Page 13 of August Heat
“Like I said, I’m not really looking for a date right now.”
“Who said it had to be a date?”
How smooth. Make it sound like a friendly flirtation and nothing more. “Well,” Siobhan began, “unless you have something specific to invite me to, it definitely sounds like a date.”
“Hm. Maybe… I simply want to hang out with those cats a little longer.”
Right. And I simply want to come to the firehouse to slide down the pole.Siobhan wondered if she could actually do that. Slide down the firehouse pole, that was. Specifically, the firehouse pole. Not Krys’s pole. Nope. Siobhan wasn’t about to accidentally say that at all.
“They do need more human socialization,” Siobhan said with a little squeak. “My aunt is all over them, but she has more work to do around the place. I mean, it’s not impossible for someone to come all the way out there to pet them, feed them, and talk to them. Will make it easier to adopt them out when they’re ready.”
“Is this before or after you spay and neuter the poor dears?”
Siobhan chuckled. “Hopefully, I won’t have to do that. Better for that to be someone else’s responsibility.”
“What if I took up a collection around the firehouse? To pay for their fixing?”
Although Siobhan still laughed, she didn’t know why. Was what Krys said really ridiculous? Or was it because Siobhanknewit was a ploy to woo her? Krys couldn’t be serious about having a “heart” big enough to pay for four kittens to get fixed. Because Siobhan couldn’t do it on her own, and her aunt wasn’t certified to administer medications, let alone assist in surgery. Siobhan could fix a cat in her sleep, but she rarely did it. Rather, she referred those patients to Dr. Global or someone else with a proper clinic and vet techs to assist them. The only surgeries Siobhan performed on pets were extreme emergencies, and she still preferred to have at least one other doctor there with her. Hell, she’d take Dr. Meyer over her own aunt!
“If you manage that, I’m sure Dr. Global would help. I could take them over myself.”
Krys tilted her head. “Hey, if you don’t want me around, say so.”
Yes, please stay away, troublemaker. Let me stew in my loneliness.“It’s easier for me to do it. I know the other vets around here pretty well. We do talk, you know.” Not super willingly. When Siobhan wasn’t holing herself away from the world, she was avoiding the town vet at the post office. Dr. Globallovedto say hello and “shoot the farm animal breeze” with her. Siobhan had a hunch that he had aspired for a career more like hers instead of a private practice that took care of the Fluffies and Rovers of a small town. There was arguably more money in it, though. Siobhan lucked out that big animal doctoring often meant living in cheaper places.
“Like I said,” Krys continued with a lackadaisical smile, “if you don’t want me around, just say so.”
Siobhan narrowed her eyes.What game is she trying to play with me?Everything depended on whether Krys knew about Emily. If she did, then this was a sick joke. If she didn’t, then Siobhan had more than egg on her face – she had a whole damn omelet.
“How about I come by tomorrow? Or the day after tomorrow?” Krys winked before turning around. “Like you said, the little furballs need some socializing before they turn feral.”
“Not quite how I put it.” The kittens weren’t in real danger of “turning feral” now, but the extra human socializing would make them better for adoption. Dare Siobhan admit that, though? “If you insist, may I request you wait until the late afternoon? I’m usually away during the mornings, and God only knows what calls I might get through the day. Besides, my aunt might not know who the hell you are and let you in to see the babies.”
“Who’s your aunt? I know almost everyone around here.”
Siobhan was about to ignore that question, but realized that there was no use hiding it now. Gabriella O’Connor. You might have seen her around town. She’s usually the one running the errands.”And trying to have a social life.Short of joining the Stephen King book club or one of the quilting circles, though. Aunt Gabriella was looking at a long life of nothing.
“Right. Tomorrow. Or day after tomorrow. Afternoon.” Krys backed toward the door. She didn’t dare turn around, huh? Because then Siobhan would miss out on more of those abs, and Krys couldn’t have that. She was on a mission to show the whole world how trim and athletic she was. So everyone could rest assured that she’d bail them out of their next fire. “See you there.” That wassupposedto be a devilish wink, but Krys backed her ass up against the push bar of the door. Siobhan tried not to laugh as Krys stumbled out the door and acted like she had meant to do that. Her friend Lorri, however, openly guffawed behind the register.
“Hope she didn’t bother you, ma’am!” Lorri called. “Though if you say the word, I’ll make sure she gets a good talkin’ to.”
Siobhan was good at acting like she hadn’t noticed anything about Krys’s heavy-handed flirtations.Heavy-handed… would most people think that?Or did Siobhan see the worst in everyone’s intentions?
“No worries. My only real care is about fertilizer, if you don’t mind.”
Lorri hurried out from behind the register. She may have enabled her friend, but at least she was good at pointing out the best fertilizer for Gabriella’s vegetable garden. Wasn’t that the only thing Siobhan cared about?
…Supposedly?
Chapter 7
KRYS
You’ve got this. Why the hell are you so nervous about playing with some kittens?
Krys took five minutes to transition from her car to the O’Connors’ driveway. Both Siobhan’s truck and the family car were parked by the garage. A colorful flag waved from the porch of the main house. Plastic windmills twirled in the small beds of flowers. Windchimes shuddered in the breeze and trees rustled overhead. It looked like a cozy piece of country living, but Krys’s anxiety grew as she approached the giant white shed by the vehicles.
She knew when she liked a woman, and shelikedSiobhan. Those red curls were barely tamable by the ponytails Siobhan put them in, but those freckles didn’t stand a chance once the sun was free from the clouds. Whether she wore baggy clothes or something more tasteful, Siobhan was a confident sight to behold. Krys was always a sucker for confident, feminine women who didn’t care if they got their hands dirty. While Krys would never say she preferred butch over femme when it came to dating and lovemaking, she definitely needed a partner who embraced the “tomboy” level at some point in her life. Whether that meant climbing trees at seven, playing softball in high school, or riding a Harley as an adult… it was the attitude that mattered most. Krys’s most memorable girlfriends were those who didn’t mind some mud on their boots. Hair length and choice of skirt or cargo shorts didn’t make any difference.
