Page 14 of A Love Like Pumpkin Spice
“I’m sorry, man.” The slightest hint of worry washes over his face, and I quickly shake my head.
“It was the kind thing to do.” I clear my throat. “Anyway, that’s the extent of our meeting. “But if you’re curious, she’s coming to the clinic tomorrow. You can catch a glimpse then.”
He tilts his head, eyeing me like I’m crazy. Then suddenly, his expression softens.
“Maybe I will.”
“Did I miss the notice for a town meeting?” Kieran suddenly appears beside us, startling me when he suddenly speaks. Even Caleb, the unmovable giant of Wayward Hollow, flinches.
I’m waiting for Wayward Hollow’s newest addition to collect her furry friend. But Jensen kept whining at the door to be let out, so I decided to enjoy the sun for a while in front of my clinic. Caleb joined us quickly once he saw me sitting outside. I can’t believe even the town’s anti-gossiper is curiousabout our new town members, even if he’s hiding it behind a nonchalant expression.
“Holy shit, newbie, you scared the shit out of me.” I clutch my chest and shake my head at Kieran.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to. What are you two doing out here?”
Before we can answer, Jensen Ackles weighs in with a high-pitchedawoo-woo, making Kieran smile.
“Oh, hi there, sweetie. Can I pet him?”
“Sure. Kieran, this is Jensen Ackles. Jensen, this is Kieran.” I chuckle as I introduce them while Kieran kneels on the ground, and my dog loses no time making a new friend.
“I shall call you Squirrel,” he whispers as Jensen licks his face.
“Here she comes,” I whisper to Caleb and nod toward our left where the same black car with tinted windows she arrived in yesterday pulls up.
Today was a slow day. I only had an appointment in the morning. My cousin Ethan lives two towns over and asked me to come over to check on one of his cows who was behaving strangely.
It’s incredibly rare to have someone bring in their pet without having chatted with me first, and this town doesn’t exactly brim with emergencies. Yet, you better bet when they do, shit’s going down.
Just like yesterday.
I shoot the box with the cat’s body a wistful glance where it resides on my reception desk inside. Young cats are tough, and this cat couldn’t have been older than two years.
No matter how often and to which animal it happens, their deaths always hit hard.
Kieran’s low whistle pulls me right back to reality. “Now I see why you’re waiting out here. They’re gorgeous!”
“They?” I turn my head right as the driver and passenger doors of her car open. Her blonde, wavy hair pops up from thedriver’s side, and another, slightly shorter woman with lighter and longer blonde hair climbs out from the passenger side.
They’re chatting happily, and a part of me is relieved that the beautiful stranger seems to be in a way better place than yesterday.
She was so shaken up. I got worried about whether she made it home okay.
“Hi there,” she says when she stops next to our little group, sounding nervous. “I need to apologize again for yesterday. I’m sorry. Let’s try this again. I’m Nicola, but please call me Nic.”
Baffled, I take a deep breath. She’s even prettier than I remember. Today, her sharp blue eyes aren’t smudged with makeup or red-rimmed. She’s wearing subtle makeup, the kind that makes her seem to glows from within. She has a faint blush on her high cheekbones and a shimmer along her narrow nose, making her look as if the sun shines on her, even indoors. Her lips have the slightest tint, as though she’s been biting them—and I can’t take my eyes off them.
From the corner of my eye, I see a grin tug at Kieran’s lips and quickly refocus.
“A pleasure to meet you, Nic. I’m Henry.” I smile and nod toward the others. “And that’s Caleb. To nobody’s surprise, the owner of Caleb’s, the café two doors down.”
“That makes sense,” Nic says with a chuckle. “Good to meet the person who will feed my caffeine addiction.”
“And that’s Kieran.” I nod toward the third guy in the group. He plasters a smooth smile on his face before he gets up, my dog jumping up his side to get more attention.
“And this is Lauren, my best friend.”
“Nice to meet you all,” her friend adds. She’s also gorgeous, with a wide grin on her heart-shaped face, soft bangs down to right above her eyes. She seems vaguely familiar—but I can’t put my finger on it. Maybe she was in town before to scout the lakeside mansions? I feel like I’ve seen her before.
