Chapter 6
Declan
Isit across from Zara, the conversation easy and interesting.
She’s an influencer from New York who’s in town to meet with the wife of one of my poker buddies and old high school friends, Zane Wyatt.
His twin sister owns this restaurant, an upscale modern bistro decorated in dark woods, blues, and yellows.
The subtle hum of conversations drifts throughout the space, the upbeat music adding to the festive yet relaxing atmosphere.
“It’s been nice, Declan. I’ve got a conference call to prep for, but I’d like to do this again.” She watches me, her finger running down her glass suggestively. “I’ll be heading to Chicago in a few days, then back to New York.”
“I’d like that.” I scoot back my chair as she stands. “I’ll text you tomorrow.”
Zara leans over to kiss my cheek, her green eyes full of promise, and I walk her to the door leading into the hotel lobby, watching her walk away, her hips swaying, her long legs accentuated by the heeled boots hugging her calves.
I turn to head back into the bar, the intoxicating scent of her perfume lingering, when I glance into the main dining room.
Dammit.
Sitting at a table with a clear view into the bar where I’m standing is Bree Winthrop, who obviously saw me through the squared archway with Zara. She sends a half-smile that doesn’t reach her eyes and turns her attention back to her friend.
I stride over, weaving through tables, frustration coursing through me at this unfortunately timed turn of events.
“Hi.” I glance between Bree and her friend, one of Nash’s sisters, I think. Hannah, maybe? Is she the friend who was at the bar in Austin? “Can I speak to you for a second?”
Bree looks at Hannah before meeting my eyes, no hint of what she’s thinking in those honey-brown orbs. “I’m having dinner right now, Declan.” She takes a bite of food to emphasize her point.
Poor Hannah. At hearing my name, her eyes widen. It’s Nash’s sister. I remember now. She takes a sip of water before placing her napkin on the table. “I need to run to the ladies, anyway. I’ll be back in three.”
Good call, Hannah.
I slide into her seat across from Bree, the clock ticking down. “It was too late to cancel drinks, Austin. I’m not going out with her again.”
“Who you see is none of my business, Declan.” She reaches for her cocktail, taking a sip as if I don’t exist.
“Is that right?”
“Yes. That is right.” Bree shoots me a look that could freeze whiskey, and the way she fiddles with the stem of her glass leads me to believe it’s going to shatter in about three seconds.
I place my elbows on the table and lean in, my voice low.
I hold her warm brown eyes with mine as I speak.
“I asked for your number, to which you said ‘no’.” Her nostrils flare.
“Then you introduced a fake boyfriend to me. Earlier today, I might add. A smarter man would take the hint.” Bree’s lips tighten, a thin, hard line.
“But our kisses? They are fucking fire. Which tells me everything your words won’t. ”
I stand, pushing Hannah’s chair in . “See you around, Austin.”
And before she can say anything back, I stride into the bar, pay my tab, and head home.
I pull into the parking lot of Stillwater Animal Hospital, unsure of what’s next.
The vet kept the pup from yesterday overnight to run tests, which came back normal except for a little dehydration.
Bree and I had left both our names in the event that an owner wasn’t located.
No owner was found, so I’m here to collect the little bug.
The vet tech said Bree wasn’t available.
So it looks like it’s just me and Ladybug.
That’s what I’ve decided to name her. It’s sort of short for marmalade, the color of her fur.
Plus, she’s cute as a bug. I don’t really need a dog, but I have property with plenty of space for her to run around.
Once she’s trained, I can even bring her to work with me. The office staff will love her.
I try to push down my feelings of regret about yesterday. I didn’t do one damn thing wrong, but the lack of expression on Bree’s face said everything. She saw me with another woman after we kissed in the vault. And if I could redo yesterday and never make that date, I would.
But I’m not the kind of jerkwad who cancels a date an hour out. Not my style, and it never will be. I step out of the car, storm clouds in the distance moving in quickly. I hope this is quick so we don’t get caught in the rain.
A bell chimes as I open the clinic door, the smiling receptionist greeting me from behind the large counter. The interior is a soft sunny yellow with the trademark Hill Country limestone half-way up each wall. An assortment of toys and treats line the wall to my left.
“May I help you?”
A woman’s voice cuts in from my right. “He’s with me.”
Before I even turn around, my entire body goes on high alert. Wasn’t expecting her to be here. I nod at the vet tech and head over to the long bench where Bree sits.
“Hey, Austin.”
