“I like my job at the SPCA.”
“But it hardly pays,” Emily said.
“Honey, some things are bigger than money. And anyway, I manage just fine.”
She had to bite her tongue. There was no gain to pointing out that he managed just fine because she kicked in for rent and groceries and leftover medical bills whenever and wherever she could—after feeding and housing her and Sara, who like Dad, never could quite make ends meet. “You’re eating?” she asked.
“Yes, I’m eating,” he said. “Now will you go do something fun? Try it, you might like it.”
She thought of what she’d done with Wyatt in his truck, how uninhibited and crazy it had been, and felt her pulse kick. She’d already had her fun.
Twice.
“Love you, Dad.”
“Love you, too, honey. Tell Sara I tried.”
She hung up and turned to Sara. “He tried what?”
“To loosen you up,” Sara said.
Emily blew out her breath and looked at her phone when it rang.
Lilah ran the local doggy day care on the property next to Belle Haven, and as she was close to Dell and the guys, she spent lots of time in the office.
This worked for Emily, as she liked Lilah a lot. “I’m working on a big fund-raiser,” Lilah said when Emily answered the call. “It’s an online auction, with profits going to the local animal rescue shelter.”
“I didn’t know Sunshine had a rescue shelter,” Emily said.
“Yeah, and it’s me. Anyway, everyone from Belle Haven’s donating stuff. Dell’s offered ten free pet checkups. Adam’s offering a free puppy training course, and also S&R classes. Brady’s giving out a one-hour chopper ride.”
Brady was her husband, who was Dell’s brother. He was a pilot for hire, and maintained a helicopter at the small airport across from the animal center, which he often used to fly Dell and Wyatt to the big animal ranch patients.
“And Wyatt?” Emily asked. “What did he donate?”
Lilah was silent for a beat, and Emily cursed her own mouth for revealing her interest.
“Wyatt’s donating a shadow day,” Lilah said. “The highest bidder gets to walk in his shadow all day long at the center. He’s also giving away five home vet visits.”
“Generous,” Emily said, trying to sound not all that interested, also trying not to picture all the single women in the area bidding on him.
He’s not yours . . .
“So,” Lilah said. “You in? How about a night out with the highest bidder?”
“Uh . . .” Emily said.
“Just dinner,” Lilah said.
Sounded harmless enough. “If you really think people will be interested,” she said. “Because let’s face it, the big draw’s going to be the guys of Belle Haven.”
Lilah laughed softly. “I take it you’ve seen the way women react to them.”
“Yes, the Casserole Brigade has been very attentive.”
This cracked Lilah up. “For the most part, the guys don’t even notice,” she said.
“Are you kidding?” Emily asked on a laugh. “Wyatt snags each and every casserole.”
“That’s more because he’s always hungry. And by hungry, I mean his appetite for food,” Lilah said. “He’s actually a little bit shy in the women department.”
Emily couldn’t help it, she burst out laughing.
And in her ear, Lilah chuckled. “Okay, yeah, maybe shy is a bit of a stretch. Wyatt doesn’t really have a shy bone in his body. But he’s not exactly a man ’ho, either. He’s just so damn busy all the time. Poor guy’s got his hands full, what with the crazy growth of the practice these past six months, and trying to take care of his sisters and that big house, and planning the build on his own place. At least he’s finally getting over Caitlin, though he’s still protecting his heart pretty good—not that a man would ever admit to that, and certainly not a man like Wyatt.”
“Who’s Caitlin?”
“Uh . . .” Lilah’s voice suddenly became professional-like. “Hey, I’ve got another call coming in.”
“Okay, but—”
But Lilah was already gone.
By ten o’clock on Monday morning, Wyatt’s ass was dragging. It had been a long weekend rewiring the downstairs bathroom, and an even longer morning. Having been called out to the front desk, his stomach growled like Pavlov’s dog when he saw another casserole dish sitting on the counter.
Gertie hoisted herself to her feet and bounded to Wyatt for some love, leaving only a little slobber on his thigh.
“Rosa Martinez,” Jade said, patting the casserole. “Homemade enchiladas. She left a note that I accidentally on purpose read. She wants to jump your bones.”
“Jump your bones,” Peanut said.
Wyatt pointed at the parrot, and the bird flopped dramatically to Jade’s desk like he’d been shot.
Wyatt turned to Jade. “The note does not say that.”
“It says, and I quote, ‘call me, Dr. Stone, anytime.’” Jade waved it. “In women-speak that means she wants to jump your bones.”
“Women are crazy.”
“True,” she said, not insulted in the least.
Emily came up to the counter holding a file. Wyatt gave her credit, she met his gaze smoothly, as she had all morning. He wasn’t sure if she blushed slightly, or if that was his imagination. One thing she hadn’t done was speak directly to him.
Apparently, they weren’t going to discuss Friday night. Fine by him, as every time he so much as thought about it, how she’d climbed into his lap and rode him like he was a bronco, he got hard.
“I need some copies made,” she said to Jade, and then stopped to eye the casserole. “Another delivery from the Casserole Brigade?” she asked.
“Yep,” Jade said.
“What’s going on?” she asked Wyatt. “Are they auditioning for the role of your next girlfriend?”
Jade cackled.
Peanut cackled.
Wyatt slid both Jade and the parrot a look, but neither appeared at all repentant. “What?” Jade said. “It’s not a bad idea. You deserve a new girlfriend since—”
“Jade.”
“And speaking of girlfriends . . .” She handed him a stack of phone messages. “I almost didn’t give you the first one, but last time I interfered, Dell told me to butt out of your business. So this is me, butting out.”
He looked down at the first message and felt tension grip him. “Caitlin called?”
“Yeah,” Jade said softly, no longer sounding amused. “From Haiti. I told her you were too busy screwing blond triplets in the back, that you’d call when you were done, but it might be awhile seeing as you were a God among men.”
At his side, Emily sucked in a breath.
Wyatt shook his head. “Nice going on staying out of it, Jade.”
She winced with guilt but kept her head high. “She deserved it. And since I’ve already stuck my nose in, let me finish off by saying if you call her back, I’ll . . .” She paused. “I’ll call all the cougars in town and tell them your favorite foods, and that you need some lovin’.”
“Do it,” Wyatt said. “And I’ll teach Parrot how to fake an orgasm, loud and proud, Meg Ryan style.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” Jade said, eyes narrowed.
“Try me,” he said.
She tried to stare him down, but he’d learned how to handle strong women from the masters: Zoe and Darcy.
Jade backed down.
“Caitlin’s the ex-girlfriend,” Emily said into the silence, clearly asking for confirmation.
“Ex-fiancée, who screwed him over,” Jade corrected, then she caught Wyatt’s gaze as she grimaced. “Sorry,” she said. “That one slipped out. I’m going to control myself now.”
Yeah, right. He felt the weight of Emily’s surprise, but ignored it and Jade. Fucking Mondays. He headed back to his office with the messages. He dumped Caitlin’s into the trash and then stared down at it. “Shit,” he said, and pulled it back out.