Page 8 of Soren the Single Dad
If he were up for it, I wouldn't mind seeing him again outside of work and inside my bed.
But it's clear he only wanted a one-time thing, and judging by the shock on his face when he saw me again, he’s far from open to rekindling our very brief relationship.
“Dr. Winston, what are you doing here?” Soren's gaze travels up and down my casual outfit. Jeans and a sweatshirt instead of scrubs.
“Dr. Cabbage had a graduation to attend today. I'm filling in with Diana's help.”
Soren nods slowly, his gaze a sizzling beam across my body. “I forgot about Bethany's graduation.” The gruff rumble ofhis voice reminds me of the dirty praise he whispered in my ear while buried deep inside my pussy, and my temperature increases a couple degrees. Sweat gathers uncomfortably beneath my hoodie. “I'll let you guys get to it. Don't mind me.”
The next twenty minutes pass in a cloudy haze as I try not to ogle Soren, who’s several stalls down from us. He’s gentle while removing the riding elements from the horse. A low murmur tickles my senses as he talks to the large animal, and it soothes some of my nerves.
I already knew Soren was a good guy based on how he treated his daughter and Whiskers and shared about his family, but seeing more evidence of his kindness?
Ugh!My heart has zero chance to defend itself. Apparently, hot dads with a gentle streak for animals are my kryptonite.
When Dr. Winston finally packs his bag to signal we’re done with the vaccinations, a whoosh of relief rushes from my lungs. I’ve got to get my head on straight, and it’s not going to happen this close to my freaking dream guy.
We wave goodbye in the Hearthstone Lodge parking lot, and that should be my cue to leave.
So why do my feet follow the path right back to the stables? Because I’m a romantic sucker and weak for a certain grumpy mountain man.
Soren is brushing his horse, so I lean over the stall door and tentatively wave in greeting. “Can we talk?” I ask, fidgeting with a knot in the wood.
“Do you need something?” The only sign of his agitation is the flexing of his hand around the brush.
Be brave, Diana.A pathetically puny pep talk, but it’s all I’ve got at the moment. “I feel like we should discuss what happened and how to move forward from here.”
Soren sighs and pauses his rhythmic strokes along the horse’s flank. He turns to face me. “Nothing's changed. We're strangers,and it's our own fault for not talking more before…” He waves his hand, alluding to our night together.
“Right. I just wanted you to know that I know what that was, and I don't want it to be awkward between us whenever you come in with Sara Beth and Whiskers.”
His brow creases. “Okay.”
“Okay. Have a good weekend.” I force a smile and spin around to flee the premises.So much for not being awkward.
“Diana, wait,” Soren calls out moments later. His boots slap across the concrete floor until he stops in front of me, a chastised expression on his rough-hewn features. “I owe you an apology. I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For whatever that was back there, and for giving you the cold shoulder at the vet's office the other day. It threw me for a loop seeing you again. I figured you were a temporary guest at the Duncans’ place, not a permanent resident. I don't…” He scrubs a hand down the back of his neck. “I try to avoid flings in town for Sara Beth’s sake. I don't want gossip getting back to her.”
“I would never—” I start.
“I know. I'm out of practice, and I guess it turns me into an asshole. It's been a long time since I've been with a woman, and if I'm being honest, if it was just sex, then maybe this would be easier. But I felt a connection that night; I like you. However inconvenient that may be.”
Hope springs in my chest. “I like you, too,” I admit. “Does that mean you want to see me again?”
“I shouldn't.” That fledgling hope plummets in my stomach until he continues with a sheepish grin. “But, yeah, I would.”
“I don't want to cause trouble in your life, especially with your daughter. We don't know what this is aside from that night being amazing.”Magical. A dream.“Let's go on a first date and see where things go from there,” I suggest. “Maybe we'll discover wehave nothing in common, and we'll get this spark between us out of our systems.”
“Don't say ‘spark’ too loud,” he jokes.
“What do you mean?”
“You haven't heard aboutheart sparksyet?”
“You mean that soulmate thing?”
