Charlie was absolutely a Landry in all those ways. And now, he wanted her more than he wanted any woman in as long as he could remember. So having her constantly putting their attraction out there between them made it impossible to ignore.
“You’re not really that hard to figure out,” he said, refusing to comment on how hot it was.
“Yeah, ditto.”
Strangely, he played the political game rather well when he wanted to. He’d bitten his tongue and smiled through frustration more times than he could count. But maybe some of the Landry ballsiness was rubbing off.
No, it wasn’t the boldness he appreciated. It was the lack of filter he enjoyed about the Landrys. It seemed that his filter had been slowly dissolving over the past few months in Louisiana.
“Then you must have figured out that I’m not interested in a fling.”
“Actually, I think it’s that you’re not interested in a fling with me,” Charlie said, tipping her head. “It seems that maybe flings are exactly how you like to do things. They’re much more superficial and—what was the word you used?—simple.”
He recovered quickly, but she’d caught him off guard. She had figured him out. Maybe it wasn’t hard to tell that he was more of a fling guy now, but they hadn’t known each other long. How was she reading him this well?
Maybe she’d talked to her cousins. The guys here had made a note of the fact that Griffin wasn’t looking for anything serious. Maddie and Juliet, Sawyer’s wife, had tried to set him up a couple of times, but he’d rebuffed every one of their efforts, and they’d now given up.
However, he’d lived with Mitch for several months and hung out regularly with the younger, single Landry boys, including Fletcher, Zeke, and Zander. They were the ones who introduced him to women who wanted nothing more than a fun, physical encounter.
It didn’t surprise him that they would have shared that fact with the rest of the family. The Landrys had no secrets as far as he could tell, and apparently, that extended to the people they adopted into the family.
Yes, he was one of those people. Once they brought you into their fold, it was impossible to truly want to escape. He told himself regularly that he wanted to escape, or at least avoid getting any closer to any of them. But in his less resolute moments, like when he’d had a couple of shots of Leo’s moonshine, or when he was alone in the otter encounter and was spilling his guts to his—thankfully—nonverbal friends, he would admit that he loved the Landry family and enjoyed all the time he spent with them.
So, maybe someone had shared his determinedly single status with Charlie.
But no, he realized a moment later. That was impossible. She had been surprised to find out that he was the veterinarian here. If she’d talked to any of her family members about him and used his name, that would’ve come up. He had to assume that she hadn’t asked anyone about him after the weddings.
Good. That was good. He didn’t want her interested in him any more than he wanted to be interested in her. Because already today he’d seen what could happen when Charlie got interested in something.
She was going to turn their tiny barnyard into a full-scale petting zoo. She wanted to put in a concession stand, for fuck’s sake. He could only imagine what would happen if she decided to pursue a man she was interested in.
“Yes, I am much more into simple and superficial,” Griffin finally answered.
“I can be simple and superficial.” Charlie gave him a little smile that he found, in spite of himself, adorable. Nothing about this woman was simple.
“I’m not interested, Charlie,” Griffin said, telling the biggest lie of his life. “I hope that doesn’t affect us being able to work together.”
She studied him for a long moment, then nodded. “Actually, I think that makes it even more important that we work together.”
More important? He wondered what she meant by that but quickly squelched the curiosity. He didn’t need to pursue anything with Charlotte Landry, even a conversation, at the moment.
She ran her hand over Brownie’s still form. “I think it’s fascinating that baby otters can swim as soon as they’re born.”
“They can’t, actually. They’re born with fur that keeps them from sinking, and they can bob along in the water,” Griffin said. “But they have to learn to swim. The mothers teach them. Just like human parents teach their kids.”
Charlie gave him a bright smile that hit him right in the chest. “That is a great fact.”
He narrowed his eyes. Damn. She’d pulled him right in. One seemingly off-hand comment—incorrect comment, by the way—about an animal, and he engaged.
She had figured him out all right.
“What do you want, Charlie?” he repeated.
“If we’re talking about the otters specifically, there is one thing.” She paused. “Okay, two things.”
“We are talking about otters. Or at least we’re talking about anything except you wanting to have a fling with me.”
“For now.”
“For good.” He shook his head. “It’s off the table, Charlie.”
“So you’re going to try to resist me?”
“With everything in me,” he said with a nod. “I realize that that’s a difficult concept for you.”
“It really is,” she agreed. “So much so that I’m not sure it’s going to sink in.”
He had to fight to keep from snorting. Her confidence and audacity, while sure to be a huge headache for him, was amusing and, yes, attractive. “I’m sure if you give it enough time, you’ll get used to it.”
“Well, the thing about resisting something is that it means it’s something that you want.”
“I never said I didn’t want you.” And that was exactly the wrong thing to say.
She clearly really liked that answer. “True. You said you weren’t interested in a fling.”
“Correct.”
“So you want to be my boyfriend?”
