“Oh, I would be very happy to start immediately.” The young woman clapped her hands, then bowed her head. “Arigato. I am deeply grateful.”
“Believe me,” Brooke said, with a pleased smile, “you’re the gift, as far as I’m concerned.”
* * *
“I’m telling you,” Brooke said to Gage much later that evening, “I was blown away at how skilled those dainty fingers are. And what an eye she has. She’s going to bolster our reputation to new heights in no time. Her kind of talent belongs at the finest metropolitan shops. Fortunately, Hoshi and her husband are looking for a different kind of environment.”
“Spectacular,” Gage said, his gaze radiating pride as much as pleasure. “This is the most excited I’ve seen you since Kiki sold out on her perfume faster than a banana has shelf life.”
“That’s because she is the equivalent of Kiki in her own right. Get this—she’s been trying to establish a little side business in bonsai plants. She’s had a little attention on Craigslist, some nice feedback on Pinterest. I told her to bring in a piece or two and we’d put them in the arbor area of the store by the fountains. We always have customers looking to give plants instead of flowers.”
Gage leaned back against the doorjamb, crossed his arms and legs at the ankles, and grinned. “You’re starting to have a good time.”
That had Brooke pausing, only to give him a sheepish grin. “I am. This kind of thing—administrating, supervising, directing, overseeing operations, keeping track of the financial results of what I put in motion—this uses my real skills and experience.”
“That calls for a celebration,” Gage replied. Having more calls to make after closing the clinic, he’d jogged over as soon as he’d had a shower at his place. She was just finishing up doing the store’s daily bookkeeping in the front parlor that she was using as an office. “Are you ready for a glass of wine or something?”
“Wine for me.” Turning off the desk light, she followed Gage to the kitchen. Humphrey had already said his hellos and was back in his bed by the stairs. “Something else happened today,” she said, as she watched him move comfortably around the room. “Aunt Marsha knows about us—about us spending nights together.”
Gage gave her a bemused look. “Didn’t we agree this wouldn’t stay a secret for long?”
“That’s not the point. The point is who told her.”
“The sweet old dinosaurs across the street?” he said, with a tilt of his head. When Brooke shook her head, he narrowed his eyes. “Naomi.”
“Naomi did her share of enlightening my aunt. But no, it was Liz.”
That had Gage’s handsome face growing annoyed and worried as he eased one of the two glasses of wine toward her. “That’s not good. I mean, I know Liz has been angling for my attention, but I thought after my last polite brush-off, she was getting the hint.”
“That doesn’t mean that she can’t try to get at me for interfering with her plans.” Sipping the lush cabernet, Brooke added with a wicked glint in her eyes, “You’d better be worth this trouble.”
Gage remained serious. “I’ll have a word with her.”
“Don’t you dare,” Brooke replied. “Let’s just hope that she’s gotten this out of her system and moves on.”
Although he looked doubtful, Gage asked, “How did Marsha take the news?”
“Extremely open-minded for someone of her generation. On the other hand, despite what Liz said, we have been as discreet as possible.”
“No racing naked around the yard and starting to undress each other on the front porch in our eagerness to get at each other.”
No, Brooke thought, not on the front porch, but their kisses had caused a few close calls in back. As her body responded to those memories, she changed the subject. “How was this evening? Was it really just herd inoculations?” When he inclined his head, Brooke sighed with relief. She was finding that sometimes he tried to avoid telling her some grim news by using that safe answer. “You are the hardest laboring man that I know.”
“Oh, I think there are a few people who beat me—but they don’t enjoy it as much as I do. Except when it takes me away from you too much. It’s a good thing that you’re not one of those people who goes to bed at sunset.”
“Just don’t ask me to sit on the back porch with you now,” she warned him. “At this hour, I’m not offering my body to mosquitoes.”
“That’s okay. That’s not where I want your body anyway.” Closing the distance between them, Gage angled his head for a slow, searching kiss. “I like this,” he said, skimming his fingers over her black satin thigh-length sleep shirt whose diagonal neckline exposed one shoulder.
“I knew there was a lecher hidden under all that teddy-bear manner,” she purred. “It’s about time you confess.”
“Come sit on my lap and I will. Better yet, come upstairs.”
She laughed softly, enjoying this playfulness. “You know, I’m beginning to think you don’t even own a bed.”
“Of course I do.”
“I’ve never seen it. In fact, you’ve yet to invite me into your house. For all I know, you could have all kinds of weird stuff over there.”
Clicking his teeth, he said in a surprisingly good Eastern European accent, “You only have to worry about me when the moon is full.” Growing more serious, he then admitted, “The reason I haven’t asked you over is because I sensed how fragile this thing between us was and I wanted to let you set the pace. I thought urging you to come over would only scare you away.”
Seeing the irresistible mix of boyish uncertainty and mature yearning in his eyes had Brooke closing her eyes to appreciate the moment.
