by Lori Ryan
Lina never accepted money so Kayleigh traded free vet services for Lina’s two cats. It was no way to make a profit, but knowing Lina was going and spending a little time with her fur babies during the day was worth it.
Lina reached out to pet Jax but he jumped from Kayleigh’s arms before she could touch him.
“Do you think he’ll ever let me pet him?” Lina asked.
Jax circled around Kayleigh’s leg, glancing up at Lina with a “How dare you?” look before darting from the room.
Kayleigh shrugged. “I’ve had him for over a year and he still hasn’t warmed up to you. Don’t take it personally. He doesn’t go to anyone except Maggie.”
“That makes me feel marginally better.” She laughed and stood, pushing her long black hair over her shoulder. Lina often dyed the tips of her hair various colors. Today the shiny strands were colored a deep magenta. Kayleigh wondered if she could get away with a look like that.
Lina was tall, with the olive skin and brown eyes of her Italian heritage. Kayleigh always said Lina could be a cover model but Lina only laughed at Kayleigh’s suggestion.
“I’ve got to run,” Lina said. “Early shift tomorrow.”
“Thanks again. I owe you.” Kayleigh reached down and picked up Annie before opening the front door. The dog had a habit of trying to slip through.
“You don’t owe me.” Lina swatted at her. She reached out and rubbed Annie’s chin. “I’d come see these rug rats any time.” She stepped off the front porch and waved. “See you tomorrow morning.”
She probably would, considering they were neighbors. “Bye!” Kayleigh watched as Lina made the short walk home, two doors down. It was good to have neighbors who genuinely cared, she thought.
Kayleigh shut the door and walked to the kitchen, opening the refrigerator. A block of moldy cheese and an expired container of half and half stared back at her. Great. She really did need to go to the grocery store. Not tonight though.
Kayleigh set Annie on the ground and dug her phone from her pocket. She pulled up the contact information for the Canyon Creek Country Diner, not a bit embarrassed she had them on speed dial. She tugged off her clothes as she listened to the phone ring.
“Canyon Creek Country Diner.”
“Hey, Ruth, it’s Kayleigh.”
“Hey, Kayleigh. How’s my favorite vet in Canyon Creek?”
“I’m your only vet.” Kayleigh chuckled.
“That’s true,” she said. “But you’re the prettiest one in all of Colorado.”
Kayleigh rolled her eyes. “Listen, I was wondering if I could talk you guys into delivering something to my house.” It wasn’t the first time she’d asked and she would bet it wouldn’t be the last.
“You got it, hun.”
“Thanks, Ruth.” Taking care of one of Ruth and Larry’s two beagles’ conjunctivitis earlier in the week was paying off.
“What can I get you?”
“Do you still have the Cobb salad?”
“Sure do. Do you want extra dressing on the side?”
Kayleigh laughed. What was the point of putting dressing on the side if you got an extra container? She still said yes, though. She liked her ranch dressing. “Yes, please.”
“Okay, Robbie should be there in about fifteen to twenty minutes.”
“Perfect,” Kayleigh said. It would give her just enough time to shower and change into something decent.
“I’ll add in a piece of Sally’s toffee pie. It’s the pie of the day.”
“Oh, no, that’s—”
“See ya soon.” The line disconnected.
Oh well. What was a few more calories? At least she was having a salad.
Yeah, with dressing.
Really, Kayleigh, do you need that? Her mother’s voice echoed in her head.
Kayleigh shook off the silent criticism. Despite her mother’s belittling words as a child, Kayleigh was comfortable in her own skin most days. She tried not to overindulge, but no one could say no to Sally Sumner’s pies. Besides, with the amount of running from one patient to the next she’d done today, surely she’d burned off enough calories to splurge.
She showered quickly, not giving in to the temptation to stand under the hot water for a good thirty minutes since Robbie would be there soon. She skipped blow drying her long blonde hair. Tonight, she didn’t have the energy. Besides, she wasn’t going anywhere.
She’d eat, read a little of her new novel and crash early. Not drying her hair tonight meant she’d look like Medusa tomorrow but she was too tired to care at this point.
