Hot-Shot Doc, Secret Dad (Cowboys, Doctors...Daddies)

by Lynne Marshall

  JULIE ROLLED ONTO her stomach and cried as hard as she had the night when she’d first found out she was pregnant, and again when she’d realized she would have to give up everything in her life back home to move to Los Angeles. She’d been too eager for her happily-ever-after with Mark and had gotten a swift kick to the gut as a result. She couldn’t set herself up to go through that again.

  Trevor wanted with all his heart to do the right thing, because that was what he did in life: Go to med school like his brother, become a family-practice doctor instead of a specialist in some top-paying field, open a clinic in his sleepy little hometown instead of a big practice in an exciting city.

  Marry a woman because he’d knocked her up once upon a time?

  After spending all these weeks together, she sensed theirs was a different relationship, full of heat and crazy good times on one hand, yet still managing a respectful professional relationship on the other. With herself as the exception, she wasn’t sure a person, Trevor, could fall in love that quickly, and above all she worried that he was once again only doing what was right and expected of him.

  Yet hadn’t she fallen in love with him at seventeen based purely on a few summer parties and one night of losing her virginity?

  But that had been immature love. She was a grown woman now and needed to act like one. Her heart had been hinting at something different these days. Sometimes more blatant. She was pretty sure it was love, but until she was convinced Trevor wasn’t forcing the issue because it was the right thing to do, she’d keep her little secret.

  She’d literally bit her tongue to keep from saying, Yes, I love you, with all my heart. It would have been true, but it was the last thing he should hear right now. He needed to be sure on his own. She couldn’t dare influence him. Not at this most delicate juncture with James.

  As hard as it would be, she’d have to ride this one out until she trusted Trevor Montgomery loved her for her, and not because she’d made him a father.

  *

  Thursday and Friday had been tough at work, but both Julie and Trevor had managed. Word traveled fast, and Rita and Charlotte knew the score about James, and both seemed particularly interested in the history leading up to it, but Julie was in no mood to fill anyone in. Trevor mostly avoided Julie at work, and it hurt, but she’d asked for it with her stupid insecurity.

  On Saturday, Trevor also left Julie alone, and she was glad since she definitely needed a recovery day. Though time and time again she thought about James having to work with the groundskeeper as part of his penance. While she pretended to sort through more of her parents’ things, she also thought about Trevor. He’d told her he loved her and wanted to marry her. The idea of spending the rest of her life with such a wonderful man gave her chills. Could he really love her for her?

  By early Sunday afternoon, she was dressed and ready for Trevor when he showed up exactly on time for the ride out to the military school. He didn’t play fair with his two-day beard growth and perfectly combed hair, wearing a taupe-colored corduroy blazer with a brown grid-checked shirt with jeans, and of course his weekend, broken-in boots. Making the blaring statement, Yes, I’m for real. Rancher, doctor, sexy as hell, all around great guy.

  “Hey,” she said.

  He nodded, smiled and immediately dipped his head to kiss her hello. He also managed to kiss the train of thought right out of her brain. Whatever it had been. Oh, right—all around great guy.

  “You ready?” he asked.

  “Yes.” They were halfway out to the car when she remembered she’d made brownies for James, and rushed back into the house to get them.

  “I thought he might like a cheeseburger tonight, but guessed we should wait until we got there to pick one up,” Trevor said once she was in his car.

  That was exactly what she’d been thinking! “Good idea. Now all we need to do is find where his favorite burger chain is in Laramie.”

  “Already looked it up. It’s five minutes away from the school.”

  The guy was the most intuitive and considerate man she’d ever met. Not to mention he already knew James’s favorite hamburger joint.

  James was happily surprised to get his burger and fries for dinner, and Julie’s homemade brownies brought a wave of nostalgia to his eyes. But he didn’t complain about his punishment for running away from school.

  “I know I shouldn’t brag about getting in trouble, but a couple of the senior high school kids think I’m cool now. Before they didn’t know who I was.”

  “Don’t let that go to your head,” Trevor said.

  “I won’t.”

