by Hope Ford
I get to work, my wet hair put up into a bun. The morning is uneventful, a lot of vaccinations and such. By lunch time, I’m starving. I decide to go and get something from Patty Cakes Bakery. They have the best soup and sandwich combinations, and right now, I’m craving some comfort food.
I planned to get it to go, but when I saw Rose, Chrissy, and Lacy seated at a table, I knew I wanted to stop and chat.
“Okay, what did I miss?” Carrie asks as she joins us at the table. She’s taking a break, letting Patty man the bakery so she can sit and join us.
“Nothing,” Lacy says. “We’re just catching up. Let’s see. I’m getting married to Trent. You’re head over heels for the sheriff. Rose is happier than can be with her pregnancy,” she tells Carrie before turning to me and Chrissy. “Now all we have to do is get Olivia and Chrissy with someone, and we’ll be good to go.”
“You can leave me out of this conversation. I’m very happy on my own, thank you very much.”
“Me too,” I chime in. “I don’t have time to date anyway.”
“What about Kyle? He’s been asking about you,” Rose says, explaining to all the girls about Brody’s teammate and how he and I hit it off the night of Brody’s accident.
“He’s nice, but I don’t think he’s the one,” I tell Rose.
“Fine,” she says, rolling her eyes. I’m sure she was hoping to play matchmaker. “How about the job? How’s it going?”
I tell them some funny stories about some of the animals I’ve already seen since being back in town. “So far it’s been a really good experience.”
“But?” Rose asks me. Of course Rose is going to pick up that I’m a little off.
I don’t answer immediately, but looking around the table with all eyes on me, I know I need to say something. “Well, I met a guy…”
They all shriek.
“Shh!” I tell them, looking around the half-empty bakery. “We don’t need the whole town to know.”
Each of them starts plying me with questions. “Who is it? Do I know him? How long have you been dating? When can I meet him?”
I reach out and grab on to Rose’s and Chrissy’s hands because they’re on each side of me. “It isn’t like that. It was last night.”
“You mean…?” Rose asks me, surprised.
My face heats in embarrassment. I can’t tell them I had a one-night stand. “Yes, I met him last night. I thought we were hitting it off, but apparently not. He left me, uh, at the bar.” No way am I telling them I had a one-night stand and the man couldn’t leave fast enough the next morning. I’m so humiliated.
“Olivia!” Chrissy exclaims.
I wave my hand in front of my face. “I know. I know. I should know better, but I don’t know. I was feeling down, and I thought he was interested. Obviously not, though.”
Lacy tilts her head to the side. “Well, maybe something came up… an emergency.”
I shrug and try to cover up my sadness. “It’s not a big deal. I just…”
“What?”
“You know, I guess I wanted more, that’s all.”
They’re all staring at me, and I can feel the heat rising on my cheeks. How pitiful do I sound right now?
Carrie reaches across the table and grips my hand. “Well, maybe it could be. Maybe he liked you, but like Lacy said, he had an emergency.”
If anything, my face gets even hotter remembering the morning after. “He doesn’t.”
“How do you know?” Rose asks.
“Well, it was pretty obvious the way he bolted. He couldn’t get away from me quick enough. He didn’t even say goodbye.”
“Oh, Olivia,” they all seem to say in unison.
“No, it’s fine. I’m fine. I’ve learned that I’m not cut out for letting loose, that’s all.”
“Well, it’s his loss. If he doesn’t know what a catch you are, then he’s just stupid.” I could agree with them, and normally I would. I’m a pretty confident woman, but I know this man is not stupid. He was smart, handsome, and made me feel things I’ve never felt in my life. I’ve never depended on a man to make me feel loved, safe and wanted. But with him I did.
I shake my head, trying to get the thoughts to go away. If I haven’t seen him before last night, I probably won’t see him again. He was probably just passing through town. I need to get over him. Maybe I should give Kyle a chance.
