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

by Melissa Foster

  He rolled down the window and let the crisp summer air whisk him clean of any remnants of the past. When they reached Hal’s ranch and his motorcycle came into view, more puzzle pieces fell into place.

  My bike. No locked doors.

  Luke waited for the pain to grip him. He waited for the ache that he thought he’d just left behind. He stepped from the SUV and was surprised to feel lighter, more in control than ever before. He embraced Hal and Pierce, thanked them, and still…no pain.

  Buddy. My father. He taunted the pain. Still no reaction.

  A smile formed on his lips.

  He was ready to move forward. Damn ready.

  Chapter Twenty

  DAISY FOUND ROSS in the barn with Shaley.

  “Hey, Daisy.” He finished dressing Shaley’s leg. “I just gave her a chance to nurse and brought her back in. I wanted to check for infection since Luke was in Weston.” Ross picked up his supplies and came out of the stall. “She’s doing great. Her wound looks clean, no signs of infection. She can go back in the pasture tomorrow.”

  “That’s great. She’s such a sweet girl, and Luke worries so much about her.” She walked with Ross back out toward his truck.

  “Luke said you were thinking about practicing in New York or Chicago. Have you decided where you’ll go?” Ross put his supplies in the back of his truck.

  “Not yet.” She looked out over the pasture. This was her favorite time of day, when darkness hasn’t quite settled in and the heat of the afternoon had lifted. “It’ll be hard to leave if I decide to. I mean, look around. You can’t get this in a city.”

  Ross smiled as he climbed into his truck. “That’s why I’m here. Tell Luke to call if he needs me. Good to see you.”

  Daisy headed back down to the barn to see Shaley, comforted that Ross had already checked on her and that she’d already nursed. Support seemed to be popping up everywhere in Trusty. Her mind traveled to her afternoon. The meeting at the library had gone well, and as promised, Kevin, Kari, Lynn, Jerri, and Tracie had all shown up. Betty and Alice were prepared with lists of parents who had asked for appointments. After working her way through the PTA membership to enlist the help of others—the generosity of her time and energy totally blew Daisy away—Betty had prepared a newsletter for Daisy to review. Tomorrow she would distribute it through each of the school’s email lists. They developed a system for the clinic to ensure it would run as smoothly and efficiently as possible. They’d worked together like friends. A team. A community.

  Daisy was still reeling from their support when she heard Luke’s bike rumble down the driveway. She closed Shaley’s stall and went to meet him. He stepped from the bike and whipped off his helmet. Her breath caught in her throat—would that ever stop? The man literally took her breath away. A wide smile lit up his face and when it reached his eyes it took her by surprise. She thought he’d be solemn, maybe even angry, after an afternoon spent learning about the man who had abandoned him. She ran the last few feet and jumped into his arms. He held her close and pressed fast, loving kisses to her cheeks, lips, and chin. Magical kisses. He lowered her to the ground, held tight, and kept her close.

  “I say it every time I see you, but God, I missed you.” He kissed her again.

  “Me too, you.” Everything felt different. It wasn’t just his eyes. He felt different. “How did it go?”

  Luke cupped her cheeks with his big hands and tilted her back, so their eyes locked. He didn’t speak, or move to kiss her, but as she searched his eyes, she saw emotions moving, changing, passing. Love, sadness, hope. Daisy tightened her grip on his waist and she felt his muscles shift against her fingers.

  He nodded, and his glassy eyes told her that it had gone well. He cleared his throat and pressed his lips together. He pulled his shoulders back, stood up taller. The rawness of his emotions told her he needed time. A need Daisy understood well.

  She took his hand. “Ross was here. He took Shaley out to nurse, and he checked her wound. He said she’s doing great.”

  He nodded and they walked silently down to the barn. He sat with Shaley for a few minutes, kissed the foal’s head; then he looked seriously at the door that led to the apartment above the barn. He pulled his phone from his pocket.

  “I’m texting Emily and telling her that I’m done with changes. She can move forward with the apartment.” He sent a text, then shoved the phone back in his pocket.

