Page 2 of Once Upon a Boyband
I reallydothink Mrs. Finley has a lot to do with Fifi’s terrible behavior, but she’s old, and Fifi is old, and teaching old dogs new tricks is even harder than teaching old owners new tricks. “I doubt Fifi will live much longer anyway,” I say. “I can brave it until then.”
“Your patience is admirable.And…deserving of a reward.” He singsongs this last part, and I look up, eyebrows raised.
Percy smirks. “Exam Two is ready for you. Your favorite mountain man is here with a new litter of puppies.”
I force a deep breath through my nose as I secure my bandage and throw away the trash. I willnothurry into Exam Two to see Adam, the owner of Hope Acres Dog Rescue, no matter how Percy baits me. I have more self-control than that.
The fact that Lawson Cove’s resident dog rescuer happens to have mysterious blue eyes, sexy broad shoulders, and an endless amount of patience even when he’s wrangling a dozen puppies does not justify me acting like I’m in middle school.
“Oh, are you too busy?” Percy says, his voice dripping with sass. “I think your dad just got back from lunch. I can always ask him to cover the appointment.”
“Don’t do that!” I say, closing the cabinet that holds the office first aid supplies with a loud slam. “I’m coming right now.”
Dad would happily cover the appointment. He was the vet for Hope Acres before I was—it was a random scheduling thing that moved Adam and his dogs onto my books instead of Dad’s—and he’s always spoken highly of Adam’s operation. But I’m not about to give Adam up now.
I live in a very small town, and the dating scene is basically nonexistent. My all-business interactions with Adam are the most action I ever get.
The thought gives me pause. I really should get out more. Maybe drive over to Franklin or go even farther and spend the weekend in Asheville. I have a few friends from college who live there now. It might be nice to catch up, maybe meet a few new people?
I follow that train of thought for exactly seven seconds before deciding it’s a terrible idea. What would I talk about with friends from college? Fifi’s anal glands?
I pause outside the exam room door and adjust my scrubs.
Percy gives me a knowing look as he holds out an iPad.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I say, yanking it from his hands.
“Look at you like what?” he says, his expression a little too coy.
I purse my lips and look over the digital chart Percy created for seven—no, eight—cocker spaniel puppies born out at Adam’s rescue. “Like you know what I’m thinking.”
He chuckles. “I’m not blind, honey. Idoknow what you’re thinking. I’d be thinking the same thing if I wasn’t already sure that man in there is straighter than a Michael Bay movie.”
I glare at Percy, eyes wide. “Would you hush?” We’ve never tested just how much you can hear through the gigantic crack at the bottom of the door, and I’d rather not test it now, when Adam could be listening. But I still can’t keep myself from whispering, “But also, what makes you so sure?”
“Oh, that’s easy,” Percy says, his eyes gleaming. “I’ve seen the way he looks atyou.”
My heart flutters at the thought, but I can’t take Percy seriously. The man is such a hopeless romantic, he sees heart eyes everywhere.
Besides, I’ve been taking care of the dogs from Hope Acres for the past eight months, and I’ve never had areason to believe Adam is even remotely interested in me.
Not that I have a lot of practice when it comes to this sort of thing. I’m happy with who I am, but who I am will never be the woman smiling at men across a restaurant or writing my number on a cocktail napkin at a bar.
I once made this argument to Percy when I was grumbling over my perpetually single status, not liking that meeting men actually requires me to besocial.
He simply shrugged and said, “Fine. Don’t try. But you’ll only have yourself to blame if you’re single until you’re dead.”
Which…fine.He might have a point there.
But Adam? He is not the man who is going to break me out of my years-long dating dry spell. For the past eight months, I’ve been seeing him once every few weeks, and notonce has he ever looked at me like I am anything but the veterinarian who happens to be taking care of his dogs. I’m a means to an end. A necessary part of his workload. Percy really could have called my dad in to cover the visit, and I don’t think Adam would have even noticed.
“Wait a sec,” Percy says, reaching over and tugging at my ponytail. “How are your waves today? Can we take this down?”
I duck and shrug away, smacking at his hand. “Stop it. My hair is fine.”
Percy is annoyingly broad, his shoulders wide enough to practically fill a doorway, and he’s doing an excellent job of keeping me from my next patient. Orpatients,in this case, since an entire litter of puppies needs to be examined. He folds his arms across his muscled chest. “Your hair isamazingwhen you wear it down,” he whisper yells. “Why settle forfinewhen you have all this going for you?”
“It doesn’t matter. Adam is not interested in me,” I whisper back. “End of discussion.” I grip the doorknob, giving Percy one final warning look. “Behave, please.”
