Catch the Cougar: A Halloween Novella Read online

  She opened the card, not expecting it to be from Edward, of all people. She couldn’t believe he would send them to her! If he thought he could send her flowers—at this late date after two years had gone by—to get in her good graces, he could think again.

  She glanced at all the expectant faces: Riley’s, Missy’s, and Pamela’s. No way did she want to tell them who the flowers were really from.

  “They’re pretty and fragrant. We’ll leave them here on the counter,” Vanessa said.

  “Are you sure?” Pamela asked.

  “Yep. They brighten the whole clinic.” Vanessa was about to head into her office, but she caught the shared looks her office staff gave each other.

  Everyone had sensed her tension and had to know something was up when she didn’t smile after reading the card, but she wasn’t going to pretend they were from William and she had no intention of telling anyone about Edward. Here she was feeling really good about her day first thing this morning, and now she felt a dark shadow had been cast over her whole mood.

  She walked into her office and threw the card in her wastebasket with a small clunk. She couldn’t imagine why Edward would send her flowers two years after he had left her. She hadn’t wanted to know why, not after her father had made sure Edward was alive, drunk at his apartment, and had apparently gotten cold feet. She was just glad she hadn’t made the mistake of actually marrying him.

  He never had apologized, had never talked to her about it. It had just been over between the two of them.

  So now after all this time he tracked her down to send her flowers and a note that said: Sorry, Vanessa. I still love you. Edward.

  He was sorry all right and that he thought he still loved her was his problem, not hers. Though she suspected he really didn’t love her. Maybe he’d had trouble finding another she-cat to date and he had realized Vanessa wasn’t that bad as a prospective mate after all.

  She had vowed she would never think about him again, which was easier said than done, especially around Halloween. She supposed that was why she had been reluctant to go to the Halloween party in Yuma Town. She had met Edward at a Halloween party and it eventually had almost led her to marriage.

  “I don’t think the roses are from Dr. Rugel,” Pamela whispered to Vanessa’s staff.

  That was the trouble with their super-enhanced ability to hear. Vanessa heard!

  * * *

  William had several walk-in emergencies he had to handle, and he couldn’t take off the time to see Vanessa for lunch like he had planned. He was glad she was fine with it, though he really had wanted to see her. When William was finally able to break away for an abbreviated lunch break, Riley called him. William couldn’t imagine why. He was hoping nothing was wrong with Vanessa. While taking care of pets, a veterinarian always took the risk of getting bitten, so William did worry about that.

  “Hey, Doc, I didn’t want to bother you, but Dr. Vanderbilt received some roses this morning, and she seemed distressed. We checked her office and found the card that was sent with the flowers and some joker named Edward had sent them to her. I mean, the dozen roses. If you want to stay in the game, I just had to warn you, being that you’re part of the family in Yuma Town and we don’t take kindly to out-of-towners stealing our women. He had professed his love to her in the card, so it seems he knows her from somewhere before. The only promising thing about it was she didn’t seem happy about receiving the flowers and wouldn’t put them in her office. That could be a good sign—for you. Initially, we thought they were from you!”

  William didn’t know what to think. “I guess he didn’t leave a last name since she knew him.”

  “Right. He just signed it love, Edward. I just wanted to give you a heads-up. She’s been happier than I have seen her since she started dating you. She loves her job and she’s usually happy at the office. It’s just a different kind of happy, like walking-on-clouds happy since the two of you got together. When she received the roses, it was a totally different story. It’s like she’s now under a dark thundercloud, not smiling or joking with us like she usually does. So you need to cheer her up.”

  Hell, William wished he could have been with her for lunch today. “Okay, I’ll call her.”

  “Don’t, whatever you do, tell her we said anything to you about this. She didn’t tell us what was going on. We had to surreptitiously dig through her wastepaper basket.”

  “I understand. Your secret’s safe with me.” As soon as they ended the call, William didn’t know what to say to Vanessa, without bringing up the issue of flowers and Edward.

