Their Rancher Protector

by Sasha Summers

  Dr. Buzz, as his clients called him, was a character. It didn’t matter where he was in the clinic, Skylar could hear him. He had a booming voice and a slightly over-the-top personality that somehow made him charming—not irritating. The instant Skylar shook his hand, she’d known they’d get along just fine. He was all business, exactly the way she wanted things. And since the business often required them to go to their patients, he’d entrusted Skylar with the clinic van—a van that just happened to have enough room for all her car seats.

  Between paying Penny and rent—she’d insisted on paying rent—she was managing to save a little. That, and the monthly check from the government, was how she’d pay for Mya’s surgery. Mya had her assessment appointment next week, and then she’d know if Mya was a candidate and, if she was, when the procedure would happen.

  Even though things were going well, Skylar was struggling. She missed Kyle. Desperately. She was falling for him. Hard. But the idea of engaging in a purely physical relationship wasn’t something she could do. There was no denying she’d lost her head. Did she regret it? Yes—now she knew how it could be between them. And no—for one night, she’d shut out all the reasons they couldn’t be together. She’d been playing a dangerous game. She’d known how conflicted he was, and still slept with him and wound up hurting herself in the process.

  Lucky for her, he seemed to be as intent on avoiding her as she was on avoiding him. Between Penny, Jan, Lizzie, and Weston, and even Hayden, it was rare that she and Kyle were ever alone together. When they happened to run into each other, they did their best to act the same—but there was no denying the strain between them. The girls noticed his absence and missed him. I miss him, too.

  She glanced at the clock. Wednesday meant five o’clock closing time for the clinic. Penny would bring the girls over soon, they’d load up the van, and head home. But tonight, she’d told the girls they were going to King Frosty for dinner and some fun in the play place. It would be nice to take a break from cooking in the small kitchen—but it would also ensure she wouldn’t run into Kyle.

  Too late.

  Kyle stood outside the clinic, a bouquet of flowers in his hands.

  Flowers?

  She smoothed the navy scrub top she was wearing and straightened her ponytail, surprisingly excited—and nervous. He’d brought her flowers? This was bad. This was good. Her stomach flipped when he paused, his face lighting up as the girls arrived with Penny. He stooped, giving Mya and Brynn each big hugs, listening as Brynn chattered and carefully watching as Mya signed that she’d made cookies and pet a cat and gone for a walk in the park. If he didn’t understand, he didn’t let on. Instead, he answered, speaking and signing, “Sounds like a busy day. Did you have fun?”

  Brynn nodded. So did Mya.

  Skylar watched the exchange, clutching a stack of manila patient folders to her chest. That smile was her kryptonite. One smile and whatever logical arguments she constructed to remind her that the two of them couldn’t happen went out the window.

  “Everything okay?” Buzz asked, pausing by the counter. “Skylar?”

  She jumped, the rush of heat flooding her cheeks a dead giveaway that her face was likely bright red.

  “Aw.” Buzz glanced out the window. “You two...” He shrugged. “You know what I mean?”

  She frowned. “We’re friends.”

  He didn’t bother masking his disbelief. “That’s what Cassie said. But I figure that’s just wishful thinking on her part.” He sighed. “My sister has had it bad for Kyle since she was, oh, about five years old. But if you say so, I guess it’s true.”

  “Well, they know each other. Being friends is a good way to start a solid relationship. It’s nice.” Cassie and Kyle made sense. They had a history. She and Kyle didn’t. They’d barely known each other a month—Chad’s letters notwithstanding. And I slept with him. The thought popped up, surprising her, and making her cheeks go hot again.

  “Or not.” Buzz made a face.

  “You wouldn’t want Kyle for a brother-in-law?” she asked, the words almost getting stuck in her throat.

  “Nope.” He chuckled. “We’ve been friends too long. I don’t want to get stuck in the middle or having to choose sides when they fight.”

  “Why would they fight?” She carried the files to the filing cabinet, trying not to overthink what Buzz was saying or watch the incredibly sweet exchange still taking place between his girls and Kyle.

  “That’s what couples do.” Buzz sounded incredulous, like everyone knew that.

