I strode into the barn with purpose in my step. I had a plan to execute and a timeframe to do it in.
Rick was working on the mower just as Grandpa had said he would be. His hands were covered in grease, and he had a smudge on his cheek and a scowl on his face. He was about my age but looked ten years older at the moment—proving that he and the mower were not meant to work together.
“Hey, Rick, I got this one today. Why don’t you go down to the north field and start baling the grass I knocked down last week?” Had it only been a week since Astrid had barged through the brush? I couldn’t believe it. A part of me felt like I’d known Harper for so much longer. Maybe there was more to it than that. Being with her was like being where I belonged.
“No problem, man. I hate working on this thing anyway. I think it is cursed.” Rick kicked the mower just hard enough to make the metal ring.
I didn’t like him treating equipment that way, but this old girl could take a lot more than Rick could dish out. Besides, Rick always complained about this particular mower, and sometimes I got the feeling that the disdain was mutual. Yes, it was older and therefore a little temperamental, but if he was just patient and didn’t try to go so fast, then the machine would work just fine.
We talked for just a minute about the fireworks. He hadn’t played in the tournament but had watched. I hadn’t seen him sitting with anyone, which was strange. After six months, he should have made a friend or two. But working in a farm didn’t allow for a lot of mingling. It wasn’t like there was an office full of people to talk to.
As Rick drove away, I made sure the mower was unhooked from the tractor, then slid underneath. As much as I wanted to see Harper, I had no desire to have a real reason to pass through her office. I’d be happy to keep all hands, fingers, and toes right where they were.
I used my phone flashlight to search around for the problem. It didn’t take long for the beam to land on a belt hanging loose when it should have been tight. Not a big deal, just hard to get to.
I started in, trying to get it to slide back in place, but the pulley didn’t have enough give. Which meant I needed a wrench. We had a tool shelf, and I found the right size quick enough, shimmying under the mower once again.
Ten minutes later, I went for the air compressor. The stubborn bolt was starting to tick me off. The job went from quick-fix to this-is-going-to-get-messy. I should have brought coveralls, but I didn’t want to go all the way back to the house and pick them up. I just kept going, doing my best to stay out of the oil stains and wipe my hands on a rag instead of my pants.
My stomach told me when it was time to eat lunch. I glared at the mower as I gulped down the roast beef sandwich. The pulley for the belt was practically welded in place. Whatever fix Grandpa had done on it last time, he’d intended for it to stay fixed. A problem that should have taken me an hour had taken me all morning.
Or maybe I was distracted, countered my inner voice.
I thought of Harper and her pretty blond hair. I couldn’t help but smile.
Definitely distracted.
With a quick check of the time, I wiped my hands on the paper napkin in the bag and got back to work. If I had any hope of seeing Harper today, I had to get this done.
Chapter Fourteen
Andrew
Later that afternoon, I sped to the clinic in order to make my appointment with Harper. “Maybe the mower really is cursed …” I muttered to the steering wheel. I’d just managed to get the belt back on and get it hooked to the tractor when my phone beeped a reminder about the appointment. I didn’t remember setting one, but I had the clinic’s app on my phone for Grandpa, so it probably came from there.
I pulled the truck into the parking lot, threw it in park, and ran inside. The digital clock on the wall said I was ten minutes late. I hustled over to the receptionist desk to check in.
“Hello, Andrew.” The receptionist, Linda, chuckled. “I would ask why you’re late, but it looks like you were wrestling some farm equipment.”
“What?” I looked down, and the air whooshed out of me. I was covered in grease. What skin I could see was definitely sunburned and tight. I had a small nick on the middle knuckle of my left hand that I hadn't bothered to clean up, and blood clotted around it.
At least Linda couldn’t see that I was blushing. “Oh.” There was nothing I could do about it now. And it wasn’t like I could back out of the appointment. What would Harper think? She had to know I was coming in today. “It was a great battle, but at least I won, and the mower has to go back to work tomorrow.” I smiled, hoping she wouldn’t see the embarrassment I wore like a worn set of coveralls.
I should have worn coveralls. I’d beat myself up for that later. It wasn’t like people around here didn’t get dirty. Still, Harper wasn’t from around here …
Linda laughed. “Take a seat. Amy will be right out to get you.”
She wasn’t lying. No sooner had I considered the damage my grease-covered pants would do to one of the blue vinyl-covered seats than Amy opened the door to the waiting room. “Andrew!” she called.
I walked over and said hello. Amy put the folder in front of her mouth, her eyes wrinkling in the corners as she tried to hold back her mirth at my appearance. My heart sank. Amy was a kidder, but if I looked that bad … “Maybe I should come back tomorrow.”
“You’re already here, so … follow me.” She spun on her heel and led the way to the check-in station.
I followed, my steps much slower.
“I hear you have a sore throat.” She stared at the chart as if she was trying not to look at me so she wouldn’t laugh again. What I couldn’t decide was if she’d figured out that I wasn’t really there for my health or not.
