by Jody Holford
The tension left her body. Those were some pretty good references. Pet Central. Why did that sound familiar? They offered to buy out dad.
“Why did you leave a huge company like Pet Central? Personality conflicts?”
Zach laughed. Dammit. He had a great laugh, too.
“I wanted to come home. Being there was a necessary step financially, but it was never my long-term plan. You know how Netflix is better than being in a crowded movie theatre because you can be in your own space and relax?”
Her brows furrowed. “I guess.” She hadn’t been to a movie in longer than she could remember.
“That’s how I felt about the big practice versus this one. I remembered what it was like to be here with your dad, the way he knew everyone, and they respected him. Trusted him.”
Stella’s heart pinched painfully, like a clip had been attached to one corner. “The barn hasn’t been lived in for years.”
Stella heard the car before it pulled into view. Zach glanced at it and then back at Stella.
“I could make a few adjustments,” he suggested.
Which would cost money. “I can’t afford that right now.” She said the words before she could stop herself. “I’m sorry.” And part of her was.
“If I cover the costs of getting it livable, you wouldn’t have to worry about it.”
Stella bit the inside of her cheek. It wasn’t a horrible option. But it wasn’t ideal either. She really didn’t think he could make the old building livable. Not in a healthy, viable way.
He shrugged, pulling her from her thoughts. “That’s fine. Just thought I’d see if you were interested.”
He started to walk away, and she didn’t know why she was pushing away a great opportunity. You’re hesitating because this idea is insane. But so are the freaking expectations of the creditors and the cost to run a small clinic…
“I’m not using the upstairs of my home. I think if we work out a schedule for the kitchen, it could work. I live downstairs. There’s a second washroom upstairs so you wouldn’t need anything other than the kitchen to be shared. Well, and the laundry, but that’s in the kitchen.”
The car door slammed, and Stella had already seen it was Megan’s vehicle, so she didn’t break eye contact with him.
Walking closer, his size shielding the glare of the sun, he stopped directly in front of her and looked down at her with so much intensity, she did take a step back. But mostly, so she didn’t sway into him.
“You asking me to move in with you, Doc?”
She held the envelope he’d given her up like a shield against her chest.
Before she could reply, Megan, her closest friend, chimed in. “Wait…what?”
Both of their heads swung in her direction. The dogs joined them, dancing around Megan, who bent immediately, giving them rubs, but kept staring back and forth between Stella and Zach.
“Meg, this is Zach Mason. Zach, this is my good friend, Megan Carter, soon to be Klein.”
Zach stepped forward as Megan rose. They shook hands and the smile on her friend’s face kicked Stella’s nerves into high gear. She had two close friends in town and both would slay dragons if it meant getting Stella on a date. Or more.
“Very nice to meet you, Megan.”
“You, too, Zach. Are you from around here?”
The dogs looked for love from Zach when Megan stopped rubbing. He held both hands down, rubbing their heads while he spoke. “Grew up here actually. Left when I was eighteen to enlist in the army. Now I’m home. I’m a licensed veterinarian and was hoping to convince your friend to give me a chance.”
He made it sound so simple, but Stella sensed there was a lot more to each of those things than he gave away. He didn’t carry the weight of war in any visible scars, but she knew that the worst scarring in life could happen on the inside.
Megan looked at Stella. “A chance?”
Stella swallowed, nearly choking on her own spit. “To work with me. That’s all.”
Megan’s grin should have come with a warning. It would read: about to embarrass best friend. “And to live with you?”
Zach chuckled. “I like her.”
The glare she gave him had no impact. “Zach’s mom has a boyfriend and doesn’t want him underfoot. He asked to live in my barn.”
Megan shook her head, and Stella realized they were treating her like a ball in a Ping-Pong game, each volleying back and forth with information.
“Maybe I should explain while we eat. Did you bring sandwiches?”
