Circle B Ranch: Volume Two

Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE

ELIZABETH

FOUR MONTHS LATER

It’s almost the end of the semester, and I’m mentally and emotionally exhausted. My schedule has been hectic as usual, and I’ve been studying like crazy for next month’s final exams. My nerves are shot, and I’ve already started working myself up over it. By the time I’m done with class on Thursday, I’m absolutely exhausted, but I listen to the recordings of my classes on the way home. The drive is three hours, so replaying the lectures has actually helped me retain more information. They aren’t the most interesting things in the world to listen to, but it helps.

Every week is the same, and I feel like I’m stuck living the same day where the only difference is what I’m wearing. Right now, I’m on spring break, which doesn’t mean much other than being off work on Friday. I’ve had a nice long relaxing weekend and didn’t have to take any emergency calls. Though I kinda missed working.

The weekend passes by in a blip, and Monday morning comes fast. I show up on time, and after Beverly unlocks the doors, I realize Connor isn’t here yet. I wait an hour and do an annual check on Mrs. Morris’ dog before I start to worry. Of course Connor gets called on emergency jobs quite often, but he usually mentions it or at least sends me a text.

When I have a short break between appointments, I decide to ask Beverly since Trina is clipping a husky’s toenails in the first room. Beverly is polite as can be, but she’s quiet most of the time and keeps to herself like our boss.

“Hey, Bev, do you happen to know where Connor is today?”

She looks at me with a grin. “Oh honey, he’s not comin’ in until later this afternoon. Had some personal things to take care of. Sorry, I thought you knew.”

I keep a smile planted on my face, not allowing my annoyance to show. He’s the one who tells me communication is important, yet he hasn’t told me a damn thing.

“Oh okay, thanks,” I say, not wanting to pry but still curious. Connor’s a private person and never openly talks about his life outside of work. I was shocked to learn he was married and is now divorced. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to know about Connor’s life or why their relationship ended. I have a lot of questions when it comes to him but zero answers.

They’ll gossip around the office about anyone and everyone, but as soon as he’s mentioned, I feel like I’ve trespassed. One time, curiosity got the best of me, but Beverly made it very clear that talking about him was off-limits.

Right now, he seems more like a droid than a human because he’s completely emotionless around me. While he’s an asshole ninety-nine percent of the time, it almost pains me to admit that I actually miss him when he’s not around.

I try to focus on the tasks at hand and do a few more annual exams and vaccinations. Regardless of how busy I stay, I still find myself lost in thought, wondering where the hell he is and what he’s doing.

Two hours before close, Connor waltzes in with his signature scowl, wearing jeans and a tight T-shirt that shows off his biceps. I swallow hard when I see his tattoos, and my cheeks heat at how sexy he looks. I have a burning desire to trace the tribal design on his arm with my finger. Every time I catch a glimpse of his ink, I grow more curious about him, the real him, the Connor who’s kept locked away. It just seems so unlike him to have so much ink, considering he’s so uptight.

When I get a break between patients, I go into his office and find him leaning over his desk.

I clear my throat to get his attention so we can discuss business stuff. His eyes finally meet mine, and something brews behind them, though I can’t tell if it’s l**t or rage. I have a hard time telling the difference anymore.

“Can I help you?” he asks.

“Actually, yes. First of all, thank you very much for informing me I’d be handling all of the appointments alone today.”

His brow perks up, but it’s not with amusement, and it annoys me even more that I find it sexy as hell. “Were you not able to handle everything?”

“Of course I was,” I respond without hesitation. He goes back to his paperwork.

“That’s why I didn’t tell you. I knew you’d be okay,” he says unapologetically.

I groan. “Well thanks for the heads-up. Anyway...” I shift the conversation to what else I wanted to discuss. “I need Friday, May thirteenth off.”

He finally stops what he’s doing. “Why?”

“Personal reasons,” I snap, giving him as much information as he gave me.

“Not good enough,” he retorts. “Now, I’ll ask again. Why do you need off?”

I grow more frustrated with each passing second, and my body heats from the inside out. “I already told you. It’s all you need to know.”

I stand strong in my decision to keep it to myself. Though I really do need off for Ethan and Kenzie’s graduation. If I missed it because of work, they’d be extremely unhappy with me.

