Page 42 of The Geography of Happiness

“Sounds good,” I quickly agreed. Spend some more time with Terry and get to know his daughter better? Like I was ever gonna argue with that. “He’s eating up a storm and none the worse for wear after his neutering.”

Terry flinched. “Ouch. I’d almost forgotten.”

I chuckled. “He did fine. I was planning to drop him at the shelter tomorrow.”

“Oh.” Terry worried his lower lip. “That’s... great. Forever home next, right?”

Gil shot me a wry look, but I doubted Miller had a home waiting for him in Painted Bay. Luckily Gil kept his thoughts to himself, instead directing Terry to find himself a seat on the stacked hay bales while Gil fixed him a coffee. “Milk and sugar?”

“Just milk, thanks.” Terry watched Gil leave, then his gaze flicked back to me. He looked like he was about to say something when Holden interrupted.

“Hey, Terry.” Holden waved from the race. “Welcome to the circus, man. I can give you a bit of a tour after, if you want?”

Terry waved back. “I don’t want to hold you up.”

“You won’t. But as for the guy next to you—” Holden shot me a wide grin. “—maybe when you’re done chit-chatting anddrinking coffee, Mister Veterinarian, you can find time to join me in the ram pen. The sooner we start, the sooner we finish.”

I grinned and pointed to my still half-full coffee mug. “I’m on break, don’t you know?”

Holden laughed. “You’re always on break.”

I flipped Holden off and emptied the mug’s contents into the closest pen. “I better go before he gets punchy. Grab a seat and enjoy the show, but maybe nottoomuch, yeah?” I tipped my head to the left and Terry switched his gaze to where a bare-chested Holden was looking far too sexy for my liking.

Terry laughed. “You’ve lost your mind.” But there was a cute smirk on his lips, which told me he liked the idea that I might be a little jealous.

Gil reappeared and passed a mug of steaming coffee to Terry. “Here you go. Get that down you.”

Terry lifted it to his nose and inhaled deeply. “Mmm. Just what I needed.”

“My pleasure.” Gil tugged at my arm. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

“Sure.” I followed him to the next pen and put my back to the railing. “What’s up?”

“Feel free to say no, but are you super busy today?”

“Not really. I’ve got McEldowney’s sow next, and after that I told Jules I’d check out his new bull and vaccinate the dogs.” I narrowed my gaze. “Why?”

Gil fought a smile. “Sosuspicious.”

“With good reason,” I reminded him. “I haven’t forgotten the surprise birthday party you threw for me at the Barbecue Pit last August. My liver is still in recovery.”

He grinned. “It was a good night, right?”

I waggled a hand. “The jury’s still out.”

He snorted. “You suck at lying.Anyway, why don’t you take Terry along for the ride today,ifhe’s interested. He could see acouple of different stations, meet a few locals, that kind of thing. Some people even say that you’re good company. Not me, of course, but some do.” He grinned wickedly.

“Gee, thanks.”

He smirked. “You’re welcome. I just thought he might find it interesting, and you two seem to have hit it off.” He paused to waggle his brows and I scowled. “Just saying. Besides, I’m heading into Oakwood later this afternoon. I could pick him up from the clinic if you wanted.”

I glanced over Gil’s shoulder to find Terry’s gaze locked on the two of us. When our eyes met, he flushed and quickly looked away. “I don’t know. And stop that.” I stabbed a finger his way.

“Stop what?” He threw me an innocent look.

“That,” I repeated. “Matchmaking. How do you know he isn’t straight?”

Gil lowered his voice and flicked a look Terry’s direction. “For one, you have excellent radar and it’s written all over your face.”

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