Chapter Five
Nate entered the barn and checked on the horse with the cut. He seemed to be alright, but Nate intended to keep an eye on him. It frustrated him that Bart didn’t catch it, but things happen, and the ranch dealt with it.
After Nate led the horse to the indoor corral, he walked into his office, stopped and glanced toward the wall, then shook his head.
“You’re an idiot, Jefferson,” he muttered as he strode around his desk and took a seat in the chair.
As he sat there, he couldn’t help but think of her yesterday. He could see the hurt in her eyes when he called her Dr. Russell.
What the hell did she think he’d do? Take her in his arms and tell her it was fine? It wasn’t. He wasn’t one to hold a grudge, but she formed an opinion of him before even knowing him.
“Yeah, then you fuck her against the wall.” He shook his head. He was sure she thought he was like her stepfather after that. “Fuck.”
But she had apologized for lumping him in with a man who thought he was God’s gift to women. Nate never thought that way about himself. He was just a man and if he was fortunate to meet a woman he could love again, he would treat her like gold, not like she was beneath him.
He’d had a good relationship with Erin and even their marriage had been good in the beginning, but they just grew apart. It tore them both apart knowing they couldn’t save their marriage, but she remarried four years ago and seemed happy with Brian, and Nate was happy for them both. Brian was a great guy, and Nate knew he’d never intentionally hurt Erin.
He called Jobe on his phone to tell him he’d be in the feed barn helping out.
“Okay, boss. I’ll get the fence tended to.”
“Alright.” Nate put his phone back into his pocket, then entered the barn to see three other men working with the feed.
“Hey, boss,” one of them said.
“Guys. I’m going to be helping out since we’re a man short today.”
The guys nodded. They probably hated the idea of him working with them because they couldn’t cut up and carry on with the boss around. Nate smirked. He remembered days like that and anytime one of the bosses worked with them, the day seemed to go too slow.
Two hours later, Nate removed his T-shirt. It might be chilly outside, but the feed barn was unbearable. He noticed the other men did the same.
“Damn, it’s always hot in here.”
Nate looked at the men. “It’s because we have to keep the barn well-insulated to prevent this type of feed from freezing solid. I’m sure Beau wouldn’t like it if he spent all this money on feed to have it ruined by the cold.”
“Yeah, I know I wouldn’t like it if I had to pay for it,” one ranch hand said.
“You don’t have to worry about that. You’ll never make that kind of money,” another said.
Nate chuckled as the men continued to rib each other, but they never stopped working and the sooner they got done, the sooner they could move on to another chore.
“Who mucked out the stalls today?” Nate asked.
“I’m not sure.”
Nate opened a bag of feed, poured it into the bin then looked at the men.
“So, you don’t know if anyone did it?”
“I don’t know, boss.”
“Shit. Alright. I’ll check. If I’m not back, you know where I’ll be.” Nate pulled his shirt on, left the feed barn and entered the horse barn. Thankfully, the horses were out, but mucking out the stalls took time. Time he really didn’t have but he couldn’t pull anyone else off the other chores.
Nate walked along the stalls to see that they all needed mucked out. Huffing out a sigh, he headed for the toolshed, gathered up the wheelbarrow, shovel, and rake, then got busy. At this rate, he’d be doing payroll at home tonight. With twenty stalls and at least twenty minutes on each one, he’d be here quite a while, and it was already noon. He’d be lucky if he got out of here before six this evening.
****
“What’s his number?” Markie asked Sydney when she answered her phone.
“Why? What are you up to?”
“I thought I’d invite him to dinner.”
“You’re a glutton for punishment, Markie.”
“I have to try to make it up to him, Syd. If he’s a great guy like you say he is, he should be able to forgive me. Right?”
“Markie, how would you like it if someone judged you without knowing you?”
Markie sighed. “I wouldn’t and that’s why I want to make it up to him.”
“Fine, but if he turns you down, do not come crying to me. I’m still upset with you over thinking that of him.”
“I know you are. I’m so sorry. It’s—”
“Yeah, I know. I understand. With what that prick has put you through, I do get it, but you cannot jump to conclusions. Not every good-looking man is like that. Look at Sam. Does he seem cocky to you?”
“Oh, no! Not at all.” Markie sighed.
