Always (14 page)

      Somehow, she managed to extricate herself from the Jeep and find her own car. A few moments later, she remembered she needed gas. She stopped at the convenience store at the bottom of the hill, bought five dollars' worth of unleaded and a giant chocolate bar.

      By the time she parked her car in front of her house, she'd eaten the entire bar. What they said about chocolate wasn't true, she realized, licking her fingers. It wasn't better than sex, but it was a fair substitute. For now.

      With trembling hands, she unlocked and opened the door, then turned on the light.
Home.

      "No, not home."

      The memory of Gordon's lips on hers sent a shiver of longing down her spine even as it made her lift her chin in defiance. She wasn't staying in Digby, so allowing herself to get involved with Gordon Lane again would be a major mistake. It didn't matter how he made her feel, or what he made her want. It didn't matter that she'd once adored him.

      She couldn't let it matter.

      Drawing a deep breath, she picked up the phone and dialed Jeremy's number in Philadelphia. His mother answered.

      "Taylor," she said excitedly, "how nice to hear from you. Jeremy's been worried."

      "Hello, Mrs. Cole."
Cole, yes. Jeremy Cole
. Taylor dropped into the chair beside the phone, letting her purse hit the floor near her feet. "I've been busy getting settled. Sorry I didn't call sooner."

      "Hold on, I'll get Jeremy."
 

      She heard mumbling, then a strong male voice came across the line. "Taylor, thank God you're all right. I've been beside myself."

      She drew another deep breath. "I'm sorry."
 

      "I'm glad you called. Dad has business in Denver next week, and I'll be flying out with him on the company jet."

      "Oh." She kicked off her shoes, trying to keep the unreasonable reluctance she felt from coming across in her tone. "This time of year is nice in Denver."

      "Send me directions to Dugby and I'll rent a car."

      "Digby, Jeremy."

      "Whatever. Can you fax the directions tomorrow?"

      "Sure." She bit her lower lip. Meeting Jeremy would put a stop to Gordon's interest in her–whatever that might be. "Yes, I'll do that first thing in the morning."

      "I can't wait to see you," Jeremy said, his voice lowering. "I've missed you."

      She blinked, wondering why she couldn't reciprocate his feelings. "It'll be good to see you again." That much was true. She liked Jeremy, even had a warm fondness for him.
 

      "Have you talked to the mayor about buying out your contract?"

      She winced. "No, I told you I don't want to–"

      "Taylor, your talent is being wasted in that backwater town and you know it."

      "But I feel responsible for–"

      "Money talks." Jeremy's tone left no room for argument. "Trust me on this."

      "You're forgetting that I don't
have
money, Jeremy."

      "But I do." She heard him kiss the telephone. "
Ciao
."

      "'Bye."

      She returned the phone to its cradle and flopped against the back of the chair. Yes, Jeremy would put a stop to Gordon's kisses.

      And that was what she wanted. Wasn't it?

Chapter 7

      Nothing was going right. First, that stupid bear stole Gordon's towel again, then his Jeep died on his way down the mountain. Again. To top it all off, he found his waiting room full and Sue in a mood he figured she'd blame on PMS or some other quirk of womanhood.

      "Batting a thousand," he muttered as he checked his appointment book.

      "Goldie's here to have her stitches removed," Sue said, her monthly scowl worse than usual.

      "Bad night?" Gordon raised an eyebrow, realizing his error before the words even left his mouth. "Oops."

      Sue swerved around to face him. "Living dangerously these days, Doctor?" An insidious smile spread itself across her face. "After Goldie, Precious
and
Mrs. Johnson are next on your agenda."
 

      "You're like Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde sometimes. You know that?"

      "Ms. Hyde is armed, dangerous, and low on estrogen. Watch it." She batted her lashes. "Next thing you know, I'll be howling at the, uh, moon."

      "Yes, ma'am." He looked up from Goldie's chart to survey his waiting room. "Are these all mine?"

      "Nope." Sue pulled Taylor's appointment book in front of her. "Only three of them are yours."

      "Is Taylor with a patient?"

      "Not here yet."
 

      Gordon searched Sue's expression. "Did she know she had morning appointments?"

      "Only two of them were in the book." Sue released a ragged sigh. "Most are drop-ins."

      "Hmm. I thought only vets and hairdressers had that problem." Gordon tucked Goldie's chart under his arm and stepped into the waiting room. "Sally and Goldie, are you ready to get rid of some stitches?"

      "Where's the new doctor?" Gladys Jones asked. "I've been waiting forever."

      "I have no idea."

      Mrs. Jones dabbed her nose delicately with a tissue. "I'm allergic to dogs, you know."

      Gordon gritted his teeth as he took Sally's arm. "I'll have Sue give Dr. Bowen a call and see what's keeping her. Meanwhile, there's a bench right outside where you can wait, if you prefer."

      "I'm not about to miss my turn." Mrs. Jones glowered at the other waiting patients. "
I
was here first."

      "I already called her," Sue said as Gordon passed the desk. "No answer. Maybe she had car trouble."

      The chances of them both having car trouble the same morning were slim. Then again, having car trouble was the norm these days. Frowning, Gordon led Sally and Goldie to an exam room. It wasn't like Taylor to be irresponsible. If she knew she had appointments, she would've been here. Only something very serious would prevent that.      

