Chapter Text
Kiara Carrera watches from the airplane as the wide brown parcels of land pass by the window. She'd grown up in New York and had just left Los Angeles where she’s lived for ten years so the country surroundings are new and slightly daunting.
Now that Kiara thinks about it so too are small planes, like the one she’s currently trapped in and she’s a little unnerved by the experience. In hindsight she should’ve caught the bus even though it would have taken forever to traverse the country. Although, she's already been flying since early morning; travelling from Los Angeles to Dallas and now on her way to Jefferson in Texas.
Jefferson’s a small town situated in Marion County in East Texas, with a total population of about 3000 people, something Kiara can’t get her head around after living in such vibrant and populous cities. When she was approached for the job, Kiara had turned it down initially but, after a break up with her long-term boyfriend, suddenly being in a small town far from LA had its advantages.
She feels the plane rock with turbulence and digs her fingernails into the hand rests trying to calm her nerves. Once she’s on stable ground Kiara plans to stay in small town Texas for good if it means she never has to fly again. At least she’ll have a paying job as the local veterinarian.
Kiara had gone to veterinary school with John B Routledge and even though they went their separate ways after graduation they stayed in touch. He’d suggested she come work at his practice in Jefferson, even just for a little while to have a much- needed change of scenery. John B was a country boy from birth so she knew he’d go back to his roots but small town Texas she never expected although he seemed to love it there so hopefully Kiara will too.
After shakily getting off the plane at Cypress Airfield she notices a waiting truck nearby. John B had offered to pick her up and Kiara was happy her never ending journey was almost over. Being a Los Angeles native Kiara knows hot weather but this Texas heat is on a whole other level. Every pore is dripping with sweat and it’s actually possible she may just melt into a puddle on the runway, the sun is that scorching. Kiara read the weather report earlier but for some reason didn't believe it was actually going to be 105 degrees, well until now.
John B is resting lazily against his truck dressed in a green checked shirt, boots and jeans, his beaming smile obvious from far away as he removes his large, brown hat. Kiara realises she’s well and truly not in Los Angeles anymore and checks her appearance.
Given the heat she was smart enough to wear a dress for ventilation but it’s probably on the more dressy side. She smooths out her wrinkles from the flight and sends back a smile. She’s really missed her friend.
"Well, well, what do we have here?” He whistles. “You can take the girl out of the city but you can’t take the city out of the girl."
“You can talk, country boy,” she shoots back, enveloping him in the biggest hug, the temperature momentarily forgotten. “I’ve missed you, John B.”
“Me too, darling,” he replies, squeezing her tight. “You don’t own any jeans?”
“Yeah, but it’s too hot,” she complains, flicking a stray curl out of her eyes. “I’m not conditioned to this climate like some people.”
John B opens the passenger door for her. “I suppose people will know you’re a city girl no matter what you wear. Damn, girl,” he says lifting her bags into the back of the truck. “Tell me that’s all jeans and practical footwear and not fifty million pairs of high heels like college.”
“I only packed a couple of pairs, you know just in case there’s a suitable occasion.”
“I hate to burst your bubble but there will never be a town event when designer shoes are part of the dress code.”
Kiara’s disappointed but not overly surprised. Being a vet can be extremely messy which is why she likes to be able to dress up nicely in her spare time. Looks like that isn’t going to be an option after hours here.
“I can take you shopping though and get you kitted out with some boots and a Stetson.”
“I’m sorry, you shop? Also, what’s a Stetson?” Kiara asks curiously.
“Oh wow, I can see I have a lot of things to teach you about the country, Kiki." He jokes, walking to the other side of the truck. “It’s a hat, like the one I’m wearing.”
“Well, I hate to burst your bubble but I’m not the cowboy boots and hat type, John B. Also, what have I told you about calling me that?”
“Not to do it but when has that ever stopped me?”
Kiara’s beginning to think she has no idea what she’s getting herself into. She knows she needs a drink and not just to acclimatise either.
After a quick drive past some stately houses and green fields dotted with livestock they drive through what Kiara assumes is the main street lined with cute heritage buildings. They pull up outside what looks like the local bar. It’s a quaint building, red bricked and covered in dark green strands of ivy.
She unsticks herself from the car realising a shower might’ve been a better first stop. Her once clean dress is wrinkled from the journey and her brunette curls are frizzy and stuck to her neck and forehead.
They walk inside and she notices tables scattered through the middle and a long, wooden bar with numerous stools placed underneath.
"John B, how's it going?" A petite woman inquires warmly from the bar as they approach.
"Great, Wheezie, this is Kiara Carrera. She’ll be helping me out at the vet clinic for a while."
"Nice to meet you, Kiara. If, uh, you want to use the bathroom it’s down the hall and to the left."
Obviously, she looks as good as she feels. Kiara smiles and walks in that direction holding her hair off her neck wishing she had a band to fasten it back. Sometimes she loves her natural hair and other times, like now, she hates it with a fiery passion.
Before she can walk into the ladies room a tall figure runs into her making her stumble momentarily and drop her purse.