“Nate isn’t either. I know, for some reason, some men are like that, but Nate isn’t one of them.”
“Jarrett is so arrogant. It’s like, ‘hey, look at me, I’m tall, dark, and handsome, but no matter how good looking a man is, his personality could make him ugly. I want Nate to forgive me.”
“I hope he does. Okay, I’ll give you his number, and I hope he will come to dinner, but don’t get mad if he turns you down.”
“I won’t. I’ll be more disappointed than anything.”
“You know, I love you, but if he turns you down, I can’t blame him.”
“Same here. I’ll let you know. I’ll call him when I get home. I have to go. I need to check on a dog that had surgery this morning.”
“Okay. I’ll text you his number. Talk soon.” Sydney hung up.
Markie stood, placed her phone in her scrubs pocket, then headed to the back room where the surgery patients were kept. She entered the room, walked to the crate and squatted down.
“Hi, Bobo. How are you baby?” She put her fingers through the cage to touch his nose. He’d been hit by a car and had to have a leg amputated, but she knew dogs were resilient and he’d be fine with just three legs. He raised his head a little, licked her fingers, then laid his head back down. He’d be out of it for a while since he was on pain medication.
“How is he?” Tess asked when she entered the room.
“I think he’ll be fine. Poor baby.”
“He’s a sweetheart. I’m glad his owners brought him in to be taken care of.”
“Me too. They seemed so upset, but they understood that the leg would have to be removed. They said they didn’t care about that, as long as he’d be okay.”
“Good owners.”
“Definitely.” Markie stood.
“I think we can get out of here for the day. It’s four-thirty, but there are no more appointments.”
“Okay. I’m going to check on Bobo later if that’s alright.”
“Of course, it is. I’ve come in before at night to check on patients.”
“From where you live now, or when you lived upstairs?”
Tess grinned. “Both. Sam comes with me now. He doesn’t like for me to come into town alone at night. Not that we have a lot of crime, but years ago… well, that’s a story for another time.”
“I hope you’ll tell me sometime.”
“I will. It was when I almost lost Sam.” Tess shook her head. “I promise we’ll have lunch one day and I’ll tell you all about it.”
“Looking forward to it. You can head out, Tess. I’ll lock up.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice. I’ll see you Monday. Have a good weekend.”
“You too. Night.” Markie watched her walk out of the room, then she headed toward her office. The place was quiet since everyone had gone home.
After entering the vitals for Bobo, she gathered up her purse, turned out the lights, and made sure the front doors were locked, then headed out the back, locking the door behind her and around the side to the stairs leading to her apartment.
At the door, she inserted the key, opened the door, stepped inside, and locked it. After setting her purse on the table, and her keys in the dish, she removed her phone from her pocket and stared at it.
“Maybe I should take a shower first and get my courage up to call Nate.”
Groaning, she knew it was going to take guts to call the man and ask him to dinner tomorrow night.
“He probably has a date.” Markie shook her head. “That would be my damn luck.”
She carried the phone to the bedroom, undressed, and entered the bathroom. She placed the phone on the counter, then turned the shower on and stepped inside. The hot water felt wonderful, and she hoped the weather would turn warm again. Afterall, it was May.
“Damn, Mom’s birthday party would be here before long. That man better stay the hell away from me. I will knee him in the balls again.”
After her shower, she pulled on a T-shirt and lounge pants, picked up her phone and headed for the sofa. Taking a seat, she picked up the remote, turned the TV on and continued to stare at her phone.
“Come on, Marjorie Ann. You can do this.”
Taking a deep breath, she found his number in her phone and pushed send. It rang several times before his deep voice came on the line.
“Jefferson.”
“Uh, Nate?”
“Yeah?”
“This is… Markie. Markie Russell.”
“Just what can I do for you, Dr. Russell?”
Markie sighed. “Come for dinner tomorrow night. Unless you have a date. I wouldn’t expect you to break a date just to come to dinner at such late notice, but if you’re free, I’d love to have you come to dinner.” God! Stop rambling! When he didn’t say anything, she frowned and wondered if he’d hung up. “Nate?”
“Yeah, I’m here. Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why are you asking me to dinner?”
“To make up for being a bitch.” She smiled when she heard him chuckle.
“Might take more than dinner for that.”
Markie gasped. “Damn, Jefferson, say what you think.”