“So what about the wedding?” I ask Lacy, knowing that wedding talk will get me out of the hot seat.
The women all start talking at once, and I try to get the image of my older, rugged cowboy out of my head.
7
Derrick
Usually when a man gets laid he’s in a great mood. I figured I would be, but after leaving Olivia’s place yesterday, I’ve been nothing but irritable. I still can’t get the feel of her body in my hands out of my head. I’m driving myself crazy, and it’s affecting the ranch.
The ranch hands are getting on my last nerve, and Trent may be blood related, but he’s wearing on me the most.
One of the cattle I rounded up with my cattle dog Rambo was out in a clover field. The steer was missing for a couple days, and it’s no wonder, since I found a break in the fence. He was bloated when I found him yesterday after I left Olivia’s place. Trent said to give it a day and see if the bloating was from gorging himself on the clover.
I’m not surprised that he wasn’t right, and I tell Trent as much in a terse text. The cow is still bloated, dumbass. I called the vet and should be here soon.
I leave the pasture where I just finished bringing in the cattle for sorting. The ranch hands and managers can take over with the sorting. I want to be there when the vet tells Trent that he was wrong to wait.
The Keller Ranch is big, so I ride my horse, Lightning, over to where we have the sickly steer. Once I get down off my horse and wipe the dirt and grit from my face from cattle driving, I let him loose in the corral so he can graze. Trent and the vet are standing over the sick cow, and the woman’s back is to me. I recognize that shapely backside.
My pulse starts to race, and I have no doubt who the new vet is now. I’ve heard there was a new one, but I had no clue who it was. I’m never up on the town gossip, but it looks like this may have been some good information to have. I hit my hand to my head. Duh, Derrick. She’s living right next to the veterinarian clinic. It makes perfect since now.
Trent and Olivia both turn toward me, and I can see the instant that she recognizes me. Her lips flatten, and her body straightens tightly.
There’s no doubt she remembers me. I was just buried balls deep inside of her the day before. I sure as hell haven’t forgotten. Hell, my cock is hardening in my jeans just by seeing her from a distance. I walk slowly toward Olivia and Trent, trying to stop my heart from racing in my chest.
My hands clench at my sides seeing them standing next to each other. I don’t know why. My brother’s been in love with his fiancée since he was a kid. He has no interest in Oliva, but that still doesn’t stop me from grimacing at them together.
When I get close enough, she holds her hand out to me. “Hi. I’m Olivia. The new vet at Happy Critters.”
She’s smiling up at me, acting as if I didn’t spend all of the night before last tasting her body in every way. She’s acting like she doesn’t even know who the fuck I am.
Well, I’ll be damned.
Olivia
Seeing him come riding up on that horse, looking so manly and like a classic cowboy, I do my best to remain calm. My heart is racing. For how many times I’ve been to the ranch, how have I not seen him before?
I want to stomp my foot into the ground and ask him why he left, but of course I can’t; that would be completely unprofessional. So instead I play it cool… like I don’t even know who he is.
“Derrick Keller,” he says, gripping my hand and holding on to it longer than he needs to. Too bad I didn’t get his last name the other night. I would have known right then who he was. He owns the biggest ranch i
n Forest Grove. Heck, half his acreage spreads over into Heart County.
I pull my hand roughly from his and turn my attention back to the steer.
“Is it bad then?” Trent asks me.
I swallow hard, trying to find a calm tone of voice before I dare speak. “It’s bloat. It seems to be a bad case of it, and this is a condition that can be deadly. This requires treatment. It’s a good thing you called.”
“Should’ve called yesterday though. I told him that,” Derrick says with a pointed look at Trent.
A dozen snappy comebacks leap to my mind; I wouldn’t have thought communication was your strong suit. Really? You told him to call when you couldn’t be bothered to do the same?
I so badly want to call him out. But I have a feeling it’s not going to go well if I demand to know why he left after our amazing night of sex.
