Missy's Moment (The West Series Book 4)

by Jill Sanders

  She shook her head and continued. “If you continue to treat your body like it’s a plaything instead of a well-oiled machine, you won’t be using it much longer.” She tossed the tweezers on the tray, picked up a threaded needle, and began to place tiny stitches into his skin.

  “Are you a doctor?” He frowned, causing her to pause.

  “No.” She frowned back at him. “The doctor is away at lunch. Would you like to wait an hour and have Dr. Conner put these in instead?”

  “No, it’s just that…” He trailed off. “No, ma’am.”

  She nodded and got back to work. She was fast and very efficient, and her stitches looked better than those he’d received from some of the best doctors around. She placed a white bandage over the wound.

  She examined his leg, moving her hands gently over his hairy muscles. It was pure torture to sit still. She finally nodded and said, “You’ll need to stay off your leg for a few hours. No horseback riding for at least a week. You can come back then and we’ll remove the stitches. Take a few aspirin when you get home.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He was already thinking about riding again, when she tugged on his sleeve.

  “I mean it, Reece. No riding until I say so.” She frowned at him.

  “Go out with me this weekend,” he blurted out. Normally he didn’t just bark out a date request. Maybe it was the pain blocking his normally smooth personality.

  She looked at him and a small smile formed on her lips.

  “I don’t date patients, Mr. West.” She turned around and tossed him his pants. “You’re free to go.” She looked at him one last time and then walked out of the room, leaving him wishing he hadn’t fallen off the damn horse.

  Melissa walked into her small office and leaned against the closed door. Her fingers were still shaking and when she tried to calm her heart down, she felt it jump in her chest.

  What had she done? Why had she turned him down? Reece West was the sexiest man she’d met in a long time. Why, oh why, hadn’t she noticed how sexy he was at her brother’s wedding? Shaking her head clear, she remembered she’d been in a relationship at the time and frowned.

  Now it was best for her to focus on her work. In the last few months, she’d turned the little clinic around. They were saving money and getting patients through faster and more efficiently.

  Dr. Conner—Chris, as he wanted her to call him—had asked her out on several occasions. Each time she’d politely informed him that she didn’t date coworkers. She was beginning to wonder why she was making so many excuses to get out of going on a date. After all, it was just a date.

  Just as she picked up a folder to glance at the next patient information, her office door opened. She looked up through her reading glasses as Reece walked into her office with a smile on his face.

  “I like the specs,” he said as he walked over and sat in the chair opposite her.

  “Mr. West, maybe I didn’t make myself clear. You are free to go.”

  “Oh, you were very clear about that. Just not the other issue.” He leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest.

  “Other issue?” She removed her glasses and was surprised when he frowned a little as she placed them on the desk beside her.

  “Why you wouldn’t go out on a date with me. After all, when you live in a town of three thousand people, everyone’s bound to be a patient of yours at one point or another.”

  She frowned. He was right and she hated to admit it.

  “Have you ever thought that maybe I just don’t want to go out with you?”

  He shook his head. “Not with the way you were looking at me back there with my pants off.” He nodded towards the door and smiled. “What harm would it do? It’s just a date.”

  She’d just told herself the same thing less than a minute ago, and she couldn’t lie to herself—she was very attracted to him. So much so, that her hands started to shake again, and she pushed them under the desk and nodded.

  “Fine, one date.” She watched his lips turn up into a sexy grin.

  “Great.” He got up, and she noticed that he winced a little.

  “Do you need help?” She was beside him in an instant. Her arms wrapped around his narrow waist, and she held him steady so he wouldn’t fall.

  When he held still, she looked up into his face and realized she’d walked right into his trap. She was exactly where he wanted her to be—in his arms. When she tried to pull away, he shook his head and frowned.

  “No, hang on a sec.” He dipped his head and when his lips met hers, she felt her toes curl and the wind was knocked from her lungs.

  He took his time exploring her lips, softly running his over hers until she sighed and opened her mouth to his exploration.

