“I thought it was a line dance, not a two-step. We’re supposed to dance apart.”
“I was wrong.”
She didn’t say anything, but she also didn’t protest anymore, and her body was touching his.
“Did you enjoy your dance with Sarah?” she finally whispered.
That remark told him she’d kept her eye on him. He kissed her neck in reward. “Very much so, after we cleared up a little problem.”
“What problem?” She eased back a bit to stare up at him.
But he wasn’t telling now. He had to keep her intrigued with something so he could take her home, without anyone chaperoning them.
“We’ll talk later. I think it’s important and I can’t concentrate with you in my arms.”
She stared intently at him, then, in answer to his prayers, laid her head on his chest and danced.
He did a good job keeping her away from Sarah the rest of the evening, helped by willing cowboys. After their third dance together, interspersed by several cowboys, she confessed she was too tired to dance anymore.
“Ready to go home?” he asked, enjoying the sound of those words.
“Yes, but I can walk. There’s no need for you to leave. I’m sure there are lots more women anxious to dance with you.”
“You know better,” he said, chastising her gently.
“Truly, Jon, I’m sure—”
“You know better than to think I’d stay here when you’re leaving.” He continued to dance close to her until the end of the song. He wasn’t going to give up time with her in his arms. But as soon as it ended, he took her hand. “Come on, let’s go tell the others we’re leaving.”
Jennifer was again at the table, still standing, and stared at their linked hands.
“Jon,” she acknowledged, as if he meant nothing to her. Which suited Jon just fine.
“Want me to find you a partner?” she asked, as if only her help could save him from being a wallflower.
“I appreciate that, Jennifer, but I’ll have to take a rain check. We’re wiped out from our busy day and are calling it an evening.”
“We?” she questioned frostily.
“Tori and I. Or is it me?” he asked the others with a grin. Before Jennifer could say anything else, Jon told the others they were leaving and he’d see them tomorrow.
Jim looked at Tori. “You okay? Are you coming out tomorrow?”
“Yes, of course. Mildred wants me to help with the cookies, so I’ll be slaving in the kitchen all day.”
He grinned. “That’s probably more fun than rounding up some of Uncle Pete’s bulls for our mini-rodeo.”
Tori smiled. “I know the cookies smell better!”
“Yeah,” he agreed. “Save me a few.” Then he looked at Jon. “You getting her home safely?” he asked, as if he was responsible for Tori.
“Yeah. I’ll take care of her.” Jon stared at Jim and the man nodded back.
“I’ll count on it.”
Outside, Jon decided to walk the two blocks to their apartments, holding Tori’s hand. It would lengthen their time alone together before he had to say good-night. She made no objection when he suggested it. It seemed her mind was on other things.
“What was that exchange you had with Jim?”
“In my estimation,” he said with a grin, “he was questioning my intentions. And my integrity. And sending a little warning.”
She protested, “That’s not necessary.”
“Yes, it is. It’s man talk. You don’t understand.”
“Man talk?” she said with disdain. “I don’t think so!”
Jon lightly squeezed her hand.
They walked along in silence, drawing farther away from the bar’s music and the crowd. The moon was rising in the east, and Jon thought again that Rawhide was a nice place.
“What did you mean about the dance with Sarah?”
“Hmm, it seems she’s very protective of Jennifer.”
Tori sighed. “I know she is.”
“Well, she didn’t think I was a nice man because I hadn’t fallen at Jennifer’s feet.” He grinned at Tori.
“What did you tell her?”
He didn’t hesitate. “I told her I was too distracted by you. It was all your fault.”
“Jon Wilson! How dare you blame me! I haven’t—”
He pulled her against him and covered her protest with his lips. The need to kiss her deeply, to become one with her, to never let her go, overpowered his good sense.
He didn’t think she was ready yet to hear what he wanted to say. She was still fighting him on the possible pregnancy. He thought he should wait until that question was answered before he expressed his feelings. But his body wasn’t interested in waiting.
She pushed away from him, out of breath. Instead of protesting, as he expected her to do, she whirled around and hurried toward her apartment.
He followed, easily keeping up with her but not touching her. He’d pressed her too hard, too fast. But damn, it had felt good.
Neither spoke until she got to her door.
“We need to talk,” he protested, not letting her close the door behind her.
“About what?” she demanded as she spun around to glare at him.
“About Jennifer…and about tomorrow.”
“Jennifer thought she was doing me a favor. She’s unused to having her advances rejected, but she’s good at heart. And there’s nothing to talk about tomorrow. I’m going to the ranch to work. I don’t care what you do.”
“Are you driving or am I?” he asked, as if everything was settled to his satisfaction.
“I am driving myself,” she said, leaving no room for discussion.
“Okay, I’ll ride with you.”
“No, Jon, we are not a couple. Drive yourself.” Then she started to close the door.
Just as his beeper went off.
She opened her door again. “What was that?”
“My beeper. May I use your phone?” He could have as easily unlocked his door and used his phone, but he didn’t want to.
She stepped back and waved him past her.
He dialed the clinic number. “This is Dr. Wilson.”
He listened intently, then said, “I’ll be right there.”