Exhaling, I continue to examine the distended triangle shape on the left side of the steer’s stomach. “There are two different ways I can treat this. One, run a tube into the stomach and release the gas via the tube, or two, I can puncture the stomach from here and use a tube to let out the gas, but that is only if this is an emergency. How long has the steer been bloated this way?”
“He went missing, and I rounded him up yesterday. I’d guess at least three days,” Derrick answers.
I look the steer over and check him for dehydration. I decide it’s best to use the trochar tool, option two, and let out the gas that way.
Derrick and Trent watch me, and both seem to appreciate that it’s a delicate procedure. When the steer moves a little, I throw my leg over to hold him still. After I’ve finished, I insert the small tube, and the gas begins to escape.
I breathe a sigh of relief because you can visually see that the cow is feeling some relief already. I rub the soft fur on his head.
“You’ll need to make sure this stays clean and unobstructed. I can come back and check it again tomorrow when I screen Petey’s blood,” I tell no one in particular.
I chance a look up at Derrick and note that he isn’t being especially friendly, and his gruff expression makes it impossible to tell if he’s even happy to see me.
I pull my gaze away and decide right then and there that I’m just going to address Trent with all of it. I don’t care who Derrick thinks he is with his guarded looks. He can think whatever he wants about me at this point. Obviously, he’s regretting the other night. I wish I could do the same.
8
Derrick
Olivia is one hell of a vet. She’s also incredibly beautiful and just as sexy as I found her when I first saw her. It has to be the worst luck that Olivia turned out to be the new vet.
Seems like something she should’ve mentioned.
She’s probably the type that keeps all kinds of secrets.
Trent is telling her how amazing she is. He’s always been the friendly, outgoing one. And though I know that Trent isn’t wrong, I don’t allow myself to do anything more than thank her.
“You know, I really appreciate you dropping everything to rush over here and help us. I know we’re not your only customers, even though I do call you a lot, it seems,” Trent says.
“No problem,” Olivia says as she packs up her supplies. “It’s the nature of the business. Emergencies have to take precedence. Plus, I couldn’t very well face Lacy if I let something happen to your cow.”
I relax a little, knowing that she must be friends with Lacy.
I stare down Trent, but he misses every shut-up signal I send him.
Blind idiot.
“Yes, but I’d still like to find a way to thank you,” Trent says, wiping his brow. “Hey, are you still looking for a place to rent?”
I bump into Trent, trying to get his attention but failing.
“We’ve got a cabin here on our property. We usually offer it up to folks working for us on our ranch before anybody else, but you’re practically out here every other day lately.”
I feel like I’m going to throw up my breakfast. Olivia cannot live on Keller Ranch. She’d be underfoot, she’d be under my nose, and the whole time I’d be wanting her under my body! That is not a good idea. I might like to keep things light, but that doesn’t mean I like sharing a woman with anybody else. Olivia seems to be a play-around woman, and that just doesn’t sit well with me.
“That cabin is rented out already,” I say, trying to shut up Trent.
“No it isn’t. The Hunt family moved out last week,” he says. He turns back to Olivia. “Lacy said you were doing massive renovations at your house starting next week. And she feels bad that the inn is full the next few weeks. You can stay out at the cabin. I insist.”
I stare hard at my younger brother, willing him to look my way so I can try and signal him to let it go. It doesn’t work.
“C’mon, I’ll show you. It’s just down the path, close to the barn,” Trent says, completely ignoring me at this point. What is he thinking?
I follow along behind them because I can’t seem to do anything else. I have to see if she’s actually going to take it and make my life a nightmare.
They’re talking about Lacy, and Trent is yammering on about the wedding. I swear he’s more excited than the bride. However, I can’t really make fun of him for it. I saw how he was without Lacy, and it wasn’t pretty.
