Her Healing Cowboy (Harland County Series Book 5)

by Donna Michaels

  Okay, that part sucked, but…he was still her friend, and she supported her friends, and she’d support him, especially with something that was so important to him.

  “So, what do you say, Holly? You going to move to Texas, too?”

  “Thinking about it.” She blew out a breath and smiled. “I doubt I can get out of my lease. Not a whole seven months early. Not without having to pay a healthy penalty.”

  “If anyone can, you can.”

  “It’s worth a try,” her mother said. “And maybe you can do it next month like me.”

  She nodded. “Maybe.”

  The more she thought about it, the more she loved the idea of moving to Harland County. She could always make weekend trips to Colorado to ski. But, she’d grown to love the warmth she’d discovered in south Texas. And it had nothing to do with the climate, and everything to do with the people.

  Especially a certain doctor.

  It was the middle of December, and Jace was on his way to weekend drill. He’d picked Tanner up on his way into town, but only half-heard what his friend was saying, his mind was on the paperwork piled on his desk at work, paperwork piled on his desk at the armory, the upcoming holidays, family, and of course, Holly. He hadn’t talked to her since before she’d left for Denver last month, but she was constantly on his mind.

  Her uncle and Donny had been telling anyone who walked into The Creamery that she and her mother were moving to Harland County sometime this month. The news had helped make the past few weeks not suck so much. Looked like he might get that chance to fix the things his sister had mentioned at Thanksgiving.

  “Holy shit! There’s Holly,” Tanner said, pointing to the woman lugging boxes into the little cottage.

  Maybe even as soon as today.

  Jace immediately slowed down, then pulled up next to her, his heart beats suddenly kicking the shit out of his ribs. “Text Kade. Tell him we’ll be at the armory a few minutes late. We’re going to help her unload.”

  Tanner nodded. “On it.”

  They got out of the truck and headed to her car as she walked out of the house and stopped dead. Then a big smile spread across her sweet lips, and it felt as if the sun had just come out from behind a cloud.

  “Hey.”

  “Is that all you’ve got to say?” His buddy rushed forward to lift her up and spin her in a hug.

  Her laughter filled the air and the sweet sound did something to his insides, but when Tanner placed her down and she transferred her attention to him, his damn boots were rooted to the pavement.

  “It’s good to see you,” she said, her boots apparently not rooted, because she walked up to him, set her hands on his arms, and leaned in to kiss his cheek. “How’ve you been?”

  The contact sent a jolt through his body, and just like that, he regained motor function again. He slid his hands up her arms and stared down into her pretty, flushed face. “Much better now.”

  She smiled and blushed a little more, and the two of them stood there next to her loaded car, hands on each other’s arms, grinning at each other while Tanner snickered and stepped closer.

  “Ah, hate to break up the…whatever it is, but these boxes aren’t going to unload themselves.”

  “Yeah, right.” He released her and spent the next ten minutes carrying her stuff inside.

  “This all you have, Holly?” Tanner glanced around the pile of boxes they’d stacked in the middle of the living room.

  She nodded. “Yep. I’d already unloaded my clothes before you arrived.”

  “No, I mean, no moving van or anything?”

  “Oh, no.” She shook her head. “After my landlord let me get out of my lease early, I spent the last two weeks selling all my furniture and things. It was quite liberating to purge unwanted items from your life, leaving you free to concentrate on what’s important.”

  Her gaze had settled on Jace as she spoke, and he got the impression she was talking about a hell of a lot more than material possessions. Could he be one of the important things she wanted to concentrate on?

  God, he hoped so.

  “We’d better get going. It’s great to have you back, Hol,” Tanner said, kissing her cheek. “You’re just in time for the McCalls’ Christmas party tonight. Everyone’s going to be so happy to see you again. We get out of drill at five. Wanna go to the McCalls’ party?”

  Jace had his mouth open, ready to ask, but his buddy beat him to it.

  Holly hesitated, bouncing her gaze to him.

  “I’m sure if you ask nicely, Jace will be happy to take you,” his buddy told her.