  Then Kate walked into the staff breakroom of the clinic to have a late lunch also. She microwaved a dish of lasagna. “Do you know a Sandy Sherman?” she casually asked.

  William’s jaw dropped before he caught himself. How would Kate know about her?

  “She’s a family physician in a practice in Pensacola, Florida and a cougar like us. I’ve run into her at a few medical conferences. You know how it is when we smell one of our own kind when everyone else is human. Instant attraction and friendship.”

  Which didn’t explain why Kate was asking him about Sandy. “Uh, yeah. I went to medical school with her and we even interned together in Twin Falls. But she ended up moving to Pensacola and joining a practice there.”

  “And you dated her.” The microwave dinged and Kate took her lasagna out of the oven and set it on the table across from him.

  “Sure. She was the only cougar I knew in Twin Falls. Why?” Sandy had nothing to do with William’s relationship with Vanessa and if there were any misconceptions about him and Sandy, he wanted to nip that in the bud right away.

  “I was sorting through some old conference photos and saw one of her and me and just wondered if you knew her. It’s been some years ago, way before I met you and it dawned on me that she had said something about Twin Falls and I wondered if you’d known her.”

  “Ah, okay.” He didn’t buy it.

  “So are you involved with her?”

  William’s frown faded and he smiled. “Okay, which of them put you up to it? Your mate?” Even if Leyton hadn’t wanted to look into William’s past love life, William knew he would do it for Kate.

  “Pardon?” Kate would not be a good poker player. Her cheeks blushed a little and William knew the truth of it.

  William shook his head. “Someone in the CSF learned I was seeing Sandy at the conferences. Maybe making sure I didn’t upset Vanessa? I can assure you, I dated Sandy, but I love it here and I have no intention of moving to Pensacola or anywhere else. And Sandy and I do socialize at conferences, but there’s not even any bed play. She’s dating some guy who’s a surgeon, and he can’t get away to go with her to her conferences. So it’s like meeting up with her and bringing each other up-to-date about what’s going on in our lives. When I see her next time—and that’s the only way I ever talk to her and only if we run into each other—I’m hoping I can tell her I’m seriously dating someone too. More than dating, if things work out between Vanessa and me.”

  “Okay, thanks for telling me. Addie and Bridget were worried the two of you—”

  “Sandy and me?”

  “No, Vanessa and you might need—well, they wanted to help. I don’t know.”

  William sighed. “They should be more worried about some guy named Edward, who sent roses to Vanessa this morning, professing his love.”

  Kate’s eyes rounded. “Edward Givens?”

  William frowned. “You know him?”

  “He never showed up for their wedding day, two years ago. It was all in the papers in Colorado Springs.”

  William closed his gaping mouth. “Addie and Bridget were checking on her too?”

  “Well, yes. But he was the second one who did that to her.”

  “It happened to Vanessa twice?” William couldn’t imagine anything so awful. She had to have felt terrible about it, and she certainly hadn’t deserved to be treated so shabbily. She was better off without them.

&nbs
p; “Yep, and no matter what, we don’t want it to happen to her again.”

  “Okay, well, I was going to call her, but I wasn’t sure what to say. If rumors are getting out that I’m seeing Sandy, I’ll tell Vanessa it isn’t so.”

  “Good idea.” Kate finished her lunch and threw out her trash. “Everyone just has both your best interests at heart.”

  He chuckled. “Thanks. Riley was the one who called to tell me about the roses.”

  Smiling, Kate patted William on the back. “It will all work out if it’s supposed to.”

  “I agree.”

  “Oh, and if you’re looking to offer a home to a dog that needs one, Chase found a twelve-week-old Great Pyrenees by Lake Buchanan. Chase took him home, but he’s got enough pets already. Of course the girls wanted to keep him. The puppy could really work in your favor. Chase said he’s got everything for him to set you up: puppy food, bed, crate, dog dishes.”

