A Heart Not Easily Broken (The Butterfly Memoirs) by M. J. Kane Page B

“Men try to ask me out all the time. I tend to avoid their invitations.”
    Brian looked past me. “You definitely have the eye of those men over in the corner.” He nodded in their direction.
    I followed his gaze. He was right, I did have their attention, but they scrutinized both of us. When I turned, Brian stared back at them as intently as they stared at us. I cleared my throat, drawing his gaze.
    “The problem is men assume I’m a model, a video dancer, or a stripper.  A man once offered me money for a private show,” I said in disgust. “My goal is to get my education. Unfortunately, no one sees beyond my body.”
    “I do.” All laughter left his voice.
    I broke his gaze and played with my rice. No man had ever said that. Not even Patrick.
    “What made you come to California to go to school? It’s a long way from home.” He turned his attention back to the plate, cutting into his steak.
    “U.C.L.A. They are a good school, plus they’re near one of the best schools for veterinary medicine.” I sampled my rice.
    “What did you take?”
    “Biology.” Pride filled me as I watched his eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “I graduated with a bachelor’s degree and am working on my veterinary degree. This fall will be my final year.”
    “I’m impressed. How long have you been in school?”
    “Seven years. I start my final classes this fall.”
    “Damn.” He laughed. “I did my four years and got out. Enough was enough.” He reached for his water, sipped. “That’s when the band formed. We were all music majors and started playing our freshmen year. We’ve been together ever since.”
    “When did you graduate?”
    “Five years ago.”
    I did a quick calculation. “We were there at the same time. You graduated a year ahead of me.”
    Brian looked up from his plate. “Small world, huh?”
    “It seems like it.”
    “I admire your dedication. It takes discipline to stay in school that long.”
    His statement made me look at him differently. Most guys thought my work was a waste of time.
    “What made you decide to become a vet?” He grabbed his fork and dove into his baked potato with gusto. The man was serious about his food.
    “My father manages an animal rescue and adoption center. I spent my weekends and summers helping him. My first paying job was working at the local animal hospital cleaning cages and walking dogs.” I shrugged. “That’s when I decided what to do with the rest of my life.”
    “What are your plans after graduation?” He listened in rapt attention.
    “What I really want is to work full-time at the Los Angeles Zoo. I intern there now, so my foot is in the door. They’re going to have a few permanent spots to fill next year. I want one of them to be mine.” Hiding the determination in my voice was impossible.
    “Hmm, passionate about what you want out of life. What are you doing to make it happen?”
    I picked up my knife and sliced through my steak like butter. “I worked my butt off for the internship. I also work part-time as a veterinary assistant in an exotic animal hospital. Anything I could do to build my résumé, believe me, I’ve done it.”
    “What about grades?”
     My attention diverted from my food. Most guys would have begun talking about themselves by now.
    “I maintained a three-point-nine GPA for the last five years.”
    “Now I’m really impressed.” He smiled his approval.
    Hearing Brian’s praise was refreshing and unnerving. No one besides my family and friends ever took my passion for my profession seriously. He knew nothing about me, yet seemed genuinely pleased.
    I cut another piece of my steak; it was the best I’d ever eaten. Then again, maybe it was the company that made it better. “My turn.”
    “Ask away.”
    “What type of women have you dated? What’s different about me? And you have to be honest.”
    Brian wiped his mouth with his napkin and sat back in the booth, a look of satisfaction on his face. His plate was