Chapter Twelve

Grant tried to relax. It wasn’t just going to the hospital that put him on edge, it was visiting with his father. Charli squeezed his hand and he looked down at her.

“Is it really that bad?”

“What?” Grant pushed the elevator button.

“Visiting with your father. You act like you’re going before a firing squad.”

“Pretty much the same thing. He’ll demand to know all the things going on at the ranch, then he’ll proceed to tell me everything I’m doing wrong.”

Charli patted his arm. The doors slid closed behind them and Grant wrapped her in his arms and hugged her to her side. Kissing her temple he said, “Thanks for being here.”

Charli reached up and kissed his cheek “Doc, I told you, I’m here for you as long as you need me.”

He gazed into her eyes and desire flared to life. As the elevator climbed slowly, he turned and pushed her back against the metal wall. “Let me tell you what I need—”

She parted her lips and kissed him back with the same fierce hunger he felt in his gut. As the doors slid open, he broke away from her. Breathing hard, he was pleased to see the flush in her cheeks. What was it about this woman that made him do things like that? He couldn’t keep his hands off her. It was almost as if all the time he’d kept away from her, he now had to make up for.

Hand in hand, they walked towards his father’s room. Bob Clark’s doctor stood at the nurse’s station reviewing a chart.

“Dr. Hanes,” Grant greeted him.

The older doctor smiled. “Grant, I’m glad you’re here. I wanted to go over your father’s latest tests with you. I didn’t get to see your mother this morning. I was going to give her a call shortly.”

Charli pulled her hand from his. “I’ll wait for you near his room.” She walked quickly away before Grant could stop her.

Grant tried to focus on what the doctor was saying and how encouraged he was about his father’s full recovery, but his mind was down the hall wondering what on earth his father would say when Charli walked into his room. Or, more to the point, what she was saying to his father.

Finally finished with his meeting, he strode quickly towards his father’s room. There was no sign of Charli outside his door. Then he heard the deep chuckle of his father’s laugh mingled with Charli’s lighter voice. She’d gone in without him? He peeked into the room and was stunned to see her sitting on the side of his father’s bed, the two of them laughing so hard tears came out of their eyes.

“I pity that poor father of yours,” his dad chuckled. “You must be the cause for every grey hair he’s acquired.”

“What’s going on here?” Grant moved into the room, his gaze bouncing from Charli to his father.

“Grant, this girl is a breath of fresh air. For once, you did something right in catching this one.”

“Actually Mr. Clark, I caught him. He tried to run but I lassoed him and brought him to the ground.” Charli winked at Grant.

Grant was shocked. In less than twenty minutes, she had actually charmed his cantankerous father. They looked as comfortable together as if they’d known one another their entire lives. How had she done that? He’d tried his whole life to find common ground with his father.

“Can you believe your father and my father competed on the rodeo circuit when they were young?”

Grant knew his father had been in the rodeo for a couple of years before he got married, but his father rarely talked about it.

“They were quite the characters. I wondered when you said the name Bob Clark, if he might be the one and the same one. My father still has his picture in his den.”

Grant’s jaw dropped. “You’re kidding me!”

“I’m surprised your father didn’t have you barrel racing,” Bob spoke directly to Charli.

Grant sank into the chair next to the bed, still amazed that she seemed to have effortlessly wrapped his father around her finger. Was there any man she couldn’t charm?

And why did that thought bring him so much pain? Was it because it only brought to the forefront that he himself was only temporary? There was a reason she knew so many men—she wasn’t here forever or even tomorrow, she was only here for now. Grant was under no illusions that whatever they were sharing was only a fling to her. Still…

“Actually, I did a little bit of barrel racing and was even crowned Rodeo Queen a couple times when I was a teenager,” Charli continued. She shrugged as if it was no big deal “I’m sure there hasn’t been a prettier Queen since,” his father complimented.

She reached out and squeezed his hand. Charli laughed. “Now I know where Grant gets all his blarney from.”

“I talked to Dr. Graves about your test results.” Grant shoved his hands in his pocket. “Did he talk to you?”

“Yeah, he was here earlier. Said things were fine. I’d like to know why if everything’s so honky dory, I’m still stuck in this damn hospital,” he grouched.

“Well, when you do get out, you’re going to have to listen to his orders,” Grant informed him. “You’re going to have to change your eating habits and—”

“I don’t need you to tell me what I have to do. You just go on back to that godforsaken place you live and...” His father shook his finger at his son and his face began to redden.

Grant felt his own anger begin to rise. He clenched his jaw, choking back an argument.

“Come on now, Mr. Clark. Your wife was in tears, you had her so scared. You don’t want her to have to live without you now, do you?” Charli climbed off the bed and walked over to stand by Grant. Her hand slipped into the crook of his arm. Instantly, he felt his blood pressure lower at her unspoken support.

His father grunted, but a smile teased at his lips as Charli scolded him. “It was all a lot of fuss for nothing. I’m fit as a fiddle, strong as an ox.”

“Dad, you really need to start thinking about slowing down. Maybe you should consider turning more things over to Laura. She—”

“Don’t you dare tell me what to do! I’m still in charge and don’t you forget it. I’ll make the decisions around here.”