She pretends to be composed, but the way her eyes track my movements tells a different story. “They called you, too?”
“Yep.” I sit, leaving at least three feet between us on the wide wooden seat. The smell of disinfect fills the air. “They couldn’t reach you.”
“Walker James was recording.”
Of course he was. Walker-fucking-James is a twenty-something country singer who’s had two number-one hits back-to-back, with a third on the rise. The ladies love him, especially since his underwear shot in Times Square. Nash signed him early, which is something my buddy’s proud of.
And I was, too, until I realized that Bree and Walker know each other.
“How’s that going?” I do my best to act like I don’t care who the young hit maker is.
“Great. I think we’re going to fast-track the song. It’s going to be a hit. None of us can quit singing it.”
I nod my head and turn my face casually forward. It’s good to see my buddy Nash being successful with his record label.
He and I met on the basketball court when I moved to Indigo Hills in middle school.
If it weren’t for him and his cousin, Ryder, I would have been a bigger mess than I was.
Losing your parents at that age is rough enough.
Moving across the country to a place where it rarely snows and ‘hot’ takes on a whole new meaning?
Next level. Those two welcomed me into the fold, making the transition easier.
After high school, Nash moved to Tennessee to write songs while the rest of us entered the workforce or went to college. I chose to work at my uncle’s mill, but after two years, I started taking some night classes, eventually earning a business degree at Cobalt Ridge.
Never saw that coming, but my uncle saw potential in me I didn’t know existed. He said I had a knack for running the mill. Turns out he was right. It’s in my blood now.
“Ms. Winthrop, Mr. Wilder, come on back.”
A second technician leads us to exam room three, a large room in the corner. Two chairs sit against the window adjacent to the exam table. “Dr. Valentine will be with you shortly.”
Lady luck is not on my side this week. Before I have a chance to process, Lacey Valentine walks through the door, taking both Bree and me in with one long sweep of her deep blue eyes. I used to get into a lot of trouble with those eyes.
“Dec.” Lacey walks toward me, where we hug like the old friends we are. “Good to see you.”
“You too, Lace.”
Ever the professional, Lacey extends her hand to Bree. “I’m Lacey Valentine, but please call me Lacey.”
“Bree Winthrop. Call me Bree.”
Lacey takes out a chart and looks it over. “Labs are good. She did get some IV fluids last night and this morning, plus a dewormer. She’s a little underweight, but not by much. I’ll leave a list of recommended foods at the front. Other than that, she’s all set. Any questions for me?”
As Bree asks about crate training and a feeding schedule, a tech brings Ladybug to us.
I take her, nuzzling her soft fur. “Hi, Ladybug. Did you enjoy your bath?” Bree and Lacey look at each other with mock eyerolls. “Hey. It could happen.”
“It was nice to see you again, Dec. Bree, nice to meet you.” Then Lacey steps into the back while the tech repeats what Lacey already told us.
I grab a leash and harness, plus a couple of toys from the wall display, then pay half the bill.
Bree insisted on splitting it.
We head outside, the sky angry and threatening, while Bree carries Ladybug. Bree heads straight for her SUV, a brand new Lexus LX, then opens the hatch. “I’ll take her.”
“Nobody’s decided that yet, Austin.”
She looks at me, eyebrow quirked, her body full of sass. “Not true. I did.” She places Ladybug inside what appears to be a new kennel, then closes the hatch.
“So you’re kidnapping her.” The first drops of rain dot her windows.
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“I named her. She should come home with me.”
“Do you have a kennel in your truck?” Bree points to my vehicle, completely devoid of anything puppy-related. Damn. She has a point, though I won’t admit that out loud.
Instead, I lean close, the rain coming down heavier now. “The only way Ladybug is leaving with you is if we share custody.” My eyebrow quirks at her indignant, gorgeous look. “At the very least, she’s half mine.”
Bree hitches her breath, her smallish tits heaving. Why does this turn me on?
“Fine.” She retrieves her phone and hands it over. “Put your number in.”
I do what the sassy vixen asks, handing it back to her as she slides into her driver’s seat.
“Annoyingly Hot Lumber Enthusiast? That’s your name?”
I shrug, leaning across her body to speak to Ladybug. A loud clap of thunder booms around us. “Be a good girl for Mommy. I’ll see you soon.” I blow a kiss to the puppy, sad that the little one isn’t coming home with me.
Mommy? Did I really have to go there?
From the smile I see in the rearview mirror, it was the perfect choice.