Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
“This will tide you over for a little while.” I kiss her forehead and turn to leave her be, but she catches my hand in hers.
“Where are we going?”
“Out.”
Darby rolls her eyes, and I lean in to whisper in her ear.
“Roll your eyes at me again and see where it gets you.”
“Yes, you’re very scary. I need to know what I should wear, Hotshot.”
“This one is casual. Wear whatever you want, baby. You always look fucking amazing.”
Her cheeks darken with the compliment, and she looks away while chewing her celery.
“I just need an hour or so.”
“No rush.”
Once I hear the shower turn on, I pull my phone out to make a call, but instead it rings with Trent Fisher’s name on the screen.
“Hey, Doc,” I say as I pad down the stairs.
“Tucker,” he replies. “Just calling for an update on Darby to see how she’s doing out at the ranch.”
I huff out a laugh and lean back against the kitchen counter, staring out the window over the sink. “Well, she hasn’t been here much over the past few weeks because you’ve had her out on emergency calls.”
He blows out a breath. “I know. Spring is busy, and I want her to get as much experience as possible. A year really isn’t all that long.”
“I get it. She’s doing well out here. Honestly, I don’t have anything to report since I told you about how she handled Ellie’s foot. She’s finding homes for the barn kittens, and besides that, you see her almost more than I do.”
“Why do you sound a little bent out of shape over that?”
I take a breath, but don’t say anything for a moment, and then Trent chuckles in my ear.
“I see. Well, I guess I’m not surprised, she’s great. But I’m still going to work her ass off because that’s her job, Tuck.”
“Yeah, I get it. She wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“I am giving her the next couple of days off from the on-call list,” he tells me, making my spine straighten.
This is perfect.
“I’m sure she’ll appreciate it,” I reply, keeping my tone even.
“I’ll text her and let her know. If anything comes up that I should know about, just call me.”
“Will do. Talk to you next week.”
I hang up and then call Bridger Blackwell, the fire chief of Bitterroot Valley and Darby’s brother-in-law.
“Hey, Tucker,” he says when he answers.
“Hey. I need your help.”
“Oh, this is so pretty,” Darby breathes as we’re shown to a table by the windows that look out on Seymour Lake, just outside of town. I hold her chair for her, and then sit across from her and watch as she takes in the view of the lake and the homes on the shoreline, along with the mountain on the other side. It’s too early in the season for boating, but there are a few people out for late-in-the-day paddleboarding. “I thought this whole resort was exclusive? Alex and her guys have a place here.”
“Zack owns a place here too,” I inform her, and her eyebrow kicks up in surprise.
“If he owns a place here, why does he stay in a hotel when he’s in town?”
“Because he offers his condo up in the rental pool for the resort, and it’s usually booked. One day, he’ll probably live here more full time. For now, it’s an investment. But it’s convenient as hell to have him make a phone call for me, and then I have access to it and can impress my girl with this view.”
“I admit, I’m impressed.” She grins over at me, and I’m struck again by how fucking beautiful she is. Her blue eyes pop even more because of some magic she wove with her makeup, and her hair is in pretty chestnut waves around her face. She’s in a pink sweater and jeans, and I can see every curve that I love so fucking much.
I can’t believe she’s mine.
This woman is the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I’m not stupid enough to ever let go of her.
“I’m sorry that you missed lunch with your sisters.” I take her hand in mine and give it a squeeze. “But you’re going to be with them the day after tomorrow for lunch and then shopping all afternoon.”
“I am?”
“Yep. I might have made some calls.”
“Is that why Dr. Fisher texted me and told me that I have the next couple days off?”
“No. I did speak with him today, because he calls me once a week to check in on how you’re doing. I didn’t ask him to give you time off, Duchess. I wouldn’t do that to you.”
“I know.” She rubs her fingertips into her temple and then sighs. “Thanks for that. I was relieved when he texted. I understand that he’s calling me out for every single thing because I’m learning, and that when I’m licensed and part of a practice it likely won’t be quite as intensive because the workload will be spread out amongst the vets in the practice. And spring is always busy. Babies are born, animals are recovering from winter. There’s always something.”