For his father’s health, Grant forced himself not to comment at the tirade.

Charli glanced between them. “If that’s the case, then you better do what Dr. Hanes says so you can keep riding the range instead of pushing up daisies under it, huh?” She picked up her purse. “Now if you two can manage not to kill one another, I’m going to go powder my nose.” And with that, she swept from the room.

Grant glanced at his father once more then moved to the window. Looking out over the parking lot, he took a deep breath and focused on the bird he saw landing. His father was a genius at pushing his buttons, but then, he supposed the same could be said about him.

“She’s a spitfire, and beautiful to boot. What the hell does she see in you?”

“I have no idea. Don’t worry though, I’m sure she’ll wake up soon enough and take off.” Grant stuck his hands in his pockets as he turned back around.

“She tells me that you’re the best vet in all of Texas. She also says it’s you that’s keeping the ranch running smoothly as much as Laura would like me to think otherwise.”

Grant couldn’t help but grin. His Trouble, his own personal cheerleader. His heart swelled with warmth even as he shook his head. “She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”

“She’s damn smart, and if she’s Chase Boyd’s girl, she’ll be tough as nails. Of course, being in love with you makes me wonder about her judge of character. The girl thinks you hung the freakin’ moon.”

He stared back in shock at the thought. Was she? Could it be possible that she was in love with him? He swallowed. “Charli’s not in love with me. She’s like that with everyone,” Grant argued.

The older man grunted. “Unlike most of the women you’ve brought home, I’d say this one is a keeper.”

Charli walked back in. “Who’s a keeper?”

“I told my stubborn son that you’re a keeper.”

“Like a trout?” She put her hands on her hips and stared in mock indignation.

“Young lady, no one could ever accuse you of looking like fish. If my son has half a brain—”

“We have to get going, Pop,” Grant interrupted before his father could say something completely embarrassing.

Charli moved across the room to press a kiss to the old man’s cheek. “I’m going to call my Dad tonight and let him know that Bob Clark is alive and well. I know he’s going to ask you and Rose to come out for a visit when you’re feeling up to it. I’d love to have you out to our spread.”

“I think a wedding would be a great time to visit.”

Grant ushered her out of the room, feeling his face redden at his father’s meddling.

They walked side by side down the hall to the elevator banks without speaking. He cast a glance at her as she pressed her finger on the down button. His mouth was dry. What was she thinking? Was she simply ignoring what his father said? Did she even pay any attention to his comments about marriage and forever? His parents were definitely the ‘forever and ever, Amen’ kind of couple.

How could his father even begin to think that someone like Charli would be marriage material? They entered the empty elevator car and Grant leaned forward to push the button for the lobby. He knew he shouldn’t be having this fling with Charli; it wasn’t going to lead where a relationship at this point in this life should lead.

Next to him, Charli’s hand slid behind him to squeeze his rear end. He glanced in shock at her and she winked. Oh hell, who cares if Charli doesn’t love him forever. She loved him in her own way for right now and that was all right by him. He bent to steal a hot quick kiss before the doors slid open to the main floor of the hospital.

****

“So, what did you think?”

Settled in a booth at a small diner, Charli looked around. It was like any other diner in small towns but for some reason, it reminded her of home. Spending time with Grant’s father had reminded her it had been several weeks since she’d seen her own father. Once they left Oklahoma, she’d make plans to get back to Abilene. The thought brought an unexpected wave of sadness with the realization it would probably mean a shift in the easy relationship she and Grant had shared. Her return to the real world would make it necessary to make decisions about whether what they shared would continue or end.

She frowned. “About what?” She took a sip of her coffee.

“About my father. What do you think now that you’ve met him?”

“Personally, I think you and you’re father are a lot alike.”

Grant grunted. “He’s a hard head and he’s always right.”

“Exactly.” Charli grabbed his hand. “But he loves you. I think he’s really hurt that you don’t want to be here and work with him.”

Grant sighed. “He has Laura. I don’t see why it should matter so much.”

Tracing a pattern on his fingers, she smiled. “Men have a thing about sons. It doesn’t make any sense, but they do.”

She threaded her fingers through his. Taking one of them in her hand, she stroked up and down. Looking up from under her lashes, she hoped he’d figure out what she was thinking.

“If you don’t stop that, we’re not going to be able to finish our pie.” He tried to pull his hand back.

She lifted his fingers to her lips.

Charli didn’t push, knowing that in time he’d tell her. His lighthearted mood was gone and he seemed on edge as he pushed his pie around. She tried to tease him out of his mood, but he seemed unreachable. Finally, she gave up and just ate her dessert and drank her iced tea.

“Your mom is a sweetheart.” She took another bite of the lemon meringue pie. It was perfect, not too sweet, not too tart. She was impressed. The crust was flaky and light and the meringue perfectly browned.

“She’s a saint for putting up with my father. He’s always been difficult.”

Charli shrugged and swallowed another bite. “Life does that to folks sometimes. My father has his moments. It’s better now that he’s seeing Daisy, but until she came along, he could be pretty difficult.”

Grant looked up as if something suddenly occurred to him. “Where’s your mother? I mean, is your father a widower?”