“I usually do.” His sigh came across the phone. “Are you sure about this?”
“Yes. I made a mess of things with you, and you didn’t deserve it. I’d… I’d like to get to know you. If you’d rather not—”
“What time?”
“Six, if that works for you.”
“That’s fine. Send me your address.”
“I live above the hospital. The steps are on the side of the building in the alley.”
“Convenient. Alright. I’ll see you then.”
“You don’t have a date?” Damn, Markie!
“If I did, I would have turned you down. I’ll see you then.” He hung up.
Markie placed her phone on the arm of the sofa and couldn’t keep the smile off her face, then she picked it back up and called Sydney.
“He’s coming for dinner,” Markie said when she answered.
“Really? That’s great. It looks like he’s willing to get over it.”
“I hope so. Now, I have to figure out what to make. I wonder what he likes?”
“I have no idea. Maybe make something in the crockpot so you don’t have to rush it.”
“I could do that. I have a great chicken and rice recipe. Do you think he likes chicken?”
Sydney laughed. “Well, if he doesn’t, I’m sure he’ll eat it anyway. That’s the kind of man he is.”
“I hope this goes well. I do like him, Syd, and I hate how I treated him.”
“If he wasn’t willing to overlook it, he would have turned you down.”
“I was hoping he didn’t have a date, but he said he didn’t.”
“Well, let me know how it goes.”
“I will. Thanks.”
“For what?”
“Being a friend, even when I’m a bitch.”
“Gee, Markie, that’s daily.”
Markie burst out laughing. “Same to you. Talk soon.”
“Yep,” Sydney said laughing, then hung up.
Markie watched some TV, then around nine decided to check on Bobo. He might need some pain medication. She hated seeing any animal suffer in any way. Pulling on a sweater, she ran down the stairs, opened the back door, and entered the hospital, closed the door and turned off the silent alarm, then locked the door. She knew she should lock the door first, but she was always afraid she wouldn’t get to the alarm in time to turn it off. Silly, she knew, but that’s how she did it. Damn, it was creepy at night.
She walked down the hallway, opened the door to the recovery room, and quietly entered. She knelt at the cage and saw Bobo looking at her.
“Do you have some pain, baby? I’ll get you something.” She stood and moved to the medicine cabinet, got a syringe out, put the medication in it, then inserted it into the IV, then watched as he closed his eyes as the medicine did its job. “I’ll check on you tomorrow, baby. Sleep well.”
She tossed the syringe in the bin for used needles, then turned the lights out and after setting the alarm again, made her way out the back door. As she stood at the bottom of the stairs, she was amazed at how quiet the town was. Then she ran up the stairs, unlocked the door, and entered the apartment, locking the door behind her.
Before going to bed, she found the chicken and rice recipe and made a list of what she needed to pick up tomorrow. After watching a movie, she headed to bed. As she closed her eyes, she smiled as she thought about seeing Nate and getting past the mess, she made of thinking so poorly of him. She hoped they’d move past it. She did like him.
****
Nate drove into town and stopped at Katie’s Florist and Greenhouse. He wanted to get a flower for Markie. He wasn’t sure how the night was going to go, but he rarely showed up without something for a woman. Whether a date or dinner at her place. His mother always told him women liked that sort of thing.
“Hi, Nate,” Madilyn Morgan said from behind the counter.
“Hi, Madilyn. How are you doing?”
“Wonderful. How about you?”
“Same. Can I get one pink carnation, please?”
“You sure can. You’re cutting it close. We close at six.”
“I know. Are you working alone today?”
“No, Katie is in the greenhouse, planting.”
“I see.” Nate shook his head. “No. I don’t.”
Madilyn laughed. “Seedlings. Never mind. It would take too long.”
“I understand seedlings, Madilyn. Give me some credit.”
“Sure.” She laughed again.
“How’s Brody?”
“He’s great.”
“Tell him I said hello.”
“I will. Do you want this in paper?”
“No, thanks. I’m just going across the street.” Nate grinned as he paid her.
“Okay. Have a nice evening.”
“I’m hoping to. You do the same.”
“Bye, Nate.”
