Liam Read online

  Tyler: Can’t wait for our date tonight.

  A smile tugs at my lips as I type back: Me either. I hope to become good friends.

  I hope he gets the message I was sending by using the word friends.

  “Hey, Ves,” Judy says as I walk through the doors of the animal shelter.

  I smile and wave. “How are you?” I stop at the counter to sign in and get my volunteer sticker.

  She smiles wide. “Great. I found a home for the dog I’ve been fostering.”

  “That’s great news!” I drop the pen onto the counter. “What about Sammy?”

  Her happy face falls to one of sadness. “Not yet. But he’s so sweet, I know he will find the right family.”

  I offer her a sad smile. “I’m sure he will. And I know you won’t stop looking until you find them.” Sammy is a five-year-old American Pit Bull that was severely abused. When they found him, he was malnourished and covered in scars. He was so afraid of men and loud noises that he would cower in the corner and cry. Judy has been working with him for months, and if you were to look at him now, you wouldn’t think he’s had a rough past. He’s such a lovable lap puppy, even though he weighs nearly fifty pounds.

  I head to the back of the building and pick up the clipboard, scanning over what animals need to be checked out today. There are only three that need vaccines, meaning I’ll have a quick day. Which is good because I get time to work up the courage to actually go on this date.

  Amy walks in as I’m flipping through the pages on the clip board. “Hey, boss.” She drops her large purse on the table. “What do we have here today?”

  “We need Bently, Warren, and Jasper for vaccines.” I look up at her bloodshot eyes. “You want to get Bently while I’m setting up?”

  She yawns and nods her head.

  I laugh. “Did someone have a little too much fun last night?”

  Instead of answering me, she holds up her thumb and index finger with a small gap in-between them, meaning a little bit.

  “With any luck, you’ll look like this tomorrow,” she says, pushing her way out the door to retrieve the first dog.

  I roll my eyes as I begin setting the items I’ll need, my mind never settling from the nervousness that’s pumping through me with each beat of my heart.

  I’ve managed to get all three dogs vaccinated, walked a few, and helped clean out some kennels. It’s going on two p.m. and the closer it gets to date time, the faster my heart pounds. I don’t know why I’m so nervous. I know that I’m going on this date on a ‘just friends’ basis, but a part of me thinks that Tyler is hoping for more; that something will come out of it and I know that’s not the case. I just hope that he accepts what I’m willing to give, and that things don’t get too weird when we have to work together.

  When I get home, Ace greets me at the door, meowing at my feet.

  “Don’t give me that, mister. It’s not dinner time and you know it,” I tell him as I pick him up against my chest and rub his fat belly. I take a seat on the couch and immediately, he jumps from my arms and runs back into the kitchen, probably to scratch at the container of cat food. I kick off my shoes and sit back, thinking about what I’m going to wear on this date tonight.

  My phone rings, pulling me back from my thoughts.

  I pull my phone from my back pocket. “Hello?” I answer, without checking the caller ID.

  “Hi, honey. How’d your shift at the animal shelter go?” Mom asks.

  I shrug like she can see me. “Good, I guess.”

  “What’s the matter?” she asks, obviously picking up on something in my tone.

  “Nothing... I just… I have a date tonight,” I admit.

  “That’s wonderful. With who? Tell me all about him!” she gushes.

  I laugh. “It’s nobody you know. His name is Tyler, and he is the ranch hand at O’Connor’s place. But don’t get your hopes up. It’s just as friends. I’m not ready for anything serious.”

  “You’re twenty-six, Vesper. It’s time you start thinking about your future. Not to mention, I’d like to have grandchildren before I’m senile and can’t remember their names,” she jokes.

  I roll my eyes and take a deep breath. “Mom, I’m nowhere near ready to think about settling down and having kids. I just got my clinic open. I have big plans. I want to expand. Getting into a serious relationship at the beginning of my business venture isn’t smart. I need to keep my time freed up. Nobody wants to be with a woman who works all the time. Plus, when I find the right man, I want to have everything up and running so he gets more of my time than my job.” I shake my head. “Now just isn’t the time.”