Her chin came up and as if someone put up a brick wall, Charli could feel her defenses rise as they always did when her mother was brought up. “Yes and no. She did die, but she’d already left us before the accident. Technically, since they weren’t divorced yet, it did make him a widower.”

“She left you and your father? How old were you?”

Charli pushed her pie around on her plate. All these years later, it was as if it happened to someone else. Deep inside though, the scars were still there.

“I was four, almost five. It was the summer before I started kindergarten.” She shrugged. “I don’t remember much about it.” Which was a total lie. She’d never forget the day she woke up and her life changed drastically.

She shook off the memories. “Anyway, they say I look just like her, act just like her. At least in my case, I know better than to try to be something I’m not.”

Grant furrowed his brow. “What does that mean?”

“My father used to blame himself for my mother’s accident. He said that trying to keep her on the ranch was like caging a beautiful, wild bird.”

“I’m sure he didn’t force her to marry him and live on the ranch.”

Charli tossed her hair. “She fell in love and tried to change, to be what he wanted. But she couldn’t. I won’t make that mistake.”

A strange, almost hurt expression crossed Grant’s face. She felt bad, but he should know the truth. She wasn’t a forever kind of girl. Couldn’t be. She was a here for the moment girl. She glanced at Grant again. But if she was going to end up staying with someone, she certainly could see it happening with someone like him. The idea made her heart ache. Maybe her mother felt this was with her father once, and that was what convinced her to marry him. She couldn’t make that same mistake and let down her guard.

“So, you’re saying because your mother wasn’t happy in her marriage, you don’t think you could be?”

“I’m saying I won’t take that chance. I saw how much it hurt those she left behind. To make matters worse, a few months later, she was dead. The guy she was with drove drunk and slammed the car into a concrete wall. My father refused to bring her home to bury her.” Shrugging as if to mask the pain it always brought, she lifted her chin. “He said the least he could do was give her peace by not hauling her back to the ranch she hated.”

“Do you hate the ranch? Is that why you’re a chef?”

She grinned and shook her head. “I love my father’s ranch. But I have to admit, when I’m there, I love being there, but I feel as if I should be somewhere else. When I’m somewhere else, I miss the ranch.” She lifted her hands and gave a light laugh. “I told you, I can’t make a commitment about anything.”

He reached across the table for her hand, but before she could take his, a shrieking voice came from across the room.

“Grant!”

A bleached blonde appeared at their booth. Behind her, three kids bickered and shoved each other. The woman was plump and the clothes she wore didn’t do anything to make her appear slimmer. Her low cut sweater hugged large breasts and thin jeans had white creases where the material was stretched to its limits.

Grant glanced up at the woman. “Maureen?”

Charli watched his expression. The way Grant reddened and his jaw stiffened surprised her. This wasn’t a casual acquaintance. She raked the other woman up and down with her gaze. Maybe she had looked a lot better when she was young.

“Maureen, this is Charli Boyd. Charli, Maureen. We went to high school together.”

Charli smiled up at the other woman.

Maureen looked at her and smiled broadly. “Nice to meet you, Charli.” She turned to Grant once more. “I heard your father was in the hospital. I hope he’s improving.”

He nodded, but his eyes were colder than Charli had ever seen them. His tone was ice as he responded. “We’ll bring him home in a day or two.”

The kids shoved each other and Maureen sighed. “They’re starving. I better get a table. Give my best to your mama. Enjoy your visit here, Charli.” She waved and walked away with her kids in tow.

“Old friend?”

“Something like that,” Grant muttered and slid out of the booth with the check.

Back in the truck, driving through the dark towards the ranch, Charli slid across the seat being careful of the stick shift in the floor. Resting her head on Grant’s shoulder, she tucked her hand between his legs and caressed his thigh. His muscles bunched under her hand and she massaged him with her fingers.

“You’re all tense. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” His voice was curt and he didn’t shift his gaze.

She sighed and lifted her head. “Did you and Maureen have something together?”

“Yep.”

“Did you love her?”

Grant scoffed. “I thought I did.”

“Her kids were cute.”

Grant snorted.

Obviously there was some kind of history that he hadn’t gotten past. “Come on, what’s up?” She straightened in her seat and removed her hand from his leg. “Something more is going on here than just running into some girl you once made out with in the bleachers.”

“It ended badly.”

“Honey, I don’t know any relationship that doesn’t end badly.”

“I hate it when you talk like that,” he snapped.

Charli frowned, “Like what?”

“The whole, been-there-done-that routine.”

His nasty tone was unusual and she shifted back to the passenger side of the truck. “I was simply trying to say that very few relationships that I know of end on a happy, we’ll-be-friends-forever kind of note.”

Without warning, Grant pulled the truck to the side of the road and parked it. She peered out through the windshield.

“So, what’s the timeframe?” he asked. “How long before I have to deal with the it’s-not-you-it’s-me spiel, and can’t-we-just-be-friends discard?”

Although half an hour earlier she’d been wondering how she was going to handle it when it ended, hearing Grant worrying about it put her on the defensive. She’d never lied to him. He knew going into this what the score was.

“Can’t you just enjoy what we have while we have it and not try to put a time frame around it?”

Grant laughed, but it wasn’t a pleasant laugh. It verged on the devious.

