Chapter 3 #2
Why couldn’t I meet a guy who was capable of being with me? A man who would not only love me, but would be open to sharing everything about himself with me and allow me to do the same. One who wouldn’t belittle me or become abusive when my independent nature threatened his masculinity.
I wanted someone to love and build a life and family with. I knew dreaming that Cowboy would be such a man was ridiculous. Just because he seemed to have impacted me stronger than any guy I could ever recall didn’t mean anything. I clearly forgot others who had done the same.
Eventually, I dragged my weak body to the bathroom to clean myself up. I made myself shove all thoughts of the proud, hunky cowboy behind locked doors. I reminded myself I had so much to be happy about. There was no need to be greedy.
???
My day started several hours before the first event.
Unable to sleep, I was up earlier than usual.
I made myself some coffee, then I went to check on my patients from the previous day.
I spent time not just doctoring them, but also talking and petting them, while sneaking them treats of apples and carrots.
I practically melted when their velvety brown eyes met mine.
They touched my heart. It was no lie that, in general, I liked animals more than most people.
I’d been a sucker for animals of all kinds and sizes from the time I was a toddler.
My dad began taking me to meet his patients and their humans when I was a year old.
My parents loved telling stories about me toddling after Dad and then, as I grew, sneaking off to be with the animals outside the house.
When I grew even older, I’d bring home all kinds of wounded animals, reptiles, and birds to nurse back to health.
Dad was a lover of all creatures, and Mom went along with it because she loved Dad and me.
Sometimes, she’d playfully roll her eyes and sigh, but we knew she didn’t mind.
Finding something in my room, recuperating, had stopped taking her by surprise by the time I was six.
She’d never been a fan of the snakes or lizards that I’d doctor.
She made Dad go into my room when I had those. She was always afraid they’d get loose.
My parents were terrific, and I always hated that they were never able to have more children. The doctors all said it was a miracle Mom conceived and carried me. I would’ve loved siblings, and Mom and Dad wanted more children. As a result, they poured all their love into me and each other.
Dad had been in college when he met Mom.
He was in his fifth year, and she was a freshman.
He said she stunned him, and he never recovered, falling further under her spell every year since.
I loved hearing them talk about how they met and overcame obstacles to achieve their happily-ever-after.
The most significant obstacle was their parents.
Some might think only Caucasians were prejudiced, but it wasn’t so.
Mom’s Thai parents wanted her to marry a Thai man.
Dad’s folks wanted him to be with a Caucasian girl.
The two sets of grandparents didn’t start to thaw until after I was born.
Finishing the last leg wrap on the horse in front of me, I stood and stretched.
My body felt sore. I rolled my neck from side to side to ease the tension.
I moved toward the open main door. The sound of the outside rodeo grounds coming alive grew louder with each passing hour.
Soon, the events would begin and run well into the evening. I should enjoy the quiet while I can.
Stepping outside the door, I leaned against the building, closed my eyes, and inhaled the scent of the day.
It was a lovely morning. I’d been in Las Vegas in the middle of summer when it was well over a hundred degrees.
I didn’t like it, even if it was dry heat.
I preferred the humidity at home, which most people would call insane, but it was what I had lived in all my life.
“Well, aren’t you a sight first thing in the morning? I’ll have to come to the rodeo more often,” a deep, amused male voice said.
My eyelids flew open as I gasped. Seeing who was standing not far from me, I grinned and raced over to him, throwing my arms around him. Strong arms wrapped me tightly against his body as he squeezed and lifted my feet off the ground. I hugged him back.
“What are you doing here?” I asked when we eventually loosened our holds, and I eased back down and far enough away to see his face.
“I heard you were here, and I was in California, so I thought I’d stop in and see you. It’s been too long. I’ve missed you,” Warren said, giving me that smile that made the ladies swoon.
It had never had that effect on me. I was maybe one of the few straight women he’d ever met who didn’t.
It was only one thing that made us such great friends since the day we met in middle school.
We’d been best friends since, even though he had moved to Texas for his job.
Often, we joked that it was too bad we weren’t sexually attracted to each other.
If we were, we’d be married, and our families would stop asking when we were going to settle down.
“I’ve missed you more. How long can you stay?” I asked excitedly.
