Page 78 of Hold Me Instead
She gave a small smile. “You’re a friend of his?”
“Hope to be.” He stepped closer, holding out a business card. “Our company owns a few clinics in the area, and we’re actually looking for a veterinarian to lead one of our teams. Not too far from here actually, we hope to be a sister clinic with this one. But my research has been pointing me in your direction.”
“Oh, I’m not looking to leave.”
He held up a hand. “Things change. Please keep us in mind, is all I’m asking. I won’t take up more of your time, but you have my info.”
She shook his hand, his rough grip firm. As he walked away, she flipped the card over to see Neptune Corpin thick, bulbous letters. Her head whipped up to locate him, but he’d disappeared among the groups of people wandering between the tents. She could find him if she wanted, but what would she say?I hate your company.Why are you here?
It was shady, to compliment her, to have learned about her. To try to poach her at her own event? Especially now, when they needed her most, she had no intention of leaving.
As she watched Zachary talk with patrons at the dog adoption tent, she couldn’t help but feel lucky. Things were falling into place in a way she hadn’t dared to imagine.
Their practice wasin good hands, because of the great team they made.
Chapter 22
Zachary
Zacharysteppedawayfromthe rescue’s tent with a happiness he hadn’t felt in years. He was grateful Cory had called him over to answer questions from interested people, if only to witness a family lean into their consideration of adopting a senior dog. Their six-year-old daughter had fallen in love with a sweet old cocker spaniel, and the two had been cuddled in the grass ever since.
“Sheila, thanks for covering for me,” he said when he returned to his station.
“No prob, Dr. Lee,” she said, adding patties to prepped plates. “There’s a guy over there looking for you, though. I didn’t catch his name. I’ll hang here until you’re back.”
“Oh.” He looked at the cluster of tables where she pointed, spotting someone sitting on his own, surveying the crowd around him. “In the gray hat?”
She nodded, so he wound his way over, spotting Charlie at the raffle booth, talking with Jasmine animatedly. He smiled at her unfazed, bouncy spirit, but his grin grew when she noticed him watching, and that blush raced over her face and neck.
“Hey there, I’m Dr. Lee,” he said, a chipper energy in his voice he hardly recognized, as he reached the lone guest. “I believe you were looking for me?”
The middle-aged man stood. “Dr. Lee!”
“Hope I’m not interrupting,” Zachary said as the man held out his hand.
“Not at all. You’re stopping me from going back for more sweets, in fact,” he said with a grin. “Ned North, from Neptune Corp. Nice to finally meet you.” He gestured to an open chair across from him.
Zachary’s descent into the seat slowed as he remembered the letter in his pocket. He swallowed. “Actually, you must be looking for Daniel Lee. I’m his son. Zachary.”
Ned leaned back in the chair, his green coat puffing around his shoulders. “I didn’t realize you were working here too. What a surprise! Well, I’m happy to talk with you as well, if your father can join us.”
“He’s out sick at the moment. I’m filling in for him.”
“Oh. Sorry to hear that.”
“I can have him contact you when he returns?” Zachary offered reluctantly.
“I was hoping to meet him in person. I’m passing through on my way to Illinois and Ohio, so this cookout seemed like a good opportunity for us to meet in a more casual capacity.”
“I see.”
Ned tapped his fingers on the table, a slow, studying rhythm. “You’ve heard of us? Beyond our candy line, I mean.”
Zachary nodded. “Have friends whose practices were bought out by your company because they could no longer compete with large corporation prices.”
“We rescue struggling clinics and allow them to keep serving their community.”
“Some of them might look at it that way,” Zachary said.
