Page 7 of Never Kiss Your Brother's Best Friend

"Yeah, I'm fine," I assure them. "Just a little bruised ego."

"I know what you need," Mia says, looping her arm through mine, "a little bit of girl time."

"Sterling was just about to drive me back to my hotel," I explain, gesturing to him.

"That's okay, Sterling," Mia says, waving her hands. "We can take it from here. We'll make sure she gets back safe and sound."

"Oh, you don't have to do that," Sterling says, his gaze bouncing between me and my friends. "I'm happy to take her."

"Seriously, it's no big deal," Zoe chimes in. "We can spend the night with her at the hotel and make sure she's okay. You know how Emma likes to put on a brave face when she's really upset."

Sterling frowns and looks at me, and I see the hesitation on his face. He's sweet, and I can tell he wants to be the one to make sure I'm okay. But after what Dean insinuated back there, the last thing I need is for someone to see him follow me into a hotel room.

This is a small town, and tongues wag. I don't want to be the object of gossip or speculation.

"I can just go with them," I tell Sterling. "Thanks for coming after me. You should really get back to the reception before anyone misses you."

"Are you sure?" he asks, looking skeptical. "You don't want to say bye to Peter and Linda?"

"I'll see them later," I say, forcing a smile. "I'm exhausted."

"Well, if you're sure," he says. He gives me a small wave and turns around to head back inside.

I watch him walk away for a moment. The urge to tell him to wait, to take me with him, is strong, but I bite my tongue. I need to get a hold of myself. If I leave here with him in the state I'm in, I'll probably end up blabbing about the crush I’ve hand on him since we were kids.

I’ve been embarrassed enough for one day, so girls’ night it is.

Chapter four

STERLING

The annual summer festival is in full swing. I'm manning a booth for the local animal shelter because their volunteer is running late. They asked me to fill in last minute, and I agreed, anything for the animals. It's a hot day, and the air is thick with the scent of fried foods. People are milling about, checking out the various stalls, games, and food trucks. Kids are running around with cotton candy-stained faces, and the whole town seems to have turned out for the event.

Cedar Creek looks for any excuse to throw a celebration. There’s at least one festival for every season, if for no other reason than to celebrate the beginning of a new part of the year. Personally, I think the committees just want festival food. And who can blame them?

Every though I didn't plan on being here, if I had to choose a favorite, it would be the summer festival. Yes, we’re close to the south here in North Carolina, but winter festivals can still get a big frigid. I’d rather sweat than shiver.

There's a band on stage, and people are dancing, singing, and laughing in the open-air venue. Booths are set up and decorated with signs advertising local businesses. An animal rescue tent has been erected, and that’s where I'm spending the day, handing out information about the shelter's needs and answering questions.

As I mentioned, I'm not big into large crowds, but the animal shelter was desperate, and since I'm the only veterinarian in town, it was only natural to ask me. So here I am, surrounded by pamphlets, donation jars, and a few dogs that are up for adoption. The banner above the booth reads, "Help a Furry Friend Find a Forever Home."

"Excuse me, sir?" A middle-aged woman holding a little girl by the hand approaches the booth. The child with her, who is maybe eight, is wearing a pink T-shirt that reads, "Summer is My Favorite Season." She's staring at the puppies with wide eyes and clutching a stuffed animal.

"Hello," I say with a smile, greeting the lady. "How can I help you?"

"My husband and I have been talking about getting a pet, and my daughter really likes this puppy. What do I need to do to bring this little guy home?"

"Well, um, if you're interested in adopting, you can apply online. We'll get in touch with you and set up a home visit. There are fees, but I spay and neuter all the animals who come into the shelter and get them up to date with their vaccines."

"Oh, that's right. You're Dr. Cole. You own the clinic in town. I remember seeing your ad on the community board when I was there a couple of weeks ago."

"Yeah, that's me."

She stands there looking at me as if she expects me to say something else, but that’s about all the chit chat I have in me. Instead, I take the leash and hook it to the puppy's collar. The dog is a terrier mix and is friendly and eager. He's small, maybe eight pounds, with brown hair and floppy ears. He's been well-trained, and his tail is wagging, thumping against the side of the booth.

The little girl steps forward and crouches down. She pets the puppy, and her eyes light up. "Oh, he's so cute. Can we get him?"

"Once the proper steps have been taken," I reply. "It's a process, but it's necessary to make sure this little guy won't find his way back in the shelter someday."

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