He reached through the dark and squeezed her thigh. “Sure. How about we enjoy what we have right now, right here? After all, if I don’t keep things exciting you’ll walk sooner, right? How do you want it? Inside the truck or outside? Maybe across the front of the hood?” He leaned towards her.

Charli put her hands up and pushed against his chest. What the hell’s gotten into him? Doc had never been like this before. “I think you need to drive back to the ranch.”

“Sure, but let’s have some fun first.” He reached out and stroked her breast.

Charli swatted his hand away. “Don’t touch me.”

“Don’t touch you? Gee, there’s a new sentence for you,” he snarled.

Charli lifted her hand but stopped, absolutely horrified he’d pushed her so far she almost hit him. “I don’t know what you’re problem is tonight or what old memories your high school sweetheart brought to life, but don’t take it out on me. Don’t come near me when you are in this nasty mood.”

She glared at him through the darkened truck.

Grant didn’t answer. A range of emotions crossed his features. The one she liked the most was guilt. Good, he should stick with that one.

He sighed and raked his hand through his hair. “I am being a real ass. Sorry about that.”

“We’ve all got a past, Doc. I’m not a part of that.”

“I know. I told you I hate coming back here. It’s like no one ever looks at you as an adult. I feel like I’m seventeen all over again, whether it’s my sister, my father, the folks in town, or even Maureen. It’s a big reason I stay in Texas.”

“Laura is miserable, but you can’t let her get under your skin, she thrives on that. As for your father, I don’t think even if you moved back here and worked the ranch with him he’d be happy. No one else should even matter.”

“He hates me for not staying here and working the ranch.”

She caressed his thigh. “You’d be miserable, I know. But I will say, watching you cut that herd today made me pretty hot. You make an awfully cute cowboy.”

Grant chuckled. “You’re the one who looked great out there. No one looking at you would ever believe what you can do on horseback.”

Charli grinned. “I can do a lot of things on horseback.”

“How come that doesn’t surprise me?”

She shifted close and settled her head back on his shoulder.

Grant brushed his hand across her hair and down her cheek. “I can’t believe how much easier this has been with you here.”

She reached up, turned his head and pulled his mouth down to hers. “I’m glad I could help.”

His lips brushed hers softly, then again and she closed her eyes as the fire ignited. Her stomach fluttered but the sensations that flowed through her were more tender than passionate.

Her fingers curled up and into his hair. She clung to him as he kissed her deeper. She knew now a little bit about why he didn’t have a huge trust of women. Whatever happened between him and Maureen, she’d let him down. Beth had hinted to her that he’d had similar experiences in college with a few girlfriends. How dare someone break this man’s heart? The fact that somewhere down the road, whatever they had together would end, wasn’t something she was going to dwell on right now. The ache inside her wasn’t in worrying that she’d break his heart, more that she was afraid that this time, she wasn’t going to be able to walk away with hers in one piece.

The ranch was dark and quiet by the time they returned. They slipped up the stairs to Grant’s room. He closed the door and then sank to the side of the bed. He loved watching Charli get undressed. It was one of his favorite ways to end the night; well, at least the out-of-bed ending to the night. He grinned.

Charli drew her T-shirt over her head and flipped the hook to her bra. Her magnificent breasts tumbled free and his breath caught.

She glanced over her shoulder with a knowing look. “You know what I feel like doing tonight?”

His groin sprang to life. She was never without a few surprises for him. He cocked one eyebrow. “I’m always a little scared and a whole lot excited when you say that to me.”

Walking over, she stood between his knees. He lifted his hands to stroke the back of her legs through her jeans. Sitting as he was, his face was eye level with her naked breasts and he leaned in to nuzzle them.

Charli threaded her fingers through his hair as he kissed his way from one glorious mound to the other. He loved the way he made her breath hitch and the sounds of pleasure his caresses pulled from her.

“Let’s go for a midnight ride.”

He grinned against her skin. “I never say no, do I?”

She laughed and her breasts jiggled against his mouth. “Not that kind of ride. Outside on horseback.”

He circled her nipple with his tongue. The last thing he wanted to do was be on the back of a horse. He’d much rather have her riding him while he watched her explode with pleasure.

She pulled back to stare at him. “It’s a beautiful night. We’ll take a blanket with us and…”

She didn’t have to say anything more.

Grant was on his feet and moving to the door. The idea of making love with her under the stars was more than appealing. He didn’t want to waste any more time. “You get changed, I’ll saddle the horse.” He’d already decided they’d only take one horse. Riding double with her wrapped around his back was going to make this even more enjoyable.

He heard her laugh as he sprinted out the door.

Charli unzipped her jeans, stepped out of her panties and reached for a long gauzy skirt. For a top, she simply pulled on one of Grant’s old, worn-thin flannel shirts. She brushed her hair out and headed downstairs in her bare feet.

Grant had the horse waiting outside the barn when she arrived. She moved closer, knowing with the moonlight behind her he’d be able to see through the flimsy material of her skirt. Reaching his side, she caught the heated look in his eyes and knew she was right.

Grant swung up into the saddle and reached his hand down to help her climb behind him.

She shook her head. “Uh huh, I’m riding in front of you.”

“In front? I thought you’d ride behind.”

