Unscripted Love (Road to Blissville, #1) Read online

  I thought madly for an excuse and used the first one that came to mind. “I’m not sick,” I told Mere. “I was just up late last night—well, early this morning—playing video games.”

  “Video games?” Meredith’s tone and demeanor had changed from distraught to disbelief in a second.

  “Yeah, it helps me relieve stress,” I said, shrugging my shoulders.

  “Stress?” she asked me, placing her hands on her hips. I could tell she was about to give me a piece of her mind, but I pressed on anyway.

  “Yes, stress,” I said defensively, not liking her tone one bit. “I don’t have a built-in stress reliever,” I said, pointing at Gabe, “like Jazz does, and I’m not as kickass as you are. Nothing seems to faze you, Mere.”

  “That’s a bunch of bullshit if I ever heard it. Don’t make excuses for bad behavior and then play the poor pitiful me card,” Meredith told me. She was madder than a hornet, and I could tell she was just getting started. “Josh and I have been worried sick to death about you for months. You’ve turned us down to go out, you’ve been late to work, you’ve been absent-minded at times, and you nearly missed Sunday dinner with your family. You look physically ill right now, baby,” Meredith added, but with a softer tone of voice. “What can we do to help you?”

  I felt the fight fade right out of me and flopped down on a kitchen chair. I had worried my friends sick over my behavior and then turned on them when they expressed their concern. Josh and Meredith moved to flank my sides and began comforting me.

  “I feel so immature and ridiculous, but that’s what I’ve gotten caught up in.” I felt sick inside from lying to my friends. “I’m sorry for worrying you. I promise you that I’m not sick and I’ll do better about getting to work on time.”

  “What game are you into these days?” Gabe asked randomly.

  I looked at him in surprise and said, “World of Warcraft. I know, you probably think I’m acting like a ten-year-old.”

  “No, I don’t think that. You’re not the only guy I know in this town who’s hooked on that game,” Gabe said. I fought to keep my composure because I was certain that he was talking about Kyle. Even though I found Gabe and Kyle’s friendship odd, I never questioned that it was right. They were better as friends than lovers, and they obviously talked about the things happening in their lives.

  Luckily Josh saved me from a response. “You don’t say?” he asked Gabe.

  “I just did,” Gabe replied smartly.

  I looked back and forth between them in confusion. Were they about to get into an argument? “Um, I hate to break up whatever is going on here, but do you think we could eat now?” I asked. “I haven’t eaten all day.” As if to emphasize my misery, my stomach growled angrily.

  “I do believe Gabe and I can table this discussion until later,” Josh said somewhat huffily as he returned to the kitchen. I shot Gabe a sympathetic look, but he didn’t see it because his eyes were locked on Josh. I suspected the good detective had a long night ahead of him.

  It was obvious as hell the next day that Josh and Gabe discussed who else in town was playing World of Warcraft because Josh started shoving me in Kyle’s direction. Okay, he didn’t exactly have to twist my arm to convince me to help him at Diva’s next vet appointment. He wasn’t responsible for me putting on a new shirt, cologne, or the brown leather half-boots that I couldn’t pass up when I received my first royalty check. I told myself I was doing it for me, but he saw right through me.

  Once again, I found myself alone in the exam room with Kyle when the receptionist told Josh he needed to fill out new paperwork to update their records. I thought he stood a little closer than was proper, but I wasn’t complaining until Josh’s cat bit me when I didn’t hand her over to Kyle quick enough. I set her down on the floor and looked down to see if I still had my finger.

  “Damn, that hurt,” I said as I looked around for something to wipe away the blood.

  “Here, let me take a look,” Kyle said. He had just dabbed the wound and was examining it closer when Josh walked into the room. “Well, at least we know the little vixen is well-vaccinated.”

  “What happened?” Josh asked.

  “Your little slutty cat bit me when I didn’t hand her to Dr. Dimples quick enough,” I told him. Kyle stood up a little straighter and blinked at me several times before a wide smile spread across his face. I felt the blood drain from my face when I realized what I’d said. I should’ve been used to it by then, but I was still shocked by the words rolling out of my mouth.

