Page 8 of Bad Decisions & Back Roads

Erika’s eyes flicked to Gia.

Gia didn’t hesitate.“Laceration.It’s not broken.No need for amputation.We’ll sedate, flush, and place a few sutures.”Clinical.Clean.Like none of this was tangled up in family history and land and leaving before sorting everything we hadn’t said.

Erika studied her for a moment longer than necessary.Then she turned back to me.Really looked at me.She saw past the blood.Her expression softened ever so slightly.We hadn’t always gotten along, but in the past three years since she stormed back into my brother’s life and married him, she’d become a part of our family.And now none of us could imagine life without her.

“Oh, Timothy…” She wrapped me in a tight, surprise hug I didn’t feel I needed.

I tensed and didn’t hug her back.

Erika said, “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

With things stacking up fast, I was in danger of falling apart.That never went well.I never collapsed into a puddle of tears.I got angry and lashed out.

Buck shifted behind me, his head popping up like he should be going with me.

“Stay,” I commanded of him.“Your dad will be here soon.”

Gia murmured something low and steady to Buck.

Erika squeezed my arm.“Buck is in good hands.”

I nodded, but for my sanity I avoided looking at Gia as I quickly walked to Erika’s office.

Five minutes later, after I’d washed off what I could of the blood and changed into one of my brother’s extra t-shirts, I exited the bathroom, intent on finding Dad.Instead, I stepped straight into my worst nightmare.

Dr.Amanda Green lurked in the hallway like she’d been waiting for me.My nerves were already stretched too thin.Seeing the woman who borderline stalked me whenever I was on Vision Veterinary grounds standing there smiling made me freeze.I could hear my pulse in my ears.

She twirled the ends of her shoulder-length curly brown hair and gave me a slow once-over that did nothing for me.There wasn’t anything sexy about me right now.I smelled like antiseptic, sweat, and dog blood.

“I was just passing by when I heard your dog got hurt.Is he going to be okay?”

“Not sure yet.”The words came out sharp.If she stayed in this hallway another thirty seconds, I was liable to either start yelling or put my fist through drywall.At this point, both felt equally possible.

“Still waiting on you to commit towhenwe’re going on that date you promised.”Her eyes drifted down my body again.“I guarantee you a night…” Her mouth curved.“You’ll never forget.”

I’d never promised her anything.She’d previously shared photos of a whip and leather handcuffs she owned, trying to tease out of me whether I was into that sort of thing.

No.My brain added for extra emphasis:Oh, hell no.

She seemed like someone who would ignore any safe words and inflict pain just for spite.I’d barely survived dodging her for the last six months since she started working here.Usually, I could fake politeness long enough to escape, but today my control was hanging by a thread soaked in gasoline.

Every instinct in me screamed to snap at her.Tell her to get the hell away from me.Tell her I wasn’t interested.Tell her if she looked me up and down one more time, I’d get mean.But alarm bells in the back of my mind warned me that might turn her on.

Plus, Amanda was one of only a few equine vets in this county.Right now, my life was held together by injured animals, bad timing, and favors I couldn’t afford to cash in.So, I clenched my jaw so hard it hurt and swallowed every ugly thing clawing its way up my throat.

I pretended to examine my arm.“Missed some blood.Better wash that.”

I hightailed it back into the bathroom and decided not to emerge until tomorrow.

* * *

I bracedmy hands on the edge of the bathroom sink and bowed my head, forcing my thoughts into clean, contained, and manageable lines.I was damned good at compartmentalizing.I had to be while I juggled the farm and Hurst HVAC without letting either one burn to the ground.I hadn’t wanted the responsibility when I was nineteen, but I had no choice.Now, over fifteen years later, I still had no choice.

Another new hire down the drain.Finding people willing to stick with the job felt impossible.Everyone seemed to want short hours, high pay, and every unrealistic benefit under the sun.Meanwhile, I had three new construction installs in the next two weeks and an endless queue of home repairs waiting.What I needed was trained employees, not another person who'd quit before learning the trade.

A harsh sound tore out of me—half groan, half laugh.

I lifted my gaze, staring at my reflection like I could bully myself back into control.