The door to exam room one was already closed.
Hadley knocked lightly before stepping inside.
A man stood near the counter, one hand resting on a cat carrier. He looked up as she entered, his gaze settling on her with a quick assessment that felt . . . deliberate.
“Mr. Henderson?” she asked.
“That’s me.” His voice was easy enough, but there was something behind it that didn’t quite match the casual tone.
Hadley offered a polite smile. “I’m Dr. Chase. Who do we have here with us today?”
He tapped the carrier lightly. “My girlfriend’s cat has been acting off.”
Hadley stepped closer, crouching as she peered through the grated door. A gray tabby stared back at her, wide-eyed and alert. “What’s her name?”
“Luna.”
Hadley nodded, opening the carrier carefully and easing the cat out onto the exam table. Luna stiffened at first but didn’t fight, her ears flicking as Hadley began a gentle exam.
Hadley listened to the cat’s heartbeat, then checked her gums, her eyes, her abdomen. Nothing immediately alarming.
But the way Travis kept staring at her made her skin crawl, and she had the feeling his presence here was intentional—and not because he was worried about this cat.
CHAPTER 8
Hadley forcedher thoughts to focus. “Is Luna eating okay?”
“Some.”
His answers were short, vague, and . . . unusual.
Hadley glanced up briefly, catching him watching her—not the cat, not the exam, but her.
She pushed the unease aside and continued. “We’ll run a couple of basic tests just to be safe. But she seems stable so far.”
“That’s good.” His tone didn’t quite match the words.
With Travis holding the cat, Hadley did a quick blood draw.
“So . . .” Travis leaned back against the counter when she was done. “You’re one of the Kings, right?”
Hadley kept her expression neutral as she looked up. “I’m their cousin.”
“Thought so.” A faint smile tugged at his mouth. “You live out there too?”
Hadley set the cat down, keeping her movements measured. “I help out at the kennel when needed.”
“Must be . . . interesting,” he said. “All those people coming and going.”
Her gaze sharpened just a fraction. “It’s a great kennel.”
“Right.” His smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. “That’s what I heard.”
The room suddenly felt smaller.
Hadley turned her attention back to Luna, though her awareness stayed fixed on him now.
“I’ll have Susie schedule a follow-up once we get the test results.” She kept her tone professional and controlled. “In the meantime, keep an eye on her eating and energy levels.”
