Page 76 of A Cowboy's Claim
They went through a round of hugs before Sydney found herself alone in the living room with Declan.
He stood there silently, hands tucked into his back pockets. “I want to be with you tonight,” he told her. “Your house, or my place. Either one. I don’t care.”
She considered. “I’d like that too. I have things I need to get caught up on, and I want to check into some other funding ideas that might be possible.”
He nodded. “Let’s have supper here with the family. I think Jinx and Jeffrey will want to see both of us.”
“And we both made a promise to set up appointments with Kevin.” Sydney hated and loved the idea. “There’s a lot going on right now, but it might still be a good idea to check his schedule.”
The face Declan offered was damn near hysterical. “I kind of hoped you’d forgotten about that part.”
“Hey, if I’m going to suffer through it, you’re going to suffer through it too. That’s what couples do,” she teased.
“Sounds about right.” Declan closed the distance between them, pulling her into his arms and hugging her tight. “I’m glad we’re safe, and I’m glad were home. I know you’re worried about your job, but I still think it’ll be okay. I still think there’s a way for you to have everything you’ve worked for and a chance at happiness. On your own terms.”
Sydney squeezed as hard as she could. “I’m here, and I’m trying,” she repeated.
When Declan let go of her and pranced in a circle around her for a second, she worried that their recent eating habits had caused low blood pressure that had affected his?—
“My God, stop it,” she laughed as realization dawned on what he was doing—turning her into a maypole.
Declan shrugged. “Damn. I forgot that if I’m a Disney princess, I need to put on a crown or whatever those shiny things are. Next time.” He leaned down and kissed her, the gentle touch growing more heated but only for a brief second before he let her go. “Not to freak you out, but I love you.”
She let his words flow over her and carry her out the door and into Petra’s vehicle.
At home, she had a long, hot shower. Then, freshly dressed in clean clothes, Sydney slipped into the doors of the clinic.
Jenny rose to her feet and rushed forward excitedly to offer a hug. “Thank goodness. That was quite the adventure.”
“All’s well that ends well,” Sydney quipped, taking a quick glance around the waiting room. She dipped her head at the two patients waiting, then headed into the staff room.
She caught up on the record logs from the past two days when Edison whirled into the room and threw himself at her. “Oh my God. That is the scariest thing I’ve ever heard of.”
“Getting trapped in the mountains?”
“With no power,” Edison returned. “I don’t do primitive. Camping is out, and I need my creature comforts.”
“It wasn’t that bad,” Sydney assured him. “Declan and I found it relaxing.”
“Really?” Edison blinked. His eyes widened and a grin flashed out. “Tell me more.”
“Save it. Only for a while,” she assured him. “Is Lexie nearly done for the day?”
“Last patient is in right now. Let me go finish cleaning up the exam room and then we’re all yours. You can tell us all about your adventures with your mountain man.”
Only when she had them all gathered—Lexie, Edison, and Jenny—it wasn’t her time in the mountains that she talked about.
Lexie’s part in the story wasn’t Sydney’s to share, so she went straight to the punchline. “My grandfather is partially funding the clinic, and I’m not supposed to get involved with anyone. But Declan and I have grown very close, so I’m thinking about telling my grandfather that he needs to change his requirements because I refuse to follow them any longer.”
Jenny looked confused. “That sounds very possibly illegal.”
“Not illegal, just ignorant,” Edison offered indignantly. “Seriously? That doesn’t sound very grandfatherly.”
Lexie met Sydney’s gaze straight on. “It sounds very Grandpa Nate.” She swallowed hard. “If the funding does get cut, how long can you continue to run the clinic?”
“We can finish out the year,” Sydney told them truthfully. “I’m looking into other options, and it might be that we’re fine.”
“But it might mean being out of a job at the end of the year.” Jenny nodded slowly. Then she shrugged. “I’m low-tech and easily replaceable. I’ll stick around, and if I have to find a new job come January, I will. But I hope you figure things out.” Jenny reached across and gave Sydney’s hand a firm squeeze. “The clinic is important to Heart Falls, and you’re doing good things in the community.”
