The Bull Rider's Secret--A Wholesome Western Romance

by Jill Lynn

  “I don’t know that I don’t like it. It just surprises me.”

  Jace’s low chuckle reignited something long forgotten and buried inside her. Attraction. Definitely the kind that should remain off the table.

  The space behind the desk shrank even more when Mackenzie began clicking through folders on the computer and Jace leaned in to catch what she was doing.

  “It should be in the employee-form folder... There it is. So we’ll just print it off and fill it out. And then I’ll have the two of them sign copies for their files so that they know what’s expected in the future.”

  The zip-zip of the printer filled the quiet. Jace grabbed the sheet and handed it off to her—he wouldn’t be able to fill in much with his casted hand.

  Mackenzie wrote in Trista’s and Nick’s names, then drew a blank when she got to the part about describing the incident, because Jace had inched even closer to her, and her brain cells had taken a hike the second his shoulder had grazed hers. He smelled like high school Jace. Soap and deodorant with a hint of sweat from the day—he’d supervised the shooting range this afternoon—but that scent wasn’t unwelcome. And if that wasn’t the strangest thought she’d ever had...

  “Trying to figure out what you’re going to say?” Jace questioned.

  “Um...yeah.” Something like that. “I’m not exactly sure what wording to use.”

  “I have a few suggestions.”

  His humor transferred to her amused lips. “I’m sure you do.” Mackenzie could only imagine what he would come up with. “I do not think Human Resources would approve.”

  Jace studied her profile, and she willed her skin not to react, not to overheat, not to notice. None of which worked. “Does HR care if my boss was sabotaging my work when I first started?”

  “HR doesn’t take complaints like that.”

  Jace laughed, rich and loud and delicious, just as banging on the office door—which had a tendency to swing shut—interrupted.

  “Come in,” Mackenzie called out.

  Jace didn’t scooch back, though everything in her was screaming for him to do exactly that. They weren’t doing anything wrong, but her sympathies flared for the awkwardness Trista and Nick must have felt in the storage room.

  Bea poked her head inside the office. “Mackenzie? Vera sliced her hand open, and it doesn’t look good.”

  “Coming.” She popped up from behind the desk, and Jace moved to let her out.

  Mackenzie jogged with Bea across the lodge lobby and into the kitchen. Red splattered the floor, the countertop, the towel wrapped around Vera’s hand. She hadn’t been expecting all of this.

  “Vera, are you okay?”

  The silver-haired woman was seated on the stainless-steel kitchen countertop, with her hand elevated. “I’m guessing you’re not going to believe me if I say I’m fit as a fiddle?”

  “Ah, no.”

  The woman’s favorite answer to “how are you?” wasn’t going to work at the moment.

  “I’m sorry about this.” Despite her pluck, Vera wobbled on the edge of tears. “I was cutting an avocado and the knife just went...” She shuddered.

  Vera was in her early fifties and had ended up at the ranch this summer because she’d recently made some life changes. She’d told Mackenzie during her Skype interview that after living timid and afraid for a long time, she’d started taking risks—like quitting her job of twenty years to pursue new things and choosing gratefulness instead of negativity. She wanted to explore, she’d said. To stop people-pleasing and grab each day by the horns.

  Probably hadn’t imagined this as part of that scenario.

  Joe, head chef and Wilder family member since Mackenzie had been young, brought an ice pack and applied it to Vera’s wrapped hand. “This is just a war wound, honey. Every good chef has a few.” He lifted his weathered, arthritis-burdened fingers, showing the white scars in his rich black skin. But after the display of calm for Vera’s benefit, his eyes toggled to Mackenzie’s. They held alarm, and his head gave a quick shake.

  Jace stepped into the circle. Mackenzie hadn’t realized he’d followed her. “I’ve been around my fair share of injuries and blood. Gotta be honest, Vera, I’m not sure you’re even above a four on the scale for the worst stuff I’ve seen.”

  His teasing earned a watery chuckle from Vera. “Thanks a lot, bull rider. Way to kick a woman when she’s down.”

  “Mind if I look?” Jace asked.

