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  “Mine,” he growled before he began eating her pussy.

  Chapter Three

  Toby snagged Mellie around the wrist as she attempted to sneak out of bed.

  “Now, where are you going? It’s three in the morning, and we’ve been asleep for, maybe, thirty minutes.”

  She clicked on a light, and he squinted against the brilliance. “I didn’t mean to wake you, sorry. I have to run to the clinic.”

  He propped himself on one arm. “Is there an emergency?”

  Her soft smile touched him. “I have a patient I need to check on. Make sure he’s recovering fine and change out his IV bag.”

  “Why isn’t one of the techs doing it?”

  “Why would I interrupt their nights? I’m capable of doing it.”

  “And me?”

  She climbed into a pair of Daisy Dukes then reached for a green tank top. “Thought you’d seen I was capable of doing you, too. Go back to sleep. I’ll be back within the hour, unless something has happened.”

  He arched an eyebrow. “You’re not telling me to leave?”

  “You said,” she replied, rooting in her closet, “you weren’t leaving. There you are.” She tossed out a pair of shoes. One landed on the bed beside him, the other on the floor.

  He lifted the canvas shoe. Purple. She tried to take it from him, but he tugged it and, subsequently, her forward. Their lips met, and he slid his tongue into her mouth. Her hand gripped him through the sheets, and he hardened at her touch.

  “I’ll be back,” she muttered against his lips. She hopped on one foot then the other as she shoed her feet. There was no glance back; she just left.

  He stayed there a few moments then left the bed. Pants on but unbuttoned, he went to her kitchen. Dodging boxes, he found and started some coffee. This situation is becoming extremely complicated. My feelings for this woman are derailing my plans, and I’m not sure how I feel about that.

  He’d taken care of some emails on his phone by the time she returned. He observed her over the divider. Her slightly wavy hair brushed forward over her left shoulder. She yawned.

  It’s pathetic when something such as yawning turns me on.

  “How’s the patient?”

  Her smile was fleeting. “Good.” She toed off her slip-ons and waved as she headed back down the hall. “Night.”

  He stared briefly at his empty cup to the pot, which held enough for another cup, and rose. Flicking the switch, he turned off the machine, followed by the lights as he made his way back to her room.

  Entering, he paused and took in the sight of her wearing nothing as she bent over and pulled back the coverlet on the bed.

  “You’re hell on my libido, Mellie.”

  “You say that likes it is a bad thing.” She patted the mattress beside her.

  He pushed free of his pants and joined her. “Not bad. No, never that.”

  She clicked off the light, and he drew her into his arms. Contentment settled over him, and he scowled. This was supposed to be about sex. That was it. Right?

  “I have to be up in three hours,” she said, resting her cheek on his shoulder as she draped one arm over him and wedged her thigh between his.

  His fingers lingered on her ass, and he closed his eyes. “Okay, I have to get some work done today, anyway. I can just start when you leave.”

  She stiffened. “You’re not staying here all day.”

  “You left me here while you went to the clinic.”

  “Way different. I don’t need the entire population of Cottonwood Falls to know you’re here. The few which are up at this time to perhaps see your car is way different than you being here once the day truly begins.”

  He couldn’t explain why it bothered him, her wanting no one, or as few as possible, to know he was in her bed.

  “Fine, I’ll leave when you do.”

  “I know.” Her body relaxed, sinking into his. He buried his nose in her hair and closed his eyes. Stubborn. Headstrong. And a few other adjectives he could use to describe the woman in his arms.

  That afternoon, as he ate lunch in Topper’s Diner, a shadow fell over him. He looked up and swallowed his burger bite. Bobby stood there, hat in hand.

  “Hey,” Bobby said. “Do you mind?” He gestured to the seat across from him.

  “Not at all.”

  He slid into the booth and asked for a Coke when Sherry came to take his order. Toby waited for him to say something, but he just sat there, toying with the napkin holder.

  “Spit it out, Bobby. What’s bothering you?”