  The ease with which Trevor interacted with James amazed Julie. They’d missed twelve years and now seemed to pick up as if they’d always known each other.

  On the ride home, Trevor brought up the taboo subject. Again.

  “So I’ve been doing some thinking,” he began while heading down Interstate 80. “Since you’re all into the practical side of things, I guess it will be up to me to convince you to listen to your heart and what it’s telling you, and to tune out your brain. Just tune it out.”

  “Easier said than done.”

  “Here’s how I see it. I’m the missing piece in your family puzzle. All I’m asking for is a chance to be there for our son.” He glanced her way, then added, “And a chance to love you like you deserve.” He looked back to the road before adding, “Without reservation.”

  Oh, what she’d give to let go and love like that. She’d done it once with Trevor when she was really young and it’d changed her life. She’d had to give up her romanticizing and dive into the realities of life and never look back. Now, here he was again, dangling the perfect little family fantasy, and it tore at her better judgment. Being practical and toughened by the hard knocks in life had been her survival. Could he make that dream come true? Should she dare to believe him?

  “So I’ve decided,” he continued. “We have to start over.”

  “What?”

  “The only way I’m going to win you over is to do some old-time courting. The way a lady deserves. First we’ll date, then we’ll see how things go before we jump into marriage. How does that sound?”

  “Like the craziest idea I’ve ever heard.” But she loved it. Loved him for thinking it up.

  “Well, you better clear your calendar because I’ve got the whole week planned, and the week after that and if necessary the week after that.”

  “Three weeks to marriage? I’d call that speed dating.”

  “Call it whatever you like, but that’s what we’re going to do.” The man looked so utterly pleased with himself, she could hardly stand it.

  “And you’re just expecting me to go along with this?”

  “If you know what’s good for you. Besides, I’ve had expert input.”

  “Oh, really?”

  “James has given me a list of your favorites for starters.”

  “What? You got James involved?”

  “Hell, he’s the one who suggested it.”

  Her son suggested they date for a while? She needed to shake her head in order to think straight for the rest of the ride home.

  As if the night hadn’t been brimming with surprises already, the biggest came when Trevor walked her to the door, kissed her goodnight, then turned and went straight to his car.

  The man was definitely up to something. The thought of being the center of his attention put a grin on her face the size of the crescent moon perched up in that huge Wyoming sky as she stood and watched him drive off.

  *

  First thing Monday morning Julie found a bright, perfectly arranged spring bouquet on her desk with an invitation for a special dinner that night at Bartalotti’s, the only Italian restaurant in Cattleman Bluff. When they arrived, she found Trevor had reserved the entire place just for them with the excuse it was their seven-week anniversary from when he’d hired her and she’d told him he was a father.

  Once again, when he took her home, he only gave her a chaste kiss,
reminded her about their plans for a quiet walk after the morning clinic on Tuesday, and took off. This plan of his, where he intended to spend good old-fashioned time with her and keep hands off the merchandise, left her confused but completely infatuated with the big doctor rancher.

  Tuesday morning clinic turned out to be a madhouse with Dustin Duarte showing early signs of appendicitis, Janine Littleton arriving with tonsillitis for the third time in as many months and Brian Whiteside suffering from a massive allergic reaction to last night’s shrimp tacos. While Trevor ran STAT lab tests on Dustin and arranged for transportation to Laramie General Hospital, and Charlotte began IV antibiotics on Janine, Julie injected adrenaline into Brian along with a massive dose of Benadryl, and stayed with him until the periorbital swelling began to recede.

  By the time one o’clock rolled around, Julie was ready for a nap, not a walk, but Trevor wouldn’t back down.

  “It’s a beautiful day—the fresh air will do you good. Besides, I’m taking you to my secret place, the one with a waterfall.”

  “How many secret places do you have?” How could she refuse?

  Two hours later, after sharing a bottle of three blended red wines with crusty bread and Gretchen’s homemade Asiago cheese, which smelled like yogurt and butter, but tasted surprisingly sweet, she sighed. Didn’t most things taste or seem sweeter with Trevor?

