Chapter 2
Dean
“And usually Tuesdays and Thursdays are when I get out of the office to go make farm calls. As I am sure you are aware, this is a pretty big horse town.” Dr. Garrett Davis chuckled.
Although in fantastic shape, Dr. Davis was pushing seventy.
His wife had nagged him enough to finally agree to retire after practicing veterinary medicine for forty years and move to Florida to be closer to their grandkids.
I was officially taking over his practice, and today was his final day, during which we reviewed everything.
“So that’s it, or at least everything I can think of.
You have my number if you ever need anything, and the staff have all been here long enough—some maybe too long—to be able to answer any questions as well,” Dr. Davis said as he made his way to the door.
I shook his hand one final time. The staff had already said their goodbyes and thrown him a retirement party earlier in the week.
He looked around and smiled. “You are going to be good for this town, Dr. Adler. Keep me updated, and don’t be a stranger.
” And with that, he walked out of his practice for the final time.
When I returned to my place that evening, I changed out of my scrubs, grabbed a beer, and dropped down on my couch with a large exhale.
Between moving to Primrose Hill and taking over my new practice, it had been a crazy few weeks.
All the years of school and all the long hours had finally paid off.
Being from a wealthy, prominent family out in California, I didn’t need to work.
I had a massive trust fund and all the connections in the world, but that wasn’t my style.
I grew up with guys like that, and I had zero respect for them.
I wanted to make my own way in life and have something I could be proud of.
I grew up at the polo fields, as my father loved to play, and I developed a love for horses at an early age.
So after finishing my degree at USC, I left California and attended Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Davis was a Texas A&M alum and someone I connected with at a networking event held at the university several years back.
We hit it off immediately, and he became a mentor to me during my surgery and oncology residency.
We spoke often, and he told me about his plans to retire.
He asked if I would be interested in moving out to the Hill Country in Texas, to a small town called Primrose Hill, to take over his practice.
He mentioned it being a big horse town with both hunter/jumper and western barns.
My original plan was to move back to California and open my own practice there to support the polo horse world.
However, the clientele I would be dealing with would not be ideal, and I would face significant competition in the area to acquire clients.
A small town and a slower way of life sounded refreshing.
Plus, taking over his practice would already give me an established client base.
Just as I was about to shut my eyes for a bit to relax, my phone started going off.
I answered the call. “What’s up?”
“Hey, brother, you all settled in bumfuck nowhere?” my younger brother, Archer, asked.
I rolled my eyes. “It’s called Primrose Hill, and it’s in the Hill Country. Hardly bumfuck nowhere, you moron.”
Archer laughed. “I’m just kidding. Have you gone out in the town yet? Any good-looking women there?”
It was my turn to laugh. “Yeah, brother, between my all-day work hours, farm calls, and moving in, I’ve had all the time in the world.”
“I plan to fly out in a couple of weeks to check on you and the women situation. Speaking of women, Margot keeps asking about you and when you plan on moving back home,” Archer said.
I sighed heavily. “Seriously? That woman is a nutcase and needs to stay as far away from me as possible.”
Archer laughed. “Margot’s hot as hell. You sure you don’t want to revisit that?”
I groaned, annoyed by this topic. “No. I’m good. I’ve got to get some sleep. I have an early morning farm call out at Walker James’s place.”
“Wait. The Walker James, the pitcher for the Austin Aviators?” Archer asked.
“That’s the one.”
“Well, shit. Forget what I said about bumfuck nowhere. That’s badass. Get me an autograph. You know he’s my favorite pitcher of all-time,” Archer said enthusiastically.
I laughed. “I’ll see what I can do. Not sure he will even be there, considering it’s the playoffs. I’ll see you in a couple of weeks.”
“All right, see you then. Keep me posted on the Walker James situation,” Archer said.
I laughed, said goodbye, and hung up the phone.
I got up from the couch and stood at the back window, bracing an arm against the frame.
The land stretched far and wide beyond the glass.
Rugged hills rose and fell, scattered with cypress and oak, their leaves shimmering in the breeze.
The sky was painted in rose and amber, the kind of Texas sunset that made even the rough edges of the day soften.
I’d stumbled onto this house by chance, tucked into the folds of the hills, with enough land to breathe and views that quieted a man’s mind.
A loud bark startled me from my thoughts as I looked down at my all-black German shepherd, Coal.
I glanced at the clock. “Right on time, Coal. Let’s get you some dinner.
” I walked toward the pantry to grab his dog food.
I heated up some leftover pasta for myself while Coal ate his dinner.
When the dishes were put away, I brushed my teeth and climbed into bed, Coal immediately jumping up on the bed and curling up at the end. I was exhausted, and sleep came easily.
The next morning was an early start, as I had to be at Walker James’s house by eight a.m. to administer his horses’ annual vaccinations, as well as conduct a checkup on his sister’s horse that had arrived from the East Coast about a month ago.
In addition to the horses, his barn manager also mentioned a couple of mini donkeys that they wanted me to check on.
I loaded up my truck with everything I needed and opened the passenger door for Coal to jump in.
Coal was a retired K-9 officer that I adopted a few years back, and was exceptionally well trained. He also happened to love farm calls.
I pulled up to the gate of the property and entered the code that Dr. Davis gave me.
I guided the truck through the gates and let out a slow breath as I made my way down the long drive, flanked by pristine white fencing.
The house sitting on the rise wasn’t the kind I grew up around—no pretentious marble columns, no oversized chandelier in the entryway.
This one was limestone and steel, with tall windows that pulled in the view.
The guesthouse was a smaller copy tucked under the oaks, and just past it sat the barn, the same pale stone but with a dark-green roof.
No frills. No excess. Just solid lines and quiet strength.
