A low chuckle rumbles from his chest as he steps closer. The warmth of his presence seems to magnify the already stifling heat in the clinic. I silently curse Louis for refusing to invest in air conditioning. It’s early September, but the room feels like a sauna. He said the animals like it warmer and I vehemently disagreed.
That will be the first thing I purchase if he sells me his business.
“I wasn’t planning on naming any of the kittens from the litter,” he says with a shrug, his voice warm and familiar. “But sadly, most of them didn’t make it past a year. Naming her after her savior just felt... right. And Willow bonded with her instantly. She takes Teagan everywhere—literally everywhere around town. Refuses to leave her at home.”
The gesture sends a rush of heat to my cheeks that has nothing to do with the balmy room. I keep sweeping, pretending not to notice the way his gaze his trailing lines of heat over my body, as if he’s trying to memorize every inch of me. Was he always this intense? Or has the distance between us magnified things.
“She said she remembered me,” I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t see how that’s possible. She was only two years old when I met her.”
A slow, knowing smile spreads across his face, and I can tell he’s recalling the memory. “Maybe she does. Willow has always had an incredible memory.”
“Doesn’t that… bother you?” I ask, nervously glancing at him now. The last time I saw him, he was yelling at me for accidentally meeting her and had shared that he’d never introduced any woman to her before.
He shakes his head. “Not in the least bit. We’ve both changed. Grown up, don’t you think?”
Oh.
“So, what are you doing in Lonestar Junction, working at Doc Montgomery’s clinic?” he asks.
“Shawna’s pregnant. I came back for her, mostly. But then I saw Louis’s ad about selling the clinic. I’ve always wanted my own practice, so I responded. The deal is that I work here for thirty days to prove that I can handle managing all Lonestar Junction’s animal care. Then we’ll negotiate the price if he thinks I’m a good fit to buy his business.”
He laughs, the sound light and easy. “That’s classic Doc. Hispractice is his baby, and the families and ranches he serves are like his extended family. He’d never sell to just anyone.”
“I’m really enjoying it so far,” I admit, leaning the broom against the counter and feeling the familiarity we had shared five years ago start to come back. “The variety is a nice change of pace from what I was doing in Houston.”
“Anything keeping you tied to Houston?” he asks casually, but his eyes are anything but. They’re fixed on me, studying my reaction. I know what he’s really asking. Not about the city itself, but about someone waiting for me there. My gaze flickers briefly to his left hand, taking in the absence of a ring, and a ridiculous amount of hope flutters in my chest.
“No,” I reply honestly. “I don’t have any plans to ever go back if Doc decides to sell.”
His smile deepens, and I marvel at how different he seems. Lighter, happier, as if the weight he used to carry has finally lifted. He’s not holding back, not guarded like he was five years ago. For the first time, I wonder if what happened with Mercedes had always been an unspoken barrier between us. Perhaps it was a barrier he’d put between him and everyone in his life. And now? Now, the air between us feels... open. Tentative, but open. Perhaps things have really changed. Maybe the time apart allowed for him to heal while finding his footing as a single father to Willow.
“Are you free tonight?” he asks.
“Um…” I don’t know how to respond because I am, but I wasn’t expecting him to be this forward.
His eyes narrow. “Are you… already seeing someone in town?"
“Sort of.” I chew on my lip nervously because I’m still not clear on where things stand with Hardin and I. We never discussed being exclusive, it’d been only one date, but he’d kissed me, and I want to be honest.
He steps closer, his gaze heated and unwavering. I brace myself,expecting him to ask how long I’ve been seeing this person and who it is. Instead, he surprises me.
“Do you love them?” he asks, his voice is deep and a bit wounded but strong.
Do I love Hardin?What a ridiculous question. Of course I don’t. We’ve only had one date amidst my hectic work schedule, and we’re still getting to know each other. But could Igrowto love him?
Hardin is kind, gentle, works in the medical field and is a fellow animal lover. He’s new to town too, and it’s comforting to have someone else navigating our new surroundings. But have I loved anyone since I’ve become an adult? No. And do I see thepotentialof falling in love with him?
Sadly, also, no.
Wilder is the only man I’ve ever seen that as a possibility with and I’d left that dream to die when I moved away.
“We just met… it’s very new,” I respond.
Wilder’s smile widens.
“Why are you smiling?” I ask with a slight laugh.
“Because that means I still have a chance of reminding you that what we had five years ago, is worth giving another shot. When do you see him next?”
