SEAL of Valor (Iron Tide Brotherhood #4)

1. Reese

Reese

Terror stares up at me, wide brown eyes trusting as I lean forward and pat him on the head. The complete opposite of his name—at least in my opinion—the French Bulldog is a rescue who seems to be struggling with adapting to his new environment.

“I’ve tried everything, Dr. Faye. I cannot get him to eat anything.

” The woman sitting in front of me is a fresh-out-of-college blonde with her hair in a messy bun, her grey eyes shimmering with emotion.

“I’ve never had a dog before, and I just don’t know how I’m messing this up.

I read all the books before I got him, but he just stopped eating out of the blue.

Maybe he doesn’t like me?” Her bottom lip quivers at the thought.

“Honey, it is not that at all.” I offer her a kind smile, then look back at the notes Emmy gave when she called to book her new dog with my practice. “It looks like it’s been about a month since you adopted him?”

“Yes. He’s just so sweet, too. I’m going to change his name, but I didn’t want to do too much at once. The shelter said that when he was brought in, he wouldn’t even get off his bed. He was eating at first, but then he just stopped.”

“Depression is common in dogs turned over to the shelter,” I say sadly.

“He is old enough to have remembered his previous owners and likely doesn’t understand why they turned him in.

” It makes me sick to think about it. I mean, I understand that life can change in the blink of an eye—boy, do I know that—but to just give this little guy up once he’s no longer in the puppy phase is such garbage.

I can still recall how troubled my sweet boy was when I adopted him. A black, long-haired German Shepherd puppy who was given up when he’d gotten a little bigger than they’d wanted.

“Poor baby,” Emmy whimpers. “I’m trying everything.”

Her emotions are all over the place, and I imagine it has to do with a lot more than her new dog. He’s simply the catalyst. “Have there been any changes in your life recently?”

She sniffles. “My boyfriend left two days ago.” Her bottom lip quivers. “Sorry, is it that obvious?” She wipes her fingers beneath her eyes.

“Was Terror eating before?”

Emmy considers my question; then her eyes get wide. “He was! Not much, but at least something. The last couple of days are when it’s gotten really bad. He just lies there and stares at me all day and night.”

I rub the dog’s head, then reach into the cabinet for my can of spray peanut butter for dogs. After applying some on top of a treat, I set it down in front of Terror. He sniffs it, then carefully licks the top.

“Did you see that!” Emmy squeals. “He likes it!”

Terror looks up at her, then wags his little tail before eating the treat.

“How did you do that?” she asks me, her gaze locking on me like I used magic to coerce her dog into eating, and she wants my secret.

“Honey, I think Terror is feeling some of your stress. It is my professional opinion that he loves you so much he’s depressed right alongside you.”

“Really?” Her eyes fill again, and a tear slips out as she stares at me, then looks down at her dog. “I feel so bad. This whole time, it was my fault.”

I smile. “It’s not your fault. Animals are sensitive to our feelings.

They love us far more than we deserve.” After making some notes in his file, I toss the can of spray peanut butter and a few treats into a bag, then offer it to her.

“Add a little to his food and set it next to you so he doesn’t have to leave your side to eat.

If it doesn’t get any better, let me know, and we can run some tests.

But as far as I can tell, you have a sensitive little love bug here who is in desperate need of a new name. ”

Emmy laughs softly and wipes her eyes. “I couldn’t agree more.”

Terror wags his butt and walks toward her, clearly happy to see her smiling. She lifts him into her arms, then takes the bag.

“Thank you so much, Dr. Faye.”

“You are so welcome, Emmy. Call if you need anything, okay?” I open the exam room door so she can head out to the receptionist’s desk. Then, after one final wave, I close it and head back through the rear exit of the exam room.

The aroma of cleaner and air freshener hits my nose. It’s become so familiar to me over the years that I barely notice it. However, the budding headache I’ve had all morning doesn’t seem too keen on the heavy scents.

“Little guy okay?” Ash asks as she looks up from where she’s sitting behind a computer. Her dark hair has been colored at the tips and pulled back from her face. Black-rimmed glasses are perched on her nose, but she slides them up further.

Since it’s still early on a Saturday, Ash, Kendra—our receptionist—and I are the only ones on staff today. Normally, we’re closed, but once a month, we run for half a day. I don’t mind it, given how desperate I am to keep my mind occupied these days.

“He is. Depressed on behalf of his new owner.”

“Sweet boy. He needs a new name,” she comments, turning back to the computer to finish whatever it was she was typing.

