Stroking his nape and back, Brooke pressed her breasts against his chest, seeking relief from the need building there. Feeling how quickly he became aroused, she immediately started tugging off his T-shirt.
“I can’t believe how fast you go to my head,” he rasped.
“And other places.”
“It’s all the same,” he drawled. “Where you’re concerned, everything I am is all targeted there.”
As soon as she pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it aside, Brooke reached for her short gown. “Help me get this off.”
“With pleasure.”
The moment the shiny scrap of material joined his shirt, Gage rolled her onto the bed and began an avid exploration of her body, which he’d come to know as well as his own. Caught up in the sensations of his magical touch, she barely felt him slide off her satin panties. Then he withdrew momentarily to finish undressing. It took him slightly longer to get out of his jeans because he wasn’t wearing briefs, and he was already fully aroused. When he succeeded, though, he stretched out beside her on the cool sheets. “If I could have one wish, it would be to have a whole weekend to do nothing but adore you. Who am I kidding?” he amended immediately. “Anything less than a week would be a wasted wish.”
“That is almost too tantalizing to imagine.” She reached down to glide her hand over him, loving the look of pleasure that washed over him, just as much as she enjoyed feeling how powerful and hot he already was.
“Right answer. Come here, sweetheart,” he said, rolling on to his back and drawing her over him. “I can’t wait another minute for you.”
Their seductive dialogue temporarily ended then, or rather it became a series of sighs and groans of pleasure as they focused on how to quickly bring each other to the point of ecstasy as this moment demanded. She’d never believed it possible to nearly climax from having her breasts caressed by his hands and mouth, but he proved it to her, while he could be made to shudder with desire from the mere feel of her teeth scoring the muscles of his thighs.
When he desperately drew her up in order to probe her moist center, she eagerly sat up and lured him deeper. Closing her eyes and letting her head fall back, she whispered, “That’s perfect.”
“Yes, you are,” Gage replied, his hold tightening on her hips. “Do it, angel. Take us there.”
And she did.
Chapter Nine
“You look too happy for a guy working so much,” Roy Quinn said to Gage the following Monday morning.
Gage covered another yawn before accepting the large mug of black coffee from his friend and employee. Smiling sheepishly, he replied, “Well, it’s to be expected when you try to cram as much work and living into a weekend that you can.”
Roy had accompanied Gage on two of the three ranch calls that weekend and assisted in two more emergencies at the clinic. In between, he and Brooke had visited with her aunt, done some yard work, grilled a few fantastic meals and made love as often as possible. Best of all, they’d fallen asleep in each other’s arms every night. Nevertheless, it was increasingly apparent that he needed more for Brooke. Heck, he thought, he needed more for himself.
With a wave to the old-timers in the corner, he jerked his head, indicating that Roy should follow him to the back. There he leaned against a counter and confided in the man who would ultimately be almost as affected by this decision as he himself would.
“Roy, this weekend showed us once again that we’re losing ground trying to juggle everyone’s needs with just the two of us operating here, so I’m going to accelerate my plans to bring in another vet—even consider a partnership if that’s what it takes—and maybe add an intern, or at least a certified technician to help us out. You know I’ve wanted that position for you, but you’re so damned intimidated by the requirements—”
“You know I barely made it through high school, Doc, and that’s been over three decades.”
“Try selling that excuse to someone who doesn’t know about your military service, or hasn’t watched you cope with all the paperwork and regulations the state and federal government constantly throw at us. And you’re as good with a computer and our software programs than most anyone who comes through that door looking for work.”
“Well, I don’t have the associate’s degree the position requires and I’m too old to go back to school now.”
“I can’t make you. I accept that.” Thinking, Gage sipped at the coffee again, only to rub at the back of his neck. “The fact is, you could use some help yourself.”
Roy’s dark eyes widened. He didn’t often look at a loss for words. A swarthy man with serious whiskers and a shock of black hair that was always slicked back with some product or other to keep it under control, Roy had intimidated a few women with car trouble the few times he’d stopped to render aid, especially at night; however, he was a quiet, gentle soul, admittedly crusty on the outside, but with a marshmallow interior.
“You know, Doc, funny you should be saying all this, because something came up yesterday, so I guess now is as good a time as any to throw an idea your way. I have someone in mind who could more than carry her share of work around here. Actually, she was primarily looking to relocate her grooming business.”
Gage frowned, wondering if Roy had only heard what he’d wanted to hear—and wondered why? Had the fifty-year-old bachelor finally met someone to turn him inside out the way Brooke was doing to him? Sure, the clinic cared for many small breeds of dogs that needed constant attention. But his first priority was to find another vet. “We could probably do that after we find someone to split the main work with me. Do you need a rush answer?”
Roy looked something between worried and apologetic. “I think so.”
His cryptic answer triggered more of Gage’s curiosity. “Talk to me, Roy.”
“The girl I’m thinking about is my niece—you remember Rylie?”
Rylie Quinn, Roy’s younger brother’s girl. Roy had spoken of her several times through the years and with increasing pride. “Wait a minute—shouldn’t she be done or about done with vet school? That’s terrific. What’s this nonsense about pet grooming?”
