I put her down but hold her close. “Laura, honey, you worry too much. Grace is fine. I’m fine. Kurt is fine. Everything is fine.” I kiss her lips. “The world is not going to fall apart if we go upstairs for a while.”
“I know that, Grayson. But we can’t do that with people in the house.”
My grin spreads to her face as I lean in and rest my forehead on hers. “Alright, you win. But you’re all mine tonight. No arguments.”
“Deal.” She says, and then she kisses me sweetly. “Love you, baby.”
“I love you, too.” I pat her bottom. “Now, get in there and help out, geez…I mean, you leave the poor girl in there all alone? What kind of a deadbeat boss are you, anyway?” I smile, teasing. I give her a wink.
She smacks me playfully, and I pat her bottom again, as she walks away.
I walk over to Kurt and he lifts his head from scrubbing under the horse. “I thought I was going to have to get the hose.” He says without looking at me.
“The horse that dirty?” I ask, not catching on.
“No, for you two.” He says, grunting as he bends over.
I chuckle but decline any comment.
Suddenly, I see Lisa’s car pull up. “Uh oh. Here comes trouble.”
Kurt looks up. “She’s a weird one.”
“Only around you, man.” I point out. “The first time I met her, I thought she was going to straddle me right in the living room. She’s all over Clint, too. When you come around, she runs and hides. It’s too weird.” I say.
Kurt’s face scrunches. “She doesn’t act like that at all around me.”
“She doesn’t act like that with anyone now that you’ve come around.” I scoff. “Either she’s taken on a new leaf, doesn’t like you, or she really likes you.”
“I’ll bank on one or two. I don’t get any vibe from her that she likes me. In fact, she’s pretty quiet, so I’ll say that she doesn’t like me. Fine by me. A woman is the last thing I need in my life.”
Leaning on the post by Weasel’s pen, I say. “If you ask me, I’d say that having a woman is highly underrated.”
He gives me a look. “You would.”
I chuckle. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“With a woman like Laura, I can see how you’d feel that way.”
“Thanks, man. That’s why I love her.”
“And you better be sure and don’t make her wait too long before…you…you know…dum, dum, duh dum…”
“Wha…you think I should marry her, do you?” I rest one ankle over the other in contemplation.
“Wha…yeah. A woman like that doesn’t wait forever for guys like us.”
I look him up and down. “Since when are you such an expert?”
“I told you that Mama and Hawk were driving me nuts. Watching goddamn Doctor Phil and Oprah and girly shows like that. Messed with my head.” He scrubs the horse with more vigor, seemingly getting his frustrations out.
I laugh out loud. “Hawk? Hawk watches Oprah?”
He lifts his head. “All those dang talk shows. They record them on the goddamn PVR and watch them when all the horses are settled for the night. Drives me out of my goddamn mind.” He chuckles. “I was so bloody happy that there ain’t no television in this house. If I have to watch another minute of that crap…I’ll lose my mind.”
I pat him on the back. “Oh, man…then you’ll be damn relieved that Lisa doesn’t talk much around you. She’s worse than Hawk and Mama put together.”
His face straightens. “You let me know when she leaves.”
I blurt out another laugh, shaking my head as I walk away.
God, have I missed having Kurt around…
Chapter 21
Laura
Lisa walks in the door as I’m helping Grace with dinner. She’s peeling carrots and then I chop them and toss them into a pot. “Laura?” Lisa calls from the mouth of the kitchen.
“Oh, hi, Lisa.” I say, turning around. “Staying for supper?”
“No…err…can I talk to you in private?”
I look at Grace. “I’ll be right back.”
“Take your time. I’m almost finished.” Grace says as I remove my apron and hang it over a kitchen chair.
Following Lisa into the study, I close the door behind us. “What’s up?”
“Well, nothing’s up, I just didn’t want to talk in front of Grace.”
“Why not?”
She gives me a knowing look. “You know that I don’t like her very much.”
I smirk.
“What’s that look for?”