  “Done? What about the alcove you wanted her to design?”

  He reached for Daisy’s hand. “I must have been filling a gap. It’s like today took that last inkling of restlessness away.” He shrugged as they walked toward the stone fire pit on his back patio, where he set to work building a small fire.

  “Today cleared up so many things for me, Dais.” With the fire lit, he drew her to his side. “I was trying to figure out how to put it all into words. I didn’t mean to shut you out.” He kissed her temple and she snuggled against his side.

  “I know. I didn’t feel shut out.”

  He withdrew an envelope from his back pocket and held it up. “This has Buddy’s info in it.”

  “But it’s sealed.”

  Luke nodded. “That, it is. I haven’t opened it.” He looked out over the mountains and exhaled, a long, low breath. The fire glistened in his eyes. “He was a greedy man.” He shrugged. “My brothers were right. I know enough about him now, and honestly, his leaving should have told me everything I needed to know.” He ran his fingers over the envelope. “I’ve always believed that I could figure out a person by their actions. That knowledge has always been right there before my eyes, and I’ve lived by it. Except where Buddy was concerned. He was a mystery to me. He’s no longer a mystery. He was a thief, a rotten man. He’s in the past now, Daisy. Done. Buried.” He looked at her and his eyes grew serious. “It just dawned on me that you might worry that I’ll turn out like him. Huh.” He shrugged. “I think—”

  She placed her hand on his cheek and drew his eyes to hers. “No, Luke. I don’t think you could be a rotten man if you tried. You’re loving. So loving, it blows me away. You’re kind, generous, protective. You’re…Oh, Luke, you’re the best man I know, and I love everything about you. It wouldn’t matter who your father was. You see, that thing you said about how you know who someone is by how they treat others? That’s all I ever needed to know who you were. But are you okay?” she asked in a tender, thin voice.

  “More than okay.” He kissed her softly. “I understand more about myself than I ever have, and I’m at peace with who he was and that he left.” He searched her eyes, and the hope and surety in his drew her in. “Daisy, do you believe in fate?”

  “I…” Oh God. Did she? “I don’t know. Maybe. Kind of.” Daisy was a doctor. She worked on tangible evidence, facts. Scientific evidence, if possible. Not hopes and dreams and cosmic forces. She was there in Trusty by coincidence. Coincidence. Not fate. Wasn’t she? Luke’s eyes were dark tunnels that led right to his emotions, his fears, his soul, and, God, she loved him. Was that fate?

  He placed the envelope in the fire. The edges of the thick paper sizzled red, then flamed orange and yellow. Thick black smoke rose in fluid waves and dissipated into the night sky. It was all Daisy could do to watch the evidence he’d chased go up in flames.

  “I believe in fate, Dais.” He took her hand and led her to the wooden bench. “I never did, until you came along. I’ve been thinking about it. I love my ranch, and honestly, I love it here in Trusty. I love you, and when I see my future, I can’t imagine it without you.”

  Daisy’s stomach twisted. But…

  “But I’m not sure I’m a big-city type of guy.”

  Her entire body went numb. She couldn’t feel her legs, and she was sure she’d stopped breathing. She couldn’t even shift her eyes to look into his. This was the end. The ultimatum. The live here or lose me moment.

  She felt his hand on her leg, but was unable to reach out and touch it. Her brain wasn’t working. Her heart was crumbling ins
ide her chest, and she was afraid to try to move for fear of falling over. She felt his arm wrap around her shoulder as he scooted closer, his side pressed against hers. Tears filled her eyes and she tried to blink them away.

  “So I was thinking…”

  Thinking.

  “You probably aren’t sure if you’re a small-town girl anymore, either, so…”

  Oh God. Just say it! So we should break up. Say it quick so my heart can fall apart all at once and I don’t have to die a slow, painful death.

  “Dais, you’re shaking.” He pulled her closer. “Are you okay?”

  Not even close. “Mm-hm,” she managed.

