by Spear, Terry
When Dan, who was officiating over the wedding, asked if there were any objections, Vanessa and William gave him a look that said that wasn’t part of the ceremony they had agreed to!
“You have incoming!” Riley said.
Vanessa groaned. “Hurry up with the ceremony, Dan.”
Dan sped through the rest of the ceremony and Vanessa and William said, “I do.” And then William kissed her like there was never going to be another minute of peace for them.
She kissed him back, a little more urgently than she would have liked to, turned, and tossed her bouquet to Jessie, who was thrilled to catch it. “I’ve got to run,” Vanessa said, kissing William quickly again, then hurried off in her wedding gown to see to the next patient.
“Enjoy the reception,” William said to everyone. “We’ll be there as soon as we can.” He hurried after Vanessa, to her surprise. “I might not be able to help you with all that you can do here, but I’m not leaving until you can go with me to the reception.”
She smiled. She knew he was the only one she should give her heart to. Already, he was proving in their first moments of marriage, he was just perfect for her.
* * *
William couldn’t believe Vanessa had been stuck at the clinic for one emergency after another. At least for him, they had nurses and he had Dr. Kate to back him up if something came in at the medical clinic if they needed to take care of someone. But poor Vanessa was really stuck, and he wanted to do everything in his power to ensure she had someone as her backup too in the future.
After all the trouble she’d had in being stood up at the altar twice before, he couldn’t help worry that she would do that to him—though he’d only had the thought for a fleeting moment—or two. In between seeing patients, Riley had texted William, telling him all the trouble they were having leaving the clinic. The last text he sent him said to just come and get it over with at the clinic or they would never get married today.
By then, William had already figured that out and he and everyone attending the wedding had carpooled to have the ceremony in the courtyard between the house and animal clinic. It seemed the perfect way to handle it anyway.
He loved Vanessa as she put on her lab coat and was checking over a sick puppy, Riley was helping her with whatever she needed, and William was on hand to assist her also.
Then the bridesmaids came into the clinic carrying bags of clothes so William and Vanessa could change out of their wedding clothes to take care of sick pets, then headed out to join their mates at Hal’s ranch for the reception.
But then there was a lull—no more patients, and Riley told them to go. He would let Vanessa know if anything more happened and she promised to bring him all kinds of food from the party.
As if fleeing from danger, William packed Vanessa into his car and they tore off for Hal’s ranch. “Next priority for Yuma Town is finding another vet to provide care for pets when you need a break, because believe me, you’re going to need some breaks.”
She chuckled. “Promises you’d better keep.”
Epilogue
Two months later, they still hadn’t found a veterinarian who could work with Vanessa in a partnership, but everyone in the cougar community was on the look out for one. That was one nice thing about being such a tightknit community. Though the problem with being cougar shifters was that finding a vet who was also one was a trial and a half. They had just really lucked out when Vanessa had driven into Yuma Town and learned the town was full of cougars and they didn’t have a vet and she wanted to set up practice here. Which meant William had really lucked out.
Vanessa and Dan had testified last week against the escaped convict for taking her hostage. He swore she had a pet cougar. They swore she was taking care of a friend’s German shepherd and the man was confused. He swore he was allergic to cats, not dogs, and it had to be the cougar that he was allergic to. William and several cougars had attended the court case and had gotten a kick out of Dan and Vanessa’s testimony.
William was getting a lot of grilling done too with his new grill—a wedding gift from several of their cougar friends—with promises he would grill for the whole bunch of them one of these days.
William had finally had time to clean out his townhouse and put it up for sale and sold it. His dinosaur paintings took center stage in the living room that was now Vanessa’s and his home. She had warned him if he ever divorced her, she was keeping the paintings and Buddy! He loved her.
Buddy and Midnight had become the best of friends and when William and Vanessa were together cuddling while watching a movie on TV, the cat and dog would curl up together in the puppy’s bed. If Buddy plagued Midnight too much to play with him, the cat would just jump up on the bookcases and peer down at him while Buddy played toss with his toys until he wore himself out.
At least Buddy was housebroken, but they were now decorating for Christmas and that presented new problems. Midnight swatted Christmas balls off the tree, and in collusion, Buddy chased after them. Vanessa and William had their hands full.
“You know,” William said as he brought over cups of hot chocolate for Vanessa and him while they watched their first Christmas movie together, “we’ll be able to handle kids by the time we figure out how to handle the cat and dog.”
She brought over a large bowl of popcorn. “Believe me that will be a totally new experience for us and we’ll be learning it all from scratch. But at least we have friends who can help us out.”
“I agree with you there.”
William and Vanessa started watching A Christmas Story and when they got to the part about the neighbor’s dogs stealing their dinner. “Every time I see this part, I think of having to make a vet call to take care of the dogs that ate all those bones.”
“I bet. I never even thought of that. I just thought about all that good food wasted on the dogs.”
She laughed. She loved movie time with William and their nightly cougar runs. She’d thought she would never find a cougar she wanted to be with always. William was certainly that for her.
* * *
William cuddled with Vanessa after they were done with their cocoa and popcorn, enjoying the rest of the movie. At least they hadn’t had any calls tonight.
Then Vanessa’s phone rang. Scratch not being called in.
She answered the phone. “Okay, Missy, I’ll be right in.” She kissed William. “Hold down the fort while I’m gone?”
“No way. I’m coming with you.”
And that’s the way it was. When they were both off, if she had to take care of a client, he was there with her. Kate had teased him that he should get a veterinarian license too.
He loved Vanessa with all his heart and he couldn’t even imagine a life where she wasn’t the biggest part of it for him.
He put Buddy in his crate with a treat, and then he and Vanessa headed over to the clinic. Afterward, they would finish their movie, run as cougars, and end the night right, loving each other as mated cougars should.
