Page 51 of The Geography of Happiness

Liam choked out a laugh. “A hairnet?” He whirled on Spencer. “Damn. You’re good.”

Spencer beamed. “It’s a gift, what can I say?”

Pelting rain fell like shotgun pellets on the roof and we all looked up.

“Damn.” Jules shook his head. “Guess our luck just ran out. Come on, let’s get this show started.”

Liam grabbed a sandwich and drink out of the cooler and shoved them in my hands. “How about we let these bozos do their thing while you tell me all about this wonderful daughter of yours. I’ve had a couple of previous clients with JIA but they were in their twenties.”

“Fine with me,” I answered. The more information about the devastating condition I could spread, the better.

Liam called out to Spencer. “I’m gonna steal your guy for a bit, if you don’t mind?”

Your guy.The words sounded far too good in my ears.

Spencer cast me a quick look, checking I was okay with that. When I nodded, he hooked a thumb toward Liam and said, “Just don’t believe any of his bullshit lies.”

Liam chuckled and said, overly loud, “Man, have I got some stories to tell you about our good vet.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Terry

Liam hadn’t been lying.In the hour we spent chatting about Hannah, I’d learned a great deal about the Mackenzie’s most eligible bachelor, and all of it good. Liam had waxed lyrical about Spencer’s skills as a vet, but only hinted at the trail of broken hearts he’d left upon the landscape. People might find Spencer socially amusing, but they had a deep respect for his skills as a vet and his kind heart. His clients counted themselves lucky to have him as a vetanda friend.

Still, regardless of what Spencer claimed, it was clear that he lived up to his playboy reputation and probably wasn’t looking to make serious changes anytime soon. It was another timely reminder. We might like each other, but our geographical distance meant I wasn’t any long-term threat to Spencer’s heart. He could afford to indulge himself a little and I had to decide if I was okay with that idea.

The jury was still out, but Spencer had definitely ignited new possibilities in my brain that I hadn’t allowed myself to consider before. Like the idea that maybe Icouldhave something just for me in the future...someonejust for me. It might not be SpencerThompson. That was crazy thinking. But he wasn’t the only fish in the sea. Even if hewasone of only two fishes that I’d ever considered even bothering with in my entire life.

But the less said about that, the better.

We made it back to Oakwood by three thirty, just as Spencer promised. When I checked in with Zach, he said that he and Hannah were still an hour or so from being finished and they’d meet us at the clinic after. I hoped they had some cover if they needed since the heavy grey sky hanging over the town promised the rain wasn’t done with the Mackenzie yet.

Spencer pulled in at the back of Oakwood Vets and together we unpacked the ute. It took several trips, dodging puddles while trying to maintain a footing in the muddy slip and slide that passed for the clinic parking lot.

“You really, really need to seal this,” I grumbled after skidding sideways on a patch of mud for the umpteenth time and needing Spencer to steady me before I hit the ground. “Or at least throw some gravel down, yeah?”

Spencer waited until I had my balance before letting go of my arm. “Believe me, it’s on the list. This is the last load, I promise. Then I’ll buy you a coffee.”

I squashed a surge of warmth at the idea. It was a coffee, nothing more. I wasn’t sure it was even a good idea. Every hour I spent with the man I fell further under his spell. I grabbed our coveralls from the back seat and slammed the door. “I can buy my own coffee, thank you.” I reacted childishly and immediately regretted it.

Spencer locked the ute and glanced my way over the roof, a smile playing on his lips. “Excellent.” He kept his tone light. “Then I’ll be able to seal this lot with all the money I save, right?”

I rolled my eyes. “Funny guy.”

He grinned. “Then don’t be an idiot and let me buy you a coffee. And can we please get out of this rain?” He jogged toward the back door of the clinic.

I glanced up where a sliver of blue was beginning to break through the grey sheet of cloud. “I think it’s easing. And we’ll see about that coffee.” I followed him inside. “I never said yes to it.”

“You didn’t say no either.” Spencer locked the door and led me into the clinic’s service room. “Here, get yourself dry.” He threw me a towel and shoved our filthy coveralls into the washing machine and set it going. We dried off in silence, and when I was done, I deposited my towel in the hamper and watched Spencer finish, his black singlet hiding nothing of his tanned muscular arms as they worked the towel over his wet hair.

“Thanks for today.” I tracked a rivulet of water running down his tanned neck to disappear under the neckline of his shirt. And then another. And another. “I haven’t had so much fun in a long time. I also didn’t realise how much I needed it.”

“You’re welcome,” he answered softly as I continued to stare at those biceps. “Everyone needs a bit of fun in their life, right?”

The towel disappeared and I looked up to find him watching me with a quirk to his lips.Busted.

I rolled my eyes and threw my damp jersey at him. “Yeah, I’m looking, okay? No law against it as far as I know.”

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