Page 87 of Bleeding Heart

“Are you okay, Pepper?” Gracyn rushes up, grabbing the cat from behind. “Let me help!”

There’s a flurry of fur as the blanket drops to the floor. Plain Jane in her office wear starts sneezing. The cat’s got all four limbs going in four different directions along with its head and neck in a fifth as it tries to bite my cousin.

There are plenty of times I’m involved in whatever is happening at the ranch. Family comes first but, “I do not miss this.” I stand back, taking in the scene.

Between sneezing, picking cat fur off her tongue, and grabbing the blanket which has landed at her feet, the tenpenny lady and Gracyn exchange information about the cat. It’s been vaccinated and has a clean bill of health. Gracyn slams her hip into the glass and tosses the unamused kitty out the front entrance with a “shoo.”

I also pick up on my cousin using the woman’s name again and stifle a second groan.

This uncoordinated mess is the pyro moving in next door.

First impressions are lasting. Dr. Sanchez has pictures of her sons scattered on the bookcases in her office. Some old. Some new. They aren’t from cheesy staged portrait sessions. In all of the photographs, the family is bright-eyed, smiling, and having fun. The candids set the tone for my interview at the vet center, and Daveigh’s warm, welcoming demeanor set me at ease.

The Sanchez family is gorgeous. Cris and Daveigh’s three sons have dark hair like their mom and dad. The younger boys, Cruz and Alex, wander in and out of the clinic after school. I’ve noticed one has hazel eyes and the other the same green that tends to be on-trend at Kingsbrier. The only person who is a more frequent visitor during a workweek is the elder Mr. Cavanaugh, Daveigh’s father. He has those friendly green eyes, so the genes must be passed down from there, along with kindness since Mr. Cavanaugh is all about lending a helping hand whenever possible.

The veterinary center seems like a revolving door of Dr. Sanchez’s nieces and nephews as well. They come in for whatever reason, or no reason at all.

I especially like Gracyn. She graduated from college and came home to learn the ropes of the family wine-making business. Cris Sanchez is her boss, and Gracyn works beyond the clinic’s parking lot and past the field at Kingsbrier’s vineyard.

It didn’t take me long to catch on that Gracyn often uses bringing a message Mr. Sanchez was capable of texting his wife as an excuse to come hang out. We’re closing the clinic early today and her aunt is taking everyone to dinner as a thank you. I think Gracyn volunteered today to round up the barn cats at the winery and in the stable as a change from tackling her usual responsibilities. But don’t quote me on that. And also, I don’t necessarily see it as anything Gracyn is doing wrong.

A vet tech calls Gracyn back into one of the exam rooms with the last of the barn cats in tow. By Mateo’s forlorn expression when his cousin leaves, he’s ready to renege on our pity arrangement.

The town safety marshal condemned my apartment after my kitchen caught fire. Trying to find a new place for my water-logged belongings as fast as possible wasn’t going well. Daveigh offered to ask Mateo to rent me the empty other half of his duplex. I cautiously agreed. I hope she didn’t use her mom voice to strong-arm him into doing anything he hadn’t wanted to.

For as long as I’ve worked for Dr. Sanchez, I’ve never met Mateo in person. He’s significantly older than his brothers, and he doesn’t live across the street in the to-die-for Victorian his parents reside in.

What I do know about Mateo is from Gracyn, who talks about her cousins nonstop, and the few things I’ve gleaned managing the office and having access to Dr. Sanchez’s calendar.

My boss is a little more private about her oldest. I figure it has to do with the fact that he’s an adult. She’s not shuffling him to music lessons like Cruz or begging him to turn in his homework on time like Alex. When Daveigh does bring him up her face lights up the way it does when she’s venting to me that she’s scolded her youngest. Imagine that, being upset at your child, but not acting like you love them any less?

Although, I’m pretty sure I am an embarrassment. So my own experiences make perfect sense.

However, I did try to put my best foot forward with my new neighbor. Instead of tossing on scrubs this morning, I’ve dressed professionally. The chocolate-colored pants I’m wearing are now covered in cat hair. No wonder I’m a snotty mess from sneezing. To boot, the pink silky button-down layered over the cream-colored satin chemise isn’t as discreet as I bargained for. It didn’t hide a damn thing when the cat’s paw slipped over my boob and got caught in the lace of my bra. So now I’ve also flashed my boss’s son.

Great first impression.

And did I mention, like every other member of his family, Mateo is gorgeous?

His dark hair is clipped short. He has a square jawline. Broad shoulders stretch the limits of his t-shirt. Tattoos—though not as many as I’d thought he’d have—peek out from under his shirt sleeves. I can’t help wondering where they are on his chest. His dark jeans fit him like a glove.

I’ve seen my fair share of cowboys since moving to Texas, but damn. You can tell off the bat this man has hauled plenty of hay bales in his lifetime. He’s probably had plenty of rolls in the hay, too.

Mateo clears his throat and I realize I’m staring below his belt.

Way to make it awkward, Pepper.

I pinch the bridge of my nose and shut my eyes, counting back from ten. The mental reset likely won’t do much for anyone else, but it’s what I’ve learned to do to regain my confidence.

Cat dander covers my sweaty hands and I achoo again.

“Uh, bless you?”

“Thanks.” The “th” sound comes out akin to a D. I grimace and reach for a tissue, turning my back on Mateo to blow my nose.

For all that’s good and holy, please do not make there be any snot on my cheek when I face this man again. I search out the nearest reflective surface in case. All good.

“Let me get this right; You work for a vet and you’re allergic to cats?” Mateo chuckles.

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