“You know that you never had a problem with Grace until Kurt arrived.” I lift a brow, testing her.
“Don’t go there.” She warns, lifting a finger.
“Why not?” I taunt.
I hear a knock at the door. “Laura?” It’s Grayson.
“Come on in, honey. It’s just Lisa and I in here.”
He opens the door and cranes his neck. “What are you two doing hiding out in here?” he walks over to me and kisses me on the mouth…twice. My belly starts to tingle.
“Just talking. What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” His eyes slide over to Lisa. “What are you two plotting in here?”
Lisa is nonplussed. “We’re not plotting anything in here, Grayson. Just enjoying a little privacy is all.”
“Really.” Grayson isn’t convinced.
“The boys okay outside? Did Kurt have any trouble with Weasel?” I ask Grayson.
“No, he’s fine. Just finishing up. Weasel seems to like him.” he looks at Lisa.
Her brows knit together. “What?”
“Just wondering if it’s catching.” His lips are a thin smile, like he’s trying to hide something.
“Wondering if what’s catching?” Lisa’s voice has raised an octave. She knows exactly what Grayson is talking about.
“Quit teasing her.” I say. He gives me a wink and leans over to kiss me again.
“Oh, would you two get a room!” Lisa barks, irritated.
Grayson’s smile is so cute as he pulls away from my lips. His face is still close enough that I can feel the heat from his skin on mine. “I’m going to go and give—”
Grayson is cut off as Kurt walks in the door. “Err...excuse me.” he says, looking at Lisa, but I know that he’s either addressing me or Grayson. She looks at him, but her eyes divert away quickly.
“What’s up, bro?” Grayson says.
“Sorry to interrupt.” Kurt says, still looking at Lisa, even though her eyes are glued to me.
“It’s okay, Kurt. What can I do for you?” Grayson says.
“I think Lloyd’s…sick.” Kurt gestures with his thumb towards the back. “He’s puking his guts up like nobody’s business out there.”
“Where is he? I’ll go take a look.” Grayson says, trotting out the door, we all walk quickly, in his wake.
Sure enough, Lloyd is bent over, throwing up in the grass by the pasture. As we approach, the wave seems to pass. He looks over as Grayson comes up behind him. “You alright, there, buddy?” Grayson asks, touching his forehead with the back of his hand.
“Hurts like hell. Burns.” Lloyd says, holding his stomach, still crouched over.
“You want some ginger ale?” I offer.
He shakes his head no.
Grayson glances at the pile of vomit on the grass. “You eat something red, partner?”
“Not that I remember. Laura, you remember us eating anything red?” Lloyd asks me.
Thinking for a moment, I try to remember. “I don’t think so.” I say with uncertainty.
Grayson makes a ‘hm’ noise. “Might be a little blood. You feel well enough to come down to the clinic? I’ll take you myself.”
“If I can bring a plastic bag. I sure don’t want to puke in your pretty truck.” Lloyd scoffs.
“Don’t worry, my friend.” Grayson pats his shoulder, an
d then addresses me. “Darlin’, you mind running in to get a grocery bag? I’ll take him over now.”
“Sure.”
As I walk by, I notice that Lisa and Kurt are standing right next to each other. They are only a hand width apart. It’s the first time since they met that they’ve stood that close to each other.
When I return with a bag and a glass of water for Lloyd, Grayson kisses me again before leaving. I walk away quickly, not wanting to break the spell between Lisa and Kurt. But just as I think that, they separate, wordlessly. Lisa is following me as if totally embarrassed. Her face is red and she’s scurrying on her feet to stay as close to me as possible. “What in the hell is wrong with you, girl?” I say through gritted teeth, trying to keep my voice down, so Kurt can’t hear.
“Nothing is wrong.”
“Then why are you walking away from that man like he’s got serious body odor?”
We get into the study and close the door. Lisa sits down and puts her hands on her face. “I don’t…know.”
