Her Healing Cowboy (Harland County Series Book 5)

by Donna Michaels

  “Oh, I’m fine,” she insisted, placing a hand on his arm. “It’s you I’m wondering about, hun.”

  “Me?” he repeated. “I’m good, too.”

  “That’s just it. You’re smiling, and happy for a change. It’s been so long to see you like this. I’d love to know who she is.”

  He stiffened, and glanced at his sister whose mouth split into a big grin.

  “Yeah, come to think of it, Jace, you have been grinning a lot lately.” Lacey pointed her fork at him. “Does this have anything to do with Holly and her desserts?”

  “Holly?” His mother’s eyes lit up. “Arthur’s niece that was so sweet to leave her home in Colorado to run his shop while he recuperates?”

  “Yeah, her,” Lacey replied before he could. “I heard he kissed her yesterday over at the McCalls.”

  “Well now. That is good news.”

  His mother and sister continued to hold a conversation about him while he sat at the table with them. Stomach clenched tighter than his jaw, he barely moved as the women discussed his love life as if it were an episode from a sappy soap opera.

  “Do you think it’s serious?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe Jace could answer that.” Lacey transferred an amused gaze to him. “So, how about it, bro? Is it serious between you and Holly?”

  His mind tried to play catch up. The two women were tossing out questions right and left. He blinked and set down his fork. “It was just a kiss.”

  Okay, technically their second, incredible kiss. But that was not something he’d share. Instead, he shrugged and picked up his fork in an attempt to throw them off the scent. His mom was forever suggesting ‘nice’ woman to him, hinting at wanting grandchildren. Last thing he needed was for her to sink her teeth into something that wasn’t there.

  “Yeah, a pretty hot kiss, from what I heard.”

  His sister was not helping with her silly grin still present.

  “Kind of like the one you shared with Jesse,” he said, and watched the smile disappear from her face, exactly as he’d expected. What he hadn’t counted on was the blush that rose into her cheeks.

  Lacey Jane Turner never blushed. Ever.

  Interesting. He’d apparently hit on the source of the tension that had been ongoing between his sister and his friend the past few weeks. Somewhere in that time frame, the two must’ve kissed.

  Oh, man. God bless, Jesse. He was going to have his hands full, if the poor guy decided to pursue the obvious chemistry.

  “I like Holly,” his mother continued.

  She completely ignored the elephant in the room—Lacey’s blush. Which meant his mother already knew about his sister and Jesse. Maybe he was working too damn much. That would explain how he’d missed the fact those two had kissed.

  “She’s always so personable when we stop in at The Creamery, isn’t she, Lacey?”

  “Yes, and don’t forget beautiful. What I wouldn’t give to be able to wear my hair short and flirty like her. It would just make my face look fat. But not her, she’s stunning with those pretty green eyes.”

  “Yes, I noticed them, too. They kind of grab you and take hold, don’t they?” his mother asked no one in particular.

  The two women ate and talked, while he sat there with a knot in his chest the size of Texas. Which made no sense. So, he kissed a pretty woman and enjoyed it. Big deal. It’s not like they had something hot and heavy going on.

  “I think it’s great that you’re seeing her, Jace. You deserve to be happy.”

  He cleared his throat. “I’m not seeing her, Mom.”

  “Well, you should. It’s not right to go around kissing girls you’re not seeing.”

  Lacey tried to mask her snicker behind a napkin pressed to her mouth.

  She failed.

  “I like Holly,” he finally said, feeling a measure of relief at having admitted it out loud. “But it’s not worth pursuing with me joining DWB in the spring, and her about to go back to Colorado as soon as her uncle’s doctor clears him to work.”

  “Then you shouldn’t be kissing her. It’s not nice to lead a woman on.” A deep frown grooved her forehead. “I thought your Dad and I raised you better.”

  He blew out a long breath. “Yes, ma’am.”

  His mother’s delicious meal suddenly tasted like cardboard as guilt flooded his gut. It was a sad day when he didn’t clean a plate of his mother’s cooking. But, today was going to be one of those days.