He glares at me, unpleased that I’m pushing back. It’s a yes or no decision, and if he doesn’t allow it, perhaps I’ll send Grandma to change his mind.

“Fine,” he barks, and I almost smile at his annoyance. When the conversation is clearly over, I go to the break room to calm down. I grab a bottle of water and suck it down like I’m on fire. He tends to do that to me.

Once my heart rate finally steadies, I overhear him talking. I move closer to the doorway when I realize he’s on the phone.

“Hey, sweetie,” he says, his voice a lot cheerier than I’ve ever heard.

He laughs, and it sounds foreign coming from him. “I know, sweetheart. Me too.”

It’s obvious from his tone that he’s smiling. I hear footsteps, and my adrenaline spikes as I take a step back, not wanting to get caught. His office door shuts, and his voice isn’t as loud, but I can still make out what he’s saying.

“Of course we’ll do it again. Can’t wait to see you again. I love you. Okay, baby. Bye.”

A lump forms in my throat at the realization he was with a woman today, one he loves. There’s no other explanation on how happy and chipper he sounded. I leave the break room when Connor opens his door, and he pretends I’m not even here.

After I’m done cleaning up for the day, I help Trina stock the patient rooms.

“You did an awesome job stepping in and helping when things got crazy,” I say. Connor’s not known to hand out compliments, so it’s the least I can do.

“Thanks, Elle. That means a lot,” she says with a big grin. Once we’re done, we grab our stuff, and I speak loud enough for Connor to hear me say goodbye to everyone. He’s been holed up in his office since he arrived. After our not-so-lovely interaction earlier, I’ve avoided him.

Exhaustion hits me on the drive home, so I decide to go to school in the morning. Waking up at four will suck, but I’m too tired to be on the road.

When I enter the house, the lights are off, and I know both of my parents are at work. A note scribbled in mom’s handwriting is on the counter to let me know leftovers are in the fridge. I take out the spaghetti and warm it up, then eat it while checking my phone.

Once I’m full, I head to the bathroom and get in the shower. The hot water relaxes my stiff muscles, and I actually feel a lot better afterward. Before I climb into bed, I put my books in my backpack so I don’t forget them when I leave for school in the morning.

Before I fall asleep, I get a text from my brother.

Ethan: Did you request off for my graduation like you promised?

I snort, then roll my eyes at the conversation it took to get that day off.

Elizabeth: Yes, I did.

Ethan: And did Dr. VetDreamy approve it?

I scrunch my nose. I hate that Kenzie started that s**t, and years later, it still continues.

Elizabeth: He said it was fine. And don’t you dare call him that. Dr. Dickhead is more like it. How’s your girlfriend, I mean Harper?

It takes a minute for him to text back, and I chuckle at how much it gets under his skin when I tease him about Harper.

Ethan: If you mean her being a girl and being my friend, then she’s doing great. You gotta try harder with your digs, sis. You’re getting rusty in your old age.

Elizabeth: You better be glad you aren’t home. I’d kick your a*s for that one.

Ethan: You sure you can raise your leg that high?

I send him an eye roll and an arm-flexing emoji.

Elizabeth: You coming home this weekend? I kinda miss your pain in the a*s.

Ethan: Not sure yet. Maybe! Glad to know I’m still your favorite brother. It’s a hard job, but someone’s gotta do it.

Elizabeth: Ha! GOOD NIGHT!

I’m super proud of him and wouldn’t miss his graduation for the world, especially for Connor, who always has a stick up his a*s. He’s not sure what he’ll do on the ranch yet, but Uncle John and Uncle Jackson have promised Grandma they’d figure it out. Ethan wants to help expand what the ranch currently does, and if anyone can do that, it’ll be him. He’s smart as hell, and his agricultural science degree will be put to good use.

Kenzie’s graduating too, but she’s planned her future career already. She’ll be using her education degree by teaching at the private school Aunt Mila started years ago after she moved here.

I look forward to the day when I’m not trying to do so much at once, but then again, I chose this life. Either way, I wouldn’t change a thing.

I take that back.

I would change one thing—Connor’s bad attitude.