  “I ran into Tim.”

  “Tim who?”

  “Tim Retals. He was a year ahead of us in school. Anyway, he’s one of the other deputies.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “And?”

  “Tim was on patrol last night, and he said he saw your car outside Dr. Glazer’s rental.”

  “Get to the point, Bobby.” He took another bite of his burger.

  “Here you go, hon,” Sherry said, placing down the drink and walking away.

  “Are you serious? Sleeping with Melinda Glazer?”

  “One, I fail to see how my sleeping habits are anyone’s business, and if they were—which again, they’re not—what’s wrong with Mellie?”

  “Wrong with? Nothing, man. But, crap on a cracker, Toby, her father is sick with cancer. Are you taking advantage of her weakened emotional state?”

  Toby flicked his tongue to catch the ketchup in the corner of his mouth. “Are you telling me to stay away from Mellie because you think she’s in a delicate emotional place?”

  Bobby didn’t even crack a smile. In fact, his expression was identical to the one time in school when they came to fisticuffs. Heated anger and a tenuous grip on his control.

  “Shit,” Toby said. “You are.” He shifted in the booth seat. “I thought the two of us were friends. Remember The A-Team?”

  “You’re different, now, Toby. All flash and money. The fast life is where you are. That’s not what we do or who we are around here. We’re not ignorant hicks just because we choose to keep a piece of the past surrounding us and not totally conform to the mainstream way of life and welcome all the hate and crime you live with in your world. When I first heard you were coming back, I thought it would be for something good. I’ll admit, I had a moment when I thought your money would help us out. Now, I know better. It won’t, and we don’t want it. Not how you’re trying to do it. So, yes, in this instance, I’m doing exactly that.”

  Toby sat forward, resting his elbows on the table. Instantly, three elderly women sent him a disapproving look. He focused on the man across from him. “In no world does Mellie need your help in protection. That woman is fire and ice. She doesn’t crack. Secondly, life is a business. Either I do this or someone else will. It’s called progress—you get onboard or get out of its way.” Why is it churning my gut to think of him protecting her? And, why am I focusing on that bit?

  Bobby held his gaze for a while. “You really mean that, don’t you?”

  “It’s the way the world works, Bobby. You can’t have your head in the sand.”

  His laughter was anything but jovial. “Right, because we’re not in your league here; we must be back in the Stone Age. I remember you used to consider yourself the Hannibal of our group.” He finished his Coke and stood. “This is one time, Hannibal, when your plan won’t come together. And I, for one, will be glad.” Bobby walked away and pushed out of the diner without a look back.

  The patrons were watching Toby and making no qualms about doing so. He finished his meal, paid, and left. Bobby’s words rattled around in his head as he walked up the main drag. This was the third person he’d heard this from, and it had begun to make him question what he was doing here. Gazing to each side of the street, he tried to envision his strip mall in place of the buildings there now. It wasn’t as easy as it had been before.

  The town square would have to go, probably become more parking. He pivoted to take it all in. The towering Cot
tonwood trees surrounding the square offered shade to those who chose to sit on the numerous benches. In the center was a fountain. Right now, small children with their families ran around and played with reckless abandon. Something they’d not be able to do if it was a parking lot.

  “There are other parks in Cottonwood Falls,” he muttered, turning his back to the square and walking on.

  Logic told him some of those would have to go as well, again, for parking and to have a place to store the construction vehicles. He again observed the way the people interacted with one another.

  Once he reached his car, he ducked inside. He drove around, looking at places that could use a complete makeover or just be torn down. Toby passed his old high school and smiled at the boys playing football. A little farther, and he reached the hospital. He’d been born there. It wasn’t a massive twenty-plus-floored building that did it all, including elective surgeries. It had one floor. On his way back to his parents’, he passed the police station. Four cars, that was it. And, they didn’t double up in the vehicles. They had the sheriff and three deputies. Another fact that would definitely have to change.

