by Dianne Drake
Ellie listened, heard noises coming from the room marked “EXAM” and moved a little closer. “Hello?” she called out again.
This time there was an answer. “There is, and I’ll be with you in about five minutes. Please, take a seat in the waiting room.”
She recognized the voice, of course. Nice, smooth. Very sexy. A voice worthy of goose-bumps that were, coincidentally, already running up her arms. “Thank you,” she called back. It was closer to ten minutes, though, before a young woman, who wore khaki shorts and worn hiking boots, wandered down the hall and out the front door, sporting an elastic brace on her left arm. And it was another couple of minutes before Matt appeared in the waiting room, with a little boy at his side.
“Ellie?” he said, frowning at first then slowly giving a broad smile. “I—I didn’t expect to see you here.” He took quick steps in her direction, then stopped before the predictable embrace “How have you been?”
She stopped as well, suddenly feeling uncertain about what she was doing here. “I’ve been fine, Matt. I was vacationing nearby, and thought I would stop by to see you. If you don’t mind.”
“Mind? Absolutely not. I...um... I’m glad to see you,” he said, obviously surprised and a little off kilter.
This was so awkward. She felt it. He felt it. But she was here and now she had to go through with her plan. Well, maybe not this very moment. But in a while. “I’m glad to see you, too. I wasn’t sure if you’d want me to look you up, but I took a chance and...” Ellie took two more steps in Matt’s direction, but too quickly as her head started spinning, spinning as the hallway slowly descended into darkness. Her last words before she toppled into his arms were, “My baby...”
CHAPTER TWO
NOTHING SEEMED ABNORMAL. Ellie’s blood pressure was a little high, but not outside normal. Her pulse was fine. So were her reflexes and her heartbeat. She’d come to before he’d had a chance to do anything more than a cursory exam and had stopped him.
Right now, she was sitting up, sipping water. Fully alert. Offering no explanation for anything. And he didn’t buy that she was here vacationing. She wasn’t the type to vacation. Maybe travel for work but not for pleasure. Especially to a place like this. So, did she want to take what they’d started to the next level, even though they’d agreed to keep it casual?
The thought of that caused Matt’s heart to skip a beat, even though he wasn’t a next-level kind of guy. The idea of it did intrigue him, though, because he’d had that thought a time or two, then dismissed it as impractical. It couldn’t work. They lived in different worlds. But it had been a nice thought for those few moments.
“You mentioned something about a baby, so I checked your car and...” He shrugged. “No baby.”
“I call my car my baby,” Ellie said, not looking at him.
He didn’t buy that either. But he wasn’t going to pressure her into telling him what she wanted because Ellie was direct. She’d do it in her own good time. “Well, your car’s fine.”
She didn’t respond. Just nodded and kept on sipping.
“So, you said you’re vacationing here?”
Ellie nodded again.
“In Forgeburn, where the population is in negative numbers?” This was getting more and more interesting, and he couldn’t wait until she told him the truth. Which she would because Ellie wasn’t a very good liar. It was showing on her face and in her fidgety hands. Normally, she was straightforward. At least, she had been in Reno. Yet this side of Ellie—it didn’t fit what he knew of her. Which really wasn’t much, come to think of it.
“You said the scenery here was beautiful, so I decided to check it out for myself.”
“During the off-season when the resorts aren’t operating at full capacity? Funny, I would have taken you for someone who’d want all the amenities.”
“Is the little boy yours? Because he looks exactly like you,” she said, obviously trying to avoid what she’d come here to say—or do. “I don’t remember you saying anything about having a child. Or a wife. Do you have a wife, too?”
Was she really here to see him again? The thought crossed his mind but didn’t stay there. Because Ellie had vehemently denied wanting a relationship. Which he’d been glad about. So why now, when he was on leave, had she turned up? And how did she even know he was on leave? Or where he’d be? “I’ve never married. And Lucas... He’s my nephew, and I’m temporarily his legal guardian.”
