Groomed for Love

by Helen R. Myers

  The rest of the day passed in a blur, the shortened business hours creating a packed waiting room for over an hour after closing time. When Rylie finally made it to the RV, she was so emotionally and psychologically spent, she collapsed on the bed and fell into the deepest sleep of her life.

  * * *

  She woke up the following morning feeling as if she was rising out of a coma, and it took her several moments to realize where she was and to remember all that happened yesterday. Coming quickly on the heels of that was Noah, and her heart wrenched anew. Somehow she had to not think about him. There was too much to do, and she needed to be able to function.

  “Oh, jeez,” she groaned, as her gaze landed on the clock on the nightstand. It confirmed what the daylight around the miniblinds also did. She was going to be the last person at the clinic, not the first—and MG had to be in total discomfort.

  Thankfully, she’d passed out still dressed in her black T-shirt and jeans. She ran into the bathroom, telling MG, “Give me one minute more. Thank you for having an iron bladder the size of a watermelon.”

  She brushed her teeth and didn’t even run a comb through her hair. While MG did her business, she would poke her head into the clinic and explain and apologize, then get a quick shower.

  Wondering why no one had knocked on the door or buzzed her cell phone to wake her, she yanked on her windbreaker and opened the door to let MG out—only to shriek in surprise, before clapping her hand over her mouth.

  Oh my—

  Laughter and cheers erupted through the crowd. Someone yelled, “Surprise!”

  Surprise nothing, she thought. She was in the process of having a heart attack. Everyone she knew was out there—Gage, Brooke, Uncle Roy, Jane, the musketeers...

  “Jane?”

  As MG barked and trotted down the steps, her tail wagging as though she thought all of this company was for her, Rylie tried to make sense of what was happening. Then her heart skipped a beat as her gaze locked with Noah’s.

  If the brisk morning air didn’t cause her to shiver and clutch the windbreaker tight around herself, she would have been convinced that she was dreaming. But, no, there was Audra in her wheelchair with Ramon gripping the handles, and Aubergine and Livie framing her like human bookends.

  As her gaze returned to Noah, Uncle Roy stepped forward to offer his hand to help her down the stairs. “It’s an intervention, Sunshine.”

  “It’s something, all right,” she muttered, belatedly realizing that she hadn’t showered or washed her hair and the makeup she’d put on yesterday must be long gone.

  “Come on down out of there so we can all watch this. I can’t see.”

  Who was that? Rylie wondered, finally taking her uncle’s hand and descending the stairs. Then she saw more people—their mailman and the chief of police, Bob Burnett—whom she’d barely spoken to beyond saying “hello”—and about a dozen more. But once again her gaze was drawn to Noah. She couldn’t help herself, or keep from letting him see how wonderful it was to see him again, regardless of what she’d told him.

  “I don’t think she gets it yet,” Audra said, beaming.

  “It’s shock,” Livie said matter-of-factly.

  Audra squeezed Noah’s hand, only to push him forward. “Get to work, son. Make me proud.”

  He made his way to Rylie. Dressed in a navy sports coat and jeans, he looked his usual charismatic self. But his hand was shaking as he took her cold left hand in his, and he lowered himself to one knee.

  “Oh, my God,” Rylie whispered. Suddenly, her hand started shaking as much as his.

  “Sweetheart, you already know how I feel about you. You burst into my life and through my defenses like nothing I’d ever experienced before,” he began. “You lit a fever in my heart that was numb from neglect and bad choices. I wake needing to see you, and go to sleep aching to hold you. No one and nothing can come before that. Marry me, Rylie. You’re as precious and necessary to me as my next breath.”

  Unable to deny what she was feeling, or the yearning burning in his eyes, Rylie could manage only to nod. However, that was enough for Noah to draw a ring out of his pocket and slip it onto her finger. Then he stood and crushed her against him to the sound of cheers and applause. The ruckus got even louder when he kissed her.

  “You don’t have to say it so loud that everyone hears,” he whispered near her ear. “But you’d damned better say it to me. I can see the truth shimmering in every inch of your face, and feel it in the arms hugging me back.”

  She threw her head back and laughed with joy. “I love you!” she declared. “You, you, you. From the first, it was you!”

  Epilogue

  November

  “It’s time to cut the cake and go, my love.”

  Rylie leaned back against Noah’s firm body and covered the hands tenderly holding her at the waist with her own. “I’m ready.”

  She had been Mrs. Noah Jamison Prescott for almost two hours, and she had yet to be alone with her husband for one minute. She only had to turn and look into his glowing brown eyes to see passion waiting to be unleashed.

  They had been married in the Prescott family’s church—Sweet Springs Methodist—and the reception was at Haven Land. Even though over one hundred were in attendance, it was generally easy to make their way to the dining room, where the cake was set up.

