Page 4 of The Only Heart that Matters

“Right? But that’s not even all of it.Theyreached out tome. Apparently, one of my professors put them in touch with the doctor I did my internship with who gave me rave reviews. They asked me to apply for one of the nursing positions and I did.”

“Goof, this is great news! So, why do you sound so down?” Angus asks, still so close, his breath tickles my cheek. I don’t dare turn to look at him.

“Well, it’s too good to be true, isn’t it? A job in my field of study, health insurance, and day care. There’s just no way it willwork out. Have you met me? Does this sound like something that would happen to me? Besides, the interview is a week from Monday. And of course, my car took a shit yesterday and needs a new driveshaft and who knows what else. The parts won’t be here until later next week. My parents will be in Portland for Dad’s doctor's appointment, and I can’t borrow either of their cars because they are monsters who only drive stick shifts. And as we all know I don’t. So, I’ll take that as a sign from the universe that this job’s not meant to be.”

Daisy pulls her phone out of her pocket, searching the calendar on her phone. “Shoot, I’ll be in Pendleton with meetings starting at 8am, otherwise you know I would take you or let you borrow my car.”

My high from their excitement at this opportunity crashes and burns. “Don’t worry—” I start, but Angus interrupts me.

“I’ll take you.”

“What?”

“I’ll take you. Just tell me what time to pick you up.”

“Seriously?” I ask, thinking I must have heard him incorrectly.

“Seriously,” he confirms.

I squeal and pull him into a hug, too excited to take the time to think about how good he feels pressed against my body.

“Thank you so much! I’ll figure out a sitter for Sawyer and then I guess I’ll be interviewing for my dream job!”

Angus’s big coat bounces around me, the snow crunching under my boots as I jump up and down in excitement.

“Don’t worry about a sitter. I’ll hang out with him while you do your thing.”

Wait. What?

“You’re going to babysit Sawyer?” Daisy asks, sounding skeptical her brother is up to the task, while I stare at him with my mouth hanging open.

“Nah, we’re gonna hang out. There’s a difference.”

“Are you sure?” I whisper on a cloud of winter air.

“Yep.”

My voice is still small when I accept his offer. “Thank you.”

He puts his arm around my shoulders. “I got you, Goof.”

Chapter Three

Angus

Threatening my manhood if I didn’t comply, my older brother, Callen, made me promise to take the night off. I’m not allowed to step behind the bar tonight. A promise is a promise, even if all I want to do is hurdle the damn thing to put a barrier between myself and the dark-haired beauty standing across from me.

Mia’s dark hair hangs in long curls down her back. A second ago, someone yelled her name and when she turned, her hair whipped around and fell over one of her shoulders. Something about the sight has my pants suddenly feeling too small. Throw in the way her bright blue eyes sparkle with amusement, mixed with her killer smile, and you’ve got one toxic combination, even if it's not aimed at me.

I’m a goner.

Every time she smiles, she does me in.

As the owner of The House, an old fire station I purchased after leaving the military and transformed into a bar and restaurant downstairs and an apartment upstairs—though thewomen in my life insist I call it aloftwith its open one-room floor plan—I can usually hide out behind the bar and pour drinks to distract myself when Mia’s in the building. I’ve become an expert at finding reasons to keep my distance when she’s here.

Before Sawyer was born, I ended many a night screwing some random woman whose name I would never remember to rid myself of the built-up tension from watching Mia dance with one too many cowboys for my liking. Since Sawyer, she’s only been in a handful of times, making my life a hell of a lot easier.

Thankfully, the sound of beer bottles loudly clinking together steals my attention. I gladly take the opening to stop torturing myself by watching Mia. Turning, I’m not surprised to see my brother's best friend, Owen, standing on a chair, bottles in hand.

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