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ChapterNine
Alice
I waved goodbye as Bea and Jonah left. After a moment, I caught myself watching for too long. My eyes greedily lingered on Jonah’s broad shoulders.
I quickly shut the door, leaning my back against it and taking a deep breath.
What the hell am I doing?
Better yet, what the hell are you doing kissing Jonah?
My critical mind wanted to know. It was a rather obvious question, all things considered.
I had no idea anddefinitelyno good answer. I didn’t need to lust after my neighbor whose grandmother was dying, whom he obviously adored and doted on. I took a breath and let it out, pushing away from the door.
Crossing over to the kitchen windows, I looked out over the lake. I’d gone and kissed Jonah. I let out a ragged sigh. Why did he have to be so handsome and sexy?
I had important things to do, things to focus on, and none of them involved getting tangled up with my hot new neighbor.
The following morning at the vet clinic, I went through a long list that Natalie had typed up for me. She’d even written a sample job description for the job she did. Good Lord. I had a lot on my plate.
I quickly copied and pasted the job description she wrote and put it up on the town’s local online job board. I doubted I needed to use one of the big job websites, although I supposed I could do that if I didn’t get any good responses.
I prayed I got some good applicants. I was going to lean heavily on Georgia’s and Natalie’s insider knowledge of Willow Brook and its current residents. I hadn’t lived here since high school, and it was safe to say my high school social knowledge was not particularly useful at this point.
After that, I got to work reviewing the supplies. Georgia assured me she and Natalie had stayed on top of things for the temps they had had in the clinic. But we all had preferences, and I wanted to make sure we had the things I needed and preferred.
When the vet clinic number rang, I glanced at the phone mounted on the wall, eyeing it suspiciously before I was galvanized to hurry over and answer it. We were in business, and I needed to schedule appointments if anyone called.
“Hello, Willow Brook Veterinary Clinic,” I said, feeling a surge of anticipation inside as I spoke the name of my new business aloud.
“Hi, Alice.”
The fizzy anticipation faded instantly and cold dread balled in my stomach, anxiety spinning rapidly in my chest.
Shit, shit, shit,I hissed silently in my brain.
I took a quick breath. “Hi, Tyler.”
“I heard you had a new setup going on,” he replied.
“Tyler, please leave me alone.”
“It’s not that simple, Alice,” Tyler Black replied.
Tyler Black, otherwise known as the fucking gaslighting asshole who was still trying to blackmail me even though I had nothing to give.
“I can’t help you,” I said flatly.
“Sure, you can,” he returned smoothly. “You have a new vet clinic.”
“No.”
“Alice—” he began, his tone laced with warning.
I was so fucking done with this guy. “Tyler, don’t call here again. If you do, I will report you to the police.”
“Oh, really? I still have those photos.”
