by Leslie Pike
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Epilogue
Also by Leslie Pike
About the Author
Boom Factory
Until Now
Copyright © 2021 by Leslie Pike
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Published by Boom Factory Publishing, LLC.
Leslie Pike CONTRIBUTOR to the Original Works was granted permission by Aurora Rose Reynolds, ORIGINAL AUTHOR, to use the copyrighted characters and/ or worlds created by Aurora Rose Reynolds in the Original Work; all copyright protection to the characters and/ or worlds of Aurora Rose Reynolds in the Original Works are and shall continue to be retained by Aurora Rose Reynolds. You can find all of Aurora Rose Reynolds Original Works on most major retailers. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, distributed, stored in or introduced into any information storage or retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic, photocopying, mechanical or otherwise, without express permission of the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, story lines and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons, living or dead, events, locales or any events or occurrences are purely coincidental.
Cover by Kari March Designs
Editing by Virginia Carey
Proof Reading by Leticia Sideon
This book is dedicated to Beth, a strong, fabulous, bad ass woman.
W have never met. Details, details.
Chapter One
Dominique
“I have no idea how Tinkerbell gained two pounds, Doctor Grant.”
Innocence drips off Brittney Baker’s pouty pink lips. Combined with the Tennessee accent, she tries selling the sugared words. Her denial is Oscar-worthy. The gaze appropriately clueless. The girl’s always “on.” I’ve never known someone to be so in love with their image.
Her selfie game is equal to none. I’ve seen her pose for the camera every single time she’s been here. In a weird way, I’ve come to enjoy the show. This could be the best performance in Ms. Baker’s budding community theater career. And it’s accompanied by a dazzling smile wholly wasted on me. Regardless, she offers it as a gift.
Silently, I call bullshit and try to remember what it was like to be in my early twenties. It isn’t that far back, but thirty-three seems a different animal. Life is much more evidence-based now. Cause and effect. Like Tinkerbell here.
No doubt, the pug regularly dines on steak and potatoes. Maybe a Cheeto or two. I’ve tried to impress upon her human how destructive this behavior is. Yep. Being the animal’s last line of defense in the war on obesity is my job. It continues.
“You would be surprised how much further she could walk.”
Obviously, I’ve already lost Brittney’s attention. Her eyes flit to the cell screen, and a grin breaks loose.
“This guy won’t leave me alone!” It’s said to the walls, I guess, because she’s not looking at me. Is this complaining or bragging? Thought she had a boyfriend.
Returning the phone to her purse, Brittney meets my gaze. “Maybe my boyfriend is sneak feeding her. I’ll speak to him.”
Sure. Throw the poor guy under the bus. Sounds like his replacement is already lined up. As I finish my notes, Tinkerbell is being redressed in her Fourth of July ensemble. Lord. It’s too tight. I get a side glance from his mama to see if I’m watching and judging.
When I became a veterinarian, it surprised me how many people like to dress their dogs. Not my choice or my terrier’s. McFly wouldn’t be caught dead in any wardrobe. I’d get a withering look if I tried.
When she’s placed on the floor, Tinkerbell gives a solid shake. It’s a valiant effort trying to loosen the collar that squeezes a fat packed neck.
“Your little friend might need to go up a size.”
I don’t wait for a reply but offer a sincere smile as I walk to the door.
“I’ll call you with the blood test results. Nice seeing you, Brittney. You too, baby,” I say, making eye contact with my patriotic patient, who strains at the leash.
As they exit the room and head for the front desk, I’m halfway to the office—just this one more appointment for the day. I’ll pick Bing up from guitar practice, then head for July’s house. Having someone else make dinner is appreciated after a long day.
“Carol, is my four thirty here?” I call to the front desk tech.
“He just came in,” she says, swiveling in her chair. Raised eyebrows dance up and down over the top of her purple glasses.
Carol’s an unreliable judge of men and their appeal. Not sure if it’s failing eyesight or bad taste. Last time she did the eyebrow dance, the man looked like a demented elf. None of the staff puts any weight on her idea of a hot guy. We’ve concluded she’s a horny woman with low standards when it comes to judging men’s appeal.
“Send him back to my office, please.”
The sound of the surgical suite doors opening behind me pulls my attention. My friend and colleague, Doctor Silver, exits, peeling gloves off.
“You headed out?” she says.
“I have a remains pickup. Kim Ripley’s brother. You heard about the accident, right?”
July’s expression softens. “Awful. I heard she’s going to make it, though, despite the injuries. Actually, Wes knew the brother. He’s a good …”
I don’t get to hear what the guy’s good at because the last of her comment fades as the door to the waiting room opens. Turning, I see the unexpected vision walking behind Carol. The atmosphere feels heavier. A six-foot-tall god is entering our air space.
