by Lori Ryan
And wasn’t that all she ever wanted? To do something she loved for people she cared greatly for. Maybe the bottom line wasn’t what made her a success after all. Yes, she needed money to run the clinic, but she no longer needed it to define her.
“Maybe we can work something out,” she said.
Alan grinned. “Thank you, Kayleigh.”
She wasn’t sure what he was thanking her for. It really should be the other way around. “Well,” she said with a sigh, “I’m going to head back. Just keep an eye on the foal. You know what to look for. Give me a call if there’s anything unusual.”
“Will do,” Alan said. “And thanks again, Kayleigh. For everything.”
She smiled and nodded as she walked through the barn, checking on mother and foal one more time. She was happy to see the baby now nursing and Sunshine’s breathing evening out.
“I thought of it,” Izzie said.
“What’s that?” Alan asked.
“Sunshine’s son. I thought of his name.”
Kayleigh crossed her arms and leaned against the gate. “Let’s hear it.”
“Well,” Izzie said, turning to face the small crowd. “Sunshine’s name is sun shine,” she emphasized, so her son should be moon shine.”
Alan quirked a brow. “Moonshine?”
Izzie nodded.
“You want the foal’s name to be Moonshine?”
Everyone bit back a laugh.
“Yeah,” Izzie nodded enthusiastically. “Isn’t it great?”
Manny slipped his hands under Izzie’s arms, scooping her up. “I’m not so sure Isabelle.”
“Why, Papa?”
“I think it’s perfect,” Alan said, ruffling Izzie’s hair. “Just like you.”
Izzie beamed.
As Kayleigh watched, she knew she’d been dead wrong to think Alan wanted anything other than to help her. Of course, Alan had wanted the best for her. He was the same with his staff. He’d never meant any malice or harm, and neither had Aaron.
“Oh, God, Aaron,” she said to herself.
“Everything okay?” Alan asked.
She nodded. “Yes.” Then she changed her mind and shook her head instead. “No. I mean, I don’t know. I need to get back to town.”
“The boy’s crazy about you, Kayleigh,” Alan said, stepping closer. “That’s why he was trying to find a solution for you.”
She glanced up and stared at Alan. He was smiling, that expression that someone who’s had years of experience gives you when they know they’re right.
“I said some not so nice things,” she said.
He shrugged. “Who hasn’t?”
“I’m sorry, Alan. I know you were just trying to help me. And I appreciate it, I do.”
He nodded his head.
“We’ll set up a time in a few days to talk about your ideas,” she said. “Sound good?”
“Sounds great, Kayleigh. I just don’t want to lose you. None of us do.”
She nodded and made her way toward the entrance of the barn.
“Kayleigh!” Izzie shouted.
She turned.
The girl was sitting on her father’s shoulders, her toothless grin lighting up the stables. “Thanks for helping Moonshine be born.”
And that right there was why she loved doing what she did. It didn’t matter about money in the bank, it was the smiles on the faces of the people she helped.
“You’re welcome, honey. Now go rest and take care of yourself. Sunshine and Moonshine are going to need you.”
The girl nodded enthusiastically.
Kayleigh waved to the rest of the staff and made her way to her Jeep. She no more wanted to leave Canyon Creek than she wanted to leave….Oh, God, she was about to say it. This thing with Aaron had become much more than temporary and that’s why it had hurt so much when she thought he’d betrayed her.
She wasn’t sure what she’d say or how she’d do it, but one thing was clear. She needed to apologize to Aaron. Whether he stayed or left Canyon Creek, she needed to make it right. And she needed to see if there was a future for them beyond the temporary. For once in her life she longed for permanent.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Aaron walked into Canyon Creek Vet Clinic, pet carrier by his side. Thankfully Maggie’s crazy-assed cat, Lucky, had calmed down some after Maggie had cornered him and shoved him in the crate.
