She holds her hands up. “First of all, I want you to know I didn’t lie to you about Dr. Stone. I wasn’t flirting with him.”
I feel a giant knot forming in my stomach. “Okay, what does that have to do you being busy tonight?”
She clears her throat and looks up at the ceiling. “Uh, Dr. Stone called this morning and asked me if I’d go out to dinner with him tonight.”
I know my eyes are bugging out of my head. “And you said yes?”
She starts to fidget. “Yeah... I mean, I talked to King about it. I didn’t want it to affect my job since Stone is the vet here, and he said he didn’t think it was a big deal so I said yes. I mean, Stone hasn’t even seen the new me, and he wanted to go out with me.” She slams her lips together as if she thinks she’s said too much.
The more she says, the more I feel my temper rise. I did this. This is my own fault. There are a million things I want to say to her, but I don’t trust myself to say them. I don’t want to hurt her again, and I know I’d probably end up doing that right now. She wouldn’t take kindly to me telling her she can’t go out with someone... again. I take some deep breaths and count to ten. When I feel like I have some control, I start walking toward her. She’s about to move when I hold my hand up and point at her. “Stay right there. Don’t move.”
She freezes, her eyes wide. I move behind her desk and don’t stop until I’m towering over her and she has to lean her head back to look up at me. She’s looking at me wide-eyed, but when I search her face, there’s no fear there, more like surprise. I put my hand at the base of her neck. I’m trying to stay in control. “I want to kiss you, Mia.”
She blinks and licks her lips. “You want to...”
I nod impatiently. “Kiss you. I hate that I have to ask permission. I want to be able to kiss you any time I want, but I know we need to work up to that, so I’m asking... Can I kiss you?”
“I don’t—” she starts, and I grunt, leaning my forehead against hers. “Please don’t say you think it’s a bad idea. Trust me, I know when something’s a bad idea, and this isn’t it. This is a really good idea, Mia.”
There are so many questions in her eyes, and I’ll answer every damn one of them when she’s ready to ask them, but right now, I need to kiss her. I need to feel her lips under mine and her body pressed against me. I need to hold her hand and talk to her about her plans for the future. I want to ask her all the things I should already know about her and have been too stupid to ask. But right now more than anything, I want to claim her lips. I want her to know she’s mine.
She lets out a little puff of air. “Okay.”
That’s all I need to hear. I put my hands at her waist and pick her up and set her on the empty space of her desk. With my hands on her hips, I kiss her, softly at first, enjoying the sweet, simple touch of our lips pressing together. Her hands grasp the front of my shirt, pulling me toward her. I smile against her mouth and press my tongue to the seam of her lips. She opens for me, and I taste her, moaning as my tongue plunges through her mouth. I deepen the kiss, and my hands trail up her sides. Her body jumps as my hands come to rest under her heavy breasts. I need to stop before I let this get out of hand, and I know I’m close. It would take nothing for me to shut and lock the door and make her mine in every way... but I can’t.
I pull back, and we’re both breathless. Her cheeks are red as she pants, staring at me with curiosity.
I brush the hair that has fallen out of her ponytail away from her face. I cup her cheek. “You’re mine, Mia.”
Before she can argue with me, I put my arms around her and hug her tightly. She seems at a loss for what to do until her arms lift and latch around my waist. I stand there for I don’t know how long, but I know I could have stayed just like this if it meant she didn’t go out with another man. I inhale deeply, her sweet scent filling my nostrils. My voice is deep and husky, thinking about tonight. “Please don’t let him kiss you, Mia. Promise me.”
I sound so pathetic, but I don’t even care. It’s killing me right now, but I know I can’t stop her.
“I promise,” she says.
Relieved, I kiss the top of her head. “Call me if you need anything.”
I release her and walk away without a backward glance. I know if I look at her, I’m going to beg her not to go. And even though I’ve finally figured out what I want, I need her to be sure too... even if it kills me.
Chapter 10
Mia
I plop down at my desk and I feel like I’m in some kind of alternate universe. In two days, I’ve had more people ask me out then I have in the last three years.
It’s so confusing, and I know I need to think about things, but all I can think about is that kiss Ryan and I shared.
There are so many thoughts going through my head, but all I can think about is Ryan. He said I was his. Those are three words that I’ve dreamed of hearing from him, but I never thought it would be possible. And then that kiss. Goodness, that kiss rocked me to the soles of my feet.
I don’t know how long I sit at my desk staring off into space, but I know I need to make a decision. Ryan didn’t stop me from going out tonight, but there’s a part of me that feels guilty going out with Dr. Stone. I go back and forth thinking I should cancel my date and then the next second, I’m thinking I should go.
My dad would say, “Go with your gut, girly.” And I know he’s right. I think about Dr. Stone. He’s gentle with the animals and seems like a genuinely good guy. He’s always happy and smiling. Then there’s Ryan. He’s moody sometimes but always makes me laugh. He cares about animals and his ranch and family like nothing I’ve ever witnessed before. I know if I take a chance on Ryan, he is the one that has the ability to hurt me. Can I trust him with my heart?
I grab my purse and don’t even go inside. I already have the keys for the ranch truck, and I drive into town. I know what I need to do.
When I pull into the Whiskey Valley Veterinary Clinic an hour before our date, I feel a calm come over me because I know I’m doing the right thing. I walk in the front door and ask to see Dr. Stone. I only have to wait a few minutes before he calls me back. We go into his office, and I sit down across the desk from him.
“I’m sorry to do this, but I’m going to need to cancel tonight. I’m sorry for the last minute, but I thought I should come and tell you.”