This Kiss

by Teresa Southwick

  “The Texas tornado? That’s a miracle.”

  She laughed, showing straight white teeth and a world-class smile. Before he could stop himself, he thought that she should do it more often. His next thought—why should he care if she did?

  She stepped up on the first rung of the fence. “Since your son didn’t argue with the diagnosis and treatment, I figure it’s probably what he needs.”

  “You’re the doc.”

  “You finally remembered.”

  He looked down as he shuffled his boots in the dirt. “You make it hard for a man to forget.”

  “Sorry. It’s gotten to be a habit I guess, because of my medical training. Speaking of which, Ben was pretty vocal about not wanting to drink so much. I suggested that soda was a good fluid to push. That put a sparkle in his eyes.”

  “Pretty smart,” he said. “But you always were.”

  “Yeah.”

  Her smile dimmed a shade at his remark and he wondered why. “Since Ben’s in good hands with your mom, what do you say you put yourself in mine? In a manner of speaking.”

  The porcelain-smooth skin on her cheeks flushed pink. He hadn’t intended that as a double entendre. But now that he thought about it, touching her wouldn’t be too hard to take—if the parts of her that saw daylight were half as soft as the parts of her he’d been imagining that didn’t.

  “Have you ever heard the expression ‘like father, like son’?”

  He nodded. “Why?”

  “Because you’ve got the same gleam in your eyes that I saw in Ben’s. Somehow I don’t think yours has anything to do with soda. So I have to assume it’s role reversal.”

  “You lost me,” he said, shaking his head.

  “Now you’re the teacher and I’m the student.”

  “Ah.” He couldn’t suppress a grin.

  She raised one eyebrow. “You wouldn’t hold that against me, would you?”

  “You mean that whole dictator thing you had going on in high school?” He shook his head. “It never entered my mind.”

  “Then why are you smiling like that?”

  “Me?” he said, pointing to his chest. “I’m not grinnin’ like the price of beef went sky-high. I never smile.”

  She looked warily at the animal waiting patiently beside him. “I don’t have to get on that horse, you know.”

  Dev glanced at the gelding. “You mean Trouble? Why he’s as gentle as they come.”

  “Then why is he named Trouble?” she shot back.

  He shrugged. “Seemed to fit. He was sickly from the day he was born. Took a lot of nursemaiding. But he grew up big and strong. Didn’t you, boy?” he said, patting the horse’s neck.

  “I have a bad feeling about this—”

  Something deep down inside Dev said don’t let her back out. Don’t let her walk away now. “Look, Hannah, I could shame you into this. The words yellow, coward and chicken come to mind. But I won’t stoop to name-calling.”

  “Thank goodness,” she said wryly.

  “Unless you force me to.”

  “Okay. Challenge noted and desired response achieved,” she said, climbing over the fence.

  He noticed that she kept him between herself and the horse. Then her eyes grew bigger and bluer as she stared up at the big, gentle gelding.

  “We can ride double until you feel comfortable,” he offered.

  “What makes you think riding with you would make me more comfortable?” she asked, looking at him.

  He hadn’t thought her eyes could get any bigger or more beautiful, but they did. And he had a feeling when she was talking uncomfortable, it had more to do with him than the horse. Why that should make him feel like grinning, he couldn’t say. The fact was—he wanted to, but of course he didn’t.

  “I’ll ride behind you till you get the feel of it up there. Till you’re not as jumpy as spit on a hot skillet,” he added.

  “I haven’t heard that one since I left Texas.”

  “You ready to give it a go?” he asked.

  She caught the corner of her full bottom lip between her teeth as she looked from him to the horse then over her shoulder to the house as if she wanted to take off at a dead run. Finally, she met his gaze and straightened her spine. “Okay. Never let it be said that Hannah Morgan, M.D., is not full of gumption and grit.”