  “Is it?” She peered over her shoulder at her boss, noting the tightening of his jaw. Her relationship with Chad had been easy. Of course, he’d spent more time gone during their marriage than home, but she’d like to think their relationship would have stayed that way. Easy. Uncomplicated. The exact opposite of whatever was happening between her and Kyle. Enough. Nothing is happening. She’d made certain of that. Her heart twisted, an unexpected pain radiating throughout her chest. “I’m almost done here.”

  “I’ll lock up,” Buzz said, that easygoing smile back in place. “Well, look who’s here.” He waved as the girls came through the door, Penny pushing Greer in her stroller.

  “Hi, Doc Buzz,” Brynn said.

  Mya waved.

  “Hi, Momma.” Brynn ran to her, hugging her around the knees.

  “I’ll see you Friday?” Penny asked. “I don’t want to be late for my hair appointment.”

  “Yes, thank you, Penny.” Skylar smiled. “I hope they were good.”

  “Angels. As always.” Penny smiled, blew kisses at the girls and left.

  Brynn tugged on her pants. “Momma, Momma, look! Kyle’s here.”

  “I see that.” Skylar swallowed, hating that her smile faltered when her eyes darted Kyle’s way. Kyle. Looking gorgeous and fit in his black button-up, jeans, and cowboy hat and holding the most beautiful bouquet of flowers... She drew in a deep breath. “Hi.”

  Kyle nodded, his gaze sweeping over her face. “Skylar.” The way he said her name was criminal, his velvet-rich tone soothing.

  Her gaze fell to the flowers, torn between hope and dread. She couldn’t accept them. But her girls were watching—

  Kyle shifted the flowers. “Is she here?” Kyle asked Buzz.

  “Yes.” Buzz eyed the flowers. “I was running out of ways to keep her here. She’s still in the salon.” He waved Kyle after him. “See you Friday, Skylar. Good night.”

  She? In the salon. Cassie... The flowers were for Cassie. “Sure,” she murmured. “Good night.”

  Kyle waved. “See you later, girls.”

  “Goin’ for ice cream,” Brynn announced. “Can you come, too?”

  Skylar scrambled to respond, fully aware that Kyle and Buzz were waiting for her to say something. “Oh, Brynn... Kyle has plans.”

  “What?” Brynn asked, frowning, staring at Kyle in disappointment.

  “Grown-up plans.” Skylar crouched, lowering her voice. “Maybe next time. He’s busy, Brynn—”

  “I’m never too busy for ice cream,” Kyle argued. “I’d like to come, if you’re okay with it?”

  To her horror, her eyes were stinging with unshed tears. Angry or sad or frustrated tears—it didn’t matter. She was not going to cry. “Are you...are you sure?” She stood, looking at the flowers.

  Kyle stared down at the flowers. “These are...” He shoved the flowers at Buzz. “Here. Take a Benadryl.”

  Buzz held the flowers at arm’s length and scowled. “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.” Kyle chuckled. “A little Benadryl won’t hurt you. It’s a lot better than getting on Cassie’s bad side.”

  “I owe you.” Buzz nodded. “See you Friday, Skylar. Enjoy your ice cream.” He carried the flowers through the door that connected the clinic to the pet-grooming salon Cassie ran.

  Skylar wasn’t sure
how to react. What had just happened?

  Her face must have said as much because Kyle said, “It’s Cassie’s anniversary—the day she left her basta...” He glanced at the girls. “Her ex-husband. Buzz forgot, until now. Likes to make a big deal out of it since it was a...bad situation and she had the courage to leave.” He shrugged. “Buzz is allergic to chrysanthemums and daisies—those are her favorites, apparently.” He paused, watching her closely. “He couldn’t get away and asked me to help him out.” He held up his finger. “Since I was coming to give the girls a new coloring book Lizzie bought to replace the one Weston used, I was happy to pick the flowers up. But it looks like I left the coloring book in the truck.”

  “I love coloring,” Brynn gushed. “Mya, too.”

  “I know you do,” Kyle said, winking at the girls.

