Chanel let out a happy sound that was something between a cheer and a cry of relief. McCoy wanted to run out there and do a celebration dance with her. She must need the money and the work as much as he did.
McCoy slammed the door shut and pinned his cousin with a glare that would’ve sent a lesser man running for cover. Porter simply laughed. “You’re going to be fine. You can handle one leggy blonde.”
“Porter, so help me …”
“I’m sorry, my favorite cousin, but you needed an assistant and she needed a job.”
“Is she actually a dental assistant?”
“Yes. Went to school and everything.”
“Then why does she need a job? Good dental assistants are in high demand, even in Podunk Snow Valley.”
Porter’s mouth tightened. “That’s her story to tell. Now are you going to leave her out there in the cold, or are you going to invite her in to help us set up the office?”
Guilt tugged at him as he realized he had left her standing out there in the cold, and those legging things hadn’t looked very warm. McCoy shook his head and reached for the door handle. He’d never won a disagreement with any of his cousins. Why should today be any different? “How much am I paying my beautiful assistant?”
“Twenty-five.”
“Per hour?” McCoy choked. He’d never heard of an assistant paid over fourteen per hour.
“She’ll be worth it, I promise.”
McCoy didn’t know how he was going to pay back his student loans and the payday loan he’d taken out to buy all this secondhand equipment, let alone run an office. Now he was paying his assistant twenty-five dollars an hour. Porter was going to be the death of him.
He jerked on the door handle and pulled the door open. Might as well get this over with. It wasn’t like Porter was giving him any choice. The blonde pasted her smile back on as soon as she saw them both staring at her and swiped her hand over her cheeks quickly, but there was no denying that she’d been crying. Oh, great. He’d just hired an overpriced, emotional, and much too good-looking assistant. His failure was coming quicker than even he thought possible.
Chanel pulled her too-thin coat tighter around herself. She stomped her feet and wished for the hundredth time that she either didn’t live in Snow Valley or could afford boots and thick Levis. She hated these thin tights, but they’d been a dollar at the Goodwill and they covered the essentials, as her mom would say. Her mom would send her clothes if she had any idea Chanel was cold, but Chanel always told her how great she and Trey were doing. Her dad had been forced into early retirement because of his multiple sclerosis, and they needed to keep their money instead of worrying about their destitute daughter and grandson.
She ignored the cold and concentrated on hoping for a decent paycheck someday soon and the ability to purchase thicker clothing for her and Trey. It wasn’t fair to the kind people of Snow Valley, or Porter and Missy, to cuss the town just because of the bitterly cold weather and snow that never seemed to stop. Was that Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, where the snow just kept coming and coming? They must have filmed that in Snow Valley.
Yet Chanel would stand out here and wait and smile until that handsome man, who was almost as strong-looking as her well-built cousin-in-law Porter, decided that she was perfect for the job. His body language, and the fact he’d left her out here in the cold, told her not to get her hopes up too high, but she needed hope or she’d deflate right into the snow and sob.
She mulled over why the man, McCoy—or maybe she should call him Dr. Wilson—looked so good to her. A man hadn’t captured her attention since Chase. Yet this McCoy guy was kind of hard to ignore. His hair was a bit on the shaggy side and a great shade of brown and gold. If she hadn’t heard from Porter how tough he was, she might have accused him of highlighting it. His wavy locks reminded her of a surfer’s; too bad they were a thousand miles from warmth and beaches. His eyes were a deep blue, navy like a midnight sky. His face showed that he’d been through some battles, physically and mentally—a few faded scars, manly lines, and just the right length of facial hair to make her want to touch it.
She shook her head and focused—wait with a smile, get this job, and then she could go kiss on her little boy. Maybe Porter would take them all out for ice cream to celebrate. She felt instant guilt. She relied on Porter and Missy far too much. She couldn’t be waiting for them to provide the fun for her and Trey, as well as feed and house them. Somehow she’d make it until payday, and then she could buy her son his own ice cream cone and a warm coat.
A tear trickled down her cheek before she could stop it. Oh, no. Whenever she started mulling over how she couldn’t even provide for her son, the waterworks started. She was not a crier … Ha. She used to think she wasn’t a crier. Now she was a faucet. Remembering that she used to be strong only made her cry harder. She was such a wimp now. Without Porter and Missy or her parents’ help, she’d be in a homeless shelter. What kind of a mother couldn’t buy her son an ice cream cone, let alone shoes that fit and a coat that would keep him warm in Snow Valley’s frigid winters?