  She didn’t know how long they stood there like that, but when he finally released her, they were both breathless.

  “Friday, six o’clock,” he said softly.

  She couldn’t speak, so instead she nodded and watched him slowly walk out. She noticed the slight limp as he made his way down the hallway towards the waiting area.

  Closing the door, she rested her forehead against the cool wood and sighed. She was in trouble.

  Then she realized she really was in trouble. It had been almost a year since she’d been on a date with anyone. She had absolutely nothing to wear.

  Rushing over to her desk, she picked up her office phone and dialed the bookstore. Holly had taken over the small store when her mother had retired to Florida. Books were Holly’s life. That and fashion.

  Her friend not only knew all the latest trends, she wore them. You wouldn’t know it to look at the slight, red-haired bookseller, but the girl was a whirlwind at putting outfits together. Not only clothes, but hair and make-up as well.

  “Holly, it’s Melissa. I need your help. I’ve got a date this Friday and I need your fashion help.”

  “Who with?” Holly broke in.

  “Reece West.”

  “Ohhhhh.”

  “I know. Oh my God! Why didn’t anyone tell me how sexy the man was?” She leaned back in her chair and remembered how he had looked in his boxer shorts and shirt.

  “You’ve met the West twins before. At least I think you have. Well, anyway, I’m sure I’ve mentioned them tons of times.”

  Melissa shook her head. “I don’t remember.”

  “Oh, well…” Holly sighed. “I ran into Reece yesterday at the Grocery Stop. My, oh, my. Anyway, swing by the bookstore after closing and you can tell me all. We’ll come up with something for Friday.”

  “Sounds great. I’ll see you then.” She had a hard time concentrating the rest of the day. Her lips still vibrated from the kiss. Every time she had a moment to herself, she found herself day dreaming about Reece.

  Finally, at a quarter after six, she walked out the front door of the clinic and waved bye to the night shift nurse, Kimberly.

  She walked the four blocks to the bookstore instead of driving. The weather was finally getting warm enough that she didn’t have to put on her light jacket.

  When she walked into the bookstore, the bell chimed above the door. Holly served cappuccinos and baked goods as well as selling books and small novelty items. There was a line of regulars that had stopped by the place to get their latte fix and some of the best banana walnut bread anywhere. Holly had received the recipe from her mother along with the business.

  The place was large. The building owner had rebuilt the front of the store after the tornado had wiped it out, but much of the place was still out of date. Holly had mentioned that she was working out a plan with the current owner about doing some more updates, but Melissa thought she should just find another building.

  “Hi,” Holly said from behind the counter.

  “Hi. Busy day?” She looked around the store and saw several people browsing the aisles.

  “It was great for a Wednesday. You?”

  She shrugged her shoulders. “The usual. Bumps, cuts, and bruises. Mr. MacKalaster came in with a broken finge
r. Apparently his cat slammed the piano top on it when he was playing.”

  Holly giggled. “Do you remember how many hours we spent pounding away at those keys during practice?”

  “I know. How many times did we wish we could break his fingers because he would tap our knuckles with a ruler when we hit the wrong key?”

  They giggled, then sobered. “Well, that’s too bad. I hope he will make a speedy recovery,” Holly said, looking around the store.

  “Yes.” Melissa cleared her throat, knowing it wouldn’t do to have the head nurse at the local clinic laughing about someone’s injuries. “Well, it was just his middle finger.” She giggled again and tried to cover it up with a cough.

  Holly smiled. “It’s almost closing time. Why don’t I grab you a latte and you can look through some of these magazines to help you get an idea of what you want to wear?”

  She nodded. “I’ll have a piece of banana bread too, if you have any left.”

  Holly smiled. “I saved you a piece.”

  Chapter Three

  By the time Reece walked into his place later that night, he felt like he’d been kicked in the chest instead of knocked off a horse. His leg hurt like a hell, and he was covered in sweat and dust.

