Flirting with Love (19 page)

He rolled breathlessly beside her and reached for her hand.

“Holy shit, Lis. I swear I didn’t lure you away from your house to make love to you.”

She came up on one elbow and traced the muscles on his stomach with her finger. “I know you didn’t. I’ve waited my whole life for you, and it may not seem like it, but I’ve always been careful. Sexually, I mean, and with you, I don’t want to be. What we did in the truck…the things I said, the way I encouraged you. That was all new to me, but it felt right. I trust you.”

With the sun at her back, and her blond hair falling in gentle waves around her beautiful face, she looked angelic. He stroked her cheek as she lowered her lips to his for a sweet, tender kiss.

“You don’t need to be careful with me. I’ll never hurt you, I only want to be with you.” He sat up and picked up her bikini bottom, realizing that he was lying completely exposed, his shorts at his thighs, and she was bare save for the crocheted bikini top. He slipped out of his shorts and set them beside her bikini bottom; then he carefully took off her bikini top. In all his years, he’d never made love to a woman and then walked bare into a lake to cleanse her. He’d never met anyone who made him want to do the things he wanted to do for her. In all his years, he’d never met anyone like Elisabeth.

He took her hand in his and led her into the water. The dogs followed.

The water was cool as Ross sank beneath the surface and came up with his arms circling her waist. Her arms and legs wrapped around him as naturally as if he’d been carrying her forever. He took them both deeper, letting the lake wash them clean as the dogs treaded water nearby.

He moved closer to shore so he could stand, still holding her against him. She rested her head on his shoulder and kissed his neck. He loved the feel of her lips on him. He loved the feel of her.

“Lis.”

“Mm-hmm?”

He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her close, but no words came. How could he tell her that for the first time in his life, he felt whole? That he’d never realized the life he’d been living was only half a life? How could he tell her that he loved her after knowing her only a few blessed days? His heart took him by surprise, and if he didn’t understand it, how could he expect her not to run for the hills?

“I just wanted to make sure you were there.”

ROSS WOKE UP Monday morning to the sound of his vibrating cell phone. He reached for it, then remembered that he had stayed at Elisabeth’s, and reached for her instead. His hand fell on empty sheets.

“Lis?” The bathroom light was off. The only sound in the room was the dogs’ lazy breaths. He looked at his cell. It was five o’clock, and the text he’d received was from Jim. Gracie was having trouble. It was time.

Ranger and Sarge stretched while Ross pulled on his boxer briefs and brushed his teeth. He’d brought Storm back to Denton late yesterday, and he wasn’t surprised to find Knight missing, too. He followed Elisabeth everywhere. Ross and the other two dogs went downstairs in search of Elisabeth. They found her out on the back deck with her arms outstretched, one knee bent toward the rising sun, the other leg stretched behind her, her back and shoulders straight and square. She reminded him of a flower reaching for the sun. Ranger and Sarge made a beeline for Elisabeth. Knight ran in from the yard to greet them.

“Want to join me?” she asked without turning around.

The cool, predawn air washed over his body. Elisabeth walked into his open arms and heated up all that brisk air.

“I just got a text from Jim. I think Gracie’s time has come.” He felt her body tense.

“Oh, Ross.” She breathed deeply, then touched his cheek. “Let me change, and I’ll go with you.” She grabbed her water bottle and walked inside.

“Lis, this is the end for Gracie. I have to put her down.” He didn’t want to be there to see an animal’s last breath, much less a dog he’d cared for since he’d become a veterinarian. It wasn’t something he thought anyone other than the pet’s owner should have to endure.

“I want to be there for Gracie, and for Jim.” She reached for his hand. “And for you. I’ll stay out of your way completely. I promise.” Her brows were knitted together, and her pleading eyes made it difficult for Ross to say no.

Forty minutes later they were with Jim, Kelsey, and Gracie. Jim’s eyes were puffy, his skin was dull, and his tone was heavy.

“Thanks for coming out, Ross. Elisabeth, I appreciate you coming along. I think your massage helped Gracie make it a little longer.”

Elisabeth embraced him. “I’m so sorry that you’re losing her.”

