I take the blanket from him gently and whisper soothing words to the pup. The poor thing looks like a lab mix, maybe eight months old. It’s probably in shock because it doesn't even whimper at the exchange.
"Angie," Jake says, his voice almost a whisper, "I didn't know."
I inhale his scent. Cedar, I think. And some kind of musk. Either way it’s intoxicating. And up close, he’s sexy as hell with his blond hair, chiseled jawline, and biceps for days. I don’t need a reminder of how sexy he is. I used to have every inch of him memorized.
All I know now is that I have to get the hell out of here. Now. Because I might have light to mega cyber-stalked him over the years.
And every time I did, he was dating another celebrity or underwear model. Jake Mann is the guy I spent years thinking was my soul mate. But that was before.
And knowing what I know now, I'm not stupid enough to lose my heart to him a second time. No matter how sexy he is. The jaw of every woman in the room is hanging open as they stare in his direction, but he hasn’t taken his eyes off me.
Now he stands there staring and has the nerve to say he didn’t know I was here? "You didn't know what? That I did what I said I was going to do? That I finished vet school, came back and tried to make a difference in the world? Just like I said I would. At least one of us keeps our promises, Jake.”
Jake’s crystal blue eyes flash at me.
"Okay, that's enough," Fi says, glaring at Jake and stepping in between the two of us again.
"Thanks a lot, Jake. Now you've ruined Puppy-Thon." I clutch the injured pup to my chest, making eye contact with Jake one last time before I turn and weave my way back to where the clinic rooms are. Kaylee trails behind me. I know without a word being said that Fi's going to stay behind to escort Jake out.
The puppy I'll deal with now. Jake's another story entirely.
Chapter 2
Jake
Swallowing back the emotions, I stare into Angie's brown eyes. I honestly didn't know she'd be here.
And I knew she wouldn't be happy with me when she saw me again after the way we left things. After the way I left things.
But I have to admit I'm still surprised by the amount of anger burning there behind her eyes. I shouldn't be surprised. I know I fucked up.
She’s sexy as hell, too, although back in the day I wasn’t paying attention enough to notice.
I came home hoping to run into her. Just not like this. And now I've screwed everything up. Even worse, I have Angie's friend Fi to deal with.
I watch Angie walk away angry and I want to apologize. But Fi steps in front of me, eyes blazing. Uh-oh, I know that look.
"Get lost, Jake," she says. "Again. It's the only thing you're really good at."
"Yeah?" I arch a brow at her and smirk, trying to hide the disappointment that has to be written all over my face. Luckily, Angie’s the only person here who can read me well enough to know.
This smirk would have gotten me any girl I wanted in Phoenix. Fi's expression doesn't change.
"I'm good at a lot of things,” I continue, craning my neck to try to see around Fi. “Football, for one." I take a step to the left, testing to see if Fi’s let her guard down.
She hasn't. She sidesteps like she's reading my playbook. "Yeah, and how did that work out for you?"
"Ouch," I say, catching a last glimpse of Angie’s blond ponytail swishing as she disappears down a hallway carrying the injured pup and with Kaylee trailing close behind.
I feel my shoulders fall. Even if I get past guard number one in Fi, then guard number two, Kaylee, is waiting in the wings.
I know that Kaylee and Fi are Angie’s best friends and will do anything and everything to protect her. Even from me.
Out of options, I survey all the chaos before turning my attention back to Fi. "Look, I didn't mean for any of this to happen. What can I do to help?"
"Oh no, there's no way you're sticking around to cause more damage. Out. And don’t try anything mister because my new boyfriend is a six-foot-four bouncer. Don’t make me text him."
"Hey, I'm six-four too," I object. I have no idea why I'm even arguing with her. About size of all things. Maybe for old time’s sake?
I've thought about Angie more than I've cared to admit to myself over the years. So many things trigger memories of when the two of us were inseparable. And that usually meant Fi and Kaylee were around too. Maybe I even miss her friends. What the hell is wrong with me?
"Hey," Fi says, snapping her fingers in my face, or as close to it as her five-foot-five frame can reach. "Earth to Jake. Are you going to leave or am I going to have to start making phone calls?"
Giving her a small salute, I turn to leave. I have definitely lost the first battle, but I have no intentions of losing this war.
A war I didn't even know I was in until now. I didn't fully realize this is the war that I even wanted until I saw Angie again. But now that I know there'll be no getting her off my mind, the one thing I won't do is surrender.
Chapter 3
Angie
I clutch the shivering pooch closer to my chest as I make my way down the hall.
Kaylee follows. The hallway is a perky pale blue with artwork from patients and
