The Vet's Valentine Gift

By J. L. Campbell

Matthias Laing has snagged the woman of his dreams, but his job as a vet keeps getting him into trouble. The situation is past complicated because of the growing assortment of animals in Toni's house and to top it all, the conflict between Matthias and her daughter's dad. Can Matthias and Toni's budding romance survive their challenges and if it doesn't, will Jade, her precocious five-year-old find a way to play Cupid and fix things by Valentine's Day?

• Language: English
• Publisher: J. L. Campbell
• Release date: Nov 26, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310528385

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The Vet's Valentine Gift

(Sweet Romance Book 2)

J.L. Campbell

The Vet's Valentine Gift

Copyright © 2015 by J.L. Campbell

Cover art: Visual Luxe

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All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without written consent from the publisher, except for brief quotations used in reviews or articles

This is a work of fiction. References to events, characters, organizations and places are fictional and the product of the author's imagination. Any similarity to actual events and people living or dead is coincidental.

License Notes: This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only and may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like the share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy. If you are reading this book and did not purchase same, or it was not purchased for your sole use, please consider buying your own copy.

Thank you for respecting the author's work

Dedication

For Tina V. Young, who sparked the inspiration for this new chapter in Matthias and Toni's adventure.

Praise for J.L. Campbell's

Sweet Romance Series

Ms. Campbell has hit the nail on the head with what love is all about. Bravo!—Rose Morales

J.L. Campbell is a very gifted and talented writer. If you haven't had the pleasure of reading any of her work, it's time to check her out—Tina Young

It was sweet, refreshing and a good balance of how a blended family comes together.—Celeste Williams

I'm a sucker for a good Christmas romance and the Vet's Christmas Pet was one of the best.—Deborah Dunson

Chapter 1

Friday, January 3, 5:30 p.m.

The buzzing phone sliced through the fog in my brain and brought me back to the office. I laid aside the veterinary journal I'd been staring at and swung my heels off the desk. Then I turned down the sound on the television and picked up the handset. Matthias Laing. Can I help?

Jade's stage whisper brought a smile to my face. Hi, Doc. Did Mommy call you yet?

Hey, Precious Gem. How are you?

Good. Did Mommy talk to you?

No, hon. Maybe she'll do it later, when she has more time.

Okay, but she's not doing anything right now, except watering the flowers.

Which explained why Jade was on the phone trying to play go-between, after yesterday's incident.

I didn't think Toni was ready to acknowledge that I was still alive, so I moved to a subject Jade was always eager to talk about—Ridley, her pet. She and the two-month-old Pit Bull mix were inseparable.

How's Ridley doing?

She giggled and then said, He's fine. Say hi, Ridley.

The dog gave a sharp bark and I stifled a grin, thinking that if it were possible, Jade would not only have that dog doing tricks but talking in short order.

Her mother would have a thing or two to say about Jade having Ridley on the phone, so to avoid getting Jade in trouble I asked, You don't have Ridley on the sofa, do you?

Uh … maybe.

You know how your mom feels about that, I said while stifling a grin.

I left his towel on the verandah but I won't talk to you for long, so he won't pee-pee in the seat.

I laughed outright when I thought about what Toni's reaction would be. In my mind's eye, I could picture her, mouth hanging open and a frown creasing her brow. I wrapped things up to ensure that all three of us stayed out of Toni's bad books. I'll probably call her later, okay?

Yeah, make sure 'cause Mommy might forget she needs to say sorry. Ridley says 'bye.

I put down the phone, still smiling. Jade always had that effect on me and I couldn't remember interacting with her and not being left in a good mood, except for when Ridley was sick.

How she knew her mother needed to apologize to me was a mystery, but I didn’t put much past Jade—a sweet five-year-old ray of sunshine that brightened my life along with her mother.

I had a soft spot for Ridley too, through whom I'd met Jade. That meeting led to me rekindling my relationship with her mother. It was hard to believe only a month had gone by since Toni had come back into my life. The eighteen years we'd been out of touch felt like a lifetime. I hated to think about the fact that but for Jade insisting Toni take Ridley to see me after almost running him over, we might never have met each other again.

I'd had the devil of a time fast-tracking myself into Toni's favor, but the result was a great Christmas and New Year holiday. The only problem I had now was that I had landed back on the negative side of Toni's accounts because I'd gotten into her business.

I'd been at her house a day ago, listening to the evening news when the phone rang. Jade ran to pick it up and from her side of the conversation I knew she was talking to a relative, but I didn't start paying attention to what she was saying until her voice turned mournful. But Daddy, you were s'posed to come for me on Friday. You're not gonna come?

I glanced at Jade then, and she turned away folding her arm across her stomach, the way Toni did when she stood to answer the phone. One side of my mouth lifted until Jade got plaintive. That's what you told Mommy last time, but—

Now, I gave up all pretense of being interested in the news.

You don't want to see me bad enough, Jade said, her voice high-pitched and shaky. As I watched, she flung the phone at the cradle and stomped away, leaving me with no option but to pick up after her.

Glancing toward the kitchen, I grabbed the handset off the floor. When I put it to my ear, the line was still open.

Hello?

Who is that?

