by Hebby Roman
What the hell is wrong with me?
Kissing the dark haired beauty had damaged his brain cells. Slowly, he drove by the front window attempting to see inside. Now he was going out of his way for a mere glimpse at the girl. Uttering a curse, he looped around to the exit and headed toward his ranch, armed with a new determination not to miss his drive this time.
Once home, Cole tried to focus on his work, but separating the remainder of the calves from their mothers was becoming more of a chore than usual. Mostly because his thoughts were on a pretty girl and the taste of her sweet lips, rather than the task he should be focused on. Why had he kissed her? Honestly, he didn’t need the distraction. He already had his hands full.
Yet, with all of this on his plate, he couldn’t squash the strong desire to see Kristen again. Despite the chill in the brisk air, what he really needed was a cold shower. But then his imagination would soar to even greater heights. No better to keep a rein on those thoughts. Not let them run free.
Or buck wild in Kristen’s case.
Wracking his brain, he tried to come up with ways to forget ever running into Kristen again, but thoughts of her simply wouldn’t be swayed. He had to see her again. In the very least to torment her so she felt as conflicted as he did.
Retrieving his phone from his pocket, he looked up the number to the local florist’s shop. The phone rang twice before a woman answered in a cheery voice. “Hello, Thompson Falls Florist.”
For a second, Cole considered hanging up, but the thought of Kristen’s face when she received what he had in store kept him on the line. “Hi. Do you sell candy also?”
Chapter Three
“How did you do at the kissing booth? Make lots of money?” Miranda asked.
Kristen glanced up from the paperwork she’d been working on. Her partner stood blocking the doorway. The hint of a grin tugged at her lips and lit her brown eyes.
Cole’s smile.
The resemblance floored her. Even though Miranda was quite a few years older, she could clearly see they were related. Chrissy appeared by her mother’s side. Highlighted by dimples, she showcased the same smile.
Damn.
“So?” Miranda probed.
“Don’t ask.” Kristen returned her focus on the pile of papers on the desk, determined to forget about the man who’d tormented her.
And his smile.
“Maybe you should ask Uncle Cole,” Chrissy suggested.
Stunned, she whipped her head up.
“Cole?” Miranda cocked a finely arched brow. She pulled her gaze from her daughter and stationed it on Kristen. “Oh, that’s right. I heard about my brother’s antics.”
Kristen squirmed under the piercing assessment. Apparently Cole and his sister shared more than a crooked grin. No doubt Miranda would want to know every sordid detail. Followed by a long conversation about the many reasons why she shouldn’t consort with the help. Especially considering the help in question happened to be her partner’s brother.
“I’ll get back to Cole in a minute.” Miranda tugged on her ear lobe as if in deep thought, then returned her attention to the teenager. “When did you get here anyway? How did your chicken do? Did she win first prize?”
“Becca’s mom dropped me off. Clucky placed second. Becca’s rooster won first.”
“I’m sorry, Chris. I thought she was adorable.” Miranda pulled the girl into a warm hug.
“It’s not a big deal, mom. Dressing the animals up like Santa’s elves’ is a silly tradition anyway.” Chrissy wiggled free from her mother’s grasp. “Becca’s my best friend. I’m glad she won. It’s just her older brother, Chase. He clucked at me the entire ride here, and kept saying my chicken lost because of its stupid name.”
“Clucky? I love his name.” Miranda wrapped her arms around the girl again. “Boys can be so mean. Especially at his age. Isn’t that right, Kristen?” The older vet cast a glance over her shoulder, piercing Kristen with a pointed stare. Chrissy squirmed and she released her hold. “I was about to walk Roxy, but would you mind? I’d like a few words with Kristen.”
The girl wrinkled her nose and then opened her mouth as to object, but Miranda pointed to the leashes hanging on a hook by the door. The teenager scowled and then stomped off.
As soon as they were alone, Kristen apologized. “I’m sorry Miranda. Cole showed up and then he dared me. You, of all people, know how he is. He gets under your skin, and before you know it, you are doing things you don’t normally do.”
