Page 9 of Seaside Cowboy's Marriage of Convenience

Finally, she had to stop in hopes of staying sane. It had taken her years to accept that she’d never see Zoey. But she’d accepted it. Mostly.

Her uncle’s eyes looked somewhere past her. Somewhere where his daughter might still exist. “I was so shocked that I had to take a moment away to recollect myself. When I went back to download the video, it wasn’t there. It was deleted. I’m trying to track down the person who uploaded it. I know you’re going to say I’m imagining things.”

He was wrong—another rare occurrence. She wasn’t going to say anything at all. She was speechless.

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Usually, Austin didn’tstay upset for long and managed to find joy in the multitude of animals he tended. But this time, sadness lingered. How had he messed up both his chances with Kennedy?

His gut tightened, and rocking back in his office chair, he did his best to find the bright side. After all, it was for the better. He’d never fit in her world, anyway.

Based on the way his gut tightened further, that wasn’t the bright side.

However, his little patients deserved the best of him, not a mopey doctor. He pulled his shoulders back and looked at his assistant, Saylor. Marina’s sister, and therefore his sister-in-law. Austin had hired her shortly after she’d returned to Port Sunshine when the assistant he’d inherited with the clinic had retired. Now Saylor ran everything with care and efficiency, making her the best assistant he could wish for.

Plus, Saylor had a ready smile and a perky attitude. While with the previous assistant, Mrs. Dixon, if he heard a growl, there’d been a good chance she was growling, not a canine patient.

“Have I told you the clinic looks brighter with you here? You breathed new life into this place.” He gave Saylor her due. “Pets and humans alike love you.”

“Happy to help.” She beamed. She always looked at him as if he mattered.

A guy could get used to this fast, but he’d never had a big ego. He only regretted he wasn’t someone more important when he saw Kennedy. The thought sent another jolt of sadness, but he routed his thoughts where they should be. “Okay, so far, we’ve had a Pomeranian with a bruised paw and a Chihuahua scratched by a cat. And then two cats in a row had nothing wrong with them. They didn’t need vaccines, either, and it was early for a routine checkup. Don’t get me wrong. I love it when animals are healthy. But why bring them here then?”

Saylor chuckled as she flipped her long dark-blonde hair back. She favored bright colors, and today, she wore a magenta blouse. “You really didn’t notice?”

“Notice what?” He leaned back in his chair and stretched his legs while he had a chance.

A cow had chased him yesterday, and while he could run fast, cattle could move surprisingly fast if motivated. Olympic-medal hopefuls should start training by being chased by a cow. They’d get amazing results.

“Notice what?” Saylor singsonged, clearly teasing him. “Seriously? The young women owned by those cats flirting with you? Making eyes at you?”

He blinked. “They did?” He just looked at the cats. He was a veterinarian, after all, not a physician.

“Absolutely!” Saylor threw her hands up in the air, making her wide sleeves fall and showing off a seashell bracelet. Her fingernails matched her lipstick and blouse. Good thing it wasn’t true about the color red annoying bulls, because otherwise he’d have to avoid taking her near any cattle herds. She used to wear large hoop earrings but stopped after several pets had latched onto them. “Okay, you might’ve missed it because you pay much more attention to their pets.”

“Duh. As I should.” He raked his fingers through his hair, the short-cropped strands too curly to be bristly. He didn’t understand the attention. Unlike Kai, Austin had never been a player. It might be pathetic, but after none of his relationships had led anywhere—two had ended because the women didn’t like cats and three because they didn’t like dogs and demandedhestop liking cats or dogs, respectively, and the rest had just fizzled out—he’d had his eyes on one woman only.

Kennedy. A yearning in his heart caused another prayer.

Lord, would it be too much to ask for another chance with Kennedy? Or is it simpler to ask for a crystal bridge over the ocean?

“Besides, I’m more comfortable with pets than with people. Except for my family.” He paused to update the Pomeranian’s file on his laptop. Then glancing up, he hurried to add, “And you, of course. As my sister-in-law, you became family, anyway.”

Something unreadable flashed in Saylor’s eyes, and instead of getting brighter at his compliment, they dimmed. Why? “Of course. I wonder if you’re really this oblivious. Or if someone occupies your heart already.”

Kennedy’s image flashed in his mind. His heart constricted. He’d love for her to come through that door. But it would be impossible. She didn’t even have a pet, and now he understood why. Besides running a large business and therefore being super busy, apparently, she had fur allergies. Yet he prayed again.

Lord, please give me another chance, if that is Your will.

Could he go apologize for his, well, apology? Or had he done enough damage already? He suppressed a grimace.

“We have a fifteen-minute lull before the next patient,” Saylor said after checking the schedule on her tablet. “Would you like me to make you a cup of coffee? Or maybe a sandwich?”

“Indeed, you’re the best assistant ever.” But he wouldn’t take advantage of her kindness. “Thank you, but it’s okay. You don’t have to do things like that, though I do appreciate your offering. Feel free to make some for yourself though.” A knock on the door made him look up. “The next patient might be early. Oh, maybe it’s a walk-in.”

“So much for that sandwich,” Saylor muttered.

He got up and opened the door. Then he blinked, unable to believe his eyes. His imagination must be playing tricks on him. “Kennedy... You...”

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