by Toni Aleo
I’m already on the floor, cuddling Wilbur and scratching his ears. “Hey.”
Reed heads to his desk that Dr. Ross had us decorate with “Welcome Home” signs. He rolls his eyes as he throws his backpack under the desk. He sits down, and I bite into my lip.
“Everyone is excited to have you.”
“Doubt that.”
“I think the signs say otherwise,” I note, and he shrugs.
“Probably my mom’s doing.”
“Nope, all Dr. Ross.”
He slides his white coat on before running his hands through his hair. “I forgot you’d be here.”
I look down at Wilbur, kissing his head. “Is that a problem?”
He shakes his head quickly. “Not at all. It’s just a nice surprise with it being so early in the morning.”
Well, that’s nice. I smile at Wilbur. “I’m always early on Monday to make sure everyone remembers their appointments.”
“Oh, cool. My first full day,” he says on an exhale.
“Don’t be nervous. Once everyone sees how great you are with their pets, everything will fall into place.”
He doesn’t seem convinced; he runs his hand through his hair once more. “I’m not nervous, and you sound like Mawmaw.”
It’s not the first time I’ve heard that. Everyone calls me Mawmaw’s mini-me. I take pride in it. “It happens.”
He sits down in his office chair, leaning on his thighs with his elbows as he wrings his fingers together. He can say he isn’t nervous, but he is. “How many appointments do we have?”
I kiss Wilbur’s head and place him on the floor before getting up. He jumps at my legs, so I plop him in my lap as I look on the tablet. “Fourteen.”
“Wow, that’s a lot.”
“We have a lot of people who come in from other counties, especially on Monday.”
“Dr. Ross has made a lot of good changes.”
I smile. “I pushed him to. I wanted him to go digital, and then I felt like we should reach more people in other counties because we have the best and most state-of-the-art clinic.” I nuzzle my nose into Wilbur’s neck. “I found this conference in South Carolina, and we learned so much when we went. Once we applied what we learned, things turned out great.”
For the first time, I feel like Reed is committed. He nods as he looks around. “Yeah, it’s a beautiful clinic. Still the same, but good.”
“We do a lot of work for free or based on the customer’s income, which really brings people in. Dr. Ross just wants to save animals.”
Reed’s lips spread wide in a smile, taking my breath away. “I agree wholeheartedly. I want to do that up in Lexington, but my buddy who owns the clinic likes money. I’ve actually covered a lot of the surgeries to help families who couldn’t afford it.”
My eyes meet his, and I feel like my heart is coming out of my chest. I can almost see the boy he was, telling us all how he was going to save all kinds of animals. “Don’t you remember? That’s what you said you wanted to do. I actually stole the idea from you.”
“No shit?”
“Yes shit,” I laugh, and his grin widens. “I believed in what you wanted to do, and so did Dr. Ross. We’ve been doing it for over eight years, and this clinic is soaring. It’s amazing.”
His eyes don’t leave mine as he nods. “That is amazing.”
“It is,” I agree, kissing Wilbur once more. When I look back to Reed, his eyes are moving along me, and my skin breaks out in gooseflesh under his gaze. His white coat covers a button-up yellow shirt that glows on his skin. He’s wearing a pair of worn, fitted blue jeans along with some boots that were made to get some work done. His hair is still wet from his shower, and Lord, I bet he smells damn good. I slip my tongue out, wetting my lips, and his eyes darken.
Wilbur barks happily, and I grin, kissing him once more. “What’s wrong, lover boy?”
He licks me happily, and I can’t help but look back at Reed. His eyes are on my computer, though. I follow his gaze, seeing that he’s looking at the small mason jar holding the single rose. He looks back at me, his lips curving as he says, “You—”
“Morning, everyone.” Dr. Ross’s booming voice fills the office. “Great morning to make some pets healthy, huh?”
“Sure is,” Reed says, standing up and shaking his hand. “Thank you for the signs.”
“We’re excited to have you, son. I hope you have a great ‘real’ first day.”
