Running Wild(Wild #3)(58)

“It’s not funny.” And I can’t allow myself to be drawn into Tyler’s easy charm again. “Did you get in touch with Don?”

His laughter dies and he smooths his expression. “That’s actually why I’m here. I don’t want Don Childs, or Frank, or anyone else.” He settles his steady gaze on me. “I want you.”

His words and that look make my breath hitch. They don’t mean what I wish they did, but it’s nice to hear all the same.

His throat bobs with a hard swallow. “For my dogs,” he amends. “I want you to be my dogs’ veterinarian. I guess I wasn’t clear enough the other day.”

“No, you were. I just …” What is my valid excuse for peddling another veterinarian on him, besides the truth, which I’m not about to spell out in painstaking, embarrassing detail?

“You just what?” he urges.

“You said you don’t want to complicate your life. Well, neither do I.” And my gut tells me that spending too much time with Tyler will complicate everything for me.

“Complicate it how? Because of Harry?”

“No.” I laugh, though taking on Tyler would definitely complicate my relationship with the Hatchetts. But it already seems to be heading down that path. Harry grumbled at my monthly billing proposal and decided it best to keep things as they are, but he didn’t seem happy about it. Where that will lead—if anywhere—I don’t know. My father’s convinced it’ll go nowhere, and I hope he’s right.

Tyler’s forehead puckers. “Okay, then, is this because of what happened in the tent—”

“No.” My cheeks burn. Not just the tent. It’s about everything to do with this man, and how I find myself drawn to him. It’s about him breaking the law and risking his reputation and career to spare a dog’s life, and how he spends his summers watching over the parkland I love, how every time I find myself in Tyler’s vicinity, I’m acutely aware of him, and when he’s not around, he’s in my thoughts more than I care to admit.

It’s about how perfect he would be for me, if not for his unwavering devotion to his late wife. But even that is endearing.

Most of all, it’s how I don’t want to repeat past mistakes, how I need to guard my reckless heart.

“I don’t understand, then. Are you too busy here?” He gestures around the clinic. “Do you have too many clients?”

He’s handed me the perfect excuse. It would be so easy to lie, and yet I can’t form the simple yes.

And so I stand silent, like a fool.

“I want—no, I need—the best veterinarian in the area, the one who’s going to go the extra mile, who really cares about these dogs, who will tell me what I don’t want to hear. I know that’s you.” There’s a pleading quality to his tone that tugs at my heartstrings, and my ego appreciates the strokes. “I know you’re not about the money, but I’ll pay you extra if that’s what it’s going to take. I just want the best for them.”

Owning the role of the Iditarod champion’s kennel would be great for the clinic’s reputation, and twenty-one more dogs to care for would pad my revenue. After Sunday’s explosive dinner, turning Tyler away would be a stupid business move. It would prove that Liz is right, that I can’t make smart choices.

I take a deep breath. This is silly. I’m thirty-eight years old. I need to accept this relationship for what it is—strictly professional—and move on. I can stand to be around an attractive man and not fall hopelessly in love with him. “I’ll need to see your kennel before I commit to anything.”

Tyler’s mouth falls open, as if surprised that I bent so easily. “That’s fine.”

“And if I see something I don’t like, you’ll need to change it.”

“You won’t find anything. But okay.” He punctuates that with a nod.

“And I charge for travel time. To and from your place.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

It’s a good thing he’s not on civil terms with Harry, then.

“Perfect.”

I make a strangled sound. “Yeah, we’ll see.”

A curious look flickers across his face, but it vanishes just as quickly. “So, when can you make it out to my place?”

“I’ll check my schedule and get back to you.” Somewhere in the deep recesses of my mind, I feel that buzz of anticipation that comes with knowing I have an excuse to see Tyler on the regular.

It’s the same feeling I got when I was flying out to the villages with Jonah.

“Here, I’ll give you my number.” He leans over the front desk to grab a pen and scrap of paper. The move stretches his T-shirt across his body, pulling my attention to the cut of muscle across his back.

Which drags out memories of him pressed against me.

And so it begins.

He pats the paper once and then leaves it there. “I’m off today and tomorrow, so I can make any time work. You call and let me know.”

“Cory does the scheduling. She’ll let you know.” She’ll be more than happy to dial that number.

“Okay, well …” His gaze flitters over my scrubs before shifting to the mug shot on the wall. “I’ll let you get back to your one-eyed snake.”