Page 7 of Soren the Single Dad
Does she fuckinglivein Suitor’s Crossing?
“I’ve got good news and bad news,” Dr. Winston says, swiping across his tablet forty-five minutes later. He flips it over to show an X-ray of Whiskers’s leg. “The good news is there’s nothing wrong with this leg. It’s perfectly healthy. The bad news is Whiskers was faking his injury for treats.”
“What?” Disbelief straightens my spine. Now I’ve got a diabolical bunny on my hands along with the beautiful woman I never meant to see again. “He’s faking it?”
“My guess is a sore paw earned him some extra love.” Dr. Winston eyes Sara Beth in amusement. “Then, when it healed and the treats stopped, he figured he’d work the system to get them again.”
“Bad bunny,” Sara Beth scolds with an adorable scowl.
Bad fucking bunny.
This visit plus X-rays cost real money despite the fake injury, but it’s not the money that concerns me. It’s the surprise twistof finding Diana again, proving that my theory that she was long gone was wrong, and I don’t know how to feel about the news.
If I’m honest, she hasn’t been far from my mind this week. She’s even infiltrated my dreams. But that’s where her hold on me needs to end.
The whole reason I gave in to temptation was because I thought Diana would leave town. I wanted to keep things from getting messy. Guess the joke’s on me because this already feels messy as fuck.
There’s no way we can avoid each other when Sara Beth and I make regular visits to the vet for Whiskers.
What am I going to do?
CHAPTER SEVEN
DIANA
“Thanks for volunteering to help this weekend with the equine vaccinations. We don't normally deal with big animals, but Dr. Cabbage couldn't miss his daughter's college graduation, and they needed to get done.”
“It's no problem,” I say, standing next to Dr. Winston as he prepares our next patient for her vaccine. Frankly, I'm grateful for something to do.
While it's nice having weekends to myself, a luxury I haven't experienced in forever, this one’s different. I want—no,need—to stay busy. To occupy my mind with something other than the last few days.
Because I had a one-night stand with my neighbor. A neighbor who frequents my workplace often thanks to his daughter's cute little bunny.
I'm still recovering from the shock of seeing Soren. So, an opportunity to redirect my thoughts from the growly mountain man who made me feel things I never felt before? Sign me up.
“What are these guys here for anyway?” I ask, petting the soft brown hair along the mare's muzzle. “I thought this was a resort, not a ranch.”
“Hearthstone Lodge offers its clientele a wide range of activities during their stay. That includes horse tours on the local mountain trails.”
“Oh, wow, that sounds fun. I’ve never ridden a horse before.”
“You should sign up for one,” he says.
“Don't I have to be a guest?”
“Nah, they open to the public a few weekends each month. Plus, I'm friends with the family who owns it, so you're good. You actually met one of the brothers: Soren Caldwell.”
“Soren owns this place?” Good grief, I can't escape the man.
“Not him, specifically. It's been in his family for generations.”
“So he works here.”
“Most of their family works here. His brother, Ezra, is the one who manages it.”
“I see.” As if summoned by our conversation, the clip-clop of a horse nearing the stables sounds outside, and when I glance up, Soren sits astride a leather saddle in his usual uniform of jeans and flannel.
Whoa. Cowboy Mountain Man? Mountain Cowboy?Whatever he is, it is definitely working for me. But is that any surprise? Everything about him works for me.
