Page 4 of My Boyfriends Are All Monsters
Noah gave a small squeeze to my knee and said, “She got caught up in the rockslide over on the Eagle’s Nest Trail. Clide and I are escorting her to the clinic to see about her ankle.”
Ansel raised a brow at him. “Is that right? Look here, Lucy, don’t let him guilt-trip you into going to the Harvest Festival with him just because he helped you out. You’re new in town, which basically makes you a celebrity. A woman of your stature should arrive with someone more on your level.”
“Like the best baker in town?” I asked wryly.
He put a hand over his chest, as if in shock. “Well, this is so sudden! But if you insist—”
“All right, all right. Shove off.” Noah grabbed the man by his shirt collar and pulled him out of the horse’s path. “She’s got more important things on her mind than a pity date with you.”
Ansel merely rolled his eyes and waved after us as the horse resumed his pace. “Let me know if you change your mind. Or if you ever decide to take up baking. I could always use another pair of hands at the shop.”
Noah scratched the back of his head nervously. “Sorry about him. I figured I’d at least get you into the clinic before the bachelors in town smelled blood in the water.”
“It’s fine, I don’t mind.” I laughed. Understatement of the year. After the day I’d had, if a bunch of hot men wanted to fawn over me, then I was here for it.
My phone buzzed and I pulled it out to see a notification from the group chat I had with my friends.
Scarlett:Jess said that limp dick loser left you on the side of a mountain. Are you ok? More importantly, are we free of him?
Kira:PLEASEtell me we can finally talk shit about him.
I bit the inside of my cheek to stifle a laugh and replied.
Lucy:Yes we’re free. Yes, talk shit, it will make me feel better.
Scarlett:My time has come! Gosh, where to start? The hairline? The obsession with trap music? The possibilities are endless.
Kira:Don’t steal my thunder bitch! Gimme a minute, I’ve prepared a slideshow for this.
Lucy:Got caught in a rockslide but it’s fine. I just twisted my ankle. One of the locals showed up like a knight in shining armor, complete with the white horse and all.
Kira:What, girl where are you?
Lucy:A small town called Duskpetal. Been here five minutes and I’ve already been saved by Mr. Romance Novel Hero, got invited on a date and I think offered a job at a bakery? Either I’ve stumbled across a storybook town, or I’m about to be abductedinto a cult. I’m gonna wait until I’ve tried the bakery to figure out if I care which one.
Kira:How hot is the cult leader?
Before I could answer, the horse came to a stop in front of our destination, and Noah held out his hand. I took it and maneuvered my good leg to sit sidesaddle to slide down, but Noah took me in his arms once again and carried me into the clinic.
Inside, it had more of that classic small-town charm. Potted plants decorated the windowsill, while a few painted pumpkins rested on the nurse’s desk. The scent of antiseptic mingled with the faint smell of apple pie. A golden retriever lay sprawled out on the area rug next to the front desk. The nurse raised her brow in that way old folks did when they discovered a juicy bit of gossip before the rest of the bingo club. Barely trying to hide her smirk, she nodded toward the back room.
“Dr. Crane’s in,” she said, her tone just short of a warning.
Noah grimaced and nodded his thanks. Instead of setting me down so I could sign in, he walked into the back room and gently placed me on an exam table, brushing a braid behind my ear before stepping away. “I’ll need to get back to my animals before they lay waste to the jack-o’-lanterns,” he murmured, giving me an apologetic smile. “When you’re done here, Evangeline can get you a room to rest in at the inn. I’ll bring you something to eat once I’ve finished my work for the day.”
“Oh, you don’t have to do that.”
“I know.” He stuffed a pillow under my calf to elevate my ankle. “Now do what the doctor says and let me take care of you.”
I could only stare, tongue-tied, as he left. Which was probably a good thing, because the next words that came out of my mouth were, “What are we?”
The door creaked open, and in walked Dr. Crane. He looked about as approachable as a brick wall but twice as rugged and oddly ... familiar. His dark eyes met mine for a split second before casting a glance at my ankle; then he pushed up his sleeves with efficient annoyance.
“Had a run-in with the rockslide, did you?” he muttered. Warm, calloused hands slid over my ankle with surprising gentleness. With his body so close to mine, his masculine scent wreaked havoc on my heartbeat. It was no wonder the dating scene was so abysmal. All the hot men had been hiding from us in the mountains.
I looked away from him and cleared my throat. “How did you know it was the rockslide?” The realization gave me pause, and I cast a suspicious glance at the doctor.
Crane’s jaw tightened just a fraction; then he waved off my suspicions with a shake of his head and replied, “There’s no secrets in this town. Doesn’t help that Noah found you first. The only thing that man loves more than his horse is to be the first to report news to the grapevine. Ms. Evangeline out front has undoubtedly already informed half the populace about a young woman being carried in by our resident gossip.” He reached into a drawer for an elastic bandage and began wrapping my ankle.
