by Jody Holford
He almost made a crack about that but winced for even letting the thought pop into his head. She grinned, and he knew she could still read him too well.
“I’m happy, honey.”
His heart clenched. Damn he wanted that for her. “That’s good, Mom. I’m glad you’re happy. You definitely deserve it.”
“So do you. And now you’re back to find your own happy. What happens if Stella doesn’t want to take you on as partner?” She picked up her pop and drank.
Zach leaned on the counter and crossed his arms over his chest. “That’s where I’m at right now. She wasn’t very receptive, even though it’s easy to see she’s got lots going on.”
His mom nodded. “Stella wants to carry on what her dad left behind. She figures because he didn’t have help, she shouldn’t.”
Running a hand over his chin, he considered that. “She tell you that?”
She laughed. “Honey, this is still a small enough town that people talk. A lot. It’s pieced together with what I’ve heard and what she’s said. She’s an independent girl. Always was. Might take some convincing.”
He’d already figured out that much. “Any suggestions?”
His mom’s smile was sassy. “Just be you. Never seen you go after something and not get what you wanted.”
That wasn’t entirely true, but what were moms for if not to believe the absolute best in their kids?
The doorbell chimed, and she went to the door. Zach grabbed his own soda and the plates she’d taken out. He set them on the table and grabbed some napkins. His mom walked back in carrying a large double pepperoni pie from Pop’s. He’d missed that place.
“Smells delicious. I’m starving. You probably should have ordered two,” she said, bringing it to her small, round pine table.
He laughed, as she’d meant for him to do. Other than Travis, she’d been his only constant. Once his father died, it had been her and him against the world. The small insurance policy she’d received after her husband passed allowed his mom to purchase the home she still lived in, and even though things had still been tough, it had all seemed easier. Happier.
Zach reached out and covered her hand. “I’ve missed you, Mom.”
She smiled, and her eyes went a little watery again. “Back at you.”
They ate in companionable silence for a short while, but when she’d polished off her second slice and he was going for his fourth, she met his gaze.
“I should probably let you know…” she started, her eyes shifting over to the clock on the stove.
When the front door rattled, he dropped his pizza, his brain and body going from relaxed to ready in an instant. His mother stared at him a moment, concern etching lines into her forehead. Right. Not everything was a fight or flight situation. He’d been out of the army for two years now and wondered if it was just coming home that had him more on edge than he’d realized.
His mom stood up and it dawned on him. His brows rose. “He has a key?”
He watched her cheeks brighten, and she stared past him as if the wall behind him had suddenly gotten interesting.
Zach pointed at her. “You live with him?”
“Stop it,” she whisper-yelled, heading for the living room.
“Do we need to have the talk?” Zach followed behind her as the door opened.
“Hi honey,” his mom greeted, shooting Zach a warning glance.
Her boyfriend was about Zach’s height and twice as wide. Looking at him, Zach finally understood the word burly and the contrast sort of made him smile. His mom was small next to him, and the guy’s beard and mustache seemed gruff in comparison to his mother’s softness.
“You must be Zach,” the big guy said, stepping in and closing the door behind him. He put the keys on the little hook beside the door.
“He is. This is my Zach, and honey, this is Shane.”
Zach held out his hand, unsure if he was happy or a little weirded out. “Nice to meet you.”
“You, too, son. Your mother is very proud of you and very happy you’re home.”
It was a good shake—solid and genuine. His mother’s eyes were full of hope and he smiled at her to convey his approval.
“I’m glad to be home, and even happier I’m staying. I think I stole a few of your jobs around here, though.”
Shane laughed and when his mother moved around Zach, Shane put his arm around her, pulling her close. “She thinks I need to be busy every minute. She’s not completely wrong, but I’m not sorry you got to the grass before me.”
“We just ordered pizza. Come and eat. I want you two to get to know each other.”
Shane looked down at his mom—he was several inches taller than her and a few shorter than Zach. “I’m just going to wash up. Be right there.”