  “Uh, Yeah, sure.” Taking in a puppy would further endear him to Vanessa, wouldn’t he?

  “You’ll need to take him in for shots.”

  “Okay, sure.” Ironically, he’d never owned a pet. How hard could it be? “I’ll give Chase a call and tell him I’ll give Buddy a home.”

  Kate smiled. “Buddy. I like that name.”

  Once Kate left the breakroom, William called Vanessa. “Hey, sorry I couldn’t get away to have lunch with you.”

  “Oh, no, don’t worry about it. Some days are like that here too. We both know how it goes. But I’ve got to say something to you before someone else spills the beans.”

  He figured she was going to tell him about the roses and Edward. He didn’t want her to feel she had to explain what was going on, but he did want to tell her about Sandy.

  “I received some roses today—this morning. They’re from my ex-fiancé. He was a no-show at my wedding two years ago.”

  “He must be crazy.”

  “That’s not the worst of it. It happened to me the year before, another groom, another no-show. I had planned to tell you if we continued to date, but when the roses came, I knew I had to tell you before someone else did and you worried that I was seeing someone else.”

  “So there’s no chance you’ll ever get together with your ex again?”

  “Are you kidding? No way. Edward never explained why he had done that, and I wouldn’t be able to rely on him for anything after pulling that. I just felt if he got stressed, he would run and hide and get drunk again. Like if I had kids or something. So no. He’s never worming his way into my life again.”

  “Good. I’m sorry that happened to you. I can’t believe they would do that to you. I wanted to tell you something too. Kate approached me about a woman I used to date, a family physician like me, who was in medical school with me and we interned together in Twin Falls. I’ve met her at medical conferences, but she’s engaged to be married now, and we’re just friends. I wanted to tell you that because Addie and Bridget have been looking into my background as far as relationships go.”

  “And me?”

  “Uh, yeah. Sorry. It appears we’re both under the microscope.”

  To his surprise, Vanessa laughed. He hoped that meant she was all right with it. He was amused that Addie and Bridget wanted to make sure he was good for her, and he didn’t hurt her too.

  “They learned about my two almost marriages?”

  “Yeah. They didn’t want me to hurt you like the other guys did.”

  “Aww, how sweet. Okay thanks, William, for letting me know about your old girlfriend.”

  “I sure didn’t want to have to start over with you all over again.”

  “No worries there. I’ve got a client I need to take care of.”

  “I’ve got to get back to work too. I can’t wait until tonight.”

  “Me either.”

  * * *

  Vanessa was just finishing up with work and was eager to have roast beef hash with William when she got a call from Edward. She couldn’t believe he would think she would even consider being with him again.

  “Hey, Vanessa, I’m sorry for what happened before. I guess I just wasn’t ready to get married then.”

  “That’s too bad. The roses are lovely, but too late. I’m seeing a cougar and he’s really good for me.”

  “We—”

  “There’s no we, Edward. You forfeited our relationship when you didn’t show up to our wedding. You know how humiliating that was? Not to mention the expense of the wedding was all on me?”

  “I’ll pay you back. I’m sorry. I was a fool.”

  “Yeah, you were. Do you know my father was afraid you’d been killed or something? And he found you were drunk at your place? Don’t send me anything else. I don’t want anything from you. It was over between us when you didn’t show up at the wedding.”

  He hung up on her. She shook her head. Jerk. She hadn’t thought she’d needed closure with him. But now she felt she did. He wouldn’t have been the right man for her.

  Then she smiled. Not like one hunky family physician seemed to be. And she was truly ready to move on.

  She was surprised when William showed up for dinner that night and carried a white and fluffy Great Pyrenees puppy inside. He was so adorable. Well, both William and the pup were.

  “Ohmigod, you are so cute.” Vanessa took hold of the puppy. “Who is this?” She hadn’t thought William had a dog. She certainly hadn’t seen any sign of a puppy at his home when she’d had dinner there, not to mention she hadn’t smelled him in the house.

