6. Woody

6

WOODY

I woke up to a deep ache in the molar I’d been ignoring. Checking my phone, I cursed the timing. I had shit to do and no time for this.

I skipped breakfast to avoid irritating the tooth further and went about my morning chores. By the time lunch rolled around, I was starving but unable to eat for the pain.

Fuck .

I had to phone a friend, and she was definitely going to give me what for.

“Hey, Woody. Haven’t talked to you in a while.”

Marlene was the local veterinary dentist and had helped me out before in a pinch.

“If you have time for a home visit, I have a molar that needs to come out,” I said with more confidence than I felt.

The silence on the other end of the line was not encouraging.

“Woody, I’m not gonna drive out to that dinky cabin and pull another one of your teeth. If it’s painful, then let’s get you in with Doug and he’ll take care of you.”

Doug was her husband and the human dentist I’d been avoiding.

“Marlene . . .”

“No, Woody. He didn’t speak to me for a week after I yanked your wisdom tooth, and I like my husband more than I like you.”

“Just this one time, Marlene. He won’t ever hafta know.”

She snorted. “I am not cheating on my husband, Woody.”

I grunted, then held my jaw as nerve pain flared through the entire side of my mouth.

“Sugar, that sounds painful. Come to the office. I’ll have Doug fit you in.”

I should be thankful to have such a good friend—and to not have to wait to be seen—but gratitude wasn’t what I was feeling in the moment.

“Marlene . . .”

“I’ve just texted Rowdy and he’s on his way to pick you up.”

I cursed, then groaned as the tooth throbbed.

“Fine. Tell Doug I’m on my way.”

“Will do, my friend.” She sighed. “And Woody?”

“Yeah?”

“Doug will take care of you. I promise.”

I bit my tongue, knowing that she was about to upend her husband’s schedule to slot me in.

Doug had once tried to talk to me about why I avoided dental work, but I cut that conversation off and told him to mind his own business. Thankfully, he got the hint and never brought it up again.

I was still trying to figure how to get out of this when a heavy knock sounded on my door. Confused, I walked over and yanked it open.

“Rowdy, when have you ever—” I stopped mid-sentence, heat flooding my cheeks. “What’re you doing here?”

Emery doffed an imaginary cap, unaware that I’d fucked myself on a massive butt plug last night while staring at the screenshot I’d taken from his dating profile.

“I’m here to make sure you don’t weasel your way out of your dental appointment,” he said, looking me up and down.

“What the?—”

He held up a hand, silencing me. “Rowdy’s with Lovett, and they’re trying to figure out a sore spot on Tim’s hide. He told me to grab you and not take no for an answer.”

The one thing I knew about my cousin was that he would move heaven and earth to help me out, so if he was sending Emery to me, he had something up his sleeve. Dollars to donuts, he was trying to play matchmaker, and I wasn’t having any of it.

I looked past Emery to find his stupid EV in front of my house. “How’d you get that up the drive?” I asked, then grabbed my face as pain radiated through my jaw.

“Well,” he said, taking my elbow and guiding me down the front porch steps, “you’re exactly the kind of fussbudget to keep a perfectly maintained drive, and the car had no issues making it up to your place.”

Emery opened the door and helped me to slide into the buttery leather interior. “By the way, love your T-shirt.”

I looked down and grimaced. I’d pulled on my old-school Mr. Owl T-shirt, the one where he was licking a Tootsie Pop with “How many licks?” emblazoned across the middle of it.

Doug is gonna love this.

After making his way around the car and letting himself in, Emery reached across me and belted me in.

“I’m not a kid. I can put on my seat belt,” I grumbled.

“I know. But you’re in pain, and I don’t mind helping.”

I went silent after that, letting him use GPS to direct us to the familiar building just off the square. Emery parked and quickly made his way to the passenger side, frowning when I let myself out.

“Stop hovering. I’ve got a toothache, not a broken leg,” I muttered, then flinched as the pain lanced through the sensitive tooth.

I brushed him off when he reached for me, but I guessed he’d have carried me into the office if I’d’ve let him. Such a dad .

Thankfully, I made my way into the office on my own power, and Doug was waiting up front for me, concern in his eyes.

“What?” I asked, irritated. “Why’re you looking at me like that?”

He thinned his lips. “There’s no way you’d’ve let Marlene convince you to see me unless you were in some serious pain.”

I scowled, then winced.

Doug shook his head. “I swear, you’re worse than a farmer.”

Emery snorted, which only reminded me he was still fucking hovering. I put my hand on his broad chest and pushed him away from me, hating the amount of heat he radiated. If we were lovers, or hell, even friends, he’d have sensed my anxiety and put his arms around me.

Not sure why that occurred to me, save for the fact that I really fucking needed a hug.

Instead of doing that, though, Emery placed his hand over mine and looked into my eyes.

“I know you’re nervous, but Stevie and I have already been to Doug for our cleanings, and he’s got a real gentle touch.”

I pulled my hand away, neutralizing my face so he wouldn’t know how much his words soothed me. Ignoring Emery’s handsome face, I turned to Doug.

“Fine, then. Let’s get this show on the road.”