Page 2 of Drive Her Wild

“Would you mind moving your truck so I can go? I’m going to be late for my first day.” She yanks open her car door.

“Of course, ma’am.” I can’t help but continue to say it. “Pleasure meeting you Amaya Porter. Welcome to Coal’s Lake.”

“I wish I could say the same.” She emphatically rolls her eyes at me as she climbs into the driver’s seat and slams the door shut behind her.

I swear I can still hear her mumbling about my slow pace as I climb into the driver’s seat. While I shouldn’t take this much pleasure knowing how much I irritate her, I also can’t help the smile that spreads across my face.

City girls.

Always in such a fucking hurry.

After a quick stop at the Reindeer Café for a coffee, I head to the garage. Kris won’t mind if I’m a few minutes late opening the shop. Hell, he told me to take the week off while he and Nick went to Seattle to visit Olivia. Their arrangement is unusual, but I’ve never seen my friends happier. Neither of them can wait for her to move to Coal’s Lake later this spring.

Chapter Two

AMAYA

What a shitty first couple of days in a new town.

I’ve spent my first couple of days in Coal’s Lake living out of a suitcase from the cozy confines of Jamie’s Lodge. My condo wasn’t ready for me to move in, but it didn’t matter because the moving truck with my belongings isn’t showing up until next week anyway.

Yesterday, I backed into some asshole, who clearly saw I had the right of way, and I’m still trying to find a garage that can get me in this week to fix my broken taillight.

Such a mess.

To top things off, that same asshole is fucking everywhere I go.

Grocery store—check—when he wasn’t paying attention again and ran into my cart.

Bumping into me and nearly spilling my coffee—check—that happened yesterday at the Reindeer Café.

At this point, I’m pretty sure I’d run into him while getting my pap smear.

I probably should’ve just stayed in Calgary, but the opportunity to take over my uncle’s veterinary practice was just too good of an offer to pass up. We’ll work together for six months while I get acclimated with the office and his clientele. After the handover, he’ll move to Belize, and then I’ll own my own practice before I turn thirty.

Only a few months before my birthday, but still a huge accomplishment.

After making a quick stop at the Reindeer Café—my new favorite place in town, thanks in part to the cutest damn couple I’ve ever met—I head across town to the clinic.Trusted Tails. I shake my head as I pull past the sign into the parking lot.

Uncle Ray always did have a quirky sense of humor.

“Morning Dr. Porter,” Charlie greets me from behind the reception desk.

Charlie is pretty much the only person I’ve met since I got to Coal’s Lake last week.

Well, and her son Carter.

And she’s definitely the sweetest person I’ve ever met. She’s had me over for dinner twice, just so I didn’t have to have dinner alone or confined to my room at the lodge. As if that weren’t enough, she volunteered her brother to help me unload the moving truck tomorrow morning.

“Morning Charlie.” I tip my cup of coffee toward her and smile. “What have I said about that?”

“Sorry, Amaya,” she shrugs. “Force of habit with the other Dr. Porter.”

After hanging my coat, I begin flipping through the charts for the day.

Velo. Tiny. Rexy. Smooshy. Buddy. Daisy.

“I got everything prepped for you, but are you sure you can handle today solo?” Charlie questions before rambling, “I know Dr. Porter is off today, but the deadbeat can’t be bothered to come watch his son. Which isn’t exactly a shocker, but I really don’t want to leave Carter home alone.”