  “Dr. Dimples, huh?” Kyle asked. “I like it. Maybe I should change my avatar name to that.”

  “Chaz plays World of Warcraft too,” Josh told him. “He’s really good at it. Plays at night and makes a lot of friends around the world.”

  I looked at him with bulging eyes that pleaded with him to shut up. The last thing I needed was Kyle to start adding up facts and figure out I was the Drew he’d spent more time masturbating with than playing games. Shut the fuck up, Josh. If you love me the tiniest bit, please shut the fuck up. Josh was on a roll and had no intention of stopping.

  “I think he’s met a guy online and just doesn’t want me to know about it. He worries I’ll make fun of him or something.” Josh rolled his eyes for effect.

  “Josh,” I growled a warning.

  “I would never!” Josh clutched his heart dramatically and batted his eyelashes innocently. “We never know when we’ll find the other half of our soul. Sometimes they’re standing right in front of you all along.”

  By that time, Kyle was staring into my eyes and looking like he wanted to kiss me. I don’t know what he would’ve done because Alyssa burst into the room just then.

  “Dr. Vaughn,” she said breathlessly, “Beth Handerneski called and said their bull got loose. They tracked him down and lured him back in the trailer, but not before he cut himself pretty bad on a fence. They want to know if you can come out and take a look at him.”

  Kyle broke eye contact with me and looked at Alyssa. “Tell them I’ll be out there as soon as I finish up here.”

  When he looked at me again, his professional mask was back in place. “I’ll let Molly give her the booster so that Diva doesn’t get mad at me.” Josh laughed at his comment, but I was still too stunned from our moment to react. Kyle didn’t miss a beat, though. “I better get out to the Handerneskis’ farm and look at Tank. I’ll see you guys around.” He studied me closely once more and said, “Maybe I’ll find you online, and we can play together.”

  I didn’t think it was possible for my face to turn redder than it already was, but I was wrong. I also didn’t think I’d ever find myself in such an embarrassing situation with Kyle again, but I was wrong. So very wrong.

  I didn’t remember much about Chaz Bailey from my younger years in Blissville because there was an eight-year difference in our ages. We didn’t exactly run in the same circles back then, but he was friends with my middle sister, Brittney. He’d been to our house for her birthday parties and stuff, but I honestly didn’t pay much attention to him. That changed when I returned to my hometown to take over my grandfather’s veterinary practice when he decided to retire.

  I’ll never forget the first time I saw him. He was standing in the produce section at Sac-N-Save with Josh, who I hadn’t recognized at the time either. At first, I thought he was just a cute guy, but then he smiled and laughed at something Josh said to him. I don’t mean a little giggle; I mean a throw-your-head-back kind of laugh. The sound of it sent an electric zap straight to my nuts, and I was like “hello.” The bright lights in the grocery store made it easy for me to see the mirth sparkling in his blue eyes.

  “How about these?” he had asked Josh, holding up two kiwis for inspection. “Firm, but not mushy and fuzzy; not too hairy either.”

  “Oh,” Josh had replied, “just how you like ’em, Chaz.” I recognized that name as one of the kids who hung out with Brittney, but I couldn’t reconcile the grown man with any particular memories.
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  Chaz had tipped his head to the side and puckered up his lips like he was thinking hard about something. “Well, I prefer them smooth if I’m going to get up close and personal with them.”

  Insane lust sparked inside me, and I veered down the next aisle to get away from him. I think I spent fifteen minutes studying the selection of macaroni and cheese the store offered while forcing my brain to think about something other than the feel of Chaz sucking my nuts into his luscious mouth. Men are wired to think about sex and being in a relationship didn’t change that, but the good ones knew not to act on those thoughts. I considered myself a good man and had recommitted myself to making my relationship with Gabe work.

