A Cold Creek Noel (The Cowboys of Cold Creek) (7 page)

What would she want to run from? he wondered. He had a feeling
there was far more beneath the surface of Caidy Bowman than a beautiful cowgirl
who loved animals and her family.

“So you just packed everybody up and headed to the mountains of
Idaho?”

“Something like that.”

She sipped at her hot cocoa and they lapsed into silence broken
only by the dog’s breathing, comfortable and easy now, he was gratified to see.
She had a little dab of chocolate on her upper lip and he wondered what she
would do if he reached across the table and licked it off.

“Is it rude and intrusive for me to ask about your wife?”

That was one way to squelch his inappropriate desire. He
shifted in a chair that suddenly felt as hard and unforgiving as a cold block of
cement.

“She...died in a car accident after slipping into a
diabetes-related coma while she was behind the wheel.”

He didn’t add the rest, about the unborn child he hadn’t wanted
who had died along with her, about how angry he had been with her for the weeks
leading up to her death, furious that she would put him in such an untenable
position after they had both decided to stop once Jack was born, when doctors
warned of the grave risks of a third pregnancy.

He hated himself for the way he had reacted. The temper he had
inherited from his grandfather, the one he worked constantly to overcome, had
slipped its leash and he had been hateful and mean and had even taken to
sleeping in the guest room after she told him she was pregnant, just days after
they had decided he would have a vasectomy.

Caidy gave him a sympathetic look, which he definitely did not
deserve. “Diabetes. How tragic. She must have been young.”

“Thirty.”

Her mouth twisted. “I’m sorry. Really sorry.”

Yes. Tragic. Something that never should have happened. He
blamed himself—and so did Brooke’s parents, which was the reason they were
trying to poison Ava and Jack against him.

“You must miss her terribly. I can understand why you wanted to
make a new start away from the memories.”

He did miss her. He had adored her when they first married,
until the rather willful, spoiled part of her he had overlooked as part of her
charm when they were dating began to show itself in difficult ways.

Brooke had selfishly believed she was stronger than her
diabetes. She didn’t deserve to have it, thus she shouldn’t have to worry about
taking care of herself. She was cavalier to the point of recklessness about
checking her levels and taking her insulin.

She had been a loving mother, he would never say otherwise,
even if he sometimes wondered how a loving mother could risk her own health when
she already had so much simply because she wanted more.

“What about you?” he asked to change the subject. “Ever been
married?”

She was in midsip with her hot cocoa and coughed a little. “Me?
No. I date here and there but...nothing serious. The dating pool around Pine
Gulch is a little shallow. I’ve known most of the unmarried men around here my
whole life.”

You haven’t known me.

The dangerous thought whispered through his mind and seemed to
move right in. No. He definitely didn’t want to go there. She was a beautiful
woman and he was very attracted to her—he only needed to remember that dream if
he needed proof—but he would never do anything about that attraction but sneak
those tantalizing glimpses at her and wonder.

He had his children to consider and a new practice he was
trying to build. He could see no room for a complicated woman like Caidy Bowman
in that picture anywhere.

Why did she hide herself away here in a small town like Pine
Gulch? Why hadn’t she become a veterinarian? He had the same strange thought of
earlier in the day when he had seen her standing on the River Bow porch with her
brother and her niece. She was lonely. He had no idea why he thought so, but he
was suddenly certain of it.

“So why not dip your feet in other waters? It’s a big world.
You could always try internet dating.”

“Wow. You’re a veterinarian
and
a
relationship coach. Who would have guessed? It seems an odd combination, but,
okay.”

He laughed gruffly, only because that was absolutely
not
his usual modus operandi. Usually he was
completely oblivious to the interpersonal dramas and entanglements of other
people, except when it came to their relationships with their pets.

“That’s me. I’ll fix up your dog and your broken heart, all for
one low fee. And I offer monthly installment plans.”

She smiled, the right side of her mouth just a bit higher than
the left to create a sweetly pleasing imbalance. The quiet, companionable
silence wrapped around them like the trailing tendrils of a woolen scarf.

He wanted to kiss her.

The hunger for a taste—just one little sampling—of chocolate
and raspberry and soft, warm woman was intense and bewitching. He needed to get
out of there. Now, before he did something completely insane like try to turn
his midnight fantasies into reality and received a well-earned slap for it.

The dog snuffled softly and that was the excuse he needed to
leave her side and return to the cozy little warren she had created for
Luke.