“Nephew?”
“My sister died, which left her son in my care, temporarily.”
“Why not permanently?”
“I’m in the army. Single. Get transferred a lot because I’m a surgeon who likes to see action, as in battlefield. It’s not a great combination for raising a kid as a single dad.”
“You haven’t retired?” Ellie asked, looking puzzled.
“No. I’m going back as soon as I fix the situation with Lucas. Hopefully, that’ll be inside two months. So, how did you find me? How did you know I was in Forgeburn?”
“Part of my job is research. You were easy to track once I got to the right department in the army, and they connected me to your superior officer, who was very helpful.”
It wasn’t that simple for most people, and for a moment Matt admired her ability to not only find his superior officer but get him to tell her just where, on leave, he was. “But they neglected to tell you I was coming back?”
“They probably figured you’d tell me when I caught up to you.”
“Well, you’ve caught up to me, and I’m wondering why.”
“Like I said, a vacation. Oh, and I’m so sorry about your sister. It can’t have been easy on you or Lucas.”
“It hasn’t been, and I appreciate your sympathy for my sister. She was a good sort who never really got a break in life.” What was Ellie up to? It bothered Matt, not knowing. But what bothered him even more was how glad he was to see her.
* * *
This wasn’t at all what she’d expected, and she wasn’t sure which way to go with it, especially since Matt had made up his mind about what he was going to do. Get rid of Lucas then go back to the army. Which meant everything she’d hoped for when she had been told he’d gone home was up in the air. Ellie had assumed he was out of the army. He wasn’t. And she’d hoped he would be settled enough to want their baby. Again, he wasn’t. Also, he didn’t even want Lucas.
So where did that leave her? Basically, at square one again. Pregnant without a plan. Except she would tell him and still give him the opportunity to raise his child. That was only fair. “Well, I need a room. The hotel down the road is a little...dated. Is there someplace better?”
Matt chuckled. “Like I said, the best places aren’t running at full capacity yet, and the rest of the smaller places—I’m not sure you’d like them. Especially since I know, for a fact, you prefer satin sheets.”
Satin sheets. Yes, she’d loved the feel of them, and the feel of him next to her as she’d enjoyed the soft caress of both the sheets and Matt. “I’m not really concerned about sheets, Matt. I just need some food, then bed...” For her pregnancy first, but also for her because she was tired. She needed to put her feet up, close her eyes and give both her and the baby at least ten hours of down time. Maybe more, if she could.
“If you go down the road, about five miles in the opposite direction, there’s a place called Red Canyon Resort. It has nice rooms, decent amenities. Since it’s early in the season, you shouldn’t have trouble getting a room. But if you do stay...”
He stopped, paused for a moment, and that hesitation of a frown she’d seen on his face when he’d first seen her a little while ago returned. Only this time it didn’t transform into a smile. She hoped he was glad to see her. In fact, she’d thought he was. Now she wasn’t so sure.
“If you do stay, there’s not much to do unless you like hiking or rock climbing,” he fi
nally continued.
“I’ll manage,” she said, scooting to the edge of the exam table, feeling a little more discouraged than she had before. Of course, she’d never been totally optimistic about asking him. That would have been foolish, given the circumstances. But she’d hoped. Right now, though, some of the hope was disappearing—because of Lucas, because of Matt’s military commitments, because he was more rigid than she remembered him being.
“Before you go, I’d really like to get a better look at you. Something caused you to faint, and I don’t know what it was.”
“I was tired from the drive. Hungry. Probably a little dehydrated. Once I get a room, I’ll eat, drink plenty of fluids, get some rest, and I’ll be fine.” Ellie scooted a little more until she was at the edge, then stretched until her feet were on the floor. As soon as she stood, though, she wobbled, and Matt was right there to catch her. Again.
“I think before you go checking into anywhere, I’m going to take you someplace to get something to eat. And drink. Your skin doesn’t pass the pinch test, so I think your biggest problem right now is dehydration. Are you diabetic, by any chance?”