  “Chase found him by the lake and I said I would take him in. I called him Buddy. I hoped it was okay to bring him over. I didn’t want to leave him alone.”

  “I’m glad you brought him over, and he is adorable. Buddy is a great name. He’ll need to be housebroken, if he hasn’t been already though.”

  William looked clueless.

  She smiled. “Come on, Buddy. Let’s go potty.” She and William walked him outside. She had a quarter acre of land that was fenced, but he was still so young, he just stayed near them. Once he’d relieved himself, they took him back inside.

  After dinner, they put him in the crate William had brought and then she and William had a fun run to the waterfall. They finally returned home to take Buddy outside again for a potty break. Midnight wrapped her body around William’s legs before he took Buddy home.

  “You seem to be an animal magnet,” Vanessa said, smiling.

  “And kids gravitate toward me.”

  “It helps that you make funny balloon animals for them at summer socials.” She had admired him to be able to do that. He’d been all smiles and having a blast as much as the kids were.

  He crouched down to stroke Midnight’s back and she purred while Buddy was trying to climb on William’s lap. “My only problem is attracting the ladies.”

  Vanessa chuckled. “All the she-cats talk to you.”

  “Yeah, but that’s as far as it goes.”

  “Why’s that?” She really did want to know why he hadn’t dated anyone in Yuma Town.

  “I’ve always been really interested in this veterinarian, but she wouldn’t have anything to do with me.”

  She smiled. “Sorry about that.”

  He rose to his feet and pulled her close. “I think we’re remedying that now.”

  “We sure are.” Then she kissed him, not waiting for him to do the deed. Kissing him was sweet ecstasy, and she felt like her own motor would begin purring with affection just like Midnight’s any second now. But the rest of her? Hot, needy, and wanting. She vowed to take it slow with William, but her resolve was definitely faltering. Not just because he was sexy as all get out, but he was fun to be with and someone she could see in her life for the long run.

  He seemed as reluctant to call it a night as much as she was, but they had to get up early for work tomorrow and it was already so late. Not to mention he still had to drive back home.

  “See you tomorrow for lunch?” he asked.

  “Yeah.”


  “I’ll bring us hamburgers and fries.”

  “Okay.” She kissed him goodbye then, and with his bundle of furry puppy, they walked out to his car. She waved goodbye to him as he backed out of her driveway, while Midnight stood next to her, watching too as if she missed the cougar and the puppy, despite how aloof Midnight had been with the bouncing Buddy.

  Normally, Vanessa was perfectly happy to be alone at night after a day of handlings clients and pet patients, but she had to admit, she missed William’s company too!

  Later that night, Vanessa was sound asleep when she got a call from William and was afraid something was wrong with Buddy. She heard Buddy barking and whining in the background. She wanted to laugh but stifled the urge. Poor William was having to deal with new puppy parenthood.

  “I can’t get Buddy to stop barking.” William sounded worried and exasperated at the same time.

  “Puppies need downtime. Exercise him, potty him before he goes into his crate. You should put him in his crate periodically throughout the day so that he doesn’t learn that the only time you’re going to crate him is when you’re leaving him home alone or going to bed. If you go back to the crate when he barks, it reinforces the behavior. Bark, get attention. Bark, get attention.”

  “Okay. Did that wrong all ready.”

  She smiled. “Cover the crate with a sheet to create a quiet, darker place for him to sleep so he can’t see what’s going on near him and during the day, a darker crate will help him sleep. Play calming music or white noise next to his crate. Reward him when he goes into his crate. Make it a game. Treat for bed.”

  William sighed.

  “It might take a few days, but if you leave him alone, he’ll finally figure out that he won’t be rewarded by barking, or whining, or crying.”

  “Okay, sorry to disturb your sleep.”

  “No problem. It’s just the fun with pet ownership. He’ll get used to it.”

  They wished each other a good night and she smiled. She was glad William was training the puppy and that she didn’t have to.