  She scoffs. “You sound just as your father did when he opened up that tractor supply store.”

  I laugh. “And look how well that’s doing! He did things the smart way.” Daddy’s tractor supply is the only one that’s still up and running in this town, even after nearly twenty years. He’s put every local dealer out of business. Everyone in a hundred-mile radius knows he’s the man to go to when you need a new tractor.

  “Well, I was going to call and invite you to dinner tonight, but since you have plans, I’ll let your daddy know and we can do it another time.”

  “Sounds good, Mom. I’ll talk to you later.”

  “Vesper!” she suddenly shouts.

  “What?” I ask, alarmed.

  “What are you going to wear on this date?”

  I laugh. Only she would be concerned about that. “I don’t know. Probably just a pair of jeans and a cute top. Why?”

  “Oh, Vesper. Didn’t I teach you anything? You need to wear that little black dress you wore to our anniversary party last year. He won’t be able to take his eyes off you if you wear that dress.”

  “Goodbye, Mama.”

  “Oh, and wear your hair down,” she adds on.

  “Bye, Mom.”

  “Bye,” she finally says, hanging up the phone.

  I toss the phone onto the couch beside me, wondering if she’s right. Should I wear that dress?

  I roll my eyes and shake my head, clearing it out of all the confusion.

  I guess I fell asleep, because the next thing I know, I’m waking up to someone beating on the door. I jump up from the couch and rush through the kitchen to answer it. I throw open the door and there stands Amy, holding her makeup bag.

  I lean against the door frame and cross my arms over my chest. “What are you doing here?”

  She offers a wide smile. “I’m here to help you get ready for your date.” She pushes past me, walking into the kitchen.

  I close the door and spin around. “My mother put you up to this, didn’t she?”

  She freezes. “No?” I hear the question in that statement.

  “Ugh,” I groan as my shoulders fall and my head dips back so I’m staring at the ceiling.

  “She made me promise that I wouldn’t tell. But can you blame her? I mean, look at you.” She motions toward me. “He will be here in an hour and you haven’t even showered yet.” She steps closer and sniffs me. “You smell like wet dog. Go shower.”

  “I’ve spent the day at the animal shelter,” I mumble as I head toward the bathroom.

  Ten minutes later, I’m stepping out of the shower, wrapped in a towel when she barges through the door, her arms loaded down with supplies.

  “We’re going to apply some makeup—maybe give you a hint of a smoky eye. Then we’re going to straighten that hair until it’s silky smooth.” She drops her makeup bag onto the bathroom counter and plugs in the flat iron.

  “Uh, hello!” My eyes grow wide.

  “What?” She looks at me from over her shoulder.

  “I’m naked! Can’t this wait until I’m dressed?”

  “Fifty minutes and counting, Ves. What do you think?” She tilts her head to the side and lifts her brows.

  I pull my towel tighter around me. “Fine,” I mumble.

  “Go get some clothes on while this flat iron warms up.” She points toward my bedroom.
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  I basically stomp from the room, and into my bedroom like a spoiled teenage girl. Why in the hell didn’t they think I could do this on my own? I mean, I’ve been dressing myself for years now. And Amy of all people knows how I feel about this date. To me, it’s not a date. It’s just two people, that work together, getting to know one another a little better. There will be no goodnight kiss, no second date.

  I pull on a pair of sweatpants and a ratty old tank-top, and head back to the bathroom where she has all her makeup pulled out from the case and laying it out on the counter.

  “Have a seat,” she says, pointing at the toilet.

  5

  Thirty minutes later, Amy steps away. “Okay, now you can look.”

  I stand in front of the mirror. My strawberry-blonde hair is sleek and smooth, framing my face and hanging to my mid-back. My green eyes practically look like they’re glowing from all the dark eyeshadow and eyeliner that surrounds them, and my face has angles and definition now that she’s contoured every possible inch of my face she could.

