Serendipity Ranch Read Online Free PDF Page B

live?”
    “Over in Blossom Valley with her mother. They have a small spread out there.”
    “What does her mom do?”
    “Drew, I just met these people yesterday! Damn, you’re nosey. Get me some coffee or something, and some drugs.” Serena ordered, rubbing her throbbing thigh. Drew chuckled and quickly handed the cranky woman a mug of steaming hot milk. She wrinkled her nose, looking at him incredulously. “Last time I noticed, coffee was black.”
    “Compliments of your new vet-slash-boss. Goat milk, freshly squeezed. Don’t make faces, just try it. It won’t kill you. I also have some painkillers for you,” Drew teased, knowing her aversion to milk.
    Serena’s eyes widened as she reluctantly sipped the foamy beverage after swallowing the bitter pills. “This is good! It’s sweet!”
    “I know, I tried some. It’s really good cold too. I’ve never had it fresh before. It’s not anything like the nasty store-bought garbage that tastes like goat. He says he makes ice cream out of it all the time. I like ice cream.” Drew grinned as Serena rolled her eyes.
    “All men like ice cream. Don’t you start thinking of having a bromance with this guy. He’s an arrogant nitwit and my boss, with way too much time and money to ever be anything else,” she scowled, trying not to think of how his hands touched her thigh or the hint of intimacy that accompanied the wrapping of her leg. She sipped the hot, buttery milk, the flavor dancing delicately on her tongue. It would make good ice cream, but she would never admit it!
    Serena slipped a sundress over her head and threw on some sandals. She pulled her waist-long hair into a high ponytail and quickly brushed some pink gloss over her full lips. Without additional makeup, she looked like a preteen, but she didn’t care. Her leg hurt too much to do anything else. She just wished the painkillers would hurry up and work.
    “Look how cute you are, little cousin. You should dress like this more often. It makes you look less like a shrew.”
    “How many times do I have to tell you to shut up? I used to think that you were a big pain in the neck, but now I have a much lower opinion of you. Just take me to work already.”
    “Yes, ma'am.” Drew saluted, lifting her into his arms and depositing her in the front seat of his red Chevy pickup. They buzzed onto Preston’s property and slowly made it up the curved mountain road. Drew nodded appreciatively as he drove into the large, round driveway.
    “This is going to be sweet when it’s done. Look at that view! A full 360 of the valley, and you can even see the ocean. Wow.”
    “Stop drooling and help me out. You’re not moving in with the jerk.”
    Preston strode up to the truck as Drew pulled Serena from the seat. He helped support her as she tried to stand. “Didn’t I tell you to take it easy today if this bothered you? Don’t you listen to anybody?”
    “Not as long as I’ve known her. Where do you want to go?” Drew asked, shaking his head with frustration.
    “The table is fine. There’s a canopy, so I can work there without the sun blasting me. Hi, girls,” Serena smiled as the collies raced to greet her. Preston dropped the box of supplies on the large picnic table and then placed his hands on his hips.
    “How’s Casba this morning?”
    “Doing much better than this one. Barely limping.” Drew answered. “But then, the horse knows how to follow her doctor’s instructions.”
    “I’m not an animal, and Mr. Riley is NOT my doctor. Damn it, Drew, will you just go to work already and get off my back?”
    “See ya tonight. Good luck, Doc.”
    “I might need it today. Thanks for dropping her off,” Preston sighed, eyeing the frowning woman as he walked the man to his truck. “Any suggestions?”
    “You got some nice cliffs around here. Try tossing her off one if she gets to be too much.”
    “That’s a bit drastic, don’t you think?” Preston asked with a grin.
    Drew looked serious. “Ask me