Love Unforgettable: Love in San Soloman - Book Three

by Wells, Denise

  I head into the house and find a note from Babs. She’s set up a dinner for me with Mavis Strassburg, her best friend, tonight. Mavis owns the neighboring ranch, though tiny in comparison to this one; it’s just being neighborly for me to reacquaint myself with her. I haven’t seen her since I was a kid and would summer here. But the adult me doesn’t remember much of those summers outside of eating Babs’ homemade pies, swimming in the pool, and riding horses bareback across the fields.

  Babs has done a bit of remodeling since the last time I was here some fifteen years ago. The entire space when you walk in is now one great big room with high vaulted beamed ceilings and three walls of windows. To my left is a sitting area and the largest kitchen I think I’ve ever seen. Straight ahead is the dining area, and to my right the living room and hallway leading to the bedrooms. The sitting area and living room both have large stone fireplaces and huge leather armchairs and couches. The dining table easily seats twelve, with space for another five at the kitchen island. There’s a wall of glass doors leading out to a little oasis with a huge patio, built-in BBQ, tons of seating, separate pool house, and, of course, the pool and jacuzzi.

  She’s giving this up to go live in a condo by the water? Crazy fool.

  The large space makes me wonder if she was hoping for family get togethers that just never happened. Pappy loved it in San Soloman because Babs loved it in San Soloman. But every holiday and family reunion-type event we ever had was held in Texas, and he never turned down an opportunity to return. Babs never did get the whole family here, if that was indeed her wish, but a picture of her and Pappy with the California state senator from a few years back, still hanging on the wall, reminds me that they would entertain a lot. Not just a few friends, but large gatherings like fundraisers and political parties. And I know they often held events for the staff and their families, some of whom live on site in separate outbuildings. It makes me happy to realize that Babs did get a lot of use from this amazing space.

  I head down the hall toward the bedrooms and office spaces. His and hers offices with French doors leading to the outside, each mostly stripped of anything personal, and just left with basic furnishings and décor are first. Four bedrooms, each with a private bath and stone fireplaces, and two with French doors leading to little patios are just beyond the offices.

  The master bedroom has Pappy written all over it. It’s all done up in dark browns and light tans, with a huge four poster bed, separate sitting area comprised of leather furnishings, and lots of wood, rock and steel worked in. Masculine with little touches of Babs sprinkled throughout. The master bath is much the same in style. Babs had since moved into a guest room, after Pappy passed, so this one has been void of an occupant for quite a while. My guess is it reminded Babs a little too much of the great man that we lost.

  So far, there’s not much need for me to do anything. Maybe update some of the furnishings, a new mattress, adding a few personal touches, and I’ll be ready to roll. I make my way back to the office space and do a more thorough mental inventory. I’ll need all new furnishings in here that are more suited to the way I like to work. And the space is sorely lacking in technology, but I’ve got all my most pertinent electronics being shipped, on account I did not want all that in my truck.

  My assistant back home handled those logistics. I send her a quick text to find where the WiFi codes are and get the ETA on my computers. Which also reminds me that I’ll need to find a new assistant out here now. So, I send her another text and ask for her assistance with that too. She knows what I need better than anyone and can narrow down the applicants. I’m okay with interviewing the most qualified candidates but sifting through a bunch of resumes from the beginning is not my strong point.

  I minored in psychology with a double major in finance and business, then got my MBA from UT Austin. I’ll admit, the first psychology course I took was because of a girl I liked. She was in the class, so I was too, but then it began to interest me, so I stuck with it. In particular, the use of tactile tools in therapy to act as sensory aides.

  So, in addition to negotiating all the acquisitions as well as handling all the books and the finances for my family’s ranch, I have my own thing I’m doing. I train horses to ready them for participating in equine therapy.

