his pocket. “Do you think she’ll like it?” He showed me the engagement ring inside, a gold band with a marquis cut diamond.
“Gorgeous! Does this mean you got the job?”
Frank was a resident large animal veterinarian at the equine center in Loomis. Until he went to vet school, I had no idea animal doctors did residencies like people doctors.
“I’ll be permanent staff at the end of summer. I’m going to ask her tonight.”
“That’s wonderful, Frank.” I said, but a sliver of doubt bugged me. It was horrible, but I wasn’t a hundred percent sure Lisa would say yes.
The music changed pace to something driving, more relentless. I hugged my bare legs and rested my chin on my knees, and my hair fell over my shoulders and arms like a protective shawl. I hoped Lisa wasn’t going to get all dirty dancing with Brad, lost in the pulsing beat.
She loved Frank. She’d never told me anything different. But I knew my best friend, and I knew Brad had gotten under her skin. She was fighting the attraction out of loyalty to Frank—and love. But it was a beautiful evening at the edge of summer, and the perfume of jasmine filled the air, and geeky Brad wasn’t so geeky on the dance floor—dance grass?
They looked good together. Too good.
“Frank,” I said. “When I get back from my internship, why don’t you just stay? Move in permanently.”
I didn’t hear his answer.
My heart started pounding. The sound of rushing blood filled my ears, and my mind went blank. Someone gasped—I’m pretty sure it was me—as an amazing guy opened the side gate and walked into my life. I mean walked across the lawn to Brad and Lisa.
He was tall and lanky, in khaki-colored carpenter pants and a sleeveless brick red shirt that exposed his lean muscular arms. His easy gait—he walked in slow motion, truly—reeked of self-confidence and physical strength.
He held up the brown paper bag he carried. Lisa looked inside it and pointed to the house. They all turned toward the deck.
His eyes met mine. I couldn’t breathe. In the whole world, there was nothing but those eyes, dark, kind, intelligent, and deep. I blinked and grabbed Frank’s half-finished martini and swallowed the rest of it, grateful as the cold tart liquid reminded my body to function.
He walked toward me, his loose brown hair falling forward. He had great cheekbones and nice lips. I was gawking but I couldn’t stop. Did I say nice lips?
“So. Brad’s friend.” Frank grinned and offered his hand to help me up. “Not in the bozo category.”
I needed that hand, not to pull me up but to anchor me to the planet. I rose to my feet, dizzy and disoriented. Then Not-A-Bozo smiled at me, and I was lost.
Chapter 6
I felt ridiculous. I was bedazzled and unsure, like a love-struck kid. Now I’m the first to admit I’m one screwed-up individual. Obsessive about order. Anxious in crowds. But shy? No. In my life, never. And yet, looking at Brad’s friend, a swarm of butterflies invaded my stomach. I actually felt myself blush.
“Sweetie!” Lisa waved madly at Frank and came running. “I didn’t see you get here. Any news?”
“The best,” Frank said. “You’re looking at the newest on-staff large animal vet at the Loomis Basin Equestrian Center, starting in August.
“I knew you’d get it!” Lisa squealed. “They’d be fools to let you get away.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” Frank grinned at me as Lisa threw her arms around him.
“That’s awesome, buddy,” Brad said. “Great news.”
What a drag. I was definitely Team Frank, but a broken heart on a good guy like Brad wasn’t pretty. If only I knew someone else for him, but—pathetically—Lisa was my only real friend.
“Congratulations.” Brad’s friend gave Frank the paper bag. “I hope this adds to the celebration.”
“Grey Goose.” Frank’s face lit up. “Excellent vodka. Cranberry martinis all around.”
“This is J.D.,” Brad said to me. “We work together at
“Gorgeous! Does this mean you got the job?”
Frank was a resident large animal veterinarian at the equine center in Loomis. Until he went to vet school, I had no idea animal doctors did residencies like people doctors.
“I’ll be permanent staff at the end of summer. I’m going to ask her tonight.”
“That’s wonderful, Frank.” I said, but a sliver of doubt bugged me. It was horrible, but I wasn’t a hundred percent sure Lisa would say yes.
The music changed pace to something driving, more relentless. I hugged my bare legs and rested my chin on my knees, and my hair fell over my shoulders and arms like a protective shawl. I hoped Lisa wasn’t going to get all dirty dancing with Brad, lost in the pulsing beat.
She loved Frank. She’d never told me anything different. But I knew my best friend, and I knew Brad had gotten under her skin. She was fighting the attraction out of loyalty to Frank—and love. But it was a beautiful evening at the edge of summer, and the perfume of jasmine filled the air, and geeky Brad wasn’t so geeky on the dance floor—dance grass?
They looked good together. Too good.
“Frank,” I said. “When I get back from my internship, why don’t you just stay? Move in permanently.”
I didn’t hear his answer.
My heart started pounding. The sound of rushing blood filled my ears, and my mind went blank. Someone gasped—I’m pretty sure it was me—as an amazing guy opened the side gate and walked into my life. I mean walked across the lawn to Brad and Lisa.
He was tall and lanky, in khaki-colored carpenter pants and a sleeveless brick red shirt that exposed his lean muscular arms. His easy gait—he walked in slow motion, truly—reeked of self-confidence and physical strength.
He held up the brown paper bag he carried. Lisa looked inside it and pointed to the house. They all turned toward the deck.
His eyes met mine. I couldn’t breathe. In the whole world, there was nothing but those eyes, dark, kind, intelligent, and deep. I blinked and grabbed Frank’s half-finished martini and swallowed the rest of it, grateful as the cold tart liquid reminded my body to function.
He walked toward me, his loose brown hair falling forward. He had great cheekbones and nice lips. I was gawking but I couldn’t stop. Did I say nice lips?
“So. Brad’s friend.” Frank grinned and offered his hand to help me up. “Not in the bozo category.”
I needed that hand, not to pull me up but to anchor me to the planet. I rose to my feet, dizzy and disoriented. Then Not-A-Bozo smiled at me, and I was lost.
Chapter 6
I felt ridiculous. I was bedazzled and unsure, like a love-struck kid. Now I’m the first to admit I’m one screwed-up individual. Obsessive about order. Anxious in crowds. But shy? No. In my life, never. And yet, looking at Brad’s friend, a swarm of butterflies invaded my stomach. I actually felt myself blush.
“Sweetie!” Lisa waved madly at Frank and came running. “I didn’t see you get here. Any news?”
“The best,” Frank said. “You’re looking at the newest on-staff large animal vet at the Loomis Basin Equestrian Center, starting in August.
“I knew you’d get it!” Lisa squealed. “They’d be fools to let you get away.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” Frank grinned at me as Lisa threw her arms around him.
“That’s awesome, buddy,” Brad said. “Great news.”
What a drag. I was definitely Team Frank, but a broken heart on a good guy like Brad wasn’t pretty. If only I knew someone else for him, but—pathetically—Lisa was my only real friend.
“Congratulations.” Brad’s friend gave Frank the paper bag. “I hope this adds to the celebration.”
“Grey Goose.” Frank’s face lit up. “Excellent vodka. Cranberry martinis all around.”
“This is J.D.,” Brad said to me. “We work together at
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