  Her head rested on Trevor’s lap beside a beautiful and secluded natural pool and waterfall. It was shallow enough to wade in, but they didn’t on this April day. They were on a blanket and he tenderly stroked her hair. She thought she might be in heaven, except for the strong stench of steer roaming the family ranch in the distant background wafting over her nostrils thanks to a constant, though gentle, breeze.

  “Growing up, I used to come here when I needed to think. This is where I first planned we’d bring James to tell him. It’s where I came when they told me Cole had broken his neck and would be in the hospital for a long time.” He played with a group of curls along the nape of her neck, tingles fanning out over her shoulders. “I came here when I found out my mom had cancer.” His fingers quit fidgeting with her hair. “And I came her the morning after I took a certain girl’s virginity. I wanted to kick myself over that.”

  Julie’s hand reached for the fingers now resting on her shoulder, and squeezed. He bent forward and kissed her lightly.

  “Was I your only virgin?” His face was upside down over hers, yet she saw his eyebrows lift.

  A look passed through his eyes as if he’d never really thought about that aspect before. “I’m pretty damn sure you were.” He bent and kissed her again, but only a fleeting kiss. “And you’re the only woman I have a son with. That makes you pretty damn special, too, doesn’t it?”

  She sat up and kissed him again, but on purpose he kept things from heating up.

  Wednesday morning Julie found a box of chocolates on her desk with an invitation to share dawn with him on horseback Thursday morning. Presuming she’d say yes, he went ahead and gave her directions for where to meet and even what to wear. When she opened the candy, she was amazed that all of the dark chocolates she loved were there. He’d definitely had inside information from James on choosing every single one of the truffles, nuts and caramels. The thought of Trevor and James whispering over the phone, collaborating on Julie’s likes and dislikes, tickled her, and she spent her day wearing a silly grin.

  The next morning, still dark before sunrise, when she showed up in broken-in jeans and old hiking boots—because she hadn’t been on a horse since she lived in Cattleman Bluff—Trevor looked handsome, as if he’d been up for hours. He introduced her to O’Reilly.

  “This is our very own Connemara pony. Dad brought her home from Ireland about five years ago.”

  The dark brown pony had calico markings on her legs, which made her look very sporting. “She’s beautiful, but I haven’t been on a horse for—”

  “This girl is perfect for you. She’s sure-footed and has a calm temperament. Now quit worrying or we’ll miss the sunrise.” With that, he helped her onto the saddle, gave her a few quick instructions about how to use the reins, which quickly came back to her, then he got on Zebulon and they took off.

  The crisp morning breeze chilled her cheeks and hands as O’Reilly followed Trevor and Zebulon’s lead, cantering toward the low eastern hills in the distance. The distinct scent of open-range grass brought back memories from when she’d been a kid. Within minutes peach-colored clouds broke open for a bright burst of sunlight. The sight would be embedded into Julie’s heart along with a sense of wonder as she realized—and was totally thankful—that these were special gifts Trevor shared with her. When had she felt this alive or important, other than when she made love with him?

  He circled around, loping, then rode up beside her and pulled out his cell phone. “I promised James a picture.” He took her reins and moved O’Reilly closer. Julie leaned in and, with the breaking dawn behind them, he took a few selfies of them smiling like the sunrise, until he found one he really liked tinted with that special golden glow of early morning. Her heart felt the way the picture looked.

  “There,” he said, as he pushed send. “That will make Jimmy smile.”

  “Jimmy? I’ve never called him that, not even when he was a baby.”

  “He doesn’t seem to mind when I call him that, Julie bean. Here, I’m sending you a copy, too.”

  She heard Trevor’s phone ding. “See, he already responded. He said ‘awesome.’” Trevor’s full-out grin nudged brighter that golden feeling building inside.

  “How often do you talk to him?”

  “I call him every night to catch up on things. Sometimes we text during the day. He thought that black widow spider bite we treated yesterday was both gross yet dope. You know that means—”

  “I know what dope means.” She’d been a mother for twelve years but suddenly Trevor was an expert? Rather than annoying her, it endeared him to her beyond explanation.

