His eyes lit up when he saw the small treats, and he eagerly reached out for one, popping it in his mouth. Daniel, it turned out, was a huge cupcake fan—especially, red velvet ones with cream cheese frosting.
I was well rewarded for my efforts.
He drew me close, kissing me thoroughly. The sweetness of the cupcakes heightened his taste, making me moan with desire.
He kissed me senseless.
To the point, I was dizzy with want.
Want for him.
We were moving so fast, my head was spinning.
He groaned at one point and moved me off his lap. “I promised to behave like a gentleman and I’m not doing such a fuck-hot job, am I?”
I lifted one shoulder and winked. “I dunno. I’m feeling rather hot myself.”
He laughed. “I’ll be good. I want to know about you. I want you to know me.” He ran his fingers over my cheek, his touch gentle. “Let’s talk.”
We spent the rest of the evening alternatively talking or making out. Sometimes, both at once. He asked more questions about what I did as an accountant and about the office where I worked. He admitted he found numbers and spreadsheets way over his head. He smiled a little too wide when he innocently stated he might be looking for accounting advice for his clinic. Ignoring his little hint, I asked him about his practice. I was eager to learn how he decided to become a vet.
His face lit up as he explained he knew he wanted to work with animals when he was only seven years old. He spent every weekend and summer from the time he was ten, volunteering at animal shelters and clinics, soaking up everything he could learn from the staff and vets themselves, when they had time to spare. Shyly, he confessed he had always been a favorite at the places he volunteered, which allowed him to learn freely. He was first in his class at vet school, and he never once wavered on his career choice.
I could see how much he loved his clinic and a
ll his patients. His face glowed as he talked about his practice.
“You spent all your time in clinics?” I teased. “No time for dating? The girls must have been heartbroken.”
He shook his head at my teasing. “I was too tall and awkward for girls when I was a teenager. I was all legs and long arms, tripping over my own feet. I wore glasses and studied too much.”
“I bet you were cuter than you think.”
“I grew into my body late in senior high. I discovered the gym and I liked to work out. Dating didn’t really happen until I was almost seventeen.”
“Wow.”
“What about you? Tell me more about teenage Avery.”
“I wasn’t allowed to date until I was sixteen. I was a bit of a surprise to my parents, and my father was pretty strict.”
“A surprise?”
“My parents tried for years to have kids with no success. They sort of gave up and my mom got pregnant with me when she was forty-four.”
“Surprise, indeed.”
“She thought she was going into early menopause, but she got me instead.”
“A good surprise.”
“I think so. They’re great parents—older, but very active.”
“Do they live here?”
“No, they’re retired and live in British Columbia now. The winters are easier to deal with there. I see them a couple times a year.” I paused, wistful. “I miss them a lot.”
“Names?”