Page 17 of Wishing Hearts

“You, too,” I reply as Nash gives Sam a nod of greeting.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I’m stealin’ Jake away,” Nash goes on, none too gently steering the doc in the direction of the food. “He needs to eat.”

Doc Hanson shakes his head a little, but his eyes are bright as he lets Nash tug him along. “I’ll check in with you before you go,” he says, and I give him a nod a moment before he and Nash disappear from sight.

The two bicker in soft tones that quickly grow too quiet to hear, and Sam turns to me.

“You used to live here,” he says, more statement than question.

“I did,” I answer. Just like him.

“When?” he asks, standing opposite me, hands on his hips in a casual pose.

“After vet school. I left ten years ago.”

“Hm.” I can see the gears turning behind his eyes, and my lips twitch when it only takes Sam another couple seconds to ask his next question. “Why’d you leave?”

My burgeoning smile falls away. “That’s a long story.”

“You could tell it to me over beers tonight,” Sam says, falling in step beside me as we head from the barn.

I huff a little laugh, looking over at the man. His grin is more dazzling than the sun hanging high in the sky. “You’re still on that?” I ask.

He cocks his head, looking at me incredulously. “Of course. Didn’t think I’d quit that easily, did you?”

Something flutters inside my stomach, soft and tumbling and scary. Even so, a smile finds its way to my lips.

Who wouldn’t want to be coveted by a bright, handsome man like Sam?

And he still wants me, even after last night. That’s what I don’t get. I don’t understand it, but I like it.

But then those soft, fluttery feelings inside my stomach fall like lead. Because while I’m here, entertaining ideas of this cowboy beside me, my daughter is back home, upset over my absence. And there’s no reason to expect tonight will be any different. She’ll still be upset. She’ll still need to hear my voice. I’m the only parent she has. She needs me, and my daughter will always—always—come first.

Sighing internally, I force a smile I don’t quite feel. “We’ll see,” I tell Sam of his suggestion for drinks, even though I know the answer will be no.

It has to be. I was only kidding myself, thinking I could forget about my responsibilities for a little while. I’m a father, and the moment that became true, my priorities shifted. They had to.

And when I go back home in a few days, men like Sam will continue being a fantasy I never get to entertain. Because no one wants to come in second.

I know that for an absolute fact.

Chapter 6

Sammy

Something shifted between me and Harrison. It was subtle, but I felt it, like the man had powered down. He was still perfectly friendly with me, and he even flirted a bit, but it lacked any real conviction. And when I asked if he wanted to get together again, he said no.

It’s our third day working together now, and the man has been particularly quiet this morning. I don’t know what to do to make him happy again, but I’m desperate to see one of those genuine smiles. The ones that make his blue eyes twinkle.

“So, Harrison,” I say, delighted when he gives me an amused look instead of being annoyed by my many questions. We’re taking a quick water break in the shade beside the barn, and a slight breeze ruffles Harrison’s hair now that his hat is off. “If you had to choose, would you rather walk naked down your street or eat a cockroach?”

He tilts his head. “What kind of question is that?”

“A fun one,” I reply, giving him a nudge. “What’s your answer?”

He shakes his head, biting his lip before looking me in the eye. “I’m not eating a cockroach.”

“Hmm,” I say happily. “Nudity it is, then. All right.”

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