I sipped my beer now that the froth had settled.With forced concentration I took in Milly’s buttoned up pink blouse and styled blonde hair that looked like she’d time-traveled from a 1940s movie set and was waiting for someone to yell “ACTION!”Although well put together, her look screamedhell noon wanting to get laid.Everything about getting her in bed or even kissing her would be something I’d have to plan out.I was so tired right now that I wasn’t sure I had the energy to strategize, nor did I feel much enthusiasm.
Milly deserved me being nice.She’d listened this past month when I unloaded work frustrations on her.She had brought me meals a few times after a long day.I should want this kind of relationship no matter how tedious it might be.Shouldn’t I?
I thought of someone who could be in the middle of criticizing my pants while simultaneously making me feel hotter than a ghost pepper.
I refused to dwell on Erika or how hard I came in the shower last night.Erika was leaving.Milly was here.
“You’re still thinking about her.”She sipped her red wine and cast me a judgmental glare.
I should say something complimentary to her for going to all the effort when all I’d done was throw on a non-scrub shirt and jeans.Instead, what popped out of my mouth was about Erika again.“She’s on a whole other level in surgery.It was badass.”
“Sounds like it’d be best if you tell her to go back to where she came from,” she grouched.“She can badass herself somewhere more fast-paced than Vision.”
My mind bounced to what Marty said about Erika’s offhand comment about every woman in this town warning her away from me.A part of me liked knowing Erika had noticed I was doing well now, socially and professionally.It shouldn’t matter.But it did.
“All I’m saying is what she did today took a lot of skill.”
Milly’s lips pouted.“You sound like you want her to move back here.”
This had been the most exciting forty-eight hours of my life.If I had her here more than a week, what else might happen?“I can’t run the business alone.She could be a big help.She’s also in a lot of debt to me.It makes sense for her to help out until I can find a replacement.”
Working with her daily would be tricky.She was the craziest, most breathtaking, and annoyingly stubborn person I’d ever met.
Milly rotated her wine glass and stared at the purple liquid.“Hire a new vet.Work out a debt repayment plan with her so she can go back to her life.She’ll be a pain if she stays.”
“Where am I going to get this new vet who wants to move to Vision?Before Dr.Chomping passed, we’d been trying to hire someone for two years.”
“Try harder.”Her tone reminded me a lot of Cindy from baseball.It was huffy mixed with a hefty dose ofI-hate-Erika.I could’ve sworn she muttered under her breath.“Anyone but her.”Louder, she said, “Mark my words, she will try to seduce you into doing what she wants.”
I choked on the swallow of beer.“Seduce me?Not a chance.”I coughed until my eyes watered, then swiped a hand across them.“She threatened to feed me to the bears after I guilted her into doing surgery today.She didn’t flash her tits or even try to charm her way out of the debt she owes me.”
If shehadflashed me, I definitely would’ve looked.Hell, I might’ve even been persuaded to renegotiate the loan.The fact that she didn’t try to dodge any of it only raised my respect for her.
Still, my mind drifted to what itwouldbe like if shedidtry to seduce me.I’d put up a fight—at least at first—but I could see myself caving, giving her whatever she wanted.Dante’s words about losing my clothes around Erika flittered through my brain.Maybe Milly was right.Erika sticking around could turn into a serious pain in the ass.
“Well, that’s a relief I suppose.”She sipped her wine.
After a few stretches of awkward silence, I finally forced out, in my best polite tone, “Anything exciting happen at your work today?”
“I had this guy who parked himself at one of the tables for two hours and only bought one cup of coffee.Then he kept asking for free refills.And the ice machine wasn’t working.”She went on, detailing what sounded like an ordinary, uneventful day.
I think I managed a smile and maybe a single nod.The whole time, one thought pressed heavier and heavier on me: I didn’t want to spend the next thirty years trapped in forced small talk with scheduled Friday-night sex.I wanted…
Damn it.My mom’s words about sex echoed in my head.Yes.I wanted that.The kind of sex that knocks the world out from under you.
Music roared from the back-room pool hall, which was separated from the restaurant by a set of swinging café doors.Most people entered the bar and pool hall through a side entrance to the building.
Mike, owner of the Salted Mule Bar and Restaurant, burst out from behind the bar with a tray of seven beers.Two guys I vaguely remembered from school and Drew opened the swinging doors for Mike.A round of cheers rent the air.This place never had excitement like this.Maybe it was someone’s birthday.Or it could mean…
Erika.
I stood.“Excuse me for a sec, I’ve gotta see what Drew is up to back there.I’ll be right back.”
In the pool room, Vinny sat high up on the counter which gave him a great view of the foosball table.The hood was up on his black hoodie, but his grin was a mile wide.He dipped a fry in ketchup and gobbled it down.
A couple of catcalls and a swell of excitement lit the air as Erika sauntered away from the jukebox.She rocked her shoulders back-and-forth to a song I hadn’t heard since high school.I remembered my first real date with her so long ago.
“So, we’re telling secrets now?”Erika gave me a naughty smile and sipped her milkshake.“I have one biggie.”
