Scarlett TURNED INTO Cole's driveway.She'd been positive one of the guys would want to stop and talk to her on her way out, or she'd get pulled over for something silly and someone would ask questions about her long, winter coat. It might be October, but it wasn't yet cold. Hell, her air conditioner was still running. If it weren't for her need to cover up the super sexy, barely there number she'd bought while shopping with the girls.Never in Scarlett's life had she done something like this. She wasn't really the lingerie and sexy stuff girl. Awkward and opportunistic were more her speed, but with Cole she wanted to make an effort.She killed the Jeep, grabbed her bag then carefully slid out of the driver's seat. She could already hear Pip barking away inside. The newly installed blinds meant nosy neighbors couldn't see inside. She'd never hung curtains or anything because she liked the sunshine but after this week she was ready to measure and place her own order.Her heels c

ONE THING Scarlett wasn't sure if she'd get used to were alarms on Mondays. She groaned and cracked one eye open in time to watch Cole's tight ass bound out of bed. Pip leapt onto the floor to follow his human into the bathroom.It was still dark outside. Cole liked to get to the clinic a half hour before they opened at seven. If he hadn't promised her breakfast she'd roll over, go back to sleep and let herself out later, but her stomach protested loud enough Pip scampered back onto the bed to check on her."I'm up," she muttered at the dog.To prove her point, she levered up into a sitting position and patted Pip's head.She pulled on clean clothes and tied her hair up in a messy bun. At this hour the only people who'd be at the diner were male counterparts of the L.O.L.s and a few cops. She didn't need to dress up for anyone."Are you taking Pip to work with you today?" she asked when Cole stepped out clothed in teal scrubs."I was thinking I'd try leaving him here today.

THE MINUTE Cole stepped into the clinic the day went sideways.A patient from the day before popped their stitches. The cops arrived with a distressed woman whose dog had been in a fight with a coyote and won. All of this had to be handled between the regularly scheduled patients and while enduring the wide-eyed stares of his co-workers and pet parents. Everyone knew Allie-Kate was back.Just before lunch Cole couldn't take it anymore and stepped out into the lot behind the clinic to catch his breath.Dr. Green and Mrs. Billy were loading up over on the livestock end of the building. Cole rarely had reason to go out to the other side of the practice. It was Dr. Green's domain, and he'd made it clear he wanted nothing to do with the domestic pets now that Cole was there."Cole." Dr. Green leaned on the pickup and waved him over.Crap.What else could go wrong today?He glanced at his phone and Scarlett's texts. Right now he couldn't reply to her. He didn't know what to say

Cole HADN'T SLEPT well. At all really.It started with discovering his sheets in the dryer and realizing that Scarlett had washed not only her things, but his as well. By that point it was close to midnight and though she was a night owl, he didn't want to risk waking her up. Besides, he didn't know what to say to her.He'd flown off the handle and snapped at her earlier. He'd said things he couldn't take back, that he wished he hadn't said.The only thing Scarlett had ever done was be kind to him, and this was how he repaid her. By being a dick. Deep down he knew he was angry and that his issues with Allie would always overshadow what he had with Scarlett. Which meant he couldn't fix his relationship with Scarlett until things with Allie were finally resolved.Pip took off out of the kitchen yapping away.A shadow moved past the windows.It was time.He didn't know what to think about this or how to react. If he'd been in love with Allie, truly in love with her, this con

Cole WOULD HAVE never thought he'd ride in an ambulance with a pet patient. That was the kind of strange thing that just didn't happen. The first responders had no such hesitation. Cole had managed to patch the pony up so she could await Dr. Green's expert attention before the bossy paramedic woman who called herself Jenna bullied Cole back into the ambulance.Two hours and a couple dozen stitches later he stood shambled out of the Emergency Department onto the curb outside still wearing clothes stiff with human and equine blood. According to Luna's texts the pony was fine and her wounds superficial. It had been a close call for the both of them."You're alive," a familiar voice drawled.Cole turned his head to face Benji Lively sitting on the tailgate of his truck. He was parked in one of the prime spots near the doors. Cole squinted at Benji, taking in the cool glare, which Cole figured he deserved.The pain meds hadn't worn off yet. He might as well get this beating over wit