“Apparently she washed out and has spent the past year or so establishing a grooming business. It sounds as though she has a nice mobile unit going. As sorry as I am about her schooling, I’m impressed with her work ethic, otherwise I wouldn’t say anything to you, Doc, especially when I’m still sick over my mistake with Vince.”
Waving away that unpleasant history, Gage focused on how his niece’s news must’ve hit Roy. “You must have been crushed when she told you.”
The older man bowed his head. “To have someone in the family do what I wanted to do—my favorite niece, no less? Heck, yeah. But she assured me that circumstances took the matter out of her hands.” The rough-edged man held out his hands in a gesture of helplessness. “What does that mean in English?”
“Any number of things.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.” Roy shrugged. “Then again, if she said that, it’s as good as gold. Hopefully, she’ll explain more when she arrives.” He added quickly, “Not that I’m assuming you’re going to want to interview her, Doc, but she’s coming regardless.”
Gage felt caught between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, if kids washed out of veterinary school, as far as he was concerned, they weren’t committed enough. On the other hand, Roy had been a great employee. He couldn’t have managed as well as he had without him. That deserved special consideration regardless of the Vince episode. “I’m glad she wants to see you.”
“Yeah. She asked if she could park in back and give you a free trial run of what services she can offer?”
Gage wasn’t wild about some cheesy operation going on out in a van in back. On the other hand, maybe Roy’s trust was well placed in this young woman, and she could help out Ro
y when she wasn’t tending to her own customers.
“If she passes the interview, I guess she could set up in one of the exam rooms,” he told him. “It will look better if she’s in the building.” It would also be easier to keep an eye on her that way, Gage thought.
Roy looked relieved. “Thanks, Doc. You’re the best. I know there are no guarantees, but the kid was heartbroken about the school thing. Maybe this really will be a new start for her.”
Nodding, Gage asked, “So when can we expect her?”
“She should be here by the Fourth.”
By then it would be jalapeño hot in Texas, but generally not as busy in the clinic as it was out in the field due to people going on vacation. “She can come to our cookout at the house, and we’ll introduce her to some folks. Brooke could be helpful in that way, too. It might give us a feel as to what kind of clientele she might pull in.”
Looking more than relieved, Roy started to head in two directions at once, caught himself and assured Gage, “I’ll get more details for you, Doc.”
As he hurried off, Gage returned to the front to see what the rest of the guys had been up to all weekend. He made it through the swinging doors as Jerry Platt entered holding a familiar dog—although Jerry didn’t own a dog.
“What the San Juan Hill do you have there, Platt?” Pete Ogilvie demanded.
Looking totally humiliated, Jerry came to Gage. “Can you take a look at this thing, Gage? It’s got pine tree sap matted between its toes and Liz is beside herself.”
Was Liz setting her sights on Jerry now? Gage wondered. One could only hope. “This is Liz Hooper’s Bandy?” he asked, just to make sure.
“Yeah.” Jerry glanced over his shoulder at the other men. “Even if you can’t do anything, I’d appreciate it if you’d lock it up in a kennel for a few hours. If I don’t get a few minutes’ peace, I’m liable to do something that will get me sent to prison for the rest of my life.” He leaned closer yet. “All I did was open the door for her at the post office, and the next thing I know she’s spending the night at my house. And do you know what her solution to her dog getting pine sap on itself is? I should cut down my pine trees. But that’s not the worst of it—this little yapping rat keeps relieving himself in my slippers!”
Torn between laughing and sympathizing for the guy, who still cut as handsome a figure as he had as a USAF pilot, Gage took hold of the dog. “Pine sap and dog hair definitely do not get along. I’ll see what I can do.”
As Jerry headed for the corner table, Gage carried Bandy to the back, where he handed him to Roy. Explaining the situation, he said, “Let’s get him cleaned up as much as possible before things get busy.”
“Rylie sure would be an asset in this kind of situation,” Roy said.
“I wish she was here now,” Gage assured him.
* * *
“Don’t stress,” Brooke said to Hoshi, as the phones kept ringing and orders for a funeral service flooded in. The problem was that their coolers were emptying fast, the next delivery truck was running late and even it wouldn’t bring all that they needed. “The good news is that the service isn’t until Thursday. Granted, the visitation is tomorrow, but by then we’ll have enough arrangements done to fill the room to where no one will notice what’s late. By then the next truck will have delivered the rest of what we need.”
“The gentleman must have been an important person in town,” Hoshi offered.
“Brother Jamison had the largest congregation in all of the two-hundred-plus churches in our area,” Brooke told her, “and people, being the curious creatures that they are, like to read the florist cards.” For various reasons, she thought to herself. She gave their newest employee an apologetic look. “Do you need to call your husband to let him know you’ll probably be late?”
“It is not necessary. He is on a longer shift and knows where I am,” Hoshi said, seeming to get her bearings. “But thank you for your concern.”
