5. Eviction Notice
Chapter 5
Eviction Notice
For the next hour, Neve talked to every last local hanging at Miners Tavern and let herself get carried away on the current of cheerful conversation. The entire time, Leo’s solid, soft heat hovered by her right shoulder—not touching her, but making its presence known. The pleasant smell of his spicy cologne drifted toward her now and again, erasing most thoughts about the broody bartender who quietly observed from his station.
When Noah announced last call at ten thirty, the bar began emptying out. Neve was ready to leave too. She’d stayed out later than she’d intended, and Pearl was probably antsy to do her business, get some human contact, and go home and crash. Plus, Neve was an early riser, and between her five-thirty wakeup, followed by her workout and the day’s excitement, fatigue had spread through her and settled deep in her bones. Tomorrow would be another big day, and she needed to be ready for it. Hell, every day seemed like a big day. As one of the few vets in the entire county, she rarely experienced downtime, and mostly that was okay. She had dedicated her life to taking care of animals, like the poor wounded feline currently snoozing away his sedation. What if she hadn’t been here when the animal had been brought in? He would have had to travel at least twenty miles to the nearest vet clinic, and on these twisty mountain roads, the journey would have taken an hour—and the animal might not have survived. Throw in a slow-moving truck, and the drive could have easily doubled.
She did have a fellow vet backing her up in Ouray—Dr. Lark Bunting—but she was new-ish in the area, and Neve’s clients hadn’t exactly warmed to her yet, despite her having the same name as Colorado’s state bird. Probably had more to do with Lark being an outsider and Neve being a local. Or maybe it was her clipped East Coast manner. In Neve’s few dealings with the vet, that manner had verged on abrasive, which would certainly rub folks around here the wrong way. And there was that other grating habit: Dr. Bunting loved to boast about her high-brow education and how she came from a long line of other high achievers. She wasn’t beneath dropping names either, which amused the hell out of Neve, since most people—including Neve—weren’t all that sure who they were or why they were worth mention.
Neve tapped Leo’s arm, and he turned to her with a smile. “I bet you’re about to tell me it’s time to call it a night.”
Charming and a mind reader. “Would you mind if I scooted? I can walk from here.”
His brows flew to his hairline. “Excuse me?”
“Neve,” Reece barked behind them, “the weather is shit. Cantrell—”
“I got this, Hunnicutt.” Leo sent him a sidelong stink-eye, but his expression softened when he turned back to Neve. “Call me old-fashioned, but I insist on taking you home.” To Reece, he said, “Ready for the check.”
Reece snatched a handheld receipt thingy that rolled out tape like a white tongue. He handed Leo the receipt, then straightened to his full six-four frame, crossed his muscular arms over his chest, and narrowed his eyes. No nice black check presenter, no pen. Just a white piece of tape with numbers on it, accompanied by a glower.
What the hell was his problem tonight ?
Leo flipped Reece a Platinum Amex card held between his fingers. Despite her protesting sputters, the two men completed the transaction in under a nanosecond.
She bounced her gaze between them. “Can I at least cover the tip?”
“Already covered.” Leo slid the card back into his wallet.
“Much appreciated,” Reece deadpanned, not an ounce of gratitude in his tone. In fact, a thundercloud knotted his dark eyebrows. Maybe Leo had stiffed him—not that she could blame him. Reece was behaving like an ass. If she didn’t know better, she’d mistake his surly attitude for that of a jealous boyfriend.
Back in Leo’s truck, she directed him toward the clinic, where her car and her dog were parked. “I’ll drive myself home from there. It’s only a few blocks.”
Leo nodded. “Seems like you and Reece Hunnicutt have some history, or am I reading that wrong?”
“No! I mean yes,” she sputtered. “You’re reading it wrong. We grew up together, but there’s never been anything romantic between us.”
He hummed a skeptical note.
“What?”
“I hope I’m not speaking out of turn here, but take it from a guy. He would like for there to be something romantic between you.”
She let out a high-pitched laugh. “No way! He thinks of me as his little sister, and he’s very protective.”
Leo’s silence told her he wasn’t buying it, but she wasn’t buying Leo’s opinion either.
Moments later, they reached the clinic, and Leo hustled around the truck to open her door. She wasn’t used to men with polished manners—which was a sad state of affairs—and she fumbled her way out.
He waited as she unlocked the front door. He didn’t move from the threshold, but his gaze did. It lifted over her head to the interior of the clinic. “I’ve never been inside. Would you mind showing me around? I’d like to see where all the magic happens.”