Maggie had suggested he bring the cat in as a ruse to see Kayleigh. As the carrier shook in his hand and Lucky hissed inside, his laser sharp claws springing through the holes, Aaron wasn’t so sure. He probably should have simply come talk to her.
“Can I help you?” a woman behind the counter asked.
Shit. He didn’t have an appointment. He hadn’t wanted to tip off Kayleigh. He knew a surprise encounter was the best defense.
Maggie had been in contact with Kayleigh the last few days since she’d blown up at the diner. She’d promised that Kayleigh was much better and was actually in talks with Mr. Rutherford about a possible partnership. Maggie had suggested Aaron come to the clinic to talk, on neutral ground.
Studying the interior of the clinic, the packed waiting room, he wasn’t so sure this was neutral. Why did it seem like half the town was here?
“Oh, hey, Aaron,” someone called from the doorway.
He glanced up, happy to see Kayleigh’s vet tech standing with her arms crossed. At least Shelly was smiling.
“I’ll take him back to examining room four,” Shelly told the receptionist. “Follow me,” she said, pushing off the doorframe and walking down the hall. “How’s Lucky doing?” She glanced down at the carrier.
The cat was hissing and rocking the crate back and forth.
“I see he’s tame as ever.” She laughed. “Couldn’t you have found a more docile pet to bring in?”
He shrugged. He could have brought in Emmett and Elle’s Chihuahua but thought that would have been too much, even for him.
She pushed open the door and pointed to a stainless steel counter. “Just put Lucky up there and Dr. Montgomery will be in shortly.”
“You want me to take him out of the crate?” He stared at her like she was insane, which she obviously was.
“How else is she supposed to examine him?” she asked sarcastically.
“Fine,” he sighed, wishing he’d worn long sleeves. He had no idea how the hell Maggie kept this cat without buying stock in Band-Aids and first-aid ointment.
“He’s usually really sweet,” Shelly said, unlatching the crate.
Lucky pranced out like he was on stage, surveying the room, sniffing the air.
“Hey, there, Lucky,” Shelly said, rubbing behind his ears.
What. The. Fuck.
Aaron had never seen that cat looking remotely friendly.
“He hates me,” Aaron said.
Shelly looked up at him, holding Lucky in her arms. “He doesn’t hate you. Animals don’t hate people.” She held Lucky out toward him.
Aaron reached for the cat.
Lucky hissed and swiped a claw at him.
“Hmm,” Shelly shrugged. “Oh well.” She kissed Lucky on the tip of his nose and the cat licked her chin.
Suck up, Aaron thought.
Shelly set Lucky back on the counter and turned to the door behind her. “Kayleigh should be in soon.”
“She doesn’t know it’s me, does she?”
“No, she just knows it’s Lucky. Otherwise she probably wouldn’t see you.” Shelly laughed as she stepped through the door, closing it behind her.
Lucky stood still on the counter, staring around the room until his eyes caught Aaron’s. His back arched and he hissed.
“Dude, I didn’t do shit to you.” It was as if the animal was protective of Kayleigh.
Without warning, Lucky jumped from the counter toward Aaron, claws out. He ripped through the material of Aaron’s shirt, digging into the skin of his chest.
“Shit!” Aaron practically screamed, swatting the cat away.
; Lucky fell to the floor with ease and grace, staring up at him, teeth bared.
“What the fuck did I do?” he asked, as if the cat would answer.
Lucky darted around the room, jumping up on the counter where supplies were neatly stacked. His nose nudged over a plexiglass jar of tongue depressors, sending them flying to the floor.
“Dammit, cat,” Aaron scolded, moving to pick them up.
Lucky’s tail swiped at another container, sending a thermometer and surgical scissors careening to the ground.
“What the hell is wrong with you?”
The cat hopped to the floor, chewing on a soap dispenser he’d knocked over.
Aaron squatted down and grabbed for him as the cat leapt back to the exam counter. Holding Lucky around the waist, he howled in pain as the cat sank his teeth into the back side of his hand. “Mother fucker!” Aaron screamed, releasing the cat.