Grant’s disappointment was evident on his face and she chuckled.

“Nope. I want to be in front.” She slipped her barefoot into the stirrup and swung up, shifting her long skirt and settling herself before him. Charli felt him shift back until they were both comfortable in the saddle and her bottom was tucked tight against the juncture of his thighs.

With a gentle nudge, the horse walked across the grass towards the back of the pasture. Grant’s hands immediately slid under her shirt and framed her waist as she held the reins.

He nuzzled her neck. “I think I do like this position better,” he muttered.

Charli laughed. “Behave until we get to where we’re going.” But she didn’t shove his hands away when they cupped her breasts.

He brushed his thumbs across her hardened nipples and kissed the back of her neck. Her hair must have teased his nose because he brushed it to the side then planted a kiss along her neck.

The moon was high in the sky and the stars were huge. Animal sounds in the distance were the only noise they heard. “Your Oklahoma sky is almost as nice as our Texas one.”

“I thought everything was bigger in Texas. Isn’t that what you always tell me?”

He squeezed her breast gently and she shuddered. “Maybe not everything,” she giggled.

They rode for several minutes in silence as Grant caressed her bare skin. He slipped the buttons of the flannel shirt she wore open and bared her breasts to the night sky. He wished somehow he could see how she looked—like Lady Godiva with her long hair around her shoulders. The rocking of the horse constantly rubbed her delectable bottom against his erection and he did everything he could to think of something else. By the time they reached wherever she was heading, he’d be exploding in his pants if he wasn’t careful.

The horse stopped and she dropped the reins, ground-tethering him. Before Grant knew what she was up to, she’d deftly and completely turned around in the saddle to face him. Her blue eyes danced with mirth. She leaned forward and ran her tongue along the seam of his lips. When he opened his mouth to capture hers, she leaned into him and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him with a passion that told him she was as aroused as he was.

Grant struggled to keep them both on the horse as she devoured him with her mouth. His thumb traced a pattern around her nipple and lifted the weight of her into his palm. He teased the velvet peak and she trembled, her nipple growing harder and longer. Pulling away from her mouth, he leaned forward to capture the nub.

He bathed her with his tongue, nibbling at the red tip until she cried his name. Dropping her hands from his neck she held on to the saddle horn behind her as he leaned her backwards.

“My beautiful, wild Trouble.” Grant sighed.

Charli opened her eyes to look deeply into his. “All for you, Doc.”

His hand moved under her skirt and explored her bare legs. His body quickened at the feel of her satin skin beneath his fingers. Her thighs were spread wide to accommodate the saddle and he knew he’d never see anything more erotic than the way she looked tonight. His hands found what he knew he would, her moist heat waiting for his touch. Charli shifted her hips to encourage him and he stroked her with his fingers.

“Remember that night at Cord’s birthday party? You told me you didn’t have on any panties?”

Charli smiled. “Got you hot, didn’t it?”

Grant nodded. “Everything you do makes me hot. Just watching you breathe makes me hot.”

“Is that so bad?”

“You don’t hear me complaining do you?”

His fingers slid over her folds and slipped inside. He watched her face as he fondled her, loving the sounds of pleasure she made and knowing he caused them.

Confusion, or was it sadness, filled her eyes. He stilled his fingers and frowned.

“I didn’t really give you much choice about whether to get involved with me or not, did I? I mean, I know I’m not the type of woman you want to have a relationship with.”

“What are you talking about? Why are you talking about this now?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I’ve been thinking about it for a while. I don’t want to force you to be with me if you don’t want to.”

He laughed. “It’s way too late now, Trouble. You chased me and now you got me.” He leaned forward and kissed her hard. “So, what are you going to do with me now that you got me?” His voice lowered to a husky whisper and his fingers slid inside her once more.

He continued to caress her and she bit her lip. He could see she was trying not to lose control. He stroked her the way he knew she particularly enjoyed.

She trembled. “Maybe Abigail has a sister or a cousin you could ask out.” Her voice was still steady and strong.

Grant wanted her gasping and unable to speak. He leaned forward and flicked his tongue across her nipple.

He was rewarded by her long emitted moan. “Doc?”

“Yes, Trouble.”

“Are you listening to me?” Her breath caught and her words were more of a moan.

“No, I’m really not. I’d much rather take you flying.”

He stroked faster and she cried out even as she tried to push his hand away from her.

“No. Unzip your jeans. I want you inside me.”

“Let’s get off the horse,” he suggested.

She shook her head and reached for his fly. With some fumbling and strange movements, she managed to free him. He shivered when the cool night air brushed his erection.

Charli grasped his shoulders and lifted herself up. She lowered herself over him, her thighs squeezing. At the same time, the horse decided to begin walking again. After an erotic second, Grant decided to just let him go. He grabbed hold of her bared bottom and held on, knowing if they fell off this horse now, it would not be a pretty sight.

Her skirt covered them as they rode and her arms wrapped tightly around his neck for balance. Her mouth was hot on his neck and he couldn’t think straight. Never in his life had he had a fantasy that equaled what this woman was doing to him. The rocking motion of the horse and her inner muscles clenching him tight all but had him exploding immediately.

