“What the fuck, Bro? I know how to tame my dick. Chill!” I’m pissed, and I can’t believe he talked to me like I’m his fucking son. I chug my beer and toss the empty bottle back into the cooler. Grabbing another beer, I take a deep breath to calm myself, “So tell me, what do you know about Kate?” I ask sincerely. I really do want to get to know her.
“Well, I met her a little over four years ago, when her then husband and she wanted me to draw up plans for a house.”
“You drew the plans for her house? That’s a sweet house. You designed it to look a lot older than it is.”
“That’s what she wanted. She wanted a country house, with the wraparound porch, shutters, and all. She said it would look funny if we built a contemporary house on the land. She wanted a house that fit with the stable and clinic. Now, she wants the clinic and stable to fit with the house. She has great taste; she did most of the design herself. Oh, and she’s an amazing photographer. You could say it’s her hobby. She was the one that did Amanda’s pregnancy pictures.”
Shit, is all I can think. I can’t believe it… Kate is the whole fucking package. She is beautiful, with her shoulder length blond hair, her bright blue eyes, handful size tits, a plump small ass I could just squeeze, and legs that I can only imagine how they would feel wrapped around my waist. “Why is she divorced?” I question him.
“The douche cheated on her. Cheated on her for a long time. He’s a cop and used his badge to the fullest advantages, if you know what I mean. She kicked him out, thinking they could share the parenting duties. Then she noticed a shit load of money was disappearing from her checking account. Apparently, he has a nasty gambling habit, too.”
“Seriously?” I ask.
“Luke, she’s been dragged through shit, but she’s a fighter and one determined woman to make it right. She’s a good mom, too.”
“Yeah, I’ve seen her with her girls. They’re cute little girls. Makes me remember those moments.” I finish my second beer and look to Nick, who is passed out on the bench seat. Poor guy, he’s a firefighter and works long, odd hours.
We spend about another hour on the lake. I watched Kate zoom by and listened for her laugh every time she came close. I want to make her laugh like that around me. That’s a sound that would make me happy to hear every damn day of my life.
We call it quits and head back to Brody’s house, where Amanda and his boys, Caleb and Connor, are waiting for us. We eat dinner then I return home, where I lie in bed thinking of Kate. If only tomorrow were Tuesday.
I’M PUTTING IN all the labor I can muster packing up my clinic on Labor Day. My mom, Mary, took the girls shopping for clothes and supplies. Hard to believe my babies will start Pre-K this year.
My office manager, Suzie, did a great job packing up the office and its equipment. She’s moving all the necessary office supplies to my dining room, where she will set up camp and do all the office work. I’m converting one horse stall into an exam room, mainly to be used for well visits. I have informed all my patients to contact Dr. Pierce at Best Friends Veterinary Clinic, in the meantime, for the more invasive procedures and complicated visits.
I’m in the last exam room, packing it up when my phone rings. Answering the call, it’s my mom. She wants to know if she can keep the girls through dinner. Looking around the clinic and realizing I’ll be here longer than planned, I let her know keeping the girls be great.
After a quick lunch and catching up with Suzie on reports, I head back to the clinic. I’m digging through cabinets, when I come across a framed picture of Keith and me with the girls. I used to have these all over my office. I stare at the picture of us. The picture is from the girls’ second birthday. We took them to have breakfast with the Disney Princesses. Julia’s in her Cinderella dress and Nicole’s in her Belle dress. Keith and I each have a girl on our hip and we’re centered between Snow White and Cinderella. We look so happy. In frustration, I throw the picture frame on the top of my desk. It was only a week later I caught the first of many texts from a girl he was seeing. How could I have been so stupid? Why did he leave the girls and me?
I walk to my office window just in time to see Luke’s truck and a huge trailer pull up next to the clinic. Watching him get out of his truck is a sight. Realization quickly sets in; once again, I’m in no shape to be seen. I’m sweating all over my black cotton shorts and red tank top, and my hair is pulled in a messy bun. And my sneakers are my worn-out ones I weed the flowerbeds in. Ugh!! Why does this man need to see me at my worst? Why is he even here? As I walk to the front door, he walks in, all sexy as hell in jeans and a black polo shirt. I just smile as he stands there. He has this effect on me, and I’m really enjoying it. Just a few feet apart, I ask him what he’s doing here.