  It feeds a different part of my brain than accounting and I like that. The whole right brain versus left brain thing. Plus, I also like knowing that the horses go on to make a difference in peoples’ lives. I know many people think that horses aren’t that bright, but it’s really an issue of communication. If the horse isn’t doing what you want, it’s because you are not conveying that desire clearly. Much like canines, a horse’s desire is to please and make their owner/rider happy.

  I unpack everything that I brought with me in my office and the master bedroom then head outside to unhitch the trailer so I can track down something to eat.

  “You must be Mister Mason.” I look up and see a tall and lanky man coming toward me from the pastures.

  “I am,” I say as I walk toward him.

  “Name’s Earl Simpson,” he says holding his hand out to me. We shake, and he continues talking. “Miss Babs told me you’d be moving in today.”

  “That I am. You work as ranch manager, am I right?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Call me Cole, please. I’m gonna go grab a bite and get my bearings in town, but I’d like to do a tour of the land this afternoon. You mind showing me around, maybe one o’clock or so?”

  “That works just fine, sir. I mean, Cole. I’ll see you then.”

  “Hey, Earl, you got a good recommendation for lunch in town?”

  He tells me about his favorite mom and pop café then excuses himself. I find the address, put it into my GPS, and head out.

  * * *

  I take a little time to drive around downtown San Soloman after lunch to try and get a feel for the area. Near as I can tell, it’s a larger city with a small-town feel. And not large like Austin, still on the smaller side with a population of about 45,000, according to the welcome sign as you arrive. So not too big, not too tiny.

  I note a decent amount of seafood restaurants, which is to be expected on the Pacific Coast. I see a Mexican restaurant that looks interesting, The Crazy Burro, doubt it’s Tex-Mex though. In fact, I don’t think I’ll get good Tex-Mex in California, which is a shame. A wine shop, or maybe a tasting room, called Lovestone. Looks like it’s closing or moving, not sure. Library, post-office, courthouse, a large water fountain smack-dab in the middle of town square. It’s the kind of place that looks like they have parades on the fourth of July and a big Christmas tree in December.

  I’m gonna like it here just fine.

  My phone rings.

  I answer, “Hi, Momma.”

  “Cole, sweetheart, you didn’t call to let me know you got there okay.”

  I wince. “I’m sorry, Momma. I haven’t been here long. But I didn’t intend for you to worry.”

  “I know you’re a big boy, takin’ care of yourself and all, but a momma never stops worryin’ ‘bout her babies.”

  “I know. I’m real sorry for forgettin’.”

  “Well, how is it? Is it like you remembered? Do you like it? We miss you already.”

  “I miss you all too, Momma. It’s real pretty here. Smells good, nice little town, different than what I remember but not in a bad way or anything.”

  “How’s Babs?”

  “I haven’t seen her yet, she’s at her bridge club. I reckon I’ll see her later today or tomorrow.”

  “Well, you give her our love, will you?”

  “Yes, ma’am, I will.”

  “I still don’t know why she chooses to live all the way out there when she could just come home to family. Where we can love her and take care of her. Stubborn woman.”

  “Well, maybe while I’m here I’ll find that out,” I smile.

  “Okay, well, you take care of yourself out there and don’t forget to call your momma.” />
  “I will take care of myself and I won’t forget to call. Love you, Momma.”

  “Love you too, baby.”

  I feel a small pang of longing when I disconnect the call. It’s not so much that I’m homesick, or even that I know I’m going to miss my family, so much as that it’s easier to not feel alone when you’re surrounded by people who love you. I want a family with kids, and a dog or two. And I want it yesterday.

  But, hell, more than anything, I just want to feel my lightning bolt.

  Chapter 6

  Lexie

  I pull up to Trevor’s office, absolutely hating that he is going to be my vet, because it means I have to deal with him when my pets need medical attention which always leaves me feeling vulnerable and emotional. At the same time, I’m grateful that he was here today. Turns out Doc Richardson was in surgery, so if not for Trevor, it would have been hours before they could have tended to Sasha.

  Trevor saves the fucking day again.

  I head inside and see the man himself passing through the hallway. He beckons me forward. “Lex, follow me.”

