Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 71352 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71352 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
I crane my neck to try and read the text message that has popped up on the screen, but I can’t. “What’s wrong?”
“Keely is fighting a bug.” She blows out a heavy exhale. “She’s in bed sick, so it’s just me and Mary today.”
“I’m free,” I offer since I’ve taken on shifts here in the past.
Her face brightens instantly. “Are you sure? You don’t have a paper due or another course to register for?”
My love of learning has become a source of constant teasing from her. I know that at its foundation it’s based in admiration since Nikita has told me she’s proud of how I’ve never ventured off the path I’m on to find a career that works for me.
Although I haven’t told her, or anyone else for that matter, that I’ve reached a crossroads on that path. I need to make a decision about my future soon.
“It’s summer break,” I remind her. “Do you have an extra T-shirt in the back for me?”
She tugs on the bottom hem of the black T-shirt she’s wearing. It’s branded in front with the Wolf Candy logo she designed. “You’ll find a bunch in my office. By the way, I love those jeans you’re wearing.”
I glance down at the faded ripped jeans I put on before I left home this morning. I didn’t put any thought into my outfit choice. That’s evident in the fact that I’m wearing a white sleeveless blouse with a tiny coffee stain on it and a pair of red sneakers I found in the back of my closet.
“These are your jeans,” I point out.
“I know.” She laughs. “You borrowed them months ago, but I haven’t said anything because…”
“Because the jeans you’re wearing right now are mine,” I finish her sentence.
She nods. “What the hell would we do for clothes if we weren’t the same size?”
“We’ll never find out, will we?” I laugh as I round the counter and head back toward her office.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Donovan
I exit one of our exam rooms with Matilda Wolf on my heel. She’s an exemplary employee. Her commitment to doing her job as a vet assistant to the best of her ability is admirable and I’ve rewarded her handsomely for it with regular pay increases and added benefits.
I prefer working with her over the other assistants I’ve hired because she understands what I need when I need it. She proved that just now as I carried out an annual health check up on an adorable Corgi named Feline.
Feline’s owner couldn’t help but giggle when she introduced her dog to me even though we’d met twice before. The first time was mere weeks after Feline was adopted from the local shelter I volunteer with. The second time was the day of Feline’s surgery to be neutered.
Feline’s owner, Vienna Geibart, was inconsolable that day. I explained more than once that it was a routine procedure and Feline would be his normal self in no time flat.
Still, Vienna wept all over the front of my lab coat as she clung to me, looking up into my eyes.
Matt hasn’t let me forget that scene since he witnessed it in the main corridor of the clinic.
He swears she was trying to coax a kiss out of me. I know for a fact that she was more interested in what’s in my pants because the way she pressed up against me was all the proof I needed.
She didn’t score anything that day since I kept my lips to myself and my cock remained as calm as it could be.
“Add her to the list of women crushing all over you,” Matilda comments as we enter my office. “You do get that she likes you, right?”
“Who?” I ask as if I’m truly clueless.
“Oh, I don’t know.” She flings her hands into the air in mock frustration. “The woman who comes to water the plants once a week.”
“She likes me?” I perk a brow. “Seriously? I have a potted lily at home that could use some tender loving care.”
“You know I’m talking about Vienna.” She sighs heavily. “She’s single and ready to do a lot more than mingle.”
“And I’m not interested,” I shut down the conversation with those four words.
“Why not?” Matilda picks it right back up. “She’s pretty, Donovan. You can at least admit that.”
Weeks ago I may have seen it, but that was before I spent days on end with Delia Hawthorne. Those memories have been playing in my mind on repeat.
“I can admit that we have a lot of patients to see today.”
“I’ll second that,” Delia’s brother wanders into my office. “I’ll trade you an angry hamster for the sad tabby you’re supposed to see next.”
“Hard pass.” I toss him an exaggerated smile.
“Some boss you are,” he says with a muted chuckle. “I thought your time away from the clinic would soften you.”