Puppy Love for the Veterinarian

by Amy Woods

  She didn’t like the answer. Yes, it did matter.

  In case she’d forgotten, the last guy who had wooed her with a fit physique and slick words had broken her heart. She didn’t want to be that girl—no, she refused to be that girl—who slipped right into one bad relationship after another.

  Ethan Singh might be handsome, and he might even be kind and all the other things she’d seen that night. None of that mattered. She simply wasn’t ready to start over, to risk putting all of herself into someone new, only to have it blow up in her face.

  Even if he proved to be a good guy, even if he was interested in her, she needed things only she could give herself: time, self-respect and space in which to put her life back together.

  Grabbing his hands, she removed them from her shoulders and let them drop as she pulled away and turned to face him.

  “Thank you. That was...wonderful, but I—” she hated that hurt expression on his face she’d caused “—I just need a minute. Excuse me.”

  With that, she left him standing there as she walked quickly away from emotions that threatened to undo her.

  * * *

  Ethan followed, still confused about what had happened.

  He hadn’t meant to be so forward. Hell, in the space of half an hour he’d not only kissed the woman, but had pulled the most cliché move ever known to man by offering to rub her shoulders.

  Dammit, could he be any more of an ass?

  What had come over him?

  All he knew for sure was that when he saw June hang up from what had obviously been a difficult conversation with exhaustion practically crumpling her body, he’d have done anything he could to make her feel better.

  He stopped abruptly in the hallway.

  His instinct had been to go after her, to fix the awkwardness that hung in the room after she’d gone, but she had asked for a moment alone. And as his head began to clear, sifting through that spontaneous, intoxicating kiss from earlier, and the way his hands felt digging into her muscles, he realized he needed to give her what she’d asked for.

  He needed to back off.

  But that kiss.

  It made him want to do anything but.

  That kiss had wrecked everything he’d been so certain about. Up until it happened, his lips moving toward hers, propelled by a will of their own, he’d been so sure he didn’t want a woman in his life. Not when he’d come to Peach Leaf for the sole purpose of getting over the last one.

  But with June...it was like he wasn’t even in control. Every minute he spent with her made him want another to follow.

  Which was ridiculous, considering she’d told him her own heart had been broken recently. What kind of guy forced himself on a woman who clearly didn’t want that kind of attention?

  What he needed was some air, and for the storm to be over so that he could get her out of his space and off his mind.

  When he stepped out the front door, the wind was still blowing with greater than normal force, but it had calmed down significantly since he and June had returned from the bakery. It was a pleasant break from the heat that had developed back in the office between the two of them.

  He hadn’t expected to feel that way again for a very long time, if not ever. It disturbed him, how much this sensation, this primal drive to be with a woman, resembled those first few days with Jessica.

  The two women didn’t abide comparison. Jessica had been cool, cosmopolitan, gorgeous in a cold, almost untouchable way, like a model from the cover of a magazine, and fiercely competitive—things he’d admired at first, until he’d discovered the heartlessness she was capable of.

  June, on the other hand, was girl-next-door-beautiful, soft and curvy in all the right places and sweet. Sweetness was an underrated quality in a woman, he now believed.

  A gust of wind swiped at his face and he had to go back inside. The storm had subsided, but it clearly was not over yet.

  Being in the cold made him briefly miss Colorado, and he wondered what June would think of the place he called home, the place he’d lived the longest now and where he’d begun to put down roots. She’d said she had always wanted to travel, and before he stopped the train of thought, it crossed his mind that he might like to take her there one day. Her eyes had sparkled when she talked about wanting to see the world, and that would be a good place to start.

  He imagined her face lighting up when she saw the Rocky Mountains for the first time—how drastically more majestic they were in real life than in photos. He would take her to Estes Park to visit the haunted Stanley Hotel, and to Aspen to ski, and the list went on and on, nearly bursting out of him.

  Unlike Jessica, who had been near-impossible to impress no matter how hard he tried, somehow he knew June would relish every minute of it, and he longed to feel that way again about a place he loved so much.

  As it were, returning would be painful. Those ugly memories would be waiting for him at the university, and even in his home, and he didn’t want to face them alone.

  “Ethan?”

  June had stuck her head out the door to call after him. He turned to follow her inside.

  She looked at him like he’d lost his mind.

  “What the hell, Ethan?” She gasped, hugging herself against the cold. “You’re not wearing a coat.” She slammed the door behind them. “What were you thinking?”

  He didn’t answer the question, ignoring the concern etched in the crease of her forehead. “I’m fine. Just got a little too warm.”

  The response in her features told him she knew how he felt, but it passed quickly and she forged ahead.

  “Ethan, something’s wrong with one of the puppies.”

  His heart lurched into his throat. He’d promised her he wouldn’t let harm come to them.

  Without speaking further, she grabbed his hand and led him to the back room. When he saw both puppies still inside their little pen, each of them wiggly and energetic, his breathing slowed a little.

  “I think one of them threw up,” June said, her voice catching in a way that made him ache. “But I can’t tell which one.”

