Page 10 of Fool Me

She takes them from me. “It would feel good to get out of these clothes.”

My dick takes her words and runs. I swallow around the lump in my throat. “You can use my office.”

I try really hard not to think about her naked in my office while she changes. It’s a hard-fought battle, and when she comes out in my scrubs to wait for the pizza with me, I realize it was pointless because seeing her in my navy blue scrubs somehow has more of an effect on me than anything I could have imagined.

CHAPTER

FOUR

HARLOWE

Turns out, the new vet is sweet and cute. His scrubs are way too big, but I’m too spent and too hungry to care as I pull the drawstring on these borrowed, navy joggers as tight as they’ll go.

“Thanks again for these. It feels good to get out of my grimy clothes.” I smooth a hand over the cotton fabric, but it’s too bunched up to matter.

His brown eyes follow me as I sit down, but I can’t quite read them. I open my mouth, intent on getting to know him, when a knock comes from the lobby. I turn toward the sound, but he’s already moving.

“I’ll grab it.”

The clinic is quiet, save for the hushed tone of the conversation between Atlas and the delivery person. They’re speaking in hushed tones, but I can hear him ask, “And it was prepared separately? No mushrooms?”

He carries the box back in, setting it on the counter by the sink and opening it up. Facing me again, he leans against the counter, his brow furrowed. “Your mushroom allergy? How severe is it?”

“I’ve only had mild reactions—hives, itchy and swollen lips—but I carry an EpiPen, just in case,” I explain.

“And you’ve got it with you.”

I nod toward my discarded belt bag just as my stomach growls loudly. “In there.”

Atlas grabs a few paper towels, handing them to me when I join him at the counter. “Sorry, no plates.”

“I’m hardly going to complain about the lack of dinnerware when I’m the one invading your space.”

He lifts his shoulder. “Having company isn’t so bad.”

“Such a ringing endorsement,” I say with a laugh as I take two slices and head back to my seat.

“How long have you lived in Timberline Peak?” he asks as I lift the slice to my mouth for a bite.

My palm comes up to cover my mouth.

“Sorry, take your time. I know you’re hungry,” Atlas says, waving me off.

I swallow. “Yeah, it was a long day. Our hike was twelve miles and I haven’t eaten since before I got the call. Normally I do, but I didn’t want to slow my pace to eat.” My eyes drift to where Echo is resting.

“He’s going to be okay.”

“You keep saying that.”

“Because it’s true, and you look like you need reassurance.”

When I don’t deny it, he moves on. “Do you have a favorite trail to hike when you’re not working?”

“That’s like asking a mother to pick a favorite child.”

He laughs and it makes me relax into the cot more.

“So, you have one?”

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