  There was the girl from Destiny that he remembered. For just an instant he’d heard the Texas drawl back in her voice. The snappy, husky, seductive tone turned his thoughts to things he couldn’t do on a horse. Well, he could, but it would be damned stupid, and pretty uncomfortable.

  Whoa. Down boy, he thought. Rein in that idea pronto. This was a friendly lesson. He only wanted to teach her to ride, as a favor to her mom. The least he could do was pay some attention to Polly’s daughter during her visit, to show her a good time.

  Is that why it seemed so important to get up close and personal? Just a good time? For her or him? Not to mention that there were lots of ways to make her feel easy on a horse without riding double.

  Ignoring that sensible thought, he said, “Lesson number one—you need to make nice with Trouble.”

  “I think I’ve already done that. Just by showing up,” she said. Hesitantly, she sidled up beside him.

  He looked at her and wondered who she thought she’d made nice with—the horse or him. “Not even close,” he answered. It was safer not to make it about him. “You’ve got to touch Trouble. Like this,” he said taking her right hand and placing it on the animal’s neck.

  Her wrist was delicate, fragile. She was small, barely came up to his shoulder. Something stretched inside him. If he didn’t know better, he would think it was his protective streak stirring to life. But he did know better. Corie had stomped it right out of him. She’d told him over and over: in this day and age, women wanted a lot out of life. Being a wife and mother wasn’t everything. She didn’t need a man to define who she was or protect her. His ex-wife’s putting her money where her mouth was and leaving had hit him like a truck and Dev had gotten the message loud, clear and painful. He could stand back and let Hannah do her thing just fine, thank you very much.

  But he stood behind her, close enough that he could smell the fragrance of her—something floral and sassy mixed with soap. Her blond hair was tucked through the opening in the back of her hat and trailed down, skimming her shoulder blades. He wanted to free the silken strands and run his hands through them. Warmth radiated through him and sweat popped out on his forehead. So much for giving her an early lesson before it got hot.

  “What do I do now?” she asked, glancing over her shoulder and up at him.

  He swallowed—hard. “Just what you’re doing. Let him get used to you.” And me too, he thought. Damn that rusty tone in his voice. With any luck, she was too preoccupied with Trouble to notice.

  “I think it’s more like me getting used to him,” she said nervously. “After all, he’s bigger than me. By a lot.”

  So was Dev. A fact that fueled his pesky, persistent, protective streak. “I won’t let him hurt you,” he promised.

  It was on the tip of his tongue to add that he would never let anything hurt her. But he held back. A fact for which he was really grateful. He didn’t want another woman in his life. Especially a career woman like Hannah.

  “I appreciate that. Although if he takes it into his head to pulverize me, I’m not exactly sure how you could stop him.”

  “Even if something spooks him, usually there’s warning. Time to get out of the way. There are signs. Restlessness. Shifting. Snorting. Same things that happen to you and me when we get rattled,” he said.

  “God knows I snort when I get riled up,” she said.

  “And here I thought you were brighter than the average bear. How intelligent is it to smart-mouth your tutor?”

  “You tell me. I learned from you.”

  “I don’t remember that.”

  “Selective memory. It’s a condition that affects a lot of men,” she added.
<
br />   “Male bashing is not the best way to win friends and favorably influence your riding teacher. But I’m going to take the moral high ground and not hold it against you. Right now Trouble is just standing there as peaceful as you please.”

  “I’ll ignore the contradiction in terms of that last statement,” she said as she continued to stroke the horse’s neck.

  For several minutes, he just let her do that while the slender, delicate, elegant, smooth curve of her neck tortured him with wondering what that spot would taste like.

  Good God Almighty! What in the world had gotten into him? This—whatever it was—was just plain nuts. The sooner he got her on a horse and fulfilled his fool’s promise, the better. He’d just learned another lesson from Hannah. Don’t be too quick to offer a riding lesson to a pretty, big-city, lady doctor.

  “Okay,” he said abruptly. “I think it’s time to climb up on Trouble and see how it feels.”