  Mackenzie waved him forward. “As long as Vera’s okay with it.”

  The woman inhaled and then nodded.

  “Look over my shoulder and count the bins on that shelf, okay?” When she followed Jace’s directions, he unwrapped the towel, quickly, efficiently, so that they could see the cut.

  It was deep and gaping.

  Unfortunately Vera saw it, too, and she let out a squeal of horror and swayed from her seated perch on the countertop. Jace rewrapped it quickly and then situated himself next to her, tucking a friendly arm around her shoulders as if they were two buddies, hanging out, even though he was probably keeping her upright.

  “Looks like you’ve earned yourself some stitches. Kenzie, you driving?”

  Mackenzie was in shock herself, from the amount of blood, from Jace’s ability to jump in and handle the whole thing like he was a medic. From the fact that Jace...belonged. He fitted. Even after she’d tried so hard to tell him he was a round peg and Wilder Ranch was a square hole.

  “Kenzie Rae.” Her name wasn’t a question; it was more of a command.

  “Yes, of course. Let’s go.”

  * * *

  Jace kept an arm around Vera as they walked to the front of the lodge, just in case. Vera was handling the injury well at this point, but he didn’t need her crumbling to the floor and adding another.

  Mackenzie had jogged over to Luc’s office to grab her keys. Her small Ranger pickup was parked at the lodge, which worked out well, since Jace didn’t think Vera was up for one of her enthusiastic speed walks.

  “You’re a trouper, Vera. You’re going to be just fine. Although I don’t see why you have to create such a fuss over a little cut.” Jace waited to see if she’d take the bait.

  “You’re just jealous that I’m getting all of the attention. You can’t be fawned over all of the time, bull rider.”

  He laughed. “That’s my girl.” If he kept her engaged, they’d have her fixed up in no time.

  Jace had liked Vera right away when they’d met. She was quick-witted, funny, positive. She’d told Jace that she used to live a painfully solitary existence. She’d been a complainer. Sad. Bitter even. And then, about a year and a half ago, she’d had an aha moment and flipped everything upside down. She’d transformed her life in gigantic, hard steps. The scariest of which had been quitting her job. She’d begun roaming, traveling, taking odd jobs as they came. And according to her, they always did. That was how she’d ended up at Wilder Ranch for the summer—on a whim.

  Jace wished the woman would become friends with his mom. She could use a bright light like Vera in her life.

  Everyone could.

  Outside, he assisted Vera into the middle seat. Mackenzie showed up with her keys and buckled Vera in. The three of them squished into the pickup like sardines, but it was probably for the best. That way they could hold Vera up without admitting they were doing exactly that.

  She kept her hand elevated and iced while Mackenzie drove.

  The local hospital was very small and should probably be classified as more of an urgent-care center. No wonder Cate and Luc had driven to Denver when she’d gone into labor. Jace shuddered to think what would have happened if they hadn’t.

  Mackenzie dropped Jace and Vera by the entrance, then parked. When Jace offered Vera an arm to lean on, she took it as if he were escorting her to a play or the opera, all regal and proper.

&nbs
p; Mackenzie caught up with them just inside the sliding doors. The waiting area was empty. There was no one—literally not a soul—occupying the chairs or the desk. They were open, right? It wasn’t much after five o’clock. They had to be.

  “You two sit and I’ll see if I can find someone.” They got situated while he strode to the desk and checked behind it. He had no idea what someone would be doing down there, but really, where was everyone?

  “Hello? Anyone here?”

  “Coming,” someone called out from behind the wall flanking the reception desk. Seconds later a woman wearing scrubs covered in kittens rounded the divider.

  “Ms. Silvia?”

  At Jace’s recognition, she went from scowl to melting. “Jace Hawke? Is that you?” She dropped items on the desk and then reached across for a hug. “It’s about time you came home to visit.”

  “It’s good to see you, Ms. Silvia.”

  “What are you doing here? Your mama okay?”

  “She’s fine. I brought in one of my coworkers. She cut her hand open pretty bad.”

  “Oh, sweetie. Poor thing. We’ll get her fixed up. Just need you to fill out some paperwork.”