Boom chicka boom. For once, Carol was correct in her conclusion. She wears a smug ‘I told you so’ grin on her face as they cross the aisle and enter my office. Ohhhhhh, Lordy, thank you for the glimpse of heaven. It was good to visit if just for a moment or two. I may have to rethink my opinion of Carol’s taste. But in the meantime, I close my dropped jaw.
July reaches out and places two fingers against my wrist. “Your pulse seems to be racing,” she chuckles.
My head shakes its response, but the smile gives me away. Why deny the obvious? The guy is hot. His jeans show off muscled thighs and a good ass. He has great arms and strong hands. The heavy shadow of a beard and the strand of thick, dark chocolate hair falling in his eyes put the cherry on the sundae. I saw all that in one head to toe sweep. That was thorough, even for me. Especially for me.
July explodes fingers at each temple. “Mind blown!”
“What are you talking about?”
“This is the first time I’ve seen you actually lose your cool around a guy. It gives me faith. There’s hope for your future.”
There’s a wiping away of her fake tears followed by a giggle.
“You’ll excuse me. I have a consultation to attend to,” I say, pretending to be insulted.
“Your focus on your clients is really admirable, Doctor,” J
uly calls to my retreating figure.
Never have I been so willing to stay late, and my friend knows why.
“See you tonight. That is if you haven’t eloped with the biker,” July says.
Her comment lands in the center of my heart. “Biker?”
“Get your motor running! Oh, wait! It already is.” She disappears into Exam Room Three.
A soft rap on the open door of my office results in a visceral reaction. Just the closeup sight of him tickles my lower regions, and more surprisingly, my heart picks up its beat. What the hell? That’s ridiculous. Our eyes meet. He rises and smiles.
“Hello, Mr. Ripley. I’m Dr. Grant,” I say, extending a hand.
When he takes my hand and wraps his fingers around it, I swear a kind of energy passes between us. It’s more like a sizzle. An inner dialogue begins. Dominique, get ahold of yourself! It’s just that I’m hungry for a real connection. And the dick. It’s been so long. That’s what’s happening. Yeah. Uh-huh.
“I’m Maxen, Kim Ripley’s brother.”
“Sit,” I say, taking my seat behind the desk.
A crooked smile breaks out on his face. “Shall I stay too?”
Ohhhh. That did sound like I was training my dog. But it was worth it to see what a smile does to that beautiful face. There’s quiet confidence there. I return it with one of my own. I’m suddenly aware of how I look. How freakin’ shitty. Lipstick worn off, a spot on my blouse from Tinkerbelle’s blood test. Why didn’t I unwind my hair? I look like a spinster schoolmarm from the Old West. Poor Miss Buttercup.
“How is your sister doing? We’ve all been concerned.”
A deep sigh escapes his full lips. “Better. She sustained some major injuries. It’s going to be a long recovery, and her life has been upended.”
“How’s her son doing? Are you staying with Hunter?”
“I’m here for the next three months. That’s when my younger brother will take over. Hunter’s having a tough time. Having the dog die in the accident was hard. Harder than he’s letting on. He didn’t want to come today, and I didn’t force him.” Then, as an afterthought, “Not sure what I’m doing when it comes to kids.”
My stomach twists with the thought of what that child has gone through and what he witnessed. I’ve an urge to console this veritable stranger. That or fuck him to death. Instead, I reach behind and take the cedar box from the shelf.
“It’s never easy. But I know this has been a particularly difficult passing. Please give Hunter all our affection. And tell him we all loved taking care of Boomer. He was a great dog. The whole staff loved to be around him. These are Boomer’s remains.”
I slide the box across the desk.
“Thank you.” And then, almost as an unintended comment, he adds, “Hunter was a quiet kid before. But now …”
In this moment, my heart breaks a little. Maxen has a soft heart, and it’s hurting for his nephew. When he talks about his new role, he looks a bit lost. Parenting is hard enough when you do it intentionally. To have it thrust on you is a whole other thing. Even if it is for the short-term.
“Do you think he’ll be wanting another dog?”
“I’m not going to ask right now. Besides, I brought my dog, Cali, from California. So, Hunter has her to connect with. That is if he wants to. So far, there doesn’t seem to be any interest.”
“That’s understandable. He’s a little broken right now. What breed is Cali?”
“She’s a black Lab. But to tell the truth, she’s mostly human.”
“If you need anything like medications or vaccinations for her, I’d be happy to be her temporary vet. We could get her records transferred.”
“Good. I’ll be needing the flea and heartworm meds. It’s time for an exam too. That is if you can handle it.”
“Mr. Ripley, I handle scared animals daily. I don’t think your Lab is going to present much of a challenge, believe me.”
I’m chuckling when I say it, but he has a very knowing look on his face.
“Oh, my dog isn’t scared. She’s just a little too anxious to be everyone’s friend, and she presses the point. You’ll see.”
