Harlequin Superromance January 2014 - Bundle 2 of 2: A Ranch for His FamilyCowgirl in High HeelsA Man to Believe In

by Hope Navarre

  Doc rested a hand on Cassie’s shoulder, giving her a moment to get comfortable once more. “Nice of you to call me beautiful, Peter. I haven’t heard that in a long time.”

  Peter chuckled. “You’ll have to get used to it, Doc.”

  Beth objected. “Hey, I thought he was calling me beautiful.”

  Cassie laughed. “No, Mom. I think he meant Doc. For sure.”

  Doc shook his head. “Okay, stud. You keep holding your new girlfriend’s hand while we get this finished. Hopefully, she’ll break your fingers when she grips hard.”

  Cassie laughed. The painkillers were kicking in because she felt like she could sing from the rafters. “Now concentrate, Doc. I want to get off this table as quickly as possible.”

  Doc gently probed the area. “This will pinch. Try not to move and be patient with me while I draw some cells.”

  When Cassie closed her eyes as Doc siphoned the cells, Peter wrapped her hand in both of his until she looked at him again. Having her head turned in his direction helped her to focus without moving.

  If he were concerned for her, he masked it well. “So where shall we go for dinner tonight? I want to take you and Beth out as thanks for the great lasagna.”

  Beth, who stood at Doc’s elbow, shook her head. “What a sweet gesture, but totally unnecessary, Peter. Besides, I’ve made plans for tonight.”

  Cassie frowned, unwilling to speak while Doc still worked on the lymph node.

  “Almost done, Cassie. You’re doing great. Thank you for not moving.”

  Within seconds, he removed the needle and passed it to Beth. She took it to the counter to prepare for the lab.

  Doc treated and covered the node. He hesitated before helping Cassie sit up. “You okay? Not light-headed?”

  For some stupid reason, tears threatened. Not that Doc had hurt her. The extraction was uncomfortable, nothing she’d opt to do again, but not awful. Probably just the pressure of dealing with the possibility of illness had finally hit her. She cleared her throat. “I’ve dealt with worse. I’m okay.”

  He patted her arm. “You were the perfect patient, Cassie. Now, why don’t you go home and sleep for a while.”

  Peter stood. “I’ll take her home. I don’t have to sign in until noon.”

  Beth turned, giving Cassie a questioning glance that said she’d do whatever her daughter decided.

  Cassie gently explored the bandage around the lymph node as she weighed her options. Beth would have no problem letting Peter take her home. Her confidence that this procedure was routine and manageable was fortifying for Cassie. It had been a few weeks since Beth had visited Mercy. She’d probably appreciate the extra time to catch up with her friends.

  Meanwhile, Peter had this eager-beaver look on his face, like he was raring to take over and do whatever her heart desired. She found it endearing, a bit overbearing for her liking, but she’d already decided to push outside her comfort zone for a while. Test the waters. Trust him.

  “Mom, if you don’t mind, I’ll let Peter take me home. I know it’s been a while since you’ve been here. This way you don’t have to rush away.”

  Beth nodded. “Whatever you prefer, honey. I came here solely for you.”

  Doc lit up. “How about a cup of coffee, Beth? I want to tell you about the imagery machine we’ve scored.”

  The fact that Doc and Mom started talking hospital business, as if the biopsy were commonplace, helped calm her nerves. Although a bit rattled emotionally, except for the pain around the lymph node, she probably could go back to work if she chose. Taking the afternoon off, however, would be a treat if only to steal a few hours to regroup.

  “I’ll be home by the time Peter heads back here, Cassie. Does that work for you?”

  She smiled and let Doc help her stand from the table. “Perfect.” She kissed Doc on the cheek. “Thanks. You did a great job. It didn’t hurt a bit.”