He most definitely did not want to be her boyfriend. “No.”
“So what do you want to be?”
“Your boss.”
“That’s it?”
“Yes.”
“Too bad. Just my boss isn’t an option.”
“No? And why is that?” And when was he going to learn to quit engaging in these conversations with this woman?
“Because we’re already more than that,” she said. She waited just a beat.
Which was enough time for him to recall all of the things they had done that bosses and employees really shouldn’t do to one another.
“We’re friends,” she told him.
They were? But of all the labels they could put on this… thing… between them, he supposed that was the safest.
“Okay,” he agreed. “We’ll be friends.”
“Great.” She looked pleased. “And now that we’re friends, I need a favor.”
She wouldn’t actually ask for sex as a favor between friends, would she?
And if she did, he would most certainly say no, wouldn’t he?
“I’m not really into baking cookies, and I’m pretty bad at painting fingernails, and I’m absolutely certain I would be a terrible wingman if you’re going to pick someone else up.”
She laughed. And the sound made heat streak through his gut.
“You think that women friends get together and bake cookies and paint each other’s fingernails?”
“I haven’t given it a lot of thought,” he said. “I’m just telling you what I won’t be good at.”
“Those are the only things you’re not good at?”
There were all kinds of innuendos dripping off those words. Which he resolutely ignored. Mostly.
“And making snow cones or whatever you have in mind for this concession stand,” he added.
Her eyes widened. “How did you know I was thinking about snow cones?”
“Well, it’s a concession stand. And it’s summer. Why wouldn’t you have snow cones?”
She was grinn
ing as she nodded. “Exactly.” She tipped her head. “But why would you be a bad wingman if we went out, and I was looking for someone who was into a short-term fling? Seems you could help me identify the assholes.”
He snorted. He completely understood her it-takes-one-to-know-one insinuation. “Because I would never be able to tolerate another man touching you.”
Right. Another thing he shouldn’t have said out loud if her reaction was any indication.
Her brows arched nearly to her hairline, and her mouth dropped partially open. She stared at him for several seconds before saying, “Wow. That does not seem like you’re not interested.”
“I’m not interested in having a fling with you. I’m also not interested in making snow cones. And I’m not interested in watching other men hit on you. Simple.”
She swallowed hard as she considered everything he just said. “Then I guess that only leaves one other favor that I need you for.”
Griffin told himself not to ask. Not to encourage her. Not to seem at all willing to help her with any of her crazy ideas.
But he didn’t have to ask. This was Charlie. She clearly rarely had a thought that she didn’t share out loud, just like a Landry.
“I need someone to help me put signs up at the otter enclosure.”
Griffin shrugged. “Mitch does all of the construction and repairs to the enclosures and pens. I’m sure he can help you.”
“Oh, I don’t mean actually hanging the signs up. I mean deciding what to put on the signs.”
“What kind of signs?”
“Otter facts. Trivia. Interesting things about the otters.”
“Facts about river otters?” he asked.
She nodded. “Of course.”
“Of course,” he repeated dryly.
“Will you help me?”
“You think we need signs with otter facts on them at the enclosure?”
“I do.”
“Fine. If you write out the facts, I will review them and add anything I think is important.”
She nodded. “And…”
He sighed. He should’ve known there was more to it. He knew there was always going to be “more to it” with Charlotte.
“I need you to repeat these facts. And more. Out loud. On Friday.”
“No.”
“Oh, come on, Griffin. Doesn’t that word ever get old? We have a group of kids visiting the enclosure on Friday to learn all about otters. It would be so amazing to have the veterinarian who works with them on a regular basis there to give the kids the information and answer any questions they have.”
“I wasn’t aware there was a group of kids coming to visit on Friday.”
“That’s because you’re the first person I’ve told.”
“So how did you find out there was a group of kids that wanted to learn about otters?”
“I would think any kid would want to learn about otters.”
“Is there actually a group coming Friday?” Griffin asked.
“Sure there is. As soon as I invite them.”
Griffin shook his head. “So there might be a group of kids coming to visit on Friday.”
“Oh, there will be kids here,” Charlie said. “I just haven’t gotten the word out yet.”
“And you’re so sure it will work?”
“Griffin, there is something that you should know about me,” Charlie said.
He braced himself.
“I always make things work.”
Yeah, that didn’t surprise him. That was a lot like if she’d said, “I always get my way.” Not at all hard to believe.
She was tempting as hell. She wanted him. They already had a scorching hot encounter that had been fueling dirty dreams for him for weeks. And now she was here, to stay for a while, but not permanently.
That should all be pointing a huge flashing neon sign to take her up on this. Instead, he suddenly needed to get some space from her. Quickly.
“I need to go do some calls. Outside of the building. For the rest of the day.”
She looked like she didn’t believe a word of that. “Okay. Just tell me what to do with Brownie. And if I can text an update to Andre.”
He checked the dog over, and they got him settled in one of the kennels where he would wake up slowly.
