Free Bite Me if You Can by Lynsay Sands

took a swallow, just managing to restrain a murmur of pleasure as the clear, cold liquid filled her mouth. God, it was good.
    “I’m sure it’s fine,” Marguerite continued. “I was just worried because we put Julius in the kitchen and he has a tendency to nose through the garbage and—”
    “Nose?” Lucian asked dryly, his tone drawing Leigh’s gaze. He was glaring at the sleeping dog on the bed. “Don’t you mean claw through it, rip it open, and drag it around the house?”
    “Oh dear,” came faintly from the phone. “I take it Julius got into the bag before the people from the kennel got there?”
    Lucian hesitated, his gaze shifting from the dog to Leigh, before he simply said, “Yes.”
    Leigh glanced at the dog, wondering how they’d come by his name. Julius seemed a pretty powerful name for a dog. On the other hand, she supposed he was a powerful dog, and names like Spot and Fluffy just wouldn’t have cut it.
    “But you got Julius off all right?” Marguerite asked. “There was no problem with the kennel people? I’ve never put him in a kennel before, but I couldn’t leave him alone there at the house. I don’t know how long I’m going to be gone. You did make sure they got his medicine and instructions? He has an infection and has to have his pills.”
    Leigh took another sip of water as she waited for Lucian to answer. Obviously, there had been some sort of problem, since the dog was still here, but Lucian just turned his back to her and said, “Look, Marguerite, I’m glad you called. There is a problem.”
    Despite the fact that he was actually talking to this Marguerite through the speaker phone, Lucian still held the receiver to his ear, and Leigh found herself smiling faintly. There was just something about the man that made her want to smile. Despite what had happened, and the fact that she hadn’t a clue where she was or who he was, she didn’t find him the least bit threatening. It was hard to find a man in such a weird getup threatening, she supposed, her gaze sliding over him again and seeming to get caught on the ripple of muscle in his back as he shifted the useless phone receiver to his other ear.
    “What problem?” Marguerite asked as Leigh’s eyes dropped over his tapered waist to his behind. Her eyebrows lifted a little as she saw that he didn’t have the flat ass that so many men were cursed with, but a pert rounded one that just made her want to reach out and give them a squeeze.
    “The girl broke the needle ripping it out of her arm.”
    The irritation in his voice drew her gaze back up as he turned to give her an irritated glance.
    “I need to replace the needle. Where do I find them?”
    “Oh dear.” This comment was followed by a long silence, then the woman said, “I’m afraid I don’t have any replacements.”
    “What? But—”
    “Lissianna doesn’t need them anymore so I’ve never bothered to—Call Thomas,” she interrupted herself suddenly. “He can pick up one at the blood bank and drop it by.”
    “Yes, well that’s another problem. I can’t reach Thomas.” There was steel in his voice now, and Leigh didn’t envy this Thomas person. He was obviously not on Lucian’s list of favorite people.
    “You can’t?” Marguerite asked with surprise.
    “No. I’ve tried calling him several times tonight and he isn’t answering his phone.”
    “Hmmm. That’s odd. Maybe it’s his night off. He shuts off his cell phone on his nights off.”
    “Maybe,” Lucian muttered, not sounding convinced.
    “Is she awake?”
    “Who?”
    “The girl,” Marguerite said, then made a sound of annoyance. “What is her name, Lucian?”
    “It’s Leigh. Leigh... ” His expression went blank, then he glanced at Leigh. “What’s your last name?”
    “Gerard.” It tumbled out before she could think better of giving it.
    “I heard that. You are on speaker phone,” Marguerite said sharply.
    Lucian’s eyes looked annoyed above the kerchief on his face, but