“I’m still not doing this right,” he muttered, clearly misreading her. “I’m taking too much for granted. I should be wining and dining you. Taking you for long rides to show you my favorite places and letting you show me yours. But my work doesn’t allow for me to get that far from town because an emergency might come up.”
“I know your profession demands a lot from you, Gage. And yours is a noble calling, so I can’t resent sharing you for good causes.”
Looking relieved, Gage said, “That’s good. Very good. So you’ll like my news that I’m looking into hiring another vet?”
That was surprising and welcome news—if it meant they could have more time together. “Do you really want to do this? I know you could use the relief, but if you’re thinking about this mostly because of me—?”
“To be honest, both.” Gage put down his glass and then hers, and slipped his arms around her waist. “We can’t really develop this relationship if I can only give you a few hours here and a few there.”
“Who’s complaining, since most of that time is in bed?”
“I need you, not sleep.” Proving it, he closed his mouth over hers and kissed her as though it had been a week, not twelve hours.
Within seconds, Brooke found herself lost in the sensual dance they were developing that was uniquely theirs. He leaned back against the counter and drew her between his legs, his hands cupping her hips and rocking her against him in the same erotic way his tongue was stroking hers.
When he broke the kiss, he leaned his forehead against hers. “The area is growing and so is the town, and only one other of the area clinics offers 24/7 service. They have a big staff, and even they’re being run ragged. I’ve had to limit my around-the-clock service to long-term clients. Yeah, I’d like to build on our staff.”
“Fair enough. I would feel guilty otherwise.”
“Because you still intend on leaving someday?”
This was the moment they’d been inching toward since she’d first asked him to stay the night. Then, Brooke hadn’t been totally ready to face what that meant. She still wasn’t, or rather, there was still a great deal to work through; however, she knew it was time to give
him some reassurances, too.
“Gage,” she began slowly, choosing her words carefully, “if I wanted to get back into ‘the game’ as I know you see it—my father sure does—I would still need to delay that by months due to my aunt’s health and everything. At least through the rest of this year. But...I’ve been talking to her about options, too. I’ve even surprised myself by some of the ideas that have popped into my mind.”
“You have my undivided attention if you’re looking for a sounding board,” Gage said.
“Well, this is just a brainstorm, mind you. This is the part that you really are the first to hear about.”
“I’m honored.”
His caresses made it difficult for her to stay on subject, but Brooke knew that he was trying to seduce every thought out of her head. Out of necessity she eased from his grasp, picked up her glass and began pacing around the kitchen to gather her thoughts.
“Did you know that Aunt Marsha owns pretty much half of that block she’s in downtown? That there’s an entire second story of space that isn’t being used properly in all but two of those buildings?”
“Somewhat, yeah. My schedule keeps me from attending enough chamber and city-council meetings to get it all straight.” Gage tilted his head. “So what are you thinking? To fix it up and sell it to where there’s double or triple the square footage than what she had before? You’ll get her a good price by doing that.”
“Actually, I was going to buy the whole thing myself, do the repairs and then lease the space. From what I can tell, the flooring is solid. I’m less certain about the electrical situation and the plumbing. My thinking is that if I could find a few more talented entrepreneurs like Kiki and Hoshi, we could fill the upper floral storage space with enough products to create a whole new retail marketplace. And I’d love to see another restaurant come in on Main Street. Something that won’t compete with what’s already available.”
“I wish you could see your face,” Gage said, smiling. “You’re literally blossoming into some kind of fairy godmother, minitycoon in front of my eyes.”
Encouraged by his enthusiasm, she continued, “Hardly that, but helping the community keep evolving to its full potential appeals. The challenge will be to convince Aunt Marsha to let me buy the properties in order to do these massive changes. She thinks everything should be my inheritance, but she can’t afford to be that generous. You can just imagine her reaction when I told her that I need to sell this place so she can have that assisted-living suite yet travel, too.”
“Hold it. Hold it.” Gage paused, taking in her words. “Your house is on the market and now you’re putting this place up for sale?”
“I can’t see any way around it. Most of her assets are in real estate.”
“And where will you live if both sell tomorrow?”
“I...haven’t gotten that far yet,” Brooke admitted with a merry laugh.
Gage scowled. “Well, I have. You’ll come stay with me.”
Brooke had begun to go hug him and stopped in mid-step. Something had gone almost deathly still inside her. Oh, God, she thought. He was just being his big kind and generous self, as always. Only...in that instant, she’d heard her father’s voice dictating to her, not his.
“That came out wrong,” Gage said with a groan. “I all but barked an order at you. Don’t deny it, you’ve gone ghost-white on me.”
She sighed and nodded. “Maybe a little. It’s not your fault. Listen, it’s too soon to worry about any of this. Aunt Marsha may suffer a strong case of sentimentality and resist me, or hate my ideas for her properties. After all, she’s still fretting about Humphrey’s future, even though I assure her daily that we’re getting along so much better.”
Gage abruptly reached for her hand. “I need to show you something. C’mon, Humph.”
