by Jody Holford
“Stella!” Charlie rushed her and wrapped his arms around her middle. She gave a slight “oof” when his head smacked against her chest.
Leaning back, she looked down at him. “It’s only been a few days. You miss me that much?”
Charlie’s laugh warmed her heart and that warmth traveled all the way through her. “You, and maybe C.C. a little.”
She ruffled his hair. “I figured. Wait until you meet Chocolate Chip’s new friends. We’ve got one down there now, and two more will be here this weekend.”
“Zach said I could help brush them, but I don’t want C.C. to get jealous,” Charlie said, looking back at Zach for confirmation.
Zach nodded, but his eyes latched onto Stella and awareness zipped through Stella’s system. She thought of the blonde from the other day and felt a stab of jealousy at the thought of Zach giving his attention to another woman. Now that she knew what his hands and his mouth felt like, knew how he whispered sweet and sexy things in the dark, and held onto her like a vice during the night, she knew she didn’t want him sharing any of it with another woman. As though he sensed her thought, he looked at her, his gaze drinking her in as if he hadn’t had a drink in ten lifetimes. She nearly fanned herself when thoughts of this morning popped back into her head.
Zach took a step toward Stella. “It’ll be fine. They’ll all get plenty of attention. Why don’t we head down there now? Did Stella tell you about the big fund-raising event this weekend? We’re doing a pet wash.”
“Like a car wash?”
Zach laughed, putting a hand on Charlie’s shoulder. “Yup. But with pets. Think you could give us a hand?”
Charlie looked at Megan. “Can we, Meg?”
“Your dad and I have a couple of appointments, but I’m sure we can drop you off and then join you when we’re finished. If Stella doesn’t mind.”
Megan looked at her and Stella saw the curiousness in her friend’s eyes. Yeah, yeah, they needed to talk. Seeing as she’d forgotten all about the stupid fund-raiser, she didn’t mind at all. Zach came up with all these ideas and it seemed like she barely agreed before he was putting them into action. The idea of relying on others so heavily was hard for her, but Zach thought nothing of asking the town to pitch in, donate, support their local businesses. It was easier for him, maybe, because he had no legacy involved. No shoes to fill.
Zach cleared his throat, and she realized she hadn’t answered. “Oh yeah. Of course. The more the merrier.”
“We’ll meet you girls down in the barn,” Zach said, winking at her. The door had barely shut when Megan whirled on her, stalking so close, Stella nearly backed up.
Megan pointed between Stella and the back of the clinic. “You did it! With him!”
Every part of her skin flamed, starting with her cheeks. She pushed past her friend, taking the files she needed to put away to the cabinet. “What are we, fifteen?”
Megan followed, not put off by Stella’s snappiness. “Nope. Not fifteen. We are full-grown adults and we share all the juicy details.”
Stella yanked open the top drawer and shifted through the files, slamming the first one between two others. “Uh, no, I don’t think you’re a full-grown adult at all.”
Undeterred as only a close friend would be, she invaded Stella’s space while she filed the next two patients.
“And is Zach?”
Stella turned her head. Megan’s grin was infectious, making it hard not to laugh. “Is Zach what?”
Megan’s eyebrows bobbed up and down comically. “A full…grown…adult?”
Stella belly laughed. “You’re such a dork. Did I do this to you with Adam?”
She slammed the drawer and grabbed her keys from the counter, gesturing for Megan to get out from behind the reception area.
Megan picked up her purse and waited at the door. “Nope. But you did tell me and him that you’d do terrifying things to his boy parts if he hurt me.”
That was true. The thought of Megan’s tender heart being hurt by Adam had worried Stella immensely in the beginning. But this was different. Stella didn’t need anyone watching out for her or her heart. Because this was just a fling. Two friends following through on mutual attraction.
Megan continued to stare.
“I did do that. But Zach doesn’t need a warning. We hooked up. No big deal. I’m not you.”
