Sandy Sullivan (11 page)

"Sure.
You two keep telling yourselves that. You might believe it eventually. I'm sure
you've been dreaming of Marcus, Liz and I know how he talks about you."

Elizabeth
coughed and kicked her under the table as Marcus choked on his lunch.

"Ouch!"

"Shut
your mouth, Natalie. What goes on between me and Marcus isn't your concern."
She elbowed Marcus who jumped up to let her out. "I'll see you tomorrow
night, Marcus."

Chapter Six

"What
did I do?" Natalie asked, as Marcus sputtered and coughed.

"Got
involved," he croaked after another couple of coughs to clear his throat.
"I told you to stay out of my relationship with Elizabeth, Natalie."

"I
only want to see the two of you happy, Marcus."

"She's
leaving in a month. A relationship between us is dead before it gets started,
but you in the middle of this will only make everything worse."

"But
you've been pining after her for months."

"It
doesn't matter. Can't you see she's rebounding after her breakup with her guy
friend in Los
Angeles.
"

"Asshole,
you mean."

"Whatever.
She's still not ready to move on to someone else. We'll spend some quiets
nights dining together. That will be the end of it."

"I
know you don't want things to end though."

"I
don't need a woman in my life. I have my practice. It's enough."

"Bullshit."

"It's
not bullshit, Nat. Elizabeth is beautiful, charming, sophisticated, and all the
things a man could want in a woman, but she's busy—too busy for a love life
unless it's a short-term relationship. I'm okay with something along those
lines for now. If we get together under those circumstances, then so be it."
He finished his dumplings and pushed the plate away. "How are Cade and the
kids? I haven't been out to visit in a while."

"They're
fine. Why don't you join us for supper on Sunday?"

"I
supposed I could. I'm not busy."

"Great.
Six?"

"Sounds
fine, but I should go now. I've got some patients to see and a dinner date
tomorrow to prepare for." He grinned as she rolled her eyes.

"Guys
don't prepare."

"This
one does, especially if I want to impress said lady."

"You're
impossible, Marcus. I hope you know what you're doing."

"I
do. We're good. See you Sunday," he said, tossing some bills on the table
to cover lunch before he headed for the door. He knew what he wanted and even
if he could only have her for a short time, he'd be willing.

When
he got back to his office, the lobby was full to the brim with women and their
pets. Everything from cats, to dogs, to lizards graced cages, collars and laps.

"There
you are Doctor Melton," his receptionist said. "Thank goodness you're
back. It's been like this for the last hour. Are you ready for patients?"

"Yes,
Cindy. Give me two minutes to get settled. I'll take care of everyone in time."

"Yes,
sir.
Mandy is already in the back waiting for you."

"Thanks."

A
soft wolf-whistle echoed the noisy room, but he chose to ignore it. He had put
up with the flirting and random suggestions since taking over the clinic.
Unfortunately, he hadn’t figured out how to discourage his female clientele.

A
primped and cut French poodle waddled in on a studded leash with Mrs.
Warber
holding tightly to the end.

"Mrs.
Warber
. What seems to be trouble with
Fifi
this week?"

"I
think she's got a fever. She doesn't seem to be herself the last couple of
days."

"Are
you sure? She seems fine to me," he said, noting the rapid step, wagging
tail and lolling tongue of the large dog.

"She
sleeps all the time and doesn't seem to have much energy."

Marcus
shook his head, but grinned. Mrs.
Warber
had been in
with
Fifi
five times in as many weeks, always for
some milady or another. The other females in the waiting room were there for the
same reason. He let it go and treated the animals, as if they were really sick.
Good thing he enjoyed seeing his four-legged patients. "I'll have Mandy
get her temp and we'll check her out. How's she been eating?"

"Not
very well, Doctor."

He
checked her tongue, in her ears and ran his hands over the poodle's entire
body. One thing he had to say, animals loved him.
Fifi
gave him a big lick on his cheek and he laughed. "Mandy, check her temp and
I'll be back in a minute."

Once
he stepped outside the exam room, he ran his hands through his hair before
pinching the bridge of his nose. Not quite understanding the fascination with
him, the women of the town kept him in business with the constant visits, but
they were getting tiresome.

He
wanted a relationship. He wanted a steady woman in his life. None of the women
he'd come in contact with so far did anything for him—
except
Elizabeth Weston. She didn't want him. Well, maybe that wasn't necessarily
true. He got the impression the attraction between them was mutual. Her plans
to go off to Billings for three years put the
breaks
on any kind of relationship beyond some hot sex. Somehow he knew making love
with her would burn up the sheets.

Back to work
.
"So Mandy," he said, stepping back into the exam room. "How's our
patient?"

* * * *

The
next evening rolled around without much hoopla except the nervousness Elizabeth
felt every time she thought about dinner with Marcus this evening. Why the man
fascinated her so much, she wasn't sure, but he did. Men with broad shoulders,
collar-length brown hair, big blue eyes and a killer smile were a dime a dozen,
right? Maybe it was the mystery surrounding him. He'd done the tuxedo thing, pulling
it off with grace and style, now he did the jeans and western shirt thing with
just as much sexiness.
Shesh
, the man dries up my self-control.

