Page 4 of Rancher's Healing

“Anyway, that night we just kissed. A lot. We didn’t actually go all the way until I was eighteen. He had girlfriends, and I had boyfriends, but when he came home that summer, well, things happened.” I looked out the window at the barn and closed myeyes. It was no use thinking of what happened in the loft because it couldn’t happen again.

“Wait, you were a virgin until you were eighteen. Your excuse was you were too busy with your horses to worry about it.” Fallon said as she moved baby Lottie to the blanket she’d put on the floor. Josie squirmed in my lap, and I let her down to go play with her sister.

“That was an excuse. I just wanted it to be Jake.” Biting the inside of my lip, I smiled slightly, thinking that no matter what happened in life I’d never regret that first time with him.

CHAPTER THREE

JAKE

Ismiled as I saw her big black truck parked in the second spot behind the building Monday morning. She was leaning up against the hood in a knee length black skirt, a white blouse and heels. How was I supposed to concentrate on patients when she was out at the desk?

“Good morning, Doctor Gordon, I picked this up for you.” She handed me a coffee from Steam’n Sugar.

“Thank you.” I was surprised and appreciative at the same time. Taking a sip, I looked at her. “You remembered.”

“Jake, black coffee isn’t difficult to remember.” Tayla rolled her eyes and laughed. Her laugh was like music to my ears and I liked hear it much better than seeing her tears like the other day.

Silence filled the office and the butterflies in my stomach, and sweaty palms were a surprise. “So we open at nine and close at three-forty five so I can get home before the bus gets there.” She followed me into my office.

“Libby is eight, and Skyla is six.” I handed her the picture I had on my desk.

“How have they gotten so big?” She asked as she focused on the photo in her hands. “God, they look like you.” She smiled as she looked up at me.

“Poor girls.” I mumbled as I put my bag down on my desk.

“Or lucky, depending on whose opinion you’re looking for.” She set the frame back down and followed me out to the waiting room.

“Mom’s going to come in later and help you get set up with the computer, but I’m sure you’ll have it figured out by then. Elle needed the day off to help Parker with something or she would have been here to get you settled in.” We walked behind the desk and I went through all the files and pulled up the appointment list for the day.

* * *

We’d worked well together, but I hadn’t been surprised about that. We’d always made a good team in anything we’d done.

“Well, there you are.” A woman’s voice said from the waiting room, so I went to see who was here.

“Mom, what are you doing here?” Tayla asked, and I say the mother Julie Miller standing at the desk. “This is my work mom, you can’t just show up.”

“You’ve been home three days and not a word to me.”

“Mother, you were gone visiting Auntie Beth.” She huffed. This surprised me Julie wasn’t normally like this.

“A call would have been nice.” She turned to look at me as I made my way out of where I’d been eavesdropping. “Doc. How are you?” She asked, smiling.

“I’m good Julie. Did you have an appointment?” I didn’t want to kick the woman out, but I also needed to get things cleaned up so I could get home before the girls got there.

“Nope, just came to see my girl.” Julie smiled and nodded before she walked out the door.

Tayla was ashen, and she looked at me with her big brown eyes. “I’m so sorry Jake, I mean Doctor Gordon.”

“It’s fine Tayla, I’m sure she’s not going to be the only one.” I laughed and her shoulders relaxed.

Leaning over the desk, we worked on who needed bookings for the next few days. Being this close to the woman I thought I’d spent my life with was testing my professional resolve.

When she turned and smiled at me, I was gone. Leaning in, I gently pressed my lips to her soft, silky, cherry flavoured mouth.

Fireworks whizzed by my head, and she entwined her fingers in my hair as she sighed. Pulling away, I had a brief moment of panic before I inwardly jumped for joy that I’d kissed Tayla Miller once more.

“This can’t happen here.” I whispered.

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