Concern suddenly registers on my face. “Does he give you a bad vibe or something? Really, I’ve never seen you like this around anyone before.”
Removing her hands from her face, she sighs. “No, he doesn’t give me a bad vibe at all. And that’s the problem.”
“Why is that a problem?”
“Because, Laura, all my life, for as long as I can remember, men have been like a moth to a flame for me. I want to see them, touch them, talk to them, straddle some of them, you get the picture.”
“Uh huh. I get it. Not in the lewd way that you do, but I understand.” I giggle.
“And he…he just…” she’s staring at a spot on the wall, searching for the right words. “He’s so…sweet. And when he’s around, I don’t know what to say. I can’t crawl all over him like I’ve done with every other man I’ve met. Something in me is like…not repelling me from him, but…”
“Just the opposite?” I venture.
“Maybe.” She shrugs, her eyes still look lost. “But I’m too afraid to find out.”
“Do you want me to set the two of you up?”
Her eyes widen. “God, no! Oh, Lord, I’d rather die!”
“Well, how else are you going to know?”
“I don’t know.” She says with a heavy sigh. “But I have to figure out how to talk to him first.”
Kurt walks in the front door.
“You can start now.”
***
I’m helping Wendy clean up the dishes from dinner, making sure to save a plate for Grayson and Lloyd, when I hear them come in the front door. Lloyd has more color in his face. “How are you feeling?” I ask him.
“Better. Grayson here says I’ve got a bleeding ulcer. Got some medication and I’ll be fit as a fiddle in a day or two.”
Relief washes over me. “Oh, thank God.”
“He’ll be fine. Just need to adjust his diet some.” Grayson says. “And a few other things that we talked about. Nothing serious.”
“Are you hungry?” I address them both.
Grayson comes over and kisses me. “Depends what’s on the menu.” He winks.
“Pork chops with brown rice, carrots, cauliflower and green beans.”
“I’ll take some of that.” Grayson says.
“I’ll have a little, too.” Lloyd says.
“Better to stick with just the rice and vegetables for tonight, my friend.” Grayson counters.
“I was afraid y’all were gonna say that.” Lloyd says, the disappointment evident in his voice.
I kiss Grayson’s head when I bring him his plate. “Thanks, darlin’.” He gives my rear end a rub. “Kurt back in his quarters?”
“I think so. The boys mentioned something about playing cards. I think that’s what they’re doing tonight.”
A few hours later, I’m laying in the tub, feeling myself drifting off, when I hear Grayson come upstairs. He knocks softly on the door. “Come in.”
He enters and closes the door behind him. “You look cozy in there.” His smile is warm.
“I could sleep in here I’m so comfy.”
“You look tired, darlin’. You feeling okay?”
“Just exhausted. This is helping.”
He sits on the edge of the lion’s foot tub, crossing one ankle over the other. His arms are resting on his chest. My whole body is immersed in suds, and my hair is still braided, but the braid is wound in a circle on top of my head. “Why don’t you hire someone to look after your books part-time? A student or something like that. You’re so busy here at the ranch all the time, I worry you’re overworked.”
“Trust is a fragile thing, Grayson. Plus, then what would I do all day? I’ve got enough help with the horses and the grounds, plus Wendy and Grace. If I don’t do the books, how am I going to keep myself busy?”
“You’re always doing something around here, sweetheart. Seriously. You work fourteen-hour days six days a week. It would do you some good to step back a bit.”
“I just love living with a doctor now.” I tease, lifting my toe out of the tub, getting his arm wet.”
“Baby, I’m serious.” He says, with a gentle edge in his voice. “You could spend more time with the horses. Think about it.”
“And what will I do when you’re working crazy shifts at the hospital and at the clinic? If I haven’t got my work to do, I’ll just be sitting here, pining for you.”
With that comment, he lifts off the tub, takes off his clothes, watching me with his sexy, sultry, smouldering look, until he’s completely naked. God, is he a sight to see in the buff. “You want to drain some of that water out so we don’t have a flood?” he murmurs.
