All Chapters of Bitter Love: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Chapter Thirty-oneJosieI loudly cough into the phone, trying to cover up the sound of Thor whinnying to his buddies from inside the barn. I’m on a conference call with my boss and the head of the sales department. After my presentation to the university several weeks ago, the veterinary program signed on to use the medications I spoke about. Now, both Hilda and the head of sales, Jerry, are trying to convince me to come into the office this week so I can receive a promotion to sales.The money would be nice, I won’t lie, but even if I didn’t have the horses here, I would never want to be away from Everly for days at a time. If I took a job as a sales representative, I wouldn’t just go to local universities. I’ll be driving all over, walking into vet clinics and trying to convince them to buy our products.I end the call feeling a little uncomfortable, knowing that each year of experience as a data analyst for this company makes me more expensive in their eyes. I don’t expect to get

Chapter Thirty-threeJacob“Hey, buddy,” I say softly as I undo the latch and step into Pongo’s stall. The gelding nickers to me, coming over and nosing my pocket for treats. “Wanna take a walk outside?”Pongo has made a lot of improvement in the last few days. He still has a long way to go but I'm feeling almost confident enough to say he's almost out of the woods. People fail to realize just how motivating and inspiring it can be to see an animal like this, who has known nothing but cruelty the last few years of his life, fight so hard for a chance to keep going. This horse has a will to live.He's lucky that Kim got to him in time.After giving him a quick exam, I unhook his IV and cap the port. I clip a lead rope to his halter and give him one of the treats from my pocket. Walking slowly, I lead him outside and he holds his head high, nostrils flared, eyes wide. “You're all right buddy,” I soothe, petting his neck.I lead him around the back of the barn, taking him to a grassy spo

Chapter Thirty-fiveJacobI can’t help it and steal another glance across the room at Josie. Fuck, she’s so beautiful. Her dark blue dress fits her body perfectly, with delicate straps that rest slightly off her shoulders. I lack the control to keep from thinking about sliding those straps down her arms, reaching around to undo the zipper, and watching the dress cascade to the floor around her feet.Where her stubbornness annoyed me before, I admire it now. She’s here, at this over-the-top gala just so she could make connections in the horse world to better help those she has in her care. Yes, it’s a hard business to be in, but I’m starting to see that Josie does have what it takes. I haven’t felt this way about anyone in a long fucking time, but if anyone can make my heart beat for another again, it’s her.It's Josie.Somehow able to sense her drawing closer, I turn, heart hammering in my chest when I see her striding over. She looks like a fucking goddess, and, right now, she’s walk

Chapter Thirty-sevenJacobI close the trailer door and step back, giving the driver a wave so he knows he’s good to go. It’s getting late in the afternoon, and I’m more than ready for lunch. Dr. Brenden and I teamed up with three other vets and have been working with another rescue to purchase the worst of the worst here. Once in our care, we can ensure they meet their end peacefully instead of being shoved in a trailer and shipped to either Mexico or Canada where they’d meet a grueling fate.And I just paid out of my own pocket for the two donkeys that we loaded into the trailer, who are on their way to a local vet clinic not far from here. They’ll go to a sanctuary in southern Illinois after they’re treated and quarantined, where they’ll live out the rest of their days happy and safe.This isn’t my first auction; yet, it’s as emotionally draining as the first time I went to one. Being a vet is so much more than treating sick animals, and it’s a never-ending battle to educate people

Chapter Thirty-nineJosieJacob holds my hands above my head, pinned against the door behind me. His lips press against mine and I stand there, too shocked to move, too stunned to react. In the back of my mind, a voice tells me to push him away, to tell him to stop.Because he still vexes me and I’m not done being mad at him yet.But my willpower is gone, resolve chipping and crumbling at our feet. Why would I want him to stop when it feels this good, and each fleeting second that passes by makes it harder to forget just what I was so angry about in the first place.My eyes fall shut and I part my lips, kissing him back. Jacob lets go of my wrists, sliding his hands down my arms as he moves his mouth from my lips to my neck. I gasp, feeling heat flood my veins and my heart pounds in my chest.“Josie,” he breathes, stepping in closer. His hands land on my waist and he grabs the hem of the scrub top in both fists, balling it up. “Tell me to stop and I will.” He brings his face back to m