Page 2 of Healing Hazel
Lawson laughed. “Not to mention wanting to get those girls out of their ‘woman’ jeans.”
“Good grief, how can you two be so different?” Brooke asked giving her husband and Daddy another swat.
“Careful, little momma,” Lawson said, his eyebrow lifting just enough to cause Brooke’s breath to catch in her throat. “Don’t think for a single moment that your Daddy isn’t keeping track of every single roll of your eyes, every sassy word said, and every swat you’re handing out so freely. There will be a reckoning coming due.”
Brooke’s eyes widened and then she smirked. “You forget, my doctor is also my dear sweet brother who wouldn’t dare let you spank me.”
This time, it was my laugh that filled the air. “Sorry, Brooke, but as long as your Daddy takes care, there is absolutely no reason why he can’t redden your arse.”
If I thought her eyes had been wide as saucers before, they turned into dinnerplates at that little tidbit.
One hand went to her belly as if to cover Baby Bean’s ears and the other lifted to point to the truck. “And here I thought we were on the same page. Feel free to take your traitorous self right on down the road Dr. Berringer!”
Ignoring her ire and her outstretched arm, I hugged her to me, kissed her cheek and told her I’d see her at the clinic soon.
She smiled and giggled when I softly added that if she needed some arnica cream, just give me a shout. “I will, but seriously, Nigel, promise me you’ll come for dinner at least once a week.”
“Forget that,” Lawson said, pulling his wife back to his side. “Promise me you’ll take George’s words to heart and let them remind my own Baby B that unlike a toddler, you’ll be old soon. Don’t let life go by without findingyour own fabulous creature to explore the kinkier side of Rawhide.”
I’ve already found her.
Of course, I didn’t share that thought, but I definitely knew I had. All I had to do was convince Hazel she thought the same. Until then, I just said, “Those are both promises I look forward to keeping.” I kissed Brooke’s cheek again, punched the oaf in his arm and moved to a room at the bed and breakfast.
Speaking of breakfast, you know how you’re supposed to take time to stop and smell the roses? Well, since it’s often a bit hard to find roses blooming in November in the Sapphire Mountains of Montana, I can personally assure you that the aroma of bread baking not only makes a great substitute, a whiff of freshly ground coffee beans, and the scent of bacon crisping in an iron skillet ensures your olfactory senses are satisfied. When the sunny-side up eggs on your plate had been gathered that very morning from the coop in the backyard, you knew it was going to be a glorious day. Every stitch in my side and bead of sweat worked up on my morning run was worth it just knowing that my room came with an incredible breakfast. Add in the fact I not only had already worked off the calories to cover breakfast, but I didn’t have to lift a single hand in preparing a feast fit for a king, and I was a very happy man.
The only thing that could make it better was if I was enjoying that breakfast while in bed and sharing it with Hazel. The woman was proving much harder to reach than I’d thought when we’d first begun dating. Every step forward seemed tobe followed by taking three steps back. Perhaps Lawson hadn’t been as far off the mark as I’d thought. What was I missing?
You’re not missing anything. You just need to stop being so damn polite and start being the dominant you are.
It appeared I didn’t actually need to be in Lawson’s presence to hear a big brother’s words of advice. The guy had never particularly given any thought as to whether I actuallywantedto hear his opinion. Still, I couldn’t deny that this time at least, he was right on target.
I reached the top of the rise and smiled. The sight of the sign swaying in the breeze in front of the pretty yellow Victorian home that Robyn had renovated, put a definite exclamation point on my decision. It was time to stop playing Mr. Nice Guy. It was time to get to the bottom of whatever it was that was keeping Hazel’s sweet arse out of my hands or over my knees. My steps were lighter as I took the stairs to the back porch two at a time and pushed through the screen door.
“Something smells like heaven in here,” I declared, stopping on the threshold and inhaling deeply.
“That might be the chocolate from Angel’s Heavenly Bakery and Chocolate Shoppe,” Robyn quipped from where she’d just slid a tray of what looked like the world’s largest cinnamon rolls into the oven.
“Nope, it’s coming from right here from one of the best cooks I’ve ever had the privilege of meeting. Good morning, Robyn. I swear, the smell of those rolls and that coffee is the only thing that gives me energy to climb that mountain out front.”
Robyn laughed and dusted her hands off in her apron. “You do know how to sweet talk a gal, Doc. Breakfast in fifteen so you have time to shower.”
“Are you saying I stink?” I asked with an exaggerated look of shock.
“Not at all. Personally, I think the smell of a man is better than coffee, cinnamon, or bacon all combined,” she said.
I’d feel complimentedifshe wasn’t speaking those words while looking over my shoulder. However, from the way her entire face lit up, I didn’t even have to turn around to know that her favorite rooster was standing behind me.
“Morning, Winston,” I said as I let the screen door’s frame go without fear it would slam as I continued across the kitchen. “It might take me a whole twenty minutes to shower, soooooo…”
Winston’s deep laugh was joined by the sound of Robyn’s giggle and I knew they’d gotten the message. As good as breakfast would be, I knew I could wait while the two did a bit of tasting of their own. As I climbed the stairs to the second floor, I was more determined than ever to get Hazel to come clean about what she really wanted but had yet to admit, because it was way past time I not only tasted but immersed both of us in a smorgasbord of kinky bliss.
Chapter Two
Hazel
I really didn’t need any of my current courses to know there had to be something seriously wrong with me. All I had to do was sense his gaze on me and I could feel my face flushing and every cell in my body tingling. How could I want him so badly and yet fear that desire just as much?
It’s not the desire you fear, it’s?—