  She elbowed the snickering man, then turned back to face him.

  He smiled and stepped right up to her. “I’d love to take you tonight.”

  Her green gaze heated, and his groin instantly sparked to life.

  “I’d like that, too.”

  That hadn’t been what he’d meant, but now that the thought was there, and her eyes were full of the smoldering taking place in his body, he wasn’t going to be able to shake it. “Then I’ll be back to pick you up at seven.”

  “I’ll be ready,” she replied with a grin.

  An answering grin spread across his face, one he’d continued to wear the whole day and was still wearing as he pulled up in front of her cottage nearly twelve hours later.

  When Holly opened the door on his second knock, his whole body tightened at the sight that greeted him.

  “You look beautiful,” he gushed, his chest tight and full with some unknown emotion as he stared at the beauty in a body-hugging, emerald green dress and high-heeled black boots that zipped up to her knees.

  “Thanks.” The color sweeping into her face only enhanced those gorgeous, fathomless eyes.

  “Damn, Holly, I want to kiss you.”

  She sucked in a breath. “Why don’t you?”

  “Because I won’t stop with just one, and we’d miss the party.”

  “Good.”

  He sucked in a breath this time and closed his eyes a moment, then reopened them. “No, it’s not. That would be selfish. There are a lot of people who are going to want to see you. I’ve waited seven weeks to kiss you again, I can wait a little longer.”

  “Always thinking of others, Doc,” she said, her gaze softening. “We’d better get going, then, because I’m not that thoughtful.”

  He knew that to be a bunch of bullshit, or she wouldn’t have ushered him out the door.

  Thirty-three minutes later, he didn’t think he was going to make it. Just watching Holly laughing and hugging her friends, he was drawn in, mesmerized by her sweet, yet strong caring nature, and the way her expression radiated happiness.

  He wanted to wrap his arms around her and soak it all in.

  “Okay, so, I’ve been looking for someone to hand over my special holiday hat to, and well, I think one of you three would get the most use now that I no longer need it,” Kevin said, walking up to him, Tanner, and Jesse where they stood having a beer with Kade.

  In his hand was a great looking black Stetson, but the mistletoe fringe wasn’t exactly Jace’s style.

  “Thanks, Kevin, but I think I’ll pass,” he said with a grin. He’d seen the cowboy put that thing into action way too many years. It had certainly gotten the attention of plenty of single women, but he wasn’t interested in that.

  He was only interested in one.

  The grinning cowboy laughed. “Okay, Doc. I don’t think you need it, anyway. Not with your gorgeous date batting her pretty green eyes at you.”

  Kevin pointed to Holly who was talking with his wife and a few other women in the corner. Her gaze lifted to him, and her smile widened.

  His heart literally rocked into place.

  “I’m going to pass, too, Kev.” Tanner shrugged. “Not exactly my style.”

  “Mine either, but thanks,” Jesse said.

  Kade smirked. “Too bad Brandi’s youngest brother wasn’t here. I’m sure he’d be happy to carry on your tradition.”

  Ke
vin laughed. “Yeah. You’re right. Maybe I’ll ship it up to Keiffer. He’s got what it takes to keep the tradition going.”

  “Speaking of traditions,” Kade said, his gray gaze zeroing in on him. “I think you’d better hurry, Jace, or you’re going to miss your window of opportunity.” He motioned with his head in Holly’s direction. “She’s directly under the mistletoe Mrs. McCall has hanging near the window seat.”

  His pulse instantly kicked up as he spotted the decoration above her pretty head. “Excuse me,” he said to his friends, never breaking eye contact with Holly as he strode straight to her. Being that they were in a room full of people, he was fairly certain he could contain the kiss to just one.

  Maybe.

  “Hi, Jace,” Kerri said, followed by the other women, who spread apart, giving him straight access to his target.

  Holly.

