Taken by Love (Love in Bloom: The Bradens #7)

by Melissa Foster

  “Oh no. Didn’t he get checked out at his doctor’s office?” Daisy didn’t wait for an answer as she stalked down the hall toward exam room four. She pushed open the door and found Mr. and Mrs. Mace standing in the center of the room. Mr. Mace held a gift-wrapped box.

  “There she is.” Mrs. Mace wore a blue knee-length dress. Her gray hair still held the fresh curl of a new haircut that framed her round, friendly face.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Mace.” Daisy closed the door and did a quick visual assessment of him. His color was good. He wasn’t sweating. His breathing appeared normal. “How are you feeling today?”

  Mrs. Mace touched his back. “Thanks to you, Daisy, he’s feeling much better. We’re not here for a medical visit. We’re here to say thank you. We did go back to see our doctor, and as you said he would, he gave us a diet plan and medications. I think Harv is on the right track now.”

  “That’s a big relief. I’m so glad you followed up with your doctor.” Maybe they didn’t need her here as much as she’d thought.

  “Eve made you these cookies.” Mr. Mace handed her the box.

  “You didn’t have to do that. Thank you.” She reached for the box, and Mr. Mace held on tight.

  “Daisy, my doc helped me tremendously, but he’s still forty-five minutes away. And he’s not you. He helps, but it’s quick and impersonal, like I’m the words on the chart, not the person sitting in the room.” He glanced at his wife, still holding tightly to the gift; then he drew his eyes back to Daisy. “This box is a thank-you, but if you would consider staying in Trusty, Eve will make you cookies every week. Won’t you, Eve?” He looked at his wife, and her eyes widened.

  “Harv, I told you not to try to bribe her. I’m sorry, Daisy. He’s relentless.” She took the box from her husband and handed it to Daisy. “Your mother said you have offers in Chicago and New York. Have you made a decision where you’re going to practice?”

  She’d thought of nothing else—except Luke, of course—and the most surprising things had been going through her mind. Working in a larger metropolis would offer her hands-on experience with a wider variety of illnesses, and she could learn from some of most prestigious specialists in her field, but what was pushing its way to the forefront of her mind were the things that she couldn’t get in those cities. A sense of community. History. Family.

  Luke.

  “I haven’t made my decision yet.” Daisy set the box of cookies on the counter behind her. “I appreciate the gift very much, and it means the world to me that you want me to stay.”

  “If you change your mind, you’ve got two patients right here waiting for you.” Mr. Mace patted his stomach. “And I promise to try to eat healthier and to come see you regularly.”

  She could tell by the sincerity in his gray-blue eyes that he meant it. As they walked out the door, Mr. Mace paused.

  “Oh, Doc?”

  Doc. She remembered how he’d called Dr. Waxman, Old Doc Waxman, and Doc didn’t sound too bad to her. It was a step in the right direction. “Yes?”

  “What you did for Darren Treelong? No big-city doc would ever do that, so when you move to the highfalutin city, don’t lose that personal touch.” With a nod and a smile he left the office.

  She knew that if she worked in a big city, she wouldn’t have time to breathe, much less make a house call.

  ON HER WAY to her parents’ house, Daisy called Luke.

  “How’s my beautiful girlfriend?”

  Daisy smiled. “What? You have another girlfriend? Who is this beautiful girlfriend? I’ll take her down.”

  Luke laughed. “Never, babe. There’s only you.”

  “And your girls. How’s Shaley?” She wished she could go straight home and be with Luke and Shaley, but she hadn’t seen her parents in days, and she wanted to see if her father was making any progress. Home to Luke and Shaley. That feels so natural and so right.

  “She’s doing great. Her skin is clear and, so far, no infection.”

  “Oh, thank goodness. How many times did you comb the pasture today?” He’d gone out in the pasture multiple times, looking for the source of Shaley’s injury, even though everyone who owned horses knew that most of the time the source of an injury like hers would never be found.

  “Not many. I don’t know how she got the cut. I’ll probably never know. It’s part of ranch life, but it still sucks.”