Two horses grazed lazily in the morning light, like they had all the time in the world.
Money built this place, sure, but it wasn’t trying to prove anything.
And damn if that didn’t make it more impressive.
I parked outside the barn and hopped out with Coal at my heels.
As I was grabbing the vaccines I needed, I heard footsteps approach on the gravel behind me.
I turned to see Walker’s barn manager, Theo, accompanied by a stunning woman whom I assumed was Walker’s sister.
Theo extended his hand. “Hey, Dr. Adler, I’m Theo Miller, Walker’s barn and property manager. We spoke on the phone yesterday. This is his sister, Addison James.”
I shook his hand and smiled. “Hey, Theo, nice to meet you. Call me Dean, please.” I then turned and took in the woman standing beside him—long chestnut hair falling in loose waves down her back, green eyes sharp and steady.
I offered my hand, suddenly aware of how long I’d been staring and of the silence stretching between us.
“Hey, Addison, I’m Dean. Nice to meet you as well. ”
Addison smiled and shook my hand. “Hey, Dean, thanks for coming by this morning.”
Coal trotted over and sat dutifully at my feet, looking up at Addison.
She bent down and rubbed his head and behind his ears.
“Hey, buddy, aren’t you such a handsome boy,” she cooed at Coal.
The bastard who was trained to wait for my command ate it up and rolled over onto his back to show his belly for more rubs.
I rolled my eyes. “Wow, Coal, way to give it up, buddy.” Coal usually didn’t warm up to someone so quickly.
Addison laughed while rubbing his belly. “He’s such a sweet guy.” She smoothed her hands down her jeans as she stood. “Okay, follow me, and I’ll show you the horses.”
I followed behind her, trying not to check out her ass in the tight denim she wore, but failing miserably.
I needed to get my shit together and at least attempt to be professional.
Theo showed me Walker’s two western horses, Tex and Ranger.
I laughed as Addison explained how unoriginal her brother Walker was.
“Walker, Texas Ranger. Get it?” she said as she rolled her eyes.
Tex was a big, solid black gelding with no markings, and Ranger was a chestnut with a stripe down his face and two white stockings on his hind legs.
I administered both their vaccines and then followed Theo to Walker’s mini donkeys, Bert and Ernie.
Also excellent names, I thought to myself.
After checking them over, Addison was waiting for me to follow her to her horse’s stall.
“This is Cash. Until about two months ago, we were competing at the Grand Prix level. He is an eight-year-old Holsteiner, and I want to be sure he doesn’t need any dental work yet. I think he is due soon,” Addison said.
I walked up to the impressive gelding, who was a dark bay with a white blaze on his face and two white stockings on his hind legs, similar to Ranger. My hand moved over Cash’s neck, and the horse leaned into me like I’d hit the perfect spot.
Addison laughed softly. “Careful—once you start, he’ll never let you quit.” The way she said it was easy, teasing, but I felt the words settle somewhere deeper than they should have.
I kept rubbing, mostly so I didn’t have to look up and give myself away. “So what happened two months ago?”
She grabbed the neck of her T-shirt and moved it to the side, revealing a significant scar that ran along her collarbone.
“I had a nasty fall on a young horse and broke my collarbone.” She said it like it was no big deal, but I couldn’t stop my gaze from catching on the line of her collarbone, delicate and distracting.
I shifted my weight, irritated at myself for noticing.
Goddamn it, not her. Not now. Not with someone who could complicate everything.
“Sorry to hear that. That is quite the battle wound though,” I said.
Addison laughed. “You could say that. I’m feeling stronger now. I should be able to get back to riding in the next couple of weeks, thankfully.”
I smiled and turned back toward Cash and opened his mouth.
I felt around and then turned back to Addison.
“I think he can go another two months or so before I need to float his teeth. I’ll make a note of it and be sure to put him on my schedule.
I think Tex could probably be done at the same time as well. ”
“Okay, great.” Addison smiled.
I turned toward Theo. “Does Walker have any other animals hiding around here that I need to check out before I take off?”
Theo chuckled. “Nope, just the three horses and two donkeys. Thanks again for coming this morning.”
“No problem. I’ll have the office reach out to you with the date that I can come out to float Tex’s and Cash’s teeth.” After I packed everything up and got Coal back in my truck, I saw Addison jogging out of the barn toward me.
“Hey, sorry! There is a horse I’m interested in buying a couple of towns over. Could I get you to do a prepurchase exam on her?” Addison asked hopefully.
“For sure. If you want, I can go there with you. We can take my truck with all my equipment so you don’t have to haul her to me,” I said. Why was I offering this? I was clearly attracted to her. What good could come from being alone in my truck with her for a couple of hours?
A pretty smile spread across her face, and fuck, did I like it aimed at me. “That would be amazing! Thanks so much! I’ll text you the details. Give me your phone.” She held out her hand, and I placed my phone in it. She entered her contact information and handed it back.
“No problem. I’ll talk to you soon,” I said while climbing into my truck. She waved me off, and I drove down the long drive out of the property, looking back at her out of my rearview mirror.
I was in trouble. I didn't date. It wasn't worth the effort, risk, and time—hell, I barely had time to sleep. I’d just taken over the only vet practice in Primrose Hill, and half the town showed up in my first week. My schedule was shot, my stress level was off the charts, and the last thing I needed was a distraction I couldn’t afford.
Casual was all I could offer a woman, and Addison was not that kind of girl.
She looked like someone who expected to matter.
And the truth was, if I started something I couldn’t finish—with her, of all people—it wouldn’t just blow back on me.
It could harm my reputation, my business, and possibly even the trust I was still trying to establish from this town.
But damn it, the attraction wasn’t going anywhere, and neither was the frustration that came with it.