Nate touched his hat, picked up the flower, and strode out of the building. It was six by the time he walked up the stairs to the door. Damn, he hoped this evening went well and they could get past what happened between them. Not the sex. Hell, he’d love that again, but he wasn’t going to pressure her. He just wanted her to get past thinking he was like her mother’s husband. But he realized she must be past it since she invited him to dinner. He hoped so anyway. There was a lot of heat between them and even against a wall, it had been the hottest sex he’d ever had.
Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door. When it opened, they stared at each other.
“Hi,” she said.
“Hi.” He handed her the carnation.
“Thank you. Please, come in.” She opened the door wider.
He removed his hat, wiped his feet on the welcome mat, then entered the apartment. The smell of food was making him salivate. He looked around and hung his hat on a hook beside the door.
“Something smells good. Besides you,” he said when he looked at her, then grinned when she blushed.
“It’s chicken and rice. I hope you like it.”
“I’m sure I will.”
“I’ll put this in some water. Have a seat.”
Nate glanced around. “This is a nice place. I’ve never been here, but I remember when Tess lived here.”
“Yes, I like it.”
His eyes skimmed down her red T-shirt and tight jeans. On her feet were white flip-flops and her nails were painted red to match her shirt and it was sexy as hell.
“You’re a beautiful woman, Dr. Russell.”
Markie frowned at him. “You’re not going to call me that all night, are you?”
He raised his eyebrows. “Am I staying all night?”
“You know what I meant.”
He grinned. “No, I won’t call you Dr. Russell all night. No matter how long the night is.”
“I think you’re going to be hard to handle, Nate Jefferson.”
“We’ll see.”
“Please sit. Dinner is ready whenever you are.”
“I will, after you.”
“Manners too.”
“Too?”
“Nothing. Never mind.”
“Oh, no. You said it, so tell me. What does too mean?”
“It means also, in addition to, excessively,” she said, biting her lip not to grin when he narrowed his eyes at her.
“I know what the hell too means. What did you mean by it?”
Markie laughed. “I meant you had manners along with good looks.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” He motioned for her to sit.
“Let me put some of this on a plate for you. I do wish you’d sit down.”
“I’ll sit after you.”
Markie sighed. “Hardhead,” she muttered.
“I’m sorry? What was that?”
She shook her head while she put a piece of chicken along with rice on plates then carried them to the table. She set them down, pulled out a chair, and sat down, then looked at him.
“Happy now?”
Nate laughed. “Who’s going to be hard to handle?”
Markie grinned. “I’m sure we’ll butt heads.”
“No shit,” Nate murmured, making Markie laugh.
Nate cut into the chicken, speared a piece and put it in his mouth then groaned.
“Damn, that’s good.”
“Thank you. I like it too.”
“So, where are you originally from?”
“What makes you think I’m not from Montana?” Markie asked.
“Are you?”
“No. I’m from Idaho.”
“How did you end up here?”
Markie set her fork down, picked up her napkin, and wiped her mouth.
“I had enough of my mother’s husband. I wanted to get as far away as possible, but still close enough to go home if my mother needed me.” She frowned. “Does that make sense?”
“Yes.”
“I found the ad online for an experienced vet. I called and spoke to Tess, and I knew I’d enjoy working with her. She was so sweet. I made the trip for the interview and here I am.”
“Tell me about your mother’s husband.”
“Why?”
Nate shrugged. “I’m curious.”
“He’s a pig.”
“Yeah, I got that part. When did you meet him?”
“He’d been to the house several times for dinner when my father was alive. He worked at the same law firm and knew my father. Jarrett wasn’t an attorney. He became a paralegal because he couldn’t pass the bar. They played golf together. He even made a move on me then, but I let him know I wasn’t interested. It was like talking to a wall. When she married him, I was floored, but I tried to be happy for her. I went to dinner at her house and again, when he hugged me and slid his hands down my back, I stepped back from him before he could... put his hands where he shouldn’t. When I looked at him, he grinned. I just felt sick knowing what type of man my mother married. He is constantly trying to touch me. I told my mother, but she said he was just being friendly.” Markie shook her head. “She believes he can do no wrong, or she just doesn’t want to see it.”
“And you think I’m like him?”
“No, I don’t. I’m sorry, Nate. I saw you and judged you before giving you a chance. Jarrett is a good-looking man too, but I know now that you are nothing like him. He’s disgusting. He thinks every woman wants him. I know you’re not like that now. I cannot apologize enough. And the day…”
“The day, what?”
