A Groom of One's Own (Appies, #3)

by Emma St. Clair

you okay?” I jump at Eli’s question, realizing I’ve been simply standing here, staring into space while thinking about kissing his centaur-unicorn counterpart. I give my head a little shake. “Sorry. I’m just, um, thinking.” About you shirtless and with a purple horse body. “Must be some good thoughts.” Eli grins and, for the second time in the last few minutes, I blush. “Very good thoughts.” I’ve never been more grateful that mindreading powers only exist in fiction. I’m sure if Eli knew about my dream version of him, he’d run screaming from the room. I’m worse than Beth and her snack comments and overt objectification! Needing a breather—and to get on with what I’m supposed to be doing—I open the door leading to the back room, which connects to the kennels. “Any special requests today?” Eli hesitates for a moment, and then the same lost look returns. The one he had in the lobby a few minutes ago. “Maybe ... a dog who looks like they need a hug?” If I didn’t already harbor a crush the size of the Appalachians, this comment would be enough to send me over the edge. I give him a quick nod and duck back into the kennels before I can do something like ... well. I don't know what I’d do. Kiss him like the centaur-unicorn of my dreams, perhaps? Definitely a bad idea. Ugh. Someone as good looking as Eli should really possess the personality of a cave troll just to balance out the scales. It’s a travesty of justice for someone so attractive to also be so kind. Completely unfair. E...