Bad In Boots 02 - Ty's Temptation Read Free

process of taking another bite of pie. The fork paused right before it reached his mouth. “I take it Jena didn’t make this pie for me?”
    She shook her head, her eyes amused. “But I’m glad to see someone enjoying it. I usually only cook when I’m trying to work something out in my head. I find it therapeutic.” She gestured toward him. “Go ahead. You deserve it after cleaning up the mess I made. And now I owe your sister a lamp.”
    Now that her hair was dry, Ty noted the gorgeous strawberry-blonde color. He smiled his appreciation of her cooking and took another bite. “You make a fantastic apple pie.”
    Evan grinned and continued into the kitchen. “Thanks. I’m glad you like it.”
    As she set the backpack she had on her shoulder down on the floor next to her chair, his gaze locked on the silver Labrador tag that jostled back and forth against the blue fabric.
    He nodded toward her backpack. “Are you an animal lover or something?”
    Evan’s gaze followed his line of sight to her backpack zipper pull. Her lips quirked upward. “I guess you could say that. I’m…kind of an assistant vet.”
    “If Harm’s horse needs constant attention, why isn’t the vet tending to it?”
    Evan retrieved another plate and fork. “He’s out of town on vacation for a couple of weeks, so I’m filling in for him,” she replied as she cut herself a slice of pie and sat down across from him.
    “If he trusts you enough to fill in for him, why don’t you go to school, get your degree and either open your own practice or partner with him? At least then you’d get all the benefits.”
    “And all the full-time responsibility!” Evan replied with a chuckle, knowing full well just how much. There was something about this man…she couldn’t put her finger on it, but she didn’t want him thinking she was some kind of brainiac. If he learned she was the town’s vet, he’d question how young she looked. Then he’d inevitably learn she had graduated from high school at sixteen, accelerated through college and moved on to vet school where she entered a dual degree program, earning both her DVM and MBA, before graduating at the young age of twenty-four, and she’d already have a strike against her. In her limited and disappointed experience with men, the male population shied away from women with extremely high IQs.
    Just as she was about to take her first bite of pie, her cell phone rang. “Duty calls.” Evan gave Ty a half-smile as she jumped up to retrieve her cell phone from her backpack.
    She flipped open the cell. “Hello?… Hey, Charlie… When did her water break?… The foal’s front hooves aren’t coming out first?… No, don’t try to turn it yourself. I’ll be there in a few minutes. Just try to keep the momma calm.”
    When she snapped the phone closed, Ty glanced at his watch. “You should consider my suggestion. It seems you’re on call 24/7 anyway.”
    She gave him a wry grin. “I’ll take it under advisement.” Picking up her backpack, she met his gaze. “I’ll collect my things and leave the place to you.”
    “If Harm invited you, I don’t want to kick you out.”
    “No worries. I’ll just drive over each morning and evening.” She pulled the house key off her keychain and set it on the table.
    “Evan—”
    Her cell phone rang again. “Hold that thought.” She put up her finger as she flipped open the phone.
    “Hello?… Yes, I can squeeze you in. Bring Ranger by the office tomorrow morning. I’ll be in at nine.”
    When she hung up, Ty raised his eyebrow. “I think that vet needs more help.”
    She grinned and turned to walk toward the bedroom to collect her things, calling over her shoulder, “Yeah, he stays pretty busy.”
    * * * * *
    Three hours later, Evan rolled down her window as she approached her house. Even though Charlie had let her use the shower in his guest bathroom to get cleaned up and she now had on the spare set of clothes she carried around in her car,