  “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.” She hesitated for a moment, her hand resting on the horse’s neck. “What do I do?”

  “One hand on the horn, left foot in the stirrup and haul yourself up, swinging the right over his rump. Easy as falling off a log.”

  She slid him a look over her shoulder. “No form of the word ‘fall’ should be spoken in this conversation.”

  “My mistake.” He held back his grin until she glanced away.

  “Mistake is another word I don’t want to hear.”

  “How about ‘just do it’?”

  “Words to live by,” she said, but her voice was tight.

  She followed his instructions and hauled herself up a little awkwardly. As badly as he wanted to put his hands on her waist and help, he kept his arms at his sides. In spite of the fact that she was stiff as last Sunday’s corn bread. Apprehension was written all over her, from the tense shoulders down to her shapely little fanny.

  “Everything’s fine, Hannah,” he said, trying to reassure her.

  “You’re not leaving me up here by myself, are you?” she asked from her perch in the saddle.

  He wanted to. But he was the one who’d started this. His daddy hadn’t raised a quitter. Next time, he’d be more careful not to let his mouth write checks that his body would be foolish to cash.

  “Nope.”

  He took her small, sneakered foot out of the stirrup and stuck his boot in. Holding onto the horn, he swung up onto the horse’s rump, letting her have the saddle all to herself. He successfully fought the urge to put both arms around her. But with his chest to her back, he could feel her shaking. In spite of all his warnings, his hands went to her waist, just to steady her he told himself.

  “Relax,” he said, close to her ear, stirring the wisps of golden hair that had slid out from her hat.

  She shivered and he assumed it was from fear, since Texas wasn’t even close to cool this time of year. It surely didn’t have anything to do with him and the fact that they were as close as two peas in a pod.

  “Relax,” she repeated, as if she were memorizing physics properties. “Focus.”

  He picked up the looped reins he’d rested around the saddle horn, then held them out. “These are connected to the bit in his mouth. Pull on the right to make him go that way. Left turns him in that direction. Grip with your knees to keep from bouncing. Your backside will thank you later.”

  “You make it sound easy enough,” she said. “I think I’ve got the hang of it. That’s probably enough for today. All that information is just buzzing around in my head. My mind is fairly spinning.” She glanced at him over her shoulder. “Wouldn’t want to overdo it.”

  “Lucky for you I’m here.”

  “Why lucky? Aside from the fact that if he throws us, you’ll go first to cushion my fall.”

  “Because you can’t get down unless I do. And I don’t plan on it until I know you’re not going to give up on this.”

  “I don’t understand why that’s so important to you.”

  He shrugged, beyond trying to come up with a reasonable answer, even for himself. To her he said, “Because it’s a damn shame that a girl born and raised in Destiny, Texas, is afraid of a horse. You’ll give the town a bad name.”

  “If it’s any consolation, I wasn’t raised here very long. I left for college when I was sixteen.”

  “Doesn’t matter. You’ve got Texas in your blood. And the least you can do is take a spin around this corral before you head for the hills. Humor me.”

  “Okay.” They sat there for a few moments before she asked, “How do I make him go?”

  “Gentle pressure with your knees. It wouldn’t hurt to talk to him.”

  She nodded. “Go, Trouble,” she said hesitantly at the same time as she followed his instructions. The horse moved forward slowly and began to walk around the corral. “It worked.”

  “Don’t sound so surprised. I’m a good teacher.”

  “And humble too.”

  After several turns around the enclosure, he felt her begin to loosen up. It was time for her to go it alone, but that meant he had to get off. Everything inside him balked at the thought.

  But before he could decide what to do, he heard his son calling. “Daddy. Hannah.”

  Instantly, Dev covered both of Hannah’s hands with his own, helping her bring the horse to a standstill. Then he slid off Trouble’s rump. He reached up and lifted her down before walking to the fence. Ben got there at the same time, huffing and puffing from running.

  “Daddy, hurry.”