“What is it?” Tori asked as soon as he hung up.
“A little boy with a possible appendicitis. I’ve got to go.”
He bent down and briefly kissed her, like a husband off to work. She didn’t even protest.
“Your car! It’s at the bar and the clinic is two blocks in the other direction.” She grabbed her keys and added, “Come on, I’ll drive you.”
He didn’t argue, following her down the stairs. After all, driving would have him there faster.
“You can call me when you’re ready to come home and I’ll pick you up,” she added.
“No, that won’t be necessary. It could be a while and you’re already tired.”
“That doesn’t matter. Do you get a lot of calls at night?”
“All the time in Chicago, but I was working ER. Not as often out here, but it seems to be a rule of thumb that children only get sick in the dark.”
She pulled up in front of the clinic. “Do you need any help?”
“No, I want you to go to bed and get some rest. You try to do too much.” She started to protest, but he leaned over and kissed her again.
“Thanks. I’ll see you in the morning.”
This time she didn’t protest.
Chapter Fifteen
Jon rolled out of bed the next morning at seven-thirty. He’d gotten home from the clinic about two, so he hadn’t gotten a lot of sleep. First he called to check on his little patient, but the nurses reported the boy was awake and happy.
“I’m going to be out at the Randall ranch. Just beep me if you need me.”
“Of course, Doctor.”
After hanging up, Jon hurried to the window to look out at the parking lot. He could see Tori’s compact sedan in its usual spot
. She hadn’t left without him. He needed to shave and shower, but he’d check with Tori first.
Pulling on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, he hurried next door and rapped softly. No answer. He knocked louder. Her car was there. She must be, too.
Finally he made a fist and pounded on the door.
“I’m coming!” a sleepy voice called out.
She’d still been asleep? He’d gotten her home last night before eleven. She must have really been tired.
Like a pregnant woman.
His breath caught in his throat. As he was warning himself not to make a big deal out of her oversleeping, she opened the door just enough to see who was there.
“What is it?” she demanded in a grumpy voice.
“I thought I was late and wanted to tell you I’d be ready to go as soon as I grab a shower.”
“Ready to go?” She stared at him.
“You’re not awake yet, are you?” he asked, smiling. He leaned forward and kissed her lips. He didn’t know about her, but that action certainly woke him up…all over.
When he finally lifted his lips, Tori was in his embrace, her arms around his neck.
She stared up at him, her breathing rapid. “You—shouldn’t do that.” Something caught her eye over his shoulder. Suddenly she leaned to one side to see behind him and gasped. “Jon Wilson, I cannot believe you pulled me out onto the balcony in front of the entire city in my nightclothes.”
Heck, he hadn’t realized he’d done it, either. “I thought you were dressed,” he protested as his gaze roamed her body. A soft T-shirt seemed to be her only piece of clothing. For a petite lady, her body was perfectly proportioned with comparatively long legs. A tempting sight.
She shoved at him. “Stop looking!” Then she spun around and ran for her bedroom. She entered the bedroom and slammed the door behind her.
He followed her in. “When will you be ready to go?”
“I’ve got to shower and dress!” she replied through the door.
“I don’t suppose you’d consider conserving water by sharing your shower?”
The bedroom door opened, like the front door, only a few inches. She remained behind the door. “Jon Wilson, get in your own shower. You have fifteen—no, make it twenty—minutes if we’re going to ride together to the ranch.” Then she slammed the door again.
With a grin on his face, he jogged back to his own apartment.
He was even faster than she’d ordered. Dressed in clean jeans and a plaid shirt, tennis shoes on his feet, he hurried across to the café and ordered two cinnamon buns to go and two cups of hot coffee. He’d picked up his car last night, so he unlocked it this morning and put the food inside. Then he locked it again.
When he got back upstairs, Tori was knocking on his door.
“Ready?” he called.
“Where have you been?”
“To get a surprise for you. Come on.” He took her hand, which was becoming a habit, one he enjoyed. He escorted her to the front passenger seat of his SUV. He was tempted to pick her up. She smelled so sweet, so fresh, so…delicious. But she jumped in before he could do so.
When he got in, she was beaming at him. “Coffee and cinnamon buns! I could kiss you, Jon!”
“I sure won’t stop you,” he promised, and leaned forward.
She dropped a light kiss on his cheek and sat back.
He cleared his throat and forced himself not to grab her. “I would have thought you could do better than that for a hot cup of coffee.”
She grinned. “I’m not at my best in the morning.”
“I think I know how to change that,” he said.
“Hmm?”
“Aren’t you going to ask me how?”
“No, I’m not, and I don’t want you to tell me, either. We’re almost to the ranch and I haven’t even had a chance to eat my cinnamon bun. I’ve learned the hard way that you don’t bring other people’s food and eat it in front of Red and Mildred.”
“Good point. Pass me my cinnamon bun.”
BY MONDAY, July Fourth, everything was ready. Even the animals had been rounded up for the rodeo, which would take place that afternoon. Jon had gone home each night during the preparation, but, to his surprise, his father did not.
Bill seemed very comfortable with the Randalls.
