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 Chance’s creditors hadn’t taken from her.
She drove slowly along the snow-covered streets. The plows had been working, 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.
Chapter
“Why do you throw your credit card around like that?” McCoy muttered to Porter. He loved his cousin, but sometimes the guy’s heart was bigger than his common sense. McCoy hated always being Porter’s charity case.
“Dude, knock the pride off for half a second. Have I ever had the upper hand with you, ever?”
McCoy set down the box he was carrying. It was half the weight of the huge box of metal dental tools Chanel had tried to carry. He’d been impressed that she would attempt the lift and hoped he hadn’t hurt her pride by taking it from her. Pride was something he understood completely. Sometimes it was all a person could claim.
“You have so much blasted pride you won’t accept help from anybody,” Porter continued.
McCoy turned to face his cousin. He’d thumped Porter many a time growing up, maybe it was time to try it again. He smiled grimly to himself. Since the accident he doubted he could thump anyone.
“You kidding me right now? I’m living at your house. You helped me find this office space and you paid my first and last month’s rent behind my back. I’m not a complete loser, you know?”
Porter shook his head. “Pride. That’s what I’m talking about. You’re the furthest thing from a loser. You put yourself through undergrad, dental school, and then pediatric dental school. Unless I’m wrong, and I’m rarely wrong, you had no debt because of scholarships and working your butt off at construction jobs any extra minute you had, until the accident. Then the medical bills about took you under and as you dealt with recovering, pain and brain injury junk that none of us will ever be able to relate to, you took out student loans, finished school, and are paying medical bills back where most of America would’ve declared medical bankruptcy. If you’re a loser, I’m scum of the earth.”
Porter finished his impassioned speech and McCoy sat there staring at him. Porter wasn’t wrong on any of it, but McCoy hadn’t realized anyone knew all of that about him. “How did you know?” he forced out.
“Pretty easy to read between the lines.” Porter slapped a hand on his shoulder. “I know you’ll pay me back even though I wish you wouldn’t worry about it. Missy and I have been more blessed than we deserve and we want to help you.”
“I don’t like help.”
Porter chuckled. “I’ve known that since you were fifteen and took me out for trying to help you win a fight at school.”
McCoy couldn’t hide his smile.
“Let’s go unload this truck. I want to get the paint on before we start setting up your equipment.”
McCoy followed his cousin out into the cold. The equipment was all used, but it was his. Sort of. Another loan he’d have to pay back and that one scared him because it was short term with high interest and huge penalties.
He hated debt. His parents had been so buried in debt they’d turned to blaming each other and ruined any happiness that had existed in their home. Luckily his older siblings were pretty much raised before it got too awful and when McCoy started fighting and drinking they sent him to Aunt Rebecca to straighten him out. It’d worked. Nobody would dare misbehave with Aunt Rebecca breathing down their neck. He smiled. He loved that little woman more than anyone. He wished she was here instead of off traveling with some church trip, but it was good to know she’d recovered from Uncle Blake’s death and was having a good time.
He was sweating and not minding the cold air so much by the time they got the moving truck unloaded.
“I’m going to drive this back to Billings and pick up my truck,” Porter said, wiping his brow.
“I can go with you.”
“Nope. You get started on the painting and I’ll bring some lunch back with me. I’ll get sandwiches from Harper and Madison Bakery.”
“Thanks.” Everything was going a lot faster than McCoy had planned, but that was to be expected when you got someone with Porter’s work ethic involved. His other cousin, Luke, wanted to help out too, but he was deep in work projects for his engineering firm and he’d told Porter he’d keep the ranch going while they set up the dental office. McCoy swallowed. He was blessed with good family, that was for sure.
Porter hopped down the steps. Nothing seemed to wipe the smile off his cousin’s face. McCoy had to remember to put a smile on so he would come across as warm and friendly instead of worried and in debt. How was he going to be a pediatric dentist? He’d almost quit school when he’d seen his face in the mirror the first time. Only the thought of disappointing the good Lord and his aunt and cousins had kept him fighting through for that final diploma. Sometimes he still thought he should’ve just stuck with the dental degree and left pediatrics alone. He loved children, they made him smile, but would his young patients be okay when they saw his imperfect face and body or would he scare the poor kids? At least most of his scars had faded and his limp was the worst of his physical limitations.
