Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 100277 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100277 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
I had not expected such a question. Squirming with discomfort, I looked out at the passing scenery as the traffic eased and we picked up speed. “No. You?”
“I thought once, maybe, but now I don’t think so.”
There was that burn in my chest again. I looked back at him. “Who was the maybe once?”
“My first serious girlfriend. High school sweethearts. She’s the only girl I ever said the words to. It ended because that’s all we were meant to be.”
“I think the kind of romantic love people grow up searching for—that monogamy and commitment to one person—I’m not sure it really exists.”
“I am.” He surprised me again. “My parents are prime examples that it exists.”
“Then they must be the exception to the rule. My parents love each other, but they couldn’t stay loyal to each other. That’s how their relationship has survived. And look at Roger, Kendall, and Jude. They have the best relationship I’ve ever seen, but they required that third person to make it that way.”
Rafe’s lip curled at the corner. “I think in their case, they’re the exception to the rule. Few people could make a polyamorous relationship work. I know I could never share like that.”
“But they share each other. It’s not like both guys are just with Kendall. They’re with each other too.”
“Still couldn’t do it. I know I’d feel more for one person because that’s the way I’m built. And I’d get jealous as hell watching her with some other guy or girl. Wouldn’t you?”
I thought of my unexpected jealousy over Camille and answered honestly, “Maybe.”
“Hmm.”
At his “hmm” I studied him. “What?”
He flicked me a look. “Nothing.”
“You’re full of a lot of nothings today.”
Rafe grinned at that, and I sighed at my answering butterflies.
Damn this man and my attraction to him.
Suddenly, his cell phone blared and he cursed. “That’s my emergency cell.” He pulled up the center console with one hand, eyes on the road, and I reached in for the phone before he could.
“Dr. Whitman’s phone,” I answered, and he shot me a grateful look. I switched it to speaker.
“Hi, this is Amber Schuler, Rocky’s owner,” a panicked woman’s voice said down the line.
Rafe nodded at me and I inquired, “How can I help you, Amber?”
“My niece left a candy bar sitting out and Rocky ate it. It’s milk chocolate and it was a lot.”
He scowled, glancing at his watch, and murmured, “Ask her when.”
“When did Rocky eat the chocolate?”
“About five minutes ago. I got to him too late.”
“Ms. Schuler, this is Rafe.” He raised his voice, and I held the phone closer to him.
“Dr. Whitman,” she breathed in obvious relief. “What do I do?”
“I can give Rocky an injection to make him sick, Ms. Schuler, if you can get him to the clinic in a half hour.”
“I can do that. Absolutely, we’ll be there.”
“See you then.”
As I hung up, Rafe asked, “Are you okay with a pit stop?”
“Of course,” I said, more than a little in awe. Because his ability to calm down his patient’s owner with just the sound of his voice was a very, very attractive quality indeed.
Chapter Fourteen
It turned out not only did Rafe have to give Rocky an injection to make him vomit, but we had to wait two hours after the little guy vomited up all the chocolate to make sure he was doing okay. By the time Amber walked out of the clinic with Rocky in her arms, it was past midnight.
Rafe shut the door behind her and looked down at me where I’d curled up on the bench in the waiting room, exchanging texts with Roger, who was out with Kendall at our local bar.
Hair a little mussed, his shirt unbuttoned, tie loose, Rafe the tired vet was a little too sexy for my own good. I attempted to avoid staring at the mouth that had devoured mine so well this afternoon. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” He slumped down next to me and leaned his elbows on his knees, head hanging. “Long day.”
I sat up and nudged his thigh. “You should go home, get some sleep.”
Rafe looked sharply at me. “What about you?”
“I should get going.”
He sat up, turning into me. “You’re not traveling home at this time. No. No way.”
His bossiness was adorable. “Well, that’s a problem for you, because I am.”
“No, you’ll stay with me.” He stood up and held out a hand. “C’mon. I’ll sleep on the couch.”
“I’m not putting you out of your bed. Rafe, I’ll grab a cab if it makes you feel better.”
“It doesn’t.” He dropped his hand and gave me a wearied, beleaguered stare. “Please, Star. I’ll just worry.”
Something warm and surprising and scary spread in a heat across my chest as I stood. “All right. I wouldn’t want you to worry. But I’m taking the couch.”
He turned, shaking his head, but I saw the hint of a smile on his face as he pulled open the door and gestured me out first. “It’s not in my programming to allow such a thing to occur.”