“Nope. Just had a physical yesterday, as it turns out. Blood tests were good.”
“No kidney disease?”
“I’m fine, Matt. My doctor told me I needed to get some rest, which is why I’m here.”
“You live in Reno. You could have driven an hour over to Tahoe and checked into a world-class resort to rest there, instead of driving six hundred miles through the desert to rest here. If rest is what you’re really after.”
“Right now, it is. I don’t suppose there’d be a cab out here I could call. I don’t think I’m going to be able to drive.”
He doubted she’d even make it to her car. “Look, Lucas and I were headed home when you came in. How about you go with us, I’ll make sure you get plenty of liquids, and I’ll fix us a good dinner? Then later we’ll see if you’re in any condition to check into a hotel.”
Matt took Ellie by the arm and steadied her to the floor again, but instead of letting her attempt to walk to his truck he swooped her into his arms and carried her like he had that first morning, when she had been looking out the window and he had been looking at her—with a longing that hadn’t been quenched. He’d swooped her into his arms then, and had watched the satin sheet slither to the floor as he’d laid her naked body down on the bed, and laid his naked body over hers. Thinking about that, even now, caused her to shiver.
“This is very chivalrous of you,” she said, without protest. Ellie still liked being in his arms, still liked the feel of him pressed to her. Matt had the power to knock her completely off track, and she couldn’t let that happen. Couldn’t let the thoughts of how good they had been together seep in. Couldn’t let the thoughts of how nice it was to be in his arms, yet again, seep in either.
“I aim to give the best medical care I can, under the circumstances.” Matt looked over at Lucas, who was occupied with a toddler version of a video game. “You ready to go home?” he asked.
Lucas picked up his video toy and his blanket, and went directly to Matt’s side, the way he always did. Then fell into exact step with Matt, the way he’d only just started doing. “He doesn’t talk yet,” he explained to Ellie as they walked through the parking lot. “He’s lived in some pretty rough circumstances for a while and he’s a little delayed, but he’s bright. Understands everything. Very observant of everything around him. Just not talkative.
“He will, when he has something to say. Guess he just hasn’t had anything to say yet.” She wiggled into the passenger’s seat, while Matt strapped Lucas into the toddler safety seat in the crew cab, and within a minute they were on their way to what Matt had dubbed Matt Casa. She still wasn’t sure what to make of any of this, but one thing was certain—she did like the way he took care of Lucas. Liked it very much. And the way he took care of her went far, far beyond like.
What had she been thinking, taking that ten-hour drive in one long stretch, stopping only a few times for breaks? Well, a little rest, a little water, a good bed under her back for the night, and she’d be fine. But this sure wasn’t the way she’d wanted her first meeting with Matt to go. Seriously, fainting into his arms? Ellie doubted she could have made a more dramatic entrance if she’d tried.
Anyway, telling him about the baby would keep until tomorrow, when she was rested. Yep, back to the plan, but only a modified version of it since she already knew Matt’s intentions. No Lucas, no family commitments. But would that include his own child as well? Maybe something about bringing his own child into the world would mellow him, or cause him to change his mind. Ellie wasn’t counting on it, though. But she wasn’t ruling it out either.
Right now, though, she was going home with Matt. Not part of the plan but so far nothing else had been either. “Since you’re obviously not working as a surgeon out here, what kind of practice do you run?”
“Well, I suppose you could call it a family practice or a general practice. The doc who had it before me called it a cowboy practice, and I think that works. Bottom line, I’ll get to treat everything as long as I’m here.”
As long as he was here. Suddenly, Ellie felt discouraged and disappointed. She’d wanted him to want their baby—it would have been the perfect solution. But there was no solution now. At least, not one she could think of. The thought of that brought tears to her eyes—tears Matt would never see as she turned her head to the window and pretended to be caught up in night-time stars.