  * * *

  BETH MICHAELS HEADED for the coffee shop to get two coffees. Doc had to take an emergency phone call and had asked her if she’d mind bringing the drinks to his office. She welcomed—no, needed—the moments alone. It had taken every single ounce of strength she owned not to start trembling while assisting Doc in Cassie’s biopsy. She wanted to regroup before airing her concerns to her friend.

  Watching her daughter lie on that table, turning her head and staring into Peter’s eyes to keep herself from crying, wrenched Beth’s heart. Worse, the sight tore open her own trauma of her ordeal with cancer twenty years ago. Memories she’d pushed so far into the back of her mind came flooding back.

  She would have done anything to have Bobby sitting in Peter’s seat when she had started her treatment.

  “Oh, God!” She covered her mouth with a trembling hand as she pushed into the coffee shop. She had to pull herself together.

  No sooner had Doc hung up the phone than she appeared in his doorway. He stood, accepted the drink and ushered Beth to the couch by the coffee table. They’d spent many hours there in the past discussing patients, life. His first wife’s death. Beth appreciated the familiarity of their longtime habits and was comforted just by being in his company.

  Worry creased his brow. “Beth, I saw the panic in your eyes with Cassie.”

  “Oh, John, we both know she’s sick.”

  He watched her a long moment. “If she’s anything like her mother, she’ll beat whatever condition we find.”

  Beth inhaled a breath. “I didn’t expect the memories to hit so hard.”

  He reached for her hand. “Are you okay?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  “What can I do for you, Beth?”

  She looked at him, incredulous. “There hasn’t been a moment in my life where you haven’t been there for me. Saying the right thing. Saying nothing. I’ve always known I can rely on you.”

  He smiled, squeezed her hand. “You’ve been there for me, too, Beth. We have a wonderful friendship.”

  She searched his eyes. “Sometimes I think we should have dated way back when.”

  He laughed. “But we didn’t. Go figure. You’re not happy with Bobby gone all the time. You would have hated my doctor’s hours.”

  She sipped her coffee. “No joke there. And all those women who fall in love with their doctor? I would have ended up in jail for assault.”

  “See? Our friendship remains intact. Hallelujah.”

  They sat in silence for a while, listening to the sounds of the hospital.

  Beth whispered, “I survived, John. What if my baby doesn’t?”

  “We both know you had the greatest odds against your survival. Look what you’ve done. Twenty years and not a sign of recurrence. Cassie comes from your stock, and you women are vigilant in preventive care.”

  “I understand that. Between Judy and me, we can give her all the support she needs.”

  Doc tilted his head to read her better. “Then what has you so twisted up?”

  She compressed her lips, afraid if she spoke the word her world would fall apart.

  “Beth?”

  “It’s Bobby. I don’t want him to do to Cassie what he did to me. My baby is going to need her daddy.”

  Doc captured her hand in both of his. “Bobby will do the right thing, Beth.”

  She shook her head. “I wish I could believe that, John. He left a mountain of wrong between him and me from when I was sick. I don’t know if he can climb over that hurdle to see his way clear for Cassie.”

  He waited for Beth to look at him, then lowered his voice and said, “Well, girl. Maybe you’ll just have to show him the way.”

  Tears filled her eyes. “This is my problem. I don’t think I know how anymore.”

  * * *

  PETER OPENED THE passenger door for Cassie. “You waltzed righ
t out of there without saying a word to anyone at the nurses’ station. Does anybody know you just had a biopsy?”

  “No. Let’s leave it that way for a while. Okay?”

  He climbed into the driver seat while Cassie fastened her seat belt. “Waiting for results first?”

  She shrugged. “Everyone knows my family history. I don’t want to sound any unnecessary alarms.”

  He pulled out of the parking lot. “I understand.”

  Her fingers lifted to the spot above her clavicle where the bandage lay under her blouse. He couldn’t see her eyes through her sunglasses. It seemed as if she wasn’t focusing on anything in particular and her mind was light years away. The painkillers, for sure.

  “You feeling okay?”

  She smiled. “I like your truck. This is my first ride in it.”

  “I like you riding in my truck.”

