by Ali Parker
That actually didn’t sound so bad. Tiger whimpered when she put a firm hand on him. As soon as she brought the syringe down, he started growling and snapping.
“Whoa, boy,” she said gently, then looked up at me. “Would you give me a hand here to hold him down? I know it’s terrible for an owner to have to force them down, but he’s not going let us get to him otherwise.”
The next five minutes were a complete fiasco. Tiger wasn’t thrilled with me holding him down, and eventually, the vet tech went to call for backup. I expected it might be the veterinarian she called, who I also hoped would be the owner of the clinic, but instead, a young girl came in and introduced herself as an intern named Kayla.
Not EM Martinez then.
After they finally managed to give him the shots, the intern left and the vet tech sat cross-legged on the floor with Tiger in her lap. She whispered soothingly to him, but he was visibly trembling and still alternating between growling and whimpering.
“I think I’m in for more than I bargained for with him,” I said when he snapped at my hand as I tried to stroke his neck. “He really doesn’t seem to like me.”
“He doesn’t know you,” she said. “It’ll get better. You just need to show him that you’ll take care of him and work on bonding with him.”
“How do I do that?” I bought him a leash, a basket, a blanket, and a toy at the pet shop, but none of that seemed to have convinced him. I scrubbed my palms against my jaw. “I had no idea I was going to be so out of my depth with all this.”
“We can help you,” she offered. “We’re always here for you if you need anything. I’m Haven, by the way.”
“Colton,” I said. “I think I’m going to need a little more help than just the occasional phone call. Truth be told, I’ve wanted a dog for so long that I think I jumped in headfirst and I’m only now realizing I might not know how to swim.”
Sympathy softened her eyes when she looked up at me, still cradling Tiger in her arms. “Are you willing to learn? Because if you are, you’ll be fine.”
“Will you have dinner with me tomorrow night?” I asked, and I wasn’t sure which one of us was more surprised by the question. “To talk me through what I need to know about Tiger, of course.”
She smiled before dipping her head in a small nod. “Sure. That’s not really what I had in mind, but I was serious about being here to help. So yes. I’m in.”
“Fantastic.” I handed over my phone to get her number, then promised to text her with details. We talked for a few more minutes about how to introduce Tiger to my home later, but another client came in after that and she had to leave.
When Tiger and I were back in the car, I grinned and lifted my hand for a high-five from him. “I wasn’t expecting to walk out of there with a date, but well done, buddy. You really helped me with that one.”
He scratched at the seat, turned in a circle, and settled with his butt facing me as he lay down. But I didn’t take it personally this time. The dog was a dick, but he’d also led me to the first woman I was excited about going out with in years.
She was sexy and smart. I didn’t even really care that she worked for a guy I was very suspicious of. It dawned on me then that I’d been in there to find information about the owner, and I’d gotten so sidetracked that I completely forgot to ask so much as one question about the guy.
Tiger growled at me when I reached the gear shift and I sighed as I turned the engine over. “Yeah, I know I fucked up. I’ll ask her about him tomorrow, okay?”
He let out a loud fart in response, but I supposed I deserved that one. I had told him we were there to work. If only the coffee-eyed vet tech hadn’t distracted me, I might have actually gotten something productive done.
I couldn’t be sorry that she had distracted me, though. There would be plenty of opportunities to get information about the clinic’s elusive owner. But there weren’t many women like her around. It had been a long time since someone had caught my eye that way.
Now all I had to do was hope that she wasn’t involved with whatever the hell was really going on behind those walls.
Chapter 9
HAVEN
“Did I just overhear you getting asked out by that guy with the Leopard Hound?” Kayla whispered excitedly while we took X-rays of another dog that had just come in. “He was so hot. Please tell me you said yes.”
“I said yes,” I replied, pausing while I narrowed my eyes and tried to focus on searching for the tender spot on the dog’s leg. “I’m not sure if it’s a date. It’s more of a dinner to talk about his new pet.”
“That’s bull crap and you know it.” She glanced at me with her green eyes twinkling over the metal table between us. “That was just his excuse to ask you out.”
“How do you know?” I paused to take the pictures once I found where I thought the problem was. When the X-rays were done, I looked at her again. “Were you eavesdropping?”
“No,” she said, swallowing guiltily and lowering her eyes away from mine. “Maybe. I saw him checking you out while I was in there and I was curious. Please don’t be mad.”
“I’m not mad.” I smiled to let her know I really wasn’t, then went back to our patient for the moment. It turned out Master hadn’t broken his leg, and he was bandaged up and headed home in no time.
Kayla followed me into the office. “Are you sure you’re not mad? I didn’t mean to invade your privacy. I was actually coming to tell you Master’s owner called and they were on their way in with him.”
“It’s really not a problem.” I collapsed into my chair and leaned back as I waved her into the one across from me. “I’m sure I’m not mad. It’s not like it has to be a secret or anything, and the door was open.”
She perched herself at the edge of the chair but somehow still managed to scoot forward without falling off. “If you’re not mad, does that mean we can talk about it?”