  Rylie loved the bouquet Brooke had made for her, a happy autumnal collection of chrysanthemums, some of which almost matched the warm glow of her hair. She also loved how her gown whispered with every step. It had a lace bodice with a straight cut, Audrey Hepburn neckline, V-back and full satin skirt. Noah had remembered her sadness over never having worn a gown and convinced her that she have a one-of-a-kind dress for the wedding. He’d also insisted on flying in her parents and Dustin, and they had been staying upstairs in the guest rooms for two days now.

  As they passed Dustin, Rylie stopped to give him another hug. They would be leaving on their honeymoon for a week in Ireland right after they changed clothes, and she didn’t know how long it would be before she saw him again. She cupped his darkly handsome face in her hands and kissed him on both cheeks.

  “My, munchkin, you clean up fine,” he said, his dark gray eyes saying much more.

  He’d been as upset as her parents had been with the news about her partial blindness, and when he’d first gotten off the plane, he’d swept her into his arms and hugged her so fiercely, she’d thought she was going to end up with a cracked rib.

  “I’m so glad you approve—and that you came.”

  “I had to see for myself that you were really happy.” Dustin released her to shake Noah’s hand. “See that she stays that way,” he added, with a mock narrow-eyed glare.

  The two of them had hit it off almost immediately and, laughing, Noah hugged him easily. “Count on it. And don’t be a stranger. There’s always a room for you here.”

  Next they stopped to say a few words to her parents and Uncle Roy, who were still catching up on news. Rylie had told her uncle to bring Jane, but he’d confessed that there would be so much family talk going on that she would be bored. Rylie hoped that was all, and that the budding “couple” hadn’t actually hit a road bump.

  “I’m so excited for you,” her mother whispered to her as they embraced.

  “And proud,” her father added, kissing her forehead.

  It was good to see the musketeers, especially Warren, who was looking better in the past weeks since Bernie’s passing. Rylie kissed each one, and Gage and Brooke, who stood nearest to the cake.

  Brooke looked radiant in her royal-blue matron-of-honor dress with her baby bump now unmistakable. Best man Gage kept his arm around her waist, his fingertips never far from the gentle swell of her abdomen. They were going to keep MG at their place while the newlyweds honeymooned, since MG and Hump
hrey were solid pals.

  Although they had been invited, Vance and his wife sent their regrets. When Noah announced he felt he should resign, Vance quickly apologized for his remarks, and had been decent if not warm and fuzzy ever since. It was clear that he knew who the best candidate for the office was, and smart enough not to cost the county Noah’s service.

  Laurel had been invited, too, but she was still in Montana one last week to spend Thanksgiving with her family before starting at the clinic.

  Rylie and Noah posed for several pictures of the cake cutting for the photographer, and then stopped to kiss Audra on their way upstairs.

  “Don’t party so much that you tire yourself out,” Noah warned her.

  Rylie echoed his concern. In the weeks since she’d sold her bus to Jerry Platt—who planned to treat his buddies to a trip to Vegas, while the newlyweds were on their honeymoon—she’d been staying in the spare bedroom across from Audra’s, and they’d enjoyed getting to know each other better.

  “I won’t, darlings. I know if I’m not on top of my game, you’ll deprive me of all the stories about your trip when you return.”

  Once up in Noah’s bedroom and the door was shut, Noah reached for Rylie. “Oh, God, I need this,” he said, claiming her lips for a long, deep kiss. “Whose idea was it to spend so many hours in a plane?” Being circumspect, he had done without her company for nearly a month, and the strain of being in opposite wings in the mansion had taken its toll.

  “Yours. Be glad my ancestors don’t come from Australia,” she teased, turning in his arms so he could unzip her gown. “And at least we have tonight in the airport hotel before our flight in the morning.”

  “I’m not sure I’ll even last through that drive,” he said as he exposed bare skin, and the daintiest lingerie. He groaned as he cupped her lace-covered breasts. “Sweet heaven,” he said, pressing a kiss to her bare shoulder. “You’re sure Aubergine is going to have your things moved in here by the time we get back?”

  “The moment the furniture store delivers the extra armoire. Why you thought we needed another, I don’t know. My clothes will fit perfectly in the closet.”

  “It’s for all the sexy undies I plan to buy you,” he said, caressing her until her nipples were taut nubs. Then he grew serious. “Love, I know we’ve talked and already made tentative plans about school, and all, but I was wondering...”

  Rylie turned to face him. He’d made her cry when he’d insisted on paying off her college debt and suggested—with Gage’s encouragement—that she return to school to finish her veterinarian training. She might not be able to handle every case, but she could specialize in small-animal care—and Gage said he would welcome her as a partner, as well.

  “Ask away. Anything,” she said, meaning that. She loved him so much, if he asked her to wait a year before returning to school, she would.

  “I just wanted Mother to have the strength to hold a grandchild in her arms. It would break her heart if she grew too weak.”

  “No, you’re right,” Rylie said, moved that he was being so considerate. “So...I’ll leave my birth control pills behind?”