“I was at the office doing some last minute work before starting tomorrow, and instead of driving out there again in the morning for the trailer, I thought it would be alright to drop it off now. I can’t park it where I live,” he explains.
“It’s alright with me. I wasn’t expecting anyone, so your arrival was a surprise.” I mutter, looking down at what I’m wearing. “Sorry, again for looking like a mess.”
“I think you look…um…great,” he says softly, with a big grin. I know he can see my face turning red. I haven’t been complimented in months.
“Well, if there isn’t anything else you need, I need to get back to cleaning out my clinic.”
“I don’t have to be anywhere, if you’d like, I could help you clean and pack.” He offers in the most charming voice. I can’t believe my ears. He wants to hang out with me and clean out my office?
“Umm…if you want to, you’re more than welcome to help me clean. I’m taking the opportunity to clean out my office, too.”
Walking back to my office, I quickly scan all the rooms. I think I have everything out that needs to be out. Salvation Army is coming by to get all the old desks, chairs, and tables. He follows me into my office, and I walk over to the shelf behind my desk. “If you want, you can pack all these books for me. The box is over here.” Pointing to the corner with empty boxes, I walk around to the front of my desk to pack the things I pulled out of the cabinet. Luke turns around and watches me. We’re in an awkward silence. From my peripheral vision I can see him watching me.
He looks down at my desk and sees the picture of what used to be my family. “Is this your ex?” He says.
Blowing out a good cleansing breath, I say, “Yes, that’s Keith. It was our daughters’ second birthday.”
He just keeps staring at it. “You look very happy in this picture.” He moves to place the picture back on the desk, but before he can, I stand up and grab it from his hands, tossing it in the box with the rest of the items I’m packing away.
“I was happy,” is all I manage to say. He turns and begins pulling books off the shelf. This is so awkward. The air is thick in the room and the tension is nearly unbearable.
I’m taping up the box when he suddenly blurts out, “I’m sorry, Kate. I’m so sorry you aren’t happy anymore, that…that bastard took away your happiness. I hope you’ll find happiness like that again, someday.” What the hell? I just look at him, dumbfounded. He has so much remorse all over his face. I am so confused.
“It’s not your fault, Luke. Sometimes bad things happen to good people. I like to believe it makes us stronger for the next round of crap that comes our way.” He looks pissed. I can see his jaw twitch and the muscles in his forearm bulge. His beautiful tattoos are straining.
Not knowing what else to do, I walk over and lay my hand on his tattooed arm. “Why are you so mad? You couldn’t fix this, even if you tried.” His big, beautiful greens eyes gaze into mine. I can see his hurt in those eyes. I see pain, too.
“It just makes me mad to think someone hurt you. You don’t deserve to be hurting like you are.”
I look up, into those amazing eyes, and smile. “I’m not hurting, anymore. Seriously, I’m good, and cleaning all this out and moving on is what I nee
d. Really, I’m good…promise.” I give him a little pat on his chest and walk back to the box I taped and move it out to the hallway. Before going back in, I take a moment to pull myself together. The sincerity in his anger for my situation nearly brought me to tears.
Hours pass as we continue to clean and move boxes to the house or stables. Luke stays the whole time and helps me. We enjoy small talk about the weather, the girls, the construction of the clinic, and Brody. We’re outside, in front of the clinic, with the last remnants of 1960’s furniture for the Salvation Army, when I see a black truck flying into the clinic driveway. Holy shit! The truck is a few feet away from the curb when I realize it’s Jacob. I run towards the truck, panic rising that something bad has happened, just as he jumps out, covered in blood.
“Jacob, what the hell happened?” I shout as I approach. He isn’t listening to me. He swings open the back door of the cab and comes out cradling Pebbles. “Kate, she was hit by a car. You have to help her!” Fear has overtaken him.
“Jacob, I can’t do that here. Everything is packed away.”
“Damn it, Kate! She won’t make it if I take her somewhere else.”