“If you want to, but there’s not really much to talk about.” There really wasn’t much to say except for the fact that I was pretty sure that feeling in my stomach was butterflies. “We just met and he needs help with his dog. That’s it.”
If that was it, and logically, it was, then what was that fluttering in my tummy?
Kayla looked at me like she knew I was lying. It was in the way she angled her head and the slight furrow of her brow. “I don’t think that’s all it is. He doesn’t need to take you out to get help with his dog.”
“I know.” I closed my eyes, swiping my tongue over my lips. “I just don’t want to get my hopes up. If you knew how atrocious my dating history is, you’d understand.”
“I don’t think you’re getting your hopes up. If he only wanted your advice from a veterinary perspective, he could’ve set up an appointment here. He asked you out instead.”
“When you put it like that…” I trailed off and rolled my lips into my mouth before releasing them with a light pop. “I haven’t been out on a real date in years. I think I’ve been out with maybe two or three guys since I graduated.”
“Really?” She lifted both eyebrows at me. “Why? I don’t mean to sound weird, but you’re hot. I’m sure you’ve been asked out a lot.”
I laughed. “Thanks. You don’t sound weird. I know what you mean. I’ve been asked out from time to time. I just haven’t accepted often.”
“Why not?” She pulled her ponytail over her shoulder and twisted it around her fingers as if fidgeting might help her solve this puzzle. “Did you get burned or something?”
“No, nothing quite as juicy as that. I’ve just never really had time to do much dating.” I sighed, reaching up to redo my bun. Apparently, both of us liked fidgeting while we talked. “I immersed myself in schoolwork as far back as I can remember. First, it was school and studying taking up all my time, then my internship and working. I never paid much attention to boys and relationships. It just wasn’t a priority.”
“I can understand that,” she said. “I had a boyfriend in high school, but I a
lso haven’t really dated much since. There’s too much else to get done right now.”
“I’m not even sure if I have anything appropriate to wear. I don’t own a single dress, skirt, or anything overly feminine really.”
Kayla sat up straighter and dropped her hair. “I might not know much about dating, but I do know about shopping. Do we have any more appointments this afternoon? If we don’t, you and I are going to get you an outfit.”
“You want to help me get ready for a date?” I frowned. “Why?”
She shrugged. “I love shopping and I’m pretty decent at hair and makeup and stuff. I don’t get the opportunity to dress people up nearly enough.”
“If you love it so much, why didn’t you go into that industry?” She looked the part. That was for sure.
“It’s just a hobby.” She gave me a saucy grin. “Animals are my ultimate passion. I wouldn’t exchange working with them for anything, but that doesn’t mean I can’t like making myself and others look pretty. You’re not getting out of this.”
I laughed before clicking into our online calendar. “I wouldn’t dream of trying. If I’m left to my own devices, I’ll probably end up going like I am right now.”
“He seemed to like that enough,” she teased, her eyes bright and excited. “But where’s the fun in going in the same clothes you work in? Let’s wow him. I’d love to see his jaw drop when he sets eyes on you.”
“You’re a real romantic at heart, aren’t you?” I smiled when I realized we had the afternoon free.
“Maybe a little bit, but for me, it’s more about putting the outfit together. If his jaw drops, I’ve done a good job and I deserve a glass of wine.”
Another burst of laughter came out of me. I never would’ve thought it when I first saw her, but I was actually really starting to like this girl.
“I think you deserve a glass of wine anyway, but I’m definitely taking you up on going shopping with me.”
“Yay!” She clapped her hands and glanced at the computer. “Are we good to go, or are we waiting for another appointment?”
“We’re good to go.” I bent over to get my purse out of my drawer, then stashed my phone and keys inside. “This might just be fun.”
“Oh, it’s going to be.” Rubbing her palms together like a villain, she giggled and practically skipped out of the office.
After dropping off Mae at my place, the two of us spent the rest of the afternoon visiting more shops than I’d gone to in the past year. Maybe even two.
Kayla was a great shopping partner, though. She was honest but nice, had boundless energy, and could see when I needed a break. When she took me for ice cream during said break, I declared her my new best friend.
She threw her head back and laughed. “I’ve never had a best friend before, so you might have to teach me what it means, but I’m so down for learning.”
I froze with my spoon halfway to my mouth. “What do you mean you’ve never had a best friend before? I haven’t either, but we never really lived in one place long enough for me to form any meaningful bonds. What’s your excuse?”
“Girls can be assholes,” she said simply. “The girls I grew up with eventually only cared about clothes and boys. When they realized I was a nerd who loved animals, not even our shared love of fashion could save me from becoming an outcast.”
“They ostracized you just for that?” I frowned. “Seems a bit extreme.”
Her cheeks flushed. “I might have also called them shallow, heartless drones and some other choice words. At a fancy society party. In front of everyone. It didn’t go down well.”
I put my hands together to give her a slow clap before holding up my palm for a high-five. “You have giant balls, girl, but well done. I’m sure they deserved it.”
