The Firefly Effect (35 page)

My heart lurches anxiously and I suck in a deep breath, releasing a sigh that’s one part relief and two parts anticipation.

Finally.
I’m here. I made it.

Coming up just ahead on the left, I can make out the sign for Woodview Animal Hospital. Framed in green, the background is beige with the name done in the same deep hunter green as the truss. Underneath, a message is spelled out in interchangeable plastic letters:
Neutering your pet makes him less nuts.

Something tells me Fido wouldn’t see it that way.

My heart skips into a pounding rhythm as I turn on the left blinker and pull into the parking lot of 2508 Woodview Drive. It wasn’t all that hard to find once I located downtown Franklin. From what I’ve seen so far, it looks like a charming little town. Main Street in particular was very quaint and scenic. I imagine once the leaves start changing, which should be soon, it’ll look just like a Thomas Kinkade painting. I can see why Shane chose this place to call his home.

I find a parking spot, all the while trying to pretend that the familiar black Tahoe didn’t catch my eye instantly. He’s here. I’ve got butterflies in my stomach with the confirmation. He’s right inside, mere steps away. Once I walk through that door I'll be seeing him again. And then I’ll know, by the initial look on his face, whether or not I’ve made a terrible mistake.

I’m on pins and needles, just thinking about how he’ll react. No doubt he’ll be surprised, but will it be in a good way? For the millionth time, I second-guess my decision not to call ahead. Was that the wrong thing to do? I really should have given him a heads up that I was coming. What if he isn’t happy to see me? What if – uh, my stomach clenches at the thought – what if he has plans with someone else tonight? I know it’s a weeknight, but still…

Spitting my cinnamon Trident into a crumpled gas receipt, I yank down the sun visor and check my reflection in the mirror. I look presentable enough I guess, for someone who drove four straight hours from Atlanta after sleeping for only three. The room my agent booked for me was nice and the hotel bed soft and clean, but it’s always hard to sleep in a strange place. Especially when you can’t switch your mind off long enough to unwind.

I kept telling myself that going to see Shane was merely a possibility. Just something I was
considering
doing – nothing definite. It was a prospect and as yet undecided.

Oh, bull hockey. Let’s face it, I knew all along which direction I’d be heading after checkout. Why else did I have MapQuest directions to Franklin, Tennessee printed out, ready and waiting in my car? Why else did I pack extra clothes? Not to mention all the time I spent fussing with my hair this morning.

And for what other reason am I wearing this eye-catching new emerald top with the cut-out shoulders?

Shane isn’t the only one I’ll be seeing.
She’ll
more than likely be there, too. This Audrey slut – er, I mean person. I haven’t even met her and already I dislike her intensely. I almost wish Leah hadn’t told me all that stuff. Ever since she filled me in, I haven’t been able to think about anything else. Even yesterday, at Barnes and Noble. Sitting there at my table, smiling while passing out free bookmarks, signing copies of my books while trying to engage in friendly conversation…I would find my thoughts drifting to him. To them. Together.

What a sickening image.

The good news is, I didn’t have an anxiety attack. Didn’t even come close. Maybe because I was too busy for the possibility to occur to me. Or maybe because I had my mind occupied with other, more important things.

It’s not like I haven’t talked to him. I called him back after Leah and I returned from the beach, just to tell him she was spending the night. And we spent hours chatting on the phone over the weekend. We covered just about everything under the sun. Except for two little details. First, I didn’t bring up my trip to Atlanta. And second, I didn’t tell him what his sister said. As for him, he never mentioned Audrey once. You’d think I would be reassured by that.

Well, I’m not.

Not even a little bit.

I step out of the car just as a the glass door swings open and a woman comes out with what looks like a bear on a leash. It’s not, of course – it’s just a Saint Bernard. But if you ask me, this dog looks like Cujo on steroids. For crying out loud, what is Shane doing to these animals? Giving them growth hormones? Yikes.

Out of my peripheral vision, I see the woman nod a greeting as we pass each other on the sidewalk. I smile and say
hello
while maintaining a safe distance, and without taking my eyes off Cujo. Because he’s looking at me and licking his chops like I’m a marinated piece of prime rib on a skewer.

Pulling the door open, I hurry into the clinic before Bigfoot-on-a-leash decides he’s hungry for Florida cuisine. Just inside, there is a spacious waiting room with three people who glance up at me indifferently. A woman with a cat carrier by her side, another woman with a dachshund in her lap, and a man whose beagle is sprawled out on the floor at his feet. It looks up just long enough to give me a rather unenthusiastic
woof
.

To my right is the reception desk. There are only two people behind it. No sign of Shane anywhere. No sign of the infamous Audrey, either. All I see is one redheaded guy who looks to be barely out of high school, and a petite little woman of about sixty with ash blonde hair in a short pixie cut.

The boy doesn’t even look up from the computer screen he’s glued to. The woman, however, peers at me pleasantly over glasses that seem way too large for her small face. The corners of her pale blue eyes crinkle as she smiles brightly.

“Good afternoon, sugar! How are you? And who did we bring in today?”

Momentarily confused, I give her a blank look. “Who did I – oh. Nobody. I’m sorry, I don’t have an appointment or anything.”

“Did you need to make one? We had a cancellation this afternoon if you can come back at three-thirty. Is it an emergency?”

“No, nothing like that. Thank you. Actually, I was just hoping to speak to Sha– um, Dr. Becker for a minute. If he’s not too busy. I can wait.”

“Of course, honey. Who should I tell him is here?”