  Skylar was staring at him and she couldn’t stop. She had no reason to feel such relief—none. But, she did. Kyle hadn’t brought flowers to Cassie. He’d been helping out a friend.

  Just like he’d helped out Chad—by taking care of her. Because Kyle had promised that he would. And Kyle was a man of his word.

  * * *

  Kyle squirted a dollop of ketchup into each of the twins’ dinner basket. “Good?”

  Brynn nodded. “Thank you.”

  “Thank you,” Mya said. “Yum.” She used a French fry to scoop up some ketchup and took a big bite.

  “Yum is right,” Kyle agreed, grinning. “You think Greer will like ketchup?” He did his best to spell out “ketchup” for Mya, then “like,” and pointed at Greer.

  Mya nodded.

  Brynn shook her head.

  He had to chuckle then.

  “Guess we’ll have to wait and see,” Skylar said, smiling at Greer, who was practicing standing on Skylar’s lap. “You’ll be gobbling up fries in no time, won’t you?”

  Kyle had picked up on the special tone of voice Skylar used and how animated she got when she talked to the girls. “Look at you,” he said, leaning close to Greer. “You’re getting so big and strong.”

  “Isn’t she?” Skylar nodded. “You’ll be chasing Jet in no time, won’t you?” She turned, at ease and smiling and so damn beautiful she took his breath away.

  “Well, lookie here. If it’s not the lovely Miss Skylar and her adorable brood.” Angus McCarrick leaned against the booth, giving Skylar a charming smile. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were a happy family.” He leaned forward, making a face at Greer—who giggled. “Lucky for me, I know better. What are you lovely ladies having for dinner?”

  Brynn held up a French fry.

  Mya held up her chicken strip.

  “Looks good, looks good.” Angus nodded. “And what about your beautiful Momma?”

  “Salad,” Brynn said. “No French fries.”

  “Poor Momma,” Angus said, giving her an openly appreciative once-over.

  “It was a very good salad,” Skylar said, completely oblivious about Angus’s open admiration. “I will be having ice cream.”

  “A woman who has her priorities straight. I like that.” Angus grinned. “It must be my lucky day, finding you all here. I was planning on stopping by the clinic.”

  “Oh?” Skylar asked, looking up at him. “For an appointment? You should call first thing in the morning. I think we can come out and look at your horses on Friday morning.”

  Angus chuckled. “I was coming to see you.”

  Skylar blinked, her eyes going wide. “Oh.”

  It wasn’t exactly the sort of reaction a man hoped for but Kyle thought it was hysterical. He sat back and crossed his arms over his chest, trying not to smile.

  “You see her now,” Brynn said. She used her French fry to point at Skylar.

  Kyle knew where this was going and he didn’t like it. Not one bit.

  “I do.” Angus winked at Brynn. “I guess now’s as good a time as ever—”

  “It is?” Kyle mumbled, running a hand across the back of his neck. He hadn’t meant to say anything out loud but it was out there now and both Skylar and Angus had heard him.

  Angus’s attention shifted to him then, his eyes narrowing as one dark brow arched high. “No?”

  Kyle risked a glance Skylar’s way. Skylar, who was red cheeked and flustered but trying not to acknowledge how uncomfortable the situation was rapidly becoming. He shot Angus a tight smile and shrugged.

  “I’ll stop by and visit at the clinic on Friday, Skylar. Maybe I can talk you into some fries for lunch?” Angus chuckled. “Enjoy your ice cream, ladies.”

  “Bye.” Brynn waved. “He’s nice, Momma.” She went back to eating her fries.

  “He’s...something.” Kyle didn’t bother to hide his irritation. He’d known Angus for years. Angus McCarrick was exactly the sort of guy Skylar should avoid. He wasn’t looking for a family—he was looking for a good time.

  “The accent’s nice.” Skylar shrugged, then laughed. “And he definitely doesn’t lack confidence.”

  “What’s so great about his accent?” Kyle asked, offering her a French fry.

  Skylar bit her lower lip, then took the fry. “It’s...different.”

  “Different?” he snorted. “Anyone can have an accent.” His attempt at a Scottish accent was painful to his own ears.