She slapped my palm with a wide grin on her face. “They totally did, but they didn’t see it that way.”
“I’m sure they didn’t. Assholes never agree with us normal, rational people though, do they? It’s like the chips they have on their shoulders obscure their vision.”
She laughed again. “Man, I wish I’d had you as a sister. Having someone around to have my back when it was all happening would’ve been great.”
“Probably not. I can’t promise I wouldn’t have resorted to violence to protect a little sister. I’ve never had one, so I can’t be sure, but I think I might’ve lost it a little.”
“I’ve never had a sister either,” she said. “Pretty sure I’d have been a terror as an older sister too, though. Do you have any brothers?”
“Nope. Only child right here. You?”
“Same.” She grinned and finished her ice cream. “Come on. I think I know just the shop to find the perfect dress.”
After we paid, we walked to a small boutique store I’d never even noticed before. I frowned when she stopped outside the door to press a buzzer.
“I’m not sure I can afford this place.”
“You can,” she said confidently. “It’s the best kept secret in town. People who only wear their clothes once or twice donate them here when they’re clearing space for next season’s fashion. I didn’t think of it before because I haven’t been here for ages, but it just popped into my head when we were talking about those high-society parties earlier. God forbid people get seen at an event like that in the same outfit they wore to a different one.”
The door clicked open and we went inside. Every inch of the place was covered by racks upon racks of clothing. Plush carpeting sank beneath our feet, but the rest of the store wasn’t as fancy as the buzzer at the door made it seem.
Small particles of dust drifted in the slivers of light shining in through the windows, and there was a definite undertone of mustiness in the air. But it was those imperfections that made me feel right at home.
The sheer amount of choices would’ve overwhelmed me had it not been for Kayla. She was a pro at sniffing out my size and had an entire armful of dresses for me to try on within minutes.
Pride shone in her eyes as she pointed to the changing rooms and handed over her first pick. “I have a feeling about this one. Try it.”
I eyed the material dubiously. It was a beautiful deep red, almost maroon, but there wasn’t very much of it. “Are you sure this is even going to fit me?”
“Yes.” She put her hands on my shoulders and turned me. “Go. You’ll see. It’ll be perfect. If not, I’ll bring the next one to you.”
Since I wasn’t the expert, I took the dress from her but I still wasn’t convinced it would cover my ass—if it even fit at all.
Surprisingly, it did. And it even covered my ass.
It was a lot riskier than anything I’d have chosen for myself, with a plunging neckline, the fabric clinging to my curves, and most of my legs exposed, but I had to admit that it looked good. I did a half turn to examine my back, saw there wasn’t much covered there either, and then darted out before I changed my mind about even showing her.
“Well.” I spread my arms to my sides as I stepped out. “What do you think?”
She broke out into a wide grin and clapped her hands, squealing excitedly. “That’s the dress. We don’t need to look at any others. Do you like it?”
My gaze dropped down as my teeth sank into my lips. I felt half-naked, but I knew all the important bits were covered. “I don’t think I’ve ever owned anything even remotely like it, but yeah. I love it.”
It made me feel like someone else. Someone who was confident and sexy and maybe even a little girly. The mere thought made me smile. “It’s feminine.”
“It’s perfect.” Her grin widened. “It’s the perfect dress for getting back into the dating scene. It screams, ‘hello, guys, I’m here!’.”
“I’m not sure that’s what I want it to scream, but I’m not sure I’m ready for the dating scene at all. I suppose I might as well wear something that makes it look like I am.”
“Exactly.” She linked her arm through one of mine and led me to a full-length mirror that took up
half the wall. “Trust me on this one. That dress will get you banged, if not married.”
I burst out laughing and so did she—after she blushed all the way to her hairline when she realized what she’d said. Her confidence was infectious though, so I bought the dress. Not because I wanted it to get me banged or married but because I felt good in it.
And also a little bit because if it could make my new friend say something like that, then obviously I really did look good in it too.
Chapter 10
COLTON
Frowning when I pulled up in front of the address Haven had given me, I glanced down at my phone to check that I’d read it right. The house I was looking at was much nicer than I would’ve expected for a vet tech at a new clinic.
The front lawn was immaculately tended with trimmed hedges all around. It was fairly small but very neat. Beyond it was a single-family home with a front door that had been painted bright blue. On either side of the door was a picture window and on the far left was a garage door.
The place looked homey—even from the outside. It didn’t surprise me really. Haven seemed like one of those easygoing people who had friends and family constantly coming and going. It made sense that her home would look as cozy and inviting as it did.
Another tremble passed through my hands as I released the steering wheel once I’d parked. I clenched my fingers into fists, willing the nervousness that had been building up since this afternoon to disappear.
Why did I ask her out? I groaned softly into the silence of the cab. I don’t date.
I shook my head at myself and yanked on the door handle. It was too late now. I was already here. The nerves would go away as soon as the date was real and not just something I’d been building up in my mind.
Without hesitating for another second, I climbed out of the car and marched up to her door. My knuckles had barely rapped against the blue pane when it swung open.