Just as she finished dressing, she heard her cell phone ring in the other room. She could tell from the ring tone that it wasn’t her clinic phone. Thank goodness. She’d had three early mornings and two late nights in the past week. All she wanted to do tonight was sleep.
Kayleigh wrapped herself in a fluffy robe and grabbed her phone from the kitchen counter.
The screen glowed with a photo of one of her best friends, Maggie Lawrence.
Well, Maggie Sumner now since she’d just married Ben Sumner. Kayleigh really needed to change Maggie’s name in her phone.
Kayleigh hit the screen, accepting the call. “What’s up, buttercup?”
“Doin’ fine, monkey shine,” Maggie giggled.
Kayleigh laughed. The girl was as goofy as they came. She’d never expected to make such good friends in the small town when she’d moved to Canyon Creek almost two years ago. Growing up with the wealth her family had in Boston meant genuine relationships were rare.
“Listen,” Maggie said, “I need a huge favor.”
“Oh, no,” Kayleigh moaned, leaning over to towel-dry her hair. “Please tell me Lucky hasn’t developed a kidney infection. I’ve already had one cat pee in my face this week. I can’t take two.”
Lucky was a cat Maggie had found at the Lodge at Canyon Creek where she worked as the manager. The cat had been trying to protect a barn dog from a coyote of all things. Lucky managed to save the dog but was brutally attacked in the process. When Maggie had rushed the cat to the clinic., Kayleigh had done what she could for the poor creature. He’d lost one eye and a piece of one ear, but he survived. Hence, the name.
“No,” Maggie said, “Lucky’s fine. It’s something more urgent.”
Kayleigh stood stock still. Just six months ago, Maggie’s boss and her husband’s father, John Sumner, had passed away from a massive heart attack.
“What is it? Is Valerie all right?”
“Oh, yes, sorry, nothing medical. It’s the lodge. We’re having a wedding crisis.” Part of the expansion to the Sumner’s lodge had been turning an old barn into a beautifully refurbished wedding venue.
“Oh, shit. No way, Maggie. I am not helping calm down a bat-shit-crazy bride again. You suckered me into that a month ago. Those bitches were crazy.”
Maggie laughed. “Yeah, I know. I wasn’t that bad at my wedding, was I?”
“No. I would have slapped you.”
“I think Ben, Emmett and Max are ready to cash out on the whole wedding barn business. I had no idea these women could be so crazy.”
“You have heard of the show, Bridezilla haven’t you?”
“I know. Well, don’t worry. I’m not calling for help with the bride.”
“You mean, this favor is worse than dealing with a crazy bride and her gaggle of psychotic bridesmaids?”
“For you, maybe,” Maggie said.
“Make it quick, I have food being delivered.”
“I need you to pick up Aaron at the airport.”
Kayleigh nearly dropped the phone. “You’re not serious, are you? You know he was a total dick to me, right?”
“He apologized to you,” Maggie said. “Besides, Ben says he’s socially awkward. He probably didn’t mean to offend you at all.”
Kayleigh thought back to the real reason she didn’t want to pick up Aaron from the airport. He had definitely not been socially awkward at Maggie’s wedding when he’d surprised the hell ou
t of her with a dizzying kiss behind the barn. Kayleigh swallowed down the memory.
Maggie sighed. “Okay, you have two choices since you’ve already said no to helping with wedding business.”
“Or I can choose option number three and hang up the phone right now.”
“You wouldn’t?”
Kayleigh remained quiet but they both knew she wouldn’t. For better or worse she and Maggie were friends, good friends, and she would help her. She always would.
Dammit.
“What’s my other option?” Kayleigh asked.
“We have a backed-up line at the lodge.”
“That doesn’t sound bad.”
“It’s a sewer line.”
“Oh, jeez.”
“We’ve had to cut off the water but not before toilets in several rooms overflowed.”
“What time does his flight arrive?”
Maggie laughed. “I knew you’d see things my way. I’ll text you his flight information.”
“What’s he doing in town anyway? I thought he was a hotshot surgeon in Chicago.”