A beat-up Chevy sedan pulled in front of the offi
ce. He caught a flash of blonde curls through the window and then the door swung open and there were those long legs again. Whew. Montana was suddenly sweltering hot. He’d have to talk to Chanel about proper attire at a dental office. Did she have scrubs? Would baggy scrubs be able to hide that shape? He certainly hoped so, or all the knowledge he’d worked so hard to gain would evaporate like hot water in the snow.
She gave him a smile then opened the back door and leaned in to grab the supplies. McCoy leaned too then cussed himself for being a crude man. Straightening up with cans of paint, she started shuffling toward him. McCoy hurried as fast as his tight hip would allow him to, across the icy walks and relieved her of the paint cans. Their hands brushed and that same connection he’d felt earlier when they shook hands ran through him. Hiring this woman might’ve been a bigger mistake than finishing pediatric school and burying himself in years of debt.
“Thanks,” she breathed. She turned back to the car and pulled out a couple of bags.
“What else did you get?” He hoped his voice was steady.
“Just some painting supplies.” She kept pace with his slow gait and glanced around. “Where’s Porter?”
“He ran the truck back to Billings. Said he’d be back with lunch in a couple of hours.” His stomach growled. It was already approaching noon. Would he make it until two?
“He’s such a great guy.”
“That he is.” He cast a glance at her, getting distracted by the smooth lines of her cheek and jaw. She was model pretty, but it was the light in her blue eyes that really drew him in. “So you’re Missy’s cousin?” Why hadn’t he noticed the resemblance the first time he’d seen her? The two of them could be siblings.
“Yes.” She held the door since his hands were full with the paint cans.
He and Porter had set all the boxes in the middle of the rooms so they’d be able to paint and not have to move anything. There were only four rooms—a waiting area, two patient rooms, and a bathroom. He’d have to use the waiting area as his office. It wasn’t ideal, but it was enough for now. Missy had setup a website for him, but no bites so far. He didn’t even know at this point if he’d have any patients so it was silly to waste money on a bigger office space. Hopefully his Main Street location would bring in some walk-ins. He imagined mothers taking their children to the park and spotting his dental office. Well, maybe when it wasn’t ten below outside people might be playing at the park or walking around Snow Valley again.
Chanel took the sacks of supplies from his hands with a bright smile then got to work removing lids from one of the cans and pouring it into a tray. It was an ocean blue.
“Whoa.” McCoy shielded his eyes. “Kind of bright. You going to scare the kiddos away?”
She laughed and the tinkling sound resonated through him like Christmas morning. “It’s not that bright. Here’s my plan.” She stood and faced him, and McCoy realized he would agree to any plan she concocted. “We’ll do a soft gray on the other walls then do some accent walls with the blue in the main area and the patient rooms. It’ll bring color into the space, but not be too overwhelming. Then we can decorate with an ocean theme—order some decorations and toys that bring the seaside and warmth into this cold valley. What do you think?” she finished with breathy anticipation.
McCoy’s brow furrowed. He’d never given much thought to why anyone would waste money or time on anything but white paint, but he liked the idea of an ocean theme and the children would probably like it too. “Um, I guess it can’t hurt to try it.”
Her face fell at his lack of enthusiasm. McCoy almost laughed. He hadn’t shown much excitement for anything in his life. Even when he was being rebellious as a teenager. He hadn’t picked fights because he was out of control, more to get attention and tick his parents off. He was just an even-keel kind of person. How to explain to this vibrant woman that it would take a lot to make him jump up and down?
“Okay.” She threw her shoulders back and took off her thin coat, setting it on a box. Her white blousy thing swirled around her lean legs. McCoy’s throat went dry. Okay. For legs like that, he might jump up and down.
Chanel pulled out a roll of tape and quickly taped off the back wall, standing on a box to reach the ceiling. He sat and just enjoyed the way the lean muscles in her legs flexed under those thin leggings.
She finished, noticed him watching her, and gave him an uncertain smile. “We can share a tray.” She handed him a roller and gestured to the wall behind where he’d envisioned a receptionist desk would go. Except he didn’t have a receptionist yet. “I’m thinking this wall for the blue in this room. It’s nice where the walls are already white we won’t have to do a primer and it should go fast.”
McCoy wondered what his facial expression was doing that made her think he was worried. “I trust you. Porter said you’re good, so you must be.”