Incredulous, Brooke held back. “Gage, it’s nearly ten o’clock, and I’m not dressed.”
“It’s dark, and we’re going next door, not to city hall. Grab that flashlight by the door to see where you’re stepping.”
As they hurried from her yard to his with Humphrey happily leading the way, Brooke practically had to jog in her flip-flops to keep up with Gage’s long-legged strides. “I was only kidding about you not having a bed.”
“I know. But it’s more than that and you know it.”
They reached the sidewalk leading to a patio and porch, every bit as appealing as her aunt’s. Also an older building, Gage’s house was colonial in design, a boxy main structure with smaller additions branching from it, in a manner that the early Americans had used as family expansion and other needs warranted. Two stories high and painted a country blue, the back had the same white square pillars that supported the front porch, and a picket-fence-style railing. It was a lot of house for a bachelor, unless one was buying it simply as an investment, and Gage wasn’t that kind of man.
The hydrangea bushes that Brooke admired from afar ran the length of the porch and surrounded the brick patio where a stainless BBQ and large chiminea kept company with a picnic table and other lawn furniture. “You haven’t had a chance to use that much,” Brooke said, as they passed the area.
“I’ll be throwing a pretty good size cookout for the Fourth, as a thank-you to clients.”
“How thoughtful—and generous.”
Humphrey scampered up the stairs as though he was heading for his own back door, and they followed. On the back porch was more inviting furniture and two rockers like the set of four on the front porch that Brooke had noticed every time she pulled into her aunt’s driveway.
“Does Aunt Marsha know where you hide your extra key?” Brooke asked, trying to tease the small frown of concentration from his handsome face.
“I don’t do that, but I’ll be happy to give you one if you’ll accept it.”
He didn’t wait for a reply, instead unlocked the door and turned on the inside light. Then he stepped aside for her to enter. Not surprisingly, Humphrey beat her to it.
“Oh, wow,” Brooke said, taking in the open-style kitchen with the high ceiling, big stainless-steel hood over the range, granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances. The cabinetry was white, and the backsplash tiles were silver, pewter and gold glass. “I never expected this contemporary style, and yet it’s so bright and welcoming.”
Gage looked relieved. “I thought the first thing you’d do was make fun of my having the TV in the kitchen.”
It was on the kitchen bar facing the stove and sink. “I might if there’s also one in the bathroom.” It made sense being where he had it, since this is where he probably spent most of his time other than when he was sleeping. He just wasn’t a couch potato kind of guy. She eyed him with new curiosity. “I don’t even know if you like to watch the business shows in the morning or catch up on sports scores or what?”
“Also the local farm-and-ranch report. If there’s time.”
“I should have guessed.”
The rest of the downstairs consisted of a formal dining room—empty—a living room and family room—almost as bare—his office, a sizable laundry/mudroom and full bathroom. “This makes my little house in Dallas look like an office cubicle.” And it was so sadly barren that her voice echoed back at her.
“You haven’t seen anything yet.” Getting a dog biscuit from the pantry, he gave it to Humphrey, then gestured for Brooke to take the lead up the stairs.
At the top of the hardwood staircase, she saw more doors than were at her aunt’s second story. One by one he showed her the bedrooms, and each was empty until they reached one with a simple king-size bed and chest.
“For your family?” she asked.
“On the rare occasion any of them come down here.” Gage gestured back down the hall. “See? Plenty of storage room.”
Instead of responding to that, she pointed to the door at the end of the h
all. “The den of iniquity, I presume?”
“Help yourself,” he murmured with a wry smile.
The door was open, and she marveled that the room was easily double the size of the others. Brooke wasn’t surprised to see the king-size bed; his long-legged body needed nothing less. Considering the direction the house faced, it got sun most of the day, so she liked the deep ocean-blue walls and the rest of the furniture with its rustic wood and black-iron hinges and handles. “This is so your size,” she mused. “But no art? No plants?”
“I’m not here enough to care,” he said, glancing around. “That could change, though.” Abruptly spinning around, he swept her into his arms, easily lifting her high to gain quick access to her lips. After one urgent kiss, he groaned, “God, Brooke, hear what I’m telling you. I want to make love to you here, and watch the late afternoon sun turn your body golden, and, too, when a full moon makes your skin compete with the most lustrous pearls the sea ever produced.”
As touched as she was enchanted, she noted softly, “There’s not going to be another full moon for three weeks. Do I have to wait that long?”
“Sweet heaven, no.”
As hungry as his first kiss had been, his second was ravenous. Brooke responded with equal need, ready to be transported to whatever passionate destination he wanted to take her to. Once again, they were shortcutting past things that needed discussing, but she was in his arms, and that created an incredible trust factor that made her believe everything was going to be all right.
Gage sat down on the bed, covered with gray sheets, the color of a mourning dove, and equally as soft. With her on his lap he buried his hands in her hair to hold her still for the kind of tender ravaging that had left her breathless and writhing against him numerous times since their first night together.
The Dashing Doc Next Door Page 16