Megan nodded and started to follow Stella back into the clinic when an older Ford rumbled up the driveway and parked. Mrs. Carmichael. She hopped out of the truck with the energy of a twenty-year-old, despite being a senior.
Stella shielded her eyes. “Hey, Mrs. Carmichael,” she called. As the woman cajoled her chihuahua out of the truck, Stella spoke in a quiet voice to Megan. “I might have to rain check lunch. She isn’t even on the schedule today.”
Zach hovered behind them as the elderly woman ambled over. “Sorry to just drop in like this, Doctor Lane, but Magnolia won’t eat, and I’m worried with this weather she’s dehydrated.” She stopped in front of the three of them and looked at Zach. “Hello, Megan. And who is this?”
Great. Even the elderly weren’t immune to Zach’s aura of charm.
“Doctor Zachary Mason, ma’am. I’m a veterinarian looking to join forces with your beloved Doctor Lane, here,” he said.
Stella’s mouth dropped open and she could only stare. Megan, she noticed, bit back a laugh.
“Is that so?” Mrs. Carmichael looked at Stella for confirmation.
The envelope crinkled in her hand from scrunching it in her fist. “He’s trying. That part is true. But his attempts aren’t working.”
Zach held her gaze, but Mrs. Carmichael interrupted their staring contest by leaning in and saying in a loud aside, “Is he all looks, dear? No substance?”
Megan laughed and put a hand on the woman’s shoulder. Her dog was curled up in her arms, looking unamused and uninterested in what was going on.
“I’m sure Zach is an excellent vet, Mrs. C. You know our Stella, though, she has a hard time letting anyone in,” Megan said.
This time, Stella’s jaw dropped in response to her friend’s words. “Hey!”
Megan shrugged. “I’m going to grab the sandwiches, so you can eat even if it’s not now.” She walked away toward her car.
“Let’s take Magnolia inside,” Stella said, giving Zach another hard glare, which seemed to only make him smile wider.
“I knew your daddy well. Took care of my family’s pets for longer than you’ve been alive. Also knew the few quacks who tried to open shop and steal his patients over the years. You let me be a trial run. I’ll give it to you straight. You know I will.”
Stella’s fingers rubbed over her temple, trying to ward off the headache brewing. “I’m sorry, what?”
Mrs. Carmichael wagged a finger at Zach. “I’m not swayed by good looks, boy. I’ll be honest and tell her if you’re any good. You look at my Maggie for me. We’ll know if you’ve got what it takes.”
Stella expected him to say no. She couldn’t even believe this conversation was taking place around her like she was trapped behind soundproof glass.
“Yes, ma’am,” Zach said. He looked at Stella, a challenge in his twinkling gray eyes. “Unless Doctor Lane has an issue with this?”
“Why would she? Let’s go,” Mrs. Carmichael said. They walked up the stairs and into her clinic as Megan came to her side and watched them go.
“Guess we have some catching up to do. And how did that just happen?”
Stella’s brain felt fuzzy. “I actually have no idea. But you know what? It’s fine. I’m starving and I have”—she stopped and checked her phone—“twenty minutes until my next scheduled patient. Let’s go eat.”
As they went into the building, Megan gestured to the envelope. “What is that?”
“Again, no idea.” Ste
lla’s control felt like a loose thread being tugged.
Dexter was behind the counter when they went in, looking a little flustered. “Uh, Doctor Mason said he was just going to take a look at a drop-in patient?”
“No worries, Dexter. It’s fine. This is my best friend, Megan. Meg, this is Dexter Braun. He’s here from University of Maine and already doing a great job.”
Megan shook his hand. “Nice to meet you. I have an extra sandwich, if you’d like?”
“Oh. Thank you, but I already ate my lunch. I was going to go clean up the stock cupboard, Doctor Lane, unless there’s something else you’d like me to do?”
She came behind the counter and smiled reassuringly. “That’s perfect. Thanks Dex.”
When he left, she took a deep breath and let it out. Boosting herself on the counter, she thanked Megan when she passed her a sandwich and sat beside her.
