Oh crap, birds flapped in her tummy. She couldn’t answer, her mouth had gone dry.
“You make me think it’s possible, you know? What everyone bothers to sinnnng and write abooout.” His words slurred and his eyelids lowered.
He couldn’t pass out. She wanted that damn kiss he’d just teased her with. “Slate, are you okay?” The blood loss was enough he’d be dragging for a couple days. Pair the injury from the attack with whatever he’d gone through at the house a few weeks back and his body hadn’t had enough time to recover.
His eyelids fluttered, but he didn’t sink under. “I’m fine. What about that kiss?”
Becky pressed her lips to his forehead, ignoring the physical hunger for the connection. “Let’s get you to a bed so Shelley can clean you up.”
“Always trying to get me in bed.” And his adorable – yes, Becky let herself think about him without the extra baggage – lips smoothed into a soft smile accentuating his full bottom lip.
~~~
The door dinged every time it opened, thanks to an annoying addition Bill had insisted on at the start. Becky glanced up from the order form she shared with Shelley.
Amelia moved in the doorway, covered in warm clothing and a coat with a fur-trimmed hood. She appeared shaken, with wide eyes and even paler skin than normal. “Is he here? Is he okay?”
Slate. Of course. “Yes, he’s fine. We got him taken care of. He’s in the back resting. He lost a lot of blood. We took your advice, and as soon as he’s better we’re going to give dating a try.” Becky approached her, searching for any visible harm. “Are you okay?”
“Not really. Ronan came back to check on Slate and I let him have it about the blood sampling. He refused to back down from any of it. So we’re fighting again.” Tears welled in her eyes. “He’s taking the ranch in two months, if we don’t come up with the money.”
Becky didn’t have a response. What would she say? She didn’t know the whole story and with Shelley standing right there, it seemed like an inappropriate place to continue the conversation.
“Give dating a try? What have you been doing in the back this whole time? Practicing CPR?” Shelley apparently didn’t think so. “It’s not a surprise, is it, that Ronan James wants the Lonely River? His granddaddy loved Slate’s grandma and never got over her choosing Thomas MacAllister. Ronan wants those mining rights. Who wouldn’t?” She laughed, but looked up from her paperwork when the other two women didn’t join in her humor. “You don’t think it’s funny that Ronan is demanding the money and Slate is sitting on a multi-million dollar sapphire and silver mine?” She chuckled, waving her finger at them. “No, ma’am. Make no mistake. Ronan has a plan and it doesn’t concern making anyone else money but himself.” She offered a short nod. “I’m going to check on our patient.”
Amelia and Becky stared at each other after Shelley left the office.
“Hmm. That’s interesting. Do you think you can take care of things at the ranch for a couple days? Slate needs to rest and if he’s worried about this Ronan crap, he’s not going to get well.” Becky nodded toward the back. “I’ll take care of him.”
“I know.” And something passed between the women Becky hoped she correctly interpreted as friendship.
~~~
Two days later, Becky manned the desk and the clinic by herself. She’d released Slate hours earlier and she missed his teasing banter which dispelled the boredom of the quiet practice, not to mention the very frequent kisses and occasional touching.
More than a few times she’d caught herself glancing at the phone. Would she seem stalkerish if she called so soon? She could say she was checking up on him or Mac when all she really wanted to say was how much she missed him and ask if she could come out and visit after the clinic closed.
The door dinged. Oh, good. Patients to help pass the day and divert her focus from her standing-date-for-Friday and his hot butt in his tighter jeans.
A black Stetson covered his face, but she’d know that lean muscular build anywhere – was just fantasizing about it seconds before. Wow, if thoughts could conjure. “Hey, Cowboy! I was just thinking about you.” She rounded the desk and threw herself into his arms. Wrapping her hands around his neck she pressed her lips to his.
But something seemed off. He didn’t kiss her in return. She pulled back, smiling. “I was starting to miss you. I’m so glad you came back. Did you forget something?”
Setting her from him with a hand on either of her arms, he smiled, but with a side angle she’d never seen before. “I forgot how hospitable this town was. You must be talking about my no-good brother.” He held out his hand. “I’m Robbie MacAllister.”
The end of Book #1, Spurs and Lace
Read more of Becky and Slate’s story in Secrets and Lace, Lonely Lace Series book #2, and find out just what Robbie could mean for Amelia and Lonely River Ranch. Keep reading for a sneak peak at Robbie and Amelia’s story…
From the Author:
Hello awesome Reader!
Thank you so much for joining me on this western journey.
Spurs and Lace (the entire Lonely Lace Series, actually) has a special place in my heart. While it isn’t my normal story or even my normal genre, I had to write it. My grandpa, Dean, is a huge western romance fan – he enjoys anything western from Louis L’Amour to Linda Lael Miller. He’d read some of my other work (Into the End and Through the Flames) and worried about my mental stability. I had to laugh at that one, because I worry sometimes too. *wink*
He asked me to write him a western. I don’t think he thought I meant it when I said I would, but he and my grandma, Mary, humored me when I asked questions. In fact, the scene where Mac is operated on while knocked out via ether actually happened to my grandpa years ago when he was Mac’s age. He, too, had been put under using ether. Grandpa wanted feuds, danger, love, and cowboys. Well, I hope I did what you were hoping for Gumpa. I sure tried.
I would like to offer a huge thank-you to Kammie Roylance, Misty Polish, and Jill Cooper for all their help. Hugs and kisses girls!