  Brynn and Skylar both stopped eating to look at him.

  “You sound funny,” Brynn said, wrinkling up her nose.

  “No good?” he asked.

  “No.” Skylar shook her head.

  “I should take my French fry back,” he teased, grinning at Skylar.

  Skylar immediately ate the fry, her face full of mischief.

  And just like that, Kyle was reeling. That look. That smile. The spark in her eyes. He was pretty damn fond of every single thing about Skylar Davis. If he was staring at her, he couldn’t help it. She was the flame and he was the moth, drawn in—even if he wound up burned in the process.

  Skylar’s gaze swept over his face slowly—as if she was taking inventory. When her attention zeroed in on his mouth, his blood warmed and headed south. Her lips parted then, the shudder of her chest making him bite back a groan of frustration.

  Two weeks.

  Two damn weeks of them dancing this dance. Of avoiding one another and making sure they were never alone. For what? She’d made it clear she wasn’t interested in anything more with him. Attracted to him, yes...

  Mya patted the table, waiting for him and Skylar to turn her way before she signed, “Ice cream, please?”

  “I’m on it.” Kyle stood. “Who wants what flavors?”

  Ice cream was a whole other matter. Mya wanted a sundae—no chocolate sauce, no butterscotch, and no coconut, of course. So, basically, it was vanilla ice cream with a whole lot of strawberries and strawberry juice and whipped cream. Brynn wanted strawberry ice cream with chocolate sauce in a big cone. He and Skylar rotated sipping their chocolate malts with the constant cleanup of chocolate-and-strawberry drips and ice-cream puddles. And when the ice cream was gone and Brynn and Mya were looking heavy lidded, Kyle waited for them to get their faces and hands wiped clean with Skylar’s ever-ready wet wipes, then scooped them up—one in each arm—and carried them outside.

  Skylar followed, carrying Greer, her gaze bouncing his way again and again. “You’ve got them?”

  “I’ve got them.” His heart nearly burst when Mya rested her head on his shoulder. “They weigh next to nothing.” He nodded as they passed two blue-haired ladies whose names he couldn’t remember. “Light as a feather.”

  “I’m no feather,” Brynn said, giggling.

  “You sure?” he asked, lifting her up higher. “I think you might be.”

  Brynn kept giggling.

  They reached the Granite Falls Veterinary Clinic and Hospital van Skylar had been driving around for the last couple of weeks. He’d
done his best to keep his distance—he needed time to regroup and process their last run-in. He missed her, he missed the girls, but his heart wasn’t used to feeling... Not like this anyway. But today, seeing the way she reacted to those flowers, he couldn’t shake the feeling that—maybe—she wasn’t being one hundred percent forthcoming with him.

  “This is quite a tank.” He stood aside while she slid the door open.

  “It is.” She nodded. But she looked so pleased he suspected she’d have been happy with just about anything if it gave her a sense of freedom and independence. “I’m turning wide and parking away from everything and being extra careful.” She climbed into the van and put Greer in her car seat.

  He set Brynn inside the van. “Oof. Maybe you are heavy.” He pretended to be stretching his arm out.

  “You okay?” Brynn asked, her little face creased with concern.

  “I’m teasing, Brynn.” He hugged her. “I’m fine.”

  “Kyle’s big and strong, Brynn. You can’t hurt him.” Skylar nodded, securing the buckles on Greer’s car seat, and climbed out of the van. “Climb on up.”

  “Okay.” Brynn climbed into her seat and buckled herself. “Good?”

  Skylar checked the clasp. “Good.”

  “Big and strong, huh?” Kyle asked.

  Skylar didn’t take the bait.

  “Big arms,” Brynn said. “Like Weston’s green man super-he-whoa toy.”

  “Green man...?” Skylar asked, smiling. She turned, tilting her head, and giving him a head-to-toe inspection. “Almost. His pants aren’t purple.”

  “He not green,” Brynn pointed out.

  “That, too,” Skylar signed slowly, explaining everything to Mya.

  Kyle watched as a little crease formed between Mya’s brows.

  “No,” Mya said. “Pretty.” She made the sign for his name, followed by the sign for beautiful.