  “Hello, ladies,” he replied, still holding the excited green gaze. “Excuse me a moment. There’s a bit of mistletoe tradition I need to take care of.” Then he pulled Holly in close, his body thrilling at the feel of hers lined up and pressing against him, her warm hands gliding up his chest, over his shoulders to slide into his hair.

  He curved one hand over her hip and cupped her head with the other before slowly lowering his mouth, hesitating a few breaths, amping up the anticipation until he could feel she’d stopped breathing.

  Good, so had he.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Then he kissed her.

  Holly’s mouth parted, and then she was kissing him back.

  Damn, he missed the feel of her, and her hot, sweet, hungry taste. He had to hold back a groan, vaguely remembering they were not alone. But, since they had an audience, he kept the kiss fun and flirty, brushing his tongue to hers before he pulled back.

  “I...um…hello,” she said, blinking up at him.

  “Hello.” His voice was a little rough. Probably because all the blood had drained out of his head. He noted the women smiling at them, and he felt compelled to say something. “If you’ll excuse us, we’re going to hit the dance floor.”

  He led Holly around a few guest to an opening where he pulled her in tight, amazed at how she fit like a perfect puzzle when she snuggled close and sighed. He felt himself relax for the first time in days…weeks.

  Her fingers brushed the back of his neck, making him want to purr. She nudged closer, pressing against the zipper of his jeans that was growing tighter by the second.

  “Mmm…you feel good,” she murmured, then rocked again.

  He stifled a groan and tightened his grip on her, thinking about letting his hands wonder over her back to cup her ass and haul her up tight. But since they weren’t alone, he continued to behave.

  “I’m beginning to think we should’ve stayed at my place,” she said against his neck. “Do you think we’ve been at the party long enough?”

  He drew back to stare into her face, his mind wanting to make sure he’d heard and understood what she was saying. Yep. He’d gotten the message correct. She wanted to be alone with him. Now.

  That worked for Jace. “Yes, we’ve shown our faces. Let’s leave. There are things I want to do to you that I can’t do here.”

  Her smile grew wicked, and she leaned into him, the heat in her eyes turning him inside out and sideways. “I was just thinking the same. You see, I need a doctor. I’m experiencing some strange urges and cravings.”

  “Oh? Maybe you should describe your symptoms to me…slowly and in great detail.”

  And, son-of-a-bitch, she lifted up on her tiptoes, leaned in, her lips brushing his earlobe as she told him where she ached, how she ached, and asked if he’d use his healing hands on her to get rid of those aches.

  He stilled, tightening his grip on her as he sucked in a breath. “Yeah, I can fix that,” he croaked, his throat tight…like his jeans.

  Jace took her hand and tugged her off the floor. He had several weeks of pent up, sexual energy rushing through his body, ruling his actions.

  Holly laughed as her booted heels clip-clopped at a fast rate as she tried to keep up with him. “On a mission, are you, Doc?”

  He glanced over his shoulder at her, letting his gaze tell her what she wanted to know. She blinked, and her amusement turned to anticipation darkening her gaze.

  Shit. She had him so hard he throbbed. He shot his gaze around the immediately area as he looked for somewhere more secluded, because there was no way in hell he’d make it to her cottage right now.

  They’d just stepped passed the buffet when his phone began to ring. He stiffened and stopped dead. She halted at his side and tugged free.

  Ah, hell.

  “You’d better get it.”

  He didn’t want to. For the first time in his life, he didn’t want to be a doctor. He just wanted a small break. An hour. He’d take a half-hour, even. But, that wasn’t part of the Hippocratic Oath he’d taken. So, he reluctantly released her to answer his phone.

  Five minutes later, after Kevin and Shayla assured they’d take Holly home, he was on his way to the hospital to meet up with the ambulance bringing in one of his patients. He was going to have to diagnose Holly’s symptoms another time.

  Three days since the Christmas party, and Holly had yet to play doctor with Jace. As usual, his life was hectic. So far, they’d managed one shared smoothie at The Creamery on Sunday when he’d stopped in after drill on his way to the hospital to check on his patient admitted to ICU after suffering a massive heart attack Saturday, and a quick lunch at his office yesterday—minus the mind blowing orgasm. Poor guy kept apologizing, but she really did understand. He had a good heart. His patients were his friends. And she would not want to see him change any of it.