  “Hey, Anna,” he says to the receptionist, “bring me the chart on Sasha, please? Room four.”

  I follow him down the hall into room four. Anna brings the chart into the room, turns back out and shuts the door behind her.

  “We’ve got her sedated and situated, the techs are running the x-rays now. We won’t know anything for sure until they come back. My main concern is what we can’t readily see.”

  I feel the tears well up in my eyes. I have been rescuing injured and needy pets most of my adult life and always those with pre-existing issues. Even so, it never gets any easier to accept their vulnerability and mortality.

  He reaches out to me, but I back away before he can touch me. I can’t handle his sympathy right now. And I especially can’t handle his touch. If he touches me I will absolutely lose it. He gives me a sad smile.

  “This will take about fifteen to twenty minutes,” he tells me. “You can wait in here or in the waiting room, wherever you feel most comfortable.”

  “Here,” I tell him. He nods and leaves the room. I sink to the ground clutching her leash to my chest. Then I laugh at myself, I don’t know why I brought her leash when she can’t even walk right now. I’m sitting with my back against the wall and my knees up, I rest my forearms on my knees and bang my forehead against my arms. It hurts, but sometimes the physical pain is easier than the emotional pain. Most of my pain today centers around Sasha, but, if I am honest with myself, I know that a lot of my pain also centers around Trevor knowing that he wants me back but being too afraid to do anything about it.

  I hear a soft knock on the door before it opens. It’s Anna carrying a cup of coffee. “Lexie? Doctor Vaughn asked me to bring you a cup of coffee. He said that you liked it with cream and honey. I hope that I put the right amounts of each in it.” She hands it to me tentatively. I stop myself from laughing at the Dr. Vaughn reference. I keep forgetting that Trevor is an animal doctor now.

  I smile at her as I take the cup. “Thank you so much, Anna, I really appreciate it.” I take a small sip. “It’s perfect.”

  She smiles and slowly backs out of the room, closing the door behind her. I haven’t risen from the ground, so I set the cup on the floor beside me. It pisses me off that Trevor not only thinks of me, knowing I’m upset and would appreciate coffee, but also remembers exactly how I like it. The thoughtfulness makes me angry.

  “Jerk,” I say to the empty room. Which makes me feel a little bit better.

  I look at the clock on my phone. It’s been five minutes since the last time I looked. Which makes it ten minutes since Trevor left. I check my email, send a text to my tasting room manager with a list of things to do today, then text Remi and Kat.

  Me: Hey. I’m at the vet with Sasha. She got pummeled by a fucking horse that was eating all my grapes. Dr. Trevor is treating us. Gah!

  Kat: Treating ‘us’, huh? How’s that treatment going?????

  Kat: I meant that as a sexual innuendo, in case you didn’t get it.

  Me: I got it.

  Remi: You okay, Lex? I’m just leaving the hospital, I can swing by and wait with you. Chance is driving me nuts.

  Me: No, I’m good. You rest.

  Kat: So, for real, you okay?

  Me: I just get confused. He confuses me. How can I still want him when he’s hurt me so much?

  Kat: Lexie-loon, I wish I could answer that for you.

  Remi: It’s because women are stupid.

  Me: Thanks.

  Remi: All women. Not just you. I’m stupid. I quit my job in a huff, declared my love to a man who prostituted me, was held hostage by his psycho ex, and am now running off to get said man a fucking cheeseburger because I have nothing better to do with my time.

  Kat: How many times I gotta say it, woman? He prostituted himself. Not you.

  Remi: Whatevs.

  Me: None of that makes you stupid, Rem.

  Remi: Thanks, Lex.

  Me: Okay, back to me. I just need to stand strong.

  Kat: Sing it, sister!

  Kat: But, while you are standing strong, feel free to get a little sumpin’ sumpin’ if you know what I mean. It’s been a LONG time for you.