She gasped as the door swung open and swiped at her tears, then plastered a smile on her face, praying neither of the men could tell she’d been crying. It would make Porter feel bad, and she had no clue how the dentist guy would react. He sure didn’t look like any dentist she’d ever worked for.
Her eyes were drawn to the navy blue somberness of Dr. Wilson’s gaze. He didn’t appear compassionate, more frustrated and awkward. Oh, crap. Think of Trey, think of Trey. Her little boy’s sunshine brought joy to her heart, and she found she could smile again without any thought of tears. She grinned at the dentist, and he glowered back at her.
“Dr. McCoy Wilson,” Porter broke into the awkward silence. “Meet your dental assistant. Mrs. … I mean, Miss Chanel Horman.”
Chanel should correct him with her married name, but she’d rather be Horman. She’d fill out the right name for her paycheck.
“Horman,” Dr. Wilson growled before Chanel could even say hello or celebrate that she’d gotten the job. “Any relation to Missy Horman?”
“It’s Missy Wilson now.” Porter gave him a cheeky grin. “Well, don’t you want to shake on it or something?”
Chanel was frozen in place, not sure how to respond. The dentist didn’t want her as his assistant. Porter had talked him into it. That was as clear as the snow welding her feet to the ground. The man slowly made his way down the steps and across the icy sidewalk. His halting steps snapped her out of her sadness that she’d celebrated she was getting the job and now it was going to be taken away from her. What had happened to cause Dr. Wilson, who looked to be the epitome of health, to limp?
He stuck his hand out, and Chanel let herself hope again. He wouldn’t want to shake her hand just to tell her she was pathetic and she shouldn’t have finagled a job because Missy was her cousin.
She placed her hand in his and felt like a kid at Disneyland. The warmth and excitement of his touch gave her smile a zing that she’d been missing for a while. She wrapped her hand around his and marveled at the connection and electricity that a simple touch of a hand could give.
He jolted and released her hand, but she held on tight. She hadn’t felt this grounded and at the same time energetic in years. No, that wasn’t fair. Her adorable little Trey gave her plenty of happiness and zest for life, but this was different. This guy was all man, and the feel of his skin on hers and the way his eyes studied her made her want to be the woman he’d always look at like that.
“I, um …” he stammered, and his gaze fell to their hands, then back to her eyes. “Your eyes are really blue.”
Chanel laughed in surprise. “So are yours.”
“Yeah, but mine aren’t so … bright.”
Heat crawled up her cheeks. Her eyes being bright wasn’t necessarily a compliment, but the way he looked at her sure was.
Porter cleared his throat. “Well, glad to know that the dentist and his assistant are clea
r on their eye color,” he said drily.
McCoy’s face flared and he yanked his hand back. “You’ve got the job if you want it. We’re hoping to open for clients next week.”
“Thank you,” she murmured, and looked away. “Do you need help getting set up?”
His eyes traveled up and down her body. Usually a man checking her out that blatantly would embarrass her or tick her off, but his gaze seemed to warm her from the outside in. Was it still January in Montana? “It’s pretty heavy lifting today. Why don’t you come back tomorrow?”
She hefted a thirty-pound toddler around many hours a day and the thought of starting to earn money was more tantalizing than chocolate truffles. “I’m pretty tough.”
His eyebrows arched up, but he didn’t comment. Chanel hurried to the moving truck and grabbed a box. She hefted it out with sheer adrenaline, then sank down to the cold asphalt with the heavy load. “Oh!” she cried out.
McCoy was at her side before she could completely collapse. His strong arms brushed hers as he relieved her of the box. He didn’t say anything, but his silence was as strong a rebuke as anything else could be. She reached for another box, and luckily this one didn’t take her down. Following his very nicely fitted jean-clad rear into the office, she immediately noticed the stark white walls.
She set her box next to his on the floor and tilted her head to the side. “What colors are you going to paint in here?”
“Colors?” His brow furrowed. “I’m supposed to paint colors?”
“Of course you are. You’re a pediatric dentist. This place needs to look like a party. Kids should be begging to come to the dentist.”
“Nobody wants to come to the dentist,” he muttered.
“Man, you must think highly of yourself,” she said sarcastically.
He gave a surprised laugh. “Not really.”
