Forever in Love (Montana Brides) (6 page)

She gazed around the emergency room. Doctors moved from one curtained off area to another, assessing patients and doing what needed to be done to send them home or onto another ward. “I think it’s a wonderful facility. You’ve got a great team of staff working for you.”

“Could you be part of this team?”

She smiled. “I could.”

“In that case, let’s go back upstairs. I’ve got a contract ready for you to sign.”

While they waited for the elevator, Amy’s gaze wondered around the main entrance. Sunlight streamed through two walls of glass, casting shadows behind a carved wooden sculpture at the far end of the room. Instead of standard black plastic seating, the reception area looked bright and welcoming. Chili-red chairs had been clustered around yellow boxes full of toys. Bookshelves lined another wall, keeping children and adults happy while they waited to see a doctor.
 

She took a deep breath. This was where she wanted to work. This was where she would start to rebuild her life with her sister. She glanced across at Stan as the elevator doors opened. “How long have you been living in Bozeman?”

“Four years this winter. I moved here from New York after my wife passed away. It was a big decision to make, but Montana’s a great place to raise a family.”

“I’m sorry about your wife. How many children do you have?”

“One daughter. Her name’s Annabelle and she’s seven-years-old. My wife’s cousins live in Great Falls and we’d always enjoyed visiting them. After Sandra died they kept pestering me to come for a holiday. By the time Annabelle and I got here, they’d made a list of jobs I could apply for and all the reasons in the world why we should stay. I can’t imagine living anywhere else now.”

Amy nodded. “I know how you feel.” The elevator doors pinged open and two pairs of eyes stared at her. Catherine sat in her stroller, her face breaking into a wide grin.
 

Nathan stood up from the sofa and looked between her and Stan. “We’re early. The receptionist said you were looking around the hospital.”

“We’ve just finished,” Amy said. “Stan, this is Nathan Gray. And this is Catherine, my sister.”

Stan reached out, shaking Nathan’s hand. “We’ve met before. Nathan helped out on a fundraising event we had at the hospital last year. He auctioned off a five day working vacation on his ranch. It was so successful we’re doing it again this year.” He crouched down beside the stroller and held Catherine’s hand. She gurgled in delight. “Nice to meet you, little one.”

Amy caught Nathan’s stare. She frowned. “Did you find what you wanted?”

“Everything’s stacked in the truck.”

He still didn’t look too happy about something. “Was Catherine okay?”

“She had a great time.”

Amy looked between Nathan and Catherine, trying to figure out what was wrong. “I’ve just got to sign some paperwork and then I’ll be finished.”

Stan stood up and smiled. “It doesn’t seem that long ago that Annabelle was this young. You’re welcome to bring Catherine through to my office, Nathan.”

Nathan gazed down at Catherine, wiggling in her stroller. He looked back at Stan. “You go on ahead. I’ll wait out here and keep Catherine amused.”

“We won’t be long.” Stan walked toward his office, holding the door open for Amy. “I just need your signature at the bottom of your contract and then we’re all done.”

A red folder sat on the top of his desk. He flipped it open and held it out to Amy. She took the pen he passed to her and signed on the dotted line. “Thanks, Stan.”

“Welcome to our team. Ask for Marcie Jacobs next Monday. She’ll take you to the uniform room and give you the keys to your locker.” He shook her hand and held the door open. “I’ll email you more details this afternoon and see you in a few days time.”

“I’m looking forward to it.” Amy smiled at Stan, then grinned at the excited squeal coming from the other side of his reception area.
 

“Make the most of all that enthusiasm,” Stan said.

“I plan on doing just that. I’ll see you next week.”
 

Stan smiled and disappeared back inside his office.
 

She walked across the room, lifting her sister out of the stroller. Catherine’s little fingers made a quick grab for the silver chain around Amy’s throat. She tried to pull the necklace free, but Catherine had her fingers wrapped around the metal links, pulling them toward her mouth.

“Hold still.” Nathan moved closer, dangling a set of keys in the air. Catherine’s gaze darted to his fingers, then back to the necklace. Nathan gave the keys another shake. Catherine’s fist opened and Amy’s necklace fell out of her hands.
 