“Yep.” If I acted like I meant to come in looking like something that was scraped off the barn floor, then maybe everyone else would go with it too. At least I had a ball cap on and my hair wasn’t flying out all over the place. “It’s been bothering me all day.” I’d take some pity if I could get it. I glanced down the hall, trying to get a glimpse of Harper. She must have been in one of the exam rooms, because I didn’t see her.
“I’ll bet it has,” Amy muttered as she jotted down a few notes.
My face heated, but I reminded myself that on the other side of all this was Harper. Even if all I got was 15 minutes alone with her, it would be worth it.
Amy took my weight for the chart, then led me to treatment room #2, where she proceeded to get my temperature, blood pressure, and other vitals. Luckily, when I rolled up my sleeve, the skin underneath was clean. For a moment, I contemplated taking off my shirt. Then I thought about how that would look to Harper when she walked in and decided to keep it right where it was.
Amy was nice enough not to complain about the smell, but in the small room, the heavy scent of diesel oil started to build up. She turned her head to the side and coughed before asking questions. “So you said this started this morning?”
“Yep.” Shorter answers were better.
“You didn’t have any problems last night.” She dragged out the last two words, implying that something had happened last night. Something she might already know about.
I managed to keep my face straight. “Nope.”
“Any other symptoms?” she asked through narrowed eyes.
I pulled my gaze away from the door where I’d been watching for Harper, and said, “No.” I went back to watching the door.
She pressed her lips together and watched me for a moment. Then, she folded her hands together and said, “Andrew, I have to ask. Do you really have a sore throat?”
“You want the honest truth?” I asked.
“You know I do. Insurance fraud is kind of a big deal.” She gave me a look I’d seen on my mom’s face a time or two. The one that said I’d better come clean or else.
“Insurance fraud? I wasn’t trying to … I mean …” I lifted my palms, and my shoulders fell. “I wanted to see Dr. Cahill again, and this was the only way I could
think to get some of her time. I forgot to get her number last night.” I looked at the floor and then glanced up at her, sheepish.
“Andrew Allred!” Amy said exasperatingly. She closed the chart and glared at me for a moment before snickering. “All right.” She leaned back on the counter and pinned me in place with a look. “I’m going to send Harper in here, but I’m going to give you some much-needed advice first. And that is only because we’ve known each other since first grade, and I really don’t want to see you screw this up.”
“Thanks?” Her tone made me question if I really wanted her advice. The way she said advice made it sound more like a lecture.
“Number one.” She ticked it off on her finger. “If you want to impress a woman, take a bath before you come see her. Because ladies don’t lie awake at night dreaming about mechanical grease, if ya know what I mean.”
I chuckled. “I concede your point.” I took the thought one step further and realized that Harper might not be as inclined to hug me hello if I looked and smelled like this—let alone kiss me.
Still, this was my life. Maybe I wasn’t as dirty as this all the time, but if Harper wanted a spotless boyfriend, it wasn’t going to be me.
Not that I was her boyfriend—yet.
“Number two,” Amy continued. “You need to come up with something better than I have a sore throat as a reason to see her.” She shook her head. “Sore throat doesn’t exactly say ‘jump up and kiss me.’”
“But,” I interrupted. She was getting a little high on the horse here. “I thought it was kind of clever—with her being a doctor and all. And I didn’t have her number, and that darn Linda wasn’t any help at all.”
“Okay, I understand, but you’ve got Nathan’s number. He has mine, and I have Harper’s. It is called networking.”
I laughed and scratched the back of my neck. “Yeah—maybe I was distracted.” I waved my hand down my dirty clothing. “It’s been quite a day.”
“Number three,” she said as she got up to leave, her much-needed lecture on courting a woman almost over. I relaxed onto the paper guard. “Advice from another woman isn’t a bad idea. You may have had a day, but you could have had a much better night if you’d surprised her with flowers just to get her number. Women like romance.”
I threw up my hands in surrender. She’d gotten me. Flowers would have been a nice touch. Even a bouquet of wildflowers from the field would have been better than showing up empty-handed. “I’ll remember that.”
“Next time, call me.” Amy smiled, slipping into her professional nursing roll. “I’ll send Dr. Cahill right in.”
She left the door slightly open. A moment later, she popped back in with some Febreze and sprayed the room and then my shirt. I swatted at her.
“I’m doing this for you, Andrew.” She laughed as she left the room in a cloud of Mountain Spring scent. I took a deep breath and admitted that it had worked pretty well. I’d have to get a can for my truck.
I glanced up at the ceiling. “Maybe I should have thought this through a little more.” I hadn’t been thinking about much more than seeing Harper and the fastest route to making that happen. I glanced down at the grease on my hands and then over to the small stainless steel sink, contemplating washing up.
There was a slight knock at the door, and then Harper walked in, wearing a white coat, a shy smile, and a deep blush.
I stared. Man, she was pretty. A smile broke out on my face, and a sense of satisfaction and rightness overwhelmed all my trepidation. For the first time that day, I was right where I wanted to be … with Harper.
“Hello, Mr. Allred,” she started, her doctor face in place. “I’m told that you aren’t feeling well. You have a sore throat that started this morning?” she asked with a question in her voice.
