The House On Burra Burra Lane Read Free

switched Duke’s box to his left hand. ‘Ethan,’ he said, trying not to squash the bones in her hand. ‘You can forget the doctor part. I won’t be bringing my … you know … my white coat.’ He smiled, hoping it covered his awkwardness.
    ‘I’m sorry about that,’ she said. ‘And about collapsing on you too. I’ve never come close to fainting before.’
    He didn’t have to look over his shoulder to see Mrs J’s internal antenna pop up. It all but crackled as she tuned in.
    ‘It was no trouble catching you. Just take things easy for the rest of the day.’
    ‘Samantha Walker,’ she said. ‘Sometimes I’m called Sammy.’
    He nodded. He had no idea what he’d call her except one hell of a shock.
    The pig oinked.
    He glanced over his shoulder. ‘I’ll be right with you, Mrs Johnson.’
    ‘No rush, Ethan.’ Mrs J waved him back to what he was doing.
    Ethan turned to Miss Walker.
    ‘How much do I owe you?’ she asked.
    ‘Nothing,’ he said, looking into her eyes.
    ‘Really?’
    Doe eyes; too soft, too engaging. There should be clarity in this somewhere. He’d been shocked into a simple case of unexpected desire that she’d started when … well, he wasn’t sure how this had begun. To hell with it. Get with it, for once . He caught her fingers in his before they slipped from his hand. ‘Miss Walker, are we going to do anything about this … attraction?’
    He waited.
    ‘No,’ she whispered.
    ‘Are we sure?’
    She pulled her hand from his. ‘I really didn’t mean to—’
    ‘I thought I’d ask the question, since we’ve both admitted … attraction.’
    ‘I was joking.’
    Joking? A shot of hurt punctured his chest. ‘Right … of course. So was I.’
    He walked past her.
    ‘Not joking exactly,’ she said as she followed him outside.
    ‘No, really, it’s fine.’ He stood next to her ancient canary-yellow SUV.
    She pulled keys from the back pocket of her track pants and beeped the remote.
    Ethan slid the cat box into the back of the vehicle, closed the door, moved to the driver’s door and opened it for her.
    She hesitated before getting in. ‘I’ve embarrassed us both. This is not the best time for me and I babbled on without thinking.’ She tilted her head. ‘I do that sometimes.’
    She gave him a little smile but her gaze was filled with concern.
    Ethan took a breath. She wasn’t the only one who’d messed up. It hadn’t been fair of him to make a play in the first place, knowing he wouldn’t take it far. Should have taken more note of that cautionary knot in his stomach. Thankfully he’d been dumped quickly, before idiocy completely took over.
    ‘We’ll start over,’ he said. ‘Tomorrow. Three o’clock.’ And they’d make it businesslike.
    ‘Thank you.’
    ‘No problem.’ He pressed his lips to a tight smile.
    She hooked her hip onto the seat, swivelled her legs in, and fired the engine. He closed the door for her and stepped back as she drove off.
    What the hell had just happened?
    ‘Where’s your assistant vet?’
    Ethan swung around to Mrs J. ‘Gone west. I’ve advertised for another. I don’t expect an influx of applicants in a hurry though.’
    ‘So you’re on your own again?’
    He nodded. It wasn’t as though he couldn’t cope. Wasn’t as if he didn’t usually have to. Plenty of vets with big business on their minds operated within a hundred and twenty kilometre radius, which was fine by him. He had enough to keep him occupied and didn’t need much for contentment. His major investment outside of the surgery was his brand new cobalt-blue utility truck.
    ‘Got your bet placed?’ Mrs J lowered her voice as though the sheep in the field behind the surgery might spread the rumour before she did.
    Ethan thrust his hands into his pockets. ‘I don’t usually bat the breeze, Mrs J.’
    ‘It’s not idle talk, Ethan. There’s a serious bet down. Haven’t figured out why it’s such a big deal though.’ She paused. ‘Been a long time since