Lila shook her head. “I doubt it.”
“Well, I was thinking maybe since she’s dating the production designer, she might know something,” Nicola prodded.
Lila attempted to brush off the conversation. “If she does, she hasn’t shared it with me.”
“Perhaps you could ask her?” she urged, like a dog unwilling to release its bone.
Lila placed the Yorkie on the table. “I’m glad you brought Sweetpea in,” she said with an exaggerated look of concern.
“Why? Do you think it could be something serious?”
Her diversion ploy did the trick. “Well, it’s too early to tell.”
The examination room was a bright, sterile space, with a stainless-steel table at its center where the Yorkie sat, her tiny paws shifting nervously. Lila, wearing a white lab coat and stethoscope around her neck, approached the little dog with a reassuring smile and gentle words. The Yorkie’s eyes were wide and her ears perked as Lila’s hand gently stroked her back, calming her.
“Let’s check how you’re feeling today,” she said softly, carefully examining Sweetpea’s abdomen for signs of bloating or discomfort. She palpated the belly in gentle, circular motions, observing the dog’s reactions. The little dog squirmed slightly, indicating some discomfort, but allowed the examination to continue.
“See?” Nicola said anxiously. “I knew something was off.”
Lila then took out a stethoscope and listened to the Yorkie’s heart and lungs, noting there were no irregularities in the rhythm or breathing patterns.
Lila looked up from her exam. “Well, I think we’re simply looking at bacon overload, and nothing more.” She gave a knowing nod and explained that too much fatty food could upset a dog’s stomach, leading to indigestion or pancreatitis in severe cases.
“Can you call and tell Wooster that?” Nicola suggested. “He won’t listen to me.”
“Tell you what—I’ll write a script recommending a bland diet for the next few days, along with plenty of water to keep little Sweetpea hydrated. You can show that to Wooster, if you like.” She also advised Nicola to monitor the dog’s condition and return if symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea appeared. With a final pat on the Yorkie’s head and a gentle scratch behind her ears, Lila concluded the examination, ensuring Nicola had all the information needed for a safe recovery.
As they made their way to the waiting room, Nicola turned with a mischievous smile. “By the way, have you heard the latest news?”
Lila sighed inwardly. “No, I haven’t.”
Nicola’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “We have a new visitor in town. And not just any visitor—a celebrity.”
That caught Lila’s attention. “Really? Who is it?” she asked, her tone lifting with curiosity.
But Nicola was already moving toward the counter, her expression coy. Without breaking eye contact, she sat her dog on a nearby chair. Then she opened her purse, retrieved her wallet, and slid out a credit card.
“The woman is very well known in some circles,” Nicola added. Her manicured nails tapped lightly on the counter as she waited for Lila to make out the invoice. The hint of a smile on her lips suggested she was enjoying this game of half-revealed secrets.
Next, she leaned across the counter. In a conspiratorial whisper, she finally spilled. “It’s Roxie Steele.”
Lila met her gaze. “Who?”
Nicola scooped Sweetpea into her arms. “Roxie Steele—the romance author!” Her voice carried a tinge of excitement. “She’s been topping the charts for years.”
She winked, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “Can you imagine? Our little town, hosting a bestselling author?”
Grabbing her clipboard off the counter, Lila moved for the cash register. “Never heard of her.”
Nicola handed over her credit card. “Oh, c’mon. Every woman in America has heard of Roxie Steele. Her stories are…” She lowered her voice. “Verysexy. The kind you wouldn’t want Camille reading.”
Narrowing her eyes, Lila studied Nicola’s overly enthusiastic expression. “Roxie Steele, huh? You read her books?” she asked casually, though she already had her suspicions.
Nicola rolled her eyes and waved a dismissive hand, her Yorkie shifting in her arms. “Me? Please, I don’t have time for that kind of smut,” she said, though her blush and sudden avoidance of eye contact suggested otherwise. “I’m too busy with more...refined reading material,” she added, her voice trailing off with a slightly forced laugh.
Lila suppressed a smirk. It was clear as day that Nicola was lying. She could practically see the romance paperbacks stuffed in the woman’s oversized designer handbag.
She shook her head lightly, pretending to believe her, but she knew that Nicola was the type to devour every steamy chapter when no one was watching.