“Bring her to the stable.” I decide, thinking quickly about the supplies I didn’t pack up. Luke rushes over and grabs Pebbles from Jacob’s straining arms, and we hurry to the stable. Once in the converted stall, he gently sets her on the metal table. “Jacob, I’ll get her stable, but then you have to take her to Dr. Pierce. She can fix her. I don’t have the equipment, or enough medicine, to treat her.” I run to the cabinet of the few supplies I have.
I’m about to put the stethoscope to my ears when Jacob calls to me as he starts to head out of the stable, “Just do what you can, I got to go. Elizabeth is home, freaking out.”
“Jacob you can’t leave me!”
“Kate, I’ll call you. I’ve got to go see how Elizabeth is.” And he disappears through the stable door. I shake my head and turn my attention to Pebbles. I check her pulse, respirations, temperature, and heart rate. I look at her gums, which are still pink. Good sign.
“Hang in there, sweet girl.” I whisper to her. I can barely hear her whimper. “Luke, grab me that bag of fluid; I need to start an IV on her. Do you have your cell on you?” He pulls it out of his pocket and sets it next to me on the table. “Thanks.”
I go into doctor mode and begin cleaning the blood, throwing the bloody gauze on the floor near Luke’s feet. I insert a catheter into her front leg and connect the tube to the port. I pause to make sure the fluid is dripping with ease, and then begin to examine her body. I feel her back leg, which is incredibly swollen and she yelps when I touch it. Yep, it’s broken. Picking up Luke’s phone, I dial Dr. Pierce’s number, and when she answers, let her know I’m bringing in Pebbles, and relay the full assessment, finishing with surgery being needed for the leg. When I ask if she’ll need me to assist, Dr. Pierce assures me she and her staff have it covered and Pebbles will be taken care of. Letting out a relieved breath, I end the call and give Pebbles a shot of Morphine for pain and start splinting her leg.
“Luke, I need a huge favor. On the hook by the fridge in my house are my truck keys. I need you to back the truck as close to the entrance of the stable as possible. Then I need you to get the crate out, so I can put her in it.” He is running across the yard before I can finish my instructions. Pebbles leg is taped, and within minutes my truck is by the entrance.
“Where’s the crate?” Luke says, catching his breath. I point to it. “It’s best if we place her in the crate, then both load it in the truck.” I grab hold of Pebbles and pick her up and direct him to place the crate on the table. Then, with his help, we ease her into the crate. Finally, we load the crate into the bed. I hook her crate into place, climb behind the wheel and speed off for Dr. Pierce’s office.
Once on the road, my adrenaline begins to ebb and I’m suddenly aware of Luke beside me in the cab. I look at him and he looks like he’s in shock. “Thank you for your help, Luke. I wouldn’t have been able to do that if you weren’t here.” I say, placing my hand on his arm. He flinches, and looks at me with such sadness in his eyes.
“You’re welcome,” he whispers. The drive to Dr. Pierce’s office is quiet, but quick. We pull up and she’s waiting for us with her staff. I walk in with Dr. Pierce and repeat the report on Pebbles and her current stats. Once she has what she needs, I walk to the front, leave Beth’s number at the desk and head back outside. Luke is leaning up against the truck, still looking shaken up. What the hell is wrong with him?
Back in the truck I call Beth and give her the rundown on Pebbles, reassuring her everything is going to be fine. Finally, I give her Dr. Pierce’s number and end the call. I put the phone in the console and look over to Luke, who is just staring out the window. I place my hand on his arm, “Luke, are you okay?” I quietly ask as he turns to look at me.
“Yeah, sunshine, I’m fine.” He turns his head and resumes staring the window.
“You want to talk about it?” I ask, rubbing my hand up and down his arm. He just shakes his head. I’m at a loss for words. I don’t know what to say or ask. Minutes go by, and we are about to pass a pizza place. I pull in and put the truck in park. “I’m starving. I’m going to put in an order. Any toppings you want on the pizza?” He barely turns his head toward me and just shakes it. What the fuck?