All the Sumner brothers were taking turns coming home to help save the family lodge, but Aaron had been the one resisting the most. He was in the middle of a residency in some kind of surgical specialty, and claimed he couldn’t take time off.
“I don’t really know,” Maggie said. “Valerie said he was super vague on the phone.”
“This is going to cost you,” Kayleigh said, rushing to her bedroom to put on clothes. So much for comfortable pajamas.
“I’m well aware it will cost me. Add it to my bill.”
Kayleigh laughed. “Good luck with the pipes.”
“Good luck with Dr. Sumner.” Maggie cackled and the phone went dead.
Thankfully, Maggie didn’t know about the kiss. No one did.
Aaron and she had locked lips just after Ben and Maggie left their wedding reception. They’d been behind one of the free-standing cabins near the wedding barn. He was trying to apologize for calling veterinary medicine pet medicine the first time they’d met.
After a heated debate over whether his apology was genuine, Aaron had grabbed her hard and pulled her into an intoxicating kiss. Before she could even think straight, he released her and walked away without a word.
Kayleigh had been so pissed at the time one might think she wouldn’t notice how turned on she was. Sadly, her body hadn’t let it go unnoticed. Every one of her girly parts had stood up and screamed for more.
She wished she could forget about that kiss. Unfortunately, Aaron’s Sumner’s lips had haunted her dreams most nights, and her daytime fantasies, too.
Amnesia. Kayleigh would feign amnesia. It was a real medical diagnosis. There was no way she wanted to talk about that kiss, to Aaron or anyone.
Maggie owed her for this little trip to the airport, all right. She owed her big time.
Chapter Four
Aaron stood outside the terminal at Denver International Airport, searching for his brother’s car. Max said he would be here on time. Aaron glanced down at his watch again. He’d been standing in the cool night air for almost thirty minutes.
“Dammit,” he muttered to himself, pulling out his cell phone. He was just about to dial Max’s number when he heard a familiar taunting voice.
“Excuse me, sir!”
Aaron stiffened.
“Are you Willie Stroker? The man who called for the escort service?” She’d put a little extra emphasis on the word escort. Fantastic.
Aaron turned, ignoring the passengers who had stopped moving to join him in looking for the speaker.
He knew the quickest way to shut Kayleigh Montgomery down was with a full-frontal attack.
Preferably on her lips, but he tried not to think of that.
“No, I’m Peter Footlong,” he yelled back.
Kayleigh’s blue eyes popped wide in surprise.
Good, he thought. Two can play this game.
Aaron narrowed his eyes, preparing for battle as he closed in on her. “Are you, Anita Cox?” he asked, lowering his voice. “You don’t look anything like the girl on the website. You’re a lot,” he stared her up and down, “older.”
She arched a brow and Aaron knew he’d poked the beast. Or in her case, the beauty. He hadn’t forgotten how gorgeous Kayleigh Montgomery was. Doctor Kayleigh Montgomery, he reminded himself.
Her blue eyes twinkled with amusement. She had stunning eyes; the corners tipped up, giving her an exotic look. Her long platinum blonde hair hung loose and blew gently around her face in the cool night air. She looked like a wild vixen. Even jeans and a T-shirt couldn’t disguise her sexy-as-sin body.
Kayleigh’s plump lips curled into a devilish smile, and despite himself, Aaron felt his body respond. The kiss they’d shared at his brother’s wedding flashed in his mind again.
Her voice broke through his thoughts. “Oh, there’s no reason to be embarrassed, Peter,” she said, stepping closer.
Oh shit. Aaron could tell from her narrowed eyes and cat-like walk that Kayleigh was moving in for the kill. He scanned the area.
Most of the people around them still bustled on, moving to whatever their destination was, but a few had gathered close, enthralled by their exchange. A wave of heat washed over his face and he knew if he didn’t shut this down soon he’d be toast.
“A lot of the men with your, uh…” She stared down at his mid-section and cleared her throat. “Your condition are afraid to ask for help.”
Aaron grabbed her arm and dragged her toward the car she’d been standing by moments before. “I can’t wait for your services, Miss Cox.” he yelled over her head. He leaned in closer and whispered in her ear. “Get in the car and I won’t embarrass you more.”