      Could something have happened? Was the old house really safe? Had the furnace been checked for carbon monoxide? Could the old wiring have started a fire? No, he would've heard about a fire.
 

      "I think Goldie is much better now," Sally said as Gordon lifted the dog onto the table. "She'd sure like to get at those stitches, though."

      "They itch as they heal. That's normal." Gordon exposed the neat suture line. "Taylor did a good job."
Where is she
? "Goldie's healing nicely. No sign of infection either."

      "Good." Sally beamed, stroking the dog's golden fur. "I don't know what I'd do without her. There's a waiting list, and besides that, another dog just wouldn't be...Goldie."

      Gordon cleared his throat, grateful the dog's injury hadn't been more serious. "Well, I think she'll be with you a good long while yet. She's healthy and well cared for."

      "Only the best for Goldie."
 

      Gordon removed the stitches, then the cone around Goldie's neck. She immediately started licking the wound. Smiling, he scratched her behind the ears. "Good as new, girl, as soon as the hair grows back."

      "Thank you, Doctor," Sally said with a smile.

      Gordon led Sally and Goldie to the front door of the clinic, and stood staring up at the rapidly darkening sky. Where was Taylor? Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled. "Do you have a ride, Sally?"

      "Tom's waiting in the car. Thank you again, and please thank Dr. Bowen for me, too."

      "I will."
If she ever shows up
. He watched Goldie lead Sally directly to Tom Bradshaw's blue Explorer. "That's one helluva dog you've got there, Sally."

      "I know," she said without turning.
 

      Several patients griped about Taylor's tardiness as he made his way back through the crowded waiting room. He stopped at Sue's desk and picked up Precious's chart. "Call Taylor's house again, please."

      "Will do."
 

      "Okay, Precious and Mrs. Johnson, you're next."
 

      "Oh, Doctor, Precious is depressed," Mrs. Johnson said as she shuffled through the door Gordon held open for her.

      The woman's perfume made his eyes burn, and she wore enough make-up on her wrinkled face to supply all the women in Digby.
 

      "Do they make Prozac for Persians?" she asked without stopping.

      Sue cleared her throat and he rolled his eyes heavenward. Yes, his day was definitely off to a great beginning. Not.

      After pronouncing Precious's diet a success and her depression a temporary stage in her adjustment to a healthier lifestyle, Gordon escorted them back to the waiting room, which was even more crowded than before.
 

      "This is nuts." He looked at Sue. "Did you call her again?"

      "Still no answer."

      "Maybe someone should go check on her." He arched a brow. "Do you mind?"

      Sue chewed her lower lip. "I think I should stay here to keep the peace." The phone rang and she deftly handled another disaster. "You're a real wimp and a pushover," she said as she returned the phone to its cradle. "You have one more patient, then you can run over and check on her."

      Gordon narrowed his gaze, wondering if Sue was trying to play matchmaker again. Yet her suggestion made perfect sense. He had one patient and Taylor had a room full. And Sue was definitely more adept than he at organizing chaos.

      "Okay, fine." He gave the Smith's cocker her shots and a check-up, then sent them on their way. He stopped at Sue's desk. "No Taylor yet?"

      "Nope."

      Gordon stripped off his lab coat. "Go ahead and start rescheduling her patients for this afternoon. I'll be right back."

      He climbed into his Jeep, but it wouldn't start. Lightning split the sky again, so he immediately ruled out walking as an option. He hurried back inside and borrowed Sue's car keys, then peeled out of the parking lot in her old red Chevy. The upholstery was torn and there was no radio. When he'd advised her to buy something with four-wheel drive, she told him having a home for Ryan was more important than a fancy car. Sue earned every dime Gordon paid her, and then some, but it was still hard for her to make ends meet.

      Besides, as Sue had pointed out, he had a lot of nerve advising anyone to buy a better car. Hell, at least her old Chevy ran.

      As he turned the corner onto Aspen Drive, he saw Taylor's Bug at the side of the road. Making a mental note to give Sue a raise, he pulled the parking brake and killed the ignition.
 

      He found Taylor at the rear of the car, where she was bent over staring at something. Of course, VWs had the engine in the rear. He'd forgotten that.

      "I guess we
can
both have car trouble on the same day."

      Taylor looked up and shook her head. "I'm sorry, I know I have patients waiting. I was getting ready to hoof it to the clinic."

      "Let me have a look." Gordon shrugged. "Foreign car."

      Taylor sighed. "So? Lots of people drive foreign cars these days."

      "I know, but I don't understand them as well." They stood shoulder to shoulder, and he grew increasingly aware of her scent, her warmth, her nearness. "Did you check your gas gauge?"

      "I stopped last night after..." Her cheeks flamed as he met her gaze, but she didn't look away. "I got gas on my way home last night."

      The sky opened and icy sheets of rain soaked them within seconds. "Get in and try the engine," he shouted.

      "You'll get wet."

      "Too late." He grinned, shivering against the downpour. "Try the engine."

      Taylor climbed into the car and turned the key. He heard the motor turn over, but that was it. After a few moments, she gave up and climbed out with her medical bag and purse.