“And?”
“I didn’t stop to commiserate. I came here.”
Zane disappeared for a few minutes, then reappeared with an ice pack and tossed it onto Grady’s desk, then parked in the opposite chair again. Settling in, they reported on the latest, and made plans for the next month.
11
S-U-B-T-E-R-F-U-G-E
Watching her pacing across the room, Ryder clearly couldn’t take it any longer. He never had cared for restless energy. Claire also knew he tended to be irritable when he hadn’t slept, and she’d accidentally woken him when returning from her midnight make-out last night. He took her hand and pulled her over next to him behind the desk. Still, she couldn’t stop fidgeting.
She glanced out the window, wishing she could ride out over the sparkly frost again. She couldn’t keep up this fizzle, not when she had the chance to sizzle. Even if that melted to a drizzle. Claire bit her lip to hide her giggle, quickly remembering this was a somber occasion. “I know we agreed to wait on any big decisions until we got home, but I don’t think this should wait any longer. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. About us—”
As panicked as he must have been when Patricia pinned him down about their engagement, Ryder shook his head vigorously. “No, no, no. Not now. I know where this is going, and it’s got to wait until we get back to Phoenix. I need you right now.”
Of course. What was that saying about wanting to be needed versus needing to be wanted? He released her and stepped to the window that looked over the backside of the property, rubbing his hand over his jaw. Arms folded across her chest, she moved to stand next to him in front of the window.
Claire had never seen him so frazzled. “You’ve been thinking about it, too?”
“Yeah. Claire, we were stupid to move in together so quickly. I think we only lasted so long because we never see each other. You’re an amazing person, and, I’ve got to say, you’re the reason I’ve made it so far in my career. But we don’t have a thing in common.”
She hadn’t realized he’d noticed. Maybe he wasn’t as inattentive of a boyfriend as she thought. If he’d known this for long, he’d likely appreciated the status quo, like she had, so they could focus on work and school.
She powered on. “I’ve been thinking. I really like it here. I’ll go rent a hotel room in town for the rest of the week and check out some of the vet clinics. Maybe drop off my resumé at a few places.”
“Hold on, I hate to ask, but can we pretend we’re engaged for a few more days? It’ll make my parents happy, keep them from pestering me so I can get some work done, and... I just found out about a thing tonight, and I was hoping you’d come with me.” His eyes pleaded, those obnoxious dimples flashing in an overly charming attempt to win her over.
Chest rising in a deep sigh, she wanted to jump up and down at the idea of seeing more of Grady. Even if it broke her heart. More than this tear-free breakup with Ryder, apparently. “That saves me the hotel expense. And it buys me some more time with... your family’s horses. You owe me big time.”
He scratched the top of his head and added, “Actually, I should have said something earlier, but I was selfish and was hoping you’d stick with me longer than the trip. A friend of mine’s dad is a vet. I ran into him the other night at Ahab’s and had considered introducing you, but you and Grady left before I had the chance. Dr. Parson takes care of the horses. Uh... he actually... might be looking for another full-time vet.”
Typical. It wasn’t convenient for him until now, so why would he have offered? She debated retracting her agreement to remain his pretend fiancée out of spite. Instead, she jabbed him in the sternum, covering her irritation with a genuinely appreciative smile. “Make the call. Today.”
“Claire, you’re a lifesaver. Really. You’re too good for a selfish asshole like me.”
“Damn right.” She jabbed him again, more playfully this time.