Jon now knew he’d probably stay in Rawhide, an unbelievable realization when he’d first arrived. But he hadn’t known he would fall in love, something he readily admitted now. He believed the quality of life in Rawhide was better than in Chicago. He wanted his family to stay.
But a happy vacation didn’t mean they would be happy there forever. He would wait until the end of his father’s vacation and ask him how he felt about Rawhide.
Most important, however, was Tori and how she felt about him. He’d been encouraged by her acceptance of his touch. She smiled, laughed and watched him. The weekend had been delightful because they’d spent time together. Saturday they’d gone their separate ways, him to the corral where his dad was riding a horse for the first time. She’d headed for the kitchen to make a million cookies with Mildred.
At least she’d said it seemed like a million cookies. He’d tasted a few on the way home and told her she’d done a great job. On Sunday, he’d helped the men set up tables and benches in the grassy area by the barn with the arena, where the rodeo would be held in the afternoon, followed by a barbecue buffet, fireworks and square dancing.
He dressed and called Tori. “Are you awake?”
It sounded as if she was stretching as she answered him, and his mouth watered with hunger to hold her.
“What time is it?”
She was definitely in her bed. He pictured her in that soft T-shirt, her legs bare. He shook his head, hoping to dispel that picture. “It’s eight-thirty.”
“Oh, I can sleep a little longer.”
“Okay. I’m going to the clinic to check on a couple of patients, but I’ll be back about nine-thirty. How about breakfast at the café when I get back? Then we can go to the ranch. Deal?”
“Mmm-hmm,” she agreed, and hung up the phone.
Jon sat there with a smile on his face. Someday he’d be able to awaken her with a kiss, not a telephone call. Maybe, for the rest of his life.
He forced himself to head for the clinic. When he took care of his business there, he’d be able to return to Tori.
TORI SNUGGLED back down under her blanket, a smile on her face. Jon was going to take her to breakfast. She was beginning to get used to starting her day with Jon. She liked it too much.
If, as she’d maintained all along, she wasn’t pregnant, she wouldn’t receive the attention she was getting now. Jon appeared to be one of those honorable men who took responsibility for his actions.
As long as he thought she was pregnant, he would court her. And he was very good at it. If she didn’t know better, she would believe he loved her…as she loved him. But she hadn’t forgotten his reaction when he realized they hadn’t used protection.
The harshness of his voice, his abrupt response, told her what he felt. She had to keep remembering those moments. But it was getting more and more difficult. Because she wanted to believe he loved her—wanted to but couldn’t. Not until she knew if there was a baby. She couldn’t risk her heart. She believed if he knew there was no baby, he would walk away, free to return to Chicago.
“Well,” she muttered, “I’ve managed to ruin my day with those depressing thoughts.” She shoved back the blanket and headed for the shower. She might be depressed, but she wasn’t going to look depressed today at the big party…or at breakfast with Jon.
When she’d styled her clean hair, dressed in new jeans that fit her snugly and added a red, white and blue T-shirt, she turned to her makeup. Then she put on gold hoop earrings.
It was nine-fifteen, a quarter hour before Jon would show up. She wrote a brief note, “Meet you there,” and taped it to his door. Then she strolled across the street to the café.
She was really g
oing to have to get herself under control. When she proved she wasn’t pregnant, she wanted to be strong. To show Jon that she didn’t blame him for his pursuit of her.
What she wanted to do was fall into his arms and beg him not to leave her. But that wasn’t going to happen.
Maybe he’d make up with Jennifer. She was probably the prettiest woman in Rawhide. Men always noticed that. And Jon was definitely all man.
“Morning, Tori. You alone this morning?” Mona asked. “I’ve gotten used to seeing you with that good-looking doctor, you lucky lady.”
“He’s coming, but that will change soon, I’m sure. He’s going to meet a lot more people at the party today. He’s been busy and hasn’t met too many people, you know.”
“I can believe every single woman around will be after him. Aren’t you worried?”
“No, of course not. We’re just friends, Mona. And I imagine we’ll be friends for four years. That’s when he’s leaving.”
“I’ve heard, but I’ve also heard Doc’s planning on marrying him off to a local so he’ll stay.”
“Or take her with him to Chicago,” Tori pointed out. “I can’t imagine it, but there might be some ladies willing to move on. But not me.”
“Oh, I see,” Mona said, a sad look on her face. “Too bad.”
Tori hoped Mona believed her. But she admitted to herself, if Jon loved her, she would go wherever he went. Something she’d never believed she’d do.
“Um, is this booth all right?” she asked, changing the subject.
“Sure, hon. Wherever you want. We’re not very busy this morning.”
Tori slid into the booth, facing the door.
Almost as soon as she sat down, the door opened and Jon came in. He walked immediately to her side of the booth and bent over to kiss her.
When he stood up again and slid in the other side, Tori found Mona grinning at her, as if to say, Yeah, sure, just friends.
“Were you starving, sweetheart? Sorry if I took too long.”
“Did you have a problem?”
“Not really. Just a couple of patients wanting emergency care.”
“Your life is never your own, is it?” she asked with a frown.
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