  It just felt like life wasn’t on board with my plan because Chaz started popping up almost everywhere, including the salon that my sisters swore up and down was the place I needed to go instead of the town butcher… I mean barber. There he was at the receptionist desk scheduling appointments on the phone while checking a client out. The cordless phone enabled him to move out behind the desk and help the client find the product she needed while discussing services and prices with another client on the phone. I tried so damn hard not to stare at his round, firm ass, when he bent over to pick up something from the bottom shelf, but I couldn’t seem to help myself.

  I should’ve walked away, but I was rooted to the spot. When Chaz turned around and saw me, I was glad I stayed. His eyes widened slightly at having my regard locked so firmly on him. His voice faltered briefly in his conversation, and I decided that maybe I hadn’t lost it after all.

  He recovered nicely and continued handling both the client in front of him and the one on the phone. “Thank you, Chaz,” the blonde lady said when he handed her the bag with her hair stuff in it once he hung up the phone. “You’re such a sweetheart.”

  “Thank you for being so patient, Deidre. It’s a little bit like a zoo in here today,” he had said in relief as he handed her an appointment reminder card. “We’ll see you in six weeks.”

  “Not even death would keep me from my appointment with Meredith,” the woman said.

  “Let’s not test that theory,” Chaz said wryly. He turned his attention to me once the woman left and I noticed the smile he gave me was more tentative than the one he gave her.

  I didn’t like that he was nervous around me and said the first thing that came to mind. “You’re really good at your job.”

  Chaz snorted a little and said, “It’s not like I rescue kittens like you do.”

  “Technically, the firemen are the ones rescuing kittens,” I said teasingly. “I just treat them.” I offered him what I thought was a friendly smile, but I must’ve showed too much teeth and looked like a shark because he looked even more uncomfortable.

  Chaz broke eye contact and glanced around the salon before he looked back at me. “Josh is ready for you now, Dr. Vaughn.”

  I perked up a little bit at hearing him say my name. “You know who I am?” I asked.

  “You’re hard to miss,” Chaz said, blushing profusely. Was he nervous and pink-cheeked because he felt the same level of attraction?

  It shouldn’t have mattered, but I liked the attention and the thought that I could still rattle someone. I had spent so many years focused on my schooling and training to become a veterinarian that I lost who I was as a man. Yes, I had Gabe in my life, but our relationship had deteriorated before we moved from Miami and it hadn’t improved in the few months we had lived in Ohio.

  We were great friends, but the physical part felt more like we were going through the motions instead of the burning passion you’d expect with a committed, happy couple. The insane attraction I felt for Chaz told me that I wasn’t in love with Gabe any longer, no matter how much I loved him. Still, I wasn’t ready to give up, and neither was Gabe until a year of living in Blissville had passed.

  Oddly, we remained good friends, and there were a few times when loneliness drove us toward each other for physical release the year that followed our breakup. It never felt right afterward, and I could tell we both regretted it. It was the loneliest time in my adult life, and I started playing online video games to pass the time each night and weekend. I had made some friends, but I missed the physical touch of someone, and my right hand just wasn’t cutting it.

  I knew Gabe had made the decision never to let it happen again when I flirted with him in the lobby of my animal hospital a year after our breakup. His body stiffened, and he frowned when I placed my hand on his arm. I knew then that he’d met someone, or at least thought he had. I was happy for him because he deserved great things.

  The flirty interaction I had with Chaz Hamilton in the exam room immediately afterward made me realize that I deserved to be happy too. I wasn’t sure that Chaz was that guy, but my body sure lit up like the Fourth of July when he was near. The words that came out of his mouth weren’t always meant to be sexy, but I could easily mistake them as such. I’d interacted with Chaz many times since I became single, but I never got the impression that he was into me after his initial reaction during my first visit to the salon when I caught him unaware. In fact, he rarely made eye contact with me so you can imagine my surprise when he locked eyes with me as he blew me… I mean blew his eyelash on my finger. He looked like he wanted to kiss me really bad and I knew damn well that I wanted to lay one on him. I don’t know what would’ve happened if Terry hadn’t interrupted us.