Realization suddenly dawned and he groaned, “Oh God, Charli, sweetheart, stop. We have to stop. I don’t have any condoms with me.”

Charli simply squeezed him tighter inside her, sliding up and down his shaft, her breathing labored. She was pleasuring herself on him and the thought made him half crazy.

Charli kissed his jaw line breathing hard. “I’m on the pill, and I’m clean. I promise you. Don’t worry about condoms anymore.”

He knew he should talk to her about it, discuss it rationally, but there was simply no way he could even think. The hell with the condom. He wasn’t about to let her go now, they were both too close to what they sought.

“Fly with me, Doc.”

She bit his neck and sucked on his skin, leaving her mark and he couldn’t care less. He was going to explode any second, but he wanted her satisfied first. Slipping his hand between them, he stroked her until she jerked and cried out.

“Ohhh Doc, those fingers of yours. A bit more…ahhh…you have the most incredible touch. I love—”

She gasped and her body convulsed on a scream. Grant didn’t know what she had almost said, his body had taken over his mind. Seconds later, he exploded inside her just barely remembering to hang on to keep them both from falling.

An hour later, the night air blew across their naked bodies. Charli’s head was pillowed on his shoulder and her body curved into his. They lay on the thin blanket Grant had tucked inside the saddle bag. The horse was grazing nearby. In the soft grass under the full moon, Grant pulled her even closer to him, wanting this moment to go on forever.

Here with Charli in his arms, everything in his life was perfect. She was perfect. It wasn’t just the incredible sex, it was deeper than that. This wild woman was going to be the death of him. She’d come crashing into his world and he had no idea how he was going to live without her when she moved on.

And he had no doubt that she would leave him. Maybe not this month, maybe not even next, but eventually she would, and he’d have to live with just the memory of nights like this. Would simple mundane mission style lovemaking ever again be able to satisfy him? He had this awful feeling that the answer was no. She had literally spoiled him for any other woman.

What had she almost said earlier? She’d been out of her head, but he thought she’d almost said she loved him. He scoffed. Knowing Charli, she probably was going to say she loved what they were doing or loved the way it felt. Loved everything but him. No, Charli wasn’t in love with him. She wasn’t the type of woman who fell in love, at least not with a small town vet. His heart squeezed in response to that thought. No matter how good things were between them, Charli’s heart was never going to be his.

“What’s wrong?”

Lifting her head, Charlie looked at him. She had the most uncanny way of knowing when his thoughts shifted. She sat up and brushed her hair back.

“I was thinking how easily you’ve adjusted to my family. How they all love you.”

Charli’s mouth lifted in a slight smile. “Everyone except Laura.”

He watched her in the moonlight as she stood. When she bent again to retrieve her shirt he groaned. She had the most perfect body he’d ever seen in person or print.

“She hates everyone, probably even herself.”

Charli slipped the shirt on and quickly buttoned a couple buttons before searching for her skirt. He felt a stab of disappointment that she was covered again.

“Laura’s really insecure,” she said.

“I don’t know why Dave puts up with the way she talks to him,” he wondered absently, watching her.

Standing, he reached for his own jeans and pulled them on. Noting how she watched him, he purposely left them unsnapped. Maybe they weren’t done yet.

“If he would just stand up to her, maybe even once, she’d probably respect him for it. I personally think Dave will eventually get fed up and leave her.”

He frowned. “Leave? He won’t leave. They’re married.”

Charli snorted indelicately. “People get divorced for less you know. Why should he stay if he’s miserable?”

Grant’s blood ran cold. “So, you’re saying once the passion burns out, it’s okay to move on?”

Charli grabbed up the horse’s reins and turned to him. “Passion? What passion? You really think those two share anything except the same last name? Look at her, she’s cold as a corpse.”

“He must love her. He married her.” Grant shook out the blanket and rolled it up to fit back in the saddle bag.

“Did he do that willingly or did Laura hold a gun to his head?”

Grant stared at her. “It was the usual type of thing. They met, they fell in love and got married. That’s how it works for most people.”

She quirked one eyebrow. “Most people? What’s that mean? Most people?”

He shrugged. “I don’t mean anything but Laura knows that once your married you stay married. You work things out.”

“It takes two to make a marriage work. If one doesn’t want to be there, it’s not going to work.”

“Since neither of us has ever been married, we probably can’t understand. But I do believe that once those vows are said, they’re forever.”

Grant raked his hands through his hair. How had such an exciting evening turned into an argument about his sister’s marriage? Was that what they were still fighting about? He didn’t even know anymore.

She looked at him as if considering something and then changed her mind. “It’s not our business anyway.”

He watched as she mounted the horse. From time to time he’d hoped, maybe even fooled himself into thinking there was still a chance for them in the future, but she’d just made it very clear that nothing had changed for her. She didn’t believe in marriage or even a lifetime commitment.

His heart ached, his chest heavy. He climbed onto the saddle behind her and rode home. When she leaned back and rested her head against his chest, he sighed and sadness washed over him. She was going to leave and he’d have to accept it. The question now was, when? By the time they reached his bedroom once more, he was obsessed with the thought. When he lay down next to her, he couldn’t help pull her into his arms and hang on tight.

****

“Grant!”