Unfortunately, she followed right behind as he crouched down to
check the dog’s breathing with his stethoscope.

“How does he sound?”

“Good. Breathing is normal now. I think we solved the
problem.”

“Thank you again, for everything. I’m not sure Doc Harris could
have done the job as well.”

Her words seeped inside him. He was inordinately pleased by the
compliment. “You’re very welcome.”

“I hope I don’t need to call you in the middle of the night
again.”

“Please don’t hesitate. I’m just down the lane now.”

She smiled. “Ridge said it would be like having our own
veterinarian-in-residence. Just to put your mind at ease, I promise not to take
advantage.”

Please. Take advantage all you
want.
He cleared his throat. “For what it’s worth, I think the guys
around here are crazy. Even if you did grow up with them.”

He wasn’t quite sure why he said the words. He was no more a
player than he was a relationship coach, for heaven’s sake. She flashed him a
startled look, her eyes wide and her mouth slightly parted.

He might have left things at that, safe and uncomplicated,
except her eyes suddenly shifted to his mouth and he didn’t miss the flare of
heat in her gaze.

He swore under his breath, already regretting what he seemed to
have no power to resist, and then he reached for her.

Chapter Six

A
s his mouth settled over hers, warm and
firm and tasting of cocoa, Caidy couldn’t quite believe this was happening.

She was being kissed by the sexy new veterinarian just a day
after thinking him rude and abrasive. For a long moment, she was shocked into
immobility, then heat began to seep through her frozen stupor. Oh. Oh, yes!

How long had it been since she had enjoyed a kiss and wanted
more? She was astounded to realize she couldn’t remember. As his lips played
over hers, she shifted her neck slightly for a better angle.

She splayed her fingers against his chest—that strong, muscled
chest she had seen firsthand just that morning—and his heat soaked into her
skin, even through the cotton of his shirt.

Her insides seemed to give a collective shiver. Mmm. This was
exactly what two people ought to be doing at 3:00 a.m. on a snowy December
day.

He made a low sound in his throat that danced down her spine
and she felt the hard strength of his arms slide around her, pulling her closer.
In this moment, nothing else seemed to matter but Ben Caldwell and the wondrous
sensations fluttering through her.

This was crazy. Some tiny voice of self-preservation seemed to
whisper through her. What was she doing? She had no business kissing someone she
barely knew and wasn’t even sure if she liked yet. If she kept this up, he was
going to think she kissed every guy who happened to smile at her.

Though it took every last ounce of strength, she managed to
slide away from all that delicious heat and moved a few inches away from him,
trying desperately to catch her breath.

The distance she created between them seemed to drag Ben back
to his senses. He stared at her, his eyes as dazed as she felt. “That was wrong.
I don’t know what I was thinking. Your dog is a patient and...I shouldn’t
have....”

She might have been offended by the dismay in his voice if not
for the arousal in his eyes and the way he couldn’t seem to catch his breath.
Because she was having the same sort of reaction—dismay mixed with lingering
arousal and a sudden deep yearning—she couldn’t very well complain.

His hair was a little rumpled and he had the evening shadow of
a beard and all she could think was
yum.

She cleared her throat, compelled to say something in the
strained moment. “Relax, Dr. Caldwell. You didn’t do anything wrong, as far as I
can see. I didn’t exactly push you out the door, did I?”

He ran a hand through his hair. “No. No, I guess you
didn’t.”

“It’s late and we’re both tired and not quite thinking
straight. I’m sure that’s all this was.”

A muscle flexed in his jaw. He looked as if he would like to
argue with her, but after a moment he only nodded. “I’m sure you’re right.”

“No harm done. We’ll both just forget the past five minutes
ever happened and go back to our regularly scheduled lives.”

“Great idea.”

His ready agreement sent a hard kernel of regret to lodge
somewhere in her sternum. For a moment, she had felt almost normal, just like
any other woman. Someone who could flirt and smile and attract the interest of a
sexy male.

He wanted to forget it ever happened, whereas she was quite
certain she would never be able to erase these few moments from her memory.

“I should, uh, go.”

“Yes.”
Or you could stay and kiss me for a
few more hours.

“Call me if anything changes with the dog.”

She drew in a breath. “I hope we’re past the worst of it. But I
will.”

That last was a lie. She had absolutely no intention of calling
him again in the middle of the night. She would drive Luke to the vet in Idaho
Falls before she would drag Ben Caldwell out here again anytime soon.