  “Yeah, I know. But at least she’s got you taking care of her.” She loved that he cared about his horses so much, and the more she got to know them, the more attached she became, too.

  “I’m heading to Dad’s and then I’ll be home. Over. Sorry.” She winced at her mistake.

  “Home. It’s okay, Dais. It is home.”

  Her heart couldn’t open more than it had. She’d fully embraced Luke, their love, and even the life they’d developed so quickly together. If she could only embrace Trusty.

  She pulled up in front of her parents’ house and spotted them walking across the field toward the house. Her father hadn’t ventured far from the front porch in weeks. Hope swelled in her chest as she ran across the field to join them.

  Her father’s color was good; his gait was stilted but stable. Her mother walked beside him wearing a yellow skirt, white blouse, and a smile on her face.

  “Dad, look at you! How does your back feel? How far did you walk?” She walked beside him, thrilled to see him up and about again. She hadn’t realized how his not leaving the house brought a repressed, heavy feel to being home. Seeing him in the fields, the place he was the happiest, made everything feel lighter. Better.

  He stopped walking and nodded. “I feel pretty damn good. Your mother forced me to get out here, and you know, Daisy, it was a good thing. Maybe you two weren’t so wrong after all.”

  “You think?” She shared a knowing look with her mother.

  “Don’t get too high and mighty, Daisy Lee.”

  “Don’t worry Dad. I’d never even think of being high or mighty. But I might think of being a good doctor who knows what the hell she’s talking about.”

  “He walked across the whole field, Daisy,” her mother said proudly. “And he promised to try to do it every day.”

  “That’s great. It’s good for your brain, Dad. And if you feel uncomfortable, skip a day, but there’s nothing worse than locking yourself inside. Your body will expect to be sedentary.”

  Her father sighed. “We’ve been talking about the farm and what to do with it.”

  Daisy’s nerves tightened. “And?”

  Her father began walking toward the house again. “We’re thinking about hiring a manager. I think that’s a better option than selling. The land’s been in our family for too long to let it go.”

  “But, Dad, you’re not exactly good at letting other people take over.”

  He narrowed his eyes, then shifted them to the house. “Maybe not, but I think it’s about time I learned. What are your plans, darlin’? Are you moving away again the minute I figure this out?”

  She wasn’t expecting the question, and she hesitated.

  “I take it that means you’re still seriously considering it?”

  Her mother took her father’s hand in hers. “Give her time to speak, David.”

  “I’m still deciding, but I have to admit that I’m seriously considering staying.” She was seriously considering staying, she realized. It surprised her as much as it surprised them. The idea had been floating around in her mind, but she hadn’t realized it had taken root. How could she not? she wondered. The idea of leaving Luke made her stomach hurt, so much so that whenever she started to think about it, she pushed it away.

  “Daisy? Really?” Her mother’s eyes widened. “Oh, David, did you hear that?”

  “Yes, I heard it.” He kept his eyes trained on the house.

  Daisy watched him closely. She could only assume he didn’t want to believe her, but as they came to the porch and her father held on to the railing, drawing in a few deep breaths, she feared it was somet
hing worse.

  “Dad? Are you okay?” Suddenly, Daisy saw her parents with clearer, less self-centered eyes. They were aging. Today her father’s back was injured, but what if it was his heart next? What if her mother fell and hurt herself? Could she leave a busy practice and be here for them if they needed her? If she moved away, how often could she come back to visit? Every few months? Once or twice a year?

  “I’m fine.” He looked away. “It’s a harsh reality to leave a lifetime behind.”

  “You’re not leaving it behind, Dad. You’re moving on to a different part of your life. You’ll never leave the farm behind.” Could she leave the farm—and her family—for good? Really leave them behind and start a life elsewhere? Not just for three-quarters of the year for school, knowing she would be home during summer breaks, but forever? She’d changed so much over the past couple weeks. She knew her eyes had been opened, but she felt ashamed, or maybe just selfish, for not thinking about what it would really mean to leave her family and start a life elsewhere on a permanent basis.

