by Lori Ryan
Yeah, Ben was right. His dick was swelling. He was in hell.
“Good morning, everyone.”
The sound of his mother’s voice had his libido back under control.
“This morning I want to welcome two special students to the class.”
Oh, shit. If there was anything Aaron hated worse than sitting on this frigging mat it was having his mother try to talk him up for women.
“Canyon Creek’s beautiful veterinarian, Dr. Kayleigh Montgomery.” His mother motioned toward where he and Kayleigh sat.
All the women turned to stare, some waving.
Kayleigh smiled and waved back. She looked like a beauty queen on a float, not a rural doctor.
“Hey, Kayleigh,” several people shouted from the group.
Kayleigh glanced over at him. “I’m kind of a rock star in town.”
Aaron laughed. “I can see that.”
“And my gorgeous son, Aaron. He’s visiting, all the way from Chicago. He’s a heart surgeon. I think I’m saying this wrong.” She stared at him, brows furrowed.
“Cardio thoracic surgeon.” He helped her out.
“That’s right ladies. He may break your hearts,” Sally said, “but he can put them back together.”
A collective sigh echoed through the room.
Oh, Christ.
Kayleigh laughed.
“And, he’s available.” His mother’s voice boomed through the barn.
“Oh,” more women said.
Aaron’s face heated and he ducked his head. Not before he saw Kayleigh’s smile fall. What the…
“All right, ladies,” his mother said, “and gentleman.” She winked at him. “Let’s start in Child Pose.”
Aaron had no fucking clue what his mother was talking about. He sat back and watched as all the women bent their legs underneath them to sit on their knees. He could maybe manage that. But when they bent forward at the waists, chests to the floor as their hands stretched out in front of them, he knew he was a goner.
“Knees wide, ladies, let’s get your toes to touch. Oh, you too, sweetie.” His mother nodded toward him.
A few women glanced around their hips to check on his progress.
Aaron tried the best he could to contort his body.
Kayleigh laughed beside him.
He turned. “What?”
“You look like you’re in pain.”
“I am.”
“Now,” his mother said, “relax and stretch your neck, your shoulders, reach with your hands.”
Hands. Aaron suddenly thought of his tremor. His medical team had told him to try to relax as best he could. This didn’t seem like relaxation to him.
“Now, let’s move to Cat Pose,” his mother said.
Aaron was disappointed. He felt like he’d just mastered this kid’s pose thing and now he had to move on. He raised his head, about to push up and stiffened, startled by the sight in front of him.
All the women were on all fours, their asses in the air, right in his face, including his aunt.
“Oh, fuck no,” he whispered.
Kayleigh laughed.
“I seriously can’t do this.”
“Wuss,” Kayleigh said.
His mother guided them all into the next move.
Aaron twisted to mimic his mother’s pose, but as he did, he stopped again.
Kayleigh’s ass was in front of his face, on all fours. Her right leg extended.
“Now rotate your foot, opening up that hip.”
Open that hip.
Aaron’s mouth went dry as he watched Kayleigh’s sweet ass move from side to side, the scrubs tight across her hips. Images of taking her from behind flashed in his head.
No more semi-wood, he was full-mast hard.
“Enjoying the view?”
Aaron shook his head to clear his thoughts, feeling like he was in a daze. “Uh, what?”
“My ass,” Kayleigh said.
His gaze moved from her supple behind to her face. She was smirking.
“Don’t feel bad, it’s a great ass.” She smiled. “Or so I’ve been told.”
Possessive jealousy twisted in his gut. When had other people been checking out her ass? And where had that thought come from?
“Now, take in a deep breath,” his mother said, “and squeeze your buttocks together.”
And just like that, the hard-on from earlier was deflated at the sound of his mother’s voice speaking the words “squeeze” and “buttocks” in the same sentence. This was pure hell.
Kayleigh giggled. “You can do this, can’t you Doc?”
