Page 90 of The Holiday Gift

Brooke had selfishly believed she was stronger than her diabetes. She didn’t deserve to have it, thus she shouldn’t have to worry about taking care of herself. She was cavalier to the point of recklessness about checking her levels and taking her insulin.

She had been a loving mother, he would never say otherwise, even if he sometimes wondered how a loving mother could risk her own health when she already had so much simply because she wanted more.

“What about you?” he asked to change the subject. “Ever been married?”

She was in midsip with her hot cocoa and coughed a little. “Me? No. I date here and there but...nothing serious. The dating pool around Pine Gulch is a little shallow. I’ve known most of the unmarried men around here my whole life.”

You haven’t known me.

The dangerous thought whispered through his mind and seemed to move right in. No. He definitely didn’t want to go there. She was a beautiful woman and he was very attracted to her—he only needed to remember that dream if he needed proof—but he would never do anything about that attraction but sneak those tantalizing glimpses at her and wonder.

He had his children to consider and a new practice he was trying to build. He could see no room for a complicated woman like Caidy Bowman in that picture anywhere.

Why did she hide herself away here in a small town like Pine Gulch? Why hadn’t she become a veterinarian? He had the same strange thought of earlier in the day when he had seen her standing on the River Bow porch with her brother and her niece. She was lonely. He had no idea why he thought so, but he was suddenly certain of it.

“So why not dip your feet in other waters? It’s a big world. You could always try internet dating.”

“Wow. You’re a veterinariananda relationship coach. Who would have guessed? It seems an odd combination, but, okay.”

He laughed gruffly, only because that was absolutelynothis usual modus operandi. Usually he was completely oblivious to the interpersonal dramas and entanglements of other people, except when it came to their relationships with their pets.

“That’s me. I’ll fix up your dog and your broken heart, all for one low fee. And I offer monthly installment plans.”

She smiled, the right side of her mouth just a bit higher than the left to create a sweetly pleasing imbalance. The quiet, companionable silence wrapped around them like the trailing tendrils of a woolen scarf.

He wanted to kiss her.

The hunger for a taste—just one little sampling—of chocolate and raspberry and soft, warm woman was intense and bewitching. He needed to get out of there. Now, before he did something completely insane like try to turn his midnight fantasies into reality and received a well-earned slap for it.

The dog snuffled softly and that was the excuse he needed to leave her side and return to the cozy little warren she had created for Luke.

Unfortunately, she followed right behind as he crouched down to check the dog’s breathing with his stethoscope.

“How does he sound?”

“Good. Breathing is normal now. I think we solved the problem.”

“Thank you again, for everything. I’m not sure Doc Harris could have done the job as well.”

Her words seeped inside him. He was inordinately pleased by the compliment. “You’re very welcome.”

“I hope I don’t need to call you in the middle of the night again.”

“Please don’t hesitate. I’m just down the lane now.”

She smiled. “Ridge said it would be like having our own veterinarian-in-residence. Just to put your mind at ease, I promise not to take advantage.”

Please. Take advantage all you want.He cleared his throat. “For what it’s worth, I think the guys around here are crazy. Even if you did grow up with them.”

He wasn’t quite sure why he said the words. He was no more a player than he was a relationship coach, for heaven’s sake. She flashed him a startled look, her eyes wide and her mouth slightly parted.

He might have left things at that, safe and uncomplicated, except her eyes suddenly shifted to his mouth and he didn’t miss the flare of heat in her gaze.

He swore under his breath, already regretting what he seemed to have no power to resist, and then he reached for her.

Chapter 6

As his mouth settled over hers, warm and firm and tasting of cocoa, Caidy couldn’t quite believe this was happening.

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