Free Raspberries and Vinegar (A Farm Fresh Romance Book 1) by Valerie Comer Page A

over the border in Canada. They taught me things worth having are worth fighting for.” Jo slid off the picnic table and stood there, hugging herself, missing her grandparents. If only they’d still been there to go back to, but they’d died not long after her mom had hauled her away.
    “Hey, no offense. I was just showing you the other side of the coin.” He hopped off the table.
    Conversation over.
    Too bad he didn’t share her values. He persisted in believing they—all three of them—were children that had no idea what they were in for. Well, he might be right and he might be wrong, but it didn’t change things. They were staying anyway.
    An owl hooted from straight up the elm, startling Jo. Domino went into a barking frenzy and she tried to step out of his way, only to trip over him. Strong hands held her up and didn’t let go. She looked straight at the buttons on Zach’s suede jacket as the warmth from his hands seeped through her sleeves. She trembled, and not from cold.
    “Hey, you okay?” The moon cast a gentle glow on his face.
    “Yeah, fine, thanks.” If only she wasn’t such a klutz around him. Jo pulled away, but he didn’t let go. She looked up.
    “Jo?” His gaze captured hers.
    Her breath deserted her for an instant.
    He gave her arms a little squeeze then released her. “Good night.”
    Jo stumbled backward a step, but regained her balance before he needed to rescue her yet again. She couldn’t tear her eyes from his deep brown ones. “Good night, Zach.” Jo turned and hurried for the trailer door, trying already to remember how her words had sounded. Harsh... or desperate?

Chapter 7

    The Hammond Pet Clinic waiting room was full of people and animals of all sizes, shapes, and species. Sure looked to Zach like Jeff could use another veterinarian, but the only emotion Zach could summon was relief it wasn’t him. He picked his way between pet carriers and approached the reception desk.
    Yvette peered up at him through artificially long eyelashes and swung her expensive platinum curls over her shoulder. “Daddy’s busy.”
    He’d expected to feel more emotion — a sense of loss, maybe — at seeing her again. So not there. He kept his voice even. “I just need to see him for a minute. I’ll wait and catch him between patients.” He forced himself to keep holding her gaze.
    “He doesn’t want to talk to you. He gave you your pink slip. Remember? That means he’s done.”
    The paper had legally terminated his employment at the Hammond Pet Clinic. Filled in by Yvette’s hand, but signed by her father. Like Zach could forget. “I need a letter of reference from him.” He’d done good work here for his temp position. Jeff Hammond had no reason to deny him a referral.
    Yvette’s gaze narrowed.
    Except for personal reasons, of course. But other vets at other clinics wanted to know why Hammond had signed on a different vet after Zach had been there for nearly three months. He didn’t want to drag Yvette’s name into it and risk getting sued. Besides, it would only prove how poor his own taste in women had been. Sure, she was beautiful. Enough money could make any girl gorgeous. He studied her now, and tried to remember what had once increased his heart rate.
    He could walk around the desk, down the corridor, and find Jeff on his own. He’d worked here long enough to know his way around. Yvette had no muscles to speak of—she couldn’t stop him. But a white-coated man came out of the hallway just as Zach gathered himself to follow through. A guy from Zach’s class at the veterinary college. “Draper?”
    “Hey, Nemesek. Fancy meeting you here.” Garth Draper entered the reception area as Yvette stood to meet him. He pecked Yvette’s cheek and squeezed her shoulder. “This guy giving you some trouble, sweetie?”
    Zach expected to feel jealousy, but it didn’t rise. Instead, relief grew into something near palpable. If he had a job, he could be thankful it wasn’t here.