UNBRIDLED
8 Seconds to My Heart series
#3
by
Barbra Campbell
Copyright © 2020 Barbra Campbell
All rights reserved.
This is a work of fiction.
Cover design by Hans Campbell
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Daisy
Studying myself in the mirror behind my office door, I took the clip out of my hair and ran my fingers through the length, touched up my lip gloss, and undid a button of my shirt to reveal a little more cleavage.
Next appointment… Luke Parker, aka Little Luke, a nickname I was certain he hated, but with two older brothers making their name in the rodeo scene ahead of him, apparently the locals had witnessed his youth and hadn’t let it go.
In my mind he was Luscious Luke or Lip-smacking Luke or Lick me Luke, but those nicknames never left my mouth.
The actual appointment was with his brother Travis, but I had it on good authority Luke was bringing him. My dear sister Rose had orchestrated the appointment after her dream cowboy had gotten knocked unconscious in the arena and needed a check-up. She was a doctor too but wanted a second opinion.
When I entered the exam room, heat washed over me at the sight of Luke rubbing his hands on his pants, a polite nod, and a pasted-on smile. Rose had been right, Luke brought Travis. All I had to do was remember I was at work, assess Travis, and refrain from thinking about how wet my panties already were. Was Luke nervous? Would it help if I told him he was my biggest laundry problem but thankfully panties didn’t take up much room.
I greeted the men, amazed how shaking hands with Travis was simple, polite, and short-lived, but the second my hand was close enough to feel the heat off Luke’s, butterflies flitted through my stomach and a few made their way into my chest. A sensation he always created and I never got used to.
I directed Travis to the exam table and busied myself with the laptop while I tried to focus. I would have been fine with them wearing cowboy hats in my office but they were too well mannered for that. A shame.
Someone should do a genetics case study on these brothers and find out why one did nothing for me while the other quickened my heartrate, stole my breath, and sent a warning to my ovaries that he’d be the perfect partner to make beautiful babies with.
The ridiculous notion was enough to bring me back to the moment, but not without a glance at Luke. His attention darted to the floor and he picked at what may or may not have been a hangnail. I smiled, bummed he didn’t let me get lost in his eyes, then reminded myself his brother was awaiting my attention.
Travis’ physical exam went smoothly but it was the concussion test that was in question. He couldn’t ride again until he passed. After I set him up with the laptop to take it, I guided Luke into the hallway. Officially, I had to eliminate distractions during the test, but I could use the time to flirt with Luke. We’d crossed paths repeatedly at rodeos, but every time I’d tried to talk to him there was a distraction: animals for him to deal with, patients for me, but never time for us. Until now. “Want to sneak off for a free checkup? Or I could make a private appointment for you.”
He cracked his knuckles. “No ma’am. I’m healthy as a horse. Every day I stay out of the doctor’s office is a good day.”
Shot down. But it had been a lame attempt. “If anything changes, give me a call. If you don’t need me, I’ll have to ask you to wait for Travis in the waiting room. I’ll send him out when he’s done.”
“I meant, or didn’t mean…” He met my gaze, and the air sizzled between us, at least from my perspective.
Then he thanked me and headed to the waiting room.
“Wait. Travis listed you as a contact in his chart, said medical information could be discussed with you.”
Luke started talking, head hung down as he turned. “Yes, ma’am. All three of us brothers list each other and our father. Never know when…”
I waited a beat, soaking in the unstated worry.
He lifted his gaze and rubbed a hand over his stubble. “Is Travis going to be okay?”
My heart melted at his concern. I cursed the distance between us, too much for me to offer a comforting rub of his arm. A soft smile and sincerity were all I had. “He needs time. Since you came with him to the appointment, would you mind if I checked up on him later?”
“Wouldn’t mind a bit.” He headed toward the exit again.
Through my lab coat, I patted the back pocket of my jeans for my phone but I’d left it in my office. “Hold on. Can I get your number in case it’s wrong in the file?”
I fished in my lab coat pocket for a piece of paper.
“Here you go.” He took his wallet out and handed me a business card. Official. I’d mistakenly limited him to a bareback rider in my mind, but according to his card, he sold beef.
“A business man, too. Mind if I hit you up for more than checking on your brother?”
He winked at me. “I’d like that.”
My heart was beating too quickly. If I was going to experience a cardiac event, the doctor’s office was the place to do it.
Luke’s playful grin was tightening his grip on my heart. Had I finally broken through? I’d only tried to talk to him a million times at various rodeos.
One of the other doctors brushed past us and Travis shoved his wallet back into his jeans before rushing out.
I didn’t stop him. Back in my office, I put his number directly into my phone under LL. Lustful Luke? It wouldn’t matter unless I had the courage to call. Push past my feeble attempts to get his attention.
Luke
I’d learned the hard way that being the youngest sucked. Time and again, I’d thought a woman was hitting on me at the rodeo only to figure out she was using me to get to one of my brothers. Too many of them had seen me as a pre-pubescent boy when my oldest brother started making a name for himself, and they hadn’t realized I’d grown up.
