Concealed Attractions (Cedar Island Tales) Read Online Free Page A

can’t be right. Doctor Taylor never said a word about her going on a diet. He just suggested I change her food . Here, Schotsie. I promised if you were good, you would get a cookie .”
    “Mrs. Learman. How about if you give this much food to Schotsie ”— Ben demonstrated an amount half as much as she had described— “and then limit her to one treat a day? If you bring her back in a couple of weeks, we can see how things are going. I don’t want her hips giving out. ”
    “If you say so, Doctor Edwards.” The woman pat ted her newly-rinsed hair with a slight bluish tint and reached down to pick up Schotsie’s lead.
    “Let me help you. Schotsie is tangling you up.” Ben unwound the lea d that threatened to topple Mrs. Learman.
    “You are so helpful, Doctor Edwards. I’ll try what you said.” She left the office, led by an insistent Schotsie who wanted no more of Ben’s attentions. He nodded to the woman sitting in the reception area balancing a cat carrier on her lap.
    “He’s wonderful,” Mrs. Learman stage-whispered to her friend, “and so handsome .”
    Mrs. Scott stood up. “I believe Fluffy and I are next, Bronnie. With Doctor Edwards, right?”
    “Yes, Ramona. Room two .” Bronnie handed Fluffy’s chart to Ben.
    Ben examined Fluffy, refilled the flea treatment prescription the long-haired cat needed, and showed Mr s. Scott how to administer it. “Please come back if Fluffy needs more treatments , Mrs. Scott.” He strok ed Fluffy on the head as he placed h im in the cat carrier.
    The animal gave him a baleful stare and one more warning hiss before hiding his head in the towel Ramona had placed in the bottom of the carrier.
    “Yes, Doctor Edwards.”
    “Call me Ben, Mrs. Scott.”
    When the woman left the office , Bronnie gave Ben a note with a smiley-face. “ Well done, Sir Lancelot. They’ll be back. ”

Chapter 3
    The next day Dannilynn entered the treatment room from the door leading to the runs, her jeans soapy and wet from the knees down. She carried two empty pails and stacked them in the anteroom where the dog groomer washed the boarders.
    “Glad that’s done.” Ten runs cleaned and spotless. What else was on the sheet for her to check off?
    Ben greeted her cheerfully . “Hey , Shortie. Do you always take baths when you work?”
    “Just ’ cause you’re tall doesn’t make me short.” She sat down and wrung out both pant legs, then rolled up her jeans so that the wet sections could no longer be seen.
    “If you insist on calling me tall, I can call you short .” H e wink ed at her .
    She made a face in response and went in to e at half the sandwich she had brought for lunch. It was barely ten and her stomach was growling , even though she had eaten breakfast less than two hours earlier . Fifteen minutes later, she emerged from the bathroom, ashen-faced.
    “What’s the matt er with you?” Bronnie looked at her.
    “ I’m not sure . Can I go ove r to the mini-mart and get a 7-U p? It might settle my stomach.”
    “Go ahead. You’re all c aught up in back ?”
    Danni nodded. Halfway down the block, she detoured into the shrubbery and heaved again. She walked to the convenience sto re, picked up two bottles of 7-U p and returned to the clinic.  She sipped the soda, and nibbled on a cracker she found in one of the cabinets of the small kitchen.
    Bronnie to ok one lo ok at her and felt Danni ’s fore head.  “Y ou don’t have a fever. Maybe it’s the summer flu that’ s been going around. Why don’t you make it a short day ?”
    “ No. I want ed to go with Joel and Ben to the farm. Since both techs are here today. ”
    “If you throw up again, go home. You can always go to the farm another time. ”
    Danni waved her away. “ Maybe . Can I go l ie down in Joel’s office ? I feel kinda woozy.”
    “Sure. I’ll tell Ben where you are if you’re not up when they’re ready to leave.”
     
    An hour later, Dannilynn sat on an upturned bucket in the back seat of t