  “Then, either keep your lips to yourself, hun, or start seeing the woman.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he repeated.

  Too bad both options were near impossible.

  Holly was excited to make it to Wednesday without a work crisis. Work—at The Creamery—was going smooth. The fact that Donny only had a few hours on Monday evening was probably part of the reason, but she tried not to blame summer work mishaps on just one employee, despite the poor kid being the only commonality.

  This week had been family crisis free, too. Her uncle was back to making remarkable progress, as his PT had put it, and Doctor Turner had just confirmed.

  She currently sat off to the side on the couch in the handsome man’s office, while her mom and Uncle Arthur occupied the chairs in front of his desk. As he asked her uncle some routine questions, her pulse hiccupped, listening to his deep, sexy tone, and her lips tingled, remembering the feel of his when he’d kissed her stupid in Kerri’s kitchen last Saturday.

  All damn week, she’d tried hard not to give his kisses much thought. She failed. Every time she thought her lust was under control, memories of their two embraces fluttered through her mind. Making her hot. And bothered. Like now.

  Dammit.

  She shifted in her seat, and drew in a slow, deep breath. He turned to her, and with his face averted from her family, he met her gaze with a knowing, heated one of his own. Oh boy. Not helping. Not helping her rein in her out of control feelings. This was all new. She’d never had crazy, uncontrollable emotions before. Not even with her ex-boyfriend of two years.

  Uncharted territory, that’s what it was, and apparently Jace felt the same, if the frown and slight shake of his head were any indication. A second later, a neutral expression claimed his features before he returned his attention back to his patient.

  The muffled sound of Queen filled the air. Holly quickly swiped her purse off the floor. Never more thrilled for an interrupting phone call, she fished out her cell, then excused herself and hurried from the room to answer the call from her brother.

  “Hey, what’s up, Zach?” she asked, walking into what she assumed was a break room, happy to find the small kitchenette and round table and chairs deserted.

  “Hi, how’s Uncle Arthur?”

  The million dollar question. “His PT said—”

  “His what?”

  “His physical therapist.”

  “Oh.”

  “He said he was making remarkable progress.”

  “Well that’s good, right?”

  She nodded as if Zach could see. “Yeah.”

  “Does that mean you’ll be coming home soon?”

  For some strange reason, her stomach sank. Which was stupid. Why in the world would her body have that reaction when she’d been chomping at the bit to head back to Colorado? Refusing to dissect the possible answer, she leaned against the wall and shrugged. “I think so. We’re at his regular doctor’s now. We’re hoping Jace…I mean, Doctor Turner can shed some light.”

  “Oh, good.”

  After several beats of silence, Holly got the impression there was more to the unexpected call than a polite inquiry of their uncle’s health.

  “So, what’s up? Are you okay?”

  She hated that her younger brother was in another state all by himself, even though they all knew it couldn’t be helped.

  “Yeah, sort of.”

  Now her heart stopped. “Define sort of.”

  “I’m good, but, well, my professor asked if I’d be interested in going to Japan t
o teach English to children over the holiday break in December.”

  “Oh, Zach, that’s wonderful!” She straightened from the wall. The very reason the smart, compassionate man was majoring in Asian Studies was to see some of the eastern world, experience other cultures, and teach English to the locals. “It’s exactly what you want to do with your major.”

  She was secretly envious of her brother’s bright future, and guilty because of the envy, having resigned herself to helping her mother and brother financially, and living vicariously through Zach.

  “Yeah, thanks. There’s just one problem…” His voice trailed off.

  Holly stilled, her pulse increasing to warp speed. “What?”

  “Money.”

  Why was that always the problem? She sighed and slumped into a chair, mentally calculating what was left in her meager checking account after paying rent and utilities on the apartment she shared with him, even though she wasn’t there. “How much?”

  “I qualify for two grants, but I still need to come up with over a thousand dollars.”

  A weight settled across her chest. “By when?”

  “The beginning of November.”

  Damn. That was two weeks away. Her heart sank, but she didn’t want her brother to know. “Okay. I’ll see what I could do.”

