Page 22 of Absolution

"Certain times of the day, you can find some great ones. I take it you're not from here?" She side-eyes me again, eliciting a ridiculous grin from me. Get a hold of yourself, man. She's just another woman.

"Umm, kinda." I shrug, moving closer to the bed as she begins to numb Doc's paw. I lean over, rubbing her side. "My... parents live here."

Her brows raise. "That explains it, you're one of the Hatcher boys."

"Hatcher Boys? So, it's like a cult or something?" She giggles at my comparison. I've been told my cousins, and I tend to make the women weak in the knees around here. For once, I can see the appeal of being a Hatcher.

"More like a harem, but sure, you can use cult." Her brow quirks as she fights to keep her lip from twitching. She thinks she's funny, and since I can't seem to control myself today, I decided to poke the bear.

"Careful, that sounds like experience speaking."

"Excuse me?" She rears back, gaping at me.

I hold my hands up in surrender. "I'm kidding! Jeez, you'd think I was right or something by your reaction."

"Last stitch, and she'll be ready to go." She glances at me before finishing her work. "What made you name her Doc?"

"She's my service dog, she fixed me when everyone had given up on me ever being human again." I rub Doc's opposite leg, reassuring her I'm here.

The vet nibbles on her lip as she mulls over her next words. I can read it on her face when she decides to say it. "Thank you for your service."

"You're welcome, I appreciate it." I shift my feet, and although I'm uncomfortable, I'm hoping she'll keep talking, but just like that, she's writing something in Doc's file.

"Doc will need to visit her regular vet in about a week. I gave her an antibiotic and wrapped her up. No more running and try to keep her paw dry the next few days."

I nod, hesitating as I try to figure out a way to ask her name. "We can handle anything you want us to."

"Alright you two, no more accidents while you're here." She shakes her finger at us and provides me the opportunity I was looking for.

"And if there is, who do we need to ask for?"

Her gaze sets my soul on fire, unlike anything I've ever experienced. She juts her hand out in front of her, and I take it quickly. "Scarlet Morgan."

"Nice to meet you, Scarlet." A pang in my stomach roots me to the spot, reminding me no matter how much I want to get to know her, I can't. I have nothing to offer her except pain and heartache. Those of you needing proof can ask my parents. Still, I have a deep-seated need for her.

"They'll give you a card upfront in case she has any issues before you leave." She leans in, scratching Doc's ear. "Be good to this one."

As she leaves the room, all the air goes with her, and I'm bereft. Scarlet is breathtaking, to say the least, she's so much more than a man like me deserves and absolutely nothing I need in my life.

"Shake it off, Hatch. You don't have time for relationships; besides, you're a complicated man." I spin around to Doc, scooping her up in my arms. "This is the only woman you need. Let's get you outta here!"

Chapter Seven

Scarlet

I rush from the room like a bat out of hell, confused by his presence and embarrassed that I practically fell on my face. Quickly, it all turns into anger as I realize how I must have appeared.

Once I’m in my office, I turn my face to the wall and hit my forehead against it. “Why did you allow him to affect you that way? Idiot!”

"He is one handsome man!" I jump, clutching my chest as Amy interrupts my thoughts. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."

I shake my head and take a deep breath to settle my nerves and these damn butterflies in my belly. "I'm fine, just perturbed at how flustered he made me."

"His lips are perfect," she falls against the wall, fanning herself. "and did you see that ass. He's just so dreamy."

I gape at her, refusing to let her see that of course I saw his ass. "You are such a perv, I can't believe you."

"Well, someone needed to appreciate him and his body. You acted like no one was in the room except for you and the dog." She giggles, waiting on my response.