  “I’ll do that.” Mackenzie popped up and took the clipboard from the woman. “It will be workers’ comp.”

  “I see.” Ms. Silvia’s narrowed gaze swept down Mackenzie as if she’d taken the knife to Vera herself, and Jace squashed a smile. It was good to have someone on his side. His team. And Ms. Silvia had always been that.

  When things had been rough as a kid, he’d ridden his bike down the street to her house. She would give him a cookie or a glass of lemonade. Sit on the front step with him. She’d even hired him for odd jobs and paid him for them.

  She’d been a saving grace in his childhood, especially when Dad had fought with Mom. Evan had been partial to disappearing from the house during those spats, too—or at least hiding behind loud music and headphones.

  Mackenzie returned to the seat by Vera and began filling out paperwork, asking the injured woman for details as needed.

  Jace leaned across the desk. “Is there any way we could get Vera back quickly? It’s a pretty deep cut.” Not that Jace had gotten that great of a look with all of the drama in the kitchen. But he’d seen enough to know she needed medical attention.

  “I’ll have our medical assistant bring her back. Dr. Bradley is just finishing up with another patient, and he’s all we have on tonight. We’re short-staffed.” Ms. Silvia patted his hand. “You just hang tight, sweetie.”

  “Thank you,” Jace called out as she took off, then rejoined Vera and Mackenzie, taking the seat across from them.

  “Thanks for checking if they could get her in faster.” Mackenzie quirked an eyebrow. “Sweetie.” She added some sugar to her tone.

  “You’re welcome, honey.” Mackenzie could bring it, as far as he was concerned. She’d been holding back from any real conversation with him. Acting as if they didn’t have a past.

  If she wanted to play, he’d play.

  “Good thing you were here. If Vera and I would have been alone, it would be tomorrow before she got treated.” Vera’s eyes were closed, but a small laugh came from her. “Ms. Silvia have a crush on you?”

  Jace had accused Kenzie of as much with the zip-line kid, but really... “Why? You jealous?”

  She rolled her eyes.

  “Silvia used to take pity on me as a kid. Throw odd jobs my way and then pay me for them. I’m pretty sure I did a horrible job at each one, but she never stopped asking me for help. And there was usually a treat of some sort involved, too. I’m sure she knew I wouldn’t have had any money if she hadn’t shoved some my way. But she always made me work for it.”

  “My opinion of Ms. Silvia is growing.”

  “As it should.”

  “What is it with females and you? In high school Mrs. Beign used to give you a hall pass all of the time, and you’d just mess around and not go to class.”

  Curved lips—sure to annoy Kenzie—sparked and grew. “What can I say? Women love me.” He followed the quip with an I-can’t-help-it shrug.

  “Not all women.” Mackenzie tossed him one of those sassy smiles she kept in her pocket for parting shots.

  “Trust me, honey.” He dropped the endearment again. “That is information I do know.”

  * * *

  Whoops. Mackenzie had traveled into uncharted territory during this conversation with Jace, and she wanted out. Now.

  “How are you doing, Vera?”

  The woman’s eyelids were shuttered, her breathing even. “Fine. I’m just sitting here, listening to you two bicker and flirt, wondering how I never noticed anything between you before.”

  Jace hooted, and humiliation consumed Mackenzie. See how quickly things got out of hand when Jace was involved? She was far more professional when the man wasn’t in tow.

  Ms. Silvia bustled back to the desk, and a young girl who looked annoyed to be alive met them in the waiting room. “Follow me.” The deep organ notes of her greeting screamed, I’m bored and I want to go home all at once.

  Vera stood. “I want you guys to come with me. That way, if I faint, you can pick me up off the floor.”

  “You’re not going to faint.” Jace popped up and wrapped an arm around her as they began walking. “You’re way too tough for all of that.”

  “I’m not so sure about that, bull rider.”

  Mackenzie dropped off the paperwork with Ms. Silvia, and the three of them entered the exam room. After the medical assistant took Vera’s vitals, she scampered off to hide until her next torturous human encounter.