Charlie sent Michael an update with a little video using a filter that made her look like a dog. She sang the first line to Elvis’s “Hound Dog” before she cut herself off laughing and telling Andre that she didn’t know any other songs that had dogs in them but that she’d just realized this song wasn’t really appropriate. Then she told him everything had gone well and that Brownie was resting, and they would text another update later.
As soon as he was sure that the dog and Charlie would be fine without him, Griffin got the hell out of the clinic. And away from the most intriguing woman he had maybe ever met. Before he backed her up to the examination table in room two.
But not before he wished he had a copy of that video to watch a few more times.
Dammit. She really was delightful.
Chapter 9
“Yeah, yeah, she’s everything I remember. And more.”
The two otters took the chance to give their opinion. They chattered to him for a good two minutes. Unfortunately, when they were finished, Griffin still felt completely mixed up about Charlie.
“She’s been here for one day. One. Day. And already I’m feeling pressured. And annoyed.”
Gus, the adult male otter, and father to four of the other otters, climbed into Griffin’s lap. He told Griffin he was being ridiculous and then pawed at the pocket on Griffin’s shirt. Griffin gave him a couple of treats and then stroked his hand from the animal’s head to tail.
He did love these guys. He hadn’t intended to. He’d come to join Tori in the practice believing that he would see mostly cows, horses, cats, and dogs. But the otters had already been a part of the Landry family, and it had only taken them about a day to win him over.
The otters weren’t the best listeners though. In fact, they hardly ever shut up long enough to hear someone else speak. But they followed him around, excitedly noisy whenever they saw him. He was like an otter celebrity. They thought he was great, even when he didn’t bring them treats. They were easy to make happy.
And all of that reminded him of Charlie.
Griffin rolled his eyes and shoved a hand through his hair. “I’m never going to be able to not think about her, am I?” he asked Gus.
Gus wasn’t sure, but he thought another treat might help him form an opinion.
Griffin handed it over.
“She comes off as this woman who is used to everyone just nodding and saying, “Yes, ma’am.” Griffin actually gave a short chuckle. “She even admitted she always gets her way. But…” He thought about her in those knee-high rubber boots and then the scrubs, not only taking direction but doing a damn good job. The kennel had been clean, and the room even smelled good when she was done. “She doesn’t hesitate to jump in and get things done. She’s pushy as hell, but she does listen.”
At least, kind of. When he’d expressed concern about how people would be interacting with the animals, she’d listened. That was really fucking nice.
He knew what he was talking about. He had more knowledge and experience in human-animal interactions than she did. He was overly protective sometimes, but it was with all the right intentions. She seemed to realize that. Even if the “no’s” weren’t what she wanted to hear, she respected his expertise.
That was really fucking nice. He’d butted heads so many times with so many people who didn’t respect his experience and training. It had led to him getting fired twice.
Well, that was the underlying reason. The real reason he’d been fired and not just had a stern talking to was that he let his passion and protectiveness override the you shouldn’t call him a selfish bastard thought at the back of his mind, and don’t grab the mega-donor’s wife by the arm and march her out of the tiger exhibit in fr
ont of everyone warning his brain had tried to give him.
It also seemed easy to make Charlie happy.
Yes, physically. He couldn’t not think about that when he thought about giving her things she wanted. She’d been very upfront and vocal about what she liked when he’d been kissing and touching her. And yes, that was a huge turn-on.
But it seemed easy enough to make her happy otherwise as well.
And damn it, he wanted to.
She wanted him to talk about otters to little kids. How hard could that be? She also wanted his help coming up with otter facts to put up at the enclosure. He could do that.
He looked around. The enclosure was impressive. Mitch Landry had designed it and built it with the help of his cousins Fletcher and Zeke. It included rocks and logs and branches that gave the otters plenty of things to climb on and play with. There was also a long, winding river and two swimming pools for the otters to splash and swim in. The river even had a riverbank made with dirt, mud, and grasses taken from the actual river just a couple of miles away. The otters slipped and slid on it and had built a den in the bank just as they would have in the wild.
The enclosure had been designed to look and function very much like a real otter environment, but it was surrounded by a tall see-through wall that allowed human visitors to observe the otters while keeping the animals protected.
There was also a rise up behind the otter river with a flat grassy area where Mitch’s girlfriend, Paige, did otter yoga with local women three times a week.
Charlie was going to love that. He wasn’t sure if she already knew about it, but she would absolutely want to advertise that and push for more classes. Not that Paige would mind. She was a firecracker on her own and might just stand toe-to-toe with Charlie if she didn’t want to do it, but… why wouldn’t she want to do it?
Charlie wasn’t really asking for anything that crazy.
She wanted to do things that would make the place more fun and more appealing to more people. Which would, in turn, make it more profitable for her family.
Fall in Love Book Bundle: Small Town Romance Box Set Page 236
