Their naughty friend grinned. “No, really…I read it.”
Lila’s gaze drifted to the window, where pine trees were silhouetted with a twilight sky painted in hues of pink and orange. “I appreciate the concern, really. It’s just…this situation is a bit tangled. But I’ll think about what you’ve all said, okay?”
Reva raised her glass in a mock toast. “That’s all we ask. To possibilities and finding joy where we least expect it.”
Lila clinked her glass with Reva’s, a small smile playing on her lips. “To possibilities.”
20
Five days later, that possibility seemed more real than ever. Lila stood in the clinic’s break room, nervously adjusting her scrubs as she prepared for another day under Whit Calloway’s watchful eye. She had tried to push the conversation with her friends to the back of her mind, but their words echoed in her thoughts.
Whit walked in, his usual confident stride making her heart skip a beat. “Morning, Lila,” he said with a warm smile. “Ready for another busy day?”
Lila nodded, trying to match his enthusiasm. “Always.”
As they worked side by side, she couldn’t help but notice the small, thoughtful gestures Whit made—how he ensured she had the tools she needed, the way he patiently explained complex cases, and the genuine care he showed for their animal patients and their owners.
It was becoming harder to ignore that her original assessment had been wrong. She was getting to like him—far more than she had expected.
Once, Whit had reached from behind her to pull a box of syringes off the shelf. His breath on her cheek made her blush. And a tingle ran down her spine.
She hadn’t tingled over a man for a very long time.
She’d spent more than one sleepless night thinking about it all. So many questions swirled in her mind in the dark.
She didn’t know Whit’s middle name or what size shoes he wore…or what made him laugh until he cried. She tried to picture what his hair looked like first thing in the morning when it was messy. What was his preference in take-out food? What were his dreams he never said out loud but secretly wished to come true?
Lila felt like a schoolgirl, thinking about Whit all the time.
She knew she had to be cautious, though. Her heart had been dormant for a long time and the fear of opening up again was almost paralyzing. But something about Whit made her want to take that risk, to trust again. Maybe it was the way he genuinely cared for the animals or the way he always seemed to know when she needed a moment of silence or a kind word.
Or the way he looked at her when he brought her a mug of coffee in the morning.
Was it possible he felt the same attraction for her?
It seemed so, but there was no way to know for sure. Not unless she came out and asked him. She’d rather die than be that vulnerable. What could he possibly say if she’d assumed his feelings were more than they were? He might have been simply being kind and thoughtful.
Whit came up behind her and looked over her shoulder at the clipboard she held. “What have we got up for this morning?” he asked, standing so close she could smell his cologne.
“Uh, Fleet Southcott’s Lab had a litter of pups. He found homes for all but one. We’re spaying the little female he decided to keep.”
As if on cue, the front door opened.
Whit smiled warmly at Fleet as he entered the clinic. “Good morning, Fleet. How’s our little patient doing today?”
Fleet gave a nervous chuckle, glancing down at the sleeping puppy in his arms. “Morning, Dr. Whit. This is Nala. And she’s good. Honestly, I think I'm more worried than she is.”
Lila stepped forward, reaching out to gently stroke the pup’s head. “It’s completely normal to feel that way, Fleet. She’s in good hands, though. We’ll take excellent care of her.”
Whit nodded in agreement. “Absolutely. This is a routine procedure, and we’ll make sure she’s comfortable and well taken care of throughout the procedure.”
Fleet took a deep breath, his grip on the pup tightening slightly. “I know, I know. It’s just…she’s quickly become part of the family, you know? I want to make sure she’s okay.”
Whit placed a reassuring hand on Fleet’s shoulder. “I get it. I really do. We understand how much she means to you. We’ll keep you updated every step of the way. Should take less than an hour and you’ll have her back before you know it.”
Fleet’s tension seemed to ease a bit at Whit’s words. “Thanks, Dr. Whit. That means a lot.”
Whit turned to Lila. “Why don’t you take Fleet and his pup into the exam room, and I’ll prep the operating room? We’ll get started soon.”