Chanel smiled. “I’m better with dental, but I really enjoyed painting and decorating my house and helping my neighbors with color schemes…” Her voice trailed off.
“Where’s your house?” She had a house that she could afford to paint and decorate, but she drove a piece of crap car and her coat was held together with strings?
“Um, in Portland. We don’t live there anymore.”
“Oh, I went to school in Portland.”
“Did you enjoy it?” she asked.
“Not really. Work and school. Never saw much else.” Besides the hospital after his accident.
“Oh. It’s a beautiful city. I grew up there.”
She’d said we don’t live there anymore and Porter had almost introduced her as Mrs. Was she married? She wasn’t wearing a ring. Did he dare ask? He followed her lead and started rolling paint on the white wall. It was a cool shade of blue and not as bright once you started spreading it around. He had to ask and if she was married, he had to stop these errant thoughts immediately. “Are you … married?”
He glanced at her in time to see her smile falter and the light wink out of her eyes. “No, not anymore.”
Divorced? Widowed? Why did he care so much? Was it going to be a constant struggle to keep this relationship professional?
“What brought you to Snow Valley?” Yep. A huge struggle. This wasn’t just fill the silence awkward small talk. He wanted to know everything about her.
“Porter and Missy.”
“How are you related to Missy?”
“Her dad and my dad are brothers. When Chance died, I went home for a while, but that was tough.” She shook her head and stopped sharing.
“Chance was your husband?” A widow. That made him sad. This radiant woman knew pain and loss.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. It’s been two years now. I should be over it.”
“I don’t imagine something like that ever heals.”
She glanced appreciatively at him. “Maybe. I keep hoping though. I have a little boy and I want things to be good for him.”
McCoy smiled at her. It hurt the scar on his cheek, but it was worth it when she smiled back. He wanted to make things good for her too. He returned to rolling paint on the walls, grateful that Porter had given him an overpriced dental assistant. Even with the debt hanging over him, he felt lighter than he had in months.
Chapter 2
Chanel was exhausted by the time they called it a day. Porter had brought sandwiches from Harper and Madison and inhaling the delicious club sandwich was the only break they’d taken. The walls looked great though. With Porter’s help they’d gotten all the accent walls painted. Tomorrow they could paint the main walls and then do touchup. It wouldn’t be too long before they could start setting up the dental chairs and equipment. It was nice to be a part of something again.
She floored the gas pedal in her old car, anxious to get home to Trey. They’d been pretty much inseparable throughout her son’s eighteen months of life. Missy kept reassuring her that she was going to have a ball taking care of the little man
while Chanel worked. Chanel knew Missy would take good care of him, but it was a lot to ask of a cousin she hadn’t seen much since teenage years.
Yet when Missy and Porter had contacted her to come stay with them and work for the new dentist in town she’d been thrilled. She was ready to move away and not be dependent on her parents anymore and she felt this was an answer to many tearful nights on her knees.
After Chance had died and the shock of all his debts piled on, she’d had to sell her house and use all the life insurance money to pay off all the credit card and payday loan debt he’d accumulated. Everyone expressed that she was very lucky the man who Chance had hit in the accident hadn’t come after her for his medical bills as Chance had taken the money he’d said he’d paid the car insurance bill with and used it for drugs.
She’d continued working as a dental assistant and found a small apartment and the old Chevy, but then she’d found out she was pregnant. As soon as Trey was born, she’d moved back in with her parents and only worked part time while her mom watched Trey. Her parents were upset that she’d moved to Snow Valley, but they recognized she needed to find some independence.
Glancing in her rearview mirror, she noticed the older pickup truck that had been parked at the dental office cruising behind Porter’s shiny four-door black Chevy. Maybe Dr. Wilson was coming over for dinner or something. They pulled into the ranch yard. She loved the three story cabin style home with the wrap around porch. She knew Porter had designed the home then helped his dad and brother build it before his dad passed away. His mom had given the house to Porter and Missy when they were married. She was so glad Missy had found Porter. He was a great guy, completely opposite of Missy’s first husband, Tate.
She jammed her car into gear and hurried out onto the driveway. Running up the porch steps, she didn’t wait for Porter or McCoy. She banged through the front door, searching the main level for her son. “Missy? Trey?”
Winter in Snow Valley (Snow Valley Romance) Page 23