The Good Sister Read Online Free Page B

and the conversation wasn’t too strained or uncomfortable.”
    “Yes, but was there any chemistry? Fireworks? Something to make it more than the usual?”
    He rolled his eyes. She was always looking for more. “There was nice, adult time. And the rest is none of your business.”
    She narrowed her eyes. “Uh-huh, boring. Dull. No chemistry. You have got to start looking for less women exactly like you and more women who are interesting.”
    “Are you implying that I’m not interesting?”
    She smiled. “I stepped into that, didn’t I? You are fascinating. Women drop around you for being a tall, handsome, responsible veterinarian that they can’t wait to get to know. But you tend towards women who value you strictly for that, and not for your personality.”
    “I tend toward women who are adults.”
    “You…”
    Will suddenly stuck his hand over Jessie’s mouth. “Maybe you could let Noah decide who and what he wants. Lord knows, girl, he has his hands full enough by having you as his assistant.”
    She elbowed him in the gut as she smiled behind his hand. “Noah knows we’re his best friends and only wish to see him happy.”
    Noah did know that. Jessie, for all her bluster and directness, was as bighearted and sweet as they came. They were both his dear and close friends; not only because of the things he knew about them, and experienced with them, but also because they genuinely cared for each other.
    “And besides, I love animals, probably just as much as Noah, but they don’t keep your bed warm at night.”
    Will started dragging Jessie out the front door with an apologetic glance at Noah. “Sorry; she even comments on your bed.”
    Noah shook his head as he watched them leave, smiling and joking, even flirting together.
    Okay, so his date lacked such things as seeing humor or flirting. She was an assistant professor at the local university with a primary focus in biology, and it soon become apparent to him that she didn’t leave her lab much to socialize.
    He finished closing up for the evening. There wasn’t much left to do. As always, Jessie saw to that. What would he do when she took maternity leave? He could hardly function anymore without her organizational skills and input. What if she decided to never return? He dared not contemplate that. Jessie had to come back. He couldn’t find the spare toilet paper, let alone find a supply list or pay a bill. She was invaluable to him for everything practical.
    He locked the door to the small, brick, one-story, Colonial house that served as his veterinary clinic. Clark Veterinary Clinic was his pride and joy. Scarcely a mile out of the small Washington town of Ellensburg, he lived just a street over from the clinic in a similar house that was two stories tall and had the same brick Colonial mien. Giant, graceful trees rose over the street and hid many of the houses that lined the two-way road. It was a quiet neighborhood of old homes that were set back from the street on large squares of grassy land. His barrage of dogs started barking when they spotted him walking up the walkway after exiting his truck. One side of his spacious yard fenced in the six dogs that ranged in breeds from a Dachshund to a German shepherd, and even included a three-legged mutt. He also had four cats. They were all rescues he acquired over the years from various owners who either abused or neglected the animals. It was hard for him to turn away any of them, and made his heart heavy each time he couldn’t take one in. He always had to work at keeping his professional cool with such callous owners who could so easily discard their pets. Why did people like that even bother to get them?
    He petted and soothingly spoke to each dog as he crossed their play area to check on their water levels and feed them. They entangled his feet and wagged their tails in frantic ecstasy. That is what he so loved about animals, their constant ease and joy of the present moment.
    He unlocked the