  “How, Holly? You’re already stretched thin, and I hated to even tell you.”

  “No. Don’t ever feel that way, Zach. You know I’m always here for you.”

  “Of course I know, but who’s there for you, Holly? It seems all this family ever does is turn to you for help. I’m so sorry.”

  Between the tears suddenly blurring her vision, and her hot, tight throat, she wasn’t able to answer for a few seconds. “Don’t be sorry, hun. I’m good. Honest.” Now, if she could just hit the lottery, she’d be even better. “So, don’t you go worrying about the money. I’ll come up with it somehow. You just fill out whatever paperwork you need to get the ball rolling.”

  “Okay.” Her brother sighed in her ear. “Thanks, Hol. I love you.”

  “Love you, too, Zach.” She disconnected, then dropped her head on her arms folded on the table. Her family may not be rich in cash, but it sure was rich in love, and she’d be damned if she didn’t figure a way to help her brother out. No way was Zach going to miss out on this opportunity.

  Even if she had to sell her camera.

  Her stomach hollowed at the thought, but if it came down to it, she would sell her prized possession.

  “Everything okay?”

  Jace’s deep voice sent a warm quiver to all her good parts, and the warm hand he set on her back kick-started her pulse as he sat next to her at the table.

  “Yeah. Thanks.” She lifted her head, then sucked in a breath at the concern darkening his eyes.

  No man had ever looked at her with real concern, unless they wanted something in return. For the life of her, she couldn’t figure out what he had to gain by showing her compassion in the middle of his office lunchroom.

  “Bad news?” he asked, wiping her wet cheek with his thumb.

  She cleared her throat and shook her head. “No. Not really. My brother was asked to study abroad over the holiday break.”

  A genuine smile crossed his lips. “That’s wonderful. What’s he studying?”

  “Asian Studies. He’s going to Japan to teach English to children. If I can come up with the money.” She blew out a breath, and threw back her shoulders. “Not if. When. I will. I’ve got two whole weeks to think of something. No way is Zach going to miss out on this opportunity.”

  Between medical bills and his business, she knew her uncle was strapped, so asking him wasn’t even a consideration. Holly felt guilty enough accepting a paycheck from him every week, even if she got him to agree to only pay her minimum wage. And if she hadn’t needed it to pay for her apartment back home in order to keep a roof over Zach’s head, then she never would’ve taken a cent. The wonderful man was already letting her live rent free in one of the small cottages he owned by the gulf.

  “If anyone can come up with a solution, you can,” Jace said, admiration and a few unrecognizable emotions skittering through his incredible, clear, blue eyes. “You’re something else, you know that?”

  A warmth she’d never known, or expected, heated her from within, drying her throat, so much so she couldn’t speak. Only shake her head. No one outside of her family had ever said that to her before, and she had no idea what to do with the emotions jumbled inside.

  “Well, you are…” His voice trailed off as his face drew nearer.

  Chapter Six

  Holly’s heart pounded so loud in her ears she thought her head might fall clean off. Which would suck, because then she wouldn’t get the eminent kiss.

  “Holly? Where’d you go?”

  Jace’s lips barely brushed hers when her mother’s call came from the hallway.

  They simultaneously broke apart and stood.

  “I’m back here, Mom.”

  She cleared her throat and wiped the remaining wetness from her face, just as her mother breezed in, appearing a lot closer to her forty-nine years than the sixty she’d seemed that morning. Less stress looked good on her mom.

  “You ready to go?” Holly resisted the urge to fan her face. Lordy, she hoped she didn’t look as flushed as she felt.

  “Oh, you found her, Doctor Turner.” Her mother smiled, handing Holly the purse she’d left in Jace’s office. “Yeah, we’re ready. Your uncle’s in the waiting room.” She frowned. “Who was on the phone?”

  “Zach,” she replied, dropping an arm around her mother’s shoulder as she led the woman from the room, glancing back to smile her good-bye to the quiet doctor. “Wait until I tell you the good news.”

