“What’s wrong?”
“He put weight on his leg,” she said.
Kevin grabbed another throw and covered Elliott’s groin. “What do you need, Boss?”
“Hurts like hell.”
“Do you want a shot?”
Elliott hissed out dozens of rapid breaths.
“I’ll get the medicine.”
Kevin came back with a syringe, rolled Elliott slightly, and shot the drug into his hip. “I need to check the dressing.” He removed the walking boot. “You got lucky. No bleeding.”
“Get me a drink,” Elliott said as Kevin laced his leg back up.
“Can’t do that, Boss, but I can get Ms. Montgomery one.”
Elliott waved him off. “Go on. Get out of here.”
Meredith lay on her side and teased her fingers through his hair. “What’d he give you?”
“Demerol. It’ll take an hour before I can try again, but my fingers still work.” His chest rose and fell rapidly.
She kissed his cheek. “I’ll wait for you.”
Kevin came back into the room with a glass of wine and a bottle of Evian.
“Damn, Kevin. Bring me whiskey.”
“Can’t do it. David can hurt me more than you can right now.” He gathered up the medical kit and left.
Meredith ran her fingers through his hair. “Close your eyes. Sing me a song. I’ll be right beside you.”
After a few minutes, he started singing again, although not as boisterous as he had earlier. “‘Twas then that we parted, in your shady glen, on the steep, steep side of Ben Lomond . . .”
He nodded off before he sang another verse. Meredith finished her wine and closed her eyes only to be awakened later with a kiss. “If the lass has a mind to wake, I’ve a mind to take her for a ride.”
“To Loch Lomond?” she asked in a sleep-coated voice.
He swept his tongue along the seam of her mouth. His lips were both warm and inviting, and she melted into him. Still ensnared by sleep, she rolled on top and slid down his length, rocking against him while he stimulated her in slow, sexy circles. Pleasure pulsed through her belly and down between her legs. She moaned deep in her throat, urging him to give her the final push that would send her spiraling into the unknown.
And then it happened. She arched her back, breathing faster, and her entire body quaked. He held her hips and moved her in a rhythm that quickly had him convulsing beneath her. She fell limply on his chest and kissed him. “I’ll get a warm washcloth and be your body girl.” She went to the bathroom and returned with two hot washcloths. She handed him one, and he started to wash himself. She pushed his hand away. “That’s for me.”
“Oh,” he said, grinning.
She washed him, then reclined on her elbows so he could do the same to her. After washing her sensitive skin, he tossed the washcloth aside and pressed a kiss on her pubic mound, bringing more heat to the fire burning within her.
“Don’t think about what I’m doing, wee sweetheart. Relax.”
His fingers moved deeply and slowly within her. She relaxed her shoulders. Her head lolled to the side, and she watched him from beneath lowered lids.
“God, that feels wonderful,” she said.
“Your body’s humming.” He locked his face in concentration as if she were a puzzle to solve, a masterpiece to create, a delectable treat to devour.
Awash with sensations, she let her mind go blank, soaring into a deep, cloudless blue sky. Her orgasms kept building, overlapping until she climbed the last peak, and her body screamed replete.
“I feel like I ran a marathon.”
“Come here. Let me hold you,” he said.
She slowly turned and nestled against him. “I’m not sure I can walk.”
“You don’t have to, yet.” He stroked her lightly with his fingertips from her neck to the base of her spine, up and down, teasing her. “You fell into a trance and held me spell bound with an erotic dance.”
“Nothing like that has ever happened to me.” She stretched like a lazy cat in the mild winter sun. “I need to refresh my drink.”
“Kevin will do that.”
“No,” she said, coming up off the bed. “He will not. If we hadn’t had an emergency, I would never have allowed him in here.”
Elliott chuckled. “Oh, wee sweetheart. He knew what we were doing.”
“I don’t care. Well, I do care. He’s so young.”
“Twenty-eight. He’s delivered over a dozen babies in the backseats of cars. He’s a big boy, and he’s even had sex himself.” Elliott’s eyes twinkled. “From the sounds I’ve heard coming from his room, I think he enjoys it.”
