“Got my license about five years ago.”
“Kind of young for a vet, aren’t you?” he asked, innocently.
I grinned. “Are you trying to figure out how old I am?”
“Maybe.” He shrugged. “I’m curious, that’s all.”
“I’m 35,” I said with a chuckle. “And I am a little young. I started taking college courses in high school, though, so that helped. How about you?”
“I’m 30.”
“Any former career you’re comfortable sharing?” I asked gently. “Not trying to push, Alex. Just making conversation. And if we’re being honest, I want to know more about you too.”
He cast me a shy smile before answering. “I took a couple of years off after high school before going to college but only completed a year before I had to drop out. I never got a chance to go back.”
I was about to ask why when I saw the tick in his jaw tick and knew we were approaching a line he wasn’t comfortable with yet.
“Hey, do you mind if I take a shower?” he asked, effectively putting an end to the conversation.
“No, of course not. Go ahead. Roxy can stay with me.”
After he disappeared, my phone buzzed with a message from my sister.
My shift was changed, so I need to reschedule our dinner for this weekend. Can we do Monday?
I sighed. I’d been looking forward to seeing Bri again and hated that work kept getting in the way.Can’t Monday, but maybe next weekend.
Unless you have a date with Trinity then, right??? You better call her.
I’ll try to soon.
Okay. Miss you. Let’s chat soon.
Miss you too, Bri.
Deciding I needed a movie to distract me from the thought of Alex wet and naked in the shower, I went to the binder of DVDs I kept under the TV and began flipping through the pages. I’d normally settle for something on Netflix but was craving something a little older tonight. One of the first ones my fingers touched was Beethoven, and it made my heart ache for Chelsea and her husband. I made a note on my phone to call her tomorrow and look into ordering their family some flowers.
Dropping the movie in the player, I pulled a blanket up and settled into the couch. Roxy pulled herself into my lap, looking up at me sweetly with her beautiful, beady brown eyes. Not to be left out, Noel jumped up next to us, resting her head in my lap as well. I gave each of them a scratch on the ears.
“You girls know just what I need, don’t you?”
I hit play on the movie and tried to get lost in the humor, but really, it just made me sad. I’d never been one to handle grief well, and with thoughts of Beethoven swirling in my head, I felt especially alone. I usually called Bri when things felt this heavy, but she was at work tonight.
When Alex emerged sometime later, I let myself draw in a breath of his sweet vanilla and pine scent. It was unfair how attractive he was, all the freaking time. Even knowing I did a terrible job hiding it, I couldn’t keep my eyes off him as he made his way into the living room, somehow making a simple stroll seem both casual and sexy.
Off limits, Vaughn. He’s your guest.
He noticed what movie I was watching and gave me a sad smile. “Would you like some company?”
The way he’d said it let me know he wouldn’t have been offended if I turned him down, but the truth was, I was craving some company.
“Yeah. That would be really nice actually.”
I moved to make room for him on the couch, but Noel was sound asleep, taking up nearly the entire half of the sofa.
“Don’t disturb her,” Alex said. As he took a seat directly next to me, our legs brushed against each other, yet he didn’t seem to mind. I certainly didn’t.
“Come here, girl,” he said to Roxy, but the pug only wagged her tail and stayed where she was. “Come on.”
