Page 86 of Bad Decisions & Back Roads

“This is an emergency,” I said flatly.“I need your permission for Dr.Hudson Raynes to be in the equine surgical suite at Vision within the next twenty minutes with a priority colic case.”

“No.”The answer came too fast.“He’s the competition.Not an employee of Vision.”

I stared out over the dark pasture, fighting the urge to hang up and drive my truck through a wall.“This is Shay Almond’s mare,” I said carefully.“Artax.”

“I don’t know who that is.”Her tone said she didn’t care either.

“Shay qualified for Kentucky this year.She’s a hopeful for the national team.That horse matters to this entire county.”I swallowed hard enough it hurt.“The mare’s going to die if we don’t operate now.”

Amanda sighed dramatically like I was inconveniencing her morning.“You want my staff, my techs, my facility, and my supplies so Dr.Raynes can play hero?”

Every word out of her mouth made me dislike her more.

“Yes.”

“Well…” Her voice turned silky.

And there it was.The price.

I knew what she wanted before she said it.

“I’d still like that date, Timothy.”

I closed my eyes.Twenty yards away stood the only woman I’d wanted in years, maybe forever.Here I was about to bargain myself away to save her from heartbreak.I could practically feel Gia watching me from across the paddock.I didn’t want her to notice something was wrong.I turned further and hunched over the phone.

Amanda waited.

The mare made a painful noise somewhere behind me.Decision made.

“Fine,” I bit out.

Amanda laughed softly.“Not good enough.”

God Almighty.

“You’re taking me to dinner,” she continued.“A real one.You’ll wear something other than work boots.”

I looked back toward Gia.She was watching me now, brows pulled tight with concern, her face pale in the afternoon light.For one ugly second it felt like I was cheating on something that didn’t belong to me.

“Fine,” I ground out.

“At a time of my choosing.”

My hand tightened around the phone hard enough my knuckles popped.“Okay.”

“And Timothy?”

I shut my eyes.

Amanda said, “Say thank you.”

I wanted out of the line of sight of everyone so bad my skin prickled.

But Shay was crying.The horse was dying.And Gia looked like her heart was breaking.

I forced the words out.“Thank you.”

“Looking forward to it, sweetheart.”