  He’d been told to stay off a horse, but not to steer clear of the creatures. Breaking horses was much more than just plopping down on their backs and holding on. It took weeks, sometimes months, of getting an animal to trust you. You had to teach them how to be on a lead, how to take a bit in their mouths and not bite your fingers while they were at it. He looked down at his bruised thumb and frowned.

  Then you had to get them used to the weight of the blanket and saddle. He sat down on the couch and sighed, wishing too late that he’d thought of grabbing a cold beer from his fridge. Pulling himself off the couch, he walked into the kitchen and popped the top off a Corona Light.

  Everyone gave him shit about drinking light beer and stopping after one, but he didn’t mind. He actually enjoyed the taste a lot better.

  Opening up the back sliding door, he stepped out onto the back deck and leaned against the railing. The sun was just setting over the hills and the fields had turned a dark shade of amber. The night sky had yet to turn dark, reminding him of the sexy blue eyes which had looked at him with such concern earlier that day.

  He looked down at his torn jeans and noticed that the white bandage was now covered in dirt and sweat. He knew he would have to replace it after he showered and wished that Melissa was here to do the job for him. He didn’t know why he turned into a baby when he saw blood, but he’d done everything he could over the last few years to avoid looking at it, including having someone else dress his wounds.

  When the sun finally dipped below the hills, he went inside, peeled off his clothes, and threw them in the hamper. He walked to the bathroom, turned on the shower, and stepped in.

  He had hoped that the hot water would remove the bandage for him, but when he stepped out half an hour later, the tape was still stuck to his thigh.

  “Damn.” He sat on the edge of the tub and started to peel the tape aside. When it was finally removed, along with half of the hair on his leg, he looked at the small stitches. Nine of them. Since she’d cleaned most of the blood, he didn’t feel the weakness come over him like he normally did.

  He pulled open the shopping bag full of bandages he and Chase had purchased earlier. Ripping a box open, he grabbed the biggest bandage and put it over the cut and smiled at the job well done.

  The next morning he found it very hard to get out of bed. Every muscle in his body ached. It had been a while since he’d spent a full day working like he’d done yesterday. And then he’d been thrown from a horse on top of it all.

  Three months. Three long months now since he’d been tossed around like a rag doll and stepped on repeatedly by that horse in Montana. Five years ago, it would have taken him half this time to be back on his feet, but now…He stood and looked at himself in the mirror and frowned. He was getting old. Why was twenty-five feeling like thirty-five? He looked down at the row of scars that ran over his chest and legs. Battle scars. Some were so small, he’d forgotten he had them. Others, like the one over his outer thigh, which he now ran his fingertips over, were a lot bigger and meaner and he remembered every pain-filled moment.

  Tossing on some clean jeans and a shirt, he pulled his boot on over the compression sock he wore on his left ankle. When he rode, he wore one on his wrist, elbow, and knees. They seemed to help his achy joints.

  When he walked up to the big barn, Chase was out front working with the horse from yesterday.

  “Did I hear your wife call this beauty Ralph yesterday?”

  Chase chuckled. “Yeah. Your cousins have a way with naming animals.”

  “Tell me about it.” He shook his head and started to climb into the corral.

  “Oh, no, you don’t.” Alex walked down from the front porch. “I heard about your spill yesterday.” She stopped right in front of him. “Don’t think for a moment that I’m going to let you mess around with my horse for a while.” She pointed at his chest.

  “Your horse?” He looked at Chase and laughed. “Ralph here is yours?”

  “Yes. Why?” She frowned.

  “It’s just…” He broke off and sobered when Chase shook his head quickly. “Nothing.”

  “What?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

  “He’s a beast. How do you expect that you’ll ever ride him? I mean, he’s over four years old and hasn’t been broken.”

  “I know.” She walked over to the fence and smiled at the animal, who Chase was running on a lead. “He’s beautiful, isn’t he?” She glanced at Reece.

  “Well, yes. Tell me he’s a gift for Grant.”