  Much to his surprise, she reached for his hand. “I was thinking about last night.”

  “Uh-oh. You’re frowning.”

  She laughed. “I wasn’t sure how I’d react when I saw you this morning.”

  “Same here. You left while I was asleep. I thought I disappointed you.”

  She snorted a laugh. “Disappointed me? Really?”

  Relief flooded him. Hell, yes. He’d fallen into a deep sleep because she’d satisfied him like no woman ever had. She felt warm, contented and perfect in his arms while she dozed. The last thing that crossed his mind was that Cassie suited him, body and mind, and waking up with her in his arms would be heaven on earth.

  But it hadn’t happened. Waking up on the rug without her in his arms had surprised him. Hundreds of reasons manifested as to why she’d left. All of them his fault. Had he done something wrong? No. She had given herself to him so completely their first night together, but that she had left before he awoke had him thinking his feelings were one-sided. Logic insisted that she’d just gone home to get ready for the biopsy. Somewhere inside, though, he hadn’t been able to shake the thought that he’d not made the grade with the sensuous and sexy Cassie Michaels.

  Now, she was grinning at him. “How many times did I orgasm last night?”

  He grinned in return. “Three?”

  She laughed. “Yeah. In the first hour!”

  “Guess it’s been a long time since your last encounter?”

  She punched his arm. “Could be. But then again...”

  Coming to a red light, he leaned over to steal a quick kiss. She complied, lingering against his lips.

  “I loved making love with you, Peter. Let’s be clear on that one fact.”

  He slid a hand into her hair to keep her face close to his. “I missed you when I woke up and you weren’t there.”

  “It was almost impossible to leave you.”

  “Then why did you?”

  She kissed him one more time before sitting back in her seat. “Nerves. The need to regroup. Think things through.”

  “Would you have stayed if you didn’t have the lab this morning?”

  “Not sure.”

  He brought her hand to his lips. “Last night was monumental for me.”

  She tilted her head. “I pleased you?”

  He sighed. “You’re an angel, Cassie. Did I please you?”

  She laid a palm on his cheek. “Didn’t know if I should handcuff myself to you or run for cover. You’ve got quite the touch.”

  The light changed, and he shook his head. “It’s what you do to me.” He steered the truck up the hill toward her house. “So, dinner tonight?”

  She winced. “I think I’m just going to stay in. I’m pretty beat.”

  He turned off the car and got out to open her door. “I understand.”

  “Want to come in?”

  Well, at least she wasn’t dumping him. “Thought you’d never ask.”

  Her smile did all sorts of wild things to his gut. He captured her hand as they walked toward a little cottage behind the main house. She didn’t seem to mind. He wanted answers. They’d spent a mind-blowing night together. Now, did they have a future? He wasn’t leaving until he found out.

  “You are an amazing woman, Cassie.”

  “Don’t say that because I didn’t cry during the biopsy. God knows I wanted to.”

  “Okay. I won’t.” No, it had nothing to do with the biopsy—even though she had handled it like a pro, but that wasn’t what he’d meant. He held the screen door open so she could unlock the inside door.

  “Would you like some tea, Nurse Chapman?”

  “I would love to make some tea for you. Point me in the right direction.”

  The cottage was small, charming and smelled powdery and outdoorsy like Cassie. The eat-in kitchen and the living area were painted the softest sky-blue set off with white trim. A short hallway led to the back. An overstuffed and inviting couch crowded the living room beneath a bay window with a view to the rising slope beyond. A perfect nest for seduction. He ached to lead her over to the seasoned leather cushions, lay her on the throw pillows and taste her all over again.

  They’d probably have a thing for couches from now on.

  Damn. He had to be at work in an hour. “Nice place you have here. I thought you lived with your folks.”

  “I do. On the same property. My aunt and uncle live next door. My Grandma Mica and Grandpa Phil own the house on the other side of the field out back. My maternal grandmother lived here for years. I moved in after she passed.”