“I have to leave at noon on Saturday, so we get just over forty-eight hours. I know during the day, you’re busy, but what about at night? Any chance we can hang out and grab dinner?”
“Of course we can. I’m on call during the evening. God, I’m so happy to see you, War. Tell me you didn’t get a hotel room.”
“I came straight here from the airport. I haven’t gotten a room yet.”
“Don’t. It’s tight, but stay with me. We’ll share a bed. It’s not like we’ve never done that.” I winked.
He threw back his head, laughed, then grinned as he replied, “It’s always fun when I get to sleep with you, Sari.”
We were so into each other, I had no clue anyone was nearby until I heard a hissing sound of disapproval. Glancing around War, I found the nemesis to my sleep last night standing there. Cowboy was scowling. War turned to face him, sliding his arm around to grasp my waist.
“I see you’re casting your lures out bright and early. I thought you said you were here to work. I don’t believe Raff will appreciate you besmirching his reputation with your behavior.”
Cowboy’s censure was evident in both his tone and expression.
War stiffened. Not wanting my bestie to get involved when I was more than capable of fighting my own battles, I tapped my finger three times on his chest. It was a signal he knew.
We’d developed all kinds of them growing up.
His tension eased some, and War remained silent.
“You don’t know shit about me. You and your opinion mean nothing to me. And Raff knows exactly what kind of person I am. What are you doing here, Cowboy? Out for a stroll, seeing whose day you can piss on? If so, go annoy someone else,” I snipped.
His scowl deepened. “I came to apologize for the misconception yesterday, but I see I wasn’t wrong.
You might be substituting for Raff as the vet for the rodeo, but you’re also out here sleeping around.
You left yesterday with that one guy, and I saw you hanging with others.
I doubt Raff knows what you do when you’re not treating animals.
If he did, he would’ve never asked you to help out.
There are enough buckle bunnies around here.
No need for more women of that kind,” Cowboy sneered.
Pain shot through me for some ridiculous reason. As it did, and I found myself unable to reply, War wasn’t so impacted. He let go of me and took a step toward Cowboy.
“I don’t know who you are, and I don’t care.
You have no right to speak to her that way.
Who the fuck are you to say such things to her?
Saranya is the most professional person you’ll meet.
She’s not a goddamn slut like those buckle bunnies are.
I assume you’re referring to Rafferty Sinclair.
I can assure you, he knows there’s no one he can trust more than her to get the job done here.
I suggest that if you don’t want my fist to meet your face, you leave. And stay away from her,” War snapped.
The last thing I wanted was for War to fight with Cowboy.
For one thing, it wouldn’t reflect well on me and, by extension, Raff.
Second, if Cowboy were a close friend of Raff, I’d hate to have him hurt even if he deserved it.
And third, while both men were buff and strong, I wasn’t sure who would win.
I didn’t want War hurt. I moved up beside War and placed my hand on his stomach. He looked over at me.
“War, leave it. He’s a supposed friend of Raff’s. I don’t care what he thinks of me. Cowboy, there’s no need for either of us to associate over the next few days. You go your way, and I’ll go mine. But I do have one thing to ask.” I paused.
“What is that?” Cowboy asked.
“Don’t go running to Raff and bugging him with your accusations.
He’s currently dealing with a family emergency and already has enough on his plate.
Let him get through that first. Then, if you feel the need to tell him about the slut he allowed to smear his good name, go for it.
Just remember, when he tells you you’re wrong, if I ever see you again, you owe me an apology. ”
“I’ll decide when I tell Raff about your behavior.
And I highly doubt I’ll owe you an apology.
To ensure you don’t totally ruin my friend’s reputation, I’ll be keeping an eye on you,” Cowboy said tersely before turning on his boot heel and stalking off.
War went to go after him, but I latched onto his shirt, tugging until he stopped moving. He frowned down at me.
“Sari, what the fuck was that all about? Who is that guy?”
Knowing I’d have to come clean, I sighed. “Let’s go to the trailer so we can talk in private, and I’ll explain.”
Pushing my anger and hurt aside, I headed toward the trailers without another look in the direction Cowboy stormed off in. As we made our way there, I kept telling myself to forget about him, and there was no reason to care what he thought of me.