Kelsey wiped tears from her red-rimmed eyes and Elisabeth hugged her, too.

As she drew away, Kelsey reached for her hand. “Thank you for what you did for Gracie. That was really nice.”

Elisabeth smiled in answer and nodded softly.

They all left the room for a minute to give Jim privacy to say goodbye to Gracie.

Ross touched Kelsey’s shoulder. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I’m sad for Grandpa, though. I hate that he’ll be alone again.” Kelsey glanced back toward the living room.

“He’s been through a lot, but he’ll pull through. He’s got you and the rest of your family. Just be sure you give him time and space to grieve,” Ross suggested.

Elisabeth was standing by the window, and Ross could see the unasked question in Kelsey’s eyes about the two of them. He answered with actions rather than words. He draped an arm around Elisabeth and whispered, “Are you okay?”

She shrugged. He could tell she wasn’t okay, but she’d wanted to be there for him. That spoke volumes of her inner strength and it meant the world to Ross.

“How about you? Are you okay?” she asked.

Putting a dog down was difficult, even when it was the right thing to do, but Ross had always kept his own feelings at bay during the process. He’d worn the armor of the veterinarian, a mask of strength and understanding. That was harder to pull off with Elisabeth by his side. She was getting to know the real him, and he knew she’d see right through his charade if he gave her an off-the-cuff nod.

“It’s sad, but necessary.” He felt Kelsey’s eyes on them. She’d never seen him with a woman he was dating, and he knew Kelsey well enough to understand that the curiosity in her eyes was driven by her desire to look out for Ross, because she’d heard the town gossip about Elisabeth. After all, that’s what friends did for one another, just as he’d do for her if the occasion arose. He could practically see her weeding through the roots of the grapevine and weighing each against the woman she saw before her.

Ross turned his attention back to Elisabeth. “I’m really glad you’re here with me. It’s okay if you want to wait in here while I take care of Gracie.”

ELISABETH HADN’T EXPECTED to have such a hard time with Gracie being put down. She’d never actually been with an animal when it was put to sleep, but she’d given end-of-life massages like the one she’d given Gracie many times. This was very different. She wanted to be there for Ross even though he’d tried to dissuade her from coming with him. She couldn’t imagine that even with all the experience he had, he’d be able to do this and come out unscathed.

He stood straight and tall, shoulders back. As strong and manly as they came. Maybe he didn’t need her there after all, despite what he’d just said. Kelsey was watching them intently, and it made her a little more nervous.

“I’m okay,” she said as confidently as she could, which sounded pretty weak to her.

Ross nodded, and then they went into the living room, where Jim was sitting with Gracie, one hand on her chest, the other on her paw. Jim nodded as he rose to his feet, giving Ross room to do what he needed to.

“This will be quick,” Ross explained. “I’m going to give her an injection, and she’ll be unconscious in seconds. She won’t feel a thing.” He prepared the injection.

Most people might not have noticed the sadness shadowing his eyes. Elisabeth did. She felt the energy in the room change as a breeze swept in through an open window, bringing with it the scent of hay and horses. Gracie’s nose twitched, and Jim sank to his knees by her head and stroked her fur. Kelsey stood behind him with one hand on his shoulder. She glanced up at Elisabeth and reached for her hand. In that second, being an outsider didn’t matter. Death had a way of doing that to people—making emotions so raw that there was no room for judgment.

Jim blinked away tears.

Ross glanced at Jim again, and a silent sanction passed between the two men. He administered the shot, and true to his word, Gracie’s twitching nose became still. Less than a minute later she was gone. Ross checked for a heartbeat, then gave another silent nod. He placed his hand over Jim’s for a beat, then picked up his bag, reached for Elisabeth’s hand, and led her silently out to the truck.

“Is it okay to just leave them like that?”

Ross started the truck. “It’s what he requested. He’ll bury her on the farm.” The muscles in his jaw bunched repetitively. He gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles went white.

Elisabeth slid across the seat and buckled up next to him. She placed one arm over his shoulder and rested her head against him.

“You have a hard job,” she said honestly.

“Sometimes.” He kept his eyes trained on the road.