  Exhaling shakily, Noah touched his head to her forehead. “You know Aubergine will tell Mother when she finds them.”

  With a wicked grin, Rylie said, “Maybe even before my parents head back to California. That’ll be our going-away gift to them all—and more incentive to your mother to stay strong.”

  “Thank you, my heart. It’s been ages since this house has had the sound of children’s laughter flowing through it.” After a reverent kiss, he added lightly, “What a relief and blessing to have married a woman whom I see eye-to-eye with on the important things.”

  “Correction, many...many things,” Rylie whispered, drawing him closer until they shared the same breath and she could tease him by brushing her lips against his.

  “Oh, yes,” he murmured, and kissed her with hunger and promise.

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from THE BACHELOR DOCTOR’S BRIDE by Caro Carson.

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  Chapter One

  A black-tie gala on a summer night ought to be the perfect setting for happiness. Glamour, romance, excitement—everything Diana Connor thought a person’s life should have. So far, she was having a ball at this particular ball.

  Downtown Austin’s historic hotel, the Driskill, had pulled out all the stops, making the most out of its Victorian gilding by adding a crystal candelabra to the center of every table. Each one added prisms of real candlelight to the night. Diana couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen real flames reflected through real crystal. Parties usually got their sparkle from plastic sequins and tiny LED lights—not that there was anything wrong with that. Diana enjoyed festive settings of any kind, but there was something extra special about tonight’s real flames. Their movement echoed the dancing of the human glitterati on the dance floor.

  The gala had attracted everyone who was anyone in central Texas, and the ballroom, the smaller parlor rooms, and the grand mezzanine were all part of the flow as everyone made their rounds, dancing and dining, seeing and being seen. All this glittering happiness benefited West Central Texas Hospital’s new pediatric research project, making the evening a perfectly delightful way to raise money for a good cause.

  Diana’s boss hadn’t thought so. The single thousand-dollar ticket he’d bought was the minimum he could donate to make his real estate company look marginally philanthropic. One after another, the top agents at the office had declined the use of the lone ticket to the hospital gala. When the ticket had made its way down to Diana, the ninth-best agent out of ten, she’d jumped at the chance to use it. Being solo was no problem; parties were meant for making new friends.

  Her boss had given her gruff instructions with the ticket: Give your business card to every doctor you meet, and tell them you sold that house to the MacDowells. Diana had nodded politely, but she didn’t waste precious space in her adorably tiny purse on business cards. If Lana and Braden MacDowell wanted to pass her name on to their friends, they would.

  As it turned out, the MacDowells were here tonight—hardly a surprise, since they were both doctors at West Central. The surprise was that Diana knew them at all. Fate must have played a role when she’d first met Lana at a flower shop. Diana had spotted Lana, an eye-catching woman with jet-black hair, looking as harried as only a physician moving to Austin from out of state while starting a new job and planning a wedding could look.

  Pretty darn harried.

  Diana had offered to give Lana a second opinion on the bridal bouquets that seemed to be overwhelming her. When Lana had asked her if she knew a good DJ, too, Diana had been able to help, since dancing was her favorite thing to do on a Friday night. Lana had laughingly asked her if she could magically produce a dream home for her. Diana had been carrying her business cards that day. Fate was a wonderful thing.

  Amazingly enough, helping a woman choose wedding flowers gave a person a good idea of what she might like in a house. Diana had found Lana and her husband their perfect home.

  The MacDowells danced under the permanently blue sky paint
ed on the ballroom’s domed ceiling, a light and smiling couple in love. Later tonight, country-Western stars were going to entertain this high-paying crowd, but for now, the big band orchestra seemed like the right music for the MacDowells, a perfect match for them.

  All around the chandeliered space, Diana saw good things. Laughing faces, liveliness, shimmer and shine. Everyone looked happy and satisfied. Everyone except...

  Her gaze was drawn again to the one man who seemed utterly still in a room full of motion. His matte black tux drew the light in and kept it. He was supposed to reflect the light, didn’t he know?

  Champagne sips provided some discreet cover as Diana kept an eye on him, waiting for his date or his wife to return. The song ended, the dance floor cleared, and still, he brooded alone, sitting at an empty table near the dance floor while everyone else was mingling.

  Diana frowned into her bubbly. She didn’t like to see this man so unhappy. Then again, she didn’t like to see anyone unhappy, and she was pretty good at cheering people up, so she and her champagne headed over.

  It’s going to be like cheering up James Bond.

  Not a hardship, really. Handsome man in a tux?

  I choose to accept this mission.

  While she was grinning at her own silly thought, James Bond cut his gaze to her. Just, bam. One second he’d been brooding at the dance floor, the next, she’d been caught in a green-eyed, intense stare.

  Oh, my.

  She hadn’t expected such sea-green eyes from a man with such richly brown hair. Handsome? Holy cow, handsome.