Alex glanced towards the deserted reception area, his eyes narrowing as he noted a missing member of staff. Cold concern crept into his stomach.
‘Where’s Delia?’
Anne folded her arms and glared at him. ‘She resigned yesterday.’
His jaw tightened at the news and he held in a sigh. ‘Why?’
‘She says you’re the devil to work for and she would rather hopscotch naked through a flooded field with a group of rowdy drunks watching on than spend another minute in your unpleasant company.’
He shook his head, causing his natural loose curls to bounce and move. A sense of injustice replacing his concern. ‘I offered her some sound advice and she took it completely the wrong way.’
Anne raised an eyebrow. ‘She took it exactly the way you meant it, Alex. She was hoping you would feel sorry for her, but instead you insisted she pull herself together and stop whinging.’
‘Her constant moaning and crying gave everyone a headache,’ he defended, a stirring of guilt travelling through him.
Perhaps he had been too blunt, but if the woman wanted sympathy she should visit a counsellor or a priest. They were trained to deal with emotional situations. Alex had endured enough female hysterics throughout his childhood to know to avoid it as an adult.
‘She’s in mourning,’ Anne pointed out. ‘Her ex-husband has recently died. A little understanding wouldn’t hurt.’
‘I bought her a condolence card...’
Anne snorted. ‘No, you signed the one I bought. Delia’s mistake was thinking that beneath all your Spanish and Irish ruggedness beats a passionate and sympathetic heart. She soon learnt better, silly girl.’
Alex frowned at the statement. He did have a heart, but he’d learnt years ago to keep it hidden and far away from the workplace. What use was he as a veterinarian if he dissolved into tears every time he lost a patient or dealt with a case of cruelty? The best way he could help the sick animals who came through the practice’s doors was to keep his head and emotions in check. To be the solid and sensible presence when their owners fell to pieces or looked to him for answers.
And he tried not to get too close to his staff members. It was too easy to give off the wrong messages without meaning to. Women especially were prone to scramble his words and hear only what they wanted. He’d stopped dating a year ago because it had become too much work trying not to say the wrong thing to women who were as complicated as a conundrum and often as annoying.
‘I only suggested she do her grieving out of work hours. All she ever did was complain about the man while he was alive. Not once in the six weeks she worked here did she utter one nice word about him.’
‘That’s irrelevant,’ Anne said, though her eyes twinkled with humour.
‘No, it’s hypocritical.’
‘Grief doesn’t stay in rigid lines and keep office hours, Alex,’ Anne insisted.
‘More’s the pity,’ he muttered. ‘I’m your boss—that doesn’t mean I want to hear about your lives outside the practice. I’m quite happy not to. Perhaps we should make it a clause in future employee contracts. “Keep all emotions at home where they belong or face the sack.”’
Anne chuckled, not in the least offended by his remark. ‘How can you be such a caring man when it comes to animals, yet so intolerant of humans?’
He shrugged. ‘I like animals. Humans are just a necessary evil I’m forced to endure.’
She laughed and shook her head. ‘Fortunately, despite your unusual character quirks and dislikes, I do like you. But if you don’t stop upsetting the staff we’ll be without a full quota and then I will be very unhappy. And you know what I will do then.’
‘Find ways to make me unhappy,’ he predicted, knowing from experience how good she was at it.
‘Exactly.’ She grinned. ‘Now, shall I take care of Ronny while you grab a cup of coffee?’
Alex lifted the cat cage. ‘Get him prepped straight away. I want to neuter him before Evans changes his mind and demands him back. I’ve had him fasting overnight, so there’s no reason to delay. This Romeo’s days are over.’
Alex glanced through the plastic mesh door at the furious ginger tom cat and couldn’t resist a grin. This reprobate had fathered over half the kittens in town, and castrating him would not only be sensible, but medically responsible.
‘Good grief,’ Anne muttered in shock. ‘Did you just smile?’
Alex shoved the carrier at his colleague. ‘Don’t be ridiculous, Nurse. Have I ever, in the six years we’ve worked together, done such a thing?’
Anne shook her head but kept staring at him.
Uncomfortable with her stunned expression, Alex headed to his office on the other side of the building. ‘Give me a shout when you’re ready. I don’t want to see anyone until I’ve dealt with Ronny.’
‘Yes, boss. I’ll prepare Theatre the minute Leah gets in.’
Dropping into his office chair, Alex ignored the paperwork waiting for his attention and took his phone out of his pocket. Two messages from his aunt, one from the local garage and several from an old girlfriend he hadn’t seen in years. He deleted them all, not about to let anyone spoil his good mood.
With a quick look at the day’s schedule, he went through his list of patients. A sweet female Bichon was booked in to be spayed. Two rescue Labradors needed dental work and a general check-over before the nearby rescue centre could place them for adoption, and the afternoon consisted of general consultations. A busy day, but nothing unexpected.
A knock on the door caused him to glance up.
‘Bit of an emergency just walked into Reception,’ Anne said. ‘A woman with a seriously neglected dog. You should see the condition of it, Alex. It’s dreadful.’
He stood and walked towards her, his pleasure