“What seems to be the problem today?” The sultry voice of his dreams asked.
Aaron stood and banged his head on the counter top. “Shit,” he said, rubbing his head. He turned to face Kayleigh.
She leaned against the wall, Lucky in her arms, lips pressing together in an obvious attempt to keep from laughing.
“I can’t believe that little shit went right to you,” he said.
Kayleigh shrugged and moved into the room, depositing Lucky on the counter. “Seems like you’re the only one he has a problem with.”
“And Ben,” Aaron said, determined not to be the only one the cat didn’t like.
“He’s starting to warm up to Ben now that he and Maggie are married.”
“Whatever,” he snarled, rubbing the lump on the back of his head. “I think I have a concussion.”
She laughed. “You might want to see a doctor about that. A real doctor, I mean, since I’m just a—”
Aaron held up a hand. “Yes, I know. A pet doctor. Never gonna live that down,” he muttered.
“Probably not,” she grinned.
She was smiling. That had to be a good sign, right?
“So what seems to be wrong with Lucky today?” she said, assessing the cat’s body.
“Well, um…” Shit, he hadn’t planned for this part.
She pulled her stethoscope from around her neck and pressed it to his chest. “His heart rate is definitely accelerated. But that’s probably because of his recent exertions.” Her blue eyes rolled up to meet Aaron’s and he saw amusement.
“I think Maggie said he needs shots or something.”
“Lucky just had all his shots.”
“Oh, umm.” He’d never been good on his feet like this. “Oh, wait.” He stabbed a finger in the air. “I have something for you.” He reached into Lucky’s crate and pulled out a brown paper bag. The thing was ripped to shreds. “Shit,” he mumbled.
“What is it?”
He held it out to her, afraid of what the contents would look like. Why had he put it in the crate with the cat?
Kayleigh released the cat and tossed the stethoscope around the back of her neck like Aaron had done a thousand times before. She dug into the bag and pulled out a paperback book that was also ripped to shreds, its cover barely recognizable.
Kayleigh turned it back in forth in her hand.
“It’s a new Harlequin,” he said. “Well, not new, but new to you—a vintage one from the 80’s Paula said, just like you like. Until this mangy thing clawed it up.” He scowled at Lucky.
Lucky hissed.
“Easy, boy,” Kayleigh said, smoothing down his fur. She turned the book, looking at the cover and then the back.
“It’s called Maid in Boston,” he said. “I thought of you when I saw it.”
“Why?” she asked, glancing up at him.
“Because it’s about Boston. And you always teased about having house staff. It’s maid, M-A-I-D, get it?” He shrugged. It sounded stupid now.
“Thank you,” she smiled. “I love it.”
“Really?”
She nodded.
“I’m sorry,” they both said in unison.
“No, I’m sorry, Kayleigh,” Aaron pushed forward. “I had no right to talk about you to anyone, especially Mr. Rutherford. I just knew you were struggling and I hated—”
“You were right,” she said, cutting him off.
“Wait, what?”
She cocked a brow. “Don’t make me say it again,” she said.
He moved around the exam table and pushed her against the counter, glad she’d put the cat down. “Pretty please.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I’ll sic Lucky on you.”
“That cat can’t hurt me.”
She glanced down at his chest. “The holes in your shirt would indicate otherwise.”
He stepped back. “Fine, the mangy cat scares the shit out of me. That should tell you the sacrifice I made coming today.”
“It does.” She circled her finger over the holes in his shirt. “Do you want me to doctor these up for you?”
“How much time do you have, Dr. Montgomery.”
She paused. “I think I’m going to have a lot of time, actually.”
“So, you’re staying in Canyon Creek?” he asked hopefully.
She nodded. “I never really wanted to leave. I just had to get over myself.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve been trying to prove so many people wrong, my family, my ex…” she trailed off. “I thought I had to do it all on my own or I’d be considered a failure. The only person I was failing was me, and my patients. Asking for help has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. And that fact alone proves I’m where I should be.”