Olivia turns to glance at me, and she doesn’t look surprised that I’m following them. I try to hide the fact that I’ve been watching the way her curvy thighs move in her tight jeans as she walks. I lower my Stetson farther down my forehead so she can’t see my gaze.
“This is it,” Trent says as we stand in front of the small cabin.
I look at Olivia, at the cabin, and then up to the main house. Fuck me, I’ll never make it if she’s this close to me. My resolve to forget about her after I walked out of her house the other morning will be shoved to the wayside because this is just too much temptation.
Olivia
I follow Trent through the house, and I can hear Derrick’s heavy footsteps behind me. I cross my arms over my chest as if that’s going to calm my racing heart. When Trent mentioned it, I expected a small rickety cabin. Well, this is more like a guesthouse than anything. It’s fully furnished with big, dark wood furniture. There’s two bedrooms, a bathroom, living room, and kitchen. Probably the biggest seller of the place is the back porch. It’s a covered porch and has the most beautiful view of Heart Mountain I’ve ever seen.
I love it, but I’m still going to tell Trent no. “It’s beautiful.” Even I can hear the awe in my voice. But I continue. “But it’s not a good idea. I can’t rent from one of my clients.” I look away, uncomfortable under Derrick’s heavy stare. “It could cause issues.”
I’m sure Trent thinks I’m saying that because of me being the vet for the ranch. But in all honesty, it’s because of my night with Derrick. That’s what would cause issues. I’m a mess right now, with his brooding eyes staring a hole in me. Living on the ranch, even temporarily, would be too much. Plus, obviously, Derrick’s already proven that he’s an ass. Who walks out after the night we had and not say a word? And maybe it’s not just the reason that he behaved poorly leaving the way he did, but because I’m so attracted to him too. No, it’s better if I stay as far away as possible from Derrick Keller.
“I agree,” Derrick says. His quick and gruff agreement with my excuse settles the matter.
“Thank you for showing me the cabin, though, Trent. I promise I can live with some remodeling. It won’t be bad.”
I don’t wait for a response, but instead walk off the back porch, take another look at the view, and then circle the house to head back toward the barn. My abrupt departure leaves no choice for the two brothers. They follow behind me, and as soon as I get to my car, I assure them I’ll be back to check on the steer the next day.
Once I leave the Keller ranch, I know I need to do something to expend the confusing surge of energy I got upon seeing Derrick again. I decide I’m going to call it a day, and I send a
group text to my friends to let them know I’m going to go work out at the gym and then go to Patty Cakes for dinner if any of them would like to join me. I welcome the company.
9
Olivia
I work out with Rose, Lacy, and Chrissy at Get Fit. Carrie couldn’t make it because she had plans with the sheriff.
“Are you trying to kill us or what?” Lacy huffs at me. “You must be really motivated. I can’t even breathe. I’m going to have to cut back on Aunt Patty’s pastries.”
Rose is walking on the treadmill and smiles over at me. She looks so pretty with the small bump of her belly. She’s going to be a great mom. “Or does it have something to do with the guy you met the other night at the Roadside?”
Our whole workout I’ve been trying not to babble and complain about my guy trouble, but since Rose brought it up, I figure it’s fair game.
“I ran into him today, and he acted like nothing ever happened between us. He was even… offish. So what? He hates me now? The last time I saw him, he seemed as in to me as I was to him.”
“Hate is a strong word, Liv,” Chrissy says.
Rose shakes her head. “And they say women are the complicated sex. What a strange guy.”
“Maybe he’s married? Or maybe he got scared?” Rose puts in.
The conversation carries over to dinner at Patty Cakes, where Carrie joins us.
“Who is it?” Lacy asks.
I roll my eyes because as soon as I say it, I know Lacy’s going to know exactly who it is. He’s her fiance’s brother; of course she does. “You don’t want to know.”
They all pounce on that. Carrie leans forward in her chair—heck, they all do. “Who is it?” she asks, gripping on to my hand.