“Good night.”

She nodded, not trusting herself to reply, just wishing he
would go already. He gave her a long, searching look before he shrugged back
into his ranch coat and left through the side door.

A blast of cold air curled into the room from that brief moment
he had opened the door. Chilled by more than just the winter night, she shivered
as it sidled under her T-shirt.

What in heaven’s name just happened here?

She wrapped her arms around herself. She had
known
he would be trouble. Somehow she had known. She
never should have suggested he move into the foreman’s house. If she had only
used her brain, she might have predicted she would do something stupid around
him, like develop a very awkward and embarrassing crush.

She spent most of her days here on the ranch, surrounded by her
brothers and his few ranchhands, most of whom were either fresh-faced kids just
out of high school or grizzled veterans who either were already married or held
absolutely no appeal to her.

The ranch was safe. It had always been her haven from the
hardness of the world. Now she had messed that up by inviting a tempting man to
set up temporary residence smack in the middle of her comfort zone.

The man certainly knew how to kiss. She couldn’t deny that. She
pressed a hand to her stomach, which still seemed to be jumping with nerves. The
last time she had been kissed so thoroughly and deliciously had been...well,
never.

She sighed. It wouldn’t happen again. Neither of them wanted
this. She had only to remember the stunned dismay in Ben’s eyes in that moment
when he had come to his senses. He was likely still grieving for his wife, taken
from him far too soon. And she...well, she had told herself she wasn’t
interested in a relationship, that she was content here helping Ridge with
Destry and training her dogs and the occasional horse.

For the first time in a long time, she was beginning to wonder
what else might be out in the big, scary world, waiting for her.

* * *

“I think he’s feeling better, don’t you?”

Caidy glanced up from the dough she was kneading to see her
niece sitting cross-legged beside Luke’s blanket. The dog’s head was in her lap
and he was gazing up at the girl with adoration.

“Yes. I think so. He seems much happier than he was even a few
hours ago.”

“I’m glad. I really thought he was a goner when I saw old
Festus go after him.”

Guilt socked her in the gut again. If she had kept a closer eye
on Luke, he wouldn’t be lying there with those bandages and she wouldn’t be so
beholden to Ben Caldwell.

“I hope that’s a good reminder to you about how dangerous the
bulls can be. That could just as easily have been you. I don’t ever want you to
take a chance with Festus or any of the bulls. They’re usually placid guys most
of the time, even Festus, but you never know.”

“I know. I know. You and Dad have told me that like a thousand
times. I’m not a little kid anymore, Aunt Caidy. I’m smart enough to know to
keep my distance.”

“Good. The ranch can be a dangerous place. You can’t ever let
your guard down. Even one of the cows could trample you if you lost your
footing.”

“It’s a miracle I ever survived to be eleven years old, isn’t
it?”

Caidy made a face. “Smarty. You can’t blame your dad and me for
worrying about you. We just want you to be safe.”

And happy, she added silently. She wanted to think her presence
here at the ranch had contributed in that department. If Ridge had been left on
his own after Melinda left, forced to employ a string of nannies and
babysitters, she wasn’t sure Destry would have come through childhood with the
same cheerful personality.

“What’s going to happen to Luke? You can’t train him to be a
real cow dog now, can you?”

Even without his injuries, she suspected Luke would always be
nervous around the cattle. How could she blame him, especially when she could
relate, in a sense? Not to fearing cattle. She had no problem with the big
animals. Her fears were a little closer to home. This time of year, her
heartbeat always kicked up a bit when the doorbell rang, even when they were
expecting company.

The memory of that fateful night was as much a part of her as
the sprinkle of freckles on her nose and the tiny scar she had at the outside
edge of her left eyebrow from an unfortunate encounter with the business end of
a pitchfork when she was eight.

“I’m not really sure yet about Luke,” she finally answered
Destry as she formed a small ball of dough and set it into the prepared pan.
“I’m guessing from this point on, he’ll just be a pet.”

“Here at the River Bow?”

“Sure. Why not?” They had plenty of dogs and didn’t really need
another one that was just a pet. Sadie, too old to work, sort of filled that
role, but she supposed they would make room for one more.

“Good,” Destry said, cuddling the dog close. “It’s not his
fault he got hurt. Not really. He was only being curious. It doesn’t seem fair
to get rid of him for an accident.”

