Read Online Playing to Win (Summer Beach Vets 2) - sweet contemporary romance by H.Y. Hanna - Free Book Online Page B

brushing her skin. Every time she thought of it, she felt goosebumps shiver over her again. Her assistant noticed her distraction and commented on it—it was so unlike her usual brisk, efficient self—and Ellie felt slightly embarrassed.
    Thankfully, things were a bit easier at home. Her cousin, Sara, had returned now from the long weekend away with Craig and, while there was no diamond ring on her finger, she seemed too blissfully in love to notice Ellie’s preoccupation. Until that Friday night when Ellie had to turn down Sara’s invitation to go shopping together the next morning and was forced to explain why.
    “I’m going to brunch with Dan, actually,” she said as casually as she could.
    Sara did a double take. “Dan? As in Dan O’Brien, vet at the animal hospital?”
    “Yes,” said Ellie. She hoped she wasn’t blushing again. Unlike Sara, whose creamy skin constantly lit up like a beacon, Ellie didn’t usually have to worry about her feelings showing on her cheeks. At least not until recently, when she met Dan. Still, her cousin was too sharp. Sara looked at her slyly.
    “I didn’t realise you even knew Dan!” said Sara. “You never go down to the vet clinic.”
    “Well, I had to last week. This chocolate Labrador named Milo swallowed my flash drive and Dan helped me get it back… it’s a long story.” Ellie made a face.
    “Oh, I know Milo.” Sara smiled. “Gorgeous dog. Belongs to a young boy, right? I’ve seen them around town.”
    “Yes, the boy’s called Will. He’s really sweet. I spent last Saturday morning with him and Milo at the beach, actually.”
    Sara stared. “ You went to the beach with a dog?”
    “I do like dogs,” said Ellie defensively.
    “Yeah, but you’ve never wanted anything to do with them in the past. You always complained about how dirty and messy they are.”
    “Well, they are, sort of, but… they’re sort of fun too,” said Ellie helplessly.
    Sara was grinning. “I can see that I missed a lot last weekend. What else happened besides your newfound love of dogs? A newfound love of vets?”
    This time Ellie felt her cheeks flaming. “I’m just going out to brunch, okay? It’s no big deal. It’s… it’s sort of like a networking thing. You know, he was at the resort on Monday, helping to supervise the photo shoot of the animals for the brochure. So we’ve got to work together and it’s my job to maintain good public relations.”
    “Uh-huh.” Sara smirked. “Well, I hope you have a good time… uh… networking .”

CHAPTER 10
     
     
     
    Ellie entered the Laughing Kookaburra Café nervously and looked around. The waterfront café was perched on a promontory of rock at one end of Summer Beach, with a large, open-air terrace overlooking the Pacific Ocean. While there were seats inside, most people favoured the tables outside on the terrace, with the worn driftwood look and faded canvas seats giving the place a rustic charm.
    “You looking for Dan?” A waitress approached Ellie. With a silver stud through one eyebrow and bright bubblegum-pink hair, Kylie could look a bit intimidating, but Ellie knew that the local girl was warm and friendly. A bit too friendly and nosy sometimes.
    “Yes,” said Ellie.
    “He’s out on the terrace. So you’re having a crack onto Dan, eh?” She leered. “Good onya. He’s a spunk and not like some who got tickets on themselves. I went out with this bloke last week and when we came to have a pash, he was about as useful as tits on a bull. Dumped him the next day.”
    Ellie managed to decipher about a third of what Kylie was saying. She had been in the café a few times now and had picked up some of the “lingo” in the three months since she had arrived at Summer Beach. So the waitress’s speech was no longer completely unintelligible, but it was still a crash course in Australian slang every time Ellie came in here.
    “Thanks, Kylie.” Ellie smiled. “I’m sorry your date didn’t go well. I… er…