“You two have a strange relationship.”
“He puts up with a lot of abuse when I have surgery, but he never gets angry.”
“He gets scared.”
Elliott arched his brow. “Why do you say that?”
“I’m talking out of school.” She scooted off the bed and slipped on a robe she found slung over a chair. “What do you want to drink? And should we make dinner plans?”
“Whiskey. Neat. Louise planned a small dinner party, and we’re supposed to be at the mansion at eight o’clock.”
Meredith glanced at the clock. “It’s six-thirty. I need a shower. And I won’t bring you any alcohol.”
“You, too? Won’t anybody get me a drink?”
“Nope, but I’ll bring you some water.”
“There should be a tray with set-ups in the kitchen. Down the hall on the left.”
The stainless steel and granite kitchen had two microwaves, two dishwashers, plus double the counter space normally found in a house of this size. Meredith had a surprising rush of jealousy thinking of Elliott’s dates who had attended soirees at the cottage. She’d never been jealous of anyone. Why now? She shook off the question, afraid of the answer.
A large serving tray on the counter held an ice bucket cooling a Montgomery Pinot Grigio, a bottle of Belevenie, glasses, bottled water, and a plate of grapes and assorted cheeses. Kevin, you’re a doll. She poured a glass of wine and carried the plate and water back to the bedroom. “Is Kevin joining us for dinner?”
“He’s bringing a date.” Elliott leaned against the headboard and put his hands behind his head. The muscles in his arms and shoulders bulged.
The sight of him took her breath, and her feet stopped moving. “I hope I can face him without blushing.”
“You were blushing for me earlier.” He gave her one of those smiles that tickled every nerve ending.
She set the tray on a table beside the bed. “When?”
He sipped from the bottle of water. “You had a pink flush on your breasts when my tongue—”
She clasped her hand over his mouth. “Shh. You don’t have to tell me.”
“Does that embarrass you?”
His voice rumbled through his chest, jumped the track, and rumbled through hers. Jonathan had only made love to her that way once. When he never used his tongue on her again, she assumed something was wrong with her. But Elliott’s eager moaning said he couldn’t get enough of her.
She popped a piece of cheese into her mouth, grinning. “I think I could have another orgasm.”
Smiling, he set his water aside. “Well, then come here.”
She straddled his face and held on to the headboard. Her smooth-talking Scotsman certainly had a way with his mouth and tongue. When she finally dropped on the bed, exhausted, she doubted she’d ever be able to get up again.
He watched her, wearing a Cheshire smile. “You amaze me.”
She gave him a sultry look. “Well, I Kegel.” She rolled over on her side. “I’m surprised at the way my body reacted. You know how to pull the best from me.”
“Well, I hope to do a lot more pulling.” He tweaked her nipple. “You have a very responsive body.”
“It’s responding to you.” How could she be forty-two and never have known what her body was capable of feeling? Now that she knew, she’d never accept an
ything less from a lover.
She rolled into the crook of his arm. “What’s next for your leg?”
“Chris will put the implant back in, but only if I commit to rehabbing.”
“What’d you tell him?”
He stroked his fingers through her hair. “That I wanted to dance with you the night of your launch.”
“That means you’ll have to go back next week for surgery.”
“Thursday, depending on blood work.”
“I’ve got to go home Monday. With appointments on Tuesday, I can’t stay.” God, she hated this. Why couldn’t they live in a bubble for a few weeks until this out-of-control passion burned out? Then she could get on with what she had to do.
“Let’s talk about what happens Monday once we make it to Sunday. Deal?”
She gave a long exhale, knowing there was nothing to talk about, but she forced a smile and said, “Deal.”
Chapter Forty-Eight
MacKlenna Mansion, Lexington – December 30
SHORTLY BEFORE EIGHT O’CLOCK, Meredith entered through the front entrance of the mansion and held the door for David as he wheeled Elliott across the threshold.
“Are those bullet holes?” she asked, rubbing the indentations in the door.
“Civil War,” Elliott said.