“What?” Grant jerked and twisted his head from side to side in his half awake state. The light from the hall spilled into his bedroom and he squinted at Dave standing in the doorway.

“Dave, what’s wrong?” He struggled to sit up, but a naked Charli was draped across him. He shifted her to the other side of the bed and covered her as he swung his legs over the side and stood up. “What’s wrong? Is it Dad?”

Dave pushed the bedroom door open as Grant stepped into his jeans. “It’s Laura.”

“Laura? Is she hurt?”

“No, it’s Smurf. Hurry.”

Grant swiped his hand over his eyes and followed his brother-in-law to the other end of the house. The only soft spot his oldest sister had was for her beloved golden retriever. His mind calculated how old the dog had to be now, over ten for sure. Was Smurf dying? Dead? The last place he wanted to be was here if that was the case.

His dark-haired sister lay curled around her dog on the bedroom carpet. Grant was relieved to see Smurf’s tail thump, although weakly, as he went down on his haunches next to him.

Laura turned red rimmed eyes to him. “He can’t get up. Do something, please!”

Grant already had his hands on the blonde fur and noted he didn’t feel overly warm. The retriever’s eyes also looked clear. He glanced pointedly at Dave who helped his wife up and away from Grant.

“Hey, old boy,” he murmured to the dog. “What’s going on with you? How old is he again?”

“He just turned twelve. I know that’s old, but I can’t lose him.”

“Shh, no one said anything about losing him,” Grant reassured. “Tell me what happened.”

“I don’t know. He was fine when we went to bed. Then, about half an hour ago, he started whimpering, stood up, and then collapsed.”

Grant pushed to his feet. “I’m just going to get my bag, it’s downstairs.”

Laura took his place again next to her dog.

When he returned moments later, he found Charli on the floor with Laura and her dog. His sister laughed softly and Charli brushed the hair out of the other woman’s face. Grant’s jaw dropped. He glanced at his brother-in-law who seemed as shocked as he was.

Gently easing the women away, he opened his bag and moved into professional mode. No matter how much Laura made his life hell, his heart squeezed at the thought of her heart being broken. He needed to focus on the patient and put out of his mind how much more his sister would resent him if he couldn’t save her ‘baby.’

An hour later, he dropped his head into his hands at the kitchen table. Charli set a cup of coffee in front of him and settled her hands on his shoulders. Her fingers kneaded his tired muscles and he closed his eyes.

“Poor Laura.”

“She loves that dog.” Grant reached up and covered one of her hands with his own.

“How long before we’ll know if those shots you gave him will help?”

“We should know more in an hour or so. I thought at first it was a stroke, but I’m hoping it’s something he got into and the antibiotics will fight it.” He yawned. “Smurf’s twelve, but he’s in good shape, so I don’t think it has anything to do with his age.”

Her hands slipped away from his shoulders and he instantly missed her warmth. Turning his head, he watched her at the kitchen counter. In the few weeks they’d been here, she’d become a part of his family’s kitchen. It was odd to think that two months ago, he hadn’t even known her.

“You were great up there. It was as if you and Laura were best friends.”

Charli shrugged. “It’s no big deal.”

“Is there anyone you can’t wrap around your gorgeous finger?”

She smiled and shook her head. “I don’t do that.”

“You do. You’re a natural with people. You should have been a doctor or nurse, not a chef.”

“What better way to take care of people than to feed them?”

Grant chuckled. Leave it to Charli. “True.”

Laura and Dave walked into the kitchen.

“Does he seem any different?” Charli asked as Grant’s sister joined her at the counter.

The other woman picked up the mug of coffee and nodded. “He seems more comfortable, not whimpering like he was.” Laura slipped into a chair at the table across from her brother and husband.

Charli had never cared for her, but anyone who could love an animal the way she apparently loved her dog couldn’t be all bad. Beneath Grant’s sister’s prickly exterior was most likely a scared, insecure woman. She reached across the table and patted Laura’s hand.

Laura took a deep breath and turned her gaze to her brother. “When I saw Smurf hurting like that, I, well, knowing you were there, I mean…”

“It’s okay, Laura. I know.”

“No, it’s not okay. I sided with Daddy for a long time against your decision to be a vet. Mama and Sylvie knew it was what you were meant to do, but I never understood, never stood up for you. Tonight, I saw you working and you were such a professional. Daddy had no right to try to force you to do anything else. You’re very good at what you do.”

Charli watched as Grant’s face reddened.

He lifted his chin and stared back at his sister. “So are you, Laura. You were born to work the ranch. Don’t let anyone tell you any different. You can hold your own against any man out there with no problem.”

“Daddy wishes I were a boy.”

“That’s his problem.”

“I owe you an apology too, Charli,” Laura added, glancing her way. “I never thought someone as gorgeous as you could be of any use.” She looked sheepish as she apologized. “You’ve been an incredible help around here. Frankly, I don’t know how we would have got through it without you. Thank you.”

Charli reached across to touch Laura’s hand.

“I think we all get misjudged from time to time. Don’t worry about it. I’m glad I had the time to come and be here.”

Grant stood up and placed his mug in the sink. “Since we’re all up anyway, might as well get an early start on things.”