“Me too.” Though, Reed still doesn’t look convinced that he will. I hate that. I want today to go great and for him to enjoy everything about our town. His gaze falls on me, and he says, “You ready?”
“I am.” I get up and carry Wilbur to his bed. After laying him down, I kiss him once more as I rub his neck.
“I’m surprised you don’t have a dog.”
I hadn’t noticed he had come near me. I look up into his green gaze and shrug. “I don’t have time. I’m always working.”
“Why?”
“’Cause I love this town, and working means I get to be everywhere.”
Something flashes in his eyes, and he looks away. “You could do so much more if you focused on one thing.” He shakes his head. “You’ve always been like a gnat at a barbecue.”
I return the smile he gives me. “Maybe, but why focus on one thing when I’m already so happy focusing on multiple ones?”
He looks back to me and smiles. His eyes move along my face, falling to my lips before he licks his own. Everything inside me catches on fire, and I want more than anything to reach out and touch him. I know that wouldn’t go over well, though, not with Dr. Ross in the office with us.
“Delaney is the town’s sweetheart. People would miss her if she only did one thing.”
Reed’s gaze doesn’t leave mine, not even to acknowledge his senior. His eyes are so dark, so full of all things trouble, and I want him. God, I want him. I don’t understand this pull. Is it just a crush I need to act on, or is it really him? Either way, I want more.
Dr. Ross heads for the door, and I bite my lip. Reed watches me, and I think I might have to make the move here. “So, maybe—”
“Oh, Del,” Dr. Ross says, popping his head back into the office. I’ve never wanted to cuss my favorite doctor out, but I might right now. “You’ll be at the town meeting, right?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good.” He then looks to Reed. “Come on, boy. I want to go over some things with you.”
“Of course,” Reed says, following him out of the office. Wilbur gets out of his bed and follows him, leaving me alone with my frustration.
There were plenty of moments where we could have talked about something other than what we did, but he kept it professional. I know he’s comfortable with that, but I think if Dr. Ross hadn’t come in, maybe something else would have been said. I feel like Reed is sending me mixed signals, and I don’t do well with that. Just be straight with me. If he doesn’t want me, if it was a mistake kissing me, Lord, tell me. I’m a tough girl. I’ve been lied to enough. I can handle it. But if it wasn’t, then he needs to get naked stat.
’Cause I fucking want him.
Chapter Fourteen
Reed
“You don’t know how happy it makes me that you came for dinner.”
My mom’s hand comes to rest at the back of my neck as I grin up at her. “You act like I don’t ever see you. You can see my cabin from here.”
She kisses the top of my head. “Because I don’t. You may live right next door, but you’ve been crazy busy and then hiding some too.”
I roll my eyes as she walks around the table, sitting down before reaching for her glass of tea. “I wasn’t hiding. I love that cabin. It’s quiet and no one bothers me. It’s nice.” She doesn’t seem impressed as she takes a long sip of her sweet tea. I reach for my beer, doing the same as a peaceful silence falls over us. I hadn’t expected to come to dinner tonight, but when I overheard Delaney telling one of the other techs that she was going to the din
er with Mawmaw before the town meeting, I figured it would be nice to have dinner with my mom. I’ve missed her.
Across the table, my mom digs into her steak that I grilled, and I smile. She doesn’t look like she’s aged a bit since I left all those years ago. She’s always been stunning. When I was younger, all the guys were in love with my mom. She has the darkest red hair that flows down over her shoulders and the brightest green eyes, along with the palest skin. Ambrosia is my mom’s twin, while Devin and Bryce mirror my dad. I look like him too but with my birth mom’s dark features. I don’t know how it never dawned on me that I wasn’t biologically my mom’s. We don’t look anything alike, yet I never knew. She is my mom, no question about it.
“This steak is delicious, Reed.”