  Her father lowered himself to the porch step and patted the space on either side. “I suppose you’re right, darlin’. I’ll never leave the farm behind, and I guess I always hoped that you might not be able to, either.”

  A lump lodged in Daisy’s throat.

  “Sit here with me a minute.” Her father looked up at her mother. “Sit down, Susie.”

  Daisy sat beside him, thinking about her family. She’d gone eleven years rarely seeing them, getting by with phone calls and quick visits. She’d been so busy with her own schedules, her plans, building the legwork for her medical career, that she hadn’t realized how much time had passed. Eleven years was a damn long time. She thought of Janice and Michael and of Lynn and the girls coming to the house to pack up their things. Who would she have in New York or Chicago? If she was working full-time, wouldn’t the people she became friends with be people she met through work? Wouldn’t they be working as well? Who could she call and know, with one hundred percent certainty, that they’d drop everything and rush to her side?

  Would she ever find the support of a community in a large city?

  Her father draped his arm around her shoulder, a rare and welcome affection. “You know, Daisy, I can remember when you were just a baby. You’d get yourself all worked up into a tizzy, and the only thing that would calm you was when I’d lay you across my chest and rock you out here on the porch. You’d listen to the crickets or my breathing, or whatever babies focused on, and you’d quiet right down.”

  “Really?”

  He smiled, a rare, warm sight. “It soothed whatever had you tied in knots. And when you were a toddler, you were just an itty-bitty little thing. You’d come out at night in your pj’s and rock your baby dolls like we used to rock you.”

  “Oh, David. She was so sweet.” Her mother rested her hand on his leg.

  “I don’t remember any of that.” But I wish I did.

  “You were too little to remember, but here’s a memory I’m sure you haven’t forgotten. When those girls used to make fun of you in high school, you’d come out at night and stalk off to the creek. You’d sit there for hours, all by yourself with your face all pinched tight, and when you’d finally come back inside, you’d left all that angst by the water.”

  “Dad, you knew?” She got chills remembering the nights she’d forced herself to forget. It didn’t matter if it was freezing cold, raining, or a warm, starry night; she found solace at the creek.

  “There isn’t much I don’t know, darlin’.” He sighed. “It pained me to know what was going on, but I’d spoken with their fathers, and, well, you know teenage girls. Their claws aren’t easily retracted.”

  A lump had lodged in Daisy’s throat. “You…talked to their fathers?”

  “Of course. You’re my girl.” He put his arm around her and pulled her close. He smelled of Old Spice, the same cologne he’d always worn. “I only wish I could have gone into school where it was all taking place and knock some sense into those fools.” He glanced at her mother.

  “He tried, but I stopped him. I was worried that if your father showed up at school, you’d be teased for that.” Her mother’s hand clutched her father’s leg tighter.

  Daisy shook her head. “You never said anything to me.”

  “Those rumors were not kind, Daisy, and they were about a subject that I’m not real comfortable talking about. Your mother talked with you, and I thought it would just be uncomfortable for both of us if I brought it up. I knew what kind of girl you were. What kind of woman you are. I’ve always been proud of you, Daisy.”

  Daisy’s eyes filled with tears. She’d been so emotional lately, and for a woman who prided herself on never shedding a tear, she was getting pretty good at the whole teary-eyed thing.

  “I was proud of how you handled things back then. It would have been easy to name call right back, but you never stooped to their level.” He pulled her against his side again and kissed her forehead. “I only wish you never had to go through it at all. It made you stronger, but I fear it’s driven you away from your home, and, darlin’, that’s something I’ll always regret.”

  “Daddy…” She didn’t know what else to say. It had been her past that had driven her away, but it was the apologies, and talks like these, that were tethering her here now.

  Chapter Eighteen

  WHEN LUKE’S ALARM went off at four thirty Friday morning, he’d already been awake for an hour, thinking about meeting Pierce later that morning. This was it. He was going to make a decision about meeting his father today, and while he should feel relieved, he was going back and forth over the issue from a million different angles. Daisy stirred beside him and draped her arm over his chest. He hoped he’d never have to know what it felt like to wake up without her.

