Sitting back, I half listened to Denver talking about a new product coming in, before he droned on about a pharmacy rep visiting the following week. It took everything in me not to drift off completely, but I remained semi-alert. As soon as he mentioned sabbatical, my ears perked up, and I raised my gaze to look at him. It seemed Scott Anderson, his godson, was due to arrive to hold down the fort. Denver reeled off an impressive list of qualifications and positions, so much so it was obvious why Scott would be taking over.
“I know all this seems very sudden, but sometimes when an opportunity presents itself, it can’t be ignored,” Denver said immediately after telling us he’d be leaving in a week. “That’s all the time Scott will need to get a feel for the place,” he praised.
He had high hopes for sure. While we weren’t a huge practice, we were growing, and popular. Plus we had a large catchment of some smaller communities. It was easy to come in as a vet. We could just roll up our sleeves and get the job done, but learning the systems and running of the place I’d assumed took a little more than that. Either I was dead wrong, or this Scott truly was a veterinary god.
I paused at that thought and looked at Lauren. She flicked her gaze to me in question. “How do you know this guy’s a hottie?” I asked in a hushed voice.
She grinned with mischief. “I grabbed his name off Denver’s desk and stalked him on Facebook,” she whispered.
I gave a low snort. This woman was a serious menace but very handy to have around. I watched as she pulled her phone from her pocket. She placed it low under the table and clicked away before nudging me. I surreptitiously leaned closer to her, eyes focusing on the image.
A smiling man stared back from the picture with a chiseled jaw and gorgeous gray eyes. I understood Lauren’s reaction. He was handsome all right, in a clean-cut sleek sort of way. Traditionally handsome, Scott had it covered. He was no Tanner though. The comparison made me pause. Tanner was a little unkempt, with a hot bod, and a smile that made my heart flip ridiculously. Scott definitely didn’t get that reaction. There was also something missing in the eyes of the man in the photo. While pretty to look at, the smile on his lips didn’t meet them. It was curious, really. A man who looked like that, with a resume like his, goodness, what did he have to be unhappy about?
Lauren switched off her phone, wrapping her hands around the device. Making eye contact with her, I barely held back my chuckle as she waggled her brows up and down like a crazy woman. “Right?” she asked.
I gave a noncommittal shrug, a small smile playing on my lips. “Done better.”
Her loud snort drew the attention of the room.
“You okay there, Lauren?” Denver asked.
Nodding quickly, she dragged her lips between her teeth, reining in her need to break into laughter. I did the same.
It was almosttwo o’clock when Denver stepped into my examining room. I’d had pretty much back-to-back clients all day. Everything routine, which was nice after the hellish case I’d had the previous week involving a rabbit and a key. I looked up when he entered, his godson in tow.
“Carter, Scott Anderson,” Denver introduced. The same smile from his photo was fixed in place. Before Denver could continue with introductions, his name was called from along the corridor. “Excuse me a minute. You two carry on.” Denver smiled before leaving us alone.
“Good to meet you,” I greeted. I smiled and stepped forward, stretching out my hand. Scott took it, giving a firm shake before taking a small step back. “Your journey okay?”
He nodded, glancing around the room before his gaze almost reluctantly settled on mine. “Yes, thank you. It was a trek, but I’m here now.”
“That you are,” I answered, feeling the need to fill in the pregnant pause. I hated awkwardness and silence. I handled neither well, always ending up blabbering on about irrelevant nonsense when the situation arose. “So, where are you staying?”
His jaw twitched before he answered a little too casually, “Oh, I’ll be taking over Denver’s place. He’s heading off on his travels and such.”
Again with the awkward silence. “Oh great. That’s just a few doors down from my place. We’ll be neighbors.” From the blanch on his face, it was clear I was being too peppy. I attempted to tone it down. “So if you need anything, just holler.”
He gave a brief nod before glancing at the door.
“I’m sure Denver’s waiting to introduce you to everyone.” I offered him an escape, which he took with barely a goodbye. The door closing behind him, I stood there a little dumbstruck. What the hell was that all about? The guy was bizarrely on edge and pretty much weird. Shrugging it off, I finished clearing up my equipment and tidying the room, ready to head home. My workday had officially ended on a weird note, and I couldn’t wait to get home to see Tanner.
I sighed at the thought—home and Tanner—not liking how I was counting the one as being synonymous with the other. After last night’s frustrating conversation, it was clear that Tanner wasn’t interested. While I wasn’t fine with that—okay, I was so disappointed my heart hurt—it was probably for the best. As much as I wanted him, I’d hate for something to go wrong that could screw up his working on the house, but more importantly, I’d hate to miss out on his company.
Our dinners, our conversations, my annoying him while trying to be helpful—I looked forward to those times. They’d filled up so many lonely hours. He made my day brighter and made my heart that much lighter. It wasn’t something I was willing to give up. Attraction be damned.
I waved goodbye to the staff, making sure I found Lauren before leaving. She was busy, so I didn’t have time to chat with her about Scott Analson. Admittedly, I wasn’t great with nicknames, but I amused myself and smiled at the thought. Telling her we’d catch up the next day, I made my way to my car and headed home.
The journey was quick and uneventful, exactly how I liked my journeys. I wasn’t quite sure how I’d cope in the city if I ever decided to return. The quietness of the town was a mix of a blessing and a curse. I loved how laid-back it was, the slower pace, but I hadn’t realized how isolating the quiet could be. I’d been out a few times with Lauren since relocating, but she regularly had hookups, so I’d put off going out for the evening. No one liked being the man sitting by himself in a bar, especially not the gay man in the bar.
I’d had a few mishaps in the town, unsurprising considering the nature of the small-town mentality, but disappointing nonetheless. Fortunately, there were also good people around, especially helpful that several were hardass farmers who I’d gained the respect of since working with them and their cattle. But still, drunk bigots whispering “faggot” none too quietly had a way of ruining and cutting short a night.
I pulled up at my house, smiling at Tanner’s truck parked in the driveway. A wave of calm flowed over me knowing he was already at my house and hard at work. It would be easy to be swept away by that feeling if I allowed it to control me, but I couldn’t. I could do friendship with Tanner, even if it made me miserable. I snorted at the thought. Because however miserable my heart was, it was battling it out with the happiness camping there.
Chapter Seven
TANNER
Hey,honey, you’re home!The temptation was on the tip of my tongue when I heard the front door open and then close, but I held it back. It had been a month since our “gay” conversation, and the tension had only recently dissipated completely. Finally, our easygoing exchanges were back on form, and we’d reached the place where banter was comfortable and friendly flirting was natural if not a little dangerous.