“You have two choices. There’s a casita adjoining the house and it has everything you’ll need if you want to sleep there tonight. Or you can stay in one of the guest bedrooms. Your choice.”
“How about the casita, since I don’t feel like climbing stairs? My legs are a little stiff from the drive. Back’s a little achy, too.”
“Does your doctor know what you did?” Matt asked, leading Ellie through the hall to the entry to the casita—a nice little one-bedroom house with a small kitchen and a reasonably large living area. Traditionally, a casita was used by a family member or long-term guest. Or tonight, his two-night fling in Reno.
That was an odd question—out of the blue asking her doctor’s opinion. Did Matt suspect she was pregnant? Quickly, she looked to make sure her belly hadn’t puffed out a few inches and she hadn’t noticed. But that wasn’t the case. Underneath her baggy cotton shirt, it showed. But not with the shirt on. Whatever the case, she approached her answers cautiously because she was too tired and discouraged to address anything other than sleep tonight.
“No. I really don’t have to account to anybody for anything in my life, and that includes my doctor. And before you ask, he would have advised against the drive until I was on vitamins with iron for a few days. Low-grade anemia. Nothing serious. But, like I said, I make my own decisions, and I decided to come to Forgeburn for a holiday.”
“As you’ve said,” Matt stated. He opened the door to the casita then stepped aside. “Well, whatever the case, it should take me about an hour to fix something to eat, so in the meantime I’d suggest you rest. There’s a nice patio outside, and there’s the bedroom...your choice.”
“You really don’t have to do this, Matt. I’m used to taking care of myself. The Red Canyon Resort would be fine.”
“You look run-down. I wouldn’t call that taking care of yourself.”
“I work hard. Travel a lot. My business is growing, and I’ve got some amazing opportunities coming up. Also, like I said, it’s low-grade anemia. All that earns me the right to look run-down. But a good night’s sleep will work wonders.”
He knew better, though, because he was beginning to suspect. “Well, then, dinner’s in an hour. And I don’t remember. Are you a vegetarian? I seem to recall you might be.”
“I am,” she said. “Hope that doesn’t put you to any trouble.”
“Nope. Because all I h
ave here are chicken nuggets and hot dogs, neither of which are very good.”
“Not healthy for Lucas either. Or you, for that matter.” With that, she entered the casita and shut the door behind her, leaving Matt to stand in the hall staring at—nothing. He was staring at nothing. Until a tug on his shirt tail reminded him that Lucas needed to be fed, bathed and put to bed before anything else happened.
* * *
Matt sighed as he sat on the veranda, looking up at the stars. It was a beautiful night. Clear. And the view from this house was stunning. Growing up here, he’d never thought anything about the area was stunning. Not the scenery, the people, the wildlife. Especially not the cramped, rundown house trailers he’d grown up in, where his dad had got the bed, his sister the sofa, and he had been welcome to any spot he could find on the floor that wasn’t cluttered with some sort of rubbish. Trailers in a rubbish lot, parked and ready to go for scrap.
He’d escaped that when he’d been sixteen. Had run away to Las Vegas, promising Janice he’d send for her as soon as he could. Well, that had never happened and now all he had left were bad memories of bad times, and a little boy who served to remind him of how he’d broken his promise to Janice. It wasn’t a very good legacy, but he’d been able to put some of it aside in the army. Or, at least, justify it to himself. Too young. Too inexperienced in the world. Yeah, whatever.
And his promise to himself about never coming back to Forgeburn for any reason—fat lot of good that had done him because here he was. Maybe he deserved to be here, if only to remind him of what he could have become. Or what Janice could have become if he’d kept his promise. “Care for a margarita?” he asked Ellie, who sat down at a patio table across from him.
“I don’t drink,” she said. “Water’s good, though.”
“I seem to recall a couple of mojitos in Reno. But if you don’t drink now...” He shrugged. “Water, vegetarian—that sounds like a mighty healthy lifestyle.”