My brothers’ shadows were long and dark. No matter how much I tried to draw attention in my own right, I was compared to them. That’s how I’d learned to ignore flirtations on the rodeo circuit.
I kicked back on my porch drinking a beer, sorting out what had happened at Travis’ appointment. First of all, doctors’ offices made me nervous. Second of all, Daisy made me nervous. Third, Travis getting knocked unconscious made me nervous. I’d been a wreck.
But I was pretty sure I’d walked out of there with a potential date. I’d been too busy fighting back my overactive imagination that was creating worst-case scenarios for Travis, and naughty thoughts about Daisy to recognize what was happening at the time. Propping my feet up with a beer and a light breeze had the replay of our conversation sounding promising. As long as she hadn’t decided I was a dolt.
My mind raced through all the times I’d run into her at rodeos and she had some little compliment for me.
Clouds streaked across the orange glow of the sunset and I tapped my cell phone. Daisy’s number would be a preferable sight to anything nature could create. No missed calls. Had I kidded myself that Daisy meant she wanted to text me personally?
I scooted down in my Adirondack chair, set my empty bottle on the armrest, and slid my hat over my face. Was there any hope for the baby of the family to find what the older two brothers had?
That kind of thinking required another beer. I went in, hung my hat on the rack, and opened a new bottle before returning to the porch to drown my sorrows.
A few seconds into my pity party, my phone dinged. A text from an unknown number shot hope through me. This is Daisy. How’s Travis?
I slumped into the wooden slats of my chair. Right person, wrong message
. Either she’d only asked for my number out of medical concern, or she was using me to get to Travis like other women had done.
I texted my brother, and he confirmed that he was fine.
Me: He’s fine.
Question answered. With that cleared up, I didn’t bother to enter her name, took another swig, and considered switching to tequila.
Ding. I popped one eye open. Her again. I decided to inform her I wasn’t Travis’ keeper and give her Dad’s number, but her message sent my heart racing.
Daisy: Great. You busy?
Other than checking on my brother and drinking away the misplaced sorrow, no. I opted for a different route. Me: Enjoying the sunset
Daisy: Alone?
Was that her way of saying all of her attempts to talk to me had meant something? Good enough. Time to put myself on the line. Me: I hope not for long
Daisy: On my way
Hell yeah. But I had no idea how to respond. Yes? Thank you? See you soon? I tried to sound relaxed: Need the address?
Daisy: Same as on the business card?
Me: It is. I’ll save you a seat
Daisy: Be there in 15
I jumped up, sending my nearly full beer bottle and the empty one flying, and watched them bang into each other and shatter on the wooden porch right in front of the door. Damn.
Stepping around the glass, I rushed inside to clean myself up first. With a countdown to her arrival, I second guessed the shirt I was wearing then stripped all the way down, going for fresh everything. Then I could clean up the glass.
A knock on the door caught me off guard while I was tucking my shirt in. I checked my phone. Only ten minutes had passed. Was she breaking land speed records? Maybe I should have swept the glass up before changing.
I hurried to the door and my stomach sank at the thought of her having to step around the broken glass. Nothing but a class act would expect company to do that. Instead of detouring for the broom and dustpan, I went straight for the door. I’d explain then clean it.
Swinging the door open, I jerked back at the sight of my dad. He never popped in. Nervous? His fake half-smile and over-attention to the broken glass stood out. He’d driven his truck and didn’t have his dog with him. We lived close enough for a long walk or a short horse ride, his two preferred methods of transportation.
“What’s going on here?” Dad asked.
I nodded for him to enter while I headed to get the broom. “Dropped a couple beer bottles. I was fixin’ to clean them up.”
Dad grabbed the broom and his expression hardened.
I didn’t have time for anyone else’s drama which made me feel like an ass because Dad never burdened me with problems. I relaxed my grip and let him take the broom.
“So, umm, Luke… Do you by any chance have…” He cleared his throat, officially acting more nervous than I’d ever seen. And he wasn’t sweeping.
“Here, I can get it. What’s up?”
He wouldn’t give me the broom. “I might as well come out and say it.”
Why a fucking pause? Did he have cancer? No, he’d asked if I had something. My nerves verged on jittery. “I’ll sweep, you talk.”
He clung onto the handle like his life depended on it. “Do you have a spare condom?”
I busted out laughing. There was the possibility Dad was going to use it for other purposes, but my brother had seen him talking to a lady at the rodeo. I hadn’t thought to ask him about her but maybe the old man made his move. Aside from wanting to razz him, I had to get rid of him as fast as possible because I was finally making mine. “Yeah, just a minute.”
With any luck, he’d clean up the broken glass while I got him a condom.
As I exited my bedroom, I heard Dad laughing. Then Daisy’s voice. Life drained out of me. Dad would want to know why she was there, he’d have questions, and he’d probably say something embarrassing. Bad enough if I was in a relationship, but I hadn’t even had a single date with Daisy.
The only saving grace was he needed condoms so maybe he had some place to be. If only I could slip them to him without Daisy seeing. Supplying your dad with condoms didn’t carry a cool factor.
I shoved them in my back pocket and approached the front door.