  Remi: Oh, it has been, Lex. Wasn’t he the last one anyway a few months ago? Girl, if you can keep your heart out of it, go get it.

  Me: Ha. When have I ever kept my heart out of anything?

  Kat: Good point.

  Me: Gotta go, I hear someone. I think he’s coming back.

  Remi: Stand strong!

  Me: Love you guys.

  I put my phone back in my purse as the door opens and Trevor steps in. I look up at him. He meets my eyes and I feel his gaze warm me down to my toes and back up again. Heat fills my face.

  “It’s not good, Lexie,” he says. “But it’s not bad either. She’s got a mild concussion, a small tear in her meniscus, same leg as the cranial cruciate injury in the past, and one of her ribs is cracked. The crack is near the end though, so there isn’t any possibility of damage to the lungs.”

  “That’s at least good, right?”

  “It is, but we need to keep her as immobile as possible for her rib to heal.”

  “Well, usually she’s my little apathetic couch potato, nothing interests her, especially not other animals. I don’t know what got into her today.”

  “I’ll prescribe some tranquilizers to keep her immobile, we’ll fit her for a knee brace for the few times she’ll have to go outside to relieve herself. Past that, it’s just going to be a waiting game. I want to keep her here over-night, so we can make sure that’s all it is, but there weren’t any obvious signs of additional injuries or internal bleeding. We have twenty-four hour techs who will watch over her.”

  I let out a sigh of relief, not even aware I’d been holding my breath. “Thank you so much, Trevor. I don’t know what we would have done if you weren’t here.” I feel my eyes fill with tears, not realizing how worried I’d been about Sasha until it turned out that she was okay.

  “I would do anything for you, Lexie. You must know that.” His gaze is almost hypnotic. I take a step toward him. And then another. Until I’m in his arms. I let the tears flow, my head against his chest. He strokes my hair with one hand, the other holds me tightly at the waist.

  Fucking tears!

  He whispers softly in my ear, “I am so sorry, Lexie. I’ll make it okay. I am so sorry. I’ve got you. It’s going to be okay.”

  I’m not sure what he plans to make okay. Sasha? That he hurt me so badly? That he’s back and I can’t trust him not to leave again? Regardless, I relax into him and for just a moment choose to believe his words. It’s a perfect moment. I’m in Trevor’s arms, he is holding me tight, he is taking care of me, and I have nothing to worry about.

  I start to feel the warmth pool between my legs. It figures that I would get turned on standing here with Trevor. Remi was right, it’s been months since I’ve bee
n with a man. The last one, of course, being Trevor himself.

  I turn slightly pushing myself more firmly against him, making my body flush with his. I can feel him growing hard against my stomach. I remember the feel of his cock inside me as I would ride him. The way he pounded into me from behind. How he could fill me so completely that I knew I would never feel empty again. I want that.

  Just once more.

  And not just that. There is so much more that I want: to feel better, forget that Sasha is hurt, forget that Kat’s cancer is back, forget Remi was just held hostage and that Chance is in the hospital, and most of all forget that the man I love is back and wreaking havoc with my heart.

  I reach my arms up and put them on his shoulders, the move placing me even more flush with his body, core to core. I hear Trevor moan slightly in my ear. I tilt my head up to meet his gaze; steely eyes bore into mine. His hair is slightly disheveled and the five o’clock shadow along his chin makes him look rakish and sexy. I can’t help myself. I stretch up and touch my lips to his ever so slightly. My heart races, feeling like it’s going to beat right out of my chest. I move a hand to his chest and place my palm over his heart to feel his racing just as fast.

  “I’ve missed you so fucking much,” he groans, right before he plunges his tongue into my mouth. Claiming me, possessing me. His kiss leaving no doubt in my mind that I’m his and he’s mine. I weave my arms around his neck and kiss him back with everything that I’ve got. He reaches his hands down to grab my ass, pulling me tight up against his hard length, I wrap my legs around his waist and press against him. He feels so good. His scent envelops me, the smell familiar and different at the same time.