Cat Scratch Fever Read Online Free Page A

wasn’t sure how they’d managed to finish the tour. After her unwise but unstoppable flirtation, he’d just stared at her – no longer in concern, but with an unreadable expression in those baby blues of his. He took a long slow deep breath in through his nose, and she realised he was struggling for control. It took every ounce of effort not to look down and check out his crotch.
    Finally, she managed to smile. ‘Anything else you’d like to see?’ she asked, before she realised just how that sounded. The smile stuck on her face while, behind her eyes, the words ‘I can’t believe you just said that!’ flashed neon in her brain.
    His nostrils flared. ‘Yes. Definitely, yes.’
    This whole encounter was falling under the heading of ‘the stupidest thing she’d ever done’.
    But then he said, ‘I’d like to talk to your vet, if he’s not busy.’
    Weak-thighed and wobbly-kneed, she led him to the gate that separated the public venue from the behind-the-scenes private area. She managed not to fumble the lock too badly, even though she could feel him standing very close, and the whole thought of locks and chains was suddenly more appealing than it ever had been.
    She introduced him to José, then beat a hasty retreat back to her office. As much as she’d like to ogle the eye candy until her head exploded from unfulfilled desire, she had a mountain of work to do. If the fundraiser wasn’t successful, it wouldn’t make any difference what Gabe’s report said, because there wouldn’t be an SCCS any more.
    The air-conditioned building felt blissful (it was one of the blue-moon days when it was working) but it couldn’t entirely quell the heat inside her. Between returning the eight voicemails and thirteen emails that had gathered in her absence, she stood in front of the fan in her office and tried to think about anything except Gabe.
    She succeeded. Mostly.
    It certainly didn’t help matters when she looked up to see Gabe standing in her office doorway, that incorrigible dimple flashing as he smiled hello.
    Of course, with her sitting and him standing, she had a direct line of sight to his crotch. No erection (and, if he had one after visiting with José, she’d grossly misinterpreted Gabe’s – and José’s – proclivities), but she got the distinct sense of a nice package between those firm thighs before she dragged her gaze up his body, wishing it were her hands following that path.
    ‘I just wanted to thank you for the tour, and say good-night,’ he said.
    Could he smell her arousal from across the room? She clenched her hands on her lap. ‘No problem. Have a great evening.’
    ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’
    He was coming back? ‘Tomorrow?’
    He nodded. ‘Didn’t Katherine tell you? I’ll probably be around until your fundraiser.’
    She was left staring at his retreating back. Oh yes, she and Mr Twitchy would be spending some quality time together tonight, with some new fantasies to amplify the vibrations.
    But why would Gabe be staying so long? Had he found them in violation of something? Her eyes narrowed as she realised if he had, if he shut them down, then her fantasies would convert to the murderous variety.
    He’d seemed perfectly pleasant when he’d said goodbye. Then again, she’d dealt with enough Hollywood actors to know a pleasant goodbye could mask a stab in the back.
    Well, he’d spent enough time with José – surely their vet would have an opinion to share with her. It was after hours already and, although she’d be taking paperwork home with her, she could lock up her office and pay José a visit before she left. One of the Amur leopards, Noelle, was very, very pregnant, and José was bunking down in the clinic until she gave birth.
    As she approached the clinic building, a low utilitarian cement structure out of sight of the public area, she heard a long moan. The sound was almost eerie, but she’d been around long enough to know that some of the cats, when hurt,