He turned to face her. God, she was beautiful, long hair falling toward the ground, blue eyes dancing with amusement.
In that moment Aaron realized how much he’d missed these simple times. When had his life snowballed out of control? Now his days were filled with nothing more than chaos—performing surgery after surgery, assessing patients, charting notes. His current life left little time for rest and relaxation, or relationships.
“Well?” Kayleigh asked.
“I can if you can. Doc,” he added.
Her eyes sparkled. “What are we playing for?”
“Breakfast.”
“Deal.” She waggled her hips. “I’m warning you, though. I eat a lot.”
Aaron didn’t have time to respond.
“All right, everyone,” his mother said, “we’re going to transition into Table Top.”
Table top? Aaron swallowed down a groan. Yeah, he could totally picture Kayleigh on a table top. He wondered if a sex maniac hadn’t come up with these poses.
“Just wait for Downward Facing Dog,” Kayleigh said, laughing.
This time Aaron couldn’t hold back the groan and wondered if there was a Hard As Stone pose. If so, he already had it mastered.
Chapter Nine
“Well,” Kayleigh said, sliding into the diner booth, “that was fun.”
“Name one thing fun about it,” Aaron said, sitting across from her.
“I got a free meal out of it.” She smiled.
Aaron’s eyes narrowed but she saw the smirk just underneath. There was no denying Aaron was handsome. Something in her stomach fluttered.
“So, yoga’s not for you?” she asked.
“Hell no.”
“Why did you even try?”
“Well, hello stranger.” Ruth Benford, owner of the Canyon Creek Country Diner, said as she strolled toward their table. She stared at Aaron. “I haven’t seen you in ages.” She placed one hand on her hip. “You’re still as pretty as ever, I see.”
Ruth was in her late fifties, maybe early sixties, but Kayleigh had to say, there was nothing wrong with her eyesight. Aaron was pretty. Kayleigh forced the thought aside. She really had to stop reading those romance novels.
“Hey, Ruth.” Aaron stood and kissed the woman on her cheek, giving her a small hug. “It’s good to see you.” He assessed her up and down. “You look as beautiful as ever yourself.”
Note to self, Aaron is a charmer.
“Oh, Aaron.” Ruth swatted playfully at his shoulder with her order pad. “You Sumner boys are all giant teases.” She leaned in. “But you most of all.”
“It’s not teasing if I mean it.” He winked as he sank back into the booth.
Ruth blushed.
“Hey, Kayleigh, it’s good to see you in person.”
What did that mean? She cared for the Benford’s two beagles, Benny and Bernie.
Ruth turned her attention toward Aaron. “Normally she calls in her orders for delivery.” The older woman turned back to Kayleigh. “You’re too darn busy, young lady.”
Kayleigh rolled her eyes. No truer words she thought. But what was she supposed to do. The bills weren’t going to pay themselves. And her contract for forgiveness of her student loans was almost up. Soon she’d have to start paying back the difference. Nearly seventy-five thousand dollars
“It’s the life of a doctor,” Aaron said.
“Pet doctor
?” Kayleigh raised a brow.
Aaron shook his head, but a smile teased at his mouth.
“What can I get you kids?”
“Do you still have the Canyon Creek Mountain of pancakes?” Aaron asked.
“Sure do.” Ruth scribbled on her pad.
“Six pancakes?” Kayleigh asked, tilting her head as though she might see his stomach around the table.
He leaned back and patted his flat abs. “Yoga took it out of me.”
“Chocolate chips?” Ruth asked.
“Yep.” He nodded then turned to wink at Kayleigh. “With extra whipped cream.”
She swallowed hard. Was he flirting with her?
“And you, sweetheart?” Ruth turned to Kayleigh.
“I’ll have the Sunrise Special, please.”
“How do you want your eggs?”
“Sunny side up.”
“You got it. What about drinks?”
“I’ll just have water,” Aaron said.
“Coffee for me please.”