His mom smiled and accepted the kiss Shane gave her. Okay. This is awkward. She deserved someone, but he didn’t have to watch. Shane walked down the hall while he and his mom returned to the kitchen.
“I was going to tell you.” She pulled out an extra plate.
Zach tried to make light of it even though thoughts of what it would be like to live with his mother and her still fairly new boyfriend jumped around in his head. “What? That you’re shacking up?”
She set the plate down and gave him a total mom stare. “You have a home here—I don’t want you to think you don’t. That’ll always be your bedroom. Nothing has to be weird.”
Except her saying it. The third slice started to slide around in his stomach. “Mom.” He cringed.
Before she could say something he really didn’t want to hear, he put a slice of pizza on Shane’s plate and spoke. “Don’t worry about it. I’m only here for a couple of nights. I’ve made other arrangements.”
As a general rule, he didn’t lie. But he didn’t want her to think he wouldn’t stay because she had a boyfriend. He was happy for her, but he damn well did not want to be in the next room.
“Zach.”
Looking her in the eyes with a smile, he shook his head. “Seriously, Mom. I didn’t come back to cramp your style. And I need my own space, too.”
That part wasn’t a lie. He just didn’t know where he’d find it.
Chapter Five
By the time Stella had finished her morning rounds, checking on the two dogs she’d had stay overnight, she was running a bit behind for her scheduled surgery. She liked to get any surgeries out of the way early so animals had time to recover throughout the day. Zippo, the Australian Husky who’d had a tumor removal the day before was cranky this morning, but doing well. He’d just required a little extra attention, which Stella was more than happy to give. Stella figured humans could learn from animals and their ability to appreciate affection, giving or receiving and not wanting anything in return.
It was a relief to see the room prepped. Dexter waved to her through the window that separated the surgical room from the prep room. After wash up and prep, she went into the room where Dexter had already brought the adorable Miss E, a one-year-old Shar Pei. Looking nervous, she thumped her tail and wiggle-walked over to Stella.
“Hey sweetie. How you doing? Let’s get you ready okay?” She nodded at Dexter. “Thanks for getting the room prepped.”
“My pleasure,” he said, lifting Miss E up to the bed.
As she walked through the routine spaying, as she’d done several times before, she reminded herself to talk about what she was doing, why, and how. Dexter was here, working, for free; hopefully he would get something out of spending time with her. Jeez. Confident much? You need to get your head on right. Your job is to teach him. Stella loved being a vet, but right now, or lately, all the other things tugging for her attention were distracting her from the usual joy she found being with animals.
When they finished and Miss E was resting comfortably in one of the back hotel rooms, as she liked to call them, Stella went to phone the owners. Her friend Megan was bringing her a late lunch when she got out of school. Stella smiled, thinking about how happy her frie
nd was to be teaching at Brockton Point Elementary.
When the bell over the door chimed as she was checking the desktop calendar, she looked up into eyes she’d been trying very hard to forget.
“Hey, Doc,” Zach said, strolling in as if he owned the place. Ha! He’d like to. So would several others—at least in part—if the piles of mail she’d sorted through were any indication.
The same aviator glasses sat on his head and today his well-fitted T-shirt was a dark green and showed a picture of a turtle with a caption that read: What the shell? He carried a Manilla envelope and keys in his hand.
“Mr. Mason. How are you?” Nerves danced in her stomach, which pissed her off. Men didn’t make her nervous. She wasn’t in or on any market and was quite content to be alone. Being alone was…comfortable. And the way she felt when Zach was in a room, or near her, was the opposite of comfortable.
His mouth turned upward. “Mr. Mason? We’re going there, are we?”
She straightened and started to ask him what the heck he was talking about when Dexter came out from the back.
“Hey Dex,” Zach greeted. Stella gaped at him. How did he just insert himself like that? Oh my God. Do not take that thought anywhere. Stop it; stop it right now.
