The receptionist glanced at them, then shot up from her seat. “Nia? Oh, thank God you’re back. We were so worried. Gil told me what happened. Are you okay?”
“I am. I just want to check on the pups and my other patients. This is Lore.” She did the intro. “And that’s Libby. I won’t be long.”
Libby’s eyes widened. Nia wasn’t surprised. The angel drew everyone.
“Hi,” her co-worker said, sounding a little breathless.
“I won’t be long,” Nia threw over her shoulder.
Maybe Libby could entertain him, give her some time alone to assimilate. Regroup.
Little yaps drew her down the passage, past the doors to the food-prep area, and to a brightly lit room. The two tiny bicolored brown and black pups were settled in a blanket-lined basket near the cupboards on the floor.
“Hey, you,” she rasped, throat thick with emotions. “I missed you both so much.”
She settled on her knees and gently stroked their silky pelts. Their warmth drew her, and she scooped up the smaller one, no bigger than her palm, and cradled him to her chest, taking comfort in his little, wiggling body.
She kissed his head. His wet tongue licked her chin.
Her eyes blurred. She hated Kas for ruining her life, and more, she hated herself for agreeing to that date.
“He would have still followed you, regardless.”
Nia jerked at the sound of Lore’s low voice. She cast a sideways look at his highly polished dress shoes next to her. “Stop reading my thoughts, please.”
“I’m not. You’re projecting your anger loudly.” Lore hunkered down beside her, distracting her yet again. His calm, silvery-green eyes skimmed her face. “Shield your emotions, Nia. You don’t want to draw the demon to this place.”
Hastily, she bolted her emotions—something she was used to—leaving her feeling bleak.
He caressed the whimpering pup in the basket, and it quieted. His gentleness made her wish he’d just stayed in the reception?—
“Nia?” At her boss’ voice, she shot to her feet, cuddling the puppy to her chest.
Gil Herbert stood in the doorway, scratching his bearded jaw. His short gray hair stuck up in its typical electrified state, and his buttoned lab coat strained over his stocky frame. His warm gray eyes were dark. “Is everything okay?”
“For now.” She stroked the puppy, trying to steady herself. “I wanted to see you and check on the pups.”
“They’re doing fine. That little one’s finally feeding.” He nodded to the bundle she carried, his gaze shifting to Lore hovering behind her. With him so close, it revved her up in ways that made her simultaneously want and hate him for making her feel this way.
“Gil, this is Lore. He’s a…a bodyguard.”
Lore likely gave Gil his cool stare, or maybe not, since her boss nodded and cast her a troubled look. “That stalker is still out there?”
She nodded.
“Nia.” He stepped into the room. “Why don’t you take some more time off?”
Her throat tightened, not surprised he didn’t want her to endanger the clinic in any way, and she couldn’t blame him.
“Don’t worry,” he said softly, eyes warm. “It’s early January. You can still clock in your remaining hours and finish your internship.”
But Gil also paid her a small wage. Now, she wouldn’t even have that.
She forced a smile and handed her only comfort back to him. “Thanks, Gil. Please keep the pups for me. I’m taking them both.” Whenever she got her life the heck back.
Her throat tight, she walked out of the clinic with Lore at her side.
The crowd surged along on the sidewalk, pushing her closer to Lore. Though the clinic was away from the tourist side of things, some of them still bled through.