  He crouched down onto his knees and lifted one puppy at a time, palpating their stomachs and checking the rest of their warm, squirmy bodies. When he realized that the pups were completely okay, he almost laughed, but caught himself.

  June would be hurt if she thought he was making fun of her for worrying. It wasn’t overreacting for her, he reminded himself, because she wasn’t used to looking for symptoms like he was. She just followed her heart, an admirable quality.

  He put the puppy he’d been holding back into the pen and spent the next several minutes cleaning up and replacing their soiled towels with fresh, warm ones. Then he set his hands on June’s shoulders, urging her to meet his eyes. When she did, he noticed glistening at the corners.

  “Hey,” he said, giving her shoulders a little squeeze. “Hey, it’s okay. They’re fine.” As soon as he’d said the words, a tear slipped down her cheek and, without thinking at all, he reached up to wipe it away before pulling her shaking body against his chest.

  He let her cry for a few moments, hating it but wanting to give her a chance to release some of her pent-up emotions. When she pulled back, she wiped her eyes and leaned back on her heels, looking embarrassed.

  “I’m so sorry, Ethan. I have no idea what’s gotten into me.”

  He shook his head. “Please do not apologize to me when you didn’t do anything wrong.”

  She grinned, her eyes shimmering with dampness, greener than any emerald he’d ever seen.

  “You must think I’m a complete idiot,” she said with an unsteady voice.

  “Absolutely not. Look, it’s been a crazy, long day, and I think we both might be on the verge of simultaneous nervous breakdowns, but don’t you ever say you’re sorry for b
eing concerned about something you care for.”

  As she finished wiping her face once more, her eyebrows rose in surprise. “Thank you for that. That’s incredibly sweet of you.” She was quiet for a moment, and he wondered what was running through her mind.

  “I just saw the...” She pointed at the place where one of the little ones had regurgitated its supper, clearly a tad bit grossed out. “And I just lost it. I don’t really know why.” She tossed up her hands.

  “It’s okay, June. I’ll run some tests again in the morning, but from what I can tell now, they are still holding up really well. It would probably be safest to put them in a crate for the night, but I’d rather not, and this pen is fine.”

  She nodded and he tucked a strand of auburn hair behind her ear, taking his time in letting his finger slide along her soft cheek before pulling it back. “My educated guess is that they just ate a little too much. Sadly, if they’ve been without food for a while, it might take some time for their stomachs to get back to normal so they can eat the portions they’ll need to gain weight.”

  June looked as relieved as he felt.

  “In the meantime, they’ll just need for us to be patient.”

  He met her eyes as a surge of emotion threatened to overwhelm him.

  “After all, this will take some time. What they’ve suffered simply cannot be healed in one night.”

  Chapter Seven

  The rich scent of coffee brewing pulled June from the short nap she’d finally managed to sink into. Her eyes slowly opening, she glanced around at the unfamiliar room, realizing, as the fuzzy edges of sleep slipped away, that she was in Dr. Singh’s office.

  The black leather couch squeaked as she pushed up to lean against its back. Chilly, she decided not to give up the blanket that Ethan must have draped over her as she’d snoozed. As the smell of delicious caffeine beckoned her further into wakefulness, her mind drifted back to the night before—and that kiss—the oh-so-delicious kiss that had seared her lips and sent sparks zipping through her veins.

  That kiss—spontaneous, incredible, though highly unexpected—made her feel like a woman again.

  It was the first time she’d been that close to anyone since Clayton and, she thought with more sadness than she wanted to admit, probably the last.

  After she’d had that slightly humiliating breakdown over one of the puppies’ mild tummy ache, which she’d replayed over and over until deciding to chalk up her emotions to lack of sleep or an adequate meal, Ethan had dried her tears and sent her to bed, promising to take care of the dogs while she got some rest.

  There hadn’t been the slightest hint of judgment in his tone or expression, but what had been there instead scared her a little.

  She’d looked up into those intense, mahogany eyes of his and found only concern.

  He’d been sweet, nurturing even, and had shown her a softness she wasn’t used to in men, but she got the feeling that wasn’t really Ethan’s usual style.

  Perhaps the strange magic of a Texas night covered in snow had affected them both. She’d resisted him at first, had not wanted to like him so easily, so much; she hadn’t wanted to enjoy his company, but her attempts to not care had been futile, and now her heart had jumped into the game, forcing her to admit that she didn’t want their time together to be over.

  That sentiment had even kept her from sleep for a while, as she’d tried desperately not to let her eyelids slam shut. But they’d been so heavy from exhaustion, Ethan’s voice so soothing as he’d sat in his father’s desk chair telling her stories of his Alaskan research trips.

  Like a desperate Cinderella, she hadn’t wanted it to end.

  But in real life, pumpkins weren’t carriages and tattered shoes weren’t glass slippers...and Prince Charming did not exist.

  She needed the reminder; Ethan could have fooled her last night.

  But finally she’d succumbed to rest, and it was over. For better or worse, her normal life would resume.