  “What’s wrong? How are you feeling?”

  “Polly said my tem-pitcher’s better. But you gotta come quick. Hannah, too. She’s a doctor. She’ll know what to do.” Then he turned and raced away, in the direction of the house.

  Hannah instantly went into doctor mode. Was there something wrong with her mother? In two seconds she was at the gate opening it.

  “Mom,” was the only word she could get out when she looked at Dev.

  He nodded. “I’m right behind you.”

  Hannah hadn’t known she could move that fast. She’d handled emergencies during her training, but it had never involved a family member. She loved her mother so much. The woman had made more sacrifices for her than she could count. Hannah was almost where she’d worked so hard to be—almost in a position to give Polly the easy life. If anything happened to her…

  It seemed to take forever, but several minutes later she burst through the kitchen door. “Mom?”

  “Here, honey,” the familiar voice said. “In the utility room.”

  Hannah raced past the island to the hallway and the door on her left. Her mother smiled at her, then down at Ben who was crouched by a box. Relief flooded her that there was nothing wrong with Polly. Then she inspected the box more closely and saw the cat in it. A moment later, she realized what was happening.

  With a wide-eyed, worried expression, Ben looked up at her. “Callie’s havin’ babies. She needs a doctor.”

  Hannah nodded solemnly. He was too young to understand that the cat would probably do fine on her own. If not, she needed a vet. But she said, “I’ll get my medical bag.”

  She hurried into the family room and retrieved the bag from where she’d left it after examining the boy earlier. When she returned, there was a new arrival. Dev was crouched beside his son, staring at the newest tiny bundle of slick fur.

  “Where’s Mom?” she asked.

  “She said she had things to do and since reinforcements had arrived, she went upstairs.”

  Hannah nodded, then took a paper-wrapped package of disposable gloves from her kit and put them on. Then she knelt on Ben’s other side. Reaching in, she carefully picked up the brand-new kitten then nestled it where Callie could reach if she wanted to clean it up.

  A few minutes later, there was another teeny-weeny furball, and she put it beside the first. After about forty-five minutes, three more little ones had arrived.

  Hannah rubbed a hand over the mother cat’s side. “I think that’s the last one,”
she said.

  Ben’s brown eyes were bright as he looked at her. “Wow, five babies. You’re the best doctor in the whole world.”

  “I didn’t do anything,” she said truthfully. “Callie did all the work.”

  The little boy shook his head as he stood. He threw himself into her arms. “I want you to stay here forever, Hannah.”

  Chapter Three

  Still squatting beside the mother cat’s birthing box, Hannah steadied herself from Ben’s enthusiastic embrace. Over the boy’s head, Hannah met Dev’s gaze. He was so close she could see flecks of gold that made his brown eyes almost hazel. Or maybe it was the fear she saw that made them seem different. In her line of work, all too often she saw parental anxiety and recognized it in Dev now. And she thought she knew the reason for his apprehension.

  “Wow,” she said, rubbing the boy’s sturdy little back. Gently, she pulled his arms from around her neck. “Forever is a really long time, pal.”

  Dev was still hunkered down beside her. He put his big hand on the boy’s shoulder and protectively tugged him back between his jeans-clad thighs. Then he pulled Ben just a little closer until the child’s back rested against his wide chest and wrapped his forearms around the boy’s middle. “Hannah lives in California, son.”

  Bingo. Dev was worried, about his son pinning any hopes on her staying. She’d taken an oath to help, not hurt people, and that included little boys with big crushes. She needed to set him straight.

  She nodded. “Your dad’s right, Ben. I just came to Texas for a visit.”

  “Does visit mean you can’t move here?”

  She looked into the little guy’s sweet, earnest face, then the father’s tight, tense features. Oh, boy. She’d been there less than twenty-four hours and she felt like she was dodging two Texas tornadoes—father and son.

  She shook her head. “No, but visit means that I’m only here for a short time and then I have to go back home.”