  “I was thinking that if you want to stay together, which I hope you do, then maybe there is a way we could find a middle ground, you know? Like if you take one of those jobs, we could live outside of the city. Close enough for you to commute and far enough for me to run some kind of ranch.”

  What…what are you saying? She tried to concentrate, but she was stuck in heartbreak mode.

  “Dais?” He lifted her chin so she was looking into his serious, dark eyes. “What’s wrong?”

  Nothing. Everything. “What…? You…You would move with me?”

  “Isn’t that what I just said?”

  “I don’t…” She was breathing so hard she had to hold on to his shirt just to remain upright. “Yes?”

  A smile spread across his handsome face. “Yes. Yes, Daisy.”

  “But…You might hate it there.” I might hate it there. As surprising as it was to her, Daisy was coming to feel at home at Trusty.

  “We could live in Alaska, and as long as we were together, I would find a way to love Alaska.” He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and rested his forehead against hers. “I love you, Daisy, and people who love each other do whatever it takes to help each other be the best they can be and achieve their dreams. If your dream is to be a big-city doctor, then that’s what you need to be.”

  “Oh God, Luke.” She let out a breath and wiped her eyes. “I thought you were breaking up with me.”

  He drew back, his brows knitted together. “Have a little faith, Dais.” He pulled her close again.

  “What about your family? You’d be so far away.”

  “I love my family, Daisy, but when you start your own family, you do what’s best for them. You’ve worked too hard to leave your dreams behind.”

  Best for them? Was it best to be far from family? If they married and had children, would it be best for them not to grow up knowing her father’s farm the way she did?

  “And what about your dreams?”

  His face grew serious. “Until I met you, I didn’t have dreams. I love my girls, and I love my ranch, but they’re not dreams, Daisy. They’re what I do for work, and if we move, my girls—our girls—come with us. You’re my dream, Daisy. I can buy a ranch anywhere you want to live.”

  “And what if I want to stay in Trusty?” Daisy was afraid to give him hope that she’d decide to stay, but she felt herself pulled in that direction with every passing hour.

  “Do you?” he asked hopefully.

  She wished she had an answer, but this was too big of a decision to jump into without being one hundred percent sure. Knowing Luke was willing to move with her took the pressure off. Now I can make a decision based on where I want to work instead of where the man I love wants to live.

  The selfishness of that thought settled heavily around her. How was she ever going to make this decision?

  Chapter Twenty-One

  DAISY USUALLY SLEPT for another hour, but the clinic for the children’s physicals opened at eight, and the deadline for her job offers was upon her. Her mind ran in circles and every nerve in her body prickled her awake. More than a week had passed since Luke said he would move wherever Daisy decided to accept a job. Daisy lay in the crook of Luke’s arm the following Saturday morning, listening to the even, peaceful cadence of his breathing and the sounds of the horses filtering in through the open window. Her eyes skittered over her perfume bottle, hairbrush, and earring tree, all lined up next to his cologne and a photograph of his girls on his dresser. Her eyes settled on the two thick envelopes beside the picture frame. Her offer letters. Cuddled up with Luke, in his house that had somehow become her home, she was having trouble remembering what had seemed so enticing about living in a busy city and working a million hours a week.

  Her mind drifted to her parents. She and Luke had helped her father by delivering hay the other evening, and when they’d arrived at the farm, he was just coming in from what had become his nightly walk. Her father had surprised her again when he’d asked Luke’s advice about the crops for next year. She’d never seen her father ask anyone for advice about farming. Progress. He was up and around, and he’d decided to hire a manager for the farm. He was fairly settled, or at least he had a plan in place. She was free to leave. Then again, hadn’t she always been?

  She anticipated the alarm and turned it off. In a few minutes, Luke would wake, shower, and head out to care for the girls. God, she loved those horses. Horses weren’t like cars or clothing. They had feelings, too. How could she ask Luke to uproot them and start over? Shaley was just beginning to trust her surroundings, and she knew trust was everything when it came to training horses. The thought of moving them brought a lump to her throat.