Megan froze. “What’s that mean?”
Realizing how harsh the words had been, she rubbed Megan’s shoulder. “Nothing bad. I just don’t want to make a big deal of it. Zach and I aren’t you and Adam. It’s just sex, not a prelude to happily ever after.”
“Because the thought of wanting that again terrifies you?” Megan asked softly.
Stella’s hand froze on her friend’s shoulder. How did people keep turning things around on her? First Zach this morning, and now Megan. Dropping her hand, she tried for indifference.
“I’m not scared. I needed sex. I got it. End of story.”
Megan arched one brow and crossed her arms. “Is that so?”
Stella shrugged, averting her gaze. “It is absolutely so.”
“Maybe Taylor and Zach would hit it off. They got along well the other night, but if you’re not interested in anything more with him—”
Stella’s jaw dropped when her friend’s sentence trailed off. “When did you get an evil streak?”
Megan didn’t look sorry. “When did you start lying to your best friend?”
Guilt swamped her. “I’m not lying. Fine. Last night was amazing, and I wouldn’t mind a repeat performance. Or three. But, that’s it. I’m not scared. I’m just not worried about mapping out a future with him. The practice is finally turning around and that’s been my sole focus. Having him here has allowed for small pockets of more, but I don’t want the full-meal deal. I’m more of a…piece-meal girl.”
Megan’s burst of laughter startled her. “You’re so full of it. You just need the right man in those pockets and trust me, you’ll find more room.”
Stella shook her head. “Says the hopelessly in love romantic.”
She chose to ignore Megan’s muttered, “You’ll see.”
Though the sky was bright and blue, the breeze was a good indicator that fall had arrived. Stella was glad she’d pulled on a warm sweater that morning. After she and Zach had showered, and he’d done as he promised, using her strawberry-scented soap on her body. She shivered, and Megan obviously noticed.
“I love this weather. It’s sunny but not too hot. I hope it doesn’t snow for the wedding.”
The trees surrounding the land waved back and forth, blowing both of their hair around. Stella pulled hers up into a ponytail as they walked. “Even if it does, it’ll be perfect. I hope it doesn’t get much colder before the weekend though. Washing dogs in low temperatures doesn’t sound fun.”
Looking around, she decided that Zach may have come up with the fund-raiser, but she could still put her stamp on things. They’d set up behind the clinic. People could park in the lot, bring their dogs around back, and that way the water would roll off the slight incline. Plus, there was a hose out back, a covered cement pad area, and easy access to the clinic if they needed anything.
Megan stopped walking beside her just before they approached the barn. The whinny coming from the stalls made Stella smile. She could hear Zach laughing, but couldn’t see him from where they stood. Her heart, though, it beat heavy in recognition.
“Meg! Come meet Clover,” Charlie hollered from the opening of the barn.
“You okay?” Megan asked, bending her knees to look directly into Stella’s eyes.
Startling, trying to breathe through the pressure pushing against her rib cage, she nodded. “Yeah. For sure.” Why did she feel like she was lying? She was okay. It was the worry over staying that way—okay—that unsettled her.
Smiling brightly and setting her negative thoughts aside, she linked arms with her best friend. “Come on. C.C. has perked up some since we got her a roommate.”
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Zach was saddling up Chocolate Chip while Charlie was petting Clover’s flank. Another thing Zach had been right about. She wasn’t entirely convinced that an ultrasound wouldn’t be needed for C.C., but she’d been eating more and certainly showed more signs of being happy. No one, not even animals, likes to be alone.
Stella focused on helping Charlie mount C.C. He’d gotten quite good at maneuvering the horse and had a gentle hand with the sweet animal. Pressing her own forehead to Chocolate Chip’s, she breathed in. Charlie bounced gently in the saddle, eager to ride.
“You’re a good girl, aren’t you, C.C.? You ready to trot?”