Even with Laura’s softening, when the other woman stood up and hugged her brother, it was a bit of a shock. The look of embarrassment and awkwardness on Grant’s face was priceless as he hugged his sister back.

“Where do you want me today? On horseback or in the kitchen?” Charli asked Grant.

His eyes twinkled. Laura giggled and even her quiet husband grinned from ear to ear.

“I think my brother will be happy no matter where you are as long as you’re by his side.” Laura said.

Charli’s gaze flew to Grant’s. Was it true? Was Grant happy as long as she was with him? Were they both getting into this way too deep?

She already knew the answer to that. She’d lost her heart to him weeks ago, but even so, she knew she wasn’t right for him. Grant needed the type of woman she could never be. The sad part was, the deeper they became involved, the more it would hurt when it ended.

She turned away and busied herself with the kitchen sink. “I think I’ll get some things done around the house today and head into town for groceries.”

Grant stepped close and slid his arm around her waist. Charli swallowed back the choke of tears in her throat. She covered his hand with her own.

“You okay?”

She nodded and smiled brightly. “I’m fine. Just with your father doing better every day, I want to get things done ahead so your mother has less to worry about when he comes home.”

Charli turned her head and met his lips, but it was a half-hearted kiss at best. Her heart was aching too much.

“I’ll be back by lunch.”

Laura and Dave slipped out of the room and Charli reached for another cup of coffee. How had she allowed this to happen? How had she let herself fall in love with Grant?

****

Grant glanced over at his father, impressed with how quickly he’d recovered from the mild heart attack. Home for almost a week already, he was following all of his doctor’s orders and taking his time easing back into life at home. All of them were hoping the wake up call would sink in as time went by. If his father didn’t ease up considerably on his workload and take better care of his health, the next time he wouldn’t survive.

Grant’s glance fell on his father’s plate. Rather than his hearty eggs, bacon, and pancakes he normally had, his father was finishing off fresh fruit, wheat toast and what appeared to be a bowl of oatmeal. He didn’t seem to be making much of a fuss, but then the scare was still new. He hoped his father would stick to this new, low-fat diet.

He kissed his mother’s cheek as she moved to get a cup of coffee. “Morning.”

“What time does that girl of yours generally start her day?” His father grunted.

Grant grabbed a section of the newspaper and opened it in front of him. “She’s not really what you call an early riser. But, while Mom was away, she was up every morning cooking. Can’t blame her for sleeping in the last few days.”

His father glanced over the paper. “I suppose if she’s just going to be a doctor’s wife, she can get away with that lounging around. What a waste. She’d be a hell of wife for a rancher.” His father turned the page of his newspaper.

Grant set his jaw and forced himself not to comment. Even having Laura on his side now hadn’t changed his father’s opinion of his career choice.

“Summer would be a perfect time for a wedding.” His mother slipped into the chair next to her husband.

“I’m not getting married, Ma.” He turned the page, trying to ignore both of them.

“Oh, Grant! Charli is lovely and she’s just crazy about you. The look in that girl’s eyes when she sees you. She loves you.”

“I’m sorry. I hope we didn’t give you the wrong impression.” He busied himself with the newspaper, folding it closed and creasing it deliberately.

His father pinned him with that look that he recognized all to well. The one that said he was about to get another lecture.

“What’s the matter with her?”

“Nothing, there’s nothing wrong with her. She’s wonderful.”

“She damn well is! You’re a fool if you let her get away.” His father snapped his paper open again. “But it just proves my point about you. You don’t know what the hell you’re doing.”

“This isn’t your business.”

His father continued to glare and Grant held his ground.

“There’s nothing serious between Charli and me. She came to help out because that’s how she is, always helping someone in need. She and I know what we share isn’t forever. We’re just enjoying—”

“I can imagine what you’re enjoying.” His father continued his stare. “It’s time to grow up, Grant, time to think of a future. It’s bad enough you made up your mind to turn your back on your family and live in that god-awful State, but now you’ve finally met a decent woman and...”

Grant shoved his chair back. “Charli is great, and I have grown up. I knew when we started this relationship it wasn’t forever and so did she. We’re both getting exactly what we want out of it and when it ends, it ends.”

His mother reached out her hand. “I think what your father is trying to say is maybe you can’t see how much she loves you. She’s a beautiful girl and she comes from a very good family.”

“Yeah, she is beautiful and comes from good blood lines. But I’m not trying to start a new line of cattle. When the right woman for me comes along, it won’t matter if she’s beautiful or not.” Grant set his dish in the sink and it rattled with the force. He turned towards the doorway.

“Where are you going? You haven’t eaten yet.”

“I’m not hungry.” The back door slammed as he stormed off the porch.

In the hallway, outside the kitchen door, Charli clamped one hand across her mouth. Frozen, her mind fought to make sense of what she’d just heard. When Grant’s words finally sunk in, she raced back upstairs before anyone could find out she’d heard the conversation.

Last night, she made love to Grant, knowing she’d lost her heart. This morning, she woke up thinking maybe they could have a future. Maybe this really was meant to be and they could make it work, she could make it work.

But she’d just heard all she needed to know she was ten times the fool.

She may have fallen for the doctor, but the doctor had only fallen for the good times, not her.