Puppy Love. Kelly Moran

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СКАЧАТЬ strode in and offered her a wet cloth. “Personally, I thought it was entertaining. I mean, swoosh. Like a feather, you fluttered down. Don't like blood then, doll?”

      She dropped her head in her hands and sighed. “I guess not. I don't have much experience with it. I'm so embarrassed. I was fine last night with Seraph, but I guess I was too panicked to notice.”

      Cade looked at Brent. “Tell Flynn we'll be a few more minutes.”

      “Oh God. Hailey—” She tried to stand.

      “Uh-uh.” With his hands around her wrists, he coaxed her butt back on the couch. “She's fine. Sit for a few.” He used his soothing tone reserved for cray-cray animals because her eyes were wide and the pulse in her throat beat double time. He casually pressed two fingers to her inner wrist and took her pulse.

      When he looked up, satisfied her heart rhythm was normal, her round cheeks were infused with red and she avoided his gaze like he was the second coming of the bubonic plague. He kept his hands where they were, in hers, rubbing his thumbs over her palms. Her skin was soft in comparison to his rough calluses. His own heart rate sped at the contact.

      “Does your head hurt at all? I don't think you bumped it.”

      She shook her head, looking at her lap. Not shy, but obviously mortified.

      He got the impression she hated—or was unused to—attention. With great regret, he let her go and stood as he was only adding to her embarrassment. “I'll get you some juice. Stand by.”

      He poked his head in Flynn's office. Hailey was sitting cross-legged on the floor, arranging his brother's paperclips into neat rows.

      Flynn looked up from next to her. “I think we need to hire her, too. Great attention to detail.”

      Cade laughed. “You can send her back to my office. Cover my patients for a few, would you?”

      He strode to the break room, snatched a small bottle of OJ, and went back into his office. Avery had zipped Hailey into her coat and was tying a scarf around her neck.

      He handed her the juice. “Take a few sips before driving.”

      She nodded and uncapped the bottle, obliging him. The column of her throat worked a swallow and his gaze landed there. He wondered if she'd tasted as good as she smelled. Strawberries or melon. Something summery.

      Recapping the bottle, she finally met his eyes. “Thank you. I'm sorry about…” She waved her hand.

      “Happens to everyone. Now we know not to put you in surgery.”

      She tapped Hailey's shoulder. “Let's go, sweetie.” Her gaze landed on his and away, so unlike the confident woman he'd met at the cabin today. “I'll see you on Monday.”

      “Tonight.” At her raised brows, he elaborated. “Pet supplies. Instead of meeting here, I'll pick you up. Still seven?”

      “Yes, that's fine. Thank you.”

      From his position in the doorway, he could just make out her retreating form as she passed the front desk.

      Squawk. “Pretty woman.”

      Indeed. She wasn't a sultry bombshell and not quite the girl next door, either. A conundrum. One minute she was all mama bear, the next she was tender, watching others with her kid. She had a sense of humor, displayed confidence, and yet he sensed a vulnerability she'd probably deny. Fascinating.

      Flynn walked by and slapped a chart against Cade's chest. “My Precious is acting ‘off,’ room five. Brent's in surgery with Drake. Gabby and I are hitting the road.”

      Cade nodded. Flynn and Gabby traveled most of the day to local farms or elsewhere on home visits. They were getting a late start today.

      He eyed the chart. Owners who brought in animals claiming to be “off” was code for: single woman alert. They only booked an appointment and used their pets as an excuse to make a play for the vet. He was used to it. A piece of meat. Ten grand said there was a plate of cookies or a casserole up front waiting for him. Just about every available female—and some unavailable—seemed to think the way to his heart was through his blood sugar levels.

      Drake had been a widow for almost four years now and, once most women figured out the broody façade wasn't, in fact, a façade, they moved on. With Flynn being deaf, a lot of potential dates passed him by because some people were just that damn shallow. Cade wasn't vapid enough to deny he and his brothers were attractive, or so Redwood Ridge's Twitter profile claimed, but it was Cade that got the most attention.

      The funny one. The easy guy.

      The good time.

      Scrubbing his hands over his face, he sighed. Eying room five, he strode down the hall. Slab of beef, coming right up.

      * * * *

      After Avery got Hailey registered for second grade and talked with the special needs teacher on staff, she drove across town to her mom's clothing store to figure out after school care. Back in San Francisco, Hailey attended classes in the mornings and had therapists come to the house in the afternoons. Avery was always there. The only babysitter her daughter ever knew was a nanny they'd used when they'd had to attend a function for Richard.

      She rubbed her forehead. This was a lot of change for Hailey all at once. New town, new home, new school, and now Avery wouldn't be with her as often as she was accustomed. For the longest time, it had been just her and Hailey. She'd been in Redwood Ridge less than twenty-four hours and she'd had more offers of help and welcome than the span of Hailey's life combined.

      That was a tough thing to get used to—ceding control. Hailey wasn't like other kids. Even leaving her with a sitter just to run to the store was a project. Plus, Avery feared she'd lost a lot of her social skills in the past few years, first with Richard being embarrassed by Hailey and wanting to keep her hidden, and then by the eighteen months it had taken for the divorce to go through. Rejected and emotionally drained, Avery hadn't had many friends during her marriage and had even less when she'd left Richard.

      She pulled into a parking space in front of her mother's building and cut the engine. Pocketed among a row of other stores, it was similar in appearance. Small, brick, and two-story, it was square in design with a dark green awning over the front door. People milled about at café tables or strolled the cobblestone walk, chatting, despite the chill in the air.

      Exiting the car, she inhaled pine and snow while getting Hailey unbuckled. A thick fog blanketed the mountains in the distance, bringing a slightly humid quality to the air. A tang of brine hinted from the nearby ocean. It was another world from what she'd been used to, but she found herself liking it, the freshness.

      Hand in Hailey's, she strode into the store and sought out her mom at the front desk. Scarves and hats lined the back wall in front of ten or so round racks with vintage clothes. It smelled old, like musk and time. Two other women hovered near the register. The chatter died when she stepped over.

      “Oh, Avery.” Mom pressed a hand to her chest. “We just heard. Are you okay?” She came around the counter and squeezed the breath from Avery's lungs, bathing her in patchouli.

      “I'm fine. Heard what?”

      “About СКАЧАТЬ