“Uh, no,” I say. “I couldn’t care less about Wayne.” I pick up my coffee with a nod of thanks, and I’m not lying. I thought he was hot, but I neverlikedhim. He’s an ass, and he’s always been an ass. “You’re welcome to him, if that’s what you want. I’ve got appointments to make, so I need to get going. Nice to see you all.”
I’m proud of how level I keep my voice. We’re not in high school anymore, and I’m not going to be bullied in the middle of a coffee shop by someone who hasn’t changed an ounce since we graduated.
“Oh, right, you’re avet,” she says as I turn, like being a doctor is something to be ashamed of. “Are you heading to Wayne’s ranch? Why don’t you say hi to him for me?”
“Everett’sranch,” I correct sharply, shooting a smirk over my shoulder as I raise my hand in a careless wave. “And I’d much rather spend the entire day covered in afterbirth than speak to a dumbass like Wayne. Again, feel free to have all the fun with him you like, Vicky.”
I shove the door open and step back out onto the sidewalk, taking a deep breath to calm myself down. My grip on my coffee is far too tight, and I purposefully relax my fingers around the cup as I head back to my car. My heart pounds in my chest, anxiety fluttering in my throat. I remember the days when I would have locked myself in a bathroom stall and cried about this, and part of me is still tempted to. Shaking off years of bullying isn’t as easy as it looks, but I’m not going to let this get under my skin. The drive out to the ranch is a solid 20 minutes,and it’ll be a good chance to get my head back on straight. I don’t even know why I’m so annoyed about this.
I don’t give a shit about Wayne, or where he sticks his dick.
There’s nothing between us, and I don’twantthere to be. Vicky’s always been able to get under my skin, though, and her immaturity drives me insane. Plus, seeing anyone that desperate over Wayne is just revolting. God, have some standards.
I focus on my breathing as I drive to the ranch, taking in the familiar sights.
Things like this are important to me. The small, everyday occurrences. Familiar drives and blooming flowers. I care about the birds and the trees much more than I’ve ever cared about who’s sleeping with who. I just want my life to be what I’m used to: Calm, relaxed, and focused on work. I’ll think about dating someone when I find a person who’s actually worth my time.
That’s certainly not Wayne Riggs.
I don’t even know why he’s sticking around. I thought he was just here for a vacation, but no one has made any mention of him going back to the city and getting out of my hair. It’ll be so much easier to forget about sleeping with him when he’s not around and bothering me all the damn time.
At least today should be relatively quiet on that front. I’ll be with Everett discussing plans for the next breeding season all day, and the two of them have been avoiding each other like the plague.
I park in my usual spot, ready to set all thoughts of Wayne and Vicky aside.
I don’t need my bag for this, so I leave it in the front seat and step out of the car. The ranch is quiet, nothing but the lowing of cows and the chatter of various other livestock to fill the air. The familiarity sets my mind at ease, and most of the tension drains from my shoulders as I walk up the porch steps.
I knock on the door and wait for Everett to answer. It’s late enough in the morning that I may get Mary instead, but I wouldn’t mind that. She’s a doll, and now that she’s mostly gotten over her fear of muck and mud, she’s really fun to be around.
The door swings open, and my smile freezes immediately.
Wayne stands in the doorway, jeans slung low on his hips and his chest completely bare. His muscles gleam with sweat like he’s been working out for hours, a healthy flush in his cheeks. He has a baseball cap on, his hair slicked back beneath it. There’s nothing to focus on but the charming gleam in his eyes and that pearly white smile, aimed at me in full force...
…well, except for his bare chest, that is. I focus my gaze over his shoulder and refuse to look at his tanned, muscled skin.
“Katie,” he says warmly, heat and want obvious in the way his smile tilts up at once corner.
Oh, comeon.
Can’t I catch a fucking break?
KATIE
“Wayne.” Listening to my own voice saying his name, I hope it’s clear that my greeting is unenthusiastic — at best. “Where’s your dad?”
He props himself on the doorframe, one arm slung high over his head to stretch the lines of his muscles in a way that shouldn’t be as enticing as it is. I really don’t need to be ogling this guy right now.
“What are you doing here?” he asks, not answering my question.
I tear my eyes away from the tempting vee of his hips, ignoring the pleased grin on his lips and the inviting glimmer in his dark eyes. So what if he’s attractive? There’s plenty of eye candy around if all I want is a charming smile and sculpted muscles. It’s a shame that a nicer guy like Tony doesn’t make my stomach tighten from desire in the same way Wayne does.
“I’m here for work,” I say, dry and unimpressed. “Everett and I need to discuss specifics for the next birthing season.”
“Right, you’re a vet now. Love a girl with brains.” Wayne grins, not cowed by my lack of interest. If anyone else was this pushy, it would be an immediate turn-off, but he’s just so baldlyconfident that I can’t help but find it charming. “You didn’t tell me that when we caught up at the bar.”
I roll my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose, working to get a tighter hold on my frustration before I snap at him. I don’t want to think about the night at the bar right now, or about Wayne at all. I want to do my job and ignore any leftover attraction I have for my boss’s son. I just want my life to go back to normal.
Why can’t Wayne just go back to wherever it is he actually lives, already?