"Watch where you're going,” she growls at the same time the oaf who ran into Kiara does the same thing.
After getting over the initial shock, Kiara looks upwards. She meets his gaze and almost loses herself in his eyes. They’re the colour of the Pacific Ocean and the exact same shade as his shirt. This guy is an oaf but a gorgeous oaf.
Kiara’s immediately thrown off by his perfectly dishevelled blonde hair and is struggling with what to say next. She doesn’t have to wait too long to find out.
"Are you alright?" He asks rudely, cocking his left eyebrow curiously.
"Well, last time I checked you ran into me, the least you can do is apologise,” she snaps.
Maybe she’d technically been distracted but he didn't have to be so rude.
"Well that's your view of events, sweetheart." He balks, not moving out of her way.
"I’m nobody’s sweetheart and clearly you weren't taught any manners as a kid."
"I was but I like to use them sparingly, especially when I'm not at fault," he mutters. making Kiara bristle.
"There's no need to be facetious."
"Now, that's a big word coming from such a little girl," he shoots back, making her more angry, even if those dimples are damn cute.
"Condescending much? You're such a charmer, the girls must rush to you in droves."
"Yeah, it's difficult being this amazing.”
Kiara can’t believe she's only been in town an hour and found a guy with the biggest ego on planet earth. The fact he’s now flashing those dimples at her is extremely bad timing.
"Well, as fun as this conversation has been, I've got to go."
The idiot leaves without even bothering to reply. What a smug asshole, Kiara just hopes she'll never have to see him again.
She busies herself in front of the mirror only to look up and realise the state of her face. Her frizzy hair is ten times the size thanks to the humidity and the make-up she'd applied hours ago had well and truly melted from the heat leaving a smudged trail of mascara under her eyes.
Kiara winces realising exactly how she must have looked in front of him. Kiara likes to think she’s always presentable and the fact that this arrogant stranger had seen her looking less than that irks her immensely.
She wipes away the stray mascara and runs a brush through her unruly locks and applies some nearly nude Chanel lipstick, it’s the best she can do for now.
"I hear you've been making friends with the locals." John B laughs as she approaches.
"Small towns, gotta love them. Don’t tell me you actually like him?"
"Given he’s my best friend, I’d say yeah, I like him.”
“Of course he is.”
Out of the 3000 people who live in this small town, the one rude guy just has to be John B’s best friend. Which means she can’t get away from him and will no doubt have to see him again. Her day just keeps on getting better.
“Look, if it makes you feel better, he’s a lot nicer when you get to know him."
"Good to know, but I doubt we’re going to be best friends any time soon. Now, how about that drink?" She asks, changing the subject on purpose.
John B’s property is single story with a large porch wrapping around the outside. It’s framed by large, green fields filled with an impressive herd of brown cattle.
They step out of the truck and Kiara’s almost run over by three very excitable border collies.
“Calm down girls, let Kiara breathe.” She doesn’t mind, KIara's a vet after all and has an extra special soft spot for dogs. “These are Blossom, Buttercup and Bubbles.”
“You named your dogs after the Powerpuff Girls?”
“Hey, don’t judge.”
“Each to their own,” she laughs, patting them affectionately. “Do the cows like them?”
“What do you think? I’ve always wanted cattle but work was too busy so now I have you here, I’ll have more time to spend with them.”
“Oh, so that’s why I’m here. How romantic for you and your cows.”
“I live in a town with only 3000 people and cows outnumber people here, that’s far from romantic,” he jokes, opening the front door so she can step inside.
An open plan kitchen makes way to a large lounge room with a big open fireplace and two generous looking couches.
“There’s three bedrooms and two bathrooms down the hall. Yours is the first door on the left.”
“Wow, you and the cows certainly have a lot of space.”
“Welcome to the country, Kie. You’re not in a tiny New York or Los Angeles apartment anymore. Plenty of wide, open space. The vet clinic is not too far from here but most of the jobs will be call-outs.”
“How many clients are we talking about?”
“It’s the only vet clinic in town so quite a few, you’ll be very busy I can promise you that.”
“That’s good, I like being busy, I need to be busy.”
“How are you going after the break-up?”
“I’m okay, I know it needed to happen but it’s just weird not seeing that person every day. So, being here is good. How about you?”
“How about me, what?”
“Any women on the scene?”
“Just my cows,” he replies. “And the Powerpuff trio of course.”
“You could do worse like your questionable best friend,” she mutters. “Did he tell you that he ran into me and then didn’t bother apologising?”
“You said you didn’t want to talk about him.” That’s true and she didn’t mean to bring him up again but he’d really gotten under her skin. “Anyway, he said you ran into him.”
“Of course he did,” she growls.
“I thought you didn’t like him and didn’t care.”
“I don’t.”
“Mmm okay, Kie,” he smiles, knowingly. “How about you clean up and then we have some dinner. How does roast sound?”
“Is that a joke, guy with cows as pets? You remember I’m a vegetarian, right?”
“No, I must have blocked that out. You live smack bang in the middle of beef country, Kie, I don’t think you’re escaping it. Welcome to Texas.”