It is, but the word delicious hasn’t applied to food since seeing Delaney again. Now when I think of that word, I think of her lips. Man, I’ve wanted to kiss her so damn bad for the last three days. She didn’t work yesterday, but all day today, I kept staring at her lips when she wasn’t looking. They’re always so glossed up, begging for someone to nibble at them. Add in the fact that no one else in that damn clinic looks as good as she does in scrubs, and it’s hard to focus on treating animals when you’re imagining taking your tech against any surface you can find.
I’m trying to control my desires, but it’s been tough. Especially when I feel like she wants me. She hasn’t said it one way or another, but I don’t think that’s because she doesn’t want to. It seems we never have a free moment. Either Dr. Ross, the pet owners, or another tech is always there. I stay late, while she clocks out a bit early. She wants to talk, and that’s Del for you. I’m glad we haven’t had time, because when we do, I’ll want to do it face-to-face. She’ll want to know what I want, what we’re doing, and I have no clue the answers to those questions, except that I want her.
Badly.
“How’s work?”
I nod as I chew, holding up my fork. “Real good. It’s only been half a week, but I actually like working there.”
She flashes me a wide and happy grin. “You don’t say?”
I laugh softly around my food. “You were right to send me there.”
“I know.”
I laugh some more. “Don’t be too smug about it.”
“Oh, I am.” She looks up at me, her eyes dancing with excitement. I wish she wouldn’t do that, but I’m not going to ruin this dinner by asking her not to. “So, everyone has been kind?”
“I mostly work with people from the outlying counties, but when I do get a Spring Groveian, it’s easy. I thought they’d be shitty to me, but they’re not. I help their pet, they thank me, and that’s it. Lots of condolences for Dad and how they’re glad I’m back.”
“That’s wonderful, Reed.” She gives me a small sideways look. “Daddy told you.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“Which means all this could be something to stay here for.”
I shake my head. “I have a job in Lexington.”
“Yes, but does it have your family?”
Maybe not, but it isn’t here, and I like that a lot about Lexington. Unable to say that, though, I shake my head. “It doesn’t.”
“So, you should stay.”
“Mom…”
“Reed,” she says, her eyes burning into mine. “Give us a chance. I think you might fall in love.”
I blink a few times and then realize she isn’t speaking of Delaney like my stupid, idiotic brain assumed she was. I don’t know what it is about that girl, but I need to let it go.
When Mom realizes I have nothing else to say on that topic, we fall into an easy conversation about my siblings. Like I suspected, she’s worried about Ambrosia. I am too, but I know my dad wouldn’t do this if he didn’t believe it would work out. That puts my mind at ease, but not Mom’s, apparently. “She’s gonna have a heart attack before she can even get there.”
I laugh. “She’ll be great.”
“I hope so. She worries me to death.”
“She’ll be fine. This is awesome for her. I think we’re all gonna try to meet her somewhere if we can.”
“Yeah, she was telling me that. Maybe I can too.”
“That would be awesome,” I say happily, even though I’m unsure when I can make it work. I’ve already taken eight weeks off, and then I’ll need to take off for Theo’s wedding. Shit.
“Oh! Did you hear about Cataway Abbot?”
I look up at the mention of Delaney’s sister. “Nope, but don’t be surprised. I don’t gossip.”
She waves me off. “Word is she made the show, and she might win! She told Delaney she’s in love with the guy. Crazy, huh? That silly girl goes on a TV show to find love when she already had it right here in Spring Grove.”
I shake my head, exhaling loudly. “Mom, if Devin has let it go, you should too.”
“Please. That boy will be in love with her until the day he dies.” She leans back in her chair, throwing her napkin onto her plate. “I almost want to push him to get over her.”
I raise my brow at her. “How would you do that?”
“Tell him he has a year to find himself a wife and get her pregnant before I give that damn distillery to Bryce.”
“Mom, you can’t do that.”
“I can do whatever I want. He’s so hung up on her, and she’s not coming back. I don’t even think she goes by Cataway anymore. I think it’s Cassandra Springs.”
I twist my face in disgust. “Cassandra Springs?”
