Veterinarian’s Vacation
Pamela M. Kelley
Piping Plover Press
Contents
Introduction
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 Pamela M. Kelley
Accidental Agent Sneak Peek!
About the Author
Copyright © 2016 by Pamela M. Kelley
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Dear reader,
This series idea was born in May at the Chicago RWA writers conference. Kirsten Osbourne told Cindy Caldwell and I that she wanted to write a series set on a ranch and would be interested in joining her? Of course! We brainstormed all night, and then asked Caroline Lee and Amelia Adams to join us. We hope that you enjoy this fun, sweet world as much as we do! Thank you so much for reading! ~Pam
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Introduction
Jess Weston is about to graduate from veterinarian school when Jake, her cousin Wade's best friend from high school, comes back to town for a two-week vacation and Wade puts him in the cottage next to hers. It was bad enough that she'd had an embarrassing and totally unrequited crush on Jake when she was younger, but now he was even more attractive, and he might be sticking around for longer than two weeks....as her new boss, which puts him firmly off limits for anything more than friendship.
Jake Wheldon is also a veterinarian and has come home to Riston to be closer to his father who lives in town with his snobby wife, Claire. Jake wants to put down roots, to build something and jumps on an opportunity to buy the vet clinic where Jess is an intern. He hasn't seen her since she was thirteen. She was cute then but much too young for an eighteen-year-old high school senior. She's all grown up now, but as his employee, she remains out of reach.
Chapter 1
“Earth to Jess?”
Jess snapped back to attention. She’d been lost in thought as she waited for a pot of coffee to finish brewing. Mr. Thomas was one of her favorite regulars and he wore an amused smile as he lifted his empty coffee cup.
“If that’s done brewing, I’ll take a splash,” he said. He was seated at the counter and Jess brought the coffee right over to him. The breakfast rush was over and she had a tendency to forget things when it was slow. Especially today, of all days.
“Here you go. It’s nice and hot.” She filled his cup to the rim as she knew he took it black. Jim Thomas and his buddy Fred Murphy, who was sitting on the stool next to him, were both retired and came in every morning for breakfast. They lingered over coffee as they read the paper and chatted with other customers that passed through. She topped off Fred’s cup, too.
“You look a little down. Everything all right?” Mr. Thomas asked.
Jess was feeling a bit blue. She always did on this date, but he didn’t need to worry about that. It was her mother’s birthday and it was the only date that still made her feel sad. She’d only been eight when both her parents were killed in a car accident. Although more than eighteen years had passed, she still could picture her mother’s face and the blonde hair and pale blue eyes that were so like her own. She’d always had such a calm way about her and had also really loved animals. Jess forced a smile.
“No, just busy. Thinking ahead to all the studying I need to do later.”
“This is your last year, right? You’ll be a true veterinarian soon?” he asked.
Jess had worked at Kelsi’s Kafe for years and the customers always loved to hear updates on how school was going.
“Yes, I’m almost done. I have an internship finishing up soon with Dr. Henery and assuming I pass all my tests, I’ll be graduating this year.”
“Doc Henery is getting up there. Maybe when he retires, if you play your cards right, you can take over his practice,” Mr. Thomas said.
Jess laughed. “I don’t want to get ahead of myself. I’ll be thrilled just to get a job when I graduate.”
Riston was a small town, so if she didn’t get hired on permanently by Dr. Henery there was only one other veterinarian in town, and there was no guarantee that either place would be hiring. She really didn’t want to have to move out of the area, but if she had to to get a good job, she would.
The front door jingled and she turned to see her cousin Wade walk in. Wade was one of her favorite cousins. He was the oldest of four boys—Wyatt, Wesley and Will, and two girls, twins Kelsi and Dani. Jess loved them all. They were like the brothers and sisters she never had, especially since she’d been living with them since her parents died.
Wade was the general manager of River’s End Ranch, where they all worked. Her Aunt Bobbi and Uncle Wilber used to run it, but they were unofficially retired and were touring the country in their RV, checking in from the road often to see how they were all doing or to make one of their unusual requests. The most recent had been to renovate the kitchen so that they could take on outside catering and handle larger functions at the resort.
“How’s my favorite cousin?” Wade said as he came behind the counter and poured himself a cup of coffee.
“Your only cousin,” she corrected him and grinned. “I’m fine. Lots of studying to do later.”
Wade took a sip of coffee, then casually said, “Did I mention that I booked the Copper Cottage for the next two weeks? Possibly longer.”
“Two weeks? Really? Wow.” People didn’t usually stay that long and the Copper Cottage was one of their nicest. It featured a chef’s kitchen with a hanging copper pot rack filled with gleaming, copper-bottomed pots and pans. It wasn’t their busiest time of the year and hadn’t been rented in over a month.
“I gave it to an old friend that is going to be in town for a while. You remember Jake Wheldon?”
