That detail cued me that Blake had been blowing off the fact that he didn’t have his license before and was driving anyway.He was my brother, and I loved him.I was trying to mend the messy breach between us simply by being there.
There was all of that and work, and school.Running a large animal rescue meant I could work twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week if I wanted.I worked longer than usual and kept busy in the evenings with the online classes to finish my veterinarian coursework.I already had my vet tech certification, but my goal was to become a veterinarian.
The veterinarian clinic here in Willow Brook was run solely by women now.Ireallywanted to be a part of it.Alice, a friend and the owner, was totally supportive.I didn’t want to be an office vet.I wanted to be the vet who traveled and provided vet care at people’s homes.
All this to say, I was legitimately and insanely busy.So, avoiding Jude wasn’t too difficult.
What was different, though, was it used to be when he would stop by, I would make time to chat with him.He would help out with small things.And, now?
If I saw his truck coming down that gravel drive, I found a way to be deeply immersed in some kind of task that meant I didn’t have time.I knew this could only go on for so long.He was going to figure it out.
Seven days and seven hours later, when I wasn’t paying attention, I heard Travis start yipping in that excited way of his, the way heonlydid for Jude.
“Hey, my main man,” I heard Jude say casually.“Where’s your human mom?”
Travis, the little traitor, trotted right over to the stall I had just finished mucking out.I had a handful of fresh straw in my hands.I was scattering it on the floor, just as Jude and Travis came walking in.
Jude leaned against the post just inside the stall door.Several days’ worth of stubble shadowed his jaw, and his eyes held mine without breaking.My heart flipped in my chest.Butterflies amassed in my belly.I stared at him, frozen in place, until he asked, “You just gonna hold that straw?”
I pressed my lips together and carefully dropped it.Snagging the pitchfork, I focused on spreading it evenly around the stall.We had recently acquired a pair of large pigs from a farm that had been abandoned.Some neighbor had stopped by, realized the family was gone, and they’d left the pigs behind.I was still a little salty about that.Assholes.The responsible thing to do was to take your pets to a rescue program if you couldn’t take them with you.That was my PSA for all mankind.
Jude’s voice cut through my thoughts.
“So, how long are you planning to avoid me?”
ChapterTen
Jude
So, how long are you planning to avoid me?
I knew my question was a challenge, a dare, really.But damn it, Kendall had been avoiding me for a week.I’d told myself I needed to give her space, but my impatience was chafing.
Kendall’s eyes were wide as she stared at me.The sunlight fell through the windows high on the barn wall, catching in her curls and lacing them with glittering gold.She cleared her throat.She stood before me, a pitchfork in hand, hay on her overalls, and a pair of battered leather boots.I had no doubt she smelled like horses and goats, and perhaps even chickens.And yet, all I wanted was to wrap her in my arms and kiss her all over again.
I was trying to keep my cool, yet all the while my pulse thrummed rapidly as my heart kicked up a riot in my chest.I saw her shoulders rise with a breath, taking in that she was wearing a fitted T-shirt under her overalls.Of course, now I knew what she felt like pressed against me.
I gave myself a mental shake.She opened her mouth, and I knew she was going to argue the point, but she surprised me.
After a moment, she rolled her eyes.“I don’t know, this long?”
“I know I blew things up with that kiss, but a whole week was more than enough,” I pointed out.
Her eyes widened slightly.She was chewing the inside of one of her cheeks, a nervous habit.I knew all her nervous habits.Chewing the inside of her cheeks, twisting her fingers, rubbing the hem of her sleeves, or twisting her curls around her fingers over and over again.
Fuck me.I didn’t just have a crush on Kendall.I was in love with her, and I didn’t know what the hell to do about it.
She let out a wondering laugh, as if she couldn’t believe herself, or us, or this situation.
“I’m embarrassed,” she added.
Her honesty reminded me of all the reasons why I trusted her so completely.
“I can’t believe I told you that.”
“Oh, so it’s not the kiss?”I surprised myself by asking.
Her cheeks flushed pink as she blew out a breath.She idly dragged the pitchfork through the hay before stepping out of the stall, sliding past me to cross over to the wall where there was a row of hooks.She hung up the pitchfork and removed her leather gloves as she turned to face me.
