Page 6 of Soren the Single Dad
“Yeah, me too,” I say, missing the first part of Linda's monologue. “See you this afternoon.”
A few minutes later, Sara Beth and I are on our way to the elementary school, but I can't help glancing in my rearview mirror as we drive down the mountain.
After our passionate night together, I snuck out on Diana the morning after, hoping to avoid an awkward conversation. Maybe that makes me an asshole, but I feared if I stayed any longer I might have asked her for the entire weekend together. Something that wouldn't have been smart.
She's long gone by now, I remind myself.Probably.
It's not like I've visited the cabin to check on her in the past three days, but the Duncans’ guests rarely stayed past a weekend. Diana left Suitor’s Crossing to return to her normal life. I'll never see her again.
For some reason, the realization makes my gut clench.
CHAPTER FIVE
DIANA
My phone dings with a notification from my Aunt Linda at the front desk. Dr. Winston's next appointment just checked in, which means I need to bring the pet and owner back to one of our sterilized exam rooms and do the initial intake.
Tossing the animal-safe disinfectant wipe I was using to clean up after our last patient, I hurry to the waiting room. This job is a godsend after the stress of burnout at my previous position in Everton. So many strays and wounded animals came through Dr. Marshall's veterinarian practice, yet the old miser refused to hire enough staff to adequately help patients.
I was one of the longest holdouts because I love animals so much. It gutted me to think about abandoning them, but Aunt Linda convinced me that any patient I saw would be better off if I took care of my health, too. No more double shifts or living off Taco Bell runs. So, when her boss started looking for a vet tech, she immediately suggested me, and after one interview, I was hired.
Dr. Winston is a way better boss than Dr. Marshall. Hotter, too. Not that I stare too much since he's hopelessly in love with his wife, and I've got the memory of a sexy mountain man keeping me occupied.
“Who's up, Aunt Linda?” I lean against the front counter as my eyes scan the room. A Chihuahua shivers in its owner's arms in the corner, while a cat's yowls emanate from a purple mesh carrier a few feet away.
My gaze skims over a large man in flannel and the little girl holding a bunny beside him before skittering to a halt and backtracking.
“Soren Caldwell, his daughter Sara Beth, and Whiskers, her bunny. Sara Beth, come on. It’s your turn, honey.” Aunt Linda's voice fades in and out as the family stands.
Oh my god. It's him. He's here.
With his daughter!
“Hi! I'm Diana.” My wave is overly perky. So is my smile. Maybe that's why Soren is staring at me like I've grown two heads.Or maybe he's freaking out as much as you are because he had his tongue and cock buried in your pussy mere days ago!“Follow me, and we'll figure out what's going on with Whiskers.”
“His paw is hurt,” the girl says with a frown.
“Oh, no! Let’s see if we can make him feel better, hmm?” A steady stream of bunny-centered conversation flows between us while I weigh Whiskers, consciously avoiding looking at Soren. It’s not so easy to avoid the addictive scent of pine and spice that clings to him, though. The familiar smell sends a pleasurable shiver down my spine as I recall our night together.
Focus, Diana! You're a professional!
Dr. Winston knocks before entering the exam room minutes later, and I regret chatting with Sara Beth so much. With four of us—two men giant as fuck—the space becomes claustrophobic. I should have escaped already instead of lingering in the room to talk… and covertly ogle this little girl’s dad.
“You said he’s limping?”
Sara Beth nods while I add what I witnessed upon my initial exam. “He hopped fine a couple of times, then the limping started. No tenderness when I felt the injured leg.”
“Thanks, Di,” Dr. Winston says while conducting his own examination. “Let’s get some X-rays to see what’s going on.”
I scoop Whiskers into my arms and exit the room quickly, bumping shoulders with Soren in one electric moment before scrambling down the hall.
CHAPTER SIX
SOREN
Diana ishere. She works at the vet’s office. Dr. Winston knows her well enough to call herDi. I choke back the inappropriate growl threatening to rumble out at that specific realization.
Does that mean she’s staying at the Duncan cabin permanently?