“The day we had sex, and you said I couldn’t admit I was attracted to you. I saw red because that sounded like something Jarrett would say. Then you said, ‘you tell yourself you don’t like me because you think I’m cocky, but you know I’m not. Deep down you know it but can’t admit it for some reason’, and you said I’m afraid of you.” Markie shook her head. “Nate, Jarrett said practically the same thing. He said he knew I was attracted to him, and I was fighting it for some reason.”
“I also said, I’m not the man you think I am and that’s what disgusts you. Not the fact that I’m confident, but that it attracts you and that’s what you don’t like.” Nate smirked, then shook his head. “I’m sorry too. I can come across a little cocky, I suppose. I understand where you’re coming from now. How about we start over and get to know each other?”
“I’d like that, Nate. I really would.”
****
When he grinned, Markie’s heart hit her stomach. He truly was a gorgeous man, and she wanted to know him so much better.
After dinner, he helped her clean up. She washed the dishes, and he dried them, then they sat on the sofa and watched a movie. She could smell his aftershave, and it was driving her insane. He smelled so good.
As they watched the movie, Markie kicked off her shoes and curled her feet under her. She took a deep breath, and placed her cheek on his shoulder, then smiled when he leaned his head against hers. He took her hand in his and they watched the rest of the movie.
She was so angry at herself for thinking so badly of him. He was a wonderful man, and she liked being with him. And the sex… she mentally groaned. It had been so damn hot.
“Have you ever been married?” he asked her.
“Almost.”
“Almost?”
“I was left at the altar.”
Nate sat up and looked at her. “Seriously?”
“Yes. I was so embarrassed and humiliated.”
“I’m sure you were. Did you find out why?”
“Oh, yeah. He ran off with my maid of honor. You know, you hear things like that happening, but I never thought it would happen to me. I should have known. The way she’d talk about him all the time and he’d hug her anytime we all met. Bitch.”
Nate laughed. “I agree with that and he’s a prick.”
“You nailed it. Since then, I’ve been too scared to get deeply involved with any man. I’ve been cheated on one too many times.” She looked at him. “Sydney told me you’d been married.”
“Yeah. Erin and I were married five years, but the longer it went on, the more we drifted apart. I was thirty-two when we got married, and she was twenty-eight. I loved her.” He shrugged. “But we both knew it was heading down a wrong path. We even tried counseling, but it didn’t help. We argued all the time. Over nothing. We hated that we couldn’t make it work. We’ve been divorced six years, and she’s married now to a great guy.”
“You didn’t have kids?”
“No. She was busy going to school to become a doctor, which she did. Her and Brian have a little boy. He just turned two.” Nate grinned. “He’s cute as hell.”
“It’s nice that you have a good relationship with her and her husband.”
“We keep in touch. They live in Wyoming now, but she’ll text me once in a while. It’s always good to hear from her.”
“That’s nice.”
“When did this almost wedding happen?”
“Four years ago. I’ve been skittish ever since. I have this terrible recurring dream that I’m in love with a new man and I’m standing at the altar waiting. He doesn’t show and all the bridesmaids are laughing.”
“Damn, that harsh.”
Markie laughed. “It is, isn’t it? I got him back a little though. I sued him for half the cost of the wedding and won.”
Nate chuckled. “Good.” He stood. “I’d better get going.”
“Okay.” Markie stood and they stared at each other.
“Thanks for dinner. It was great.”
“You’re welcome. Thank you for the carnation.”
“Would you like to go out next Saturday night? We could go to The Hartland and then to Dewey’s.”
Markie smiled. “I’d love it. Just call me or text me what time and I’ll be ready. Do you need my number?”
“No, I saved it when I knew it was you.” He took her hand. “Walk me to the door.”
She followed him to the door, and he removed his hat from the hook, then turned to look at her.
“You’re not going to punch me if I kiss you, are you?”
She burst out laughing. “No.”
Nate grinned, leaned in, and pressed his lips to hers. Markie moaned and wrapped her arms around his neck as he pulled her closer, deepening the kiss, then he lifted his lips.
“I’ll be in touch, Markie. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Nate.”
He stared at her for a few seconds, then opened the door, stepped out, and closed it behind him.
Markie leaned back against the door, smiling. She couldn’t wait for next weekend.