CHAPTER 1
SKINNY – Flashback to the day that changed my life.
“Hey, girl,” I grinned as Cinder, the dog I’d saved all those years ago when someone burnt down Molly’s barn, pressed her nose to my cheek, huffing slightly and making me laugh.
I’d never had a dog as a kid. It never even crossed my mind, not with the war zone we lived in.
Now I knew what I’d been missing out on, though.
I’d loved Cinder from the first moment I’d seen her.
I didn’t mind damaging my hands to pull her from the burning building, even though they were still scarred and hurt some days.
More often than not, I kept them covered with fingerless leather gloves.
Not only did the gloves keep prying eyes away, but they also seemed to help with my residual nerve pain.
Rubbing my hand over Cinder’s head as I pulled into a parking space in front of the vet’s office, I shook my head in amusement at her as she started to do her happy dance and bark out the window.
Most dogs would cower when it came to visiting the vets, but for some reason, it never bothered Cinder, almost as if she realised that they were only trying to help.
Not that there was a problem today; we were only here for a check-up.
Opening my door, I whistled, and she hurried towards me, jumping down from the vehicle and dancing around my legs, making me laugh.
Slipping my cut over my shoulders before I bent and attached her leash to her collar, even though she didn’t really need one.
It was more for the other clients than anything else.
Opening the door to the vet’s office, I smiled as Shona, the elderly receptionist, cooed as soon as she saw us, making a fuss over Cinder, who, of course, lapped it up, taking the treat that Shona offered.
“Got a new vet for you today,” Shona smiled at me, holding out her tub of suckers that she handed out as freely to us humans as she did the treats for the animals. Shona was probably a huge part of why this vet’s clinic was so popular. I’d certainly miss her when she retired in a few months.
“Yeah,” I replied as I opened my sucker, “who is it?”
“Her name’s Josie Herridge. You’ll like her. She’s great with the animals and she’s gorgeous to boot. We’ve had all the young and singles in here with their pets or their families’ pets since she started. I’m sure you’ll be the same.”
“I doubt it,” I smirked at Shona, “you know us Crows.”
Shona nodded and returned my smirk, “Oh, I do, boy, and that’s why I say you’ll be the same, but now I’m thinking you’re going to be worse. Time will tell.”
Shaking my head at her, I gently tugged on Cinder’s leash and led her over to the seating area on the far side of the waiting room, away from most of the other clients.
We’d barely sat down when a sweet voice called our name. A voice that had my cock sit up and take notice. Something that never happened. I groaned and closed my eyes, and when I opened them, it was to see Shona laughing at me.
“Told you,” she teased laughingly as I walked past her.
“You did,” I agreed, sauntering slowly towards the exam room that had a flashing light above it so that clients knew which one they had to go into.
Stopping just before the open door, I adjusted myself in my jeans and muttered, “Behave yourself.”
Rolling my eyes at my idiotic behaviour, I tilted my head back, mumbling under my breath, “Jesus, you’ve lost it. You’re talking to your cock.”
“Umm, are you okay?” the same sweet voice that had called our name asked me.
There was nothing I could do about the bright red flush that ran over my face.
Not only had she caught me adjusting myself, but she’d also heard me talking to myself.
Could this get any worse? The answer to that was yes, it could when, instead of my normal deep voice, I developed a squeak, not much different from a pubescent boy when I caught my first glimpse of the woman behind the voice and nearly swallowed my tongue.
She had dark brown hair that was currently up in a loose bun, hazel eyes, high wide cheekbones, and lips that were slightly too big for her face.
She was gorgeous, and I’d not even ventured past her face.
My gaze lowered, and I caught a look at her breasts in the tight pink T-shirt she wore under an open white coat.
Breasts that were definitely more than a handful, by a lot.
I’m thinking definitely bigger than a double D.
My gaze slipped past her breasts to a nipped-in waist and thick thighs. She was a perfect hourglass shape, my absolute kryptonite.
“All good,” I squeaked. “For fuck’s sake,” I muttered, clearing my throat. She snort-giggled at me.
Rolling my eyes again at my idiocy, I cleared my throat and held out my hand, “Name’s William, but I usually only go by Skinny. Pleased to meet you.”
She gripped my hand in a firm grip and shook it, still smiling at me with amusement, which made me feel better. At least I hadn’t pissed her off.
“I’m Josie, and this must be Cinder,” she answered, looking down at Cinder, who bounced, tail wagging happily at hearing her name.
“Well, aren’t you a gorgeous thing, and such a good girl,” Josie praised Cinder, taking the lead from my hand and leading her into the room, lifting her onto the table.
“She’s not fazed, is she?” Josie laughed as Cinder licked her, wriggling happily. Who’d have thought I’d ever be jealous of my dog?
“Nope,” I replied. “The vets have never bothered her.”
“So, what brings you here today?” Josie wanted to know.
“Just a check-up.”
“Well, okay then,” Josie chirped, running her hands over Cinder, “let’s get to it, baby girl.”
Ten minutes later we were given the all-clear and I picked Cinder off the table, making sure that her lead was back on. Thanking Josie, I made to leave but stopped at the door and turned back.
“I’d love to,” she said out of the blue, with a wide smile and amused eyes.
My brow furrowed as I looked at her, confused, “What?”
“You were going to ask me out, and I said I’d love to,” she smirked at me.
Throwing my head back, I laughed, “Was I now?”
“Yep,” she replied with a nod.
“Okay, do you want to give me your address so that I can pick you up?”
She pointed up to the ceiling. “It’s right here.”
Nodding that I understood that she was living in the flat above the vets, “I’ll pick you up at seven tonight. Dress warm and in jeans.”
Josie clapped excitedly, bouncing slightly on her toes, which did amazing things for her chest, making me bite my lip as my cock hardened again. At this rate, I’m going to have a zipper imprint on my cock for days.
“Yes, are you taking me on your bike?” she whooped excitedly.
Laughing at her antics, I nodded. “I am. I take it you’re looking forward to it?”
“So much,” she smiled.
Tapping the doorjamb, I smiled at her once again before I turned to leave, narrowly missing walking straight into the other vet. Hurriedly, I apologised, ignoring the laugh from the woman behind me who had had me off kilter since the moment I looked into her eyes.
“So?” Shona asked as I walked to the reception desk to pay before leaving.
“You were right,” I told her.
“I knew it,” Shona laughed as she took my card and swiped it through the machine.
Ten minutes later, I’m back in my vehicle and on my way home to Crow Manor, wondering what Bull and Bond will think of Josie.