  Five minutes later a man with salt-and-pepper hair and wearing a white lab coat came in. “I’m Dr. Bradley.” His teeth were perfect and oh-so-bright. His smile was AARP-commercial-worthy.

  And a very single, never-been-married Vera looked as dazed as if she’d just walked into a wall. How could the handsome doctor have more of an impact on her than her sliced-up hand?

  Dr. Bradley motioned to the exam table. “Have a seat. Let’s get your hand checked out.”

  Based on the next few minutes, it was more like the two of them were going to check out each other. If Vera thought Mackenzie and Jace had been flirting, it was nothing compared to the current doctor-patient vibe. Plenty of gazing, smiling and gentle shoulder touches were exchanged. At the current rate it would take days for Vera’s hand to get stitched up.

  Jace leaned close enough that he could whisper under Dr. Bradley and Vera’s conversation. “I feel like we’re on their first date with them.”

  Mackenzie snort-laughed, and doctor and patient turned to investigate. “Sorry. Nothing to do with you, Vera.” Although...guess that hadn’t exactly been the truth.

  She slugged Jace on the arm after the two turned back to their conversation. “Stop it! HR does not approve of your shenanigans.”

  Jace just grinned, and annoyingly her pathetic cells swooned. Enough, traitor body. This man wrecked you once, and he can do it again far too easily.

  Dr. Bradley was telling Vera about his grown children now and his first grandson. Vera seemed to have forgotten about her hand. And maybe Dr. Bradley had, too.

  Jace sank down in his chair, letting his head fall back against the wall.

  “Searching for a comfortable position, Hawke?”

  “Yep. Considering that we’re going to be here for a while...” He studied Dr. Bradley and Vera through squinted eyes. “Weeks maybe. He’s going to tell her she needs a hand replacement and lots of follow-up visits. You may want to warn your workers’-comp insurance things are about to get expensive.”

  Mackenzie managed to keep her amusement quiet this time. She leaned in Jace’s direction, her voice a whisper. “What if Dr. Bradley has three wives, all in different states?”

  “I don’t,” the doctor answered. “I’
m widowed, actually.”

  For real? He’d heard her? How? Did the man have bionic ears? Of course it was Mackenzie’s comment that he’d caught, not Jace’s.

  At least Dr. Bradley didn’t look upset with her.

  “I’m so sorry. Really.” Could Mackenzie fit under her chair? The temptation to crawl under something was strong.

  “Thank you.” Dr. Bradley was gracious, nodding to accept her apology.

  In her peripheral vision, Jace shook with laughter. “Stop it,” she hissed, which only increased his enjoyment of her blunder.

  “I’m sorry to hear that, too.” Vera touched Dr. Bradley’s arm with her uninjured hand. “So...you’re not married...or...seeing anyone?”

  Dr. Bradley’s pristine white teeth flashed. “No, I’m not seeing anyone.”

  Go, Vera! The woman was not afraid—Mackenzie would give her that. At least Mackenzie’s humiliating moment had been used for good. Vera was a woman on a mission today. She hadn’t been kidding about living every moment to the fullest—no regrets.

  And why shouldn’t Vera go for it? If nothing came of her flirting with Dr. Bradley, she’d be on to her next adventure and job before long, and would probably never see the man again.

  She had nothing to lose.

  Unlike Mackenzie, who, since Jace’s arrival, felt like she had everything to lose. Her sanity. Her peace. He kept inching into her space—physically and figuratively. Currently his arm was dangerously close to hers, on the armrest between them. Just that caused her skin to tingle with awareness.

  The man made it too easy to remember how good it had once been between them. And way too easy to forget how he’d left.

  Chapter Eight

  Thirty minutes in the exam room, and Dr. Bradley and Vera were still enthralled with each other.

  Jace leaned closer to her chair, still willing to risk conversation that only he could get away with. “We could be doing the chicken dance over here and they wouldn’t even notice us.”

  “Mmm. Chicken.” Mackenzie should never skip lunch like she had today. It wasn’t safe for anyone when she didn’t eat on a regular schedule. Like a toddler or a baby. “Trust me when I say that no one wants to see you do that.”