Standing
in front of the mirror in her room, she twisted left, then right deciding
whether she wanted to wear the dress she had on. The soft cotton material
swished against her bare legs, the softness caressing her skin. She wore no
nylons to stifle her skin from the heat, only flat sandals graced her feet. The
thing spaghetti straps of the dress left her shoulders uncovered as she hoped
for a sexy look. She'd seen the women around town giving Marcus the eye.
Beautiful, sexy, some single, some not, they all made her bristle with what?
Jealousy?
She had no reason to be jealous. Marcus didn't
belong to her.

The
doorbell rang and she jumped. The clock on her nightstand read five fifty five.
Damn
.

"Elizabeth?
Sweetheart, Marcus is here."

"Thanks,
Dad. I'll be right down."

Time
had run out. She'd have to wear what she had on unless she made him wait. Grabbing
her shawl and purse, she opened the door and headed down the stairs. Marcus
stood near the door, cowboy hat in hand. He took her breath away. Black
western, button-down shirt graced his shoulders emphasizing the width and size.
Wrangler jeans molded to his impressive thighs and black cowboy boots completed
the picture.
Damn, if he wasn't a sight
.

"Hi,"
he said, walking closer. "You look beautiful."

"Thanks.
It's nothing special." She beamed at his compliment.

"Shall
we?" He held out his arm and she slipped her hand into the crook of his
elbow.

So dashing.

"Where
would you like to eat?"

"Um,
how about Mexican.
We had steak the last time."

"Sure.
I love Mexican food too."

"Is
the Cantina still sitting on the corner of Onion and Spruce?"

"Yep.
They have the best around these parts by far."

"Yes,
they do."

Marcus
opened the door to his truck and helped her slide into the cab.
Such a gentleman
.

After
he shut the door, he raced around the front of the truck to get into the
driver's seat. "How was your day?" he asked, starting the truck before
he pulled out from in front of the house.

"Good.
I helped my Dad with moving the cattle away from the pool. He hasn't gotten the
results back on the water yet."

"I
hope it's not anything major. He's lost a lot of them the last month or so
between these two outbreaks. I wish I could help more."

"The
foreman said you spent a lot of time up there when you inoculated the cattle.
Did you see anything?"

"No,
but I wasn't really looking. Several of the hands were up there with me. Did
you question them?"

"I
haven't questioned anyone really. I thought I'd ask you first since it happened
about the time you did the shots."

"I
wish I could help."

She
shrugged. "It's fine. Let's talk about something else."

"Like
what?"

"Oh,
I don't know. How about you tell me about your family?"

He
pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant and shut off the truck. "Not
much to tell. All of my siblings live in Boston near my parents. I'm the only
one who's traveled so far from home."

"Did
you always want to be a vet?" she asked when he opened her door.

"Yeah.
From the time I can remember. I was always bandaging up the dog and cat at
home. They finally started running from me by the time I turned ten." He
chuckled.
"Poor things."

She
laughed along with him as they approached the door to the restaurant. Soft
Mexican music played from the speakers set into the ceiling.

"Good
evening.
How many?"

"Two
please. May we sit on the veranda?" Marcus asked.

"I
would love to sit out in the evening air.
Great idea,
Marcus."

"Certainly.
Follow me please."

The
waiter sat them at a table near the wrought iron railing under a fan to keep
them cool until the sun went down. The music seemed muted enough they could
talk as she looked over the menu for what she wanted to eat.

"What
looks good to you?"

"Hmm…"
She tapped a finger against her lips. "I'm thinking the fajitas. I love
those."

"Good
choice."

Someone
brought chips and salsa to the table. She dipped a chip into the mixture of
tomato and spices before she popped the concoction into her mouth with a soft
groan.

"Good?"
he asked, watching her mouth.

"Yes.
I love the spices. They burst on your tongue in a happy little dance."

He
smiled as he grasped her hand. "You have such a way with words."

After
he brought her fingers to his lips and kissed each one, he returned her hand to
the table top, but didn't let go. The small gesture seemed so intimate yet not.
She wasn't sure what he meant by it. Did he want her? He seemed to. Did she
want him? Oh yeah. With every breath she inhaled his spicy yet manly scent,
letting the fragrance run the gamut of her senses. His eyes twinkled in the
fading sunlight, almost as if he knew the war she waged with herself.

"What
would you like?" the waitress asked, standing next to their table.

Once
their drinks arrived, they went about small talk of various things. How she'd
decided to become a physician. How medical school seemed different than
veterinarian school, but yet they seemed very similar too. How he'd become
friends with Cade and Natalie. What her plans were after residency.

"I've
even got the place picked out for my offices."

"Oh?"
he asked, taking a bite of his enchilada.

"Yes.
The building just on the edge of town across from Delaney's
gas station.
It used to be
a
a
grocery store years ago. It's too small for most doctors,
but not me. I'd love to practice here." She took another bite of her
fajita, and then swallowed. "Are you staying busy with your
practice?"

"Oh
yes. I think half the town has decided their pets are sick at least once a week."

"The
women, you mean."

"Well,
yes. I'm not sure what the whole thing is about."

"You're
a very handsome man, Marcus. Why wouldn't the women be attracted to you and
want a little bit of your time?" A flush of red crept up his neck.
"You're blushing."