Not me. I was busy running a farm.
Toby didn’t acknowledge the words, though. Instead, his eyes whipped around like he was searching for an exit to flee through, something it turned out he was very good at.
Marlowe let out a loud whine.
Toby’s eyes snapped to the dog, the panicked look dissolving instantly to turn his brown eyes the color of freshly whisked hot chocolate. “Oh, who is this?” he asked softly, immediately moving closer to the dog.
A punch of jealousy hollowed out my middle, and for a few endless seconds, I grappled for breath to fill up the sudden pit.
“Aren’t you just beautiful?” He went on as though I wasn’t even there and stroked his fur.
Marlowe’s tail beat against my side, and frankly, it stung with betrayal.
“He hurt his leg,” I said, gruff. “I brought him in to see your father.”
Toby tensed slightly but didn’t change the soft way he treated my dog. “My father is at home this morning. But I can take a look.”
“Can’t you call him?”
Toby straightened. The look in his eye turned snowy. “Not unless you want to deal with my mother. Feel free to drive to the vet in the next town over if you don’t like it.”
My eyes narrowed, and his did the same. We regarded each other stonily, waiting to see which one would look away first.
“Yoo-hoo,” Ms. Keystone called from the front. “I’ve brought Cupid for his appointment—oh, is that you, Tobias?” she said, coming around the side of the counter to the doorway where we hovered. “Well, my goodness. I haven’t seen you in years. Your mother told me she was trying to convince you to come home for Christmas. I’m glad to see you made it. Christmas just isn’t the same without our babies.”
Toby cleared his throat and smiled at the older woman. He never smiled at me.
“Ms. Keystone, it is so nice to see you again. You haven’t aged a day. All that dancing in New York City sure kept you young.”
I made a sound, and he gave me a warning look out of the corner of his eye before turning back to her. He was just as infuriating as ever. It was just like him to come in here and do whatever he wanted, feed Ms. Keystone’s delusions, and then leave the rest of us to try and bring her back to reality.
“Oh, you remembered,” she said, her blue eyes lighting. “Did I ever tell you about the time I was a Rockette and performed in the rain at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?”
“I don’t think so, but I can’t wait to hear about it.” He lied. He was convincing too. What a kiss-ass. “I’m actually seeing patients instead of my father, so I’ll be looking at sweet Cupid today if that’s okay. I have my license in the back if you would like to see it.”
“I don’t need a piece of paper to trust you with my baby,” she said instantly.
Toby slid a smug look in my direction as the woman went on.
“Your father is so proud of you. We all know what an accomplished vet you are down in Boston. I know my Cupid will be in good hands.” Covering the dog’s oversized ears, sheleaned in. “He’s been having some foul gas at home. He’s real embarrassed about it.”
I grunted, and it earned me a death glare.
“Nothing to be embarrassed about at all.” Toby assured her. “Why don’t you have a seat out in the waiting room, and I’ll have Brandy get you all checked in. She walked across the street for a few peppermint mochas. I had no idea Babs upped her coffee game. She’ll be just a minute.”
“Well, with all the tourism Archer here has brought in with the farm, Babs had to keep up. It’s good for business, you know. Reminds me of the early days in New York City.”
Toby slid me a look, and I raised my brows.
She went on. “If I didn’t have to watch my figure for all that dancing, I’d enjoy one of those mocha concoctions too.”
Toby turned back to her. “Your dedication is impressive.”
“It’s all about willpower.” She corrected him and then went on to tell him the best kind of diet for a dancer as he escorted her to a seat in the lobby.
The front door opened, and Brandy, the clinic receptionist, stepped in carrying a drink holder with two red paper cups and a small white paper sack. “I got the eggnog cream puffs!” she exclaimed.
“Oh, Brandy,” Ms. Keystone said. “You’ve got to be careful with those pastries, dear. A minute on your lips is a lifetime on your hips. That’s what I always say.”
