“Understand,” she confirmed without taking her eyes off of the tragically weak animal.
Darcy spent the rest of the afternoon in the surgery area, talking to the dog, petting his nose with a gentle touch, reassuring him that he was now safe. The dog never even opened his eyes but Darcy felt sure that she was being heard, even if the animal might not understand.
Dinner that night was more of a distraction for Darcy as Matt and Dave conversed around her while the lasagna was served. Darcy was working through different ways to help the animal once it had recovered, a behavioral plan that would give him the confidence around humans that had been destroyed by the dog fights, making notes all over a large sheet of paper, scribbling out one thing, rearranging the possibilities with sticky notes. All the while, taking a bite of the lasagna whenever Dave or Matt nagged her. They both knew that she would forget to eat if they didn’t reminder every few minutes.
Dave and Matt both knew from experience that she would have tunnel vision until she’d perfected the plan, even applauded her efforts knowing that her success rate, combined with Dave’s medical skills and Matt’s business skills were what kept the practice thriving. She did this with any kind of animal that was hurt or in need of attention, giving her love wholeheartedly to the creatures and nursing them back to health. Dave fixed their wounds, got them healthy physically, Matt fed them treats and ensured that the clinic continued to thrive and Darcy healed their souls and obtained funding through her nightclub visits. The numerous animals running around the vet clinic was testament to how many animals they’d been able to save, and many more were in good homes.
Three days later, the wounded dog was awake, his soft brown eyes watching her warily as she worked around the clinic. She’d named the canine Moxie, since he’d have to have lots of that to get through his wounds, and wheeled him wherever she went except with the other animals. Shelving stock, checking records, whatever it was, she made sure that Moxie was right next to her. Now that he was awake, Darcy couldn’t touch him anymore without him cringing so she didn’t even try, just put her hand about a foot away from him, inching a bit closer each time in the hope that he would eventually learn to trust her.
She glanced up just in time to see the blond head bouncing outside the clinic windows. “Claire!” she whispered, careful not to yell it out since it would frighten Moxie. Turning to the dog, she smiled brightly. “You’re going to love Claire! She’s wonderful!”
Claire’s platinum blond head poked in through the stock room doors, a huge grin on her face.
“Is it safe to come in?” she asked.
Darcy noted the excited smile and looked at her hand. “He did it?”
She laughed. “Yes. He finally proposed,” she said excitedly, showing off the enormous diamond ring she’d gotten just the previous night.
Darcy pulled Claire’s hand closer. “Oh, it’s lovely!”
Claire was more than thrilled with the idea of marrying a man who was the most incredible person she’d ever met. “He’s such a wonderful guy. I can’t believe how things worked out. I really didn’t think things would, you know.”
Darcy knew all about the turbulent relationship Claire had had with her now-fiancé. Claire was a genius computer programmer who had broken into Mitch’s house in order to find her missing boyfriend. Instead of calling the police, Mitch hired her for his security firm, then proceeded to help her find her missing boyfriend, who Mitch assured Claire was gay. In the process, Claire fell madly in love with Mitch, who she thought only wanted a sexual relationship with her. Turns out, they were both fooling themselves but it appears that things had all worked out in the end.
“And have you re-decorated the rest of his house?” she asked, knowing that Mitch had a fabulous house, but before he’d met Claire, had only put in a desk and computer equipment. Claire went through the rooms, cutting out pictures in magazines, of which Mitch would then turn around and used to fill his house. It was just good karma that they both had similar taste in furniture and décor.
“The bedroom is finally finished,” she declared.
“Of course. It’s where you spend most of your time.” Darcy rolled her eyes at Claire’s blush. “You know, before you met Mitch, I didn’t think you could do that.”
Claire wasn’t backing down from the tossed down gauntlet. “And after last weekend’s escapades,” she said with a roll of her own eyes, “I’m surprised to find you vertical. According to the gossip columns, you’re either in rehab, having another tawdry affair, or are in the horribly dirty jail of some small country.”
“Good,” Darcy chuckled.
Claire wasn’t impressed. “Darcy, you’ve got to stop this craziness. You’re going to get hurt.”
“Everything is carefully spelled out in the contract. I’m not going to get hurt.”
“Who’s to say that the next guy who signs the contract is going to obey the letter and spirit of your rules?”
Darcy sighed. “I don’t have a choice, Darcy. Look at Moxie,” she said, turning to watch the sad animal as he labored to breath. “He needs the money for medicine and treatment. Dave’s labor and expertise are free of course, but the medicine, IV, bandages and medical equipment he needs right now are expensive.”
“Yes, and the clinic is doing extremely well. If you’d just advertise your own services, you might be able to get out of that crazy night club industry.”
“And what about my father?” Darcy asked, throwing down the trump card. “You know what he would do if I even hinted that I wanted to start my own business.”
Claire knew that Darcy’s father was a notorious mafia boss, although the Department of Justice hadn’t been able to pin anything on him despite numerous attempts over the years. “Maybe he’ll leave you alone this time. He’s been pretty quiet over the past few years.”
Darcy moved over to Moxie’s makeshift blanket bed. “Tigers don’t change their stripes. I think I need to be wary of my brother Marco as well. I’ve heard small rumblings from that area lately which is never a good thing.”
“I thought your brother protected you.”
“He tried, but I don’t know what happened to him after college. I can’t imagine my father letting him out of the family business. I would bet that he’s one of my father’s main lieutenants.”