Page 3 of The One You Want

“Seriously, Jenny,” she pressed—Libby was never one to leave well enough alone. “I can tell you’ve been trying to get out of that shell of yours lately. I think that’sgreat.”

I looked up at her, more than a little surprised that she had noticed. Most people didn’t really notice me much at all. “Yeah?”

She nods, grinning. “Definitely. It’s time you showed this whole island how awesome youare.”

To my surprise, her praise didn’t have me blushing. Instead, I felt something rising up inside me, some foreign boldness I wasn’t at all used to. Could this be what confidence feltlike?

Just a few minutes ago, I’d been contemplating going home and giving up on my plan for Cal Miller. And then the universe dropped Libby in my lap with her sincere compliments and her encouragement. Was that a sign, orwhat?

“You know something, Libbs?” I said, tightening my grip on the cookie box as I stood. “I think you’reright.”

She grinned up at me. “Of course I’m right. Haven’t you heard? I’m alwaysright.”

“See you around,” I said, turning on the spot, determined not to let this unexpected burst of confidence go towaste.

I marched across Town Square, heading straight for the animal shelter on Maple, ready to change mylife.

* * *

The front roomof the animal shelter was empty when I walked in. I frowned, looking around. I was sure the manager, Robin, was supposed to be on the schedule. Plus, I was sure Dr. Miller was supposed to be intoday.

Not like I had his schedule memorized oranything.

Okay, I totally did. But anyone who saw the guy would never blame me. The man wasfine. We’re talking Eric from the Little Mermaid looks—I was kind of a Disney fanatic. But the man had that same thick dark hair and the piercing blue eyes. It was a wonder every woman on this island wasn’t breaking down down hisdoor.

It wasn’t just his looks, either—I’m not that shallow. No, the main appeal of Cal Miller was howkindhe was. He never had a harsh word for anyone, even though pet-owners sometimes had a habit of getting stressed when their fur babies weren’t feeling well. Dr. Miller treated them all the same—the perfect balance of charming andprofessional.

But it was when he got to interacting with the animals that he really made my heart swell. He always got right down on their level, talking to them like they could understand every word. He cradled grumpy kitties to his broad chest, got down on the floor to rub dog bellies, and always kept a pocket full of little treats to lavish on themall.

And the day he had to put Debbie Franklin’s Pomeranian, Buttercup, to sleep, I had accidentally walked into the break room to find him crying. He wasn’t making a big deal out of it, no noisy sobs. Just a few quiet tears rolling down his cheeks. He hadn’t acted embarrassed at all to be caught, just gave me a sad smile and said, “these are always the hardestdays.”

Buttercup wasn’t even a nice dog. But Dr. Miller had morned her all thesame.

I think that was the moment I fell completely in love withhim.

But today, there was no sign of his disarming smile. No sign of anyone, which was odd—we never left the desk unmanned. Maybe Dr. Miller had been called to his office next door for some kind of emergency? Just when I was thinking I would go over to check, I heard a giggle from behind thedesk.

That seemed odd. Robin wasn’t exactly the warmest woman. I didn’t think I had ever heard hergiggle.

I ducked around the counter, thinking I’d check the break room before trying Cal’s office next door—and stopped short as the hallway to the back came into view. It wasn’tempty.

Oh. Ohshit.

Apparently Dr. Miller had a rather large birthmark on his ass. Whoknew?

Well, I knew, now, because I was currently staring at his very naked backside in the break room hallway. And Robin knew about the birthmark, too, obviously, because she was the one currently pushing his pants down to thefloor.

I stood there, frozen, my mind trying to make sense of what I was seeing. Robin was shirtless, her leopard print bar on full display, one jean-clad leg (thank God she was still wearing pants) hitched up around Cal’s waist while she tugged on his slacks. His face was buried in her neck and they were both laughing, clearly having a grand oldtime.

In the middle of the hallway. Which opened up to the front room. And would be clearly visible by anyone out on the sidewalk who happened to be walking from the other direction and looked in at the rightangle.

“Oh my God,” I gasped, slapping a hand over my eyes and spinning around. I tried to dart around the front desk, desperate to escape, but I couldn’t actually see with my hand over my eyes, and I wound up running straight into the corner of the desk. I yelped in pain, pretty sure I was bleeding and then, for good measure, dropped the box of cookies on thefloor.

“Shit,” I heard Dr. Miller mutter from the hallway. “I’m sorry, hangon!”

“Oh, don’t get all panicky,” Robin replied easily, as if she hadn’t just been caught dry-humping her boss at work. “It’s just little Jenny Hillman. She’s nothing to worryabout.”

Little Jenny Hillman. Nothing to worryabout.

Yeah. That pretty much summed it all up, didn’tit?