  “Well, what do you think?”

  I don’t look anything like myself. “I’m not sure,” I answer, turning my head to the left and then the right to see every angle. “I mean, it looks good. It just doesn’t look like me, you know?”

  She places her hands on my shoulders and peeks around my head to look at me through the mirror. “That’s kind of the point. You look hot!” She leans back and smacks me on the ass, to which I jump and swat her away.

  “Now, let’s get into the dress.”

  “I can do it by myself, thank you very much,” I chastise as I cross the hallway into my room.

  I pull off my sweats and slip on the dress. I slide on a pair of sky-high heels and look myself over in the mirror. The black lace hugs every curve of my body, making my breasts and hips appear more defined. The neckline is low, and the hem of the dress stops mid-thigh—showing off plenty of leg and cleavage.

  I step out of my room and walk down the hallway to find Amy standing in the living room, waiting for me the way an anxious mother waits for her daughter on prom night.

  “Oh my God, Ves!” she gushes as she rushes up and walks circles around me. “You look so beautiful! If this dress doesn’t get you laid, I don’t know what will.” Her eyes are wide with excitement and her lips are turned up into a tight smile.

  “There will be no getting laid tonight,” I tell her with a stern look on my face.

  She rolls her blue eyes and her shoulders fall with disappointment. “Oh, come on! Live a little.”

  I walk past her, stuffing my keys and phone into my purse. “I still have to work with this guy for nearly a year! No way am I going to go and make that awkward by sleeping with him. We’re friends, that’s it.”

  “Fine. You’re such a stick in the mud.” She grabs her things. “Call me when you get back and let me know all the gritty details, so I can pass them onto your mom.” She laughs as she opens the front door and walks out, carrying out all the stuff she carried in.

  My phone chimes and I pull it from my purse.

  Tyler: It just occurred to me that I have no idea where you live.

  I laugh and type out my address before sending the message.

  I quickly pour Ace his dinner, and as soon as fatty hears the rattle of the food, he comes running. I squat down and pet his head, letting my hand run down his back and over his tail. “You’re lucky, Ace. I wish I could just sit around eating all day long.” He doesn’t look away from his dish. “And napping,” I add on. “We can’t forget napping.”

  I stand and refill his water dish, then grab my purse off the counter and look myself over in the mirror that’s hanging on the far wall of the kitchen. It doesn’t even feel like I’m looking at myself. I’m used to jeans and t-shirts, minimal makeup, and messy buns. Not sleek hair, layers upon layers of makeup, and a stuffy dress with painful heels. All I can do is thank my lucky stars that I’m not a girlie-girl.

  My thoughts are interrupted by a knock on the door. I take a deep breath and step toward it, telling myself that everything will be alright.

  “Hey,” I say as I open the door to find Tyler on the other side, looking mouthwatering good, I might add. His dirty-blonde hair is styled nicely instead of being covered by an old, beat-up cowboy hat, and the sleeves of his button-up, black shirt are rolled up to his elbows, showing his strong, tan forearms. It’s tucked in at the waist of his dark-wash Wranglers, and his big, silver belt buckle is front and center. Cowboy through and through.

  “You look… beautiful,” he breathes out as he leans in and presses a kiss to my cheek.

  My face instantly flushes. “Thank you. Are those for me?” I point at the bouquet of wild flowers in his hand.

  “Oh, yes!” he says like he had forgotten he’s holding them.

  A giggle escapes my lips as I reach out and take the flowers. “I’ll just put these in some water and I’ll be ready to go. Would you like to step inside for a minute?” I leave the door open as I turn around, walking across the kitchen floor to take a vase from the cabinet.

  He steps into the small room and looks around. “You have a cat?”

  I place the flowers in the vase and begin filling it with water. “Yeah. His name is Ace. I’ve had him since I was a kid. He’s almost fifteen-years-old.”

  “I’m allergic to cats,” he states flatly, stepping as far away as he can.

