Page 38 of Run, Run Rudolph
“I was annoying. Admit it.”
“When?” He pulled an apple from his shirt pocket along with a small, folding utility knife from his jeans. He began slicing the fruit, feeding Rudolph. The reindeer’s eyes were big and round, his fuzzy nose wiggling as he sniffed each offered slice before wolfing it down.
“I was always asking you all those questions about horses and stuff. I was so…” I reined in my flash of embarrassed anger. “You were very kind and patient with me.” One of those sweet men that had all the patience in the world for a slightly infatuated, awed young woman. Sweet and gentle, and always respectful. Never making me feel as though I was the pest that I now understood that I’d been.
“Is that why you stopped asking for help? You thought you were a pest?”
“I was. Kade told me.”
“He was wrong.”
“He said I was annoying you and that you were too polite to tell me.”
“I didn’t mind. Not at all.”
His warm knuckles grazed mine, and it felt intentional.
“Your hands are cold.” He gathered my hands, lifting them so he could cup them in his. “We should have switched vehicles. You’re frozen.”
“Rudolph probably wouldn’t have liked it.” My jaw chattered, as though suddenly aware of how cold I was. “And are you sure I wasn’t a bother? I asked a lot of questions.” I stared at Haden, looking for a sign that he was cushioning me from the painful truth. “Kade said…”
“I know my own mind.” His eyes met mine over our bundled hands. He blew hot air into the cup of our hands, warming me.
I wanted to focus on what he was doing, what his gesture meant, but all I could think about was why Kade would have told me that if it hadn’t been true? One of these brothers was lying. And I didn’t think it was Haden, which meant I now had to reconcile my feelings about him. It was a good thing he was the kind of guy who led women on or I’d be feeling some warm and fuzzies over him right now. Especially with my hands wrapped in his, as if I was delicate and his to care for.
There was scuffling outside the back door and reindeer voices carried to us. It sounded as though Dasher was eager to get going, but Comet, who I’d begun to think of as the herd dad, was telling him to cool his jets.
“They don’t seem to do subtle very well,” Haden said wryly, his lips curving up in a smile.
“Well, they are all drunk.”
He snorted a laugh, delighted. “Really? I’m glad that booze scent isn’t coming off of you.” He mocked someone drinking from a bottle and then driving crazily.
“Haden! I’d never!”
He laughed, leaning away as I gave his arm another affectionate squeeze, grateful I could share this crazy evening with him.
“I’m glad you’re not freaking out,” I said. “And I really appreciate you x-raying Rudolph.”
“Oh, don’t worry,” he said easily, “this will all go on your bill.”
I must have blanched, because he added, “I’m was kidding. You’re family. No charge for this one.” He gently tapped my arm in what I could only interpret as a buddy-buddy or sibling sort of way. Was it so wrong that I didn’t want to be seen as family? That I longed for something different?
And how wrong was that? A man like Haden would never put his brother in an awkward position by dating his ex.
I cleared my throat, trying to act jovial and not gutted by the fact that he seemed to see me as a sister. “Can I extend the family discount to all of my vet bills?”
He smiled, not answering, then reached out to give Rudolph a scratch behind the ears, the apple gone, his pocket knife blade wiped clean on his jeans and tucked back away. “You’re in luck, buddy. No broken bones. How are you feeling?”
“Sore,” grumbled Rudolph.
Haden jolted, clearly still taken off guard by the fact that his patient not only understood him, but also talked.
“This is going to take some getting used to,” Haden said softly. He addressed Rudolph. “I could give you something for the pain. Any known allergies?”
“No.”
Haden’s cheeks had gone pink, but he nodded.
