"What are we doing here?" He pulls his wallet from the inner pocket of his suit jacket before he tosses a hundred dollar bill on the table. "Let's go grab a beer at Easton Pub. We can order something to eat there."
I'm all for following him to the pub we used to hang at when we were in college.
He gives one last look in Maya and Everett's direction before he pushes back from the table. "Are you seeing anyone, Smith?"
"I'm not your type," I joke. "Maya Baker is."
He laughs, it's rough and low. "She's a talented real estate broker. We met in her friend's photography studio. We spoke briefly. End of story."
He's delusional if he thinks that's the end of their story. He wants her. He's convinced himself otherwise but Manhattan is a more intimate place than most think. Their paths are bound to cross again.
"The answer to your question is no, Julian. I'm not seeing anyone. Why?"
"I believe you asked my assistant out the last time you came to my office. I hoped that would go somewhere."
"It went to hell." I chuckle. "She was a fun one, but we weren't compatible long term."
"That might explain why she quit without a reason." He squints at me as he stands. "One day you'll find the right woman."
I might. I'm not convinced there's a perfect woman for every man. I am sure as shit that at some point tomorrow, I'll be talking to Brynn. With any luck, she's as single as I am.
CHAPTER FIVE
Brynn
"I love him, Ad."I hear my voice cracking. "I can't lose him. My heart can't take it."
"Brynn, listen to me." Adley York grabs my bare shoulders. I was in such a rush this morning that I threw on a strapless white dress and slipped my feet into a pair of worn out flip flops. I didn't even bother to brush my hair. "He's not going to die. We're going to start him on a cycle of antibiotics. I'll show you how to administer them. If you're not comfortable doing it, I'll come by your place before and after work to handle it."
"You'd do that for me?" I feel tears well in the corners of my eyes. Since I met Adley six months ago in the elevator of my apartment building, we've become good friends. We're almost the same age. We're both single and when either of us needs a shoulder to cry on, the other is there in an instant.
Adley lives two blocks from me. Fate put us together in the elevator that day. She was on her way down to the lobby from a disastrous dinner date with a guy she'd met at work. I was onmy way out to have a drink with a man I didn't have anything in common with.
I called my date to cancel and Adley and I went for martinis. Our bond was formed that night.
"I'd do anything for you." She swipes her finger across my cheek to catch a tear. "Pike has an infection. You did the right thing bringing him in first thing this morning. He's not young, but he can fight this. He's strong. You know that."
I do know that. Pike, my sweet little brown and black Yorkie, was an adoptee. I don't know his exact age, but I know that his time is coming to an end. I'll fight with everything I have to keep him with me as long as I can. I won't let him suffer. If he's in pain, I'll let him go, but he's still as spry as he was eleven years ago when I first met him.
"Did Dr. Hunt get the test results back?" I look toward the brown haired veterinarian Adley works for. Two women are talking to him. It isn't surprising. The waiting room is always filled with women and their pets looking for a minute or two of the good-looking doctor's time.
He has a following on social media that has reached several million. I admit I'm one of them, but it's only because the last time I brought Pike in for his check-up, Dr. Donovan Hunt took a selfie holding my dog. Pike was a star for a day-and-a-half on Instagram before an overweight cat stole his thunder. Dr. Hunt flexed his bicep in that photo and there was a sudden rush of single women bringing their cats to the clinic to be evaluated.
It keeps Adley busy. Being an assistant to Dr. Hunt is a stepping stone to her dream of becoming a vet herself.
"Most of the results are in." She looks down at the tablet in her hand. "It's a stomach bug. It's not uncommon, but you need to make sure he's drinking plenty of water and I'll give you a couple of cans of food. Feed him that until his stomach calms down."
"Will do." I nod as I cradle Pike in my arms. "Is there anything else I should be doing?"
"You should answer your phone." She gestures toward the large brown leather purse slung over my shoulder before she pushes a strand of her blond hair behind her ear. "It's ringing again."
"It's nothing important."
She tucks the tablet under her arm and reaches to take Pike from me. He instantly nuzzles into her chest. "Someone thinks it's important enough to call twice in the past five minutes. See who it is so you can be sure it's nothing."
I sigh heavily as I fish in my bag for my phone. "It's probably Mrs. Pentlow checking in to see if I've found a man yet."
"Isn't that the woman you're doing design work for?" Adley smiles, her blue eyes brightening. "Are you taking relationship advice from her now?"