  My eyes grow wide. “Oh, no. Let’s get out of here then.” I urge him toward the door before the sneezing fit can ensue.

  I lock the door behind me and follow him out to the parking lot where he stops at a brand-new Chevy truck. He hits the unlock button and opens the passenger side door for me.

  “Thank you,” I say, taking my seat.

  As he walks around the vehicle, I stare at the dark sky and brightly lit stars. It’s a warm night, but there is a slight wind blowing, creating the perfect spring night. He gets behind the wheel and starts the truck. “I figured we could have some dinner at the steak house here in town, and then maybe have a few drinks?”

  I nod. “That sounds good to me. I haven’t been out in forever, so basically anything sounds good to me.” I laugh.

  He looks at me from the corner of his dark eyes. “Really? You?”

  “Why is that so hard to believe?”

  “It’s just that you’re beautiful. I find it hard to believe that some guy hasn’t scooped you up yet,” he admits, keeping his eyes on the road.

  Another laugh escapes my lips. “No, I’m not looking for a relationship right now.”

  “What do you do then?” he asks, glancing at me for only a moment. “Other than work,” he adds on.

  “Well, every Saturday I volunteer at the local animal shelter. I do check-ups for the animals. Help with bathing them, walking them, whatever they need really.” I think about how I spend the rest of my time. “I usually spend Sundays with my family or help my dad at the shop. Through the week… I work.” I shrug. “I’m usually too tired after work to do anything other than eat and veg out in front of the tv.”

  He pulls up to the restaurant and shuts off the truck. “Ready?”

  I nod. “Let’s do it.”

  After we’re seated, there is an awkward silence as we both try to think of something to say.

  “Why don’t you tell me a little about yourself, Tyler.”

  He smiles wide and lifts his water glass to his lips, taking a sip. “What do you want to know?”

  “I already told you what I do. How do you spend your time?” I push a section of my smooth hair behind my ear and lean in.

  “Well,” he places his hands on the table, folding them together as he thinks over my question. “I work the ranch for Liam O’Connor. That keeps my hands pretty full. He’s almost never there.”

  “Why isn’t he? What does he do?”

  “He’s the CEO of O’Conner Oil Company. He inherited the ranch from his grandpa on his mom’s side and got the company after his dad passed aw
ay last year. I guess it keeps him pretty busy because he’s basically non-existent around these parts.”

  “You must feel pretty passionately about animals to put so much of your time into someone else’s ranch.”

  He nods. “I do. I love my job. I hope to own my own ranch someday.” His dark eyes meet mine. “What are you passionate about?”

  I don’t even have to think about it. “My animal hospital. I just opened a few months back, but I hope to, one day, bring in more employees, maybe expand across the state. But for now, I’m just trying to keep the lights on and animals coming through the door. It’s just me and my friend, Amy. She’s a lifesaver. She’s my assistant, but she handles the phones and appointments.”

  “It sounds like you’re going to stay pretty busy in the future.”

  “Hopefully,” I agree. “Which is why I’m not looking to start a relationship right now. New relationships need time to grow. Whoever I end up with, I want to give them my time, and I just don’t have any to give right now.”

  He nods. “I completely understand, Ves. If you’re not looking for a relationship, I won’t ask for one.” He offers a kind smile that makes his dark eyes burn. “What do you say we enjoy our dinner, then us friends can go grab a few drinks, maybe dance a little?”

  I feel my smile widen. “I’d like that.”

  6

  After a wonderful dinner, Tyler takes me over to Regan’s to kick back and have a few drinks. Just like any other night, the place is in full swing. The bar is lined up with patrons asking for drink after drink. The dance floor is crowded with swaying bodies that move along with the beat of the country music, and nearly every table is full of groups of friends out having a good time.

  It’s been years since I’ve even stepped my foot in this place. I notice that the once black painted brick walls are now a light gray color, making the small bar feel bigger and more inviting. There is a new wooden dance floor in front of the stage that has a live band playing, and there are a couple of pool tables and dart boards up front.