Porter dumped his box and grinned at the two of them. Pulling his wallet out, he handed over a credit card to Chanel. “Go buy us some paint, darlin’, while McCoy and I unload the boxes.”
“Porter.” McCoy’s voice was a growl. “You aren’t buying paint for me.”
Chanel’s eyes snapped to McCoy. Could this dentist be the recipient of Porter’s goodwill as well?
“As if you’d ever let me buy anything for you and not pay me back.” Porter rolled his eyes and nodded to Chanel. “Missy says you’re great at decorating. Buy some paint. I think your best bet is IFA. We’ll get started on rolling the walls; then you can order some toys and decorations online tonight with Missy. We’ll make the children want to come here.”
McCoy hung his head like he’d been beat. Chanel felt for him, but she and Porter were right, and from McCoy’s quick submission she assumed he knew it as well as she did. You couldn’t have a pediatric dental office with white walls and no toys.
She took the card, did a quick perusal of the small space—main area, two patient rooms, and a bathroom—and hurried back out into the cold air. Climbing into her old clunker, she didn’t bother with the heater. It hadn’t worked since she’d owned the car. At least she had a car. It was the one thing Chase’s creditors hadn’t taken from her.
She drove slowly along the snow-covered streets. The plows had been giving a valiant effort, but the roads in Snow Valley never seemed to clear completely in the winter time. She spotted IFA on the outskirts of town and skidded into the parking lot, even though she’d only been going twenty miles per hour.
Her mind turned to what paint colors would help brighten Dr. Wilson’s office. Missy had said she was great at decorating? She had enjoyed decorating her beautiful home in Portland. The home and the happiness and security she thought she and Trey had had were gone now. All she could do was make the best of things and hope she could keep a smile on her face and her son happy.
Read or purchase Light in Your Eyes here.
Snow Valley Books
Running from the Cowboy is part of the fun Snow Valley Romance sets. Find them all here.
Christmas in Snow Valley
An Unexpected Kiss by Cindy Roland Anderson
Blue Christmas by Lucy McConnell
Risking it all for Love by Kimberley Montpetit
Full Court Devotion by Cami Checketts
Feels Like Love by Jeanette Lewis
The Christmas Eve Kiss by Taylor Hart
Summer in Snow Valley
Catching Caytie by Cindy Roland Anderson
Love in Light and Shadow by Lucy McConnell
Romancing Rebecca by Kimberley Montpetit
A Touch of Love by Cami Checketts
Tin Foil Tiaras by Jeanette Lewis
First Love by Taylor Hart
Spring in Snow Valley
Operation Kiss the Girl by Cindy Roland Anderson
Sealed with a Kiss by Kimberley Montpetit
Romancing her Husband by Lucy McConnell
Running from the Cowboy by Cami Checketts
Love Coming Late by Jeanette Lewis
The Bet by Taylor Hart
Winter in Snow Valley
Destiny Came Knocking by Cindy Roland Anderson
Wedding Fever by Lucy McConnell
Unbreak My Heart by Kimberley Montpetit
Light in Your Eyes by Cami Checketts
Starlight Kisses by Jeanette Lewis
The Better Man by Taylor Hart
Other books by Cami Checketts
Rescued by Love: Park City Firefighter Romance
The Resilient One: Billionaire Bride Pact Romance
The Feisty One: Billionaire Bride Pact Romance
The Independent One: Billionaire Bride Pact Romance
The Protective One: Billionaire Bride Pact Romance
The Faithful One: Billionaire Bride Pact Romance
The Daring One: Billionaire Bride Pact Romance
Oh, Come On, Be Faithful
Pass Interference: A Last Play Romance
Shadows in the Curtain: Destination Billionaire Romance
Caribbean Rescue: Destination Billionaire Romance
Cozumel Escape: Destination Billionaire Romance
Protect This
Blog This
Redeem This
The Broken Path
Dead Running
Dying to Run
Full Court Devotion: Christmas in Snow Valley
A Touch of Love: Summer in Snow Valley
Running from the Cowboy: Spring in Snow Valley
Light in Your Eyes: Winter in Snow Valley
The Fourth of July
Poison Me
The Colony
Christmas Kisses
Kisses Between the Lines
About the Author
Cami is a part-time author, part-time exercise consultant, part-time housekeeper, full-time wife, and overtime mother of four adorable boys. Sleep and relaxation are fond memories. She’s never been happier.
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Running from the Cowboy: Spring in Snow Valley Romance Page 8