She gestured him in with an awkward movement. “It’s more science than magic.”
“Maybe. Back in the Middle Ages, the practice of medicine was magic. I’m not sure much has changed. To someone like me, it’s a mystery, and therefore, magic. ”
Pearl padded out to greet them and made a beeline to put Leo through her sniff test. His eyes widened, a reaction Neve had seen often when humans came face-to-face with pit bulls.
“She won’t hurt you,” Neve assured him, “unless she thinks you’re a threat, but that’s true of many dogs.”
He held out a cautious hand for Pearl to inspect but didn’t appear terribly convinced it was the right move. “Is she a pit bull?”
“Yep. They look intimidating, but the breed has a bad rap. Pearl is as docile as your average golden retriever.”
With a nervous laugh, he gingerly moved his hand away. “I’ll take your word for it.”
His unease was palpable, so Neve closed Pearl up in her office and led Leo from room to room. Self-satisfaction swelled as she showed him the world she had created. The thought occurred that she was right where she was supposed to be, where she had always wanted to be, with a clinic of her very own in her hometown, even if it was floundering. Even if she hadn’t liked the man walking beside her—and she definitely did like him—she needed to be gracious. He might be the one keeping her pride and joy afloat.
The last stop was the recovery room, and she peeked inside the cage. Sensing her presence, Mr. Whiskers raised his head.
Leo crowded beside her and peered in. “What’s up with the cat?”
“One of the local boys found him under a pile of lumber at a construction site.” She explained the cat’s condition and what she’d done to help him. “I’ve done all I can, and the rest is up to him. But this is day two, and he’s still alive, which is a minor miracle.”
“Thanks to his doctor.” He looked down at her with an expression she couldn’t puzzle out. He was so close she could feel the heat from his body.
“D-do you like cats?” she croaked.
“Can’t say I do.”
Her heart sank. Leo ticked all the right boxes—except for one huge one. So huge that she wasn’t sure she could overlook it. If the guy was leery of Pearl and didn’t like cats, she might as well throw the rest of the compatibility chart out the window. Then a voice told her not to give up so quickly. There were always allergy shots.
He leaned in, and his voice beside her ear was a smooth purr. “I may not be a fan of cats, but I like you . ”
Was he trying to kiss her? Should she move her head? Anticipation dueled with anxiety inside her. Did she want to kiss him ? Yeah, she did, if only to find out if he could curl her toes. But she didn’t get a chance because he reared back and sneezed.
“Damn, I’m sorry.” Backstepping, he sneezed again.
“Are you allergic?”
“Apparently so.” He sneezed three more times. “That’s probably why I’m not too fond of them.”
She quickly ushered him to the front door. “I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be.” The tip of his nose was bright pink. He picked up her hand and kissed the back of it. When he spoke, he was all stuffed up. “I really enjoyed myself tonight, Neve. Can I call you before the wedding? Maybe we can carve out some time to see each other before then.”
“I’d like that.”
He leaned in once more and hesitated. Her eyes fluttered closed in anticipation but snapped open when he placed a chaste kiss on her cheek. “Good night, pretty lady.”
As she watched his truck pull away, questions streamed through her head. Was she disappointed he hadn’t kissed her? Like, really kissed her? Yes and no. Did he like other types of dogs, or was he allergic to them too? Would he warm to Pearl?
“Love me, love my dog,” she muttered.
Setting aside the troubling thought, she looked around her deserted clinic, and a happy bubble rose up and popped. She loved what she did.
If he couldn’t tolerate animals, their chances at a happily ever after would be grounded before they could lift off. But another question slapped her like a cold trout across the mouth.
Did she like him enough to explore the possibility of long-term with him?
She released Pearl from her office and stood back while her dog sniffed the floor where Leo had stood moments before.
“What’s not to like?” she asked aloud. Pearl glanced at her over her muscular shoulder. “He’s charming, good-looking, and rich. He might be the one responsible for me keeping my doors open.” Most importantly, he noticed her. He treated her as though she mattered. Made her feel feminine and beautiful … unlike some people .
She huffed a laugh. “No, Reece Hunnicutt, I am going to enjoy this happy little afterglow. I’ve allowed you to live rent-free in my brain way too long, and I’m over it. I am now evicting you.”
With that, she locked up and took Pearl home.
