Chapter 12
Colter kept nodding at conversations he wasn’t listening to, smiling at jokes he didn’t hear, while every nerve in his body itched.
Sure, Cheryl was stunning, sweet, and the kind of woman a man would be lucky to tie down, except the only tying he saw in his near future was tying one on.
Around the fire stood a handful of women throwing eager glances his way. They were his blind dates—yes, dates with an S, as in multiple women. Vivi hadn’t just set him up—she and his grandmother had orchestrated today like he was the fucking Bachelor.
Rose ceremony, minus the roses, plus a nine-layer dip and his grandmother scoring commitment potential from a lawn chair.
He counted one, two, three, four women. A fifth one was in the pool, fiddling with her ponytail. The messy kind that gave a man serious dreams about giving it a nice, hard tug.
She wore a plain blue suit. Not a skimpy bikini or a G-string held together by dental floss.
Nope, this woman—and he meant wo-man—was in a simple one piece made for swimming laps.
He’d never been a fan of the one-piece, but that was rapidly changing.
One strap had slipped, leaving her shoulder bare.
He meant to look away—he really did—but then she glanced his way and he went stock-still. Which was the exact opposite of what was happening south of the border.
Sutton.
Unlike at the office, she was all fresh-faced with a touch of gloss that made her lips look absurdly soft and distracting in a way he didn’t appreciate. When their eyes met, instead of looking away, she lifted her hand and gave him a little wave.
By the way his body manned up, she might as well have flashed him her tits.
His own smile was lagged and probably looked ridiculous. Because while he could focus long enough to stitch up a mangled bull’s leg, deliver a litter of bunnies, all while keeping the animals calm, he apparently lost all higher brain function the second lust entered the equation.
She had the kind of deep blue eyes that knocked the air out of a man’s lungs, and her smile made him want to do things he absolutely should not be fantasizing about at a family backyard party.
She’s vulnerable, he reminded himself. And way too young. And his employee.
And a single mom. And, and, and…
Apparently, his dick forgot the baker’s dozen of ands because it snapped into action like a fucking heat-seeking missile, locked on its target and headed her way.
“I’ll be right back,” he said to Cheryl.
“Of course,” she said back. “I wanted to get another glass of wine anyway.”
He considered pointing out where the drinks were, but he’d been raised better than that, so he said, “Don’t worry about it, I’ll bring you one back.”
After I talk to Sutton.
He took three steps and Eli stepped in his way. “Going to talk to one of your women?”
“Nope, just going to welcome one pint-sized guest.” Because splashing around with her mom like a dolphin was the cutest little mermaid he’d ever seen.
“Then you aren’t staring at your vet tech?” Eli asked.
“Nope. But it would be rude not to welcome her and Lynlee.”
“Then you don’t mind if I take my shot at Dream Girl? Because she makes for one hell of a dream. You know the kind I’m talking about.”
“Off limits and watch your fucking mouth,” Colter said then leveled his brother with a look hard enough to flatten the Rockies. Instead of being a smart man and dropping the subject, Eli burst out laughing.
“Just saying. If you’re not interested, then I don’t see the problem.”
He loved it when Eli was home. But the thought of his brother pursuing Sutton brought out all these possessive qualities that were as confusing as it was irritating.
Protective of a vulnerable woman? Sure. But possessive? He didn’t do that. Well, at least he hadn’t until his new vet tech walked into that bar the other night looking like a walking, wet dream.
Houston, we have a problem.
Needing a moment to regroup, Sutton hopped out of the pool and made her way to the food table. Skin pruned, hair dripping, she was waterlogged in every sense of the word, struggling to stay afloat emotionally, while mentally treading water.
She had no idea what she thought she’d feel today. Maybe reassurance of some kind? But instead, her confidence in her decision to come to Bridlewood was slipping.
Three men had come onto her in the pool, which in theory should have been flattering.
Harry, the local barber who looked like he could have trimmed Jesus’s beard.
Kal, a single dad from Lynlee’s school. And Aiden, the sexy and grounded one, who was marriage material wrapped in a dangerous smile and ran the local animal shelter.
Three perfectly nice men. Zero interest. If she were keeping a scoreboard—and at this point, why not—it read: Nice Men, zero. One Aggravating Veterinarian with a delectable ass, currently winning by a landslide he didn't even know he was in.
None of them had done it for her. No zing, no butterflies and not a single flutter of the lashes.
Then she’d caught Colter staring at her and, well, let’s say, it did something to her.
