Lonely Pride—Beneath Southern Skies Book 1
by
Tricia McGill
“You didn’t have
to put yourself out on my behalf,” she thought to tell him as they walked
across the car park.
In a way she knew
was deliberately lustful he eyed the curves of her body before he said, “No
trouble.” His gaze turned cold as he raked his eyes over her, from her
wind-tossed hair to her ankles. They reached an off-road vehicle and he opened
the back door, tossed her cases in, then held the passenger door open for her. “I’d
do the same for any old friend,” he added as, with slight difficulty, she got
in. He didn’t offer her a helping hand and she wouldn’t have accepted it if he
had. Once in the driver’s seat, he flicked on the air conditioning, and Sam sat
back with a sigh as the cabin filled with cool air.
Tears pricked at
the backs of her lids. It took all her willpower to hold them back. He turned
to stare at her profile. The last person in the world who would see her cry
would be him. How she wished she knew what was going on in his head. Once she
would have known--or thought she had.
Once she would
have come right out and asked him.
Instead, she asked
tautly, “Just how is it the successful town vet can take time out to pick up old friends anyway?” Turning to
glance at his weather-creased face she swallowed a sigh when his lips curled
tauntingly. Quickly she returned her gaze to the hands twisting in her lap.
“It is Sunday. And
even successful vets can take a few hours off some weekends. Especially when
they have a partner who can take care of emergencies if they arise.” They’d
stopped at traffic lights and he gave her the full intensity of his dark brown
stare, causing her to shift in discomfort.
“Oh yes, I almost
forgot. The reliable Clare.” The air in the cabin, if possible, became even
more strained with tension. “Your partner. How is she these days?” With a
fingernail Sam scratched at an imaginary fleck of dust on her skirt. “Mum told
me she’d joined your practice. There must be a great deal of work around to
need the services of two vets in such a small town.”
“Come off it, Sam!
You know as well as I that my practice encompasses a vast area and there’s
always more than enough work to keep two vets occupied.” With an uncustomary
jerk he changed gears, then shot off so fast she was sent jolting forward into
her seatbelt. “And if you’re really interested in Clare, she’s as she’s always
been; ambitious and able.”
“Too ambitious by
far I should think for such a small town in the back-blocks of Tassie.” Lifting
her hair she flicked it back with a careless motion. “Who would have thought
she would return to her hometown. The enticements must have been enormous to
encourage her to come back to stay.” Why didn’t she shut up? She was treading
on dangerous ground. But they both knew; where Clare was concerned she’d never
known how to conceal her dislike and disgust.
“Clare keeps her
own counsel, as always.” His voice was terse. “Despite what you may think I
didn’t ask for her reasons and she hasn’t volunteered the information. I needed
a partner and she was in need of a position.” The glance he tossed at her was
full of censure and they travelled for a few miles in tension-packed silence.
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