“Yeah, her boyfriend left her two days ago, and she’s been struggling. Seems like he’s feeling it right alongside her.”

“Animals, man. They love us way too much.”

I laugh softly, then yawn. “Three o’clock is really catching up with me.”

“Three o’clock? Why in the world were you up that early?”

Because I couldn’t stop having nightmares over a certain cowboy I never want to see again. “Just couldn’t sleep.”

“Then go and get some now. I can close up.”

“Nah, it’s okay. I have some notes to finish up before I leave.”

“You need a life.”

“Excuse me, I have a life.”

“Speaking of.” Ash grins and turns around in her chair. “When is Mr. Mysterious going to come meet the rest of us?”

I smile at her and roll my eyes. “He’s hardly mysterious. Besides, we’ve only been on a handful of dates.” After a relationship with my current boss turned into an absolute nightmare of a breakup, I went three months without another date.

Until Max brought his puppy in after it ate some chocolate. We’d hit it off pretty quickly, and it’s been really nice ever since.

“A handful of swoony dates,” Ash replies.

“And how do you know that?” I ask. I’m notoriously private about my life. Because I’m terrified that, if I open those particular wounds, I’ll never stop bleeding.

“I can dream, can’t I? Besides, I have to live vicariously through you since my dating life is as dry as the Sahara.”

Laughing, I head toward my office. “It wouldn’t have to be if you’d just let Jeremiah take you out.”

She gets up and follows me, dropping down into the chair on the other side of my desk. “We work together; that could be weird.”

“Unless it works out, and then it could be great,” I point out. Except that constant pit in my stomach serves as a reminder that, even when things feel destined, they don’t always work out.

Oh, boy.

The anniversary is in just a couple of days, and no matter how many years pass, I always get emotional. Not because of him, though. Or, at least, that’s what I’m going to tell myself.

“I’m considering it.” She plucks a small chocolate from the bowl sitting on top of my desk and sticks it into her mouth. “When are you going out again?”

I yawn. “Tonight. He’s taking me to dinner.”

“Oooh! Where?”

“An Italian restaurant downtown. Ciao Bella. Have you heard of it?”

“Um, yes. Do you know how hard it is to get reservations there?”

“Since I didn’t even know the place existed until he texted me this morning, I’m going to say no.”

Ash shakes her head as she stares at me in disgust. “Romance is so wasted on you.”

A short alarm beeps, alerting us that the back door has been opened. Curious, I push to my feet and head out into the hall right as my ex-boyfriend and current boss strolls toward me, a frustrated expression on his face. The guy always looks like he just got done sucking on a lemon.

“I need to talk to you, Reese.”

My stomach drops. Ugh. After I caught him cheating in one of the exam rooms, I’ve managed to avoid him at every turn. I think we’ve spent maybe five minutes together—collectively—since.

“Good luck,” Ash whispers as I move past her and head toward his office.

I really should have just quit. But I love this job. Just because he’s a jerk doesn’t mean I have to leave, right? Besides, so long as he keeps to his corner and I keep to mine, it works.

His office is the largest in the building, and I fight the urge to stare at the photo of him and a pretty blonde on his desk. The same blonde whom I’d caught half-naked in one of our exam rooms.

What a fun Tuesday that was.

“What is it?” I demand, crossing my arms.

“Can you close the door?”

Not a chance. “No. It’s just us and Ash. What is it?”

Phil leans back against the cabinet behind his desk. “Look, you’re a good vet, but I think things have—”

A wave of anger surges through me. “I’m sorry, are you firing me?” No. This cannot be happening. It absolutely cannot be happening.

“Don’t make this harder than it already is. We just don’t have it in the budget.”

“The budget?” I screech. “You literally just hired Beckah! I’ve been here six years!”

“And if Beckah had the complaints you do, then she’d be out the door.”

“Complaints?” The color drains from my face as I stare at him. “What complaints?”

“We’ve had one or two that said you don’t spend enough time with the patients.”

I just stare at him.

What else can I do?

“You’re firing me because I dumped you.” It’s not a question, because I already know the truth. The budget is fine, and I have no complaints.

“Geez, come on, Reese. You know that’s not true.” He runs a hand over the back of his neck.

“Then what is it?” I snap. “Because I wouldn’t sleep with you?”

He mutters something under his breath and shakes his head.

“No, of course not. Because admitting the truth would leave you open to a lawsuit.” Clenching my hands into fists, I stare him down.

“You waited just long enough that it wouldn’t look suspicious.

You had me come in here on a Saturday to work so that you could fire me without an audience!