“What do you mean?”
“Most people in Canyon Creek want to help. It’s their nature. I wasn’t used to that. I was used to being on my own, being independent. I didn’t have to be smart or pretty or the best or anything, I just had to be willing to accept what they were giving so freely. I had to get over myself.”
Aaron let the words soak in, absorbing them for himself. Get over himself. What had he been afraid of all this time? Losing the career he thought he loved? The prestige of calling himself a surgeon? The God complex he thought he didn’t have, but maybe did?
“You know, when I started medicine, all I wanted to do was help people,” he said.
“Me too,” she agreed.
“Somewhere along the way, I guess it all changed.” He glanced at her when she remained silent.
She nodded. “I wanted to do it myself.”
“I wanted to be the best,” he said. “I thought I’d lost that when I was diagnosed with my tremor.”
“Being the best is overrated,” she said. “Most people just want you.”
“What do you mean?”
“They want your time, they want to know you care about them. Genuinely.”
Had he genuinely cared about his patients in Chicago? He thought he had, but even he had to admit that at some point over his training he’d lost the humanity aspect of his job. He’d gotten wrapped up in being the best cardio thoracic surgeon, not the best patient-care provider. Until he came back to Canyon Creek.
Seeing Doc interact with the patients, seeing Kayleigh giving so much attention to the town, made him understand something he’d forgotten long ago. All he’d ever really wanted was to help people.
“Alan Rutherford and I are in talks about a partnership. I think we’re going to bring his son Dylan in to take over the large animal part of the practice.”
“And you’re okay with that?” he asked.
“The truth is, I’m tired. I love what I do, but if I don’t get some down time I won’t be worth squat to anyone.”
Aaron rubbed her shoulders. “Yeah, I get it,” Aaron said. “I had a horrendous schedule in Chicago, too. Definitely didn’t help with the tremor.”
“So what are you going to do?” she asked.
Was that hopefulness in her voice? God, he hoped so.
“What do you want me to do, Dr. Mon
tgomery?” he asked, stepping closer.
“Whatever makes you happy,” she said, staring at his chest.
“What if I said you make me happy?”
She lifted her head, her blue eyes catching his, hope brimming inside. “I would say that makes me happy.”
“Do I make you happy?”
“Wait,” she shook her head, “what?”
“I love you,” Aaron said.
Kayleigh’s eyes went wide. “Really?”
He nodded.
“I love you too,” she whispered.
“I want to stay,” he said. “But only if I can stay with you.”
“Like, in my house?”
“In your house, in a new house. Wherever.”
She stepped closer. “You know I have pets.”
He nodded. “Yeah, but Sir Jaxie isn’t psychotic like Lucky.”
Lucky hissed at Aaron’s feet.
“Get out of here.” He stepped past the cat and moved closer to Kayleigh, slipping his arm around her waist. “Plus, Annie loves me. I’m the only one she’ll take a dump for, remember?”
She laughed and shook her head. “True.”
“So, what do you say?”
“I’ve never lived with anyone before,” she said quietly.
“Neither have I.”
His gaze held hers for a long moment. “I do have one condition though,” he said, dropping his head toward hers.
She drew in a shaky breath. “What’s that?”
He loved that he affected her like this, that she felt their connection as strongly as he did.
“I’ll need to be tucked in every night.”
“Okay,” she said, her brows knitting together.
“And you’ll need to read me a bedtime story.”
She laughed and swatted his shoulder with the tattered book. “I think I can do that.”
“I knew you could. You’re a doctor, after all.”
She opened her mouth to speak.
He held up a hand. “Don’t say it.”
“I love you,” she said.
Oh, well, hell yeah, she could say that all day long. He pressed his lips to hers, keeping their embrace light. “I love you, too.”
She smiled up at him.
“Now about these injuries on my chest.” He moved to lift his shirt from his head.
“Aaron,” she glanced around the room. “I have other patients.”