I place the order and sit at an empty table to wait out the ten minutes I’m told it will take. No point of waiting in the truck if he isn’t going to even look at me. I sit and wonder what the heck happened for him to shut down like that. Did he have a dog that ended up dying? Still baffled at Luke’s behavior, eight minutes later I’m walking out with a large pepperoni pizza. When I reach the truck, I notice he hasn’t moved; he’s still staring out the window.
I place the pizza on the floor in the back seat and climb in the driver’s seat. Pulling out of the spot, I look at him and can see that he has had tears run down his face. We’re almost back to my house, and he hasn’t said a word. “Luke, you’re kind of scaring me, you sure you’re okay? Do you want me to call Brody or someone?” I quietly ask. He grabs my hand and entwines his fingers with mine. Pulling my hand to his mouth, he kisses it.
“I don’t ever want to scare you. I’m sorry. I’m alright,” he musters on a deep breath. “What kind of pizza did you get?”
Obviously, he’s not letting go of my hand. I manage to squeak out that it’s simple pepperoni, still at a complete loss as to what’s just happened. He holds my hand the rest of the drive home, and it’s comforting, despite the odd circumstances. I keep glancing at our joined hands, wondering why he is holding my hand.
Luke silently follows me into the house. I place the pizza box on the table and pull two beers from the fridge. Holding them up I ask, “You want a beer?” Washing his hands in the sink, he looks at me, and smiles.
“I’d love a beer.”
I hand him the beers, wash my hands, grab two plates and napkins, and head to the table. We eat in silence until he finally tells me what happened.
“I’m sorry I scared you.” He begins, his voice barely above a whisper. “It’s just, seeing you in action, asking for supplies, and seeing the blood…it just brought back some horrible memories. I was in the Army. I was in it for a long time, and saw things I’d never want my worst enemy to witness. I joined when I was eighteen, right after I graduated high school. Then September eleventh happened and I was shipped off to a foreign place where humans should never be, and saw things that never should be seen.” He grabs his beer and takes a few swigs. Setting the bottle back down, he looks at me with such sorrow in his eyes. “I’ve struggled a lot with what I went through, and even though I try to block it out, something as simple as seeing a dog get hurt brings the nightmares back.”
I lean across the table and rest my hands on his arm. “I’m so sorry you went through that. If I would have known, I wouldn’t have asked for your help.”
“No, no, I’m glad you asked for my h
elp. You needed me, and I wanted to help. I always want to be here for you.” He raises his hand and pushes the few strands of hair behind my ear. “I know I shouldn’t say this because you’re my client, but do you know you have the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen? You’re truly beautiful, Kate.”
I bite my upper lip, not knowing what to say. My body wants to scream Hallelujah! My brain, being the sensible one, says, “Thank you. You’re beautiful, too.” He flashes me his sexy smile.
While we finish up the pizza, I get a call from Dr. Pierce. Pebbles is stable and will be fine. Nothing more than a few pins and bolts to hold her leg together while it heals. She can be released in forty-eight hours. Luke takes the trash out for me while I load the dishwasher. When Luke comes inside, I hear my mom’s van pulling up. “My girls are home,” I say, drying my hands on the dishtowel.
“Well, I better get going. I have a huge job in the morning. I don’t want to piss off my new client by being late,” he says, giving me a wink. We both walk out the door as my girls run up to the porch.
“Momma…Momma, look what Gamma got us!” Showing me their new sparkly pink and purple ballet shoes.
“Wow, girls look at those fancy shoes. Can I wear them?”
“Momma, you can’t wear them, you feet too big!” Nicole exclaims in silliness.
“Momma, your beast friend is here,” Julia states.
Squatting down to their level and looking them in the eyes, I say, “Girls, it’s not nice to call him a beast just because he is tall. He has a name. Call him Mr. Luke, please. No more name calling. Got it?” They look at me, then to him, then to each other.
“Sorry, Momma, we won’t call him beast no more.” They both say in unison. I just smile, and then they run to Luke and give him a hug on each leg. “We sorry, Mr. Luke, for calling you beast. We won’t call you beast no more,” Julia says as Nicole just nods. He bends down and scoops up the girls, and they start giggling. He interacts with the girls so well; he’s a natural.
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