  He walked in the house and was met by the scent of fresh lemon pie. His mom welcomed him with a smile as she walked toward him, wiping her hands off on her apron.

  “Bobby was looking for you,” she said, kissing his cheek. “Did he find you?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Good, good. Dinner is at six sharp.” She went back to the kitchen and began rolling out the dough. “Chicken pot pies tonight.”

  “You’re spoiling me, Ma.”

  “Good, then maybe you’ll stay around. You know the old Felton house is up for sale.”

  “You mentioned that already.”

  “Sometimes, as I’ve learned being married to your father all these years, you Latner men need more than one reminder.” She shooed him away so he jogged up to his room and pulled out his computer to get some work done.

  ***

  Melinda walked out to her vehicle, exhausted. The day had been long and trying. Her father’s chemo hadn’t gone as they’d expected. He didn’t do well on it and had been sick much sooner, so she’d been home to help her mother. Then, someone had hit a stray dog right before closing, and she had to head back to the clinic for an emergency surgery. It was ten at night, and they’d just finished up.

  She unlocked her SUV and tossed her bag across to land on the passenger seat. Starting the engine, she called her mother.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi, Mama. Do you need me to come by and do anything?”

  “Are you just leaving the clinic?”

  “Yes, ma’am. But, I haven’t left the parking lot yet so I can head to your house if—”

  “No, dear. Thank you, but he’s finally settled into sleep. We’ll be fine. You can come over, and I can fix you something to eat if you’d like.”

  Food was the farthest thing from her mind, but she heard the need in her mother’s tone. “That,” she said, pushing her bone-weary fatigue away, “would be perfect. I’ll be right there.” So, instead of heading back to her small place, she turned the nose of her vehicle toward her parents’.

  Her mom, Inez, stood out on the porch as she drove up. Melinda parked and hopped out with a wave. She hugged her mom then trailed her in the house. They went to the kitchen where she’d spent many an hour watching her mom and grandmother whip up fantastic meals.

  “How was work, other than the emergency that kept you late?”

  “Papa has a terrific staff, and they handled it all extremely well. Tomorrow is surgery day, so I will be out of touch most of the time, but I’ll call you in between my surgeries.”

  Her mom set a plate of grilled salmon, asparagus, and rice pilaf before her. “You don’t need to do that. We’ll be fine.”

  “I need to do it, Mama, so I’m fine.” She picked up her fork, grateful she’d listened to her mom, for her belly was grumbling in anticipation. “This looks delicious, thank you.”

  Her smile was sad. “I thought I would fix some of his favorite food; didn’t do much good, as he didn’t want to eat.”

  She reached out and squeezed her mom’s hand. “They said he wouldn’t feel like it much, and that his nausea will get worse before it gets better. It’s new for all of us, Mama.”

  Her mom poured some tea and joined her at the table. “I know; it’s just hard.”

  Melinda ate a bite of the fish, so flaky and moist it fell apart in her mouth. “Perfect,” she said after she swallowed.

  She stayed for an hour after her mom went to bed, just in case her father woke, then she dragged herself back out to her vehicle and headed to her place where she stumbled into bed with a groan.

  When her alarm went off, she fumbled around to smack it silent. Pushing up, she wiped her hand along her face, rolling her eyes when she felt drool. “Cripes, that’s pathetic.” Yawning, she navigated to the shower and stood under the hot spray.

  Dressed, she made herself some breakfast that she ate slowly. Dishes in the sink, she stared at the mess and said, “I promise, when I get home today, I will put more things away.” Then, she closed the door on it and walked to her vehicle, mug of coffee in hand.

  “I’ll be in my office if you need me,” she mentioned to Janelle as they passed in the hall.

  “You got it, Doc. How’s Dr. Glazer doing?”

  “It was rough yesterday. I’m going to call and see how he’s doing today. Thanks for asking.”

  “We all love him here and send our love.” Janelle pushed through back to the kennel area.

  Melinda closed the office door and sat at the desk. Her hand shook as she called her mom to find out he was, as predicted, nauseous but in okay spirits. That finished, she looked over her day.