“Yeah, she changed her Facebook, and when I asked Mawmaw, she told me Cataway never liked her name. And she figured with the new start, she needed a new name. But God help her if she comes back here. I know Cataway Abbot, and that’s what I’ll call her.”
I chuckle softly at my mom’s craziness, but then my mind wanders off to the time when Cataway left Devin at the altar. I thought my mom would hate her for the rest of her existence. It was quite the scandal. But I don’t see hate in my mom’s eyes. I see love and worry. Devin hasn’t been the same since Cataway left, and maybe my mom is on to something by forcing him to move on, but then, that isn’t my business.
Six and half weeks to go.
I’ll be gone in no time, and I won’t have to worry one bit about this damn town.
“Oh, look, it’s time to go. You ready?”
“I am,” I say, picking up my plate and then hers.
“Good. Let me get my purse.”
“I’ll meet you at the door.” She stands, and I head to the sink. “I can’t bring Wilbur, can I?”
“No,” she yells back at me. A grin fills my face. I almost call her a liar since I had already asked Dr. Ross if I could, and he told me yes. I don’t want to argue with her, not after the awesome dinner we had. When she comes to the door, she slides her arm through mine and grins up at me. “I’m so glad you’re coming.”
“I don’t think you’ve given me much choice.”
She snorts with laughter. “Nope, it says in the will, ‘Attend town meetings.’”
Wonderful.
I stand in the aisle of the town church as my mom chitchats with my old third-grade teacher, Mrs. Washington, and her husband. I want to say I’m paying attention to their conversation, but I’m not. I’m watching as Delaney comes into the church. Unlike how she was a couple hours ago in her scrubs, now she’s wearing a pretty, flowing summer dress that falls off her shoulders. Her hair is in a high bun, and her sunglasses are pushed up on top of her hair. As she moves through the church, greeting everyone, I watch in awe. She’s always had that way about her, that smile that lights up a room.
Man, I’ve been itching to kiss that girl for days now, and I can’t really find a reason not to at this second.
“I’m surprised you came back, boy.”
I look back to Mr. Washington, a forced smile on my lips. “Yeah, it was a surprise to lose my dad.”
I hear my mom say my name as a warning, but where does this dude get off? Mr. Washington seems
unfazed as he says, “Well, you swore you’d never set foot in this town again. Guess the money is pretty damn good.”
I hold his beady gaze. I’ve never liked this guy, and when I ran over his mailbox when I was seventeen, I’m glad I didn’t apologize. Jerk. “Or maybe being with my family during this time of mourning is really the reason I’m here. ’Cause, you know, my dad passed, I don’t know…three weeks ago?”
Mr. Washington’s lips are pressed together as my mom pulls me away. I glance over at her, setting her with a look. “And that’s why I hate this place.”
“He’s a dick anyway. Not everyone is like that. Come on. I like sitting in the front.”
Maybe she’s right, most of the town isn’t like him. But the people who are annoy the fuck out of me. I know she knows this, so there’s no reason to hash it out. Instead, I follow her to the front pew. As I go to sit beside her, Delaney’s gaze catches mine. Her eyes are dark and naughty as she flashes me the brightest of smiles. She lifts her hand and waves sweetly before taking a seat beside her mawmaw. Of course, Mawmaw sees the whole thing and grins back at me. She points to me and then Delaney before taking her index finger and pushing it into a hole she has made with her thumb and index finger on her other hand. She does it a few times before I realize what I am actually witnessing. My eyes widen in shock—why I am shocked is beyond me—and then I’m laughing. Never in my life did I think an old woman would insinuate I should bang her granddaughter.
That lady is a hoot.
I shake my head, but she nods. “We’re not.”
“You two should,” she calls to me.
Delaney looks at her, her eyes nearly bugging out of her head before she smacks the old lady’s hands. “Mawmaw!”
“What?” And Mawmaw actually thinks she’s innocent.
Delaney looks at me, her eyes filled with horror, and I look away, still laughing. Never a dull moment when Pearl Abbot is around.
What are you laughing at?”
“Nothing. Mawmaw is crazy.”