Page 12 of Undone

I knew I had no business staring at her the way I did—at the way her lips curved, and how her curls bounced when she spoke. Her golden-brown eyes held a thousand stories I wanted to hear.

I couldn’t shake the thought that she belonged there—not just in the apartment but in my orbit.

I stood there like an idiot, trying to gather my thoughts and play it cool, but failed miserably. And she stood there just as stunned, like she saw a ghost, probably because I was still fucking staring right back.

I tried to remind myself that it wasn’t appropriate to stare at a stranger’s mouth,especiallywhen the stranger was your sister’s best friend.

Even if her lips were a shade of mauve that complemented her tawny skin so perfectly.

She was so pretty.

So fucking pretty.

And she was tiny, but despite her small frame, she had curves in all the right places. Even her damn little scar above her eyebrow added to her appeal. She looked like I could pick her up and throw her around with my hand around her thro?—

Nope, nope, nope.

I gripped the steering wheel tighter, shaking my head as if to physically dislodge the thought. This was insane. I’d spent one weekend near her, and yet here I was, replaying every glance, every second.

For fuck’s sake, I needed to get a grip. If Dotty knew what was running through my head, she’d murder me and feed me to the damn wolves.

This wasn’t me. I didn’t let people get under my skin. My life was straightforward—take care of Gracie, run the clinic, keep my family close.

That was enough.

Even if Noah held a presence about her that just made me feel… at peace.

But I pushed it all down and turned on the radio, hoping some music might drown out my thoughts. Classic rock filled the car, a comforting presence dulling the noise in my head as I made my way home.

There, I was known as the no-nonsense vet, the guy who didn’t have time for idle chatter or romantic entanglements. Since Hallie’s passing, everyone knew that my world only revolved around Gracie.

As it should.

She deserved all of me, not just pieces.

But Noah… She was like a riddle I couldn’t solve, a question that lingered. And now, after meeting her, I couldn’t help but wonder if there was even more beneath the surface.

Fuck, you’re thinking about her again, dumbass.

I ran a hand down my face, internally scolding myself again as the highway stretched out ahead, lined with trees that blurred into one another. I let the music fill the truck, my thoughtsnowdrifting back to her asshole boyfriend, who took her for granted.

There was something about John that set off alarm bells—an instinct that nagged at me, telling me he wasn’t what he seemed. Too polished. Too perfect. I’d seen it before—the way men like him could talk their way in or out of anything, their smiles hiding whatever was brewing beneath. I’d seen the way he dismissed her, acting as if her opinions didn’t matter, belittling her career, and not giving a shit about her.

Itinfuriatedme.

But what the hell could I do? She wasn’t mine to protect. Even if I wanted to deck the guy in the face.

The clouds began to break as I crossed the state line. Rays of sunlight peeked through the puffs in the sky, and the sight was a welcome change.

I thought about Gracie, waiting at home with her usual enthusiasm—her laughter was the best part of my day. I couldn’t let myself get swept away by feelings for someone.

After hours of nothing but the sound of the radio, my small southern Oregon town came into view, its streets lined with familiar shops with the heavy scent of pine in the air. As I pulled onto Main Street, a few locals were setting up for the market, waving gleefully as I passed by.

It was good to be back.

But as I parked the car in front of my house, I knew that something had shifted inside me. Noah made an impression, but despite my resolve, I couldn’t deny how much I liked it.

I likedher.

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