Ruth winked and turned to leave. “Oh, I forgot,” she turned to face Kayleigh, “Bernie is still rubbing his eye. Do you think you could see him this afternoon?”
Kayleigh held back a groan. She already had a full schedule. “Sure,” she smiled, “bring him by, Marlene will fit him in.”
“Oh, thank you. Larry’s so worried about him. Ever since the kids moved off, those two dogs have become his best friends.”
“No problem,” Kayleigh said.
“I’ll get your coffee right out.”
“Thanks.”
Aaron stared at her.
“What?”
“You don’t have room in your schedule for her, do you?”
“It doesn’t matter, those dogs are important to them. I’ll squeeze them in.”
“Wow.” He set back in his seat and shook his head.
“What?”
“I had no idea the life of a small-town vet was so…”
Kayleigh waited, wondering what word he would use to describe her job. Lowly? Beneath her? Inconsequential? Those were the words her mother had used.
“Hectic,” he finally said.
Kayleigh ducked her head to hide a relieved smile. For some reason, she wanted Aaron to respect her. “Well, when you’re the only vet in three counties it tends to be…hectic. It’s not big city medicine, but it’s important to the people who live here.”
“I can see that,” he said. “It was like one of Ruth’s sons had hurt his eye the way she described her beagle’s condition.”
“It’s conjunctivitis right now but it could turn into an infection of the eye.”
“Yeah, I saw that once during my E.R. rotation. The parents hadn’t brought their daughter in and it was bacterial. Her eye looked horrible.”
“Was there lasting damage?”
“Thankfully, no.”
She smiled, wondering how she could make him understand that for a lot of people, pets were just as important to them as their own children. She hadn’t been able to convince her own mother.
She shrugged but didn’t say any more.
“What’s wrong?” he asked. “Did I say something?”
“No.”
“Then what is it?”
She lifted her gaze and her eyes meet his. Genuine concern shone in the hazel green depths.
“Just thinking about my mom.” Shit, why had she said that?
“What about your mom?”
She sat silent, picking at a sugar packet.
Aaron reached across the table and took one of her hands in his. He seemed so sincere, so vulnerable himself.
“Let’s just say my parents weren’t too thrilled with my choice of profession.” God, what was with her spilling her guts to this guy? She never spoke about her family. Ever. She drew back her hands.
“Why not?”
“They just thought human medicine was more important.” She laughed but he didn’t. “I was just kidding you know.”
“I know how important animals are to their owners too,” he said.
“You do?” Her brows rose.
“Are you kidding? Have you heard my brother talk about that mangy cat they own?”
“Lucky?”
“Yeah. He wants people to think he couldn’t care less, but I know he does. Only a man infatuated with his wife could love a cat that ugly.”
Kayleigh laughed. “Yeah, it’s a service. But…”
“What?” He slid his hand across the table and reclaimed her hands, squeezing them.
She stared down.
“Here’s your coffee, and your water.” Kayleigh jumped at Ruth’s voice, pulling back her hands and laying them in her lap.
“Thanks, Ruth.” Aaron smiled.
Kayleigh noted that same flutter in her belly. Would it be so bad to start something with Aaron? He was only here a short time, or so she thought.
“Got your order in,” Ruth said. “Shouldn’t be long.”
They both nodded and watched as Ruth walked away.
“How long are you in town?” Kayleigh asked.
Aaron shrugged.
“Why are you here? Your mom says you rarely get an afternoon off, much less enough time to come home.”
“I needed a break,” he said, fiddling with the salt and pepper set.
“Why?”
His eyes met hers. “Why, what?” he asked.
“Why did you need a break?” She knew there was more going on than he was saying. “I understand what it’s like to become addicted to medicine. From everything your mom said, you’re just as hooked on the high of saving people as I am.”
Aaron glanced out the window.
“I’m sorry,” she said, “it’s really none of my business.” She folded and refolded the napkin in her lap.
“No, I’m sorry.”