Like kissing my childhood nemesis.
“Oh yeah. I remember how he used to tease you in school. Either he was calling you names or goading you to do something. I swear, he’s had a crush on you forever.”
“Tease? More like torture.” Kristen shook her head. She’d been cursed from the get go. Her childhood had been nothing but a long string of nightmares. Between Cole’s daily razzing and the yearly move to a new rental house, she’d been doomed. No wonder her teenage years had been so traumatic. “And it was hardly a crush. I think he lived to embarrass me.”
Miranda quirked her eyebrow again. “Like Chase does to Chrissy?” She made a loud clucking sound to prove her point. “As far as dating my brother, you have my blessing. Just don’t break his heart.”
Miranda left before she could respond. Date Cole? The man had been her adversary so long the notion of actually dating him had never crossed her mind. However, the thought sure as hell spiked her pulse now.
Chapter Four
This was proving to be an incredibly long afternoon. Despite the mountain of paperwork on her desk, Kristen found herself daydreaming. Distracted, she stared out the window, replaying the memory of Cole’s kiss over and over again.
Lightly, she ran her fingertip over her lips. Kissing the man had far surpassed her teenage fantasies. Had she known, she would’ve…would’ve what? Changed her past? She cast the crazy thought to the side.
A kiss didn’t mean anything. Especially considering what it had cost him. No, what happened earlier only meant Cole was intent on picking up where they left off. Of course logic did nothing to discourage her from replaying that devil’s kiss for the hundredth time.
A delivery van pulled into the lot and parked in front of her window, blocking her view of the snow covered mountains with a colorful floral advertisement. Though she knew the delivery wouldn’t be for her, a rush of excitement still made her heart jump.
Miranda was a lucky lady. Her husband, Frank, was incredibly romantic. Twice this week her partner had found little love notes in her lunch bag. And now flowers?
Kristen stood, then inched over to the door of her office to watch as Miranda received her gift. The receptionist pointed in her direction instead. Surprised, she released a loud gasp. The delivery man neared, then handed over an oblong shaped container tied with a large, pink bow.
Shocked, she accepted the box, before numbly retreating back into her office and positioning herself in the chair behind the desk. Who could these be from? Unsure, she stared at the package for a moment, then tugged free the cream colored envelope taped beside the bow. Holding her breath, she pulled a small card out.
Your kisses are sweeter.
My kisses? She exhaled loudly. The only man she’d kissed lately was Cole. Warmth crawled up her neck and heated her cheeks. She read the card again. No. Couldn’t be. Why would Cole send her flowers?
This wasn’t his style. He preferred more sadistic offerings, such as a box filled with toads that would jump out as soon as the container was opened. Or a dozen Night crawlers reclining in a bed of dirt. Perhaps even something worse.
Cautiously, she picked up the box and shook it before returning it to the desk. Nothing. No scratching or scrambling came from within the cardboard. Still wary, she cut the tape holding the flap closed with the tip of her fingernail, then pried open the corner to peek inside. When nothing jumped out, she cast the lid to the side.
A bouquet of candy bars lay i
nside. She picked up one and noted a thorny, flower stem attached to the bright red packaging. What the hell? A dozen long-stemmed Kit Kats? Now she didn’t know what to think. Even though the gift referenced her dreaded nickname, the sweet gesture pulled at her heart.
Though, she still had her reservations Kristen grabbed a candy bar and gently removed the stem. Tearing open the wrapper, she snapped one of the wafers free and bit off the end. Savoring the milky chocolate crisp, she wondered what the man was up to.
A shadow hovering by the doorway caught her attention. She craned her neck and saw it was Miranda’s daughter. Still holding the candy, she waved the girl in.
“Want one?” Kristen offered, handing one of the makeshift roses to the girl.
Chrissy grasped the stem and a wide smile brightened her face. “Are these from Uncle Cole? He always comes up with the coolest things. ”
Noting the girl’s open admiration, she nodded, then returned her gaze to the box. The teenager was right. The candy-flower hybrid was a pretty clever idea. However, she still couldn’t shake her apprehension.
