Even though I only saw the sexy, green-eyed Cash a few hours ago, I’m suddenly feeling shy all over around him again. I dig my hands into my pockets and shift from foot to foot.
He leans against the wall behind me. He’s so close that I can detect subtle notes of cologne. The alluring fragrance tickles my nose and makes a pleasant warmth settle in tummy.
“How’s Chanel?” he asks. “Is she feeling a little better now?”
“She is, thanks to you. Do you want to see her?” I offer before even thinking about it.
The moment he agrees, my pulse kicks into high gear. Did I just invite him up to my room? I can’t remember if it’s clean or not. But it’s too late to take back the offer now. Hesitantly, I lead him up the steps and down the hall past Kali’s and Sutton’s bedrooms.
Chanel is sleeping when we walk into my room, but the minute she hears us, her eyes open. Once she notices Cash beside me, she gives herself a rousing little shake and hops to her feet, then springs eagerly out of her hutch to greet him.
“What a social, little bunny,” Cash chuckles warmly, dropping to one knee to pet her.
I smile as I watch them together. Chanel doesn’t normally take to people this quickly, but she seems as intrigued by Cash as I am. And since she’s an excellent judge of character, that means Cash must be a pretty good guy.
He sits down on the carpeted floor with Chanel and I eagerly join him, laughing as Chanel bounces in happy circles between and around us. We finally wind up seated side by side and his knee occasionally brushes mine, sending shockwaves up my bare skin each time his pant leg connects with my thigh.
“How long have you been a veterinarian?” I ask after a few minutes of silence, surprising even myself.
I’m usually not the type to initiate a conversation, but when it comes to Cash, I want to know everything there is to know. I guess that’s because there’s simply something so fascinating about him. I want to know how it was growing up with Franco as his dad and when the son of a burger man became a vegan, but I don’t want to push Cash away by interrogating him. For now, asking about his career seems like a safe place to start. Maybe one day I’ll be brave enough to dive into those deeper subjects.
“Five years now,” he says after rubbing his scruff-covered chin and mulling the timeline for a moment. “It’s one of the best jobs in the world. I get to meet so many fascinating animals as well as their interesting owners. Every one of them has got a story, you know?”
“The animals or their owners?” I ask.
His mouth quirks. “Both.”
I nod, not sure what to say as I run my hand over Chanel’s fur where she’s since cuddled up on my lap.
Is that how Cash sees me? As something interesting? He’s always tossing that adjective around, and I don’t know how to take it. Biting my lip, I pick Chanel up and lightly boop her dark nose. She shakes her head and lifts her ears, playfully leaning forward to nuzzle my face.
Cash chuckles as he watches us play, the sound husky and warm.
“I actually have this great opportunity coming up in a few weeks,” he continues, reaching out to caress Chanel’s fur. “I’ll be leaving LA to refine my vet skills. It’s a once-in-a-career kind of thing.”
At Cash’s words, my heart starts to sink like a rock in water.
Cash is leaving?
I’d thought the gorgeous green-eyed man and I would have more time to get to know one another, but now he says he’s skipping town?
This is why you can’t ever fall for a guy, especially one with sexy tats, gorgeous green eyes and a motorcycle,I chastise myself. But the mental scolding does little to make me feel better.
When I don’t answer, Cash leans forward so that he can catch my gaze. “You don’t worry about your contract with my dad. He’s going to step in after I leave. He’s sure he’ll have some spare time by then.”
“That’s great,” I answer, forcing myself to muster up a smile.
Before I can say anything more, an excited lab mix bounds into the room. George woofs happily and charges at Cash, nearly tackling him as he licks at his face. Not to be left out, Coco prances in and sniffs at Cash’s button-down.
Cash chuckles and ruffles George’s ears while Kali’s dog lovingly climbs into his lap. I smile at them even as my heart gives a little pang.
The animals really like him—and so do I. Unfortunately for all of us, Cash isn’t going to stick around.
For the briefest moment, because Cash was coming all the way out here to drop off the contract, I’d let myself think he might possibly be interested in me. But now I realize he was simply acting with compassion at the vet’s office, and that he’d only asked to come up to my room to visit Chanel.
It’s yet another harsh reminder that Cash would definitely never be interested in a girl like me.
Not that it matters, because I’m not interested in dating anyone right now.