I could have said the first thing that came to my mind, but I didn't. Being clued in to Jade's neglect by her father didn't give me the right to dip into Toni and Dane's business, but boy did I want to tell him a thing or two. Instead, I played it cool. I'm Matthias Laing, who are you?

Dane Barnett. Jade's father.

I rolled my eyes at that tactic. Why would he think I'd be impressed by that after the conversation he'd just had with his daughter?

What are you doing there and where is Toni?

Talk about rude and demanding. What?

I asked you—never mind, let me speak with Toni.

Hang on a minute, I said and got to my feet. I stood in the same spot for a few seconds before I reached down and picked up the handset a second time. Considering your track record, I wouldn't be so concerned about who's over here doing what.

While he sputtered, I went to the kitchen where Toni was wiping down the counters.

Toni, Dane is asking to speak with you.

She turned, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead and studying me as if trying to work out what I was thinking.

I kept a bland expression in place and followed her into the living room.

Back on the sofa, I tried not to listen to her end of the conversation, but could feel her looking at me every so often. After five minutes went by—I knew because I counted down the minutes by the wall clock—I glanced sideways at Toni.

The look she threw me didn't exactly take me by surprise, but her words did. Look, Dane, I'm not up for you questioning me as if I'm your child.

She pulled the same pose Jade had struck a few minutes earlier. Hand across her waist while she spoke into the phone. That's none of your business.

She sighed and rolled her eyes. Well perhaps if you hadn't disappointed her …

Now she glared at me. You know what? I'm done. Call me when you're in a better frame of mind. Here, she lowered her voice. Your child is in no danger from the man over here. In fact …

As hard as I tried, I couldn't hear anything more, which was deliberate on Toni's part.

After replacing the phone, she came to sit beside me. The fact that she didn't say anything for a full minute told me I was up to the gills in problems. She waited until our eyes met.

Whatever you said to Dane, you shouldn't have.

Of course, he probably didn't tell you he was rude to me.

"Probably because you stepped into something you shouldn't have."

I held up both hands. You're right, but if you'd seen how cut up Jade was—

It doesn’t matter what he said to her. The point is, you shouldn't have said anything to him.

Fine, next time I'll mind my own business.

It would please me if you did.

I figured she was carrying over her annoyance from her conversation with Dane to me and the wimp had obviously complained to her, but she was being a bit unfair.

What could I say anyway? This was her child's father. But there was Jade … I opened my mouth, and with a raised hand, Toni shut me down. I'm going to check on Jade.

While she was gone, I sat there thinking Dane had a nerve. From what I understood, he'd been a constant source of disappointment to Jade since his separation and divorce from Toni. Considering that, I didn't know why Toni would defend him.

When she came back to the living room, Jade was with her.

One look at her told me she was still unhappy. Her little mouth drooped at the corners and she kept her gaze lowered. She climbed onto the sofa to sit beside me and after a moment I slipped my arm around her shoulder.

Toni sat on her other side and fixed her eyes on the television where the business segment of the news was on air.

Jade poked me in the leg. Doc, I didn't ask you before, but you got any children?

"Do you have any children," Toni said.

Jade nodded to acknowledge her and then turned back to me. Do you have any?

I shook my head. I have nieces and nephews though. Does that count?

Nah, but if you had a little girl like me, you'd want to see her all the time, right?

A deep breath was in order, because I was heading into a minefield and had to choose my words so as not to rile Toni any further.

Gently, I plucked Jade's nose. Of course, if she was as cute as you are.

Jade turned to Toni. See, I told you he'd make a good daddy.

Toni shot fire at me with her eyes, and my only response was a shrug. I wasn't about to make Jade feel any worse after her argument with her father.

Jade didn't say anything for a bit, but frowned hard at the television. It wasn't long before she poked me in the leg again. Doc, can I ask you something?

You can ask me anything.

Toni sat forward, as if sensing Jade was going to ask a question she wouldn't like, but she stayed quiet. When Jade looked at her, Toni pressed her plump lips together and put on the same expression my mother used years ago to let me know we'd have words later if I did any foolishness.

Shuffling sideways, Jade angled her body toward me. She narrowed her eyes as if to gauge whether or not she should ask what she wanted to know. I guess she was satisfied with whatever she saw because she sat up straighter and looked me square in the face. Doc, since you don't have a little girl yet, would you like to be my daddy?

Chapter 2

Saturday, January 4, 2:45 p.m.

The headache that had erupted behind my eyes since yesterday refused to go away. I thought being outside would help lessen the tension that had sparked the headache, but so much for that.

Ridley followed on my heels, sniffing around the flower beds. Small wonder he wasn't inside the house with Jade.

The thought of her sent a niggle through my mind and I called for her.

She came to the doorway after a moment. Yes, Mommy?

I didn't want to ask if she'd been on the phone, but I still wanted to know what she was doing. What are you up to?

Watching cartoons, she said. Can I go back now?

I threw aside caution. Please stay away from the telephone.

But what if it rings?

Then I'll come and get it.

Okay, she said before disappearing.

I was curious as to whether she'd called Matthias, but feared what she'd say. Jade had a habit of calling Matthias and having conversations I only knew about after the fact. It wasn't that I didn't trust him, but my daughter had a very