  She kissed Luke’s cheek to wake him, and he reflexively pulled her closer. She stroked his unshaven cheek—God, she loved his face—and kissed him again, drawing a sensual moan, followed by a sigh as he opened his eyes.

  “Today’s your big day,” he said in a sleepy, sexy voice. “Are you nervous or excited?”

  Scared shitless. “Both. Still in shock that Lynn, Jerri, and Tracie are really going to help.” She’d expected Kari and Kevin to be on board, but the girls who’d made her life hell? No way.

  “I told you—that was ages ago. Life has a funny way of making people grow up.” He sat up and pulled her against his bare chest.

  She murmured against his pecs. She was a doctor, and she knew that with age his muscles would atrophy and his skin would wrinkle like leather from years spent in the sun. And when that happened, she knew her love would remain as strong. Those features were just the sexy packaging that initially drew her in, but it was Luke—loving, compassionate, protective, intelligent, fiercely loyal Luke—who made her melt in his arms. Those traits were more beautiful and seductive than all of the rest put together. And that would never change.

  While Luke was in the shower, his phone vibrated with a text. She reached for his phone without thinking and read the text from Emily. Tell Daisy I said good luck today! She’ll do great! Xox.

  It struck her that she’d just read a text meant for him—and she hadn’t hesitated. What did that mean? It felt natural. Would he have done it? Was their relationship strong enough for her to feel that way? She listened to the shower water running for a minute as she thought about it. She glanced at her personal things on the dresser and knew she had clothes hanging in his closet, her razor in his shower. With a sigh, she clutched the phone to her chest.

  Yeah, it’s strong enough, and it feels good. How could she move away from this?

  She read the text again. How can I move away from that? A woman who was quickly becoming a friend who cared enough to wish her luck at five in the morning, and the sister of the man she loved, to boot?

  She buried her face in the pillow and groaned.

  EVERY CHAIR IN the library was full. Kids read books while their parents filled out the necessary medical forms. They were using two rooms at the library as exam rooms, and she and Kevin were more than ready to begin handling physicals. Daisy took a deep breath. Her phone vibrated with a text from Luke. It was a picture of him at arm’s length, standing in front of the girls. His eyes were bright, and his smile warmed her all over. The caption read, We’re so proud of you! Love you! God, she loved him. She’d thought it a million times, and she’d probably think it a million times more—this hour.


  She wanted to remember this moment forever. She wished Dr. Waxman were there. Oh, what she’d give to see his face on the first day of the very first clinic she would ever manage. She surveyed the people out front again, and her stomach flipped and twisted. She was surrounded by at least a dozen people she’d gone to high school with, most of whom had either teased her or done nothing to deflate the rumors that had circulated about her.

  Things really could change. People could change.

  She touched her dark hair, and for the first time in several years, considered going back to her natural white-blond shade.

  Tracie sat at the registration desk of the library with a sign-in sheet, handing out medical forms to the parents for completion. They had a system in place, and Daisy realized that she couldn’t have made this work without the help of the other women. Lynn was taking the completed forms and preparing charts for each patient, and in a few minutes, Jerri would bring the patients and their charts back and keep the process moving efficiently, fitting in as many physicals as they were able. Kari was in charge of keeping shots and medical supplies stocked in each room. They were working together. A team.

  A community.

  My community.

  “Can you believe you’re doing this with their support?” Kevin asked, nodding toward the women who had come to help.

  “There are so many things about being here that have taken me by surprise, but yeah. I’m starting to believe in miracles.” She touched his arm, and the thought of leaving their friendship behind again was too painful to consider. They’d burned the cell phone lines up while they were in college and when she was in medical school and during her residency. She’d never had girlfriends, but she’d had Kevin, and that was enough for her.

  “Kev, thanks for always being there.”

  “I’m still counting on you to find me a sexy stranger to fall in love with.” He took a deep breath. “You ready to take this show on the road?”