I do hope you’ll join me for Secrets and Lace – Robbie and Amelia’s story. These two are very special to me and I can’t wait to share them. We’ll see more of Slate and Becky which I can’t wait for! I just love that couple.
Also, in book three, we’ll see more of Ronan and see what makes him tick. For such a bad boy, he has a vulnerable side I want to hold. Who doesn’t love a sensitive hot man hiding under a bad boy exterior? Yeah, and YUM!
I look forward to hearing from you and I hope you’ll follow me on Facebook or subscribe to my newsletter, Bonnie’s Inside Track, to keep up on what’s happening in my world.
Keep revvin’ on my friends.
And thank you so much, again, for taking the time to let me into your world. If you only knew how much I appreciate you, you’d feel hugged.
Loves,
Bonnie
Please join my mailing list so you’ll be aware of my latest releases.
Other titles by Bonnie R. Paulson
Into the End Series:
Into the End (#1) FREE
Through the Flames (#2)
Out of the Ashes (#3)
Into the End Boxed Set
Barely Alive Series:
Barely Alive (#1) FREE
Falling Apart (#2)
Mostly Dead (#3)
Viral Intent (Short prequel)
Boxed Set
Lonely Lace Series:
Spurs and Lace (#1) FREE
Secrets and Lace (#2)
Sorrows and Lace (#3, August 1, 2014)
A Date to Die for: Serial
#1 Speed Dating
#2 Oh No, He Didn’t!
#3 Dinner for Two
#4 Don’t Look Back!
Standalones:
Breathe Again
Psycho Inside Me
Dictating Death (2015)
About the Author
Bonnie R. Paulson is all about survival. Do you have what it takes
to turn the page?
Find Bonnie at
Twitter: @bonnierpaulson
Facebook: http://facebook.com/bonpaulson
www.bonnierpaulson.com
[email protected]
Secrets and Lace
#2 Lonely Lace series
Chapter 1
Broken down on the side of the highway wasn’t how Amelia wanted to face a dark shadow in the distance. She shook her head at herself. Her imagination could just as easily have made a branch moving in the wind into a man on a horse. Or into Robbie.
Ugh. She ran her fingers through her short cut hair. He’d be so pissed to see it that length. Enough about him. He didn’t get the right to occupy so much of her thoughts.
The sun beat down from a sky so clear and blue Amelia could believe in forever. On the highway, the blacktop spread east and west, disappearing into the trees in either direction. Black wet spots striped the street with dry lines. Dirty mud led into the snowy banks.
The shadow came closer, becoming a silhouette astride a chestnut brown horse in the sunlight. A black Stetson over an equally dark duster, broad shoulders straight and comfortable.
Amelia wiped at the tears streaking her cheeks. The last thing she needed was someone she knew seeing her cry. They’d probably think it was because of the car, but, secretly they’d wonder if it wasn’t because her long-lost love was back in town.
Damn Robbie MacAllister. Damn him! Hell, because there were no strangers in Colby, everyone knew her story and considered her a whore. Robbie had gotten off judgment–free.
She leaned against the closed car door, her butt to the side of the handle. Crossing her arms over her chest, she stared across the road into thick forest. Each branch had its own layer of dark green needles covered in a light dusting of snow. Just the other day a blizzard had caused white-outs across the region.
But Montana was nothing if not notorious for moody weather – at least on the western side. Snow around breakfast and tank-top weather by noon.
Damn cowboys were just as fickle.
According to the doctor, Robbie had shown up at the clinic two days ago. But hadn’t returned to Lonely River Ranch… his home. Did he know Amelia lived there now? Had he guessed? Where would he be staying? Probably in the arms of some out-of-town floozie.
Tugging at the silken scarf wrapped around her neck, Amelia unbuttoned the top three buttons of her dress. Either the thoughts of Robbie or the heat from the sun had her overly warm. A little bit of a breeze slipped under the material of her clothing and cooled her anxiety.
Every sound outside the house since Robbie had returned had cranked Amelia’s nerves tighter and tighter. She’d finally snapped about six that morning when Slate had gone outside to check the stock in the barn.
And of course, no way would she leave the house without being dressed like she might see Robbie… because she might… see him.
She’d taken her son into town for a checkup at the clinic and a light lunch.
Hoping she’d see him… Oh wow, she was pathetic.
Tap, tap, tap.
Amelia turned, bending down to see her son’s face. Mac. So dang cute. He waved from his booster seat in the back, a sucker in his hand. She returned the wave and crossed her eyes. His muted giggle brought a true smile to her face. If anything, he was everything. And almost losing her boy to appendicitis had slammed her priorities into the forefront. Surgery on the kitchen island. She’d slapped the doctor for crying out loud. Why would she want to add more stress to the situation? To her life?
Screw Robbie and his abandonment. Screw Ronan, her jerk-of-a-brother, and his attempts to control her and her son. Screw everyone in town who judged her based on their own assumptions.
She wanted so much more for her small family.
Thank Heaven for Robbie’s brother, Slate. If he hadn’t stepped in to help her when she needed it most, who knows where she’d be.
Straightening, Amelia crossed her arms. The wind picked up, whirling a chill from the melting snow around her legs and up her skirt. She shivered, glancing over her shoulder at the nearing man. She stilled, then clenched her fingers into her mid-biceps, biting her inner lip.
Why was it then?
Still a good hundred yards or so away, the clip-clops of the horseshoes didn’t reach her.
But damn it, Robbie’s all-too-familiar whistle did.
Spurs and Lace (Lonely Lace Series Book 1) Page 22