She let Charlie signal the horse’s release and gripped the rope to lead the way. Charlie held himself upright, speaking encouragingly to the horse while Stella gave them a wider and wider berth, maneuvering them in a circle.
“Go faster, Stella. I can do it.” Charlie beamed.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Zach was smiling at her, too, but in an altogether different way. She wasn’t sure what he was thinking, but she felt the heat of his stare the way she had his caresses that morning. What would it be like if she gave in, let herself just fall? Let herself feel? She knew he wasn’t going anywhere. Because of the practice. Stella hated the fact that she didn’t entirely trust her own judgement. Not where her heart was concerned.
The practice was her focus and that was something she couldn’t forget. Zach was the kind of man who could make a woman forget. Not you. You aren’t the kind of woman who forgets what it feels like to have your heart used as scrap paper. So there was nothing to worry about. Nothing at all.
Then why do you feel like you’re already half gone?
Chapter Twenty-Five
Zach rolled over in Stella’s bed, the delicious scent of her hair teasing him awake. He took the moment of quiet to look at her, curled on her side, all peaceful and serene. Something she rarely was while awake. Her hair fanned out on the pillow, lips parted slightly. He didn’t know how, now that he knew her taste, he’d ever be able to look at her without needing to kiss her. Touch her. Want her.
She was gorgeous, and it wasn’t just the sexy shape of her body or the inviting shade of her eyes. As one of the hardest working people he’d ever met, it was easy to admire her. Easy to see why others respected her. He’d thought—for sure—that she’d shut him out after they slept together. Instead, she’d surprised, and thrilled, the hell out of him by embracing whatever it was going on between them. They hadn’t discussed it, but they had both stopped pretending it wasn’t there. And he was so fucking happy he felt like he could burst.
They’d worked side by side or crossing paths all day and still, by the time they’d gone down to the barn to work with the horses, he knew it was pointless to try and get her off his mind. And truthfully, he liked thinking about her. He liked talking to her and being with her.
Now if he could just get her to drop her guard all the way, he could tell her he didn’t foresee a time when he wouldn’t want to be by her side. He smiled at the thought, his eyes wandering around her room, charmed by the subtle sexiness of it. Stella was more skittish than any horse he’d worked with, and he knew a gentle approach was necessary. He didn’t mind. Like the other things in his life he’d wanted, she would be worth the wait.
He was looking at her when her eyes fluttered open.
“It’s creepy if you stare longer than ten seconds,” she said, her voice rough and sexy as hell.
“I think fifteen is the cut off for creepy.” He kissed her.
She reached up, running her fingers through his short hair, her nails along his scalp, and a shiver raced over him.
Stella sighed against his lips and then turned on her side, snuggling back into the pillow. Zach shared the space and put his arm around her waist, loving the feel of her body melding with his. In sync.
“I can’t believe I let you talk me into an afternoon of washing dogs.” She rolled her eyes at him, but her words held no venom. It would be fun. Stella could use some fun. Before he’d come along, work had been her only outlet.
His phone buzzed on the nightstand. Craning his neck, he saw Andrew’s contact pop up. Zach turned back to Stella, knowing his friend would understand if he called him back later. It was too early for a phone call anyway.
“You’ll love it. More than that, the people who show up will love it. They’ll tell their friends about these two gorgeous vets who are raising money to help families in need pay their vet bills.”
She scrunched her brows together. “That is a pretty good cause. And I do like how you streamlined it so now if people can’t pay their vet bill, they have to apply for this help. You’re very clever, Doctor Mason.”
He grinned, his hand sliding up-and-down her skin, pushing the thin tank top she’d slept in up over her sexy stomach. “You forgot gorgeous.”
“And egotistical?”
His bark of laughter turned into a groan when she let her nails slide down his back, leaving a trail of heat. Hard not to have some ego when a smart, funny, gorgeous woman was wrapping herself around him like she couldn’t get enough. When she pulled back with a happy sigh, he pressed a kiss to her forehead. As much as he’d like to stay exactly where they were, they had things to do.