“Are you going to join me?” my voice is silky.
“I had intended on doing that.”
Without taking my eyes off him, I pull the plug with my toe, and watch the water level lower slightly. When it’s at a more desirable level, Grayson slips in behind me, wrapping his arms around my wet, soapy body. “Mmmm…bath time is much more fun with company.” I purr.
His lips find my earlobe, and he gives it a gentle suck, and then he trails kisses down my neck. “Well, that’s interesting.” He whispers in my ear.
“I can tell.” I chuckle, feeling his growing interest behind me.
“Ever made love in a bathtub?” Grayson asks.
“Can’t say that I have.”
“Me neither.” He murmurs, as his hands explore my warm, slippery body. My back arches from his touch as he guides my knees upward, and helps us form our intimate bond. The water sloshes in a gentle rhythm, in sync with our lovemaking, as Grayson takes me to the depths of our desire and love for each other in a relaxed yet satisfying new way. When we both find our release, I turn my head as he angles his head downwards, and we kiss tenderly, a dozen times. “That was really interesting.” He says, still winded slightly.
“Is that the word of the day?” I tease, chuckling.
“Could be.” He says, holding me close. “I love you, darlin’.”
“I love you, too.” I lean up and kiss his lips once more. “I need to get out of this tub. I’m already a prune.”
“Best tasting prune.” He says, getting up out of the tub, and picking his clothes up off the floor. We finish getting ready for bed, and we both slide under the covers together. His arms pull me close as our naked bodies connect. “What do you think about offering riding lessons?”
“Here at the ranch, you mean?”
“Yeah. Ever thought about it?”
“We used to up until about a year ago. But then interest waned when all the kids grew up. After that we only focused on breeding and competitions.”
“You should try it again. And offer adult classes as well.” Grayson suggests. “You’d be surprised how many patients I’ve talked to that don’t know how to ride a horse, or their kids, for that matter.”
I turn to face him. “Ever thought about opening up your own pr
actice? Maybe have an office here at the ranch?”
His face brightens. “Well, no, I hadn’t thought of that.” He snuggles in closer. “You’d let me do that?”
“Why not? After Edgar’s accident, and Lloyd’s trouble today, it wouldn’t hurt to have a doctor on site. Plus, this place is big enough. We could build you an office beside the barn or on the other side of the staff quarters. It wouldn’t take long.”
He pauses, looking at me. His eyes search mine. The lamp on the nightstand is the only thing illuminating our faces. “You ever think about getting married again? You know…some day?”
I crane my neck back slightly, but try to buffer my reaction. “Until I met you, the thought never entered my mind.”
“And now?”
“Well, we haven’t known each other for long, but, yeah, I could see myself getting married again. What about you?”
“Life is full of possibilities, darlin’.” He swallows, sliding his thumb up and down my back, in a soothing, loving motion. “But sometimes, when I look at you, that’s all I can think about.”
I gasp with emotion. Tears prick the backs of my eyes. “God, Grayson. That’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
“I say what I mean, and I mean what I say, Laura.” He says softly. “And I love you. God…damn, do I love you.”
Tears are flowing out of my eyes. He lifts his hand, wiping my tears with his thumb. “That’s all I ever want to see coming out of those eyes…happy tears.”
I can’t think of anything more to say. I can never top his words, and I just want to take him in, all of him. My lips kiss every inch of his face, playfully, as he chuckles, he tickles me, and we’re both laughing, giggling, playing in bed, until he pins me down and starts kissing in the places where he was tickling before. Succumbing to his touch, we make love again, and then we fall asleep in each other’s arms until the early morning.
Chapter 22
Clint
Grayson is doing his rounds at the hospital this morning, so I’m pleasantly surprised when my sister Laura pays me an impromptu visit. As I sit at my desk, completing charts from the morning’s patients, one of the receptionists sends me an instant message, telling me that Laura is here to see me. I message back to send her in.
No More Tears Page 18