Destry was a sweet girl, compassionate and loving. Maybe too
compassionate sometimes. Caidy smiled, remembering the previous Christmas when
she had claimed she didn’t want any presents that year. Instead she only wanted
cash.

They all learned later she and some of her schoolmates were
being scammed out of money and belongings...by none other than Gabi, the
youngest sister of Trace’s new wife.

She hadn’t been part of their family then, of course. She had
only been a troubled, lost young girl abandoned by her heartless witch of a
mother and trying to find her way.

Trace had given both Becca and Gabi the loving family they all
deserved—and Gabi and Destry had moved on and become best friends. That wasn’t
always a good thing. Trouble seemed to find the two of them like a pack of
bloodhounds on the scent.

With the dog sleeping soundly now, Destry carefully set his
head back down on the blankets, then rose and wandered over to the work island.
“Need help rolling out the dough?”

“Sure. I’m doing cloverleaf rolls for dinner this afternoon.
You remember, you roll three small balls and stick them together. Wash your
hands first.”

Destry complied quickly and the two of them worked together in
mostly silence for a few moments. Caidy savored these small moments with her
niece, who was growing up far too quickly.

She loved making dinner for her family on Sundays, when
everyone gathered together to laugh and talk and catch up. Having all these new
children—Alex, Maya, Gabi—only made family time together more fun.

She would never be a gourmet chef, but she enjoyed creating
meals her family enjoyed. Warm rolls slathered in her homemade jam were her
specialty. She still used the recipe her mother had taught her in this very
kitchen when she was about Destry’s age.

Her life was pretty darn good, she thought as she worked the
elastic dough in a kitchen that was warm and comfortable and already smelled
delicious from the roast beef that was cooking. She had family and friends, a
couple of jobs she enjoyed, a home she loved, a dog who was on the mend.

She didn’t need Ben Caldwell blowing into her world, bringing
that sweet, rare smile and those stunning kisses, making her feel as if
something vital was missing.

“Can I turn on the radio?” Destry asked after a few more
minutes.

“Sure. Something we can dance to,” she said, pushing away
thoughts of Ben with a smile. A moment later, the kitchen filled with
music—upbeat Christmas songs. Not really what she had in mind, but what could
she do?

Destry was singing “Winter Wonderland” at the top of her lungs
and jigging from side to side when the door opened and Ridge came in, stomping
snow off his boots.

“It’s coming down pretty hard out there. You might be in for a
chilly sleigh ride, kiddo.”

Destry grinned. “Snow is perfect. What could be more fun? Aunt
Caidy already said she would make some of her good hot cocoa and we’re going to
mix up dough for oatmeal raisin cookies so we can put them in the oven right
before we go. That way they’ll still be hot on the wagon.”

“Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out.”

“It’s going to be
great!
Thanks so
much for agreeing to take us. You’re awesome, Dad.”

“You’re welcome, kid.”

He smiled at his daughter for a moment then turned to Caidy.
She noticed with no small degree of apprehension the deceptively casual
expression on her brother’s rugged features. “Hey, how would you feel if we
added a few more at dinner?”

It wasn’t a completely unusual request. Ridge had a habit of
inviting in strays. She took care of the four-legged kind, and he often focused
on the human variety.

“Shouldn’t be a problem. It’s a big roast and I can always
throw in a few more potatoes and add more carrots. Who did you invite?”

He shrugged. “Just the new vet and his kids.”

Just
the new vet? The man she
happened to have tangled lips with in this very kitchen twelve hours earlier?
The very man she was trying to shove out of her brain. She opened her mouth to
answer but nothing came out except an embarrassing sort of squeak.

“He was out shoveling when I cleared the drive with the tractor
and we started chatting. I mentioned dinner and then the sleigh ride after and
asked if they would like to join us.”

She suddenly wanted to take the ball of dough in her hand and
fling it at her brother. How could he do this to her? She had warned him not to
get any ideas in his head about matchmaking, yet here he was doing exactly
that.

She supposed she shouldn’t be so surprised. All three of her
brothers seemed to think their mission in life was to set her up with some big,
gorgeous cowboy. Ben wasn’t exactly a cowboy, but he had the big and gorgeous
parts down.

How was she supposed to sit across the dinner table from the
man when all she could remember was the silky slide of his tongue against hers,
the hardness of those muscles against her, his sexy, ragged breathing as he
tasted her mouth?