  The phone beeped, and she pressed the button. “Yes?”

  “Dr. Glazer, there’s someone here who wants to speak with you.”

  She checked the time. “I have a few moments. Send them back.”

  Had she been thinking clearly, she would have gone up front. As it was, she hadn’t, and now, she had a visitor coming to her. The door opened, and before she even lifted her head, she knew who it was. Her body’s betraying arousal told her all she needed to know. Toby.

  “What do you need?” she asked, daring to peek at him.

  Big mistake. He had dressed in another suit today. The charcoal suit fit him perfectly. The ends of his brown-blond hair tapered down to the collar. She longed to drag her fingers through the silken strands. His blue eyes were vibrant against his tanned skin.

  “Most people start off with ‘good morning’ or some other nicety.”

  She rocked back in the chair. “So, this is about work? Your useless attempt to get my father to sell?”

  “Actually, no,” he corrected with a frown. “This was about me coming to ask you out for dinner.”

  She froze, allowing the chair to bring her back level. “I’m sorry, you’re asking me on a date?”

  He strolled closer, sucking up her air supply. How does one man look so damn fine? He leaned forward and rested his knuckles on the desktop. “That’s exactly what I’m doing. And, no, it’s not got anything to do with my business or this one. I’m asking because I want to take you out.”

  She picked up a pen and tapped it on the wood, doing her damndest to remain calm about this situation. Sure, I can handle working emergency vet situations, but have Toby Latner ask me for a date, and I’m about two seconds away from a meltdown. What the frack is wrong with me?

  His scent, combined with the soft undertones of sandalwood, was turning her into a horny slut. She wanted to slam the door shut and spread her legs for him.

  “Mellie?” His voice was a low thrum of decadence.

  “Tonight?”

  “Yes.” He stood fully upright again, bringing more attention to how well the suit fit. “Is that a problem?”

  “You want to go out to eat here in Cottonwood Falls?”

  “No. Maco
n. Somewhere upscale. I want you in a dress, Mellie. So, I can see everything you’re blessed with.”

  More heat flushed through her. “Haven’t you already seen that?”

  “Humor me. Will you be done by seven?”

  “I can be.” The words slipped out before she could contemplate saying no.

  “Excellent. I will pick you up then.” His gaze raked over her once more before he spun on his heel and strode away.

  Janelle popped her head in seconds later. “Are you going out with Toby Latner?” Her question ended on a small squeal.

  “I think so,” Melinda replied.

  “I was going to invite you again for drinks, but hell, go with him.”

  “I should call him and cancel.”

  Janelle scowled at her. “Oh, no. Why not go out with him? He’s hot, nice, a gentleman.”

  And fucks like a god. Thank goodness her lips remained closed and didn’t let that statement pass. “I don’t know if I should.”

  “You should. If a man like that walked in and asked me out, I’d be after him right now. He said seven. You’ll be done with surgeries by five; we can handle things after that, which gives you plenty of time to get home, shower, and dress in something to knock his socks off and into your bed.” A wicked grin. “Or you into his. Either way, I’m sure he’s awesome.”

  You have no idea, Janelle. You just have no idea.

  “This isn’t for sex, Janelle.”

  “Your loss,” she said candidly. “All I know is I would be after that. Right quick. Now, call your mother and let her know about the date. First surgery is in ten minutes.”

  Her day passed in a mixture of uncertainty and panic. It didn’t fade as she swung by to check on her parents, nor as she stood in her shower. It increased when she got up from the couch to answer the doorbell that rang exactly at seven.

  She smoothed her hands down the red cross-front ruched bandage dress she’d chosen to wear for the evening. It hit her around mid-thigh, and she’d chosen some red stilettos to accompany it. A diamond necklace and minimal hand jewelry completed her outfit. She’d left her hair down and took a deep breath, bypassing her red beaded clutch on the way to the door. One final deep breath, and she swung open the lone barrier between her and Toby.