Catherine not only wanted the keys, she wanted the man holding the shiny metal shapes. As soon as her fingers closed around the keys she reached for Nathan. He held his arms out and she lunged toward him.

Amy laughed at the grin sliding across his face. “It looks as though she’s added you to her list of best friends.”

Nathan balanced Catherine in his arms. “She’s added more than me. Jake, his wife Doris, and Jessie Adams made her list of favorite people as well. We’ve spent the last forty minutes eating scones, drinking coffee and catching up on what’s been happening since I last came to town.”

Amy pushed the stroller into the corridor. “Did you hear anything exciting?”

Nathan’s eyebrows rose a foot off his face. “Is this the same person who never listened to gossip?”

“That’s because my mom and I used to be the main gossip around town. After she left everyone’s curiosity died down. Sally keeps me filled in on what’s happening.”

 
“Trust my sister. She can sniff out a scandal quicker than anyone I know. Let’s get back to the truck.”

“You still haven’t told me what news is circulating Bozeman.”

Nathan glanced at her before pushing the elevator button. The dimple in his cheek hid a smile that was fit to bursting. “There’s a reason for that.”

“You’ve got to be joking? Doris and Jessie were talking about me? But I’ve only been back a day.”

When the dimple turned to a megawatt smile she nearly forgot about town gossip. The last nine years dissolved in a rush of hormones, filling her body to overflowing with sweet cravings that begged to be set free. Nathan sucked in a deep breath, his gaze as hot and heated as the blush she could feel on her face.

Clenching her hands against the plastic handle of the stroller, Amy moved away from the danger zone standing beside her. She glanced at Catherine, happily chewing on the edge of Nathan’s denim jacket, then back at the elevator.
 

She felt like she’d just walked backward through a carwash. She was still struggling with soap suds and wax when the elevator doors opened.

“It wasn’t bad gossip. They were more interested in Catherine than anything else. As soon as I told them she was your half sister they didn’t ask any more questions.”

She nodded, staring at the little green numbers slowly sliding down to ground level. It didn’t matter what people said. Her sister was safe. She had a job. She should be happy, and she was. Sort of. But most of all she felt relieved.
 

“What else do you need to do?” Nathan asked.

She gazed at him, wondering if he realized how long her list of jobs had become. “How much time do you have?”

“How much do you need?”

“You don’t want to know,” she sighed. Opening her bag, she pulled out a folded piece of paper. Car washes aside, letting Nathan help her seemed like the only way she’d get through the things she still needed to do. Second on her list was finding somewhere to live. “Sally said to go and see Adele Murphy at Landmark Real Estate. She’s in charge of their rental properties.”

“I thought you were staying at the ranch for a couple of weeks? Do you need to go to the realtor today?”

“I can’t afford not to. I start work next week and I’m not going to have much time after that to look at apartments.”

Nathan glanced at his watch. “I can spare another couple of hours. If you’re hungry we can stop for lunch then go and see what’s available.”

“Lunch it is, then we’ll shop for an apartment.” And heaven help both of them if Jessie or Doris got wind of Amy looking at real estate with Nathan. Both of them would become the number one hot news of Bozeman for at least a week.

“No. Definitely not.” Nathan crossed his arms in front of his chest, staring at the ugly two bedroom apartment Adele Murphy had shown them. “The balcony’s a danger-zone for kids and you’d never be able to get Catherine up the stairs without risking a hernia.”

“It’s perfectly adequate,” Amy hissed. “And it’s in my price range. It beats the last property hands-down.”

“Yeah, that’s because the last one had a rat infestation worse than our barn.”

“Scoff all you like, but it’s my choice and I like this one.”

He looked at the walls painted a crappy mud brown, and the small shabby kitchen tucked at one end of the living room. “It’s too small.”

Adele Murphy sashayed into the room. Her black designer coat, high heels and bright red scarf belonged in the apartment as much as Amy did. “Well, what do you think?”
 

Her smile stretched a little too thin for Nathan’s liking. Adele tried to sound enthusiastic, but her voice came off sounding about as excited as the dirty green bathroom he’d just seen. After looking inside the last two apartments Adele had shown them, he knew why.
 