  She stretched her arms behind her head before taking a moment to rub a charley horse out of her neck. Wrapping the blanket around her shoulders, she made a quick trip to the bathroom, careful to avoid the mirror, adamantly not wanting to know what she’d be met with following a full shift and a night without a shower. She splashed water on her face and headed to the front of the clinic to check the weather.

  “Morning, June,” Ethan said, turning as she entered the room. Dark stubble covered his jaw and chin and, instead of looking like hell, which would be perfectly appropriate after being awake for over twenty-four hours, he was even sexier than he’d been the day and night before. And when he graced her with a sleepy smile, she almost threw herself across the room and kissed him. It took effort to remind herself that she’d only stumbled into this situation through a weird turn of events—it didn’t truly belong to her. He had not chosen to spend the night with her; it was forced, and he’d been kind to let her stay, as she knew he would have anyone else.

  “How’d you sleep?” he asked. “Considering, I mean. I know my father’s office couch isn’t exactly like a king-size bed in a five-star hotel.”

  Beds, hotels, unkempt but perfect Ethan with a shadowy beard following a night of...

  June shook her head. That wasn’t real. The reality was that she’d stumbled upon him due to a freak snowstorm. Reality was, that if the snow had melted enough and the roads were moderately safe, she’d be back at her car and home to her empty apartment in a matter of a couple of hours at best.

  The fantasy would be over.

  As it should be.

  Clayton, with his smooth talking, his well-toned body and those promises he’d made with a straight face while looking right into her eyes—it had all been a fantasy, too. And June needed no reminders of how that turned out.

  She may not be highly educated like Ethan, but she was smart enough not to make the same mistake twice. A woman who couldn’t trust herself, who couldn’t protect her own heart from destruction, was better off alone.

  Ethan was staring at her, waiting for her to respond.

  “The couch was fine.” She smiled. “I can’t thank you enough for letting me get a little rest.”

  He waved a hand, brushing her gratitude aside. “It’s nothing. Not my first twenty-four-hour shift, and probably not my last. You get used to it after a few times.”

  “All the same.”

  “Don’t mention it.” He beckoned her to join him at the window. “Looks like we’re in luck. I watched the weather on the news a little bit ago and it seems the snow is starting to melt. Also, half the town lost power last night and some won’t get it back for a few days. We were pretty fortunate here, with the heater running and all. Would have been a cold night otherwise.”

  Not if they’d snuggled together, she mused.

  He took a sip from the mug in his hand. “The pups were doing great when I checked in and fed them a few minutes ago, and in an hour or so, we’ll be able to head out and check on your car.”

  The news should have been welcome, but for some reason her heart sank. She plastered a smile on her face and crossed her fingers it was convincing. She didn’t think she could bear any more of Ethan’s insightful kindness or another second of those dark eyes boring into hers, seemingly capable of unearthing her most private thoughts.

  “That’s excellent news. I can’t wait to get back to my place and take a shower.”

  “I’m with you there. I probably smell like my furry clients,” he said, laughing as he turned back to the window.

  Outside was a veritable winter wonderland. Snow had blanketed the parking lot, glittering like sugar in the sunlight.

  “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” he asked.

  “Very.”

  “Have you ever seen snow like this before, June?”

  She nibbled he
r lower lip, stopping, suddenly self-conscious when his eyes followed. “I’ve seen snow, yes, but never like this. It usually melts so quickly that it doesn’t cover anything.”

  “So you’ve never really gotten to enjoy it, then? Never built a snowman? Gone sledding?”

  She shook her head. His eyes lit up when he’d spoken, and he made all those activities sound so fun.

  He tsked. “Well, that is a shame. We get plenty of snow in Colorado, and of course we did during my time in Alaska, too. Most people don’t like the weather in the more remote areas, but for some reason, I took to it during my research there.”

  “Do you miss it?” she asked, instantly regretting the question when a muscle in his jaw jumped, betraying some reaction he probably hadn’t meant to reveal.

  “I miss the place, not the memories.” He was far away somewhere for a moment, but then quickly returned to ask if she’d like a cup of coffee.

  “How selfish of me, standing here drinking mine without checking if you want one of your own.” He turned, surprising her by tucking a finger under her chin, lifting it to look into her face. “It’s been a long time since there’s been anyone to ask. Too long.”

  She licked her lips and his eyes snapped to her tongue. In a matter of seconds, he moved as if to kiss her again and alarms went off inside her, louder even than the one at Bauer’s had been.

  June pulled her face away from his with effort, disappointment spreading through her body like a virus. If she thought she could let him kiss her again without strings, without involuntarily building an attachment that she knew would be one-sided, she would have allowed it. But that was the thing about mistakes; if you were smart, you learned from them. She supposed she could thank Clayton for that—she knew herself better now, knew she couldn’t go in halfway.

  It was all or nothing from then on, and nothing was by far the safer route.

  Safer, maybe, but a hell of a lot less fun, a little voice chided in her mind.