Despite his efforts to recover it, Reece’s day had gone from merely being in the crapper to taking a deeper dive inside it. He kept his gaze trained on Cantrell’s truck’s taillights as it headed away from the Miners Tavern. At least the dude was going in the right direction down Bowen Street, which meant there was an even chance he was taking Neve to her clinic like he’d said he would. Only when the red glow winked out did he finally break his stare.
At that very moment, Noah clapped a hand on his shoulder and looked toward the same void where the truck had just been. “So. Neve and Leo Cantrell. Did not see that one coming.” He swiveled his head toward Reece. “Did you?”
“Nope.”
Noah released him and tucked his hands under his armpits. “It totally makes sense, though. I can see how that would work.”
Reece aped a noncommittal resting face. For reasons he couldn’t comprehend, it was a struggle to put it there and keep it in place. “What does that mean?”
Noah shrugged. “I don’t know. They just seem to go together. You know, like tequila and lime.” He plastered on a shit-eating grin and snapped a clean bar towel on Reece’s stomach.
“Hey!” The move surprised—and annoyed—Reece more than stung him. He yanked the towel from Noah’s grasp.
“I think they’re cute together,” Joy, leaning on the bar top, chimed in. “And did you see how he kept his eyes glued to her all night?”
Reece could feel Joy’s stare settle on him as he picked up a glass and polished it with the newly acquired towel. His annoyance mushroomed. Was she trying to get a rise out of him, and if so, why?
Doesn’t matter why because it’s not going to work .
Charlie threw back the last trace of beer in his glass. “He kept his eyes glued to her because Neve looked really hot tonight. Did she do something different with her hair?”
Joy ran on. “Yes, and her makeup and her nails. She also had on a new ensemble.”
“From the Vogue Vault?” the all-hearing, all-knowing Dixie butted in from across the room.
“Yep. I helped her scour the racks, and she got some great stuff,” Joy called over her shoulder. “For a small-town consignment store, it’s amazing what they stock in there.”
Joy was a fashion maven, so she ought to know. Not that Reece gave two flying fucks about women’s clothing, though he had noticed the plush off-the-shoulder sweater Neve had worn. It was the same steely blue as her eyes, bringing out their sparkle, and it had highlighted her curves and her creamy white shoulders. Had she been wearing a bra? An image of Cantrell finding out for himself had Reece tightening the glass in a death grip.
What the fuck is wrong with me tonight? Had to be the unwelcome twists and turns his day had taken.
Dixie glanced down at her own getup that brought to mind a neon-blue bar sign. “That’s where I get all my clothes.” Reece would never understand women’s fashion, especially when it varied so wildly from Dixie’s outfit to the subtle but alluring one Neve had worn. Not that Reece ever took notice of what Neve wore, except for tonight. Yeah, she had looked hot. And he meant that in the most brotherly of ways.
Charlie fingered Joy’s sleeve. “Is that where you picked up this number?”
Joy grinned. “Like it?”
He shamelessly eyeballed a slight gap in her neckline. “Oh yeah. I’ll show you how much later when I take it off.”
“For fuck’s sake!” Reece exploded. “Will you stop with the sexual innuendos already?”
His comment did little except encourage a round of laughter—at his expense. “Those aren’t innuendos, bro,” Charlie crowed. “They’re my plans for later.”
“I wonder if Neve is getting ‘innuendoed’ right now,” Dixie added cheerfully. “Seems she wanted to leave a lasting impression. ”
Noah twisted the knife. “I’d call it mission accomplished. It wasn’t just the eyeballs Cantrell couldn’t keep in his head. It was also the way he couldn’t keep his tongue in his mouth. Shit. I feel a sudden urge to get home to my woman.”
“Not yet, Romeo,” Dixie clucked. “We have cleaning up to do.”
Reece tuned out the back-and-forth that followed, instead registering the gut punches the conversation had delivered. Curiosity over why they bothered him so much hovered on the edge of his consciousness. Yeah, Cantrell was slick and rich and a total player, but Reece had never reacted so viscerally toward any of Neve’s dates before.
Because she barely dates, and when she does, it’s never serious, an annoying little voice piped up in his head. He told it to shut up. He could have sworn it answered him with a smirk.
And why the hell was he so focused on Neve lately anyway? He filled his lungs and exhaled long and deep.
Transference .
He was picking on her because she was an easy target who was always there , and she was tough enough to let it roll off her back. Or very forgiving. Or both. Not that she had to forgive him or tolerate his shit, but somehow she simply did because she was … Neve.
Was she his best female friend?
