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Authors: Melissa McClone
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hanging from the ceiling in
the Copper Mountain Animal Hospital’s waiting room “…
mistletoe?”
Veronica, the
receptionist behind the front desk, nodded. Her wire-rimmed glasses
slid down her nose. The felt antlers in the older woman’s short,
white hair bobbed. “Mistletoe on Christmas Eve is tradition,
doc.”
“ I get the Christmas tree, the lights, even the display of
cards, but this isn’t a pickup joint. Owners will be bringing in
sick and injured pets tonight. Mistletoe is completely
inappropriate.”
“ Don’t be such a Scrooge or you won’t be getting any
kisses.”
His jaw
tensed. “I’m no Scrooge. I like Christmas, but I take my job
seriously.”
“ We all do, but there’s no harm in a little fun. Or
kissing.”
“ Do I look like the kind of man who wants a kiss under the
mistletoe?”
Veronica’s
hazel eyed narrowed.
“ At work,” he clarified, shifting uncomfortably under her gaze.
He adjusted the hem of his scrub shirt. Sure, he was the new guy
here, used to people staring, but she studied him as if he were a
biopsy specimen and couldn’t decide whether to diagnose him as
benign or malignant.
Maybe he’d
started off on the wrong foot with the staff. He’d been at the
clinic for only five weeks, the beginning of his three-year
commitment to a program that brought veterinarians to rural areas
in exchange for a vet school loan repayment. No sense making each
of the remaining one thousand seventy-four days miserable. He
leaned against the front counter, smiled. “So?”
She tsked.
“Hate to say it, but you look like a man who desperately needs to
be kissed.”
His mouth
gaped. He straightened, but his insides twisted. “Okay, I deserve
that.”
“ That’s a better attitude. You’re an attractive young man, but
wound tighter than a brand new mattress spring.” Veronica adjusted
her glasses. “When was the last time you relaxed? Enjoyed a nice
meal with a woman?”
“ I haven’t been in town that long.”
“ How about the last time you went out before you
arrived?”
He tried to
recall, but he’d been so busy finishing up his residency and making
plans…
“ It’s been so long you don’t remember.”
Unbelievable.
How did she know? Was his non-dating status stamped on his
forehead?
She’d nailed
him somehow. The least he could do was admit the truth. Lying never
got him anywhere. He nodded.
Veronica’s
gaze softened, not with pity, but compassion. Something he was used
to giving out, but not receiving. “You’re overdue then, honey.
Don’t turn into another Doc Seeley. He used to work here, put
everything into caring for animals and nothing into his personal
life. Don’t be a workaholic. You finished school. You have a job.
Hang out at Grey’s Saloon on a Saturday night and find yourself a
pretty woman to spend the rest of your life with.”
“ Slow down. I’ve barely unpacked. Give me time to settle in
before mailing out the wedding invitations.”
Veronica
leaned over the front counter. She looked down the hallway to the
treatment area, but Kelly, the certified vet tech, was in the back
with Chewey, a naughty Chihuahua with a chocolate-eating induced
stomach ache.
“ So who was she?” Veronica asked.
“ What are you talking about?”
“ Not what. Who. The woman who broke your heart and turned the
blood running through your veins to ice.”
He
half-laughed.
She patted his
hand. “I have two sons. It happens. But just like riding, when you
fall off you have to get right back on the horse. Get out there. Go
on lots of dates. That’s the only way to move on and keep your
heart from hardening.”
Sincerity
filled Veronica’s voice. She wasn’t butting in—okay, a little—but
she was also being a mom. He appreciated her concern, especially
since his parents were spending Christmas in Oregon with his sister
and her family.
“ No ice and my heart’s not hardened.” He mentally ran though
the list of women he’d dated over the years.
the Copper Mountain Animal Hospital’s waiting room “…
mistletoe?”
Veronica, the
receptionist behind the front desk, nodded. Her wire-rimmed glasses
slid down her nose. The felt antlers in the older woman’s short,
white hair bobbed. “Mistletoe on Christmas Eve is tradition,
doc.”
“ I get the Christmas tree, the lights, even the display of
cards, but this isn’t a pickup joint. Owners will be bringing in
sick and injured pets tonight. Mistletoe is completely
inappropriate.”
“ Don’t be such a Scrooge or you won’t be getting any
kisses.”
His jaw
tensed. “I’m no Scrooge. I like Christmas, but I take my job
seriously.”
“ We all do, but there’s no harm in a little fun. Or
kissing.”
“ Do I look like the kind of man who wants a kiss under the
mistletoe?”
Veronica’s
hazel eyed narrowed.
“ At work,” he clarified, shifting uncomfortably under her gaze.
He adjusted the hem of his scrub shirt. Sure, he was the new guy
here, used to people staring, but she studied him as if he were a
biopsy specimen and couldn’t decide whether to diagnose him as
benign or malignant.
Maybe he’d
started off on the wrong foot with the staff. He’d been at the
clinic for only five weeks, the beginning of his three-year
commitment to a program that brought veterinarians to rural areas
in exchange for a vet school loan repayment. No sense making each
of the remaining one thousand seventy-four days miserable. He
leaned against the front counter, smiled. “So?”
She tsked.
“Hate to say it, but you look like a man who desperately needs to
be kissed.”
His mouth
gaped. He straightened, but his insides twisted. “Okay, I deserve
that.”
“ That’s a better attitude. You’re an attractive young man, but
wound tighter than a brand new mattress spring.” Veronica adjusted
her glasses. “When was the last time you relaxed? Enjoyed a nice
meal with a woman?”
“ I haven’t been in town that long.”
“ How about the last time you went out before you
arrived?”
He tried to
recall, but he’d been so busy finishing up his residency and making
plans…
“ It’s been so long you don’t remember.”
Unbelievable.
How did she know? Was his non-dating status stamped on his
forehead?
She’d nailed
him somehow. The least he could do was admit the truth. Lying never
got him anywhere. He nodded.
Veronica’s
gaze softened, not with pity, but compassion. Something he was used
to giving out, but not receiving. “You’re overdue then, honey.
Don’t turn into another Doc Seeley. He used to work here, put
everything into caring for animals and nothing into his personal
life. Don’t be a workaholic. You finished school. You have a job.
Hang out at Grey’s Saloon on a Saturday night and find yourself a
pretty woman to spend the rest of your life with.”
“ Slow down. I’ve barely unpacked. Give me time to settle in
before mailing out the wedding invitations.”
Veronica
leaned over the front counter. She looked down the hallway to the
treatment area, but Kelly, the certified vet tech, was in the back
with Chewey, a naughty Chihuahua with a chocolate-eating induced
stomach ache.
“ So who was she?” Veronica asked.
“ What are you talking about?”
“ Not what. Who. The woman who broke your heart and turned the
blood running through your veins to ice.”
He
half-laughed.
She patted his
hand. “I have two sons. It happens. But just like riding, when you
fall off you have to get right back on the horse. Get out there. Go
on lots of dates. That’s the only way to move on and keep your
heart from hardening.”
Sincerity
filled Veronica’s voice. She wasn’t butting in—okay, a little—but
she was also being a mom. He appreciated her concern, especially
since his parents were spending Christmas in Oregon with his sister
and her family.
“ No ice and my heart’s not hardened.” He mentally ran though
the list of women he’d dated over the years.
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