“I’d love to hear that story,” she said.
“There’s a large journal in the office that goes back to 1795. The story of the battle is in there. Nothing noteworthy. Captain McCabe, a Union officer, was visiting the MacKlennas and led the charge against a small Rebel force.”
“Nothing small about it from what I heard,” Louise said, giving Meredith a hug. “Welcome back, dearie.”
“Elliott said Evelyn’s coming tomorrow,” Meredith said.
Louise waved jewelry-free hands. “I’ll be glad to see her, too.” She rubbed her fingers. “I left in such a hurry, I forgot my jewelry.”
“Good thing, too,” Elliott said, rolling his eyes. “That clanking annoys me.”
A man standing close to Elliott’s wheelchair laughed. “You only have yourself to blame. You gave her most of those rings she wears.”
“But not to wear all at one time,” Elliott grumbled.
The man stuck out his hand toward Meredith. “I’m Doc. Heard a bit about you, Ms. Montgomery.”
Meredith blinked. Doc? The vet? “I’m so sorry about Galahad.”
Doc cleared his throat. “Yeah, well, thanks. It’s a huge loss for the farm.”
An attractive woman on the high side of sixty laced her arm with the vet’s. “I’m Doc’s better half, Betty.”
“And I’m Allie,” a petite, blonde bombshell said, wrapping her arm around Elliott’s shoulder, “his assistant.”
Meredith smiled. “Elliott’s mentioned you.” Although he didn’t tell me you look like a Playboy bunny.
A man came up beside her. “And I’m her fiancé, Bill.”
“Best trainer in the business,” Elliott said.
The front door blew open and a gorgeous, leggy brunette rushed in, rubbing her arms. “It’s cold.”
Elliott smiled at the newest arrival. “Are you flying solo tonight, Sandy?”
“Hi, sweetie.” The woman kissed his cheek. “Roger’s parking the car.” She glanced at Meredith. Sandy’s eyes opened wide in surprise. “You came back. No one told me.” She shook Meredith’s hand with a firm handshake. “I saw the announcement about your new chardonnay in Wine Digest. I’m watching the campaign closely. I’ve been very impressed with your VP of Marketing. He’s positioned the new label to take a large market share.”
“Sandy is a former Miss Kentucky and one of the best Thoroughbred marketing managers in the business,” Elliott said. “We’re lucky to have her.”
Meredith detected familiarity between the two, but how familiar had they been? And did it matter? One day, she, too, would be a number in a long line of Elliott’s ex-girlfriends. Wondering who else was on the list was pointless and added knots to her already tense shoulders.
The door blew open again. Meredith fixed her eyes on the man who entered the foyer. If the State had a Mr. Kentucky contest, the winner just walked into the house—a younger version of George Clooney. Although gorgeous, he didn’t have Elliott’s bad-boy-killer smile.
“Glad you could make it, Roger,” Elliott said. “Meet Meredith Montgomery.”
“The vintner?” Roger asked.
“Yes,” Meredith said.
“I’m Roger Longley. Sandy’s date.”
Sandy wiggled her ring finger. A large emerald cut diamond graced her hand. “He forgets sometimes,” she said, winking.
“Roger is also one of the top brain surgeons in the country,” Louise said. “He’s agreed to operate on Elliott.” She handed the doctor a cocktail. “You’re not on call, are you?”
The George Clooney doppelganger shook his head. “But I’ve had a cancellation for Monday. I can work you in at eleven o’clock, Elliott.”
“The medical community is begging to study my brain to figure out why I’m so irresistible to women,” Elliott said.
Without missing a beat, Meredith arched her brow and asked, “So they can develop an antidote?”
Peals of laughter rolled down the hallway like an unfolding red carpet. Doc slapped Elliott on the shoulder. “Good God, you’ve finally met your match.” He paused a minute and studied her. “She reminds me of Kit, and she’s not going to take a bit of your crap, either.”
Elliott grinned sheepishly.