” I’m screaming now, not really caring at all who hears me.

Ears burning, face hot, I glare at a man I once considered someone I might be able to see a future with.

“You’re making this something it’s not, Reese. We don’t have the budget for it.” He shrugs, cool as a cucumber. Which, of course, only infuriates me further. “You can finish your shift, but after today—”

“Finish my shift?” I scoff. “You know what, Phil? You go ahead and fire me. Because one day, all of this is going to come back and bite you right in the rear of those two-hundred-dollar jeans you love to wear.” I fling the door open, then slam it behind me as I stomp down to my office.

“He can’t be serious!” Ash exclaims as I step into my office. She’s on her feet, likely having been eavesdropping the entire time.

“Oh, he is,” I reply as I start gathering the things out of my desk. “And that’s just fine. I’ll find another job. One without a cheating jerk for a boss!” I scream as loud as I can.

Tears burn in the corners of my eyes, and it’s all I can do to keep from marching back into his room and sucker punching him. Knowing him, he’d hit me with an assault charge right alongside the wrongful termination.

Fired.

He fired me.

“Come on, Reese, you can’t leave,” Ash says.

“Ms. Montero, please leave Dr. Faye alone as she packs her things.” Phil’s tone is cold. Collected. Jerk.

Ash whirls on him. “You know what? You can stick my employment right up your—” she breaks off. “Nose,” she adds.

It’s almost enough to make me laugh. “Don’t quit on my behalf, Ash,” I tell her. “Please, I’ll be fine.”

“Yeah, well, so will I. And I won’t work here another second with this jerkhole.”

“Think about what you’re doing, Ms. Montero,” Phil warns.

“I am.” She marches right past him and grabs her purse, then helps me with my bag. With her arm around my waist, I manage to make it down the hall toward the exit.

“I really am sorry it turned out this way, Reese. I care about you.”

“Oh no he didn’t.” Ash takes a deep breath, drops the bags, then turns around and marches straight for Phil.

“Ash, it’s not worth it.”

She comes to a stop, glaring up at him. “You are trash, Phil. I think it. Reese thinks it, she’s just too nice to admit it.

But there’s not a single person here who actually likes working for you.

And I, for one, cannot wait to make a whole lot of phone calls the moment we leave here.

Other employees, clients…they’re all going to know just who you really are.

Have fun begging people to keep bringing their fur babies here. ”

He glares at her, cheeks beet red.

She spins on her heel and marches right back around. After retrieving our bags, she shoves the door open, and we step out into the parking lot.

I can barely see, but the farther away I get, the easier it becomes.

“You really shouldn’t have quit, Ash.”

“Psh, it’s not a big deal. Besides, now that I don’t work with him, maybe I’ll give Jeremiah a call.” She winks at me. Then her smile fades. “Sweetie, are you going to be okay?”

I take a deep breath. “I’ll survive. I can’t believe he fired me. He said I had complaints, Ash. I don’t have any complaints, do I?”

“Not a single one, dollface.” She reaches up and wipes my cheek. “You wanna grab some food?”

“Nah. I think I need some time. Maybe Monday? I imagine we’ll both be free for lunch.” I try to laugh, but it comes out as a strangled sob.

“I’m free.” She smiles. “Maybe it’s time for you to open that practice you’ve been talking about? You know, when God closes one door—”

“I know. We’ll see.” I take another deep breath, my mind becoming clearer the longer we stand out here. “Thanks for the support.”

“Anytime. You’re the only reason I stayed there, anyway. I meant what I said. Phil sucks.”

Laughing, I open the door to my car and toss my purse inside. “This hurts, though. I love my patients.”

“I know you do. Look, go home and relax. Then go on your amazing date with Mr. Swoony, okay?”

I smile. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Probably be miserable.” She winks. “Love you, girl.”

“I love you, too.” I pull her in for a hug, then climb into my Sorento while Ash heads down for her Jeep Wrangler. Fired.

Phil actually fired me.

As I turn on my car, I watch him walk out of the back entrance and head over toward a dark grey SUV parked near the back of the parking lot. The window opens partially, so I can’t confirm who’s inside, though I imagine it’s his new girlfriend.

Did she tell him he had to fire me?

And why do I even care?

Ash is right; this is an opportunity if I let it be. Maybe it is time to open up my own clinic. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do but kept putting off because it would mean putting down actual roots here in Charleston.

Something that’s always felt impossible because it means permanently severing the ones I have in Stormwatch Landing.

But maybe it is time.

Nineteen years is a long time to spend waiting for someone who likely moved on a long, long time ago.