“I have to run that gift basket over to Cindy at the law firm today. I’ll be back in plenty of time, though, and Dexter is helping with the setup this morning.”
The easy, happy light that lit her eyes only seconds ago dimmed. He’d seen her school her features before. She had a switch that turned off her expressions and left a person feeling shut out. Zach hated it. More so now that they’d been intimate.
“Oh. Right. I forgot about that.” She started to roll away from him, and he stayed her with a hand on her hip.
“That still okay?”
She shrugged, avoided eye contact. Zach trailed his hand along her jaw while he waited for her to answer verbally.
“Whatever. I’m not sure what a few free checkups and some top of the line dog food will raise for charity, but better than nothing, I guess.”
“I think it’ll be appreciated,” he said. He’d been clear with Cindy when she stopped by that day, and Stella had been right there when he’d told the woman they lived together for Christ sake, so Zach didn’t buy that she could be jealous. When Stella said nothing, he filled the silence that hung between them.
“Contributing to the community has a direct, positive impact on our business. One of us should be there next Saturday and I know this part of networking isn’t your favorite. You get invited to a significant number of events as a local business owner and I’m happy to go on our behalf.”
Stella kept her gaze on the ceiling. “I’ve been a little busy. And quite honestly, until you came along, I didn’t actually want to bring on more work. I couldn’t handle it, but it makes more sense now. So, you’re still going out with Cindy next weekend then?”
The sharp edge in her tone sliced through him. He sat up and looked down at her, waiting for her to do the same.
Finally her eyes came to his, but her jaw stayed locked, her lips pressed into a hard, flat line.
He took her hand, needing to touch her, needing her to understand. “I’m not going out with Cindy. I accepted the invitation on our behalf and made it clear that my schedule didn’t allow room for dating.”
Stella tried to pull her hand free, but Zach held tight. “Right. Your busy schedule. Definitely no time for dating.”
Zach wasn’t sure what to say. The nuances of relationships—ones where his heart was as invested as the rest of him—were not his strong suit. “You know I said that because you’re the only woman I want to be with, right?”
He hadn’t planned to lay it out there like that, but the surprise in her eyes, followed by the softening of her gaze, made him glad he’d said it aloud. Leaning over her, he put his free hand on the other side of her so he was caging her in. Keeping her close.
“Jesus, Stella. How could you think
I’d want someone after having you?”
Her eyes got suspiciously bright and his heart twisted in his chest. He knew the how. Stella’s own heart had been worked over by a jackass who hadn’t known a good thing when it was right in front of him. Zach released her hand to cup her jaw.
“I didn’t want to hurt Cindy’s feelings, so I told her I was too busy. But the truth is, I only wanted you.”
She breathed in and out quickly, like she was fortifying herself. “When I met Cindy I had no intention of sleeping with you so having me wasn’t an option.”
“I know. Doesn’t mean I didn’t want you. Or want you to want me back.”
She almost smiled, and he brushed his thumb over her lips. “That’s a lot of want,” she said against the pad of his thumb.
“Tell me about it.”
When she laughed, the tension seeped out of his bones. Then she turned serious again, and his stomach tightened. “I don’t know what this is. I don’t want to think too much about it, honestly. I’ve never embraced happiness, just letting things happen around me. I was always working toward something or working to get over something.”
Zach nodded, feeling another link locking tight in the chains that connected them. “I get that. You know I do.”
“I don’t want to analyze this right now. Not yet. But while we’re doing whatever it is we’re doing, it’s just me and you. No one else.”
Zach arched his brows and tried to tease his way around the jolt of happiness firing through him. He let out an exaggerated sigh. “You want to wear my class ring or my letterman jacket, Doc? Both?”
She swatted him and tried to sit up. He leaned closer, kissing her neck because he knew she liked it. Her collarbone because he liked it. The little hollow in the center of her throat drove him nuts.