“Jake is coming here?” Jess found herself gripping the counter. Jake had been one of Wade’s best friends. They were the same age, thirty-two, and Jess hadn’t seen Jake in a long time. And the last time she’d seen him had been mortifying. She’d been in eighth grade and had just turned thirteen. Jake had been eighteen and was a senior in high school, about to graduate. He’d been over to the house during a crowded Christmas party, and she’d found herself standing under the mistletoe, right next to him. She’d had such a crush on him back then.
Jake was tall, dark-haired, with chocolate brown eyes and a smile that made her knees go weak. Her friend Suzy had been there and she thought she was helping when she pointed out that they were standing under the mistletoe. Jess had been embarrassed and then thrilled, because it seemed like he was going to kiss her. She closed her eyes as he leaned forward and then cringed when he instead whispered in her ear, “I don’t think this is a good idea.”
He gave her a quick peck on the cheek, and then walked off while Jess stood there, wanting to die. She’d avoided him after
that, and after graduation, he went off to college and then to veterinary school.
“I thought he was living in Lewiston now. What brings him back here?”
“Just a vacation, I think. He hasn’t been back to spend any real time, other than a weekend here or there, in years.”
Jake’s parents had divorced when he went to college and he spent his summers and school breaks with his mother, in Lewiston, so it had been a long time since even Wade had seen him.
A few minutes later, Jess was putting dirty coffee cups in the dishwasher when she heard the front door chimes jingle again. Before she could turn to look, Wade said, “There’s Jake now. He said he might stop by.”
Jess automatically smoothed down the fly-away hairs that always escaped from her ponytail. She knew she didn’t look her best. The Kafe uniform made her feel like an awkward teenager, with its frilly apron and pink polyester. It was practical, but not overly flattering.
Wade walked out from behind the counter and gave Jake a hug and slap on the back. Jess simply tried not to stare. This Jake was a million times better looking than the high school senior she’d last seen. He still had the deep brown eyes, his hair was thick and dark and along his jaw was a faint hint of stubble. He was dressed simply in a navy button-down shirt and faded jeans that fit his lean body so well. He caught her eyes and smiled.
“Jake, you remember my cousin, Jess?” Wake asked. “She’s studying to be a vet, too.”
“You were just a kid last time I saw you,” he said.
“I was thirteen. Not really a kid,” Jess said stiffly.
“Well, you’re all grown up now. And yeah, I had heard that you’re studying to be a vet.”
“You did?” Jess wondered how he would have known that, unless Wade mentioned it.
Jake smiled again and Jess couldn’t help but notice how it lit up his face, how the laugh lines that danced around the corners of his mouth and eyes were so attractive.
“I have some exciting news. I just met with Doc Henery. He wants to retire and we worked out an arrangement for me to buy his practice.”
“Dr. Henery is retiring? When?” Jess was stunned.
“I’m taking this week off while he gets ready for me, and then I’ll start with him the following week. He also mentioned that you’re going doing an internship there…so, I guess that makes me your new boss.”
* * *
When Jake left the Kafe, all the air seemed to go out of the room. Jess watched him go, and as soon as the door shut behind her, Liz and Joni, the other waitresses she was working with, came flying over to where she and Wade were standing.
“Who was that?” Liz asked.
“Is he a friend of yours? Is he single?” Joni chimed in.
Wade chuckled. “As far as I know, he’s very much single. Jake is one of my best friends.”
Joni scowled. “I’ve never seen him around here.”
“He’s been away for a number of years now.”
“Is he back here for good?” Liz asked.
“It would seem so.” Wade looked amused at the interrogation. When the girls went back to their stations, he turned to Jess. “Are you part of this fan club, too?”
Jess bit her lip. She glanced at her two co-workers, both gorgeous girls. Jake would have his pick of pretty girls in Riston. He hadn’t been remotely attracted to her before, if his rejection of kissing her was any indication. Why would things be different now? Plus, Jess knew she wasn’t the kind of girl guys like Jake usually went for. She was quiet and reserved. So much so, that she knew it sometimes made people uneasy. And it was why she was often more comfortable around animals. They were always happy to see her.
“Hardly. I’m going to be working with him.” She quickly corrected herself. “For him. That would be awkward, don’t you think?”
Wade chuckled. “I don’t know. You do have a lot in common. Jake is a good guy. You could do worse.”
Jess changed the subject. “It’s my turn to cook tomorrow tonight. How does lasagna sound?” Every Sunday night, they had family dinner in the Kafe and Jess often did the cooking. They all looked forward to the weekly gathering.
“Sounds great to me. You might want to make extra, though. I invited Jake to join us.”
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
“Jess. Is she the mousy one with the blonde hair? Looks like she hasn’t had a good meal in ages?”
