Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
I frowned. “Not a people doctor? What are—” It hit me. “Oh my God. You’re a vet. You’re here for the animals.” I shook my head. “That idiot Luke made you come and see me, didn’t he?”
“He was insistent. I’ve had experience with humans.”
I began to laugh, the absurdity of the whole situation hitting me. Luke freaked out over me cutting myself then he made the vet stitch me up. That overprotective, overblown idiot of a cowboy whom I could see pacing outside. Upset, irritated, and irrational.
Over a cut.
“Does he always overreact like this?” I wondered aloud.
The vet stood, cleaning up his impromptu medical area. “He’s usually cooler than an iceberg. I get the feeling you mean a lot.”
I shrugged, refusing to acknowledge the ripple of pleasure his words gave me. Meaning a lot to Luke would be amazing.
I scoffed. “He’s probably worried I’ll sue him for getting injured on the ranch.”
He laughed. “Okay, then. The stitches need to come out in a week. Keep it clean and bandaged. If it starts to look red or swollen, there’s a clinic in town.”
“Vet or people?” I asked with a grin.
“People. You can certainly drop by my clinic if you’d like. I’m always happy to see a pretty lady.”
“Won’t be necessary,” Luke snapped, walking in. “I’ll take it from here, Brian.”
Brian looked at me with a wink. “Iceberg,” he said, walking past Luke, clapping him on the shoulder. “She’s fine, big guy.”
He shut the door behind him, and I turned, busying myself making coffee. It was a little difficult, given my hand was bandaged and slightly numb, but I refused to stop. I felt Luke’s gaze burning into my back, watching me, and I ignored him.
I moved to the cupboard to grab some mugs, but he came behind me, leaning his arms on the counter, blocking me in.
“Excuse me,” I said, hating my voice sounded squeaky.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
I set down the mugs and turned, meeting his intense blue gaze. “You made a vet look at my hand.”
“He was here.”
“A vet,” I repeated.
“He’s stitched me up a couple of times. I trust him. You were bleeding.”
“Do you do this if Jeff cuts himself?”
“No.”
“What about Rachel?”
“No.”
“Then why?” I waved my hand. “It’s a small cut. Clean. I could have driven into town and had it looked at. You had to drag a vet in here to look at it?”
“Yes.”
“Why?” I asked.
He snaked his arm around my waist and dragged me to his chest. He dropped his head, capturing my mouth, kissing me. It was long, intense, and fraught with emotion. Then he broke it off, hugging me tight.
He pulled back, looking down at me.
“I don’t know,” he confessed, then turned and walked away.
“Your time as a ranch hand is done, Lady. Stick to your plans,” he called over his shoulder. “At least I know you’re safe while I’m gone.”
And he walked out.
I blinked, unsure what had just happened.
Rachel and Tyler came for dinner. It was nice to sit at the table and listen to them all talk. They had their own language, a way of seeing things. Simple and direct. There was a job to do? You did it. A building needing repair? You grabbed your tools. A sick animal? You settled in for the night and helped it. They gave everything they had to the job. Because the job was also their home.
“After you get back, my dad and crew will arrive, and the bunkhouses will be done fast. I’ll have everything complete, and we’ll go through the options. I’ll start putting the show together, and you’ll have final approval of all of it,” I said to Luke and Rachel.
Luke nodded. He’d been quieter than normal, and I hoped he wasn’t still upset about my hand. I barely felt it, and I had been through many other injuries while filming these shows.
“You have enough things filmed?” Rachel asked.
I smiled. “I’ve filmed constantly. You just don’t see it. I’ll keep filming until it’s done.”
“That’s your plan while I’m gone?”
“Mostly.”
He frowned but didn’t say anything else.
Later, he found me in my room, curled up in the chair, looking out the window. He sat on the bed, his hands clasped between his legs as he studied me.
“You planning on staying in here tonight, Lady? You’re pissed at me about earlier?”
“I thought you were angry with me, but no. I was going to come to you,” I confessed.
“I filled the tub,” he offered. “I thought a soak might ease any aches.”
I stood, dropping the blanket I had been snuggled under.
“Well then, Cowboy. Take me away.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
LUKE
The light behind her showed me her curves under the thin cotton of her nightgown. How something so simple and innocent-looking could be so sexy, I had no idea. But the lace on her shoulders and the way the fabric hung were erotic. I could see her nipples, the curve of her hips, the space between her legs. I held out my hand, and she took it, letting me pull her close. I rested my head on her stomach, groaning as she sifted her hands through my hair, lightly stroking the nape of my neck. I frowned at the feel of the bandage on her skin, and I looked up, meeting her dark gaze.