20
CARLY
To my complete surprise, Austin actually drives me home.
Not home, actually, but into town, to the City Hall building.
I turn to him when he stops the car out front. I could’ve asked him sooner, but I zoned out the window and thought about what we did. How my body is still humming from it.
I am sore, but in a delicious way. I’m going to feel what we did all day. Maybe longer.
“What’s this?” I ask.
“Your dad’s office, isn’t it? I assumed you wanted to talk to him.”
“I do, but he could be in a meeting for all I know. He keeps pretty busy.”
I also didn’t want to have another public fight with him. If he’s going to be hot-headed, the mayor’s office isn’t the best spot. I’m also not quite ready to face him. I want him to cool off some, to think and hopefully see some reason.
“In this one-horse town?”
“Well, yeah. He’s in charge of the county, too.”
“All right. Just tell me where you want to go. I should know the way to your family’s property anyway.”
I chew on my lip and look at Austin. Less than a few hours ago, I was sleeping next to him—before Miles pounded on the door.
The thing is, I don’t want to face my dad, but I don’t want to go home either. All that will happen is that my mom will stare at me anxiously and I’ll feel awful for spending the night with Austin. She won’t slut-shame me or anything, but I’m sure she’ll be thinking about the fact that I was with a man, all night.
What I want to do is return to the ranch and work. Lexie needs me this week, especially since the other vet is off. Plus when I’m with the animals, I forget about everything. They don’t talk back. Or wonder what’s wrong with me. Or look at me with worry or pity.
It wasn’t fair of my father to try to get me to quit—rather, to quit on my behalf—and I’m furious about it. I finally convinced Lexie that I could do more than groom horses and feed puppies and now this.
I want to work, damn it.
And I want to work on Bridger Ranch.
“Don’t kick my butt,” I say, “but let’s go back to your place.”
He grins. “Now you’re talking, and baby, I love your butt.”
I punch him good-naturedly in his upper arm. “I mean to work. My job. Besides, I left my car there last night and I’ll need it.”
He shakes his head and laughs. “I didn’t even think of how you got to my bed. I admit, seeing you there, naked, scrambled my brain.”
“My car’s by the stable. I didn’t think leaving it in front of your house was much of a surprise.”
“It was a surprise. The best one.” He winks.
I blush, agreeing. “My father may have tried to have me quit, but I didn’t. I love that job, and I think I’ll be really good at it, if I can stay on long enough to prove myself.”
“Why do you want to work on the ranch?” he asks.
“I love animals. I was a vet student, before…”
He reaches out and cups my cheek. “Oh. I’m sorry.”
“Please. Don’t be. I have to learn that it’s okay to say the words. I was in my first year of vet school. I hope I can go back someday, but that may require moving to a different state.”