“I’ll take whatever’s left,” Conner answered as he stepped next to her, whooshing a cloud of intoxicating cologne as he arrived. He slipped her a glance that temporarily made her forget where she was and what she was doing. She wasn’t foolish enough to think Conner reciprocated secret feelings for her. He was way out of her league. His kindness came only because he was Marc’s closest friend. This crush of hers was definitely one-sided. “Let everyone else choose one first.”
Focus, Sadie. She twisted the coffees one by one, turning the cups decorated with blue forget-me-nots to better showcase the handwritten flavors. “Do you know when Marylou—”
“You haven’t been here five minutes and already you’re harassing Conner.”
Marc’s unexpected voice startled Sadie, causing her hand to slip. The caramel macchiato fell against her chest, spilling a few drops onto her white silk blouse. But before she could get a solid grip on the cup, it slipped from her fingers and crashed against the tile floor. Coffee exploded in all directions, covering the floor, splashing the counter front, drenching the bottoms of her light-gray dress pants, and soaking the soles of her bright-red heels. It was only because she served as a human shield that Conner seemed spared of the disaster.
“We have a coffeemaker,” Marc said, his tone chilling enough to stop the glaciers from melting for another century.
“Let me grab some paper towels,” Conner said, his soft tone extending kindness.
“Let Sadie,” Marc insisted. “Maybe the cleanup will be a reminder that this isn’t some corporate office environment.”
Conner didn’t listen, thankfully.
It took every ounce of restraint Sadie had, and several she didn’t, not to spin on her brother and give him a piece of her mind. Because she knew that’s what he expected. What he was no doubt counting on so he had a reason to show her the door on day one. “I have a black coffee for you,” she said to Marc with a forced smile as she accepted a handful of paper towels from Conner and began mopping up the counter.
“Already told you, we have a coffeemaker.”
She waited for him to disappear into the back, but he stood at the door watching instead. A hint of amusement played at the corner of his mouth. Not enough to qualify as a smile, or even a smirk. Marc seemed to be allergic to those. “You going to stare or help?” Sadie fired, unable to help herself.
“Conner, we need to go over the patient list,” Marc said, ignoring Sadie’s question. Something he’d later call an outburst. She loved her oldest brother, but sometimes he could be a huge thorn in her side. He was grumpy by nature, except when it came to the animals. But his attitude this morning was pushing the limit.
“I’ll be right there.” Conner stood, holding a pile of coffee-drenched towels.
“I can take those,” Sadie offered. When he seemed to hesitate, she added, “You have more important things to attend to, Dr. Michaelson.” She didn’tmeanto flirt, but she’d never called him that before, and it came out more playful than she intended. “Thank you for your help.”
He nodded and followed Marc into the back.
Sadie kicked off her wet heels and fished a mop out of the janitor’s closet to finish cleaning the sticky floor, ignoring the damp fabric of her dress pants clinging to her ankles. No way was she running home to change. She’d spend most of her time behind the counter, out of sight, anyway.
She slipped her phone from her pocket and shot a quick text to Haylee requesting a wardrobe change. But with how many times she’d heard her sister get up last night with Melly, she suspected that SOS would go unanswered for hours yet.
“Already on your phone,” a woman mumbled, drawing Sadie’s attention to the front door. Marylou Carlson, a woman a few years older than Sadie’s mom, took her time getting to the front counter. Even without her high heels, Sadie towered at least four inches over the woman. But what intimidation her height couldn’t offer, her icy, suspicious glare made up for.
“I was just texting my sister—”
“Look, I appreciate you helping out. I do,” Marylou said, subtly nudging Sadie out of her way to get to her chair. “But if you’re going to spend all your time on your phone, you might as well go home now.”
Sadie shouldn’t be surprised that Marc had spoken to Marylou ahead of time about this arrangement. She took a deep, centering breath. Something that had become second nature to her in these past few months. “I’m here to work,” Sadie said firmly. “Tell me what you need me—”
“Why are there drops of coffee on my files?”
“There was a casualty—”
“Get those away from the front desk,” Marylou said, pointing at the drink carriers.
“Did you want—”
“Either put them in the break room or toss ’em.” Marylou dropped into her rolling chair and powered on her computer. “No open beverages allowed up here. Got it?” Sadie nearly argued that the coffees had stoppers, but she bit her tongue. It was doubtful Marylou would care. She didn’t need to make an enemy on day one. That was theoldSadie. “And put your shoes on. We’re not running a barn.”
Two vet techs arrived as Sadie slipped her feet into soggy shoes.
“Is that coffee?” one girl asked with wide, appreciative eyes. She, along with the other tech, seemed younger than Sadie, but that didn’t stop an unwarranted pang of jealousy, knowing Conner worked closely with both these gorgeous women all day long.
“Sure is,” Sadie said, following them into the back and rattling off the different orders. Hoping to make a couple of allies. She could certainly use them.
“Please tell me the mocha has an extra shot,” the other girl said as Sadie set the drink carriers on the lone breakroom table. One Sadie recognized from years ago. The well-worn table used to take up residence in the family room, but when Mom announced she wanted to throw it out, Marc kept it.