“You okay, Doc? You look a little…warm.” His brows bobbed up once.
She glared at him, fighting the urge to laugh because Zach Mason did not need another bump to his confidence. Sending a smile to Dexter, she said, “Dexter, Mr. Mason was here the other day when you showed up. I mistook him for you.”
Dexter grinned, his cheeks going a light shade of pink. “I can see why. We’re practically twins.”
Zach burst out laughing and the twenty-two-year-old student, with curly, wayward black hair, thick-rimmed glasses, who stood not much taller than Stella joined in.
Stella stopped fighting her smile. “It’s not like your resume came with a picture. I didn’t know. Let me just tell you though.” She gave Zach a mock glare, then smoothed her expression for her intern. “I’m very glad you’re the real Dexter.”
He smiled. “Thanks Doctor Lane.”
Zach stepped forward. “She doesn’t want to tell you, but I’m a real doctor, too. I’m Zach. How are you enjoying it here?”
Dexter shook his hand and his smile widened. “I’m really enjoying it. It’s busy. Way busier than I expected. Doctor Lane never takes a break. I don’t know how she does so much in a day.”
When they stepped back, Zach moved to the counter and leaned against it. He set the envelope there and Stella looked at it, wondering what was in it.
Zach glanced back and forth between Stella and Dexter. “I’ve heard she keeps herself running. Seems to me, she could use some help.”
Stella nearly growled and came around the counter, pointing at Dexter. “I have help. As you can clearly see.” Help that didn’t make her wonder if he looked as good out of his shirt as he did in it.
Unfazed, Zach turned his attention to Dexter. “How long are you here?”
One of the dogs barked from the back of the clinic, and though Zach and Dexter looked in that direction, Stella recognized it as one of her own dog’s barks. She’d left the back door open to get a breeze rolling through the place. Fresh air was cheaper than air conditioning.
“My practicum is three weeks, then I have a course, and I come back for six more weeks.” He hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “I’m going to make sure everyone’s happy.”
Stella checked the time and then smiled at him. “Okay. My friend is bringing lunch. We’ve got about forty minutes before our next patient.”
“Yes ma’am.” He walked off and Stella wondered when she’d aged enough to be called ma’am.
“Weird when people not that much younger than you start addressing you as a superior, isn’t it?” Zach still leaned on her tall counter. He’d crossed one foot over the other and let his eyes roam over her in a quick perusal. Stella’s skin heated. From just a look. He had a presence twice his size. It wasn’t just that he looked good or that he smelled delicious, it was his confidence. His ease. The way he seemed to fit everywhere despite the size of him.
“You’re older than me, so you probably get it more,” she said.
He grinned. “True. I just naturally command respect.”
Knowing Megan would arrive any minute, and not wanting the questions that would come from her love-happy, about-to-be-married friend at the sight of Zach, Stella attempted to subtly scoot Zach toward the exit. “What are you doing here?” She walked toward the door, hoping he’d follow.
He grabbed the envelope and pocketed his keys before doing so. They stepped out into the sunshine and Stella was grateful that there was a breeze. It had been unseasonably hot for almost the end of September.
Zach took up his leaning position on the porch railing. Stella had always loved that the clinic resembled the home she’d grown up in, right down to the front and back porches.
“Couple of reasons, really. When I was here, I noticed it looks like there’s a setup in the barn for a hired hand.”
The breeze would have ruffled his hair if it wasn’t cropped so short on the sides and barely there on the top. His angular cheek bones and strong jaw, with just a hint of sexy scruff, suited the style. Not every guy could pull it off.
“You went from wanting to be a second vet to wanting to be a ranch hand?”
She knew it was more than that but didn’t want to take him seriously, because she felt like accepting anything he had to offer could set off an avalanche of need in all areas of her life.
“Not quite. Was it once quarters for one?”
Stella smiled, remembering the stories her father and grandparents had told her. “It was. My great-grandfather raised cattle. They had several ranch hands.”