Cole had tortured her for years. Surely, there was more to the gift. Some demented catch. This, whatever this was, was a diversion. Nothing more than a Trojan horse. If the past repeated itself, the man definitely had something else up his sleeve.
She glanced at the girl again as Chrissy peeled the label off her chocolate bar and bit into the wafer.
“You think pretty highly of your uncle, don’t you?”
Chrissy nodded her head. “Last year he threw a bonfire for the entire Junior Livestock group. And if it weren’t for Uncle Cole I’d never have Clucky, or even George, for that matter.”
“Who is George?” Kristen asked, popping another bite of the candy into her mouth.
“My steer. Cole helped me raise him. George is going up on the chopping block at the auction tomorrow.” The girl glanced away but not before Kristen witnessed a glimmer of tears filling her eyes.
A faint memory of Cole as a boy filtered in. He’d been on the losing end of a fight he’d started between two older boys. Later, she’d found out he was acting out because his father had slaughtered his favorite cow.
Though this was normal practice when growing up on a farm, Kristen could see Chrissy was having a hard time disengaging her emotions. Apparently Cole wasn’t the only one guilty of this.
Kristen stood to comfort the girl, but Chrissy held her at bay with an outstretched hand. Not so unlike Cole had many years ago.
“Auctioning him off is a requirement of the Junior Livestock Program. Plus, it’s for a good cause. Mom says George can bring a lot of money for kids in need. I have to get back to work.” Chrissy faced her again, now dry-eyed with an obvious rein on her feelings.
Kristen nodded. “I appreciate the help and I like the company too.” She nudged the girl playfully with her elbow. “Does Becca’s brother pick on you often?”
“Every day,” Chrissy confessed. She tossed the candy bar wrapper and stem into the garbage can by her feet, then wiped her hands on her jeans. “Today it was about Clucky. Who knows what it’ll be tomorrow.”
The remark reawakened stifled memories. She had never known what to expect from Cole. Then or now. “You know if you ever want to talk about this, I have a little experience in the area. When I was growing up there was a boy who teased me all the time. I can’t tell you how many times he made me cry. To make matters worse, I had a terrible crush on the guy.”
Still do.
Chrissy bit her lip as if in deep thought. “What happened to him?”
“Well…,” Kristen hesitated, then glanced at the box on her desk. “He sent me a bouquet of candy bars today.”
Chapter Five
“Dr. Kelly?”
“Yes?” Kristen spun toward the receptionist.
“I know your shift just ended and I should send this call to our after-hour emergency care but—”
“What is it, Amber?”
The blonde sighed. “Dog sprayed by a skunk. The owner just wants to make sure the spray didn’t get in the animal’s eyes. Sounds like a pretty quick exam. Plus, you pass the address on your drive home.”
Kristen paused. She tapped her chin with the tip of her fingertip. “Hmm…that’s unusual. Though skunks don’t hibernate, they’re usually inactive during the winter months. And how do you know it’s on my way?” Kristen questioned.
“Small town.” Amber shrugged. “The house you live in used to belong to my grandmother. And the client is…uh…the client is very dear to the clinic. We are all family here.”
Despite being tired from the long day, Kristen refused to let an animal suffer. Her stomach growled, but she ignored the demand. She’d been far too busy to eat and now she was paying for it. If the exam took too long, she’d have to stave off the hunger with another candy rose.
Hopefully the stop would be nothing more than a quick wellness check. She rushed back to her office and grabbed a bag of supplies, then stopped at the receptionist’s desk for directions on her way out. “Give me the address. I’ll type it into my phone.”
“19557 Canton River Road.” Amber rambled off quickly while jotting the address down. She handed the piece of paper to Kristen. “Take a right out of the parking lot. There’s a large ranch about three miles down on the left. You can’t miss it.”