“What’s so funny?” Kevin asked, entering the parlor from the dining room with a beautiful red-head on his arm. It was beginning to look like the preliminaries of a beauty contest in which Meredith was too old to compete. She saw her forty-two years stacking up on top of gray hair, dry skin, and cancer.
“Susan, this is Meredith Montgomery,” Kevin said.
“Kevin can’t stop talking about you,” Susan said. “He even brought over a bottle of your wine last night, which was delicious, by the way.”
Meredith smiled, thinking what an extraordinary couple they made. Both were good looking, athletic, and exuded self-confidence. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
“I had to drag Susan out of the hospital with a promise of good food and more wine,” he said.
“I hope you weren’t a patient,” Meredith said.
“No, but I have no doubt Kevin’s helped patients escape before.” Susan glanced out of the corner of her eye toward Elliott.
Kevin put his hands on his hips. “I’d never do anything to jeopardize a patient’s health.”
Meredith wondered about the prescription pain medication she’d seen him give Elliott. Were narcotics in his best interest?
“Susan’s a third-year resident,” Kevin said.
Another eyebrow raising moment for Meredith. Susan, like the other women, was both beautiful and intelligent. While beautiful women had never intimidated her, somehow having young gorgeous women surrounding Elliott made her second guess her clothes, her hair, and her makeup. She snatched her composure before it drifted out of reach and asked, “What’s your specialty?”
“Oncology,” Susan said.
“I think that field would be difficult. I commend you.” Meredith felt the heat of Elliott’s gaze, but she didn’t dare turn toward him, yet. Not until her heart moved out of the way and she could swallow her emotions.
“My mom has stage-four breast cancer. I inherited a gene defect that puts me at risk. I have decisions to make about my own health.”
Cut them off while you’re still healthy. While she would encourage women to do that now, before struck with cancer, she wouldn’t have agreed to surgery because a test put her at high risk.
Kevin wrapped his arm around his date. “The family just called Hospice to come in.”
Meredith’s mouth went dry, and the room turned very warm. “Your mom is lucky to have you.”
Susan’s eyes seemed to dim, casting a shadow over her face. Kevin hugged her and k
issed her cheek. Meredith watched them, ashamed at her insensitivity toward her doctors who felt and bled and hurt for her. And she had snapped at them, thinking they cared only about her disease.
“Ms. Montgomery.”
Meredith turned toward the voice to find Jake stepping to her side.
“I thought you’d want to know that your wine is now stored in the wine cellar.”
“I appreciate you taking care of that.” She glanced at the woman at his side, who had long, black hair and high cheekbones with Native American features. Another gorgeous woman.
“This is my wife, Linda,” Jake said.
“She’s a damn good vet,” Doc said. “One of these days she might leave Three Chimneys and work for me.”
Linda gave him a don’t-bet-your-ass laugh. “I’ll come to MacKlenna Farm, Doc, but only after you retire.”
Doc pressed the heel of his palm to his forehead. “Oh man, that hurts.” Linda mussed his gray, thinning hair, giving him an absent-minded professor look. “I’ll tell you what,” he said. “If Elliott doesn’t stop micro-managing my practice, I might retire sooner than you think.”
Elliott looked annoyed, then his lip twitched. “Maybe I’ll just fire his ass and hire you, Linda.”
Doc pressed his palm to his forehead again. “Oh man, you’re both hurting me now.”
Mrs. Collins appeared under the arch between the dining room and the parlor. “Dinner’s ready.”
David crossed the room toward Elliott as the crowd headed toward the dining room.
“I’ll push him,” Meredith said.
David nodded and followed the others.
“I’ve been watching your face,” Elliott said, kissing the tips of her fingers. “Susan upset you talking about her mother. Your cancer is behind you. You don’t have to fear it now.”
It’s come back, Elliott. And I don’t trust you enough to tell you.
She grabbed the wheelchair’s push handles, and her knuckles turned white around them. “It’s never a sure thing. It can always come back.”
“It’s not going to, Meredith. You beat it. Now let’s go eat dinner.”
Meredith bristled at his dismissive tone of voice. She pushed the wheelchair into the dining room.
The Last MacKlenna Page 27
