Page 3 of Fake Dating in Half Moon Bay

“Look, Heather. I’m sorry to rush you, but I need to be in surgery, and I can’t do that unless we solve your problem first. What’s in your car?”

She stared at the floor again trying to find words to explain her predicament.

“Heather,” he snapped. She heard him inhale and let the breath out slowly. “Look, you’re obviously afraid and embarrassed. I understand that. Help me out here, okay?”

She glanced up, his eyes were kind, but the muscles in his jaw jumped.

“It’s a cat. A feral cat. I think. It’s huge. Biggest cat I ever saw.” She shuddered. “It jumped in when I opened my door at the grocery store. I tried and tried but it wouldn’t come out.” She dashed away a stupid tear. “It growled at me. Nobody was around to help so I came here.”

“Wait. What?” He frowned in disbelief. “I’m delaying surgery because a cat growled at you?” He shook his head. “Jeepers.”

He turned away.

“Aren’t you going to help me?” she called after him.Was he abandoning her?

“I need a cage, and gloves. Be right back.” He muttered something under his breath, but she couldn’t quite catch the words.

He came back and tossed a sweatshirt at her. “Put this on, before you freeze to death.”

Two minutes later, they stood in the mist wearing matching hoodies bearing his clinic logo. Thankfully, the rain had tapered off. He opened the passenger door and leaned in. His shirt rode up revealing the most delectable backside she’d seen in ages.

You’re not interested, Heather. Stop staring.

She heard a meow, then some murmuring from Zander. Slowly he backed out of the car, pulling the cage behind him.

“Is this your wild animal?” he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice. “It’s a house cat. It’s not feral and it didn’t even object to the cage. You might have overreacted.” He grinned.

He wasn’t outright laughing at her, though he was entertained, but at least he had taken care of the pest for her. She stiffened her spine. “I had an extremely bad experience as a child.” She couldn’t stop a shudder of remembered fear. “I was attacked by a feral cat and badly injured. It’s silly, but I can’t get past it. Cats scare me spitless.” She looked him in the eye, daring him to mock her further.

“I’m sorry to hear that. Sometimes fear is irrational.” There was a comfort in his voice that she hadn’t gotten from her father after she hid the scratches until they festered enough to put her in the hospital.

She looked up at him. His wet hair shone in the bright light over the clinic door. She wanted to slick it back off his forehead. She cleared a lump of something she didn’t want to admit from her throat. “Sorry to take you away from your fox. What do I owe you?”

“Nothing. It’s good. I’ll put Fluffy here inside and start looking for his owner. Sorry I have to rush away. You have a lovely night.” Cage in hand, he turned and walked away.

“Thank you,” she yelled.

He waved over his shoulder as he hurried back inside, leaving her standing in the damp air wearing his hoodie and thinking about his backside. She wanted to be annoyed that he was amused by her fear, but he’d been kind enough to help her out and she appreciated it. Besides, it was easy to see why her fear might appear funny to someone who clearly excelled in handling animals.

He had been amused, but he’d helped without complaint, despite being busy. Zander Bellamie was one of the good guys. He was what her grandmother would have called a “heart guy.” A man you could lose your heart to without even noticing. Not that she liked him.

Chapter 3

Heather was almost home when she realized she was still wearing his hoodie. Dang. She’d have to return it later. She was not going to bother him right now. He was busy and she was tired, no, exhausted, and she was still freezing. Why had the heavens opened up just as that crazy cat jumped into her car? Her childhood fear had frozen her in place, and she’d been drenched. Something prompted her to get into the car and go for help. Why going back into the store didn’t occur to her was baffling.

She pulled behind the white brick apartment building she lived in and parked in her assigned stall. Groceries in hand, she headed upstairs to the suite she shared with her roommate, Quinn.

She let herself into the apartment and called out, “Quinn, I’m home. I’ve had one heck of a day.” She heard giggling through Quinn’s door and groaned. She wasentertainingagain. Quinn was a great roommate, but her boyfriend was a jerk. In the weeks since Heather had moved in the pair had done nothing but fight.

“Don’t let it bug you. Eventually, you’ll be able to afford a place of your own.” She put the groceries away, put the kettle on, and went to change into dry clothing. She sifted through her meager clothing and pulled out a pair of yoga pants. They fit well enough, but sure weren’t top end. She’d lost all her designer duds when her ex had stolen her inheritance and trashed her reputation.

Heartbroken, she’d fled Toronto for lower mainland British Columbia, and had been rooming with a friend. Luck and that good friend had gotten her a one time catering job at Zander’s brother’s inn. She’d knocked that gig out of the park and had talked her way into a steady job.

Living in Half Moon Bay was something of an adjustment. Small town life had everything she needed, but she missed the anonymity of the city. She didn’t know how Quinn managed to date such a jerk without thinking about so many eyes watching her every move. Privacy was nonexistent here.

“It doesn’t matter,” she muttered as she pulled on her pants and a clean T-shirt. Still chilled from her earlier dousing, she pulled Zander’s hoodie back on. It was nearly dry and still warm from her body. Socks in hand she headed for the kitchen and brewed a pot of her special blend orange-mint tea. Someday, she’d sell her tea and sweets in her own shop. She had to stabilize her life, save her money, and buy a place with a garden for growing the herbs. That meant keeping her eye on the ball and not losing her job. That in turn meant staying away from Zander, despite her instant and continued attraction to him.

Funny, Zander and his three brothers looked a lot alike, but the only one that sparked even a glimmer of interest was Zander. She shrugged off the thought. The world worked in mysterious ways and since she wasn’t interested in dating, Zander’s attractiveness was of no consequence.

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