Jake glanced at his stepmother. She was still exactly as he remembered her and the main reason why he didn’t visit as often as he would otherwise. Claire didn’t have a hair out of place. She was always impeccably dressed and though she wasn’t as tiny as Jess, she was fit and took good care of herself. Jake had stopped by to share his news with his father after leaving the Kafe.
“That’s the one, though I wouldn’t call her mousy. She’s a pretty girl.” Jake had always thought Jess was cute, but he’d been taken aback by how different she’d looked. It was mostly her eyes. She seemed so much more grown up now and when she looked his way, it was like she could see right through him. She’d grown taller, too, and as slim as she was, she now seemed to have more curves than he’d remembered.
“Your father and I stopped in there last Saturday for breakfast and she waited on us. She barely said a word.”
“I thought she was very friendly,” his father interjected.
“She’s going to be working for you?” Claire sniffed. “Seems like you could do better than that. She’s a waitress, and not an especially good one at that.”
“It’s just an internship. And there’s nothing wrong with waitressing. Vet school is expensive.”
Claire stood and slung her purse over her shoulder.
“Well, I’m off to meet Lydia at the club. Nice to see you, Jake. Will you be joining us for dinner after church tomorrow?”
“No. Thank you, though. Wade invited me to have dinner with his family.”
“Tell him I said hello,” his father said. As soon as Claire walked out the front door, he turned back to Jake. “You’re more than welcome to stay here, you know. We have plenty of room. I know Claire won’t mind.”
Jake shuddered at the thought of living in the same house as Claire. Not for the first time, he wondered what it was his father saw in her. Claire was a beautiful woman, but cold.
“Thanks, Dad. Wade hooked me up. I’d originally planned for this to be a vacation and it’s nice to be staying at the resort. First vacation I’ve had in a very long time.”
“And now you’re going to be staying. Have you thought about where you’ll live?”
“No. I should probably look into that this week. See a realtor about a rental.”
His father picked up a pen and tore a corner off the newspaper in front of him. He jotted something down and then handed the scrap of paper to Jake.
“Call Annie Bolton at Riston Realty, right on Main Street. Nice woman. She goes to our church and seems to know everyone in town. She’s been in real estate forever.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Jake tucked the paper in his pocket and then asked the question he’d been wanting to ask since he walked in the door. He hadn’t wanted to talk in front of Claire, when he knew his father’s guard would be up.
“So, how are you feeling? What does the doctor say?”
“I’m okay. A little tired, but that’s to be expected, they say. Side effect of the radiation.”
“You’re all done with the treatments now?”
“Yes. For now.” His father smiled. “I got lucky in a way. Prostate cancer is one of the most treatable ones. I’m not worried.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear it. If I can do anything to help, talk to your doctor or take you to appointments, anything, just let me know.”
“I will, thanks. Claire has been pretty good about it all. She’s been my rock. I’m lucky to have her.”
Jake nodded. He was glad that his father was so optimistic. He’d always had a positive attitude and he only saw Claire in the best possible light. Maybe t
hat was a good thing, as long as he was happy.
“How are you doing?” his father asked. “It hasn’t been quite a year since your mother passed.” A cloud shadowed his father’s face and Jake felt his sadness. His parents really had loved each other, but it wasn’t enough to keep them together. He supposed that his mother’s drinking had been the main reason. She’d died almost a year ago, of alcoholism.
For a long time, growing up, his father had been just as bad, maybe even worse. But he’d hit rock bottom when he’d been driving drunk, fell asleep at the wheel and had totaled his car. He’d been lucky then, too. He’d been wearing his seatbelt and no one else had been hurt. He’d had a few scrapes and that was it—but it had scared him straight. He stopped cold turkey that day, entered a treatment program and as far as Jake knew, never had another drink.
His mother had been different. She never found her rock bottom, so nothing ever changed. She was smart enough not to drink and drive and she never missed a day of work. She was what her doctor called a functional alcoholic. She started drinking as soon as she got home from work, one vodka tonic after another. Usually three, sometimes four and the glass would be mostly vodka and a splash of tonic. Jake could always tell how many she’d had by how badly she slurred her words. It wasn’t that she was a bad mother. Quite the contrary. She was loving and always interested in his life. He just rarely brought friends around because—well, it was embarrassing.
And the worst part was that she never seemed to see it. A few times, she’d admitted that her doctor had read her the riot act and told her the drinking was a problem. But it was an ingrained habit and Jake supposed maybe even a comfort of sorts that she wasn’t ready to give up. She never married after the divorce, and hardly even dated.
When the end came for her, at least it came quickly. Jake had been visiting her often and something had told him to go there early that day to check on her. She hadn’t been feeling well and had taken a rare day off from work. When he got home the house had been eerily quiet and the hair on the back of his arms stood up.
Veterinarian's Vacation (River's End Ranch Book 2) Page 1