They rode the rest of the way in silence. There was no need to hash out his feelings—she sensed his heartache in every breath. When they arrived back at her house, he was still reserved. He reached for her and held her for a long time.

“I was really glad you were with me. Thank you.” His voice sounded strained.

“But?” She searched his eyes. They were a strange mix of confusion and something else she couldn’t read.

“Your being there made me feel much more than I usually do. It was difficult to remain detached from what I was doing.”

“Ross, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”

He pressed his lips to hers. “I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. I just noticed a difference. I hadn’t realized how numb I’d become. You opening me up may even be a good thing.”

After Ross left to get ready for work, Elisabeth checked on the animals and fed Kennedy. Her mother called, and after listening to her talk about the party she’d gone to that weekend, where she’d met a few A-list actors, Elisabeth was getting antsy to get on with her day.

“Mom, I’ve really got to get going. I’ve got a ton of baking to do, but I’m glad you had a good time.”

“Oh, honey. I always have a good time. Before you go, just tell me this. How are you really doing out there all alone? Don’t you want to come back?”

There was something needy in her mother’s tone that made the question feel strange coming from her. “Mom, are you okay? Why do you want me to come back so badly?”

“
Tsk
. I just hate to think about you out there, wasting your assets in that little town. You should be here, with family. Not out there all alone, living a simple life. Honey, I know you loved Cora. She was my sister, and I loved her, too. But you’re too smart to live a simple life like she did. You’re destined to marry a great man and live a big life.”

That’s what this was all about. She was jealous that Elisabeth had chosen to follow Cora’s life path instead of hers. After the morning she’d had, she didn’t have the energy to try to explain to her mother that living a simple life actually allowed her to live a more fulfilling life. She was happier taking care of the animals and being with Ross than she had ever been in LA, and no amount of fame could replace the joy of seeing Kennedy grow, or walking through the pasture, hearing Rocky crow every morning, or waking up in Ross’s arms. Unfortunately, there weren’t enough words in the English language to convince her mother of those things.

“I know you worry about me, Mom, but I’m happy. I really am.”

She ended the call and baked the orders for the next day, then baked a little something for Kelsey and her grandfather. She was still not sure how she’d gotten a handful of new orders over the weekend, but it brought joy to an otherwise difficult morning.

She spent the next few hours delivering pies. The bell above the door at the Trusty Diner announced her presence, and all eyes turned toward her. Her stomach took a nervous dive. She should be used to sideways glances and whispers by now, or at least expect them, but in the joy of baking, she’d somehow managed to forget that part of her day.

“Elisabeth Nash, what have you done to my Sam?” Margie shoved an order pad into her apron pocket, placed her hands on her hips, and ran a scrutinizing gaze down Elisabeth’s arm to the cooler she was carrying.

“Sam?” Was something wrong with the pies? She quickly ran through the ingredients in her mind. She hoped he wasn’t allergic to something in the raspberry-apricot pie she’d made for him.

“He’s added eight raspberry-apricot pies to our order for the week.” She sidled up to Elisabeth and spoke in a hushed tone. “Did you put something addictive in that pie?”

Oh, thank goodness!
Elisabeth tried to contain her excitement. “No, but maybe I should. I’m so glad he liked it.”

“Liked it?” Margie scoffed. “The man took one bite and then hid the pie so no one else could have any. Then he had the nerve to rattle on and on about how delicious it was to the mailman, the bread delivery man, and our dairy supplier, without offering them so much as a bite.”

The day just got a hundred times better.

After delivering the rest of the pies, she stopped by Wynchels’ Farm to pick up more raspberries and apricots. Three of the dogs bounded toward her as she crossed the parking lot. She loved them up, shaking her head at their thick tangles and the dirt they’d already gotten into.

“You guys must be having tons of fun,” she said to them.

“They’re never far from fun, that’s for sure.”

Elisabeth turned at the slow drawl and deep voice. Two men who looked to be in their fifties, wearing cowboy hats, jeans, and boots fell into step beside her.

“Hi,” she said with a smile.

“You’re Cora’s niece? The dog groomer?” the taller of the two men said.

“No, she’s a baker. She took over Cora’s business,” the other man said.