“That dog in there is tiny. Tell me everything fast.”
So much for lunch. She gave Megan a quick rundown of how Zach had shown up only a couple of days ago and bulldozed his sexy way into her life.
Megan grinned around her sandwich, looking ridiculous and adorable at the same time. While her mouth was full, Stella took the opportunity to talk.
“Don’t even say it. One, I don’t need a partner. Two, if I did partner with him, I can’t sleep with him.”
Megan choked. Stella was concerned for about five seconds until the cough turned into a laugh. “You’re going to sleep with him?”
“Shh! No. But if he’s around all the time, I’m not blind or dead. And, you know, it’s been a while.”
“Way too long,” Megan agreed.
Stella wished Megan was less immune to her glare. “It’s not nice to gloat. Speaking of getting some, how’s your fiancé?”
Megan’s eyes glassed over with love. Stella wondered if she’d ever feel that way for anyone again. Or if she ever really had.
“He’s great. So is Charlie. Wait until you see Charlie in a suit. It’s so cute it should be illegal.”
Stella might not believe in happily ever after for herself—her own fairy tale had taken a lousy detour—but it suited Megan down to the ground.
“I can’t wait. Speaking of wedding clothes, are we ever getting you a dress?”
Megan’s gaze darted away. She picked at her sandwich. “Actually, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”
Stella’s stomach tightened. She didn’t like bad news. Especially when it concerned people she loved. That circle was growing smaller all the time and knowing that made it hard to breathe.
“What’s wrong?” Stella wrapped the remainder of her ham and cheese sandwich.
“Nothing. Don’t worry. It’s just—”
The exam room door opened, and Mrs. Carmichael came through laughing loudly. “Can’t believe you’re Sheila’s boy. You’ve definitely grown up. It’s good to see you back.”
She stopped at the counter and both Megan and Stella slid off it. Megan went over to the other side of the small reception area while Stella typed Mrs. C’s name into the computer.
“Well, Stella. I can tell you, this man knows what he’s doing. My Magnolia doesn’t like just anyone, as you know.”
Most chihuahuas didn’t, but Stella bit her tongue.
“I didn’t bribe her to say that,” Zach said.
“I’m glad you’re satisfied, Mrs. Carmichael. Everything okay with Magnolia?”
“All of her vitals are good. She’s not dehydrated, just a bit lethargic. Likely from all the sun they both got this morning,” Zach said.
Stella wasn’t quite sure what to make of the fact that Zach had nestled his way into her space so easily. What she did know was it felt good to have food in her belly and know she hadn’t turned down a patient. Especially one handing over her charge card.
While Stella took care of Mrs. Carmichael’s payment, Zach wandered over to talk to Megan. From across the room, Stella couldn’t hear them. She hurried through saying goodbye so Zach wouldn’t have time to work his magic on anyone else. Megan would be all too happy to jump on a hot guy’s bandwagon if it meant the possibility of seeing her friend as happy as she was. Stella had tried to tell her that kind of forever wasn’t in the cards for her, but Megan refused to believe it.
Stella joined them as Zach was talking. “I went to school with Adam Klein. Serious guy,” he said.
Sounded right. Though, since Megan and Adam had become a thing, Megan’s former employer had loosened up considerably. Stella hadn’t been at all sure they were a good match, but what did she know about love?
“He still is, but not when he’s with Charlie. That’s his son,” Megan said. She glanced up as Stella joined them.
“I have about four minutes before the patients start arriving again. Nice job with Mrs. Carmichael,” Stella said. She could give him that. After all, he’d given her a few moments with her best friend and time for lunch.
“No problem. My pleasure. I hate being idle.”
“You have that in common, too,” Megan said, her grin growing.
Stella sent her a please-shut-up look that Megan ignored.
