“Should’ve called yesterday though. I told him that,” Derrick says with a pointed look at Trent.
A dozen snappy comebacks leap to my mind; I wouldn’t have thought communication was your strong suit. Really? You told him to call when you couldn’t be bothered to do the same?
I so badly want to call him out. But I have a feeling it’s not going to go well if I demand to know why he left after our amazing night of sex.
Exhaling, I continue to examine the distended triangle shape on the left side of the steer’s stomach. “There are two different ways I can treat this. One, run a tube into the stomach and release the gas via the tube, or two, I can puncture the stomach from here and use a tube to let out the gas, but that is only if this is an emergency. How long has the steer been bloated this way?”
“He went missing, and I rounded him up yesterday. I’d guess at least three days,” Derrick answers.
I look the steer over and check him for dehydration. I decide it’s best to use the trochar tool, option two, and let out the gas that way.
Derrick and Trent watch me, and both seem to appreciate that it’s a delicate procedure. When the steer moves a little, I throw my leg over to hold him still. After I’ve finished, I insert the small tube, and the gas begins to escape.
I breathe a sigh of relief because you can visually see that the cow is feeling some relief already. I rub the soft fur on his head.
“You’ll need to make sure this stays clean and unobstructed. I can come back and check it again tomorrow when I screen Petey’s blood,” I tell no one in particular.
I chance a look up at Derrick and note that he isn’t being especially friendly, and his gruff expression makes it impossible to tell if he’s even happy to see me.
I pull my gaze away and decide right then and there that I’m just going to address Trent with all of it. I don’t care who Derrick thinks he is with his guarded looks. He can think whatever he wants about me at this point. Obviously, he’s regretting the other night. I wish I could do the same.
8
Derrick
Olivia is one hell of a vet. She’s also incredibly beautiful and just as sexy as I found her when I first saw her. It has to be the worst luck that Olivia turned out to be the new vet.
Seems like something she should’ve mentioned.
She’s probably the type that keeps all kinds of secrets.
Trent is telling her how amazing she is. He’s always been the friendly, outgoing one. And though I know that Trent isn’t wrong, I don’t allow myself to do anything more than thank her.
“You know, I really appreciate you dropping everything to rush over here and help us. I know we’re not your only customers, even though I do call you a lot, it seems,” Trent says.
“No problem,” Olivia says as she packs up her supplies. “It’s the nature of the business. Emergencies have to take precedence. Plus, I couldn’t very well face Lacy if I let something happen to your cow.”
I relax a little, knowing that she must be friends with Lacy.
I stare down Trent, but he misses every shut-up signal I send him.
Blind idiot.
“Yes, but I’d still like to find a way to thank you,” Trent says, wiping his brow. “Hey, are you still looking for a place to rent?”
I bump into Trent, trying to get his attention but failing.
“We’ve got a cabin here on our property. We usually offer it up to folks working for us on our ranch before anybody else, but you’re practically out here every other day lately.”
I feel like I’m going to throw up my breakfast. Olivia cannot live on Keller Ranch. She’d be underfoot, she’d be under my nose, and the whole time I’d be wanting her under my body! That is not a good idea. I might like to keep things light, but that doesn’t mean I like sharing a woman with anybody else. Olivia seems to be a play-around woman, and that just doesn’t sit well with me.
“That cabin is rented out already,” I say, trying to shut up Trent.
“No it isn’t. The Hunt family moved out last week,” he says. He turns back to Olivia. “Lacy said you were doing massive renovations at your house starting next week. And she feels bad that the inn is full the next few weeks. You can stay out at the cabin. I insist.”
I stare hard at my younger brother, willing him to look my way so I can try and signal him to let it go. It doesn’t work.
“C’mon, I’ll show you. It’s just down the path, close to the barn,” Trent says, completely ignoring me at this point. What is he thinking?
I follow along behind them because I can’t seem to do anything else. I have to see if she’s actually going to take it and make my life a nightmare.
They’re talking about Lacy, and Trent is yammering on about the wedding. I swear he’s more excited than the bride. However, I can’t really make fun of him for it. I saw how he was without Lacy, and it wasn’t pretty.
Olivia turns to glance at me, and she doesn’t look surprised that I’m following them. I try to hide the fact that I’ve been watching the way her curvy thighs move in her tight jeans as she walks. I lower my Stetson farther down my forehead so she can’t see my gaze.
“This is it,” Trent says as we stand in front of the small cabin.
I look at Olivia, at the cabin, and then up to the main house. Fuck me, I’ll never make it if she’s this close to me. My resolve to forget about her after I walked out of her house the other morning will be shoved to the wayside because this is just too much temptation.
Olivia
I follow Trent through the house, and I can hear Derrick’s heavy footsteps behind me. I cross my arms over my chest as if that’s going to calm my racing heart. When Trent mentioned it, I expected a small rickety cabin. Well, this is more like a guesthouse than anything. It’s fully furnished with big, dark wood furniture. There’s two bedrooms, a bathroom, living room, and kitchen. Probably the biggest seller of the place is the back porch. It’s a covered porch and has the most beautiful view of Heart Mountain I’ve ever seen.
I love it, but I’m still going to tell Trent no. “It’s beautiful.” Even I can hear the awe in my voice. But I continue. “But it’s not a good idea. I can’t rent from one of my clients.” I look away, uncomfortable under Derrick’s heavy stare. “It could cause issues.”
I’m sure Trent thinks I’m saying that because of me being the vet for the ranch. But in all honesty, it’s because of my night with Derrick. That’s what would cause issues. I’m a mess right now, with his brooding eyes staring a hole in me. Living on the ranch, even temporarily, would be too much. Plus, obviously, Derrick’s already proven that he’s an ass. Who walks out after the night we had and not say a word? And maybe it’s not just the reason that he behaved poorly leaving the way he did, but because I’m so attracted to him too. No, it’s better if I stay as far away as possible from Derrick Keller.
“I agree,” Derrick says. His quick and gruff agreement with my excuse settles the matter.
“Thank you for showing me the cabin, though, Trent. I promise I can live with some remodeling. It won’t be bad.”