  “Wow. A tightly knit family.” He would have killed to have family that mattered while growing up.

  “Would you prefer coffee?”

  “Here, let me.” He took the teapot from her hands. “Why don’t you make yourself comfortable? I want to take care of you.”

  She waved him away. “I’m okay. Just a little sore, but okay.”

  “But we haven’t kissed yet.”

  She smiled. “We just kissed in the car.”

  He moved in closer, placing the teapot on the white Formica counter. “But we haven’t really kissed in your house yet.”

  He pulled her into his arms, all soft and warm and smelling of Cassie. God, it felt like a lifetime since he’d held her. “Are you going to tell people we’re dating?”

  She tapped his lips, the pads of her fingers like insistent little kisses. “Why don’t we wait to see what the biopsy brings?”

  He grabbed her hand. “Are you kidding me?”

  “No.”

  “Cassie, chances are good you’ve got something that’s going to need attention. Come on. We both know that.”

  She slipped from his arms. “Which is why I didn’t want to start a relationship.”

  He cupped her face with both hands. “Tell me. Do you feel the same way I do about last night?”

  She gently removed his hands from her face. Plugging in the kettle, she tilted her head in the sexy way he was coming to recognize as pure Cassie. “And how do you feel?”

  “Like heaven sent me the most amazing woman I have ever met. I loved making love with you last night and I want to feel you again and again. One night will never be enough for me, Cassie. I want to know everything about you. I want to kiss you. And hold you. I want to hear your stories. Meet your family and your friends. I want to be in your life.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CASSIE’S JAW DROPPED. “That has to be the most beautiful thing anyone has ever said to me.”

  Did she see hope and need warring in his deep, brown eyes? Was she ready for a man with emotions as intense as Peter’s?

  A small frown creased his brow. “How do you feel about spending more time with me?”

  She blew out a breath, unsure of her own response. An unexpected surge of adrenaline rattled her nerves. Why was she panicking? She had the exa
ct same feelings watching him sleep this morning. Last night she had committed to taking a chance on him and had spoken the words out loud. For goodness’ sake, she’d supplied the condoms! Why, when this wonderful, warm and loving man was practically begging her to be a part of his life, was she feeling terror instead of excitement? He was saying everything right. And since walking into that hospital this morning, it all seemed wrong.

  She busied herself setting up the tea mugs. Poured the heated water and turned to face the man who had turned her world upside down in such a short time.

  She pulled a container of ibuprofen from the cabinet and, with a mouthful of water from the faucet, swallowed two.

  Peter frowned. “Are you okay?”

  “Starting to feel the lymph node.”

  He took her hand. “Come on. Sit down. I’m upsetting you.”

  “You’re not.”

  He led her to the couch. She sat against the pillows and let him slide off her sneakers and put her feet on the hassock that doubled as a coffee table.

  She patted the seat next to her. “Join me, Peter. The tea can wait.”

  He sat and glanced at his watch. “I don’t have much time. Talk to me, woman.”

  A chill ran through her. How to explain herself? Peter didn’t miss the shiver. Ever so gently, he pulled her toward him. “Let me hold you.”

  How could she resist? The sheer fragrance of the man drew her like a moth to a flame. He pulled her into his lap, wrapping those oh-so-capable arms around her. He kissed her bandage with the gentlest touch. “It’s all going to be okay, Cassie.”

  She laid her head on his shoulder. “We don’t know that.”

  “Do you like me?”

  She laughed out loud. “Like you? Oh, yes. I’ve never met anyone like you, Peter. Please do not misunderstand my hesitance here.”

  “I thought you said you were going to take a chance and not look back.”

  She pushed a lock of hair from his forehead. “The scar isn’t even red.”

  “Don’t change the subject, Nurse Michaels.”

  He turned her face toward his. He was going to kiss her. She felt the pull like north and south poles on magnets—magnets of gigantic proportion. She closed her eyes and let her heart lead her mouth to his.