Brooke was getting to like the young woman more every day, and liked how her calm demeanor was spreading through the shop, even to Kiki, who had enough energy for three people. Reaching for the phone, she replied, “Then I’ll call Charles and let him know that we need to add a few runs for the next few days.”
In time, she hoped, Hoshi could handle all this on her own. The young woman was as professional as promised and was learning names and locations fast. But she looked for permission over every minute detail. Hopefully, soon she would believe Brooke when she said she could use her own judgment on certain matters.
As soon as she concluded her call to Charles, the delivery truck pulled into the back. Her pleasure turned to frustration, though, as they realized that little on the truck had anything to do with their order. Fortunately, the driver had enough extra product on board to almost offset that glitch.
Things were busy in the front of the store as well, since this time of year brought graduation celebrations, weddings and a windfall of bridal and baby showers. However, when Liz Hooper walked in, Brooke became immediately concerned for Kiki’s ability to manage, as she would for anyone in the path of that female dose of poison. Sure enough, as soon as she spotted her, Liz breezed by sunny Kiki as if she was a store mannequin.
“Brooke, is that you back there?”
Gritting her teeth, since they hadn’t officially had a face-to-face since her return to town, making the fake friendliness offensive, Brooke came forward, several orders in hand. She gave the brunette a polite but perplexed look. “Liz Hooper, right? Can we help you?” She emphasized the “we” and slid Kiki a reassuring look.
“I heard about the passing of Brother Jamison, and even though I didn’t attend his church, I’d like to send a little something worthy of being the former mayor’s wife. Can you do that for me? I’ve already been to see Rita and Joyce, and they’re swamped at their shops.”
Brooke suppressed a smile. It would take the Seventh Fleet to block her from catching the insult that the other two florists were busier and more popular than Newman’s could hope to be. What’s more, considering what Gage had told her about the rest of Liz’s conniving behavior, Brooke was determined not to make this yet another “playpen” for the aging former beauty queen.
“Liz, I have to be frank, we were booked solid before either of them were. We do communicate with each other and help out in emergencies. But every blossom coming off the next two trucks is spoken for. Even if you’re thinking of something in silk, I can only promise that your order will be delivered to the church in time for the service, not the visitation.”
With a sound of scorn, Liz muttered, “Never mind. I’ll call Rusk or Tyler.” About to leave, she retraced her steps and offered in a saccharine-sweet voice, “I sympathize with how your aunt dumped all this on your shoulders, honey, but you must know you’re not helping yourself by acting like the victim in order to latch on to Gage the way you are, just because he was a kind neighbor to Marsha.”
So this was the real reason she’d bothered coming in. “I’m not discussing my family or neighbors with you,” Brooke replied.
“Oh, please don’t put on the ladylike act for me, Brooke Bellamy.” Liz sniffed with disdain. “Gage’s truck in Marsha’s driveway? I thought a niece of a churchgoing woman would have more respect for the dear soul’s reputation.”
Brooke had run into jealousy and basic female pettiness before, but never to such an in-your-face, nasty degree. Striving to edit down what she really wanted to tell her, she replied coolly, “You’ve just exposed that you’re cruising up and down a street—at night—that you have no business being on. That sounds suspiciously like stalking. If you don’t mind your own business, I’ll be forced to report that to the police.”
* * *
“I can’t believe that.”
Gage and Brooke were chest deep in the claw-footed tub off Brooke’s bedroom, enjoying
a soothing soak, and she had just filled him in on Liz’s rude visit. Unfortunately, Gage made the mistake of trying to avoid the whole discussion by sounding dismissive.
“What part can’t you believe?” Lying against his chest, Brooke struggled with indignation. “That she’s as mean as a pit viper, or that after leaving your clinic, where she clearly tried to play you and Jerry against each other, she came to the flower shop looking for even more trouble?” Both Brooke and Gage had already discovered that the other had also been gifted with “Liz antics” today.
“What is it about you guys that you don’t realize that being so-called ‘friendly’ to women like that makes them believe that they have a relationship with you?”
“Hold on.” Gage paused in stroking the fine line of her collarbone. “You’ve admitted that you’ve had problems with male clients.”
They had touched upon this subject before, and it further irked that he wasn’t quoting her accurately. “I said that I’d protected myself from scenarios that invite trouble. You guys send mixed signals, too worried about losing a client—when you’re not getting caught up in some stupid testosterone competition. That’s like gasoline and a match to women like Liz.”
Gage cupped her chin to gently turn her so that he could look into her eyes. “That is so not fair. I’ve never led on Liz Hooper. She practically gives me hives if we’re the only two people in a room.” Ducking his head, he kissed her and reached for the glass of sangria they were sharing. “Net accusations should be illegal,” he muttered.
“What?”
“Like net fishing, you throw it way out, hoping that you catch something because it’s in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Unable to stay annoyed, Brooke replied, a chuckle in her voice, “You’d better not find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
After she accepted a sip of the wine, Gage urged her to turn and straddle his lap. “This is more like it. Three’s a crowd in this tub.”
The Dashing Doc Next Door Page 17
