Before Maura had taken the job with Abe, Bridget had advised her to tell Dr. Weston to take his tacky flirting and go jump in the lake. And Maura had attempted to do that. Only in a nicer way. Hed not gotten the message and as Maura had contemplated Abes offer, shed decided that even if Dr. Weston had gotten the message and quit pursuing her, the awkwardness of being around him would remain.
Face it, Maura, you jumped at Abes offer because youre afraid to deal with men. Because youre too much of a chicken to think about the dating game or confronting a man that might want you in a romantic way. You knew that you could hide on Apache Wells. Hide from men and your own failure as a woman.
The mocking voice inside her caused Maura to instinctively stiffen her spine. Maybe taking the job with Abe had been an escape for her. But since then shed developed deep feelings for Abe and hed become an important part of her life. To Maura, that alone was enough to justify her job.
Tonight isnt a good time, Mother. But Ill make a point to come out for supper soon. I promise.
Thankfully, Fiona didnt press the issue and after Reggie arrived with coffee and homemade pralines, their conversation turned to Mauras siblings and other happenings within the Donovan family.
A little more than an hour later, Maura bade her mother goodbye and was walking through the foyer to leave the house when her younger sister suddenly popped through the door.
Maura!
Bridget!
Both women laughed as their names came out in unison.
Okay, you first, big sister, Bridget said. What are you doing here?
Maura gave her younger sister a brief hug. I could ask the same of you. Arent you working today?
Bridget, who was somewhat shorter than Maura and had flaming copper hair, grinned in naughty fashion. S-s-shh. Im supposed to be back at the clinic by now. But I made a house call not far from here and I thought Id stop by for a few minutes and see what I can swipe from the kitchen.
Opal just made pralines, Maura told her.
Sugar. Thats not what I need, she said while patting a hand on her waist, then her green eyes sparkled as she took a closer look at Maura.
My, my.Youre looking sexy today. Whats the occasion? Trying to give old Mr. Cantrell a heart attack or something?
Bridget! Youre awful! You shouldnt be allowed to practice medicine! Maura scolded.
Bridget laughed and Maura wondered how it would feel to be able to really laugh, to look at life with the same fun and excitement shed once had. Perhaps if shed been smart enough to avoid men entirely, the way her little sister had, shed still be a happy woman.
Ive had a few patients tell me that very thing, she confessed with another chuckle.
Maura started to scold her again, but the cell phone in her purse suddenly rang. Quickly, she fished out the small instrument and was faintly surprised to see the caller was Abe.
Excuse me for a moment, Bridget. Id better take this.
Bridget lingered in the foyer while Maura exchanged a few brief words with the man. Once shed ended the call, Bridget looked at her with concern.
Whats the matter? Who was that? Youve gone pale.
As her sister shot questions