’t be a fee.  We just need to take out the couple of stitches he does have and check to make sure he’s healing.  It’ll only be a very quick visit,” I assured him.

“Okay, so we’re done here?” he asked as he lifted the cat cage.

“Yes,” I replied.

“Thanks for your help.  I’ll return your cage as soon as I can.”

I waved my hand at him.  “No rush, you can bring it back when you bring Monty back in.”

He gave me one last dimple inducing smile before turning and walking towards the door.  As he got to it, he stopped and swung his head back to face me. “You have any more trouble with that asshole from yesterday?”

“No, I haven’t heard from him.”

“Good.  Remember what I said; call me if you do.  Pricks like him need a boot up their ass.”

I smiled.  He certainly had a way with words.  “Thanks, will keep that in mind.”

And then he was gone.  And I turned my attention to my next patient, but thoughts of him throughout the day sent a thrill through me.  Scott Cole was the kind of man that women like me threw their checklists out the window for.

Chapter 3

Scott

I banged on Michelle’s door and waited.  It was the third time, and when she didn’t answer, I yelled out, “Michelle, open the fucking door or I’m kicking it in.”  I didn’t have time for this shit.  It was nearly two o’clock and I had to get to Indigo within the next half hour to help J interview possible managers.

The door was flung open and I sucked in a breath as I took in Michelle’s appearance.  She was obviously high on something and looked like she hadn’t showered in days.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” I muttered, “I’m out there spending a shitload on your cat and you’re here shooting shit into your arm.”

“I didn’t ask you to look after my cat,” she snarled.

“Yeah, well someone had to do it or he would have fucking died.”

“I don’t give a shit about that fucking cat; he could have died for all I cared.”

She’s a chick, don’t fucking hit her.  I lowered my face down to hers.  “You’re a fucking pathetic excuse for a mother.  Women like you should have their fucking legs sewn together.”

Not waiting for her reply, I turned to leave.

“Anyone ever told you what an asshole you are?” she flung at me.

I turned back to look at her, “All the fucking time, bitch.  And I’ll continue being one until you get your shit together and give Lisa the care she fucking deserves.”

I strode back to my car, still holding Monty in his cage.  Fuck.  I was going to have to take him to work with me until I sorted out someone to look after him.  There was no way I was leaving him with Michelle now.

***

“A cat?  You brought a fucking cat with you?” J gave me shit when I hit Indigo twenty minutes later.

I placed the cat cage on the floor next to the desk in the office where we would be doing the interviews.  “Michelle’s off her face, and having just shed some serious coin on him, I didn’t want to leave him with her.  So yeah, brother, I’m bringing a fucking cat to work.”

He chuckled, and rubbed his chin.  “That kid’s got you wrapped around her little finger.”

“Shit!  Is Madison working this afternoon?”

“No.  Why?”

I reached in my pocket for my phone.  “I want her to go over to Lisa’s and let her know that I have Monty and that he’s okay.  She’ll worry otherwise.”

“I don’t think she had anything planned so she should be able to do it.”

I was just dialing her when Velvet poked her head around the door.  “Scott, you got a minute?”

J jerked his head in Velvet’s direction.  “You go sort that out and I’ll call Madison.”

“Thanks,” I said as I hung up and slipped my phone back in my pocket.  “What’s up?” I asked Velvet as I followed her towards the back storeroom.

“I think someone’s tried to break in.  The lock on the back door has been tampered with,” she said.

“Fuck,” I muttered as I inspected the lock.  She was right; it had been messed with.

“Yeah, not good.  And there were some guys hanging around last night that I’ve never seen before.  Nasty looking fuckers.”

I looked up at her.  Velvet wasn’t one to exaggerate.  And she’d seen some shit in her life, so if she thought they were worth bringing to my attention, they were worth me worrying about.  “Okay, I’ll get Griff to take a look at the surveillance and I’ll get some extra guys in to keep an eye on the joint.  You let me know if you see them again.”