Acknowledgments
Thanks so much to Donna Fournier for catching all my name issues and reminding me of who needed to be included in the cougar town—we don’t want to leave anyone out! And brainstorming when I need it!!!
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Terry Spear has written over sixty paranormal and medieval Highland romances. In 2008, Heart of the Wolf was named a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year. She has received a PNR Top Pick, a Best Book of the Month nomination by Long and Short Reviews, numerous Night Owl Romance Top Picks, and 2 Paranormal Excellence Awards for Romantic Literature (Finalist & Honorable Mention). In 2016, Billionaire in Wolf’s Clothing was an RT Book Reviews Top Pick. A retired officer of the U.S. Army Reserves, Terry also creates award-winning teddy bears that have found homes all over the world, helps out with her granddaughter with a second grandchild on the way, and she is raising two havanese puppies. She lives in Spring, Texas.
Also by Terry Spear
Heart of the Cougar Series:
Cougar’s Mate, Book 1
Call of the Cougar, Book 2
Taming the Wild Cougar, Book 3
Covert Cougar Christmas (Novella)
Double Cougar Trouble, Book 4
Cougar Undercover, Book 5
Cougar Magic, Book 6
Cougar Halloween Mischief (Novella)
Falling for the Cougar, Book 7
Catch the Cougar (A Halloween Novella)
* * *
Heart of the Bear Series
Loving the White Bear, Book 1
Claiming the White Bear, Book 2
* * *
The Highlanders Series:Winning the Highlander's Heart, The Accidental Highland Hero, Highland Rake, Taming the Wild Highlander, The Highlander, Her Highland Hero, The Viking’s Highland Lass, His Wild Highland Lass (novella), Vexing the Highlander (novella), My Highlander
Other historical romances: Lady Caroline & the Egotistical Earl, A Ghost of a Chance at Love
* * *
Heart of the Wolf Series: Heart of the Wolf, Destiny of the Wolf, To Tempt the Wolf, Legend of the White Wolf, Seduced by the Wolf, Wolf Fever, Heart of the Highland Wolf, Dreaming of the Wolf, A SEAL in Wolf's Clothing, A Howl for a Highlander, A Highland Werewolf Wedding, A SEAL Wolf Christmas, Silence of the Wolf, Hero of a Highland Wolf, A Highland Wolf Christmas, A SEAL Wolf Hunting; A Silver Wolf Christmas, A SEAL Wolf in Too Deep, Alpha Wolf Need Not Apply, Billionaire in Wolf’s Clothing, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, SEAL Wolf Undercover, Dreaming of a White Wolf Christmas, Flight of the White Wolf, All’s Fair in Love and Wolf, A Billionaire Wolf for Christmas, SEAL Wolf Surrender (2019), Silver Town Wolf: Home for the Holidays (2019), Wolff Brothers: You Had Me at Wolf, Night of the Billionaire Wolf, Joy to the Wolves (Red Wolf), The Wolf Wore Plaid, Best of Both Wolves
SEAL Wolves: To Tempt the Wolf, A SEAL in Wolf's Clothing, A SEAL Wolf Christmas, A SEAL Wolf Hunting, A SEAL Wolf in Too Deep, SEAL Wolf Undercover, SEAL Wolf Surrender (2019)
Silver Bros Wolves: Destiny of the Wolf, Wolf Fever, Dreaming of the Wolf, Silence of the Wolf, A Silver Wolf Christmas, Alpha Wolf Need Not Apply, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, All’s Fair in Love and Wolf, Silver Town Wolf: Home for the Holidays (2019)
Wolff Brothers of Silver Town
Billionaire Wolves: Billionaire in Wolf’s Clothing, A Billionaire Wolf for Christmas, Night of the Billionaire Wolf
Highland Wolves: Heart of the Highland Wolf, A Howl for a Highlander, A Highland Werewolf Wedding, Hero of a Highland Wolf, A Highland Wolf Christmas, Wolf Wore Plaid
Red Wolf Series: Seduced by the Wolf, Joy to the Wolves
* * *
Heart of the Jaguar Series: Savage Hunger, Jaguar Fever, Jaguar Hunt, Jaguar Pride, A Very Jaguar Christmas, You Had Me at Jaguar (2019)
Novella: The Witch and the Jaguar (2018)
* * *
Romantic Suspense: Deadly Fortunes, In the Dead of the Night, Relative Danger, Bound by Danger
* * *
Vampire romances: Killing the Bloodlust, Deadly Liaisons, Huntress for Hire, Forbidden Love
Vampire Novellas: Vampiric Calling, The Siren’s Lure, Seducing the Huntress
* * *
Other Romance: Exchanging Grooms, Marriage, Las Vegas Style
* * *
Science Fiction Romance: Galaxy Warrior
Teen/Young Adult/Fantasy Books
The World of Fae:
The Dark Fae, Book 1
The Deadly Fae, Book 2
The Winged Fae, Book 3
The Ancient Fae, Book 4
Dragon Fae, Book 5
Hawk Fae, Book 6
Phantom Fae, Book 7
Golden Fae, Book 8
Falcon Fae, Book 9
Woodland Fae, Book 10
The World of Elf:
The Shadow Elf
Darkland Elf
Blood Moon Series:
Kiss of the Vampire
The Vampire…In My Dreams
Demon Guardian Series:
The Trouble with Demons
Demon Trouble, Too
Demon Hunter
Non-Series for Now:
Ghostly Liaisons
The Beast Within
Courtly Masquerade
Deidre's Secret
The Magic of Inherian:
The Scepter of Salvation
The Mage of Monrovia
Emerald Isle of Mists (TBA)
