Joanna Sims – A Bride For Liam Brand (страница 8)
“I don’t know about that,” Kate objected. “I was really impressed with how you handled Visa.”
Liam nodded and then shut the door for her. “I appreciate that. I hope to see you again real soon. You too Calico!”
They said their goodbyes then, and she drove away. In the rearview mirror, she saw Liam still standing in the parking lot watching them as they left.
“Mommy! Why didn’t you tell him he could come over for dinner?”
“I don’t know.” Kate told her daughter. But that wasn’t entirely true. There was something there between them—she felt it and she could tell that Liam could feel it too. It was something real, something tangible. And it genuinely scared the crap out of her.
* * *
A couple of days after Liam had seen Kate and Callie at Dr. McGee’s party, he had really struggled with his next move. He could tell that Kate felt the same attraction to him that he did with her. But he could also see that she wasn’t ready to jump into a relationship. If he wanted to explore his feelings for Kate, he was going to have to be strategic. Instead of calling, which he wanted to do, he decided to just give her some time to mull over the lunch, and the kiss, they had shared.
“He-llo!”
It was Kate King on the line.
“I can’t believe I forgot about this,” the trainer told him. “But I have a prepurchase vet check scheduled for tomorrow. The woman’s coming in from Helena, and she’s already called several vets...”
“I think she may have called me already,” Liam told her.
“She did. I know this is a big ask—but I’m really in a bind. The prospective buyer has no flexibility in her schedule.”
When he first got the call from the woman out of Helena, she had mentioned the King Ranch, but his scheduled was still overflowing because of Dr. McGee’s sudden retirement. Thankfully there were a couple of other vets in the area who were able to step up their game.
“I just can’t get out there today, Kate. I would if I could,” he said, and then added in the silence that followed, “I hope you know that.”
“No. I know,” Kate told him, her disappointment obvious to him. “I appreciate it.”
After another moment of odd silence, she asked, “Could you come out tonight? I know it’s a lot to ask, but the indoor riding ring has lights. We ride at night here all the time.”
She continued in a lowered voice. “Please, Liam. She’s a really big connection for me. If I get this deal done, there could be so much business for the Triple K.” After another pause, she added, “I really need this.”
The worry he heard in her voice convinced him that he had to find a way to help her. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
“I’ll be there. As soon as I can. It won’t be until six or seven. I already know that for sure.”
“Whenever you can get here. I’ll let the buyer know,” Kate said. “And, Dr. Brand... Liam...I can’t thank you enough.”
* * *
He was already exhausted when he parked his truck in front of Kate’s barn. The prospective buyer, a rather fancy-looking woman with platinum hair who was originally from Oklahoma, greeted him with Kate at her side. He was lucky that the exam was uncomplicated—the horse was sound, had good hooves, and had negative flexion tests and X-rays. Although a prepurchase vet check could take up to four hours, this exam went smoothly and he was wrapping up with the potential owner after two hours.
“You shouldn’t have any difficulty using this horse for the purposes you’ve stated,” he said to the client. “I should have a report to you by tomorrow afternoon. I won’t be able to get it out tonight.”
“Tomorrow will be just fine.” The woman with the heavy Oklahoma accent smiled at him.
Liam packed up his equipment, while Kate showed the woman to her car. They met back at his truck just as he was finished loading.
With a sigh, Kate, in cutoff shorts that showed off her long, slender legs, muscular from years of riding, leaned against the truck.
“Long day,” she said, her loose hair blowing in the gentle night breeze.
He nodded.
“Are you hungry?”
Liam slipped his keys into his pocket with a nod.
“Callie made chili again. You seemed to really like it the last time.”
“As a matter of fact, I loved it.”
Kate tucked her hair behind her ear. “Join us for dinner?”
Liam sent her a tired smile. “That’s the best offer I’ve had all week.”
“Man oh man.” Liam sank onto one of the rocking chairs on the porch. “Your daughter is an amazing cook. I swear I haven’t tasted any better.”
Kate took the seat next to him, liking the feel of the hot mug of coffee in her hand, enjoying the night view of the land she loved. And, yes, having this new person in her life to talk about the events of the day. A person who seemed to appreciate her daughter in a way that she didn’t often see. It didn’t feel normal or certain, but it was a change. Perhaps a genuinely good one.
“She puts a lot of love into her food.” She took that wonderful first sip from the hot, black coffee.
She caught Liam looking at her profile out of the corner of her eye as he said, “I believe that. You can taste when someone has put their heart into their cookin’.”
It wasn’t awkward, the frequent silences. Both of them were exhausted from their busy days, and speaking seemed like a chore. After Liam finished his coffee, he sighed heavily, and she understood exactly what that meant. He still had a long drive and reports to write.
“Well...” he finally said, “I suppose it’s time for me to hit the road.”
Kate stood as well and held out her hand for his empty cup. She put the cups on a small table just outside the front door before walking with the veterinarian to his truck.
“I feel like I’ve had an awful lot to thank you for these last couple of weeks,” she said, her eyes looking off into the distance.
They were standing closer than usual, Liam by his open driver’s door and she facing him.
“I feel the same way.” He reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear.
She looked at him then, drawn in by the kindness she saw in his bright blue eyes. “All we did was feed you a couple of times.”
“No.” Liam was slow to withdraw his hand as if he enjoyed touching her as much as she realized she liked being touched by him. “You’ve given me much more than just a couple of meals. I feel like I belong somewhere again.”
He added with a laugh, “But don’t give me wrong—the food matters too.”
Kate felt a knot form in the pit of her stomach—was she ready to encourage Liam to feel like a part of the Triple K? It seemed too fast.
“Hey.” Liam drew her back to the conversation, back to the present. “Go out with me.”
Kate crossed her arms in front of her body, hunched her shoulders forward protectively. “Won’t that be a conflict of interest? You being my vet, me being your client?”
Liam, who usually laughed off things like that, didn’t crack a smile. “Did you hire me just so you could keep me an arm’s length away?”
“No.” She laughed in a way that made it sound like a lie. “I hired you because you are a damn good vet, and I need a damn good vet.”
For a second time, Liam seemed to want to jump several spaces on a game board. He put his hands on her face and kissed her. This time, it wasn’t a peck. He took his time, explored her lips with his. And she let him. And she liked it.
Slowly, the most eligible bachelor in the greater Bozeman area lifted his lips from hers. But he didn’t step away from her. His hands resting on either side of her neck, Liam waited until she was looking at him once again.
“I’ll promise not to overcharge you, you promise to pay me on time. How’s about that?”
“I always pay my bills on time,” Kate said.
“And I never overcharge.”
Any retort she was formulating in this oddly flirtatious banter was cut off by another kiss. Kate felt this kiss all over her body—little lightning bolts fired in her stomach, on her spine and between her legs. By the time Liam moved his head away, her head naturally followed.
When she opened her eyes, he was smiling at her, so fondly, and with a little humor.
“Where do you want to take me?” she asked him, knowing now that what they were feeling between them—this pull, this chemistry—wasn’t something that she wanted to deny or ignore.
“Let me think on it.” Liam gave her a final kiss on the lips. “I want it to be something real special for you.”
* * *
“I think that’s awesome.” Lorrie had trailered one of her horses to the ranch for training. “You realized you’ve just bagged a man who has a high bounty on his head.”