  Daisy lifted her head and looked at him through heavy lids. “Hey.”

  “Hey, babe. Sorry if I woke you.”

  “You didn’t.” She pushed up onto her elbow. Her hair tumbled over the thin strap of her cami as her fingers traveled along his abs. “Nervous about talking with Pierce?”

  “A little.”

  She ran her hand over his chest and kissed him above his nipple. “Whatever you decide is okay, Luke. You’ll know the right thing to do when you get there. Are you sure you don’t want me to take off work and go with you?”

  He kissed her forehead. “I love that you would, but I think I have to face this alone, and you’re meeting with Kevin and the girls to coordinate the clinic at the library, aren’t you?”

  “Yeah, but if you need me, I’ll cancel.”

  “Don’t be silly.” He loved that she’d put her own agenda aside for him, but he had no idea what he was going to find out today, or how he’d react. It would be safer for him to deal with it on his own, with Pierce.

  He pulled Daisy onto his chest, and good Lord, she was soft and warm and inviting enough to be dangerous. She lowered her lips to his chin, then kissed his neck and wiggled her body down—making him hard as a rock—so she could kiss his chest again.

  “Careful. I’m not very good at resisting you.”

  “Who says I want to be resisted?” Her hair tumbled in front of her eyes, and she bit her lower lip, looking seductive as hell.

  Luke wrapped his arm around her waist and gently flipped her onto her back, settling his legs between hers. He brushed her hair from her face and gazed into her eyes. “Do you have any idea how much I love you?” A smile formed on her lips, and he kissed her softly. “I love that you help your family.” He kissed her again. “I love that you take care of others.” He kissed her neck and pressed his hips into hers, then whispered in her ear, “I love the way you feel beneath me.”

  Her fingers slipped beneath his briefs, and the feel of her soft hands pressing on his ass as she rocked her hips sent a shudder through him. She tugged his briefs down and he made quick work of taking them off. He straddled her and came up on his knees.

  “Now, this is a litt
le unfair. I’m naked as a jaybird and you’re dressed in your silky…” He drew her cami up and lowered his mouth to her breast. “Seductive top.” He laved her breast, feeling her nipple pebble beneath his tongue as he pulled her top off and tossed it aside. “That’s better.” He took her other breast in his mouth and brushed his thumb over her other nipple.

  “Oh God, Luke…”

  He kissed his way down her body to her panties. “You’re still way too clothed.” He snagged the silky material with his teeth and dragged them down to her thighs; then he licked her sweet center. She breathed harder, and her thighs tensed as she rocked against his mouth. He loved how her body reacted to him. He slid his fingers inside of her, and she gripped his shoulders. He’d learned how to take her right up to the brink of release, and when she began sucking in halted gasps of air, he drew his mouth away and stroked her inner thighs with his tongue while he rubbed the sensitive nub that he knew would take her over the edge. She writhed beneath him, making sexy little noises that were driving him out of his mind. He came back to her center to taste her again as he reached up and squeezed her nipple.

  She gasped a sharp breath.

  Her body began to tremble, and her inner muscles clamped down, pulsating around his fingers as she rocked into him, panting with need. He moved up her body and took her in a deep, hard kiss. Jesus, he loved making love to her. Before she could come down from the peak, he drove into her. Her eyes flew open, and she sucked in a breath, clawing at his shoulders, his arms, wherever she could find purchase.

  She bit down on his shoulder. He nearly came from the exquisite pain, sending him into a frantic frenzy of kissing, sucking, licking her neck, her shoulder, her cheek. He groped her breasts. She felt so damn good, he had to thrust harder, faster, deeper. Her head fell back, and she cried out a loud sound of pleasure. Her beauty was mesmerizing. Luke slowed his pace, wanting more of her, more time with her. He wanted to feel her body clamp down around him again, and he drew himself out, teasing her with the tip, until she opened her eyes wide and clenched her teeth.