In one smooth move, he flipped me beneath him.His mouth trailed down my neck, along my collarbone, and then lower, capturing my nipple with a wicked grin I couldfeel.
I lifted his arm to look at the tattoo on the inside of his wrist—a moon tucked inside some kind of artsy starburst.“This is beautiful work.What does it mean?”
He squinted at it like it had personally betrayed him.“A drunk mistake from college.Also the night I learned to never trust Everclear.Or myself.”
“I need more than that.What’s it supposed to mean?”I gasped when he hit a sensitive spot on his way down my body.
“Apparently it means strength or control or controlling the tides of life?Something like that.I’m just relieved it wasn’t the cartoon Charizard that my friend said I begged to get.”
I burst out laughing.
My phone dinged the tone that indicated an incoming text, most likely from the emergency call line.“Why now?”
“Ignore it,” he suggested as he kissed my navel.
“I’m on call,” I said in a fake cheery tone.“Remember?”
“It can wait a half hour.You’re busy.”He continued his downward descent.
I stretched to see the message.“It’s your brother.He says he’s texted your phone a few times and now he’s going for the main number.I can feel the pissy through the text.”
“He always sounds pissed.He can call someone else out.”He pulled me back beneath him.The phone clattered to the floor.“He must’ve run home after the festival and found a mess there.”
Loud knocking came from the front door followed by a scream, “I know you’re in there, Josh!Open up.Now!Or I’m coming in!”
We both froze.
“That sounded a lot like your brother.”I whispered as if Timothy might hear me.
“He’ll break in if I don’t let him in.Actually, he has a key.”The full weight of Josh’s head fell against my chest.
“Fuck.”With a sigh, he rolled out of bed.He was in his jeans before I had time to ogle him naked.He paused at the door.
The softening of his eyes when he turned back made my brain go to mush.This man could completely destroy me again.
My voice came out hoarse.“Maybe it’s best if he doesn’t find me here.I’ll go on the call to his farm.”
“He might be a dick to you if you go out.”
“He doesn’t scare me.He’s always been difficult.Now, whatever insanity I have to treat a cow for?That scares me a bit.”I threw my legs over the side of the bed and bent to grab my jeans.When Josh hadn’t moved away despite the uptick of knocks on the front door, I glanced at him.His gaze was glued to my ass.“You like what you see?”
He grinned, a smolder in his eyes that sent heat all the way to my toes.“Maybe slip out the back.You’re right.We don’t need to add fuel to Timothy’s drama tonight.The keys to the work truck are on the kitchen table.Take it.It’s parked up the street.”
“If I go handle this, can you pick up Vinny from Marty’s and take him home?Make sure he ate dinner?”
“Sure.We can grab something on the way home if he’s still hungry and watch something on TV until you’re done.Text me if you need advice with whatever’s going on or if you need help.”
I couldn’t find my shirt.“My shirt and bra are on the sofa.”
He pulled a light blue scrub top out of a drawer and threw it at me.
“This will be too big, but whatever.”I shrugged as I put it on.It dwarfed me and the bottom of the top came to my mid-thighs.I pointed at my chest where my nipples poked through.“Not very professional.”
“Take this too.”He tossed a sweatshirt my way.
I unfolded the NC State sweatshirt.“He’ll know if I wear this that Iborrowedit.I’ll hide it under the coveralls.Coveralls!” I covered my eyes and shook my head.“I’m not a large animal vet.Swear to me that me taking farm calls is only temporary.”
Josh closed the distance and wrapped me in his arms, his hold fierce and protective, like he was afraid to let me disappear.“We’ll do better next time,” he murmured against my hair.“I promise.”