  She shook her head no. “He’s all mine.”

  “Alex…” He walked over and took her shoulders. “That horse has too much spunk for you. He’ll end up killing you. You have a baby now. Why don’t you pick a nice quiet older horse?” He nodded to one that was standing along the fence with its eyes closed. “Like that one.”

  Alex looked and then laughed. “I’m a mother, not dead. Besides, that’s Dash, Haley’s horse. Laura can crawl faster than he can run.”

  He looked at the old beast. “That’s Dash? I thought he died years ago.”

  “Nope, still kicking around.” She smiled. “He’s going to live to be a zillion years old. Haley told me.” She smiled and sighed, looking back at the beautiful palomino running in circles. “I’ve wanted Ralph here for years. Mr. Hobby had him up on the dairy farm, and I would drive by every week and watch him run.” She rested her foot up on the bottom rung next to his.

  “I still don’t think it’s a great idea. I mean, this horse is better suited for busting.”

  She glared at him. “I thought you were done with busting?”

  He shook his head. “I’ll never be done with it.”

  “We had hoped that you would be.” She nodded towards the horse. “I’ve seen you at your best and I can’t deny that you have a way with horses. But I’ve also seen you at your worst. You’ve some recovering to do yet.” She closed her eyes and then turned to him. “You’ve broken a lot of horses in your day. What do you honestly think?” She nodded to the horse that was bucking around the small corral.

  He’d seen the fire in its eyes and felt it quiver under him and knew what the horse wanted. It had too much spirit to become someone’s ride. “He’s meant for busting. We could break him. It would take some doing”—he looked at Alex again—“but he was meant to be wild.”

  She sighed and he saw her shoulders hunch a little. “I had hoped…” She shook her head and he watched a tear escape her eyes. “You’ll be the first to ride him?” She rested her hand on his, her brown eyes pleading.

  He smiled and nodded. “When we’re both ready.”

  She was a wreck. She’d gone into Tyler and gotten her hair colored and had a manicure and pedicure to boot. It had been almost a full
year since she’d splurged on herself. It would have been better had Holly or Haley been able to go with her, but Holly was busy with her bookstore and Haley with the twins. But both of her friends had promised to have a girls’ night soon.

  She’d even stopped off at the mall and gotten some new clothes. Thanks to the pictures Holly had shown her, it was easy to pick out the colors and styles that looked great on her.

  She stood looking at herself in the mirror, and while she thought she looked absolutely gorgeous, she felt like a wreck on the inside. She was so nervous, she didn’t think she could go through with the evening.

  Someone knocked on her door and she turned to see Alex walk in with the baby on her hip.

  “Don’t you look perfect.” She smiled and walked over to her. “That color blue goes perfectly with your eyes. Oh!” she exclaimed making the sleepy baby in her arms squirm, “look at those shoes.” She tilted her head and smiled. “I miss wearing shoes like that.” Her smile turned into a slight frown.

  “Sounds like someone needs some mommy and daddy time. Maybe Aunt Melissa can babysit one night?” she said brushing a strand of blonde hair away from her niece’s eyes.

  “I’d love some mommy and daddy time.” Alex smiled at her.

  “Who gets mommy and daddy time?” Grant asked from the doorway as he walked over and took the baby from his wife and then planted a kiss on her chubby cheek.

  “We do. Your sister is going to babysit sometime so we can hit the town.” Alex did a little dance. “I’ll get to wear sexy shoes again.”

  He smiled. “I like your boots, but a date night would be great.” Then he turned to Melissa. “Wow, sis. Lookin’ good.”

  She smiled. “Thanks.” Just then the doorbell rang and the butterflies jumped in her stomach. “Why am I so nervous?” she groaned.

  Alex chuckled. “Because you’re going out with a West. We’ve been known to make a few hearts flutter.” She smiled and rushed to answer the door.

  “Should I be worried?” Grant asked, shifting Laura. The baby was now completely asleep in her daddy’s arms.