  It wasn’t long before it became obvious who had captured Gabe’s attention. I watched from the sideline as my good friend—as I preferred to think of Gabe—fought hard to win Josh Roman’s heart. It wasn’t an easy battle by any means, but damn the way they sparked when they were together made it obvious that it was worth it.

  By that time, I’d connected with a guy named Drew online. He was everything I wanted in a man—funny, feisty, and his dirty talk made me hot. We started out playing video games, but that turned into something sexual in a hurry. It seemed like Drew was as lonely as I was and I started hinting around that I wanted to meet him after a few weeks of chatting and jerking off together. Columbus wasn’t that far north, and I thought it was worth a shot. We had similar interests in life, and we sparked. At first, Drew kind of blew me off like I was joking, but then he completely disappeared when I came right out and asked him if we could meet.

  I had never felt so rejected in my life. My brain constantly spun around all the reasons why he didn’t want to meet. Was he worried that I wouldn’t find him physically attractive? Was he in the closet about his sexuality? I confess that our conversations didn’t go that deep, we just pretended that our dicks were going deep in each other. I don’t know how long I messaged him without a reply before I gave up.

  I found myself confiding the pseudo relationship to Gabe, expecting him to laugh at me. Instead, he was supportive and told me to hang in there. He told me to have faith and assured me that Drew would reappear in my life if he was the right guy for me. Unfortunately, I never heard from Drew again but there was that saying about a window opening after a door shut.

  That was how it felt when Chaz and I shared the second encounter in the exam room after Diva bit his finger. I learned that he’d given me the nickname of Dr. Dimples, which meant he thought about me more than he let on. I also learned through Josh that Chaz was a gamer too, and I made a suggestion about connecting with him online. He didn’t look receptive to the idea, and I didn’t have much time to mull it over because I had to run out to the Handerneskis’ farm to deal with Tank, the bull.

  A few days later, I stopped by the salon on my way to work to get wax for my hair. The only people inside were the three amigos, Chaz, Josh, and Mere because it was early and they had just opened. It was clear that they were so engaged in their conversation that they hadn’t heard the little bell over the door ring.

  “I know where you’re going with this, Josh. I’m telling you the likelihood that I’m playing games with Dr. Dimples into the wee hours of the night are slim to none,” Chaz said. Oh, that go
t my attention. It was obvious then that Gabe had told Josh about my gaming and Josh decided to push his gaming friend in front of me during his vet appointment. I should’ve been embarrassed by his meddling, but I thought it was cute.

  “You wish you were,” Meredith said sassily. Josh looked up at me then, his eyes as wide as headlights. His mouth opened to warn his friends, but nothing came out. Josh looked like a fish, and I almost took pity on them and made my presence known, but I was glad I hadn’t when I heard what Chaz said next.

  “Okay, maybe I do. Are you happy now? If I admit to jerking off while thinking about the good doctor will you shut up about it?” Chaz asked.

  “Uh…” Josh said gracelessly.

  “So what if I want to take in every stray cat I find so that I can look at him and smell his body wash. You think I’m the only one? Please,” Chaz said, waving his hand exaggeratingly. “If that man knew how many people fantasized about his hunky body then he’d never leave his house.” Really? Me?

  Meredith turned to look at Chaz just then and let out a high-pitched squeak when she saw I had overheard every single word they said. Apparently, Josh’s stunned silence and Meredith’s shock was enough to alert Chaz that I was in the room.

  “That Dr. Rogers is sex on a stick,” Chaz said. It would’ve been a good rebound had Dr. Rogers not been older than dirt. “If you’ll excuse me, I just remembered that I have some, um, inventory to order before the day gets away from me.” He mumbled something softly to his friends that I couldn’t make out. I watched Chaz leave the room with his back ramrod straight, which did nothing to deter my eyes from feasting on his delectable ass.

  A smile spread slowly across my face when I realized that Chaz wasn’t immune to me after all. “Good morning,” I said cheerfully to Josh and Meredith, who wore matching looks of mortification. “I just stopped by to grab some hair wax. I’m almost out.” I felt like I was in a daze when I walked over to the display case and grabbed the product off the shelf.