Rescued Love (Sweetwater Valley #7)

CHAPTER 4

KIMBALL

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

Sadie’s voice startles me so much that I jolt and bang my knee against the inside of my desk. My head snaps up and I meet her eyes, knowing mine are wide and probably a little wild. I hadn’t even heard her come into my office.

After clearing my throat, I force a smile on my face. “I’m good, Sadie.”

The way she looks at me tells me everything I need to know about my acting performance. Her eyebrows shoot up to her hairline and the look of disbelief might as well be a neon sign declaring ‘bullshit’.

Oh well. There’s not much for me to do about it. And she’s not wrong—it is bullshit.

Even though it’s been a few days since I was out at Mr. Jacobson’s sanctuary, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the run in I had with Nathan. Something deep inside of me jolted the moment I saw him and an attraction I’ve never experienced before washed over me.

Then he had to open his mouth.

What a shame. I should have known it was too good to be true. It’s not like I’m surrounded by asshole men, but I’ve never really wanted any of the guys I grew up with. I had one boyfriend back in high school. We shared our firsts, which included my first heartbreak because as I was realizing that going off to college wasn’t in the cards for me, he was making plans to embark on the rest of his life.

He went off to school and he didn’t come back for more than the holidays and school breaks. Then, once he graduated, he kept moving forward while leaving Sweetwater Valley behind. I don’t know what I expected to happen since I had made peace with staying behind and figuring out how to achieve my goals within the confines of the small town.

I think I’ve done well for myself, all things considered, but since he moved away and we broke up, love wasn’t really something I allowed myself to indulge in. I’ve tried dating, but didn’t really see the point after a while.

The guys who have stuck around, even those who end up back in Sweetwater Valley, haven’t made me want more than being friends or casual acquaintances. There certainly wasn’t a guy who made me feel like my skin was too tight or had electricity zinging through my body.

Which was exactly what happened when I met Nathan. I swear I’m still tingling days later.

I’m also still angry with the way he spoke to me and I’m unable to reconcile everything the man made me feel. He was so out of line, and I could barely form words to counter anything he said. There were so many assumptions made in the span of only a few minutes.

I can understand that he didn’t know who I was or why I was there, but he could have asked and then gave me an opportunity to answer. But no. He decided to jump down my throat instead.

At one point it was like he wasn’t even speaking to me. He might as well have been wrestling some ghosts. I have no idea if they’re from his past or more recent.

I’m not sure I’ll ever know.

Why would I want to find out? It’s not like he made the best first impression.

That doesn’t mean there isn’t more beneath the jerk layer.

Nope. Nope. It doesn’t matter if there’s more beyond his bad attitude or not. I’ve never been okay with someone speaking to me the way he did. It was demoralizing and it dismissed everything important to me.

I didn’t even get the chance to defend myself. That’s the worst part. Not only did he barely let me say anything, but I could tell by the look on his face that he wasn’t going to hear anything I had to say.

Nathan decided who I was with a single look and that’s all there is to it.

My gut twists uncomfortably at the memory.

I’ve always been liked, so having someone think so badly of me without any reason doesn’t sit well with me, but it’s deeper than that as well. The thought of Nathan thinking the worst of me makes me feel off balance. I don’t even understand why.

I should be channeling my inner bad bitch and ranting about how he’s an idiot and railing against his assumptions. I’m finding I don’t have it in me. Maybe it’s because I can’t shake the feeling that there was more to it than him not knowing or trusting me. There was something much deeper in his eyes, a distrust for humanity, which made me feel like my chest was cracking open for him.

Or maybe I’m just blind and want to make excuses for a jerk.

If I knew how long Nathan is going to be around it would be easier to figure out of I need to even worry about it or not. For all I know, he’s already gone back to wherever he came from.

Sadie’s voice pulls me from thoughts about a man I should not be thinking about, “Have you visited Midnight today?”

The sly smile on her face when I look up at her tells me everything I need to know. She knows how much that kitten has come to mean to me.

“Of course,” I chirp brightly. “Midnight was my first stop this morning.”

“Good,” the relief in her sigh has me wondering if I’ve been spreading bad vibes all over the shelter for the past few days. I hope not, but I can’t do anything about it now. If only I could shake the lingering feelings from my interaction with Nathan. “I’m going to start giving walks to the pups,” she informs me with a smile.

Before I can say anything else, she’s out the door and I can’t help but chuckle under my breath. I don’t blame her excitement at all. There’s something about liberating the animals from their cages for a little bit of normal that just makes you feel good.

If I weren’t dealing with the paperwork I’ve been putting off for the last few days then I would join her. I’ve been trying to get everything squared away in my office but haven’t been able to focus. All because of Nathan.

With a shake of my head, I put my head down and deal with the business of running the shelter. When I was just a volunteer, I had no idea about this side of making everything run. I do now.