“Oh, no sir,” she shouted, “I’m afraid if your rash isn’t completely gone we can’t work together.”
Aaron marched her around the car and yanked open the driver’s side door, grateful it was unlocked. He practically shoved her inside.
Kayleigh was curled in a fit of laughter.
Aaron slammed the door just as she was about to say more.
This was going to be a long ride home.
* * *
Kayleigh settled into the driver’s seat, laughing as Aaron shoved his luggage into the trunk. She had completely underestimated Dr. Aaron Sumner. She’d hoped to embarrass him with her antics but instead, the man had stood at the plate, swinging comebacks like a champ with an ease that surprised Kayleigh. Maybe she’d been wrong about him.
When she met Aaron a few months ago, she thought he was a bit full of himself. It was no surprise. In her mind, most medical doctors were. It was nice to see the good doctor had a sense of humor.
Aaron opened the passenger-side door and slid in gracefully for such a tall man.
“Where to, sailor?” she asked, waggling her brows. Humor was her defense mechanism. She’d never admit how shy she was with him.
“Motel 6?” he said. “Or any other equally delightful motel that rents by the hour.”
She bit back a laugh, glancing down at his lap. “For your condition, perhaps they’ll rent in fifteen-minute increments.”
Aaron laughed with wry amusement. “You’re a mess, Kayleigh Montgomery.”
“I am.” She smiled, gripping the wheel, then found Aaron staring at her. “What?” she asked.
He shook his head. “Nothing.”
Kayleigh couldn’t help but wonder if he was remembering the kiss like she was. Probably not. He probably had an actual dating life in Chicago. One kiss from a small-town vet wouldn’t stick out.
“So, what are you doing back in town? I thought you were a busy, hot shot doctor practicing human medicine back in Chicago,” she said.
He fell back in the seat with a long-suffering sigh. “Oh, God, can we please let that go? I’ve already apologized to you like a zillion times.”
Kayleigh grinned in spite of herself. She couldn’t help but tease him about his comment at Maggie’s wedding.
They’d been discussing medical school when Aaron used the term, pet medicine. She knew he didn’t mean it as a putdown, but she couldn’t resist the temptation to tease him.
She was used to people thinking less of her medical degree because she worked on animals. Even her family was included among them.
Ignoring him, she continued. “Remind me again, how many species did you learn to take care of in human medical school?” she asked.
He rolled his eyes. “You know that’s not what I meant, Kayleigh.”
She did. But she wasn’t going to stop teasing him. “I’m sorry,” she cupped her ear, “I couldn’t hear you. Oh, that’s right, one. One species. Whereas I,” she patted her chest, “a doctor of pet medicine had to learn over—”
Aaron held up his hand. “Stop, I get it. I fucked up, okay?”
Kayleigh laughed. “Man, you’re so touchy.”
“I never meant to insinuate anything about you, you know that.”
“I’m just kidding.” She stole a look at him under her lashes. “I know you didn’t mean to offend me.”
His hands were clasped tightly together, the knuckles turning white.
“Hey,” she said, resting her hand on his. “Are you okay? I’m sorry about before.”
He turned and stared at her, his blue-green eyes holding so much sadness. She held his gaze a split second too long.
“Watch out,” Aaron shouted.
Kayleigh turned, just in time to slam on the brakes and jerk the wheel, avoiding a curb.
“Oops, sorry,” she mumbled.
“So,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest. “You’re sorry, you say, huh?”
And just like that, the sadness was gone, replaced with the playful man from before.
“I’m willing to accept your apology,” Aaron said. “If you finally accept mine and let this go.”
Aaron sat with his arms crossed over his chest. Kayleigh noticed, not for the first time, that Aaron had a very nice chest, for a brainiac. Attending veterinary school in Texas and now working with ranchers in Colorado, Kayleigh had grown accustomed to the thick, corded muscles and tanned skin of cowboys. She’d been surprised to find how much she liked the physique of a well worked man. She wouldn’t have thought a doctor from Chicago would match them muscle for muscle.
