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“Are you serious? You broke your nose when the horse kicked the manure bucket at you?” I say, giggling.
“Swear to God,” the handsome stranger says, rubbing a fingertip over his straight nose. There’s a tiny scar just on the bridge, I see. Maybe he’s not making it up. “That horse is still my patient to this day, and Iswearthat shithead looks like he’s planning something whenever I see him.”
“How did you decide to become a horse vet?” I asked him.
“I thought I would be a regular small animal doctor when I started veterinary school, but I did a rotation with the equine clinic and loved it.” He gestures fluidly as he speaks, big, hardworking hands with callused fingers and little scars everywhere. “It’s a more active line of work, too, and I get to travel a lot for events and patients all over the place. It works for me. I’m not a guy who likes to sit still all the time.”
“No, I don’t get that vibe from you.” I smile at him. “I wish my job let me get out more, but accountants hang out at their desks most of the time.”
“Maybe you can tag along sometime and hold my bag while I examine a pissed-off thoroughbred,” he says. “You’ll probably be grateful for the desk job after that.”
I would love that,I want to say. But I’m not here to pick up guys or make friends or anything like that. I still need to find Callum Locklear and deliver this letter.
“How do you know Ruthie, anyway?” my friend asks.
I hesitate. I don’t like lying to anyone, but I don’t think this guy will rat me out, either. I decide to come clean.
“I don’t,” I admit. “I crashed the party.”
He barks out a loud laugh. “No way,” he says. “Just walked right in?”
“Just walked in,” I confirm.
“Well, what’s your angle?” he asks. “I don’t think you’re here to steal anything. Are you an accountant by day and a sexy, thrill-seeking party crasher by night?
My belly flips at the wordsexy. “Actually, I’m here to give something to someone, but I haven’t been able to find him yet.”
“Maybe I can help you,” he says. “Who’s the guy?”
I gulp. “Callum Locklear.”
He goes still and peers at me curiously. “What do you need him for?”
“It’s—it’s a private matter,” I say. Shit, maybe I shouldn’t have opened up to this guy.
He cocks his head and looks like he’s thinking hard as he takes a slow sip of his scotch.
“Well,” he starts. “You found him. So what’s this about?”
My heart nearly pounds out of my chest as I stare at him, frozen in shock.
I can’t believe I didn’t see it. It’s him, all right, with short hair and no beard and an extra thirty or so pounds of solid muscle. But the diamond-bright eyes are the same, along with the radiant grin.
“You…you’re Callum Locklear?” I squeak.
He smiles broadly. “I am. And I think you have some explaining to do.”
Chapter 2
Callum
“I’m so sorry,” the gorgeous woman in front of me says as her face reddens. “The picture I have is so old and I didn’t realize it was you.”
I don’t even try to suppress my smile. This goddess is up to some mischief, and I’mveryexcited to be included. This is going to be fun.
“It’s nothing bad,” she says quickly. “I just want to talk.”
“Well, it’s an honor to be stalked by you,” I say. “Now, who are you?”