“Dr. Silver tells me you know her husband.”
His knitted eyebrows say he doesn’t know what I’m talking about.
“Who’s her husband?”
“Wes Silver.”
The grin that breaks out is authentic and confirms their familiarity.
“Wes! Oh yeah, I do know him. Before I moved to California, I lived in Rocksprings. His bike club was… Wait. Is Doctor Silver’s first name July?”
“Yes. Do you know her too?”
“In a roundabout way. A few of my friends and I helped out … well, it’s a long, complicated story from a previous life of mine and theirs. But yes, I know Wes and July. So they’re married now?”
“Married and parents of a little girl and two boys. She’s here. Would you like to say hi?”
He hesitates for a moment. “I’m not sure she would remember me.”
“Or not. I don’t know why I said that.”
“No! Forget what I said. I would like to say hello. Definitely.”
“Okay. Stay here, and I’ll get her.”
When I get up and cross to the door, I feel eyes following me. I can’t stop myself from looking back. He doesn’t try to hide the fact he was checking out my ass. His lids rise, and a mischievous smile punctuates the moment.
“What?” he says anything but innocently.
“You know what.” My volley is delivered without hesitation. There’s a smile included.
“Do you blame me?” he says unapologetically.
Oh, my God. I keep walking, but it feels like I’ve forgotten how to take a natural step. Don’t trip! Thank God I’m out the door quickly. My heart is racing. What just happened? I am the polar opposite of your typical woman under the influence of a man’s charms. This kind of man in particular. He’s too … something. Perfect maybe.
July stands outside her office, purse in hand, looking at her phone. When she sees me, the corners of her mouth lift. “You all right?”
I attempt a casual stance. “Maxen wants to say hi. Do you have a minute?”
“You’re on a first-name basis, I see. And your face is flushed!”
“Shut up. It is not,” I lie. “Come on.”
I lead the way back, and when we enter, Maxen stands. Shit. I think his zipper is down! Why didn’t I see that on the first look? Unfortunately, it’s not open enough for any real peek. Oh, my God! Should I say something? Why would I? I’m not going to say a word. But I may have looked too long because his eyes dart down, and he realizes the problem.
“Sorry, ladies,” he says, turning to zip up. When he turns back, I’m smiling like a goon because it’s freakin’ funny.
“Do you blame me?” I say, taking my seat.
Maybe I’m misreading his mind, but it sure looks like he’s getting a kick out of my throwing his words back at him. Then he proves me right.
“Not even a little,” he teases. “I like it.”
July isn’t sure what’s going on but opens her arms. “Hello, Maxen. I don’t think we’ve formally met, but I remember you. Can I hug you?”
What? There’s some interesting story here I’m not privy to. Why does July want to hug him?
“Of course,” he says, arms open to receive her affection.
I must be wearing a weird look on my face because they both notice.
“I’ll fill you in later, Dominique,” she says.
“Dominique? Nice name,” Maxen says, locking eyes with me.
I’m going to slide right off my chair. A bead of sweat pops up on my upper lip in response to his statement.
“Thank you,” I say, aware of suddenly looking down, away from his gaze. Is it possible to revert to fourteen in a moment?
July finds this awkwardness amusing. She’s holding back a laugh. Thankfully Maxen speaks up.
“Please tell Wes I said hello. He may not reme
mber me, but those days are embedded in my mind.”
“Agreed,” July says. “They’re embedded in our minds too. Listen, we’re having a Fourth of July barbecue this Sunday at our place. Would you like to join us? And, of course, Wes remembers you! I know he would be glad to see you again.”
I’m like the kid watching a movie that’s just a little over her head. I’m engrossed with what’s happening.
“I’d like that, but I’m taking care of my nephew for my sister, and I don’t want to leave him or my dog alone.”
“Bring them! Dominique will tell you we are kid and animal friendly. People and paws always welcome.”
I hold my breath for his answer. Why do I give a shit? What about my date? Why did I invite Ken? Can I get out of it?
“That sounds great. So, bringing my Lab is okay?”
“Absolutely.”
His eyes light on mine. “Will you be there?”
The words shock me out of the new plans to ditch my date.
“Yes, my son and I are coming.”
“I’ll be there too then,” he says.
It doesn’t escape me that he didn’t flinch when I mentioned Bing. That was a test.
Chapter Two
Maxen
It’s weird living in someone else’s house. When Hunter isn’t here, I’m like a scavenger tracking down lost treasure. Where the hell does she keep the extra toilet paper? How many places could it be? And why didn’t I ask when I had Kim on the phone? Fuck. Finally had to grab the Kleenex from the bedside table and take it in here with me. Can’t find the fucking wipes either. Shit. Literally.
“Cali! Will ya stop that? God. I’m sitting right here, a foot away from you! I can feel your breath on me! It stinks, by the way. Get out! I’m not going anywhere.”