  It was half-past five, and Holly had just finished eating the comfort food supper she’d made of grilled cheese, with a macaroni and cheese chaser, when a knock sounded at her door. Not expecting company, she stacked her dishes in the dishwasher, then answered on the third knock, surprised to find her redheaded friend on the doorstep, face a bit taut with anxiety.

  “Hi, Holly,” Shayla greeted, fretful smile twitching her lips. “Sorry to drop in unannounced, but, do you mind if I come in?”

  “Of course not. Please do.” She stood aside, her mind racing with thoughts as to what could be causing the apprehension tidal-waving off the bride-to-be. “Why don’t we sit down and you can tell me what’s going on?”

  Shayla nodded as she stopped pacing and sat…on the coffee table.

  Holly bit back a grin and motioned toward the couch. “Maybe you’d be more comfortable here.”

  “Oh, for crying out loud, I’m turning into a damn ninny.” Blushing, she joined her on the sofa. “Between this wedding and the baby, I have no brain left. Thank God, my fiancé is a genius, because he makes up what I’m lacking right now. Take this dilemma with the photographer. It was Kevin who suggested you.”

  “Me? For what?”

  “The photographer we hired for our wedding has a family emergency and can’t make it on Saturday. Kevin suggested I ask you, and I think it’s absolutely brilliant.”

  Holly blinked, her pulse picking up speed. “You want me to photograph your wedding?”

  That was huge. Super huge. She could hardly believe her friend would entrust her to capture such a momentous occasion.

  “Yes. Please say you will.” Shayla squeezed her arm. “We’re freaking in love with the ones you emailed to me of the shower last weekend. Why in the world aren’t you doing this for a living?”

  “But this is so important,” she replied, ignoring the last question. Mainly, because her answer sucked. Saying her father wouldn’t support any type of artistic training would no doubt resurrect bad memories for both of them. Better to stick to ignoring.

  Her friend squeezed her arm again. “That’s why I’m asking you.”

  For the second time that day, Holly’s throat burned with unshed tears because a friend believed in her.

/>   “So…what do you say?” Shayla’s anxious blue gaze held tight. “Will you photograph my wedding?”

  She opened her mouth, but nothing came out, so she cleared her throat and tried again. “Of course…?”

  Her friend’s squeal was probably heard in the next county, and Holly thought maybe she’d suffered a ruptured ear drum. But she’d never been so damn happy and wholeheartedly returned the tight squeeze the little redheaded, pregnant, bride-to-be laid on her.

  “Thank you, Holly. Thank you so much. You’re a life saver,” Shayla claimed, then pulled out a check with a whole lot of zeroes at the end. Enough zeroes to take care of Zach’s bill, and then some.

  She drew back and shook her head. “Oh no. That’s way too much. I’ll do it for free.”

  “Hell-to-the-no, woman.” Her friend frowned, setting the check on the coffee table before she stood. “You’re photographing my wedding, therefore, you’ll get paid for photographing my wedding. Kevin wanted me to give you a bonus for saving our ass, but as I suspected, you’re giving me trouble just accepting the going rate.”

  Holy shit.

  That was the going rate to photograph a wedding? Maybe Shayla was right. Maybe she was in the wrong business. And her friend was right about another thing. She was definitely going to give her trouble accepting the check, no matter how badly her brother needed the money.

  She rose to her feet and cupped Shayla’s shoulder. “You’re a friend, and friends don’t charge friends.”

  “You’re wrong, Holly.” The woman touched her arm and hit her with an earnest stare. “They don’t charge them for cooking dinner, or babysitting. This is different. Please say you’ll photograph my wedding, because if you won’t let me pay you, I’ll have to try to find someone who will.”

  Several emotions sweep through her at once, but finally her desire to help her friend overrode everything else. She blew out a breath and nodded. “Okay. I’ll do it. But not for a penny more than is on that check, which I won’t be cashing until you hold the photographs and give me your approval.”

  “Deal.”

  She was pulled in for another tight hug, which, she again, returned wholeheartedly before she scooped out two heaping bowls of Death-by-Chocolate ice cream she had in the freezer to celebrate.