Page 54 of White Collar Rancher

Isaiah’s happy babbles died down as he chewed on a fist. His eyes were full of alarm and he was on the verge of tears.

Justin let out a slow breath. It was probably the same expression he wore. He trudged over to Isaiah and sank into the recliner next to the swing. “It’s all right, kiddo. We’ll be all right.”

There was no conviction in his voice. As he stared out the picture window, Priya drove away, and he didn’t move. This was the chair he sat in when they spent their evenings together. He’d had more fun here than in any bar.

The dishes were waiting in the kitchen. He would do them and recall their happy conversation over breakfast and her giggles of anticipation as she prepared to jump him with her questions about their future.

The stupid gift. He’d never opened it.

With a heavy sigh, he heaved out of his chair. Isaiah batted at his toys on his swing’s mobile. Justin would clean up the kitchen and spend the afternoon playing with the boy until nap time.

The gift sat on the table, mocking him.

Glowering down at it, a million questions ran through his head. Why had she gotten him something? Why couldn’t she be satisfied with the way things were? Why did she have to tell him that she’d liked him since they’d been kids? Why did she suddenly have to become all stubborn and walk out on him?

He flipped the top off the rectangular box. Air escaped his lungs like a horse had kicked him in the gut. “Fuck me.”

A black pouch that would fit on his belt rested inside. He knew exactly what was inside. Touching the pouch like it was a thousand degrees, he dumped out the Leatherman tool.

It was engraved with his initials and a note in her scrawling, barely legible doctor’s handwriting that said, Don’t worry if you lose it, I’ll have another made.

She’d remembered he’d lost his other one and guessed he’d probably lose this one, too. But it was more important he get use out of it than…some expensive watch he didn’t need.

He slumped into his chair in the kitchen and buried his head in his hands. The reality that he’d destroyed a future relationship with Priya was sinking in. Worse, the friendship he’d been so worried about tarnishing had been annihilated.

Chapter 16

Claudia, the clinic administrator, clasped her hands on her desk. “I can’t apologize enough, Dr. Patel. Dr. Bezos’s behavior toward you was inexcusable and, well, we know how it turned out for the former COO.”

Right. There were two new openings in the clinic. “I wish I hadn’t waited so long to lodge a complaint.”

Her boss’s forehead creased. “That’s never something I want to hear. Rest assured, we’re combing through the process and removing any trouble. Prescription abuse alone is a serious issue, and the rest could cost us valuable employees and, even worse, patient trust.”

“Thank you. So much.”

Claudia moved like she was going to get up, but hesitated. “I hope you realize that you were hired based on your resume and letters of recommendation. That fact that Dr. Patel is your dad was more of an obstacle for you, for the very reason you’re in my office.”

Nepotism. “I understand. But it’s good to hear.” It was fabulous to hear. She hadn’t been hired because of her dad. Fuck Bezos and his rumors.

Two weeks had passed since she’d walked out of Justin’s. Her career was secure. She’d never been more open with her parents. She should be floating out of the office, but her feet were as heavy as lead. Or those thick steel-toed boots Justin wore when he moved snow. They’d made her wedge boots look so small and delicate.

Like, a rancher’s wife?

Why not? So she didn’t travel to exciting places like Devya for work or help birth lambs in the middle of a pasture like Justin. Yes, her work environment was more controlled, but she still occasionally found herself on a stool with both hands inside of a woman, pulling a tiny human out. Okay, so the stool part didn’t happen often, but even some C-sections required more leverage, different positions, and were messy in their own right. Very messy. And smelly. She couldn’t hold up her hands and declare that she wasn’t cut out for the job.

He didn’t want a relationship, not even one with her. Maybe she could’ve done things differently to change his mind, but…he could’ve, too. She missed Isaiah. She’d shed tears over both of them.

After leaving Claudia’s office, she stepped outside and burrowed her chin into her collar. The March wind had a hint of warmth to come, but it was still cold this time of year. No trees had begun budding, and everything was still brown.

Cold and dead.

Sort of how she felt inside.

She glanced at the time. She had the afternoon off since she’d been on call earlier in the week. What to do?

Her phone was in her hand before she gave it much thought. The number was dialed. Her non-relationship with Justin had been terminated, but there was another she’d neglected for too long.

This time when Devya answered, there was no music banging on the other end. “Bonjour?”

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