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Authors: Lilly Christine
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gets cold. It’s the most dangerous spot in town.”
“So, how are you feeling? Are you all right?” she asked,
concern in her voice. She gave him a smile, open and
inviting, a little bit curious.
Staying casual, he picked up a six month old copy of Field and Stream. “I’m fine. I’m just here for x-rays. I have
this thing with a disc, my back gets stiff. Too much rodeoing in my younger days.” He shifted in his chair. His brain
may have decided to avoid entanglements, but his body
wasn’t cooperating in the least. “How’s Alice?”
“She’s great. I started at the clinic yesterday. I was there
this morning, too. I really like it. Doc’s so great. He gave
me the rest of the day off, but I’ll probably go back later,
learn more about how the office works. ”Her face glowed
with enthusiasm.
He could not banish the memory of kissing her, and the
curl of desire intensified. I am such a fool.
“I got the notice about a presentation on freeze
branding at the Rancher’s Alliance meeting on Monday.
Looks like you’ll be giving it. Good for you, jumping right
in.”
“Oh, right,” Tess blushed. “With Ron. It’s just a power
point the Ag Department puts out. Doc asked me to do it.
Honestly, I’m a little nervous about it. I don’t know where
the Grange is, and I haven’t done all that much freeze
branding.”
“Just outside town. Doc will show you. Don’t worry,
you’ll be fine. It’s not a tough crowd.”
“We missed you Saturday night at Green Forks.”
“Yeah, busy weekend,” he said nonchalantly, trying to
focus on the elk hunting article. Just as he’d adjusted to the
sensations in his torso, a wave of longing crossed his chest.
What is it about her, anyway? He’d been out of
circulation for so long, not meeting anyone new. Tess was
pretty, but he’d always dated pretty women. He shifted in
his chair, relieved when the nurse finally called her name,
and she went in the back.
She came out a few minutes later, signing something at
the desk. “What’s happening with that Tacoma Lotts found
for you?” he asked, across the room.
“How do you know about my Tacoma?” She moved
towards him, pink chapped lips smiling, brow furrowed.
“It’s a small town, Crash. I was at the bar Sunday night,
and Lotts filled me in. I know the guy who’s selling it,
Aaron. His brother left town for a sales job in Atlanta. He
left the truck for Aaron to deal with.”
“Well, you know lots more than I do. I haven’t seen it
yet. I’ll have Dave check it out before I buy it like you
suggested, though.”
“Good girl.”
“You saved my butt last week, Jake, and you and Cassie
got me pizza. I owe you lunch.” Her big blue eyes danced
invitingly.
“You don’t owe me lunch, Tess. I smashed into you,
remember? You still have my number?”
“In my cell,” she waved the phone.
“Call if you need anything,” he said, eyeing her over
the top of the magazine.
Pulling a down vest off the coat tree, she eyed him
quizzically. “Okay.”
She waved as she stepped through the door. Relieved,
he settled back in the chair, trying to convince himself he
was right to have turned her down for lunch. There’s no
way I will have it this bad for her for the next time I see her.
*****
Tess walked home from the doctor’s office trying to
brush off hurt feelings. The weather matched her mood;
damp, grey and chilly. Why wouldn’t he get lunch with me?
Morning frost had turned to midday haze, and the
temperature hovered at the freezing mark. The sidewalks
were slippery, and the cold air made her head pound. Ugh,
have I made a fool of myself already?
As she walked towards Mamma Boccini’s, homey
smells of yeast and tomato paste, warm and familiar,
grabbed her from the street. She ordered a slice and a soda,
and took them to a small table. There, gooey flavors of
mozzarella, salty, tangy prosciutto, basil and spinach
boosted her spirits.
At home, Rhiannon was waiting. Tess took her for a
long
“So, how are you feeling? Are you all right?” she asked,
concern in her voice. She gave him a smile, open and
inviting, a little bit curious.
Staying casual, he picked up a six month old copy of Field and Stream. “I’m fine. I’m just here for x-rays. I have
this thing with a disc, my back gets stiff. Too much rodeoing in my younger days.” He shifted in his chair. His brain
may have decided to avoid entanglements, but his body
wasn’t cooperating in the least. “How’s Alice?”
“She’s great. I started at the clinic yesterday. I was there
this morning, too. I really like it. Doc’s so great. He gave
me the rest of the day off, but I’ll probably go back later,
learn more about how the office works. ”Her face glowed
with enthusiasm.
He could not banish the memory of kissing her, and the
curl of desire intensified. I am such a fool.
“I got the notice about a presentation on freeze
branding at the Rancher’s Alliance meeting on Monday.
Looks like you’ll be giving it. Good for you, jumping right
in.”
“Oh, right,” Tess blushed. “With Ron. It’s just a power
point the Ag Department puts out. Doc asked me to do it.
Honestly, I’m a little nervous about it. I don’t know where
the Grange is, and I haven’t done all that much freeze
branding.”
“Just outside town. Doc will show you. Don’t worry,
you’ll be fine. It’s not a tough crowd.”
“We missed you Saturday night at Green Forks.”
“Yeah, busy weekend,” he said nonchalantly, trying to
focus on the elk hunting article. Just as he’d adjusted to the
sensations in his torso, a wave of longing crossed his chest.
What is it about her, anyway? He’d been out of
circulation for so long, not meeting anyone new. Tess was
pretty, but he’d always dated pretty women. He shifted in
his chair, relieved when the nurse finally called her name,
and she went in the back.
She came out a few minutes later, signing something at
the desk. “What’s happening with that Tacoma Lotts found
for you?” he asked, across the room.
“How do you know about my Tacoma?” She moved
towards him, pink chapped lips smiling, brow furrowed.
“It’s a small town, Crash. I was at the bar Sunday night,
and Lotts filled me in. I know the guy who’s selling it,
Aaron. His brother left town for a sales job in Atlanta. He
left the truck for Aaron to deal with.”
“Well, you know lots more than I do. I haven’t seen it
yet. I’ll have Dave check it out before I buy it like you
suggested, though.”
“Good girl.”
“You saved my butt last week, Jake, and you and Cassie
got me pizza. I owe you lunch.” Her big blue eyes danced
invitingly.
“You don’t owe me lunch, Tess. I smashed into you,
remember? You still have my number?”
“In my cell,” she waved the phone.
“Call if you need anything,” he said, eyeing her over
the top of the magazine.
Pulling a down vest off the coat tree, she eyed him
quizzically. “Okay.”
She waved as she stepped through the door. Relieved,
he settled back in the chair, trying to convince himself he
was right to have turned her down for lunch. There’s no
way I will have it this bad for her for the next time I see her.
*****
Tess walked home from the doctor’s office trying to
brush off hurt feelings. The weather matched her mood;
damp, grey and chilly. Why wouldn’t he get lunch with me?
Morning frost had turned to midday haze, and the
temperature hovered at the freezing mark. The sidewalks
were slippery, and the cold air made her head pound. Ugh,
have I made a fool of myself already?
As she walked towards Mamma Boccini’s, homey
smells of yeast and tomato paste, warm and familiar,
grabbed her from the street. She ordered a slice and a soda,
and took them to a small table. There, gooey flavors of
mozzarella, salty, tangy prosciutto, basil and spinach
boosted her spirits.
At home, Rhiannon was waiting. Tess took her for a
long
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