  It didn’t go unnoticed how Trevor’s eyes lit up every time he talked about James. It also didn’t go unnoticed how the dawn’s soft colors made this already-handsome man downright stunning. Which made her miss making love to him all the more. The last thing that hadn’t gone unnoticed since he’d started courting her was how he only kissed her hello and goodbye. And, somehow, that was pretty damn sexy, too.

  By the time he’d taken her for a quick breakfast and they arrived at work, Julie felt more alive than ever before. And one more feeling nudged its way into her thoughts—love. What wasn’t to love about Trevor?

  These dates went on for the next two weeks, driving Julie crazy with longing for Mr. Proper Medicine Man, but he seemed hell-bent on not pressuring her about sex. The problem was she was about ready to beg him to strip naked and jump into the sack with her. Pretty please with sugar on top.

  The second Friday morning of their two weeks of dating, Julie found a small box on her office desk. Her pulse stumbled over what the meaning might be. Jittery fingers found it hard to untie the bow and open the box, but, determined, she made her way inside to find a beautiful smoky topaz pendant on a delicate gold chain.

  He must have been standing right outside, because the instant she gasped over the gift his grinning face popped around the corner of the door. “I chose smoky topaz because it reminds me of your eyes.”

  She stepped around her desk and approached him, pulled him inside by gathering the stethoscope hanging around his neck and tugging, then closed the door. Up on her toes, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him the way she’d missed since he’d started courting her.

  His hands settled at her back, hip level, as he eased her closer, massaging and kneading her hips. Yeah, just as she thought, he missed making out, too.

  “You’re driving me crazy,” she said, over his lips.

  “Crazy with love, I hope.” He nipped her pouting lower lip, sending a thrill straight to her navel, and below.

  “Definitely crazy wi
th lust.” Playing hard to get really was fun. She went off her toes, forearms still resting on his shoulders, as she studied his face. “You’re one damn fine-looking cowboy, Dr. Montgomery. Want to see me naked?”

  She saw the flash of hunger in his eyes. These two weeks had to have been just as hard for him as they’d been for her. “I think about it every day.” His coarse whisper turned her on more than any crazy make-out session. She really needed to have sex with him!

  “Then why are we doing this?”

  “You don’t like being courted?”

  “I love it, but I liked what we had before, too.”

  He inhaled slowly, savoring what she figured was a passing image of what they’d shared before. So expressive was his face that she could practically see what he was thinking. “I loved what we had before, too, but it didn’t get me anywhere.”

  She made an incredulous face. “It got you everywhere, mister.”

  He bit back something he started to say, and she realized he’d told her he loved her and she hadn’t been able to say it to him. But things had changed in the past two weeks. She’d let herself fall harder for the guy she’d fallen hard for years ago. He’d gone out of his way to show her how much he cared. Now it was her turn to show—and tell—him.

  “Be at my place at seven on the dot,” she said.

  A knock on the office door drew them out of their lovers’ standoff. “Julie? Your first patient is in Exam Room One,” came Lotte’s reedy voice.

  “I’ll be right there,” Julie said without tearing her gaze from his.

  “Wear that necklace tonight,” he said, releasing her from his embrace.

  “It might be all I wear,” she teased, loving the way his deep, dark eyes instantly went darker.

  *

  Julie thought about wrapping her body in kitchen plastic wrap and putting a big red bow on her chest to greet Trevor, but decided against that as it seemed too desperate, not to mention hard to get out of. But if she didn’t get through to him tonight about how much she loved being with him, she’d definitely try that next time.

  She wore a slinky little black number, cut high enough to show lots of leg, and put on the highest heels she owned, which happened to be red. She’d skipped the bra, wearing only a lacy thong beneath. And of course the topaz pendant slipped perfectly between the tops of her breasts. She’d let her hair go wild, the way it always wanted, and brightened her eyes with mascara, then her lips with red lip gloss. She’d dabbed perfume behind her ears, inside her elbows and along her shoulders, though her finger had traced downward to her cleavage before she’d finished. Not bad for a heavy hint, if she did say so herself.