Kristen scrutinized the girl with a skeptical glance. Something seemed off. Amber, usually so serious, fidgeted with the pen in her hand as if she were nervous. And she couldn’t miss the hint of a grin which tugged at the corner of the girl’s mouth. “Are you going to be okay to close up by yourself?”
“Absolutely.” The petite blonde bobbed her head. “My husband should be here any minute.”
“Okay. Then I guess I’ll be on my way,” she hesitated, studying the girl’s face. Rationalizing that Amber’s behavior was due to her husband’s expected arrival, she swiftly disregarded her concerns. It was no secret they were newlyweds. A spike of jealousy passed through her, but the emotion only lasted a second. Though love was foreign to her, she was happy for the couple.
Heading to the door, she gripped the handle, then paused, to cast a final glance over her shoulder at the receptionist.
Amber raised her hand and waved, the grin now a full-fledged smile. “See you tomorrow.”
Shaking her head, Kristen exited the clinic. Once in her car, she glanced at the information and decided she didn’t need to input it into her phone. For some reason, the address seemed vaguely familiar anyway. Lord knows with her past, she may have lived there at some point.
She pulled out of the parking lot and started toward the destination. A few moments later, she saw the numbers on the mailbox and turned left into the drive. A brightly lit, two-story home, decked with holly and a large wreath, greeted her. She stepped out of her vehicle and admired the decorations on the older farmhouse.
The front door burst open and Cole appeared in the doorway. A small dog barked, hovering at his feet.
We are all family here.
She should’ve known. As he neared, with pup in tow, she considered jumping back into her car, but decided against it and focused on the blur of black and white circling his heels. Considering the effort he made to get her here, she may as well see how this played out.
“So, I’m taking there’s no skunk issue? Or at least not one concerning a dog.”
“Nope. Blue’s fine. A little too rambunctious for his own good, but I’m told it’s normal for the breed. Plus, he’s just a pup,” Cole confessed with a sheepish grin. His smile was contagious and the corners of her mouth tugged upward. Damn the man. Didn’t seem fair. All he had to do was flash his pearly whites and all her irritation disappeared. She was like putty in his hands.
“Blue, huh?” she questioned, noting the light crystal shade of the dog’s eyes. Kristen kneeled to pet the pup and the furry bundle jumped into her lap, knocking her over. Giggling, she shielded her face from a
flurry of wet puppy kisses.
“Yep.” Releasing a low chuckle, Cole lent a helping hand. “Sorry about that. He’s on the ornery side.”
“Like his father, I’m sure,” Kristen mumbled under her breath, before accepting his aid. Once upright, she wiped the snow from her backside. “And Amber? How did you get her to go along with this?”
“I called in a favor. Her husband’s my cousin.” He reached for her hand again. “Come on. I’ve got something to show you.”
“I’ll bet you do,” she remarked smartly, but allowed his fingers to entwine with hers. “Are you related to everyone in this town?”
Another chuckle escaped him. “Just about. If they aren’t blood, they’re married in.”
“Yeah, I’m starting to figure that much out,” she grumbled under her breath. “So what’s this about?”
He guided her up the stairs to the front door. Once inside, he removed her coat and hung it on a hook. “You’ll see. Amber said you were pretty busy with an emergency and worked through lunch. I figured after a long shift the last thing you’d want to do is cook.”
“I was planning on having candy for dinner,” Kristen quipped smartly.
“So you liked my surprise?” Cole dropped her hand and pressed his palm low on her back. Tingles of electricity shot through her. “This happens to be your lucky night then. I have more in store. Now close your eyes.”
“Wait a minute. I’ve been through enough of your so-called surprises,” she paused. “And I’m not real sure how to take all of this. You’ve been keeping tabs on me?”
His hand relocated to her hip and he pivoted around, facing her. “Only to see your reaction to the package I sent.”
I loved it.
Disregarding that thought, she shook her head. “This is all a little much. As kids, you spent most of your time teasing or taunting me in some way or another, and now, after sending me some candy, you expect me to trust you?”