“Who’s this beauty?” I ask, reaching out and petting its nose.
“This,” He smiles, “Is Tessa. This will be her first-year of breeding, but I know she’ll make some beautiful babies.”
I smile as I gaze up at the magnificent horse. “I’m sure she will,” I nearly blurt it out, dropping my hand back to my side. “I’m going to go do the blood draw on Lucy, if that’s okay.” I point over my shoulder.
“Sure. I just brushed her out and put her back in her stall.”
Before I turn away, I notice the way his dark eyes narrow on mine and the way his jaw flexes.
“You don’t have time for men in your life, Ves,” I whisper to myself.
I fill the vials with Lucy’s blood and put them into the cooler. As I make my way out of the stall, closing the door behind me, I run into Tyler’s hard chest, nearly falling backward.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going,” I mumble in my daze.
It’s only now that I realize his hands are holding me by the hips, helping to support me. He seems to notice too because he looks at them before letting them fall back to his sides. “I’m sorry, I was just coming to check and see how things are going. Was she behaving herself in there?” His face is slightly flushed.
I tear my eyes away from him, looking at Lucy. “She was perfect. She’s a very sweet horse.”
He nods as he runs his hand over the scruff of his jaw. “Good.” It feels like he’s searching for something to say. Is he embarrassed about balancing me? Either way, I don’t want to stick around and make the situation even more awkward.
“I need to get going. This blood won’t keep for too long.” I quickly step around him.
“Ves?” he calls after me.
“Yeah?” I spin around to face him.
He pulls out a piece of paper from his shirt pocket and hands it out between two fingers. “For today’s work.”
I take the check and open it to see the same number as before. My mouth drops open. “I… I thought the last check you gave me was an advance.” I hold the checkup higher. “I don’t charge this much.”
He raises his hands, palms facing me. “The owner can afford it. And this is the going rate that he pays to all the vets that treat his animals. You’re not special. I mean, you’re not getting special treatment or anything,” he corrects.
I shake my head, letting the hand that’s holding the check fall to my side. “I don’t feel right taking it. When will your boss be getting in? I’d like to talk to him.”
He shrugs as he spins around and walks out the back-barn door with me following after him. “He’s not in town much. To be honest, I don’t know why he keeps this place.” He grabs a saddle off a stack of hay bales and walks it back into the barn.
“Well, does he swing by once a month or something? I can wait. I still haven’t cashed the last check you gave me.” I don’t follow him—it feels like he’s running from the conversation. I just raise my voice so he’s sure to hear me.
He turns to face me now. “Look, Ves. This is what he pays. I’m only giving you want he wants me to give you.” He finally walks back over. “It’s not a problem. It’s not up for negotiation. This is what the job pays. You’re worth it. Trust me.” He narrows his dark eyes on me.
I shrug my shoulders as my determination caves. “I don’t like it,” I claim, shaking my head.
“I’m sorry, Ves. Maybe…” He looks up, like he’s looking to the sky for answers. “Maybe you can donate it. Or start some kind of scholarship for students who want to become veterinarians like you.” He motions toward me with his hand.
My lips turn up with his words. “That’s actually a really good idea.”
He offers a wide smile and his eyes light up. “So, you’ll stay. You won’t quit?”
I turn away with a grin on my face. “I never said I was going to quit.” I look over my shoulder at him. “I’ll see you soon, Tyler.”
All I can hear is the crunch of the gravel beneath my feet, but I swear I hear him say, “I hope so.”
Want to find out how the story ends? You can HERE!
Protect Me Page 17
