Jennifer Probst - Searching for Someday

When Kate looked back, Wolfe was gone.

And she wondered if Gen was keeping her own secrets.

HE WAS A dickhead.

Slade stared at his computer and tried to make sense of the endless notes for his next client. Sunday was a complete blur, with moments of clarity where he fought the need to show up at Kate’s door and beg her forgiveness. He’d certainly won the Prick of the Year award. After trying to seduce her in every way possible, he finally got her in bed, spent hours in orgasmic ecstasy, and treated her like some freak because she was a virgin. He belonged in one of those bad eighties flicks and he wasn’t even in high school.

Shame beat through him. The truth taunted and kept him from calling her. One night with Kate Seymour would never be enough. He craved more, wanted to spend hours in her company, learn all her secrets, and go over every inch of her delectable body. He wanted to hang out with Robert and watch movies. He wanted to cook for her, bring her coffee, and read the paper in bed.

The images streamed in a long vision that scared the living hell out of him.

It was more than sex, but he couldn’t handle it. Knowing he was the one who finally claimed her virginity made him want to roar with satisfaction like the primate he fought not to be. Slade also realized it strengthened the bond between them like an invisible, unbreakable string. He’d always be her first, and in some way, special. Too bad he had jacked up that good memory for her.

Slade pushed away from the desk with a groan and wished for that minibar. Instead, he grabbed a chilled bottle of water and wondered what his next move would be. He doubted she’d want to match him with anyone else, and honestly, he had no desire to go out on any dates when he wanted only one woman. A woman he should stay away from since he couldn’t offer her what she wanted, needed, and deserved.

Even though it didn’t exist.

His original plan to debunk the company had fizzled. Yes, he’d keep an eye on Jane, but Kinnections wasn’t looking to do anything illegal or immoral. In fact, the women who ran it did so with pure hearts and an intention he admired. There was nothing left keeping them together.

Slade ignored the twinge of pain in his gut and reached for the phone. Enough. He’d call her, apologize for his rotten behavior, and formally withdraw his name from her list. He’d hoped for an engaging affair with a woman who enchanted him, but he had no right mucking around in her life. She was a woman who didn’t screw around—for God’s sake, she was almost thirty and still a virgin. And that meant the man she let in her life would be important.

Sweat pricked his skin at the idea of being counted on to provide a happy ending. God knows, his last client had proven the truth. The poor woman was left alone with two kids while her husband moved in with his latest fling, twenty years younger and blowing through the kids’ college fund faster than he could make it back.

Slade punched out the number.

“Kinnections, may I help you?”

He dragged in a breath. “Hi, Kennedy, it’s Slade Montgomery. Can I speak with Kate, please?”

An awkward pause. Crap, how much did she know? Did Kate tell her everything? “Kate’s not here. Can I take a message?”

“Is she in a meeting? It’s important, I really need to know.”

Another pause. “Actually, she’s at the vet now. Robert got sick. I doubt she’ll be back, but maybe you can try her on her cell tonight?”

He tried to calm his racing heart. “Do you know what’s wrong with him?”

“Some type of infection. Look, I’d give her some time and—”

“Which vet?”

“The Animal Menagerie Hospital. Umm, Slade, I don’t think you should—”

He hung up. Stuffed the folders in his briefcase, grabbed his suit jacket, and headed out. He stopped at his secretary’s desk to forward his calls, cancel some meetings, and whizzed past his boss’s office, ignoring his pleas to pause for a chat.

Slade knew that dog meant the world to Kate. He also figured she was there alone, handling things in her life like she always did, with a poised control and fierce independence that never allowed her to show weakness. She wouldn’t bother anyone else for support because she was the one who tried to take care of others.

Not today. Just once, he wanted to take care of her.

Slade refused to question his intentions as he got into his Jag and headed toward Verily.

“WILL HE BE OKAY?” Kate asked the question calmly, but her lower lip trembled. Something had been wrong with Robert, but she hated dragging him to the vet each time she suspected a problem. She’d learned to wait it out a bit, and many times it was a brief bladder problem or a minor skin infection she was able to cure by bathing him and slathering him with the special medicine the doctor had provided.

This morning, she’d had to express his bladder manually and knew he was in pain. Every time she went through the vet’s doors, she wondered if she’d come back out. She was warned early that paraplegic dogs sometimes had many health issues along the way, but she swore to do everything possible to avoid them.

“This infection definitely spread out of control,” Dr. Burke informed her. He stroked Robert’s head with the kind affection from years of treatment and friendship. “I’m going to put him on strong antibiotics and wait on the results from the lab. Lots of water, and add a splash of cranberry juice for some acid. Keep an eye on him and give him some extra bathing time.”

Relief loosened her chest. They’d gotten through some bad infections before, and usually Robert fought them off like a champ. His big brown eyes studied the doctor with serious intent, as if waiting for the final diagnosis.

Kate pressed a kiss to the top of his head, held up his chin, and looked him straight in the eye. “It’s just a bad bladder infection, baby,” she said. “Meds and baths. Not so bad. And more time with Mommy.”

One lick. And as if he understood, he flopped his head back down on the table, totally chill that he knew it wasn’t serious. Kate smiled and quickly analyzed the next two days. She’d stay home today, but tomorrow was the big expo in Manhattan. It had taken two years to get Kinnections into the lineup, so she had to go. Her mom could probably stay with Robert all day and then—

The door flung open. Slade walked in, his suit a bit rumpled, his gorgeous surfer hair mussed. “How is he?” he demanded, making his way across the small exam room and toward Robert.

Kate’s mouth fell open. “W-w-what are you doing here?”

Dr. Burke frowned. “Excuse me, this is a private room for owners only.”

“I’m a friend.” His presence pumped up the room and took over. Kate let out another squeak, but he ignored her, bending down to look Robert in the face. “How ya doing, buddy?” The dog’s tail thumped and his expression lit up. Shock billowed through Kate as Slade stroked him, glancing from her to the doctor with a worried light in his eyes. “Is he going to be okay?”

Dr. Burke cleared his throat. “Kate? Is this man a friend of yours?”

The question threw her off, but the word stumbled from her mouth without thought. “Yes.”

“Sorry, doc. Slade Montgomery. Nice to meet you.”

Slade shook his hand and Dr. Burke relaxed. “Likewise. As I was just telling Kate, Robert has a bladder infection. Antibiotics should work. He needs to be watched, bathed, drink lots of water. Manual expression of his bladder if he backs up. I’ll call when the lab results come in.”

“Good.”

“Kate, why don’t you wait outside and I’ll bring him out shortly.”

Slade rubbed Robert’s ear and followed her out. She eased into the waiting room where the Animal Planet network chirped merrily behind her on the small-screen TV and a golden Lab waited patiently with his owner.