Call in a Hazmat team. Dad had stopped Daisy on the path instead of letting her onto the porch, protecting her as if she couldn’t keep herself safe from the glass shards. He was saying, “A doctor. Not bad. You’ll appreciate this one… What did the sick fish say?”
Daisy saw me step through the doorway and smiled.
Dad caught the gesture and turned.
I hoped I could save her from his joke. My mind was racing for how to introduce her. “Hey, Daisy. I see you met my dad.”
She nodded and her sweet smile stirred all the wrong emotions for having my dad between us.
“That’s not a proper introduction, son, but we took care of them so you don’t have to worry.”
“Excellent. How about I walk you back to your truck?” I reached for the broom but he shifted it to the side.
He continued like nothing was amiss. “I’ll sweep while Daisy tries to figure out my joke.”
Had the old man forgotten why he came? Fifties weren’t that old, but he wasn’t making the condom transfer easy. I bit my tongue. To top it off, his jokes drove me crazy, but spoiling his joke would result in at least three more.
Since he hadn’t let her on the porch, she could get in her truck and leave. Hopefully she was a better sport than that.
Daisy
Luke’s Dad was funny, acting like the broken glass was radioactive material or something I had to maintain a ten-foot radius from.
He had an old-school charm and rugged good looks like the three brothers. But still, my heart belonged to Luke. Or it would, a belief I’d had since I’d first met him. Maybe it already did. I was utterly confused when it came to him. The feelings he stirred in me were too strong for the casual conversations we’d had, and yet they were undeniable.
I suspected his dad’s joke would be a groaner, but had to get it out of the way. “I don’t treat too many fish, Mr. Parker. What did the sick fish say?”
“I’m feeling a little eel.” He cracked himself up and I laughed along, but Luke only chuckled. He’d probably heard all of his dad’s jokes before. At least he let him tell it.
“Okay, Dad. Let’s wrap this up. Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Luke held the dustpan and his dad swept into it.
His dad ignored him. “You said your name’s Daisy West. You don’t happen to know Violet West, do you?”
“She’s my mom. How do you know her?” My mom was visiting from the city, reminding herself of her roots. I caught a look of panic flash over Luke’s face. Was he worried his dad wouldn’t leave?
“She said her daughters were doctors. I’m meeting her for drinks tonight.” His smile filled me with happiness. I hoped the mere thought of me made Luke feel as good.
I was elated for her. My mom hadn’t dated much and Luke’s dad seemed like a great place to start, as long as I ignored the weirdness of the situation.
“Alright Dad. Don’t want you to be late.” Luke took the broom from his dad and set it aside with the full dustpan.
We said our goodbyes and Luke walked his dad to the truck where he gave him something out of his back pocket. In the dim evening light, I couldn’t make it out. Not any of my business anyway.
And monitoring his interaction with his dad was definitely not why I was there. Luke sauntered back to me and our eyes were locked, but to my dismay he stopped a few feet away.
Darkness settled around us, faint lights of a house beamed in the distance, and we were cloaked in solitude. This thing between us had been brewing for too long.
He tucked his thumbs in the top of his jeans and unknowingly teased me with their placement. “Our parents are going on a date. Is that weird?”
“Only if we make it our business, but I have other things on my mind.” I closed the space.
“Like what?” He moved his hands to my waist.
A firm grip, but not aggressive, sent electricity through me. The romantic glow of the full moon came and went as clouds drifted in front of it. “Every time I try to talk to you, someone interrupts us. I can’t believe we’re finally alone.” I ran my hands over his chest, wanting to savor the moment. I was finally going to get to find out if what Luke had under his starched shirts was as amazing as the way he filled them out.
His lips parted and his head inched closer to mine. My mind floated away in hopeful bliss as I tiptoed to meet his lips.
Ring. The glaring alert cut through the stillness of the night. Luke’s phone. My breaths returned, heavy and irritated. Could we not get more than a second of privacy?
“Fuck. Sorry. It’s Travis.” He ran a hand through his hair as he took a step away and bluntly answered. “What.”
I could hear his brother’s voice even though Luke was holding the phone to his ear. “Calm down, bro. I was checking to see why there were cars at your house. Saw the lights.”
“Dad stopped by and I have a… friend over.” Luke angled his body away and lowered his voice as he explained who I was.
Not the same as who I thought I was, or wanted to be. I checked myself. We weren’t anything yet. I might have done the same.
“That sweet thing hit Little Luke up for a booty call?” Travis’ voice carried through the phone.
“Knock it off. Unless you have an emergency, don’t call until morning,” Luke snapped back.
Sweet thing? Booty call? My chest tightened. How should I take Luke’s reaction? He expected me to stay the night? Would I suffice as the sweet thing? Was I willing to? I stepped away, feigning ignorance.
Luke hung up, slipped the phone in his pocket and kept his back to me for a prolonged second.
Did he suspect I heard?
He faced me with a controlled expression, decidedly not happy. “Want to go inside?”
“It’s nice out here. How about the porch?” My eagerness to be alone with him had diminished. I had to sort out where we stood.
Unbridled Page 1