I glanced at the door, wondering if Amy had told her the truth about my visit. Maybe she’d thought it was kind of cute that I’d faked sick to see the doc.
I went along with the questions. “Yeah, it just started this morning. Sore throat, and a bad headache.” I grabbed my throat. “I just can’t seem to think straight. My mind keeps going back to last night and counting stars.”
Harper kept her head down, but her cheeks lifted as she smiled. “Any fevers or unusual rashes?”
“Luckily, no.” I smiled too. She was in on my lie but flirting and playing the part of doctor.
“Have you taken anything over the counter to help your … pain?”
“Also no. The first thing I could think of was to call you.” And that was the honest truth. “I thought you might have the solution to what’s ailing me.” I wanted her to ask what that was, because there was this strong attraction zinging between the two of us, like two ends of a power wire that popped and fizzed. I could only imagine what would happen if we came together.
“Let’s do your exam and see what is going on.” Harper winked, and it about took my breath away. She took her otoscope off of the wall and put a black disposable tip on the end. “Even though it is your throat that is bothering you, I’m still going to look at your ears and listen to your heart and lungs.”
She came over to me and gently turned my head to the side, caressing my ear as she looked inside. My heart started pumping. She was going to listen to it, and she’d know that just her touch sent it racing. I didn’t care. I wanted her to know she had this effect on me.
I wanted more to know that I had that effect on her.
She turned my head the other way and did the same thing. Goose bumps erupted on my arms, and I sighed at her soft touch. I couldn’t remember the last time someone had treated me with such tenderness, and it was doing funny things to my insides.
Harper put her hands on my neck, and her petite fingers cycled up and down, assessing something … my lymph nodes? … but all I could do was stare into her grey-blue eyes. They were so crystal clear, and she was so close.
Her energy was so gentle and kind. I’d never met anyone like her in my whole life. I just … relaxed into her touch, leaning closer, wanting more.
I closed my eyes, trying to regain my composure, when all of a sudden her soft lips pressed into mine. They were warm and hesitant, asking if this was okay. Her hands moved up to my jaw as she pulled me in.
My heart leaped in exhilaration, and before I knew what I was doing, I’d wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled Harper in tight, telling her I wanted her with my mouth as I tipped my head to deepen the kiss and take control. My body answered yes to her every question.
Yes. Kissing was okay. It was more than okay. It was exactly what I’d wanted and needed and had been waiting my whole life for.
We paused to catch our breath, and I smiled against her mouth and backed off so my eyes could focus on hers. “I might have to change my answer about the fever,” I said. “My temperature has definitely gone up.”
Harper blushed. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me.” She paused and then added wryly, “This isn’t how my exams usually go.”
I laughed and adjusted my hold so we fit closer together. “I hope not. If that’s the case, I may need a daily appointment.” I pulled her in for another kiss. This one was slower, less hungry but more tender, sweet, and honest. I wrapped my arms around her afterward and held her close. Letting her go was impossible. “So this may come as a big shock,” I said, “but I don’t really have a sore throat.”
“No!” she replied with feigned indignity. “It’s too bad. I had a whole treatment plan figured out.” She hit my chest playfully.
“How about we start with your phone number?” he said with a soft smile. I was all for whatever treatment she wanted to give me, but if I left without her phone number, I’d kick myself.
“That I can do,” she said as she pulled away and wrote her phone number down on a prescription pad. She folded the sheet over and put the paper in the pocket on my shirt, then tapped my chest.
All of a sudden, I noticed the black marks on her white coat. They looked like hand- and fingerp
rints. “Oh no. Harper, I am so sorry.” I pointed to a particularly dark spot on her side.
“It’s all right.” She shrugged. “You’re my last patient for today.”
I breathed a sigh of relief on two levels. One was that she wasn’t mad at me for ruining her coat—there was no way the grease would come out of it, and she’d have to throw it away. The other was because she didn’t freak out. She handled this messy cowboy in her office with ease.
“Let me make this up to you anyway. I want to be …” My voice trailed off as I spoke. What I wanted to be was her everything, but I couldn’t very well say that yet. How had Amy worded it? “… romantic.” That sounded better but still ridiculous when I said it out loud. If Grandpa could see me now …
Harper tipped her head to the side and eyed me. “What did you have in mind?”
Nothing. I had nothing in mind. But I did have a backup plan that involved calling Amy if I couldn’t figure it out, so that was something. “Friday night. Let me pick you up after work, and I promise I won’t smell like grease and look like I just battled farm equipment. I want to treat you to something special.” I wasn’t sure what that special thing was yet, but I would think of something—or Amy would.
“Okay.” Harper smiled as she leaned in and gave me one more kiss. “Sounds great. Now I had better get going, or Amy will never let me hear the end of this. Sore throats usually don’t take this long to diagnose, and I think she wants to go home.” Harper took her coat off, draped it over her arm, and grabbed my chart. “I’ll see you Friday, Andrew.”
The door clicked shut, and I threw my fist in the air. Yes!
I’d never left the doctor’s office feeling so alive.
Chapter Fifteen
Harper
Opposites Attract: His Country Doctor (The Journal of Medical Romances Book 1) Page 9