It’s not the best part of my job, not by a long shot, but it’s a necessary evil. I’ll happily drown in paperwork knowing that it is what keeps a roof over the heads of animals that need it, food in their bellies, and the hope of forever homes in their hearts.

I’m finishing inputting the last invoice I have on my desk when my best friend, Hailey, walks into my office. I almost let out a groan, but hold it in.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my best friend dearly and I’m always happy to see her. But I’ve also been avoiding her for the last few days and the look on her face tells me I won’t be able to get away with it any longer.

She’s in full-on teacher mode, her face stern and set in a ‘take no shit’ look I’m sure has the kids in her class sitting up a little straighter. Hell, it has the same effect on me too and I’m a grown adult.

“You’ve been avoiding me,” Hailey’s voice is full of accusation. When I hold my hands up to start to placate her she shakes her head. “No, don’t even try to lie to me.”

I do let the groan out now and rest my head on my desk. The room fills with the soft sounds of her shuffling around and I’m sure she’s making herself comfortable the same way she has so many times before.

We’ve been best friends for so long that I don’t remember a time when we weren’t joined at the hip. Our friendship has always been easy because we complement each other. We also push each other when we need it.

Last year, Hailey found the love of her life. I’m so damn happy for her and we’ve had to work hard to ensure our friendship hasn’t changed too much. Sure, all her free time isn’t spent with me anymore, but I understand why.

I’m not jealous of the time Hailey spends with Wesley. I can’t think of anyone else who deserves to be loved the way he loves her more. My best friend has always deserved the best and she’s found it with him.

But there are moments when I’m all alone when the doubts over whether I’ll find the same creeps in.

It’s not like there are a lot of options in Sweetwater Valley. The thought of being old and alone scares the hell out of me. I think it’s part of the reason why I haven’t adopted Midnight yet. It would get me one step closer to the cat lady persona I’ve been avoiding for years.

I want love. I want someone at my back who will support me, listen to me, and love me like they can’t live without me. Maybe it’s too much to ask and I should start thinking about settling.

Hailey pulls me out of my spiraling thoughts, her voice closer and much softer, “What’s wrong?”

I don’t lift my head as I mumble, “I met Mr. Jacobson’s grandson.”

“Okay?” I can hear the puzzlement in her voice, and I don’t blame her.

Did any of us even know he has a grandson? I mean, I guess we did, but I can’t recall ever meeting him before. He’s been alone out on his land for so long, I figured he didn’t have any family left.

Or maybe, like so many others who have left, his family forgot their roots?

When I sit up slowly and meet my best friend’s gaze, her eyes are full of concern and questions. Ones I know that I’ll have to answer.

“You’re just going to badger me until I spill, huh?” I shoot Hailey a lopsided grin which has her throwing her head back and laughing.

Hailey has always had a light around her, no matter what life threw her way, but she’s practically fucking incandescent since Wesley came into her life. It looks damn good on her.

My heart aches with the fear that I’ll never find the same, but I push that feeling aside. There isn’t room for that shit when it comes to my best friend. I’m going to have a little more faith in the path I’m walking.

I do good things. I change the lives of animals and humans alike. When the time is right, the man I’m supposed to give all my heart to will come along.

I hope.

“Like I’d let you sweep that under the rug when it’s clearly been bothering you?” Hailey arches an eyebrow in challenge. “Since I haven’t heard talk of anyone new in town, I’m assuming you went out to the sanctuary and met this guy?”

I nod slowly as my mind wanders to the first look I had of Nathan. He looked out of place the moment I saw him. He was too put together even in jeans and a simple T-shirt. It looked almost like a costume and I’m still not sure what to make of that.

Still, the light caught his light brown hair making it look like he had a halo around his head. His hair was cut short and there was nothing messy about it, even though it was clear he had been out working, probably in the barn considering the direction he was coming from. His hands were dirty, but they still looked soft like he wasn’t someone to do hard labor with them often.

But his eyes. His dark brown eyes held so much distrust and anger in them I was caught off guard. You get used to people being friendly when you grow up in Sweetwater Valley, at least for the most part. Sure there can be a bad apple in there now and again, but it’s not common. Not everyone likes each other, but there is usually a history there as an explanation.

Since I had never met Nathan before, there wasn’t any history to cause him to scowl or growl at me like I was the enemy.

“You know I go out there pretty regularly to check on things and make sure Mr. Jacobson is good with food and all the animals are doing well,” I start.

Hailey rolls her eyes and shoots me a ‘duh’ look. “I think I know since I’ve been out there quite a few times to help as well.”

She’s not wrong. When she’s not working during the summer since school is out, she’s gone out to the sanctuary with me plenty of times. Don’t ask me why, but Penny loves her.

