Constant selfies added in a colorful display of whimsy highlighting every picturesque detail about my exciting life. Only my life had never been about excitement. In fact, what few friends I’d had in college and after graduating called me boring. They’d stopped asking me out to dance the night away with the full intention of meeting a hot guy for a one-night stand. They knew I’d never stand for such frivolity.
Other than reading romance, what had I ever done that anyone would consider naughty? There was no vision board detailing my hopes for Prince Charming, no wedding dresses that were oh-so perfect but cost way too much. There were no four thousand square foot homes located in a community where every house appeared the same.
I wasn’t that girl.
I was just… A woman on a mission to heal animals.
Maybe that’s one reason once my true desire had been awakened, there was no chance at putting the genie back in the bottle. Instead of giggling at my subtle revelation, I sighed in revolt, suddenly hating my life.
That wasn’t true.
Only my needs had changed. All because a not-so-subtle roughneck of a man had dropped into my life. Why did he feel the need to live so recklessly with his job? “Ugh.” The single word echoed in the small room and I realized I had an audience. Both dogs were lying in the doorway, crowding the spot.
At least they could bring me out of my doldrums.
“I know. A little bit wacko, right?”
They obviously weren’t in the mood to answer.
After deodorant, lotion to smooth every rough edge, and a splash of my favorite perfume that was still kept in the box, I stepped over them and headed to my room.
I’d even changed the ridiculous comforter, purchasing a new one on the way back from Goodwill. Out with the pink, in with passion purple. An adult color.
My laugh was toneless, just another annoyance at this point, but I had a good reason to feel deflated. My clothes. It looked as if I’d shopped at a thrift store. Yes, I preferred comfy clothes, pieces that if sprayed with vomit or piss, wouldn’t be ruined.
Tonight, I wanted to feel like a woman instead of a doctor. As crazy as it sounded to myself and something I wouldn’t admit to anyone, wearing pretty clothes would make me feel closer to him.
How insane was that?
Incredibly.
I dug through my clothes, yanking the hangers from one side of the closet to the other. Until I found the dress that would work. One dress that wasn’t cutesy or meant for a beach day, a little black number with attitude.
“That’ll work.”
As soon as I slipped into the frock and after I smoothed it down, once again I studied my reflection in the mirror. Acceptable.
In just finishing dressing, I was nervous and unsure why. He wasn’t going to make an appearance at the honkytonk bar. A girl could dream.
I grabbed my lower-heeled black pumps that went with everything and headed downstairs, the pups trailing behind me.
Everything felt perfunctory from filling their water to taking them out for a brief walk and making certain the dishes had been put into the dishwasher. I didn’t want Viper to come home to a mess.
A laugh caught me by surprise. He’d not only made himself at home in my house, he’d done so in my head. “Alright, babies, Mommy is going out for the evening. I won’t be too late.”
They were none too happy, already sulking as I headed for the door. They’d survive.
I wasn’t certain I would.
With the outside light left on, I jumped in my truck.
That’s when I almost had a nervous breakdown. I was completely and thoroughly on an edge that I couldn’t control or understand.
And I hated myself because of it.
If I had this type of reaction to Viper’s job, then what if things became serious? Oh, who was I kidding? Viper had yet to tell me his real full name. Of course things weren’t going to become too serious. I was just a little bit nutty.
Nutty in falling in love.
