Page 62 of The Vet from Snowy River
But still … six thousand likes!
It was the euphoria of that crazy social-media moment that had caused her current problem. She’d been high-fiving Graeme and then laughing as he did a victory dance through the tables in the café when Josh had popped his head in the door. Asked her out hiking on her next day off.Hiking!
And what had she said in that crazy moment of optimism?
She’d said yes.
And now it was crunch time. What did a woman having major second thoughts wear on a hiking date anyway?
Hiking boots? She was a city girl. Not much call for hiking boots in the café strips of Queanbeyan or Canberra. Her sneakers would have to do. Shorts? She shivered at the thought. No, despite the calendar telling her it was the middle of spring, the Snowy Mountains had their own idea about daytime temperature. It was brisk outside. Jeans, definitely.
Fleece. Anorak. Hat. Sunscreen. Water. Tape for a blister event, tourniquet for a landslide event, compression bandages for a snakebite event …you’re losing it, Vera. She inspected the precisely hung and folded garments tucked away in her wardrobe then shook her head. An expedition to Antarctica to study emperor penguins wouldn’t require this much overthinking.
A toot sounded outside and she walked to the window. Josh stood on the footpath, a cat-sized travel crate in his arms.
Oh. Now she remembered why she’d said yes. A handsome, caring, fun man was interested in her. And … he’d just saved her cat for free.
It was a problem. One she’d have to do something about today. She’d go on this damn hike, snakes and landslides and cat obligations and all, but she’d lay it out on the line. She was in no position to be getting involved with anyone, and the big handsome anyone down there by her front door deserved to know the reason why.
For a woman who’d promised herself when she moved to Hanrahan that the café and her aunt were going to be her only priorities in life, complications had sure started to pile up fast. Like the cat. Thepregnantcat. How it had schmoozed its way from dumpster diver in her back alley to home-delivery service in a cushy crate from the Cody and Cody Vet Clinic to her front door … bloody hell.
She waved through the glass, then headed downstairs to let him in.
‘You know, Josh, I’ve not looked after a pet since I won a goldfish at the Royal Canberra Show when I was eight.’ And that hadn’t ended well. As an adult, she’dneverminded a pet … or looked after a friend’s child … she was so frazzled, she could barely recall watering a pot plant.
She’d never been the nurturing sort, so what madness had made her think she could bring home an invalid, pregnant cat?
‘It’s the same principles as with that long-ago goldfish. Food. Water. Attention.’
She frowned at the aggrieved silence pulsing from the crate. ‘Okay, but when I have trouble flushing the body down the toilet, you’re paying for my plumbing bill.’
Josh chuckled. ‘Relax. You’ll do fine. Which way?’
She sighed. ‘Upstairs. Turn right at the top.’
‘Did you get the kitty litter? The dried food? A water bowl?’
‘Yes, Dr Cody. The cat’s needs have all been catered for.’
He flashed her a grin over his shoulder as he headed up. ‘Now, now. No need for sarcasm, I get enough of that from Hannah. I’ve spare in the truck if you didn’t have time to get prepared. I know how many hours you put in at the café.’
Oh. Well. Now she did feel snarky. She moved past him to the front door of her apartment and held it open. ‘Laundry’s this way.’
‘Great. I’d lock her in there for today; it’ll help her work out it’s her space.’
This was all happening way too quickly. She followed Josh into the laundry then remembered the room was barely large enough for her, let alone her, an upset grey cat, and a six-foot-two muscled male who smelled like leather and sunshine.
And her libido. Let’s not forgetthat,she thought, because it had just rocketed into the laundry with her and started sucking all the oxygen out of the air.
Her libido needed a distraction. ‘Josh, I don’t think you quite understand. I’m not very good at …’Caring for people? Getting involved? ‘Looking after things,’ she finished lamely. ‘I’m not like you, Josh. You have a way with people. With animals. You like them and they like you and it’s all easy-peasy. I don’t have that. I … misunderstand social cues. I—’
Shit. She was floundering now. How did she explain that she’d lost her faith in her ability to have relationships since Aaron blindsided her?
He set the crate down on the dryer and turned to face her. ‘That is so not true.’
She blinked. ‘I’m afraid it is, Josh.’
‘You want to know something?’
