He’d have to be to save Dolly.
I couldn’t believe I’d been so stupid.
The next twenty minutes were all a blur. Immy stepped in and explained the situation to the receptionist, and I could speak only to say that I couldn’t remember exactly how much chocolate was left, but it was less than half a bar.
We were quickly swept into a back room with a vet in a plaid shirt and a stethoscope around his neck.
“Isaac,” he introduced himself, and his British accent made me blink as he immediately got to work checking Dolly over. “You’re Hannah’s cousin?”
Immy nodded. “Imogen. This is Mason, my neighbor, and that’s Dolly.”
“All right, Dolly, let’s give you a good look over. You said it was only a little amount of chocolate?” He directed that question to me.
“Less than half a bar of Hershey’s. Maybe even less than a quarter.” I made a rough shape with my hands so he had some idea.
“How old is she?”
“Eleven weeks, according to the shelter.”
“Right.” He rolled her over and held the stethoscope to her chest. “Do you know when she ate it?”
I shook my head.
“Any vomit?”
“I didn’t see it, but I smelled it in my bedroom, and it definitely wasn’t there this morning.”
“All right.” He pulled the things out of his ears and scratched Dolly beneath the ear. “She seems to be okay, but just a little out of sorts. Vomiting is always the go-to for a dog who fancies some sweets, and since she’s done that already, I’m going to say she’ll probably be okay. But since she is lethargic and not totally with us, I want to keep her in overnight where we can keep an eye on her and get some fluids in her so she doesn’t get dehydrated. That way, if she hasn’t gotten it all out of her system yet, we can do something about it. Does that sound good?”
“Yes. Please. Whatever it takes.” I rubbed my hand down my face and reached to smooth Dolly.
“Okay. Don’t worry, I promise she’s in good hands.” Isaac smiled as he scooped her up and held her against his chest lovingly. “Go and see Kate at the front desk and she’ll get all your information for you. I’ll call you in the morning with an update at around seven-thirty.”
“That’s great, thanks.” I gave Dolly one last scratch goodbye and watched him take her through a door to the back.
“Come on.” Immy wrapped her hand around my elbow and guided me out to the front desk.
I was shaking and almost dropped the pen when Kate handed it to me. Immy took it straight off me and began filling out the form—she knew my full name, date of birth, address.
Of course she did.
Why wouldn’t she?
The only thing she asked for was my phone number, which I dutifully relayed to her, then froze.
“What? What’s wrong?” She looked at me with panic shining in her eyes.
“I didn’t lock my front door,” I replied. “I don’t even have my keys.”
“Oh, Jesus, I thought you needed the hospital next. Here you go, Kate.” She slid the clipboard back to Kate who looked it all over.
“That’s all good, Mr. Black. I just need you to sign this form and pay a deposit toward the overnight stay.” Kate handed me a form and another pen which, thankfully, I was able to hold this time. “And one more,” she added. “This is the basic cost breakdown for the treatment Isaac said she needs tonight.”
I tried not to bug my eyes at the cost.
One: I was in the wrong business, even if I was a lawyer.
Two: If Dolly made it through the night, I was getting her fluffy little ass insured.
I signed, paid, and all but dragged Immy out of the building before Kate could hit me with any more forms. There would probably be a charge for their dinner on there, too.
Shit. Talking of dinner: it was almost eight, and I hadn’t eaten.
“Get in. We’re getting pizza.” Immy got right into her car and slammed the door before I could answer.
I could go for pizza.
I got in next to her, and I’d barely clipped in my seatbelt when she reversed out of her parking space. “We?”
“Well, I’m not taking you home and then going back out for pizza,” she said smarmily. “And the stupid ass place never gets my order right, even though ‘pepperoni’ is really not me speaking Chinese.”
“Can you speak Chinese?”
“If I could, I’d be wasted teaching ceramic painting to seven-year-olds.” She hit the blinker stick. “If you don’t want pizza…”
“I’ll take a pizza,” I said quickly. “Nothing wrong with pizza.”
“Good. You’re paying.”
“I am, am I?”
“Yes. I’m a starving artist, and you’re a fancy lawyer.”
“That’s the worst excuse I’ve ever heard, and I have a three-year-old.”
“Fine. I drove you to the vet even though I can barely stand to be around you. I deserve free pizza.”
I grinned. “There it is.”
“Don’t grin at me, Mason.”
“Why? You afraid you might, smile back at me? That would really mess with the whole hating me narrative, wouldn’t it?”
“Oh, shut your face.” She huffed out a breath and turned down another street. “I like pepperoni pizza with a cheesy stuffed crust, and they do these amazing little garlic bread balls that go well with their ranch.”
“So you’re telling me I should order you a pepperoni pizza with a cheesy stuffed crust and garlic bread balls with ranch.”
“I was just telling you what I like.”
“Mmm.” I fought against a smile. “Noted. Anything else? Would you like me to run to the liquor store across the street for a bottle of wine?”
“It would be a nice thank you for my sacrifice.”
“Your sacrifice?”
“Fine, my neighborly goodwill.”
I rolled my eyes as she parked, then got out of the car. “I’ll order, run to the store, then come back in time. Does that sound acceptable, Your Highness?”
She looked at me out of the corner of her eye. “You get the pizza. I’ll go grab the wine.”
“The wine? Are you sharing?”
“Not freaking likely.” She snorted and pulled the keys out of the ignition. “Anyone who shares wine isn’t someone worth spending time with. I thought everyone knew that.”
“Testing you.” I grinned and got out of the car, then stopped. I got my wallet from my pocket and pulled out a twenty, then passed it to her over the top of the car. “For wine. And beer.”
Immy rolled her eyes but she took the bill I offered her with a flourish and turned, slamming the car door behind her. I shut my door and waited as she locked it, then watched her go.
Jesus, she was hot.
I shook my head and turned around toward the pizza place before I chased after her and grabbed her to kiss her. That was how I felt in general when I looked at her now anyway—the urge to pull her against me and kiss the hell out of her.
I wished that was a new development.
I’d honestly wanted to since the moment I’d seen her on the front porch when I’d moved in.