I open my mouth to give her my name, but whatever I was going to say is forgotten when two men suddenly appear from around a corner. They are deeply engrossed in conversation. And one of them…

One of them is Shane. So familiar and yet so paradoxically unfamiliar in this strange environment. His long hair is tied back in the ponytail I’m used to seeing, but a buttoned-up white lab coat grazes the thighs of his faded jeans. A yellow and white cat is cradled in one of his arms, his free hand casually scratching the top of its furry head while the feline eyes narrow in bliss. Oh dear God, he is even more captivating than I remember. And I could have sworn I had memorized every inch of that beautiful man.

I’ve never been so thrilled to see anyone in my life.

And in that instant, I know for certain that I am hopelessly and infallibly in love with Shane Becker.

Their conversation over, he turns his attention from the other man to say to the woman at the desk, “Could you please take Percival and trim his claws for…”

The sentence is never finished. Just at that moment he glances up, and his voice trails off as our eyes meet.

I knew all along that I would be able to tell from one look whether coming here was a mistake. And I can. I see it all in his expression. First there is disbelief. And then…yes, there it is. The soft look in his eyes that tells me everything I need to know.

That there was no reason to worry.

He walks over to where I stand rooted to the ground like a mute statue. I expect him to ask me what I’m doing here. You’d think that would be the first thing he’d want to know, right? But he doesn’t ask. It’s like the
why
of it doesn’t matter.

With the cat still nestled in his arms, he leans in close enough to rest his forehead against mine. My heart soars as he smiles that gentle, affectionate smile that warms me throughout. I can feel every eye in the place watching us curiously, but I couldn’t care less. And clearly, he isn’t concerned about it either.

“Hello, Felony,” he says softly.

“Hi,” I whisper back.

“It’s good to see you.”

“It’s good to see you, too.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Yes. Everything’s fine. Why?”

“You had me worried. I’ve been trying to call you since last night.”

Oh…oops. I turned my phone off just before the signing and after that I went out to dinner with Carol, my agent. With everything that was going on, I didn’t think to turn it back on before I went to bed. And here I was wondering why he didn’t call me last night.

Boy. I know love is supposed to make you crazy, but I am one addlebrained mess.

“Sorry,” I say contritely. “I forgot my phone was turned off.”

“Well, since you’re here I guess I can let it slide just this once. Do I get a kiss?”

Without waiting for an answer, he brushes his lips gently against mine. That all-too-brief kiss is nowhere near enough, but we have an audience and I highly doubt they want to see us tongue-fucking in the middle of the waiting room.

Between us, Percival promptly meows his censure at no longer being the center of attention.

“I hope it’s okay that I stopped by.” I feel somehow that I should apologize for showing up out of the blue this way. Even if it was supposed to be a surprise.

“Of course it’s okay. I’m glad you did.”

“I know you’re probably busy and all.”

“Never too busy for you.”

A discreet feminine cough interrupts us. “Excuse me. Dr. Becker?”

“Hm?”

The woman from the front desk is standing there, and she grins up at him in amusement. “You wanted me to clip Percival?”

“Oh. Ah…yes. Thank you, Audrey.”

“Sure. Come on, sweetie pie, let’s go give those nails a manicure.” The powder blue eyes twinkle as she takes the cat from Shane, and to my surprise she gives me a sly wink before disappearing down a hallway.

Wait –
what?
Hang on one cotton-picking minute here! I must be hearing things. Did he just call her
Audrey?

“Shane…” I murmur. “Who…um, who was that?”

“That’s Audrey. My assistant. I’m sorry, that was rude of me. I should have introduced you.”

“That was your assistant?”

“Yes. She was just filling in at the front desk until the receptionist gets back. Joss took a late lunch today.” He gestures toward the door, and I turn my head to see a chubby brunette burst in with a McDonald’s cup in one hand and an armload of textbooks in the other. “Melanie, this is our receptionist, Jocelyn.”

“Hi,” the girl says, trying to wave without dropping her books. “Got a class tonight,” she explains with a laugh before scurrying off behind the desk.

“Nice to meet you.” Underneath my breath I mumble, “That’s it. This time I really am gonna kill Leah.”

Shane gives me a puzzled look. “What was that?”

“Nothing. Never mind.” I might have known! Damn that girl – she’s as unbalanced as a washing machine full of rocks. She’ll be lucky if I don’t throw one at her lying ass head. “Your clinic is really nice,” I say, trying to divert his attention.

“Thank you. Ethan’s not here right now or I’d bring you back and let you meet him.”

“That’s okay. I mean, I did show up unannounced. I…um, I was sort of in the area so I thought…you know, I figured I’d stop by…”

Realizing how idiotic that sounds, I quit talking. Even though he hasn’t asked, I feel I should offer some excuse. But ‘I was in the area’ comes off as contrived even to me.

Annoyed with myself, I cross my arms and lift my chin.
Let’s try this again.

“I understand there’s a very suspicious tropical disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico. Have you heard? Conditions are favorable for it to develop into a hurricane. It’s very concerning.”

“You don’t say.” His lips quirk into a smile as he plays along. “Well, we can’t have you right in the middle of such a potentially dangerous situation. I think you better stay here where it’s safe.”

“You think?”

“I insist.” Glancing around, he seems to suddenly become aware of the people sitting in the waiting area. “Tell you what. I can’t leave right now, but why don’t you wait for me at home. I’ll have Clay drive you over.” He digs into his pocket and proceeds to remove a house key from the key ring, then hands it to me.

“You don’t have to do that,” I protest. “Just give me directions and I’ll find it myself.”

“I don’t want to have to worry about you getting lost. Clay?” He waves the redhead over, and I smile at the boy uncertainly. “This is Melanie. Would you mind giving her a ride to my house, please? She doesn’t know where I live.”

“Not at all. Happy to do it.” Clay beams good-naturedly, and it occurs to me that the employees here are all so friendly and cheerful. Shane must be easy to work for. They all seem so happy.

“My car is here,” I point out. “How about if I just follow you. Okay?”