“Before you get busy again, I have a huge favor,” her friend said, looking back and forth between Stella and Zach in a way that sent a bolt of unease through her. “I know you work Saturdays, but is there any way you can come into Lincoln with me tomorrow? They’re having a huge sale on wedding dresses. Adam has been great about the costs, but I’d love to show him I can be fancy and save money. This is a forty-eight-hour sale that started already, and I really, really, really want to go try some on.”
Stella sighed. “Really?”
Her friend laughed and looked at Zach. “I’m having a hard time finding the dress. But almost everything else is ready.”
“I’ve heard it’s a big decision. The dress I mean. Not marriage. You find the right one, you jump all over that,” Zach said, his voice and smile genuine.
Stella stared, a little surprised. Did everyone believe in jumping in with both feet and eyes shut? They haven’t been engaged, deserted, and lied to. Cut yourself some slack.
Again, she thought of invisible scars. Sometimes so much worse than the ones people could see.
“Stella is my maid of honor.” Megan looked at her with a pleading gaze.
Guilt nestled at the base of Stella’s spine. The wedding was coming soon, but she’d already taken a day off this week. She needed to talk to Taylor about organizing a wedding shower and a bachelorette party. Did people still do that? She hadn’t been to a wedding since her teens and the one she was supposed to have hadn’t exactly been traditional. “I can’t cancel on my clients this late, Meg.”
Megan bit her lip, and Stella’s heart squeezed.
“I could help, you know.”
If Megan were a cartoon, her eyes would have popped out of her head. “Stell, he could totally cover you. Please?”
She tried to breathe through her nose and keep her voice even. “Megan, I only met Zach four days ago. I’m hardly ready to hand over my practice to him.”
Megan pointed at him. “You’re letting him move in! And by the way, we’re totally coming back to that.”
Zach grinned, crossing his muscled arms over his chest. “She’s got you there.”
Stella wanted to throw her hands up and scream. This man was steamrolling his way into her life, personally and professionally. As if he could read her feelings—not that she was great at hiding them—Zach’s smile faded and he stepped closer to her, charging the air around them. Megan picked up her purse and made herself busy by looking at her phone.
“I know I’m coming on strong, Stella. I’m not trying to bully you into anything, I swear. You have to admit, the timing is sort of perfect. You could consider it a trial, the job piece. Let me cover you. Go with your friend.”
Looking over at Megan, Stella frowned. “What’s in the envelope?”
Zach shoved his hands into his pockets. “My financials. Should hav
e added references. But I’ll get them for you.”
Stella’s chest tightened right down the center as if she was literally being pulled in two directions. Your very good friend wants to go shopping for her wedding with you. And you have the chance to make that happen when all you usually say is no. Not by choice, but necessity. Her schedule hadn’t allowed a lot of time to plan with Megan. The wedding was just a couple months away. They’d chosen December thirty-first so they could start the new year as a married couple.
“It’s just a couple of hours,” Megan said, her voice quiet. “But I totally understand if you can’t or don’t want to.”
She’d moved closer so that her words were for Stella only. Megan squeezed Stella’s hand, and from the corner of her eye, she noticed Zach busying himself with the dogs, who’d followed them into the clinic, giving them privacy.
“Stell, it’s fine. I totally sprung it on you.”
Would it be so bad to accept a little help, especially if it wasn’t technically even for her? It wasn’t like he wouldn’t get something in return. She was giving him a place to live. For rent. But she could have said no. Which would be silly. He’s trustworthy, you know his mother, and he’s offering you cold, hard cash. But covering her patients, even for a few hours, was different. She couldn’t afford to pay him for his time, but she didn’t want to owe him either. What would her clients say if she had a stand in? Probably, “About time.” Especially if the man covering was one of their own.
“Your brain is going to shut down, you keep making it work so hard. It’s a simple offer, Doc. I get that you don’t want to loosen the reins, but I think, in your gut, you know I can handle your office for a few hours. Go shopping with your friend. Take a breather.”
He straightened, and Nacho and Soda roamed toward the back of the clinic. Her judgment wasn’t always great. Particularly not in men. “What’s in it for you?”