Amy glared at him. “It’s much better than the last one. With a bit of redecoration it could look quite nice.”

He stared straight back. Nothing could make this box look good.
 

Adele pulled a fancy little gizmo out of her jacket and started tapping on the screen. “At seven hundred dollars a month, it’s one of our more affordable options.”

Amy moved Catherine onto her other hip. “Is there any negotiation on the one year lease?”

Nathan moved toward Amy and held his arms out. Catherine took the hint even if her sister looked annoyed. He pulled the bundle of snowsuit against his chest and walked to the second bedroom. Nine steps. At least no one would get lost in this shoe box. He glanced over his shoulder, just in time to see Adele purse her red lips.

“We have strict instructions from the owners not to accept any tenants for less than a year.”

He glanced down at Catherine. No one in their right mind would ever stay in this dump for a year. Unless they didn’t have a choice. “What else is available?”

Adele turned to face him, flicking through computer files with the tip of a manicured nail. “You’ve seen all we have in this price bracket. If you want a home with more space and a garden, you’d be looking at about a thousand dollars a month.”

He looked at Amy. She shook her head.

“How far away from the center of town do you want to live?” Adele looked straight at him, her finger poised above the touch screen.

“Nathan’s not living with us,” Amy said. “We’re not…a couple. The apartment will be for Catherine and me.”

“Oh, I assumed you were married.” Adele’s gaze swept over Nathan. “You must be a good friend to brave these temperatures to look for an apartment.”

Nathan could see some not too subtle cogs spinning inside Adele’s head. He walked to the front door and held it open. “Thanks for showing us around. We’ll get back to you.”
 

Adele smiled, handing each of them a business card. “Let me know when you’re ready to look at more properties. I’m only a phone call away.”
 

The realtor’s fingers lingered just a tad too long on his hand. He had to fight an impulse to wipe his fingers on the side of his jeans.
 

Amy walked past him with her nose tilted in the air. Her cheeks had turned a rosy shade of pink and her eyes looked like they were ready to nail him to the nearest wall. She stomped across to the truck, opening the back door for Catherine before slamming her door in his face.

He clicked Catherine’s harness into place then walked around to the driver’s seat. Peering inside the cab he said, “Is it safe to sit beside you?”

“Only if you’re not worried about getting your ear chewed off.”

He pulled himself into the truck, shutting the door on the cold wind howling outside. “I’m feeling brave, so go for it.”
 

Amy glared at his face, her gaze flicking to his ear and back again. Heat spiraled through his body, pooling in places it had no place going. Amy wouldn’t be nibbling on any piece of his anatomy. Ever again. But by God, he couldn’t help remembering what it felt like to have her teeth and tongue work their magic on his body.

“That apartment was perfectly adequate.”

“Perfectly adequate for someone without a baby. It didn’t even have a patch of grass for Catherine to play on.” Or a decent heating system, or one curtain that didn’t need to be replaced. And he hadn’t even bothered to turn a faucet on because he was sure the water would have been about as brown as the walls.

“Considering we’re heading into winter, a patch of grass doesn’t rank too high on my list of priorities. It’s warm and tidy.”

“And small and dirty.”

Amy’s lips clamped together in a tight line. “It’s compact, but there’s only the two of us. It’s in a reasonable neighborhood and there’s a supermarket down the road.”

He started the vehicle, turning back toward Main Street. “Why aren’t you looking for something bigger? You’ll be earning good money once you start at the hospital.”

“Good money for six months and then I don’t know what’s happening.” She rubbed her forehead, frowning at the road ahead of them. “I don’t want to over commit my finances until I’ve got a permanent job. There’s more than one realtor in Bozeman. I’ll make some calls tomorrow.”

He glanced across at her. She looked pale and defeated. “There’ll be something out there. Just not that one.”

She took a deep breath. “Maybe not, but I’m not ruling it out completely. It’s my decision.”

“Fair enough.” He looked up at the black clouds rolling across the sky. They were in for another storm and he didn’t want to be anywhere outside when it hit. “Let’s get you and Catherine home. Sean’s on dinner duty tonight and he’s cooking his specialty. After tasting his buffalo spaghetti you won’t want to be going anywhere.”