  She was willing to work her life around his, something she never, ever considered doing before. But Jace was special, and she was happy to share whatever time she could with him. He’d called her before and told her that maybe they’d be able to fit some time in tomorrow night, so when she opened the door to his knock two hours later, she didn’t mask her surprise.

  “Jace! Come on in. I think you’re a day early…” Her voice trailed off as her mind registered the bleak, hollow look in his eyes while she shut the door behind him. “What is it?” she reached up to touch his face.

  He blinked, and stared down at her as if he wasn’t sure how he’d gotten there. “We lost Mr. Samuels today. He had another heart attack…”

  What she heard in his tone was that he lost Mr. Samuels. The doctor obviously felt responsible for the death. She was smart enough to recognize words wouldn’t help, so she stepped close, wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his chest.

  After a brief moment, his strong arms clamped around her, and he held her tight. Real tight. His heart rocked a little underneath her ear, then leveled off to a strong, steady beat. She wasn’t sure how long they stood there, perfectly content to let him hold on as long as he needed.

  When he finally loosed his hold and stepped back, he was still pale and his gaze was full of shadows. “I’m sorry. I should go,” he said turning for her door.

  “Oh no. You don’t need to be alone tonight, Jace. Stay here.”

  He shook his head. “Thanks, but I’m not that good of company right now.”

  And before she could stop him, he left.

  Unsure what to do, she paced, hoping the movement would clear her mind. She didn’t think he went home, since his truck had taken off in the opposite direction.

  Damn.

  She wasn’t good at this. Her heart ached for the guy. She wanted to make it all better, but had no damn idea how.

  She was still fighting an inner battle an hour later when there was another knock on the door. It was Jace. And Kade.

  More specific, Kade helping a slightly inebriated Jace into her cottage.

  “Bastard. I told you to take me home,” the doctor grumbled, aggravation mixing with the sadness in his blue eyes.

  “No can do, buddy. There’s no one else at your
house, and I didn’t figure you wanted me to drop you on your mother’s porch.”

  “Hell no.”

  “Then have a seat, man,” Kade said, giving the doctor a small push that sent his friend onto the couch. “Today is not a day to be alone.”

  “That’s what I told him before he left an hour ago.”

  Jace muttered a curse. “I don’t need you to worry about my sorry ass.”

  “Too late.”

  A slight smile tugged at Kade’s mouth as he motioned for her to meet him at the door. “Kerri called me, said he was in the booth in the back of the kitchen at her restaurant, nursing a bottle of scotch. So, I came down and had a beer with him, then persuaded him to leave the Pub and the bottle. I don’t want him to be alone, and since he doesn’t invite women to his house, I took a gamble that you wouldn’t mind if I brought him here. But if you’d prefer, I can take him back to my ranch.”

  She immediately shook her head. “No. Thanks for bringing him back. I was going crazy trying to figure out where he’d gone after telling me about Mr. Samuels.”

  The cowboy nodded, a few shadows crossing into his gray eyes. “He takes it personal. When we lost Sergeant Nylon during deployment last year, I had to pull him away. He’d been working on the kid for over two hours…after Bobby had flat-lined. There hadn’t been much to work on to begin with.” He shook his head as if trying to dispel the horrific images in his mind. “In case you hadn’t noticed, Jace has a hard time giving up on people.”

  Wasn’t that the truth?

  And her heart squeezed so tight with all his friend had just revealed about him, she hurt every time she tried to draw in air.

  “I won’t let him leave again tonight,” she vowed.

  He nodded. “Don’t hesitate to call if he gives you trouble.” Then the caring man dropped Jace’s keys into her hand and left.

  She glanced at the couch. Jace was leaning back, eyes closed, a disgusted expression pinching his face. Quickly stashing the keys in a cupboard, she kept him in her line of sight, her chest still tight.