Page 35 of Love Unforgettable
Chapter 13
Lexie
Anna, from Trevor’s office, calls first thing in the morning to let me know that Sasha’s night went well and that I can pick her up in the early afternoon. I’m grateful for the excuse to cut my day short and go get her. Doc Richardson calls me into his office soon after I arrive.
“Lexie, it’s good to see you. I’m sure you’ve heard that Sasha is doing well.”
“Yes, thank you, Doc Richardson. I appreciate the attention from you and your staff.”
“Not really my staff any longer. Which sounds odd when I say it.”
“They’ve been yours for a long time, I’m sure there will be a time of adjustment for you.”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Doctor Vaughn will be back in the next day or so, and his family soon after. I was hoping we could throw together that wine reception we talked about. Maybe this coming weekend?”
Why are his parents with him on the East Coast?
“Sure. Anything for you, Doc. You know that. I, uh wasn’t aware that Trevor’s family was with him on the East Coast.”
“Where else would they be?” Doc Richardson laughs.
“I don’t know, I guess.”
“So, this weekend then? That gives us a few days to square things and get the invites out. Will it be a problem for you to have the event at the winery?”
“Not at all. That makes it really easy, actually.”
“Great, I’ll have Anna finalize everything with you. And I will have Sasha brought up.”
“Thanks, Doc. I really appreciate it.”
“As do I, Lexie. As do I.”
He gives me a quick side hug and is out the door. I head back to reception to wait for Sasha. When they bring her up she’s clearly doped up and walking lopsided from both the medication and the brace on her leg. The tech helps me get her in my car, and we head for home.
* * *
I sit with Sasha most of the afternoon, just to make sure she really is doing okay. It’s so hard with pets since you never really know what they’re feeling, but, by the time I’m leaving to meet Kat and Remi for dinner, she seems to be resting fitfully and not really needing me at all.
We scheduled our weekly girls’ dinner early in the week since Remi claimed to be more than ready to leave the hospital, that Chance is driving her crazy and she needs a break. Even though I just saw Kat last night, it feels like the three of us haven’t been together or had a chance to catch up for a while.
I get to The Crazy Burro, our normal dining haunt, first; which is not all that uncommon. Kat has a hard time being punctual for anything, and Remi likes to make an entrance for everything. I order a round of margaritas for the three of us and sit back to wait for my besties to arrive.
“I’m starting to think that maybe you just don’t eat at home, sweetness.” I hear the voice before I see the man. The voice that brings a little shimmy to my seat and heat to my belly. I look up and see Cole Mason turning one of the chairs around at my table and sitting his front to the chair back, with his arms resting along the top.
My God, this man is good looking.
Don’t react. Don’t react. We don’t like him.
“Clearly, that goes both ways,” I say dryly.
Good one, Lex. Keep ‘em coming.
“Me?” he asks. “I don’t like to cook for one. Plus, I’ve got a meeting in a bit with a breeder from the Central Valley.”
“What do you mean you don’t like to cook for one. Am I supposed to believe you can cook if it’s for more than one?”
“I cook real well for two, sweetness,” he says.
