admitted, “I sometimes get paid with the barter system, like a deal on a new roof or landscaping. One time this kid kept my grass cut for a month in exchange for his dog’s surgery.”
Corbin’s grin softened to a tender smile. “You did that for him?”
“His family already struggled, and he kept busy with high school and a part-time job. But he loved that aging dog so much. He’d always kept up with vaccines, flea treatments and stuff like that. When the dog needed a tumor removed, the family wasn’t sure what to do. An expense like that wasn’t in their budget and might have meant skipping a payment on other bills.” She lifted her shoulders. “What else could I do?”
“Some people would refuse services.” His hands framed her face. “But you? You found a way to work it out.”
They’d moved from friendly to intimate in a heartbeat—and she didn’t have a single complaint. “I love animals, and I love people who take good care of them.”
His thumbs brushed over her cheeks. “Damn, but you’re amazing.”
Her heart started tripping, especially with the way he looked down at her, as if memorizing each of her features. Very ordinary features, she knew. Put all together, she wasn’t a hag, but she’d never had a guy like him look at her quite like that.
“What?” His thumbs went below her chin, tilting her face up more. “You don’t know how amazing you are?”
“I’m just me.” A small town vet who’d so far led a fairly mundane life. “No man’s ever said I was amazing before. Only Hope. She compliments me all the time.”
“Men can be stupid—and Hope is right.”
Resting a hand on his chest, she countered, “Obviously, not all men.”
“No.” His gaze moved over her face, settled on her mouth, and he drew her closer. “I promise I won’t be stupid.”
Making promises to her? Be still my heart.
Trying to play it off, to be more lighthearted than she felt, Ivey mused, “Not rich but not stupid. That really balances things.” Then to give herself a moment, she got serious again. “Hope has gotten really good at avoiding situations that make her uncomfortable, so she must be enjoying your brother’s antics.”
He accepted the topic switch, releasing her from the intensity of his gaze, dropping his hands and taking a casual step back as if the heart-throbbing moment hadn’t happened. “So is Justin. It’s damned rewarding to see how easily he’s accepted Lang. It’ll be a good thing to have him here, though I’ll admit, the boat is a little overboard.”
How nice that he acknowledged what she wanted without her having to spell it out. He’d effortlessly picked up on her cue without making it awkward. Every moment with him made her want more, but how much more? And what about the unrestricted, unattached attitude she’d planned to adopt?
She’d met Corbin and all her newly declared objectives had flown right out the window.
“So,” she said as he led her toward the kitchen. “You don’t want a boat?”
“Sure I do. We live on a lake.” His hand went to the back of his neck, his expression pained. “I’d been debating the pros and cons of getting one.”
“Now you won’t have to.” The eat-in kitchen opened to a spacious formal dining room. Beyond that was a covered deck with a screened-in porch. All around her, the greens of the trees were visible, but the real kicker was the sight of the setting sun.
“This is absolutely beautiful.”
“I think so.” Pulling his gaze away from her again, Corbin leaned back on a counter. “So far, life here has been good. Justin is settling in, getting used to things.” He rubbed his mouth. “I want him to know he’s loved, not because of what I give him, but because he’s mine. Because I’ll take care of him and protect him. It’s hard to know if he’s struggling when I keep getting carried away and surprising him with new stuff.”
“You don’t want him to think you’re buying him.” Ivey touched his arm. “But he’s a smart little boy, and kids—like animals—have a sixth sense when it comes to BS. They know when people are genuine and when they’re not.”
“I hope you’re right.” He tugged her a tiny bit closer. “I feel like I have ten years to catch up on. I’d like to show him everything, tell him everything, give him everything as soon as possible. I’ve had so many luxuries through my life, but more than that, I had parents who