His smile mirrored hers. “Which means it’s at least habitable?”
“I already told you I’m not looking to hire anyone,” she said. Though the exhaustion creeping into her bones and the bills piling up were definite hammers banging against her skull.
Any traces of humor fled from his expression, and she had an image of him, hardnosed and talking to his regiment or whatever the term was for the guys he would have overseen. Some people owned their air of command like a second skin. “And I told you, I’m not a school kid. But one thing at a time. I was wondering if I could rent the space from you.”
She sank down into one of the Adirondack chairs, trying not to sigh at the ecstasy of getting off her aching feet. “What?”
“No one is using the space. Never met anyone who didn’t need some extra cash, so I figured if I pay you rent, it’s a win-win.”
Stella stared up at him. The sun was a halo around his head. “You want to live in my barn?”
She had a twenty-five hundred square foot house she’d practically shut down because of costs that she could share with him. You don’t want to work with him, but you’ll live with him? But the rent idea was an interesting one. Gears turned in her overloaded brain. The farm house was huge, but too much upkeep for one person who worked twenty-four-seven. She’d moved her bedroom down to her father’s old den and didn’t even go up the stairs anymore.
“Why not? It’s available. I wouldn’t be in the way.” He shoved a hand over his head and gave a frustrated sigh, like he was wrestling with something. “My mom has a boyfriend.”
Stella blinked and tried to process that. “Uh, okay.”
He stood taller and stared at her until more than just her feet felt achy. “My mom, who took great joy in telling me what a vibrant, young woman she still is, has a boyfriend. Who pretty much lives there. Sharing her bedroom. Which, you should know is right next to my old room.”
Stella bit her lip. She could see, quite plainly, that he didn’t see the humor in the situation. “Your mom has a boyfriend. She boot you out so they could hook up?”
Zach didn’t almost growl. He did. “Never mind.” He started down the steps.
Stella laughed and, without
thinking about it, jumped up out of the chair and followed him. “Wait. I’m sorry. It’s not funny.” Except that it was. Stella hoped she was still as young and vibrant as Sheila in twenty years.
He turned to look down at her, his gaze skeptical. She had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from chuckling. “Why don’t you just rent a place in town?”
Those mesmerizing eyes shuttered a second after they went impossibly dark. He held up a finger. “One, I don’t want to live in town or spend weeks finding a place there.” He held up a second finger. “Two, I want to be close to work, and eventually I’m going to prove to you that I’d be a good fit here.” He lifted a third finger. “And three,” he said, pausing and looking around. “This place is peaceful. I like it here.”
Peace. That’s what Stella craved as well and part of the reason she was reluctant to let go or give in to the vultures hovering over her many acres. It was her serenity along with her legacy.
“I don’t think the barn is as equipped for a renter as you seem to think. Plus, winter is on its way, regardless of this deceptive weather.”
Zach grinned and stepped into her personal space. She should have stepped back to make her feelings on that loud and clear. Except that, her feelings on it were that if she just stepped closer, they’d be touching, front to front. That she’d be close enough to put her hands against his chest or abs and feel the indentation of muscles that lay beneath his shirt.
“If I get too cold, maybe you’d bring me into the main house to warm up.” That sexy grin made her insides get squishy.
Not good. No squishy stomach feelings. Stella really missed the feel of a man’s hands on her body. A man’s breath on her skin as he trailed kisses along every inch. Her eyes locked on Zach’s lips. He had a great mouth. Bad idea. Hooking up with him wouldn’t be wise but getting paid for space she didn’t use was. “Do you have references?”
Zach laughed. “To live in your barn?”
She crossed her arms over her chest and he scowled.
He handed her the envelope. “I didn’t think to put references in there, but I’m certain my former Staff Sergeant with the United States Army would vouch for me. Or perhaps the American Humane Society or one of the clinics I worked at or ran overseas. I was at Pet Central for the last couple of years. They might say a nice thing or two about me. Maybe even my mother. I’ll get you a list.”