Small-Town Sweetheart (The Spring Grove Series Book 2) Read online

  My mom was really excited when I called yesterday to tell her I was coming. I don’t think she expected me to come back. She screamed so loud even Wilbur heard her and took off under the couch. It felt good to hear the excitement in her voice after everything that has happened with my dad. It’s like a drug listening to her be so happy. I crave it; she’s always been damn good to me. Problem is, making her happy means I have to make a return trip to the center of hell.

  My siblings don’t understand my dismay. They’re pumped to have me home. Well, I take that back. I don’t think Ambrosia cares one way or another. She is having a week-long heart attack. Her trip is going to start after Theo’s wedding, and she’ll be off to Asia. I laughed when I found out. Asia? My sister? She won’t make it. But then, what do I know? Some would say my dad was a smart man, and he always knew what was best for his children. He might have Ambrosia right, but he has me all wrong.

  Coming back to Spring Grove will do nothing but give me a splitting headache.

  A smile pulls at my lips as I ignore my destination and think about my sister heading for Asia in a little over two months. It’s funny that we’ll both be leaving town then to start a new chapter in our lives. She’s going to explore the world, and I’ll be coming back to Lexington to own half a vet clinic. When Noah offered to let me buy in after hearing about the money I would be receiving in eight weeks, I agreed without hesitation. I’ve always dreamed of this, but I never thought I would have to live in the ninth circle of hell to have it happen.

  I glance over to Wilbur, and he’s hanging his head out the window, his tongue out of his mouth as his ears flap in the wind. It’s such a sight. I love this dog. I couldn’t do this without him, even though Mom wished I would. She’s sending me back to the cabin, which is another reason I’m wishing these eight weeks go quickly. No TV and no way of cooking food. I’m so excited, I just can’t hide it. If it didn’t have Wi-Fi, there’s no way I would have made it one night.

  When Wilbur barks loudly, I glance over at him, and I swear the pup is grinning.

  At least one of us is happy.

  There’s a break in the trees, and then sun shines down on my arm as it’s propped on the windowsill. The town square comes into view, and I let out an aggravated breath.

  I have arrived.

  Like before, nothing has fucking changed, and that annoys me even more. I see people looking my way, taking in my big truck, and looking confused. They don’t recognize it, but then when they see me, their brows draw in even more. I have an urge to scream out the window, “I’m back, bitches!” but I refrain. I’m an adult now.

  Somewhat.

  Just as I’m about to turn past town to head to my mom’s, my phone rings.

  “Hey, Mom.”

  “Hey, baby. Are you in town yet?”

  “Just got here.”

  “Oh, good. Head on over to the clinic. Dr. Ross needs some help today, and he asked if you were back yet.”

  I glare at the road ahead of me. “Mom, I just got in.”

  “Well, honey, he needs help.”

  I want to say no, I do. But I can’t when it comes to Dr. Ross. He is the reason I am what I am. A damn good vet and a lover of all animals. “All right,” I say, turning to the left instead of taking a right.

  “Great. See you soon.”

  I hang up and mutter, “Not soon enough.”

  The clinic isn’t far, like everything else in town. I pull into the parking lot of the clinic I grew up in within three minutes. It’s just how I remember it. The building housing Dr. Ross’s Animal House is bright green with a huge mural of all types of animals covering the outside. I remember the summer we painted that mural. Took all summer, and I sweated through at least thirty shirts. Theo wasn’t around to help—he was visiting his dad—but Devin and Holden did. Delaney also, but she was always wanting to help. She would get us iced tea, and when I ran out of shirts, she made sure I had suntan lotion. She was just there, always helping.

  When I pull into a spot, I notice there is a line from hell outside of the building and throughout the parking lot. I think the whole town is here.

  “What in the hell?”

  I shut off my truck, put Wilbur’s leash on him, and get out quickly. After setting Wilbur on his feet, I head toward the clinic. I feel everyone’s gazes on me, and of course, I hear the chatter. It never stops in this town.

  That’s McElroy’s oldest boy.

  Guess he wants that money.

  Isn’t he a vet? Think Ross brought him in to help?

  I never thought I’d see him again.

  He isn’t nice. Very rude.

  I roll my eyes as I tug Wilbur along, making sure he ignores all the dogs and cats he is desperate to sniff. When we reach the front, I move past the crowd just as Dr. Ross is coming out of the back.

  “Oh, thank God. I swear your momma is always coming through for me.” Dr. Ross looks tired, a lot older than I remember, and at his wit’s end. I can hardly hear him. The dogs are barking. Kids are loud as hell—and is that a goat? Shit. “It’s free rabies vaccine day, and I am swamped. Can you help me, boy?”

  I walk with him as he hands a cat to an older lady. “Of course,” I agree eagerly. “Where do you want me?”

  He doesn’t answer me; he looks down at the cat’s mom. “Now, Milo needs to go on a diet, Ms. Yates. You hear me?”

  “Yes, Dr. Ross.”

  Dr. Ross doesn’t look convinced; the cat is as round as his owner. “All right now, see you in three months.” He then turns to me, smacking my back lovingly. “Ya look good, boy, and I need you in exam room two. I’ll take one, and let’s get these people in and out.”

  I reach down, picking up Wilbur. “Can I put him in your office?”

  Wilbur is now trying to lick Dr. Ross, but this place is crazy and he needs to find a place to stay. “Of course.”

  I follow him to the back, passing all the staff and dogs that run around here like they own the place. They sort of do. This place has always been a haven for dogs.

  “It’s gonna be a long day, but I really need to talk to you about the schedule when we’re done. So let me take you to dinner tonight.” I must have missed something, but he doesn’t give me a chance to figure out what he’s saying. “Nothing has changed. We’re more digital. Everything is on these damn tablets that drive me up the wall, but it’s all the same. The rooms, the patients…though we do have a lot more animals coming in from Hamby now. But I’m sure it will be easy peasy for you since you’re a hotshot vet from the big ole city.”

  “I’ll have no problems,” I agree as he opens his office door, and I guide Wilbur in. It’s just as I remember it, full of paintings his wife painted. I used to do my homework in here. I wrote my essay to get into pre-vet school here. Damn, the memories are rushing over me like a sentimental wave. When he hands me a white coat off the back of a chair, my heart freezes in my chest. What is going on here? I take it from him out of respect. Then I ask, “But what are you talking about when you say schedule?”

  Wilbur goes into the office, but I don’t miss the betrayal in his eyes before Dr. Ross shuts the door. “Oh yeah, sorry. If I can get you to take afternoons, that would help a lot. I gotta be home more with Ileana since she’s been having all these issues with her asthma.”

  Say what? “Sorry, I don’t understand.”

  He looks back at me, slightly exasperated. “What don’t you understand, boy? I need you to work afternoons so I can take care of my wife. We’ll split the patients, and I’ll pay you good. That’s no problem. I talked to Shirley. Didn’t she tell you that?”

  I press my lips together. I know it’s not his fault, but I have no desire to work here. “No.”

  He gives me a sheepish look and shakes his head. “Oh. Well, I do, and since you’ll be home for the next eight weeks, you have a job.”

  But I don’t want a job. “I’m sorry, Dr. Ross, but—”

  Before I can finish, though, he opens the door to exam room two,