She glanced up and saw he was still staring out the window. Finally, he turned, his eyes filled with an emotion she couldn’t name.
“Your food should be here any minute.” Ruth said as she swung by the table again, interrupting their moment. “In the meantime,” she set a can of whipped cream in the middle of the table, “I thought I’d bring out an extra can.” She glanced down at Kayleigh. “You looked so excited when Aaron asked for extra whipped cream.”
Heat rose to Kayleigh’s face and she ducked her head again. It was so unlike her to be shy.
Aaron laughed. “Thanks, Ruth.” There was a long pause. “You can look up now,” he said, “Ruth’s gone.”
Kayleigh cut her eyes to the side to verify.
“Never took you for the easily embarrassed kind.” He tilted the whip cream can and sprayed a wide line onto his finger, then held it out in front of her.
She recognized a dare when she saw one. He was right though. She was never this embarrassed, this intimidated by a man. And she wouldn’t start now.
She squared her shoulders and stared him in the face as she slowly opened her mouth and leaned forward. She licked her lower lip, her gaze traveling from Aaron’s finger to his face.
His eyes widened as he visibly gulped.
He hadn’t counted on her taking his dare. He began to draw away but she reached across the table and gripped his wrist, bringing his hand to her mouth. She slid his finger into her mouth and sucked in the whipped cream, swirling her tongue. All the time her eyes remained on his.
Kayleigh felt his arm tense under hers as she continued her assault on his finger, watching as he squirmed in his seat. When she’d finally sucked off every drop of cream, she pulled back, letting her lips make a popping noise.
“Delicious.” She smiled, rubbing the back of her hand across her mouth.
Aaron sat stock still, his face ashen.
There was nothing better than shutting up a cocky guy.
“So, if you’re here for some rest and relaxation, and you don’t like yoga, what are your plans?” she asked.
He remained silent, jaw lax.
“Hello, Earth to Aaron.”
Aaron blinked several times. “Uh, sorry. What did you say?” His eyes traveled to her lips and suddenly Kayleigh felt nervous again. This man threw her off her game more than any man she’d ever encountered in her life.
She cleared her throat. “I said, what are your plans for rest and relaxation?”
“Well, I’m going to help out the family some with the lodge. I had no idea the work that went into running that place every day.”
Kayleigh lifted her coffee and blew on the edge. “Yeah, Maggie works her little butt off. But she loves it. Loves your brother, too.”
Aaron smiled.
Kayleigh felt her insides melt. When Aaron smiled it changed his entire being. He went from serious surgeon, to hot, sexy-as-hell centerfold.
“So,” she sat back in the booth, “are you going to answer my question or not?”
“What was the question?”
“If you’re here to relax and yoga doesn’t do it for you, what do you plan to do?”
Aaron shrugged. It seemed to be his go-to action when he didn’t want to answer a question.
“What are some things you do back at home to relax?”
“I don’t.” He answered quickly, with no apology.
“Which brings me back to my original question.”
“Which was?” Aaron toyed with his silverware.
Kayleigh raised a brow. She knew he wasn’t this dense.
“Fine, I don’t normally relax. But it doesn’t sound like you make much time for fun, either.”
“Are you seriously going to go there?” she asked.
“Go where?”
Ruth stepped up to the table. “Here you go. One Canyon Creek Mountain of pancakes with chocolate chips and a Sunshine Special, eggs sunny side up. Anything else I can get you two?”
Kayleigh surveyed table. “Nope, I think I’m good.”
Aaron nodded. “Me, too. Thanks, Ruth.”
“Holler if you need anything else.”
“Could you pass me the salt and pepper?” Kayleigh asked, situating her plate in front of her. She glanced up when she heard clanking.
“Dammit,” Aaron growled under his breath. The shaker sat on its side on the table.
Kayleigh looked from the shaker to Aaron. He seemed way more pissed than the event called for. “It’s not a big deal.” She reached for the shaker.