A hot and carnal something that she refused to give even a moment’s thought.
And then thought about it for thirty seconds anyway.
But the moment was short-lived because as soon as he realized it was her, he’d stopped so abruptly she glanced down, half-convinced she’d forgotten something crucial—like her swimsuit.
False alarm.
She was wearing her single mom shield today, which at the time her light-yellow suit had felt like a smart choice. But after bobbing up and down in a cool pool, her nipples made the fabric look like tissue paper.
With a sigh, she attacked the nine-layer dip like it was her nine-to-five. She was fairly certain that the caloric intake in that dip equaled an entire week’s worth of points. Good thing being surrounded by family who didn't know she was family meant the calories didn't count.
“Parker told me about Lynlee’s party. Thanks for the invite,” Parker’s mom said, walking up to the table right as Sutton crammed a handful of chips into her mouth.
“You’re welcome,” Sutton mumbled over crumbs. “Can Parker come?”
“I need to double check the calendar, but I don’t see why not. We haven’t formally met, I’m Cheryl.”
The woman took Sutton’s hand for a shake, only when Sutton pulled back she left enough salt for a bag of chips behind on the poor woman’s hand. “Sorry.”
“No biggie.” Cheryl clapped her hands twice and, like magic, she was back to perfectly coiffed. “How are you liking Bridlewood?”
“It’s just how I imagined living in a quaint, small town would be. Lynlee loves her school. Our neighbor, Ms. Tutty, is a godsend, and I’m starting to settle in at work.”
“That’s right, you work for Doctor Irresistible, right? Any inside hints you can give me to get a leg up on the other single women in town?” Cheryl stopped. “I mean, unless you were invited as a potential date as well.”
“Potential date?”
“It’s ridiculous, really. Vivi invited me here for a day of fun, sun and sexy veterinarians, only she failed to mention that a handful of other women were here for the same reason.”
Men like Colter didn’t exactly struggle for female attention, and Sutton had zero interest in joining the line of women hoping for a wink and a good time. So then what was up with the strange little pinch in her chest that made absolutely no sense whatsoever?
“Oh, I was invited, but not for Colter—I mean Dr. Callahan. But Vivi invited me so I would be forced to mingle with people my own age and have a meal that doesn’t consist of frozen chicken bites shaped like dinosaurs.”
Cheryl laughed. “Being a single mom is rough. Being a single mom looking for a catch in a pond this small is even rougher.”
“Lucky for me, the only thing I’m looking to catch today is some sun and fun.”
“That leaves two single Callahans and four single ladies. I like my odds.”
At that moment, Vivi walked up to the group and Sutton’s chest seized. How much had she heard?
“You found the dip. So good, right?” Vivi picked up a chip and bulldozed right into it. “Almost better than an orgasm.”
“Honey, it’s been so long since I’ve been in the room with a naked man I couldn’t tell you,” Cheryl said and Sutton felt a bond forming. Two single moms, working hard to provide all the happy their kids could want, and kicking ass while doing it.
“The last man I let into my life bolted at the word baby. I won’t make that mistake again. Lynlee’s happiness is too important. Plus, if I wanted something else to take care of, Lynlee’s wish would be a pony.”
“Don’t you ever just get lonely?” Cheryl asked. “Like wish there was someone to help carry the load when it’s hard, and snuggle with a set of strong arms when it’s good?”
“Sometimes. But I’d rather be lonely than let down.”
Vivi’s smile turned soft. “I felt that way too. Then I met a man who changed my idea of what companionship can look like. I was so busy running away from love that it nearly passed me by. Thankfully, Boone is a stubborn ass. For once, it worked in his favor.”
Cheryl rested her palm over her chest. “Isn’t that sweet. You give the rest of us hope. Doesn’t she, Sutton?”
The idea of love gave her something—but it wasn’t hope. Hives were more like it. However, she kept that information to herself and simply nodded.
“I’m going to go check on the other guests,” Vivi said. Putting a hand on Sutton’s shoulder, she added, “I just wanted to make sure you weren’t hiding out by the food.”
“Caught me,” Sutton said. “But I’m going to check in on Lynlee in a second.”
“I can do that,” Vivi said. “She and Parker are down by the stables with Boone. He’s showing them the new baby goats.”
“Lynlee must feel like she’s floating on cloud nine,” Sutton said. “You and your family are so generous and welcoming.”
“That’s because you’re good people, Sutton. Don’t forget that,” Vivi said. “Now be sure to try the artichoke dip. It’s to die for.”