I narrow my eyes which has her grinning and giggling. I’m sure she’s thinking the same thing that I am. “Don’t know why that bird loves you so much and hates me. I’m the one who always brings treats,” I grumble which causes Hailey to shrug her shoulders. “Anyway, I went out like I normally do. Mr. Jacobson’s truck wasn’t there, but I know he doesn’t mind if I do my rounds even if he’s in town or whatever. Penny was giving me the evil eye and I had some dried blueberries for him to enjoy. Just as I was throwing them out to him, this guy came storming around the side of the house and started yelling at me.”

Hailey’s back goes ramrod straight and her eyes widen to comical proportions. “Did he threaten you? Was he dangerous?”

I wince and shake my head. Did he threaten me? Not really. I certainly wasn’t afraid of him. Not like how my friend is thinking anyway.

“He wasn’t nice,” I admit with a sigh. “I’m not sure what his problem was, but he accused me of being out there to get Mr. Jacobson in trouble and take the animals away from him.”

Hailey’s mouth opens and closes a few times like she’s at a loss for words. I don’t blame her. Not only would I never do that, but even the thought makes me sick to my stomach.

She breathes out, “What? Why would he think such a thing?”

“I have no idea,” I sigh and allow my body to slump back in my chair. “I think there’s more to it than him just finding out I’m from the shelter though.”

“It doesn’t matter,” she shrieks. “He shouldn’t have come at you in anger without even knowing you or finding out how much you do to help Mr. Jacobson. Everyone looks the other way when it comes to the sanctuary because he’s doing so much good out there. I’m sure there are violations, but you’re more likely to correct them, if you can, than report him.”

“I know,” I try and placate my friend whose face is turning red with anger and looks like she’s about to explode, “but Nathan doesn’t.”

Hailey freezes and her eyes narrow as she studies me even closer. Uh oh. I try to stop myself from fidgeting in my chair, but I fail. Epically.

“Ohhh,” she draws the word out like we’re children again, “I see.”

“See what?”

Hailey giggles and points at my face before making a circular motion. “You like him, but you think you shouldn’t like him because he was an asshole.”

“I don’t know if I’d say asshole. He was definitely a jerk,” my tone is defensive as hell.

She immediately shoots back, “Why are you defending him if you don’t like him?”

“Damn it, Hailey,” I scold her. “Like I said, he was a jerk. One is not supposed to like jerks.”

“But you do,” she points out.

My movements are jerky as I pull the elastic out of my hair and immediately pull it back up into a messy bun. She watches me with a look of pure, unadulterated amusement on her face. When I stick my tongue out at her, she starts laughing.

Hard.

So hard I’m a little bit concerned for her.

“Kimbal and Nathan sitting in a tree,” she’s barely able to get the words out past her laughter.

I stand up quickly and send my chair back against the wall with a lot more force than I intend since my office isn’t that big. “You stop it right now,” I insist, barely stopping myself from stomping my foot.

She’s already acting like a child; I don’t need to join her. Even though I desperately want to.

“You like him,” she singsongs.

All I can do is sit back down with a huff and cross my arms across my chest as she gets herself under control. As she wipes tears from underneath her eyes and takes deep breaths, I roll my eyes. The truth is that I do feel a little better after telling her.

Her reaction could be worse, she could be storming out of the shelter on a mission to kick his ass. Or she could be telling me how stupid I am for even entertaining the notion that he’s not the biggest asshole on the planet and my sworn enemy.

When she has calmed down, she gives me a look filled with love, one backed by years of friendship. “It’s okay to like him, even if he is a jerk. I won’t hold it against you, Kimball.”

I roll my eyes and force the subject to change. “Why did you come by?”

“Oh,” she chirps and stands up before heading toward the door, “I came to tell you that we’ll be seeing you tomorrow night at The Goose for dinner and drinks.”

Before I can protest or say anything, she’s out the door, her giggles trailing behind her.

“Fine,” I shout and she only giggles more.

My best friend knows me too well. It can be hit or miss with getting me to go out with her. Sometimes the week is just too draining for me to muster up the energy, but this week has been a good one. Well, except for one notable exception with the name of Nathan.

There are weeks when work is just awful, and I’m faced with evil that people are willing to inflict on the innocent. There are animals who never find out what it means to live in a happy home and come to me with too much fear, too much trauma, and too much damage.

That’s when this job takes a toll on me, and by the time the weekend rolls around I don’t have anything left to give. Hell, it’s hard to make it through those days, let alone the whole week.

Thankfully, I’m sure I won’t see Nathan at The Goose and can enjoy a good meal with my best friend and her man, who I’m sure will be joining us as long as he’s not on shift at the fire station. A drink doesn’t sound like a bad idea at all either.

I’ve earned one.