Yes. She totally was. And her reward, apparently, was to take the brunt of his frustration aimed at the actual source: Chelsea, the true culprit who had continued blowing up his phone with a flurry of texts during his drive to Durango and even into his shift at the bar.
Jesus Christ, what an utter mess he had made.
What he needed was to get back to what he loved and put the rest aside to be worked on later. Even though the woman in the woods hadn’t been terribly hurt today, when he’d recognized possible danger, instinct had taken over and propelled him to act. It had been a total rush, and a feeling of rightness had settled over him. Truth be told, his presence there had made a difference. Not only because she could have died from exposure if she’d been stuck there overnight, but because, without thinking, he’d known right away what to do and how to talk to her.
Cade could have gotten her out, but Reece understood his knack for calming people, for taking their anxiety down a few notches, and he used that gift like a tool. This particular woman had needed that skill. Cade’s anxiety would have fueled her own, and a manageable situation might have escalated into a panic fest that wouldn’t have served either of them well. Reece had witnessed it before.
Noah barked a laugh and pointed at the glass in Reece’s hand. “Dude, I think it’s as clean as it’s going to get. Give it a rest before you break it.”
“Fuck you.”
“Oh, there’s a brilliant comeback.”
Reece was being an ass—he knew that. But somehow he couldn’t stop himself. He reminded himself of victims’ loved ones, who sometimes lashed out at the rescue team because they were hurting and wanted to bury that hurt under mounds of anger. Thank God Dixie chose that moment to appear beside him because her sudden presence startled him out of his wallowing.
She took the glass from his hand. “If ya’ll ask me, I think he’s just tired of them supermodels he’s always running around with. Neve’s got to be a fresh breath after them airheads.”
What the hell was she talking about? “What supermodels, and who’s tired of them?”
Dixie blinked. “Neve’s future husband. Leo Cantrell, of course.”
Noah leaned back against the bar. “How do you know he dates supermodels, Dix?”
“I hear things.” She pointed a wicked nail at him. “From your ex-girlfriend, for one.”
Noah straightened so fast he nearly launched himself. “Since when have you been talking to her ?”
“Since she came back into town for your wedding.” Dixie beamed him a sly smile.
“But she’s not invited,” he spluttered.
Reece stifled a laugh. It was fun to watch someone besides him on the hot seat. Noah and Ursula had been a thing since childhood—kind of like him and Neve—but Noah had finally wised up and broken it off in time for Hailey to crash into his life. And it had been the best thing to ever happen to his brother, hands down.
“Maybe she’s inviting herself,” Reece offered. “That’s her style, which means she’ll show up whether you want her there or not.”
Wait. Neve and I haven’t been anything. Ever .
God, he needed an uninterrupted night’s sleep. Ever since he’d stepped away from search and rescue, he hadn’t slept more than two hours in a row. Shane thought he was suffering from some kind of PTSD, but Shane didn’t know shit.
“Yeah, that would be just like Ursula,” Charlie chuffed.
“Who’s Ursula?” asked Joy.
The discussion took off, and judging by the pained look on Noah’s face, he was not enjoying the jaunt down memory lane led by Charlie and Dixie. Reece was too wrung out to jump on the train, and he stepped into the back vestibule that led to Noah’s office and the stairs leading to the upper apartment. He looked up longingly toward the refuge beckoning at the top of the steps.
Patrons must have noticed him stepping away because their calls to come back rang from the bar, but he had no interest in rejoining them. He was shredded, and he needed to retreat and recharge, so he slunk upstairs, flinching each time a wooden tread groaned under his weight.
“Where are you going, bro?” Noah called from below.
Reece paused, not looking down. “I’m tired. I need to get some shut-eye.”
“I’m pulling out the good bourbon.” Reece could practically hear his brother’s eyebrows bounce up and down. When Reece didn’t bite, Noah continued. “Besides, I owe you your pay and tips.”
“Keep ’em, or give them to Luanne. With the way her kid eats, I’m sure she could use the extra.”
“She’ll appreciate that.” Noah cocked his head to the side. “Everything okay?”
“Yep. Living the dream.”
Before Noah could toss any more questions at him, Reece took the steps two at a time and bolted the door behind him, as if he could barricade himself against the demons chasing him.
Once he was safely locked inside, the unfortunate reality of his situation took him by the shoulders and shook him hard. He missed real search and rescue so damn much. Funny thing, though. He didn’t miss Chelsea.
And another realization dawned: If he wanted to get back to his first passion, he couldn’t hang around Fall River filling his time with this or that odd volunteer job.
The time had come to get serious about moving on.