I waited for the door to close and then started scrubbing. Part of me still couldn’t believe I was going to a baby shower. Maybe I’d get an emergency ranch call and have to miss the afternoon get-together. Or…
I glanced over at the message from Serenity Farms on my desk.
If Madison needed help getting up to speed on the breeding program, I could schedule it for Saturday afternoon. It would give me an excuse to leave the shower early. Then I could just stop by and wouldn’t have to play games or whatever the hell you did at a baby shower.
Yeah, that could work. I wouldn’t be an asshole for not showing up, and I could help one of our long-time clients at the same time. It had nothing to do with seeing Madison again.
I dried my hands and headed for my desk.
CHAPTER 2
Madison
My cell rang, interrupting me as I was scrolling through Twitter. The number wasn’t in my contacts, but I recognized it anyway. I’d called the vet clinic earlier today, but it was almost eight o’clock. I hadn’t expected a call back this late.
“This is Madison,” I answered.
Cole cleared his throat on the other end of the line. “It’s Dr. Vega. I was returning your call.” His deep voice had a rough edge to it that made it instantly recognizable.
“Working late?”
He paused before responding. “Yeah. Long day. Am I interrupting? We can talk in the morning if that’s best.”
“No, this is good. I’m just having a glass of wine and thinking about heating up some leftovers.” I picked up my glass and swirled the pink Moscato.
Was I oversharing with a near stranger? Probably. Wine without food made me an open book. It didn’t matter. Even though he was good-looking and hadn’t been wearing a wedding ring, I’d decided long ago that dating was overrated. If love was in the cards for me, I’d stumble into it without trying. Otherwise, what was the point?
“Sounds like a great night.” He chuckled, the sound sending a ripple of heat through my bloodstream.
Had to be the wine.
I took another sip and rested the glass on the table. “I called earlier about the next shipment of bull semen. I have a notation down for your next ranch call, but we need to receive the shipment within twenty-four hours of your visit for it to still be viable, right?”
Okay, never in a million years would I have dreamed I’d be talking about bull semen with a sexy, rough-around-the-edges veterinarian. Life was full of surprises.
A chair squeaked in the background. “Jorge can check with Double S about the collection dates. It’s only viable for twenty-four hours once it’s thawed. If the dates don’t match up, just call the office in the morning and we can change the appointment.”
I jotted the information on a sticky note. “Perfect. Thanks, Cole.”
“You’re welcome.” He cleared his throat, his tone warming a bit. “It’s a big job managing a working cattle ranch.”
I laughed at the understatement of the day and picked up my wineglass again. “Where were you before I accepted this job?”
He lowered his voice. “I don’t remember anyone asking for my opinion.”
“I didn’t think to call a veterinarian for a rundown of how regimented and scientific artificially inseminating cattle would be.” I took another sip and smiled. “I’m pretty sure this is the most I’ve ever discussed semen in my life.”
“I forget everyone else doesn’t talk like this every day.” He laughed, and there was that warmth sliding through my bloodstream again.
“You’re numb to semen?” I giggled.
Okay, definitely too much wine.
“Not sure how to answer that.” The smile was plain in his voice.
“Sorry. There’s a good chance I should’ve had some food before I poured the wine.” I stared up at the ceiling, willing myself to mellow out. “I swear I don’t usually drink alone. I’m just new in town and a little stressed about the job.”
“Not meeting up with your brother?”
He had remembered our brief conversation earlier. The corners of my mouth tipped up. “He’s got his hands full with his new pregnant wife and he’s got a demanding job in Phoenix, so it’s tough to pin him down.”
“Well if you come up with more questions about bull semen, you’ve got my number.”
I rested my elbow on the table with a goofy grin. “Not exactly. I have your office number.”
Was I seriously asking the vet for his number? Maybe I was lonelier than I’d realized.
Sedona was a long way from Lake Tahoe. I’d left behind my best friend, Vivianna, a job that I loved, and a house that was walking distance from the gorgeous lake. But when Chandler had told me he’d eloped with Wendy and they were expecting, it had flipped a switch inside me. Our dad had nearly died of a heart attack a few weeks earlier, and suddenly it hit me how short life was. Chandler and I had a chance to make sure our fractured family history ended with our parents. It inspired me. More than that. Seeing Chandler in love, happy—god, it made me believe love might be real after all—and I didn’t want to miss a moment.
Vivi understood, and my former boss, Taryn, sent me off with a promise that Goldstone Properties would always have a place for me if I ever came back to Tahoe. But I still missed them.
Cole gave me his cell number and added, “I have some time later in the day on Saturday if you’d like to get together. We could meet at the ranch or maybe over a drink?”
I blinked. “Like a date?” I hadn’t been on one in so long, I wasn’t sure.
“No. Just thought you might have more cattle questions.” Was he back-pedaling? “Plus, I guess then you’d know someone else in town besides your brother.”
So not a date.
“That’s okay. I wouldn’t want to keep you from your…” He didn’t wear a ring, but he could still be married or have a girlfriend or a family. “Thanks, though.”
“If I had someone to be kept from, I wouldn’t be inviting another woman out for drinks.” His chair squeaked again, and I imagined him leaning back with an arm up behind his head, his biceps on display. “I’m not that kind of guy.”
“Good to know.” I glanced at the stacks of boxes lining the wall, begging to be unpacked, and decided to ignore them. “I do have some questions. But I’ve got a thing on Saturday afternoon. Maybe we could meet tomorrow instead?” He was quiet long enough that I checked my phone to make sure the call hadn’t dropped. “Cole?”
“Sorry.” He cleared his throat. “I’m here. I was just checking my schedule. Fridays are usually pretty busy.”
“Maybe after work? We could still talk over a drink, but I’m not sure where to suggest we meet up.”
“All right.” He paused, and I imagined him writing it on a paper desk calendar. He didn’t seem like a Google calendar on his phone type. “How about the Wolf Pack Bar? Say six o’clock?”
“Great. See you then.” I grinned without fear anyone would see the goofy hearts over my head. This wasn’t a date but still. “I might have a bunch more semen questions.”