Branded: Silver Springs, #2

By Violet Rae

Fran
It's official.
Brand Cole is a pain in my ass.
He's also my boss and the sexiest man I've ever laid eyes on.
But when he comes to my rescue after a minor accident, I get an unexpected glimpse of the man hiding behind the wall he's so carefully constructed around his heart - a man I could so easily fall for.

Brand
Fran Foster was mine from the moment I laid eyes on her.
She just doesn't know it yet.
My emotional scars run deep, but Fran's nurturing soul and healing touch make me feel whole again.
Life is handing me a second chance - and I fully intend to grab her with both hands.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Violet Rae
• Release date: May 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9798223730644

Book preview

Chapter One

Fran

I’m hiding from my boss.

Which is ridiculous because I’m a grown-ass woman. So what if Dr. Cole is the epitome of tall, dark and handsome? At well over six feet with cool, gray eyes that never seem to miss a thing, he’s the sexiest man I’ve ever seen. He also has the worst people skills I’ve ever experienced.

Everything about him is big, from his large hands and feet to his broad shoulders and barrel chest. He isn't overweight, but he's built like a linebacker, all hard lines and solid muscle. His perfectly chiseled face is framed by dark hair, usually mussed from the hand he’s constantly running through it. He’s handsome but has an earthy, rugged quality that makes him more attractive than I like to admit.

Oh! And did I mention that he seems to hate me?

As the newest employee, I seem to be nothing but an annoyance to the surly veterinarian. I've been working at the veterinary clinic for over three months, and my boss has spent most of that time either glaring at me or completely ignoring me. His impatient attitude and prickly personality constantly have me in a fluster, and I spend most of my days biting my tongue and resisting the urge to hurl heavy objects at him. He's a pain in my ass but damned if I'm going to let him get the better of me!

You hiding again? a voice asks from behind me.

I jump guiltily and swing to face my colleague and friend, Cassidy Stanton, who's grinning at me. At twenty-one, she's three years younger than me and recently married to local rancher Asher Stanton, a self-made billionaire.

Cassie and I have become good friends since my sister and I moved to Silver Springs. She doesn't need to work since she married Asher, but she loves animals and was adamant about keeping her job at the veterinary surgery despite her life of luxury.

I love animals, too. My boss? Not so much. I'm looking for the receipt for a delivery that came earlier. I put it down somewhere, and now I can't find it. Dr. Cole tore a strip off me about it because I didn't have it to hand the second he asked for it, I huff.

Ignore him. He's always grumpy. It’s in his DNA, I think, Cassie soothes. But I have to say, he’s not so bad once you get to know him.

Get to know him? I scoff. I've been here three months and had better conversations with the animals than with him, I mutter, wondering not for the first time why my boss is so antagonistic toward me. Why do you think he’s so grumpy all the time? I’m his third vet tech this year. He keeps running them off. Why can't I work for Juliette? She's the one who interviewed me for the job, I say, referring to the other vet and partner in the practice.

"Because I work for her, Cassie grins, completely unrepentant. Besides, if Brand had interviewed you, would you have taken the job?"

"Definitely not! And how come you get to call him by his first name? I have to call him Dr. Cole. I think he gets off on it," I grouse. If I didn’t need this job so desperately, I’d be hoofing it out the door like the vet tech’s before me. But jobs are few and far between, and my sister, Cam, and I uprooted to come live here so I could take up this position.

Juliette is an angel to work for, and she doesn't keep scaring off her staff, Cassie chuckles.

Well, you know what you have to do. Next time he starts barking orders at you, give him as good as you get. He'll walk all over you otherwise.

Doubtful anyone could walk over me, I snort, indicating my plus-size figure. But you're right. I've been biting my tongue for months. Maybe he’s grumpy because he’s not getting enough sex. I snicker.

I bend down to re-tie the lace on my sneaker, completely missing Cassie’s warning look.

My sex life is none of your damned business! a deep voice rasps from behind me.

I raise my eyes heavenward with a pained sigh. Ah, shit!

Cassie does what all good friends do and fucks off as I turn to face the mountain of a man that is my boss...

Chapter Two

Brand

I glare at my vet tech, running a frustrated hand through my hair. It's a nervous habit—and Fran Foster makes me nervous. Amongst other things. I'm pretty sure she thinks I hate her—but nothing could be further from the truth.

At almost six-five, I tower over her in her sneakers. She must be what? Five-five, tops? Which makes me practically a foot taller than her.

Fran's been working for me for three months, but I don't think she has any fucking idea of the effect she has on me. I know she doesn't because I've made damn sure to hide my attraction behind a wall of antagonism. I'm not usually such an insensitive prick, but part of me knew that my heart was at risk the second she walked in the door—and I can't go through that kind of heartache again.

Fran rises to her feet, her face flushed with embarrassed color, but she holds my angry gaze unflinchingly. You’re right. It’s not. I apologize.

Her stilted apology makes me even more ill-tempered, and I reply with something that sounds like a grunt. Dear God, the woman is reducing me to a fucking neanderthal.

Have you seen my gloves? I ask, glaring at her to hide my discomfort. The ones with the furry lining? Where did you put them?

Her temper sparks and she places her hands on her ample hips, giving me her best withering stare. "Dr. Cole, the only furry things I'm responsible for around here are the ones with four legs. My job description does not include a running itinerary of your personal effects."

My eyes narrow on her, surprised at her uncharacteristic outburst. She's usually all calm politeness around me. She holds my gaze defiantly, daring me to argue. Her feisty response sparks an instant reaction in my cock, which swells and fights to escape the confines of my pants.

My eyes drop to her generous breasts, rising and falling with temper. I linger there before sweeping downward, skimming over the thick curves of her hips and thighs. Something kindles in me as I sweep them slowly back up to fix on hers.

Her long chestnut hair is caught up in a bun, and my fingers itch with the desire to remove the pins securing it and run my fingers through its silky length. Her body reacts viscerally to our heated exchange, and I can see her nipples poking against the material of her work tunic. She's all lush curves and flashing blue eyes, and, holy fuck, I could lay her down right here and bury my aching cock in her wet heat.

Desire flares in her eyes, even as she crosses her arms over her chest, trying to hide her reaction from me.

Too late.

My mouth tips up in a knowing smile, and she clears her throat as the tension stretches between us.

Mrs. Found, bring Cracker through to the treatment room, please, Cassidy says from behind us, smiling at a middle-aged woman with a French Bulldog in the waiting room.

Mrs. Found nods and stands, tugging the dog behind her as she heads for the second of two treatment rooms where Juliette will be waiting. She casts a curious look between Fran and me as she passes. Fran gives her a polite nod and a smile before returning her gaze to me.

Um, Dr. Cole? she prompts, shifting uncomfortably.

I blink, realizing I'm staring at her like a fucking