Honor and Protect by Lori Ryan

Author:Lori Ryan [Ryan, Lori]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-06-19T16:00:00+00:00

8

They had three more non-dates, each one with Carter casually taking hold of her hand or putting his arm around her, bringing them closer to real dates. Each time he dropped her off at her house, he kissed her senseless and she had to spend an hour reminding herself of all the reasons not to get involved with another man who could steal her heart. She was beginning to think it was a battle that wasn’t worth fighting. Because if they were doing battle, he was kicking her butt. She was falling hard and fast.

He’d brought her as his “non-date” to John and Katelyn’s wedding, and she’d had a hard time not picturing herself up there as the happy bride someday. No matter how many times her heart had been kicked, she still wanted that. She wasn’t surprised when it was Carter who flashed into her fantasy as the groom. She’d tried to push the images aside and just focus on the bride and groom of the day. Katelyn had been absolutely radiant, surrounded by her bridesmaids. John’s eyes hadn’t left her the whole evening and the smile on his face told the story of their love. Lily would be lying if she said she wasn’t utterly, completely envious of what they had.

“Hey guys, this is Lily Winn, the new veterinarian in town.” Carter had held his hand on her lower back while he introduced Lily to the bridesmaids and groomsmen, but her traitorous heart did a little belly flop. She realized it was because she was wishing he was introducing her as his instead of simply the town’s new veterinarian. “Lily, this is Laura and Cade Bishop, Ashley and Cora Walker, Shane Bishop, and I think you already know Danny Widen.”

Lily nodded and shook hands, once again mentally smacking the crap out of the stupid feelings floating around in her belly. “It’s nice to meet you all. I’m sorry I haven’t been around town much at all. I haven’t really had a chance to get out much with trying to get things squared away at the clinic.”

Ashley smiled wide. “We’ll have to come drag you out of there now that you’ve had a little time to settle in.”

“Girls’ night,” Cora said with a grin, and the men rolled their eyes, but that sounded perfect to Lily. She missed her friends from school and back home. Veterinary school was intense and didn’t leave a lot of time for socializing, but time with her girlfriends, even if it was only in study group, had been cherished. She hadn’t realized how much burying her head in work had been costing her until now.

“That sounds perfect,” she said with an answering smile, and the group went on to chat about where she’d come from and how her grandfather was handling retirement. Throughout it all, Carter stayed close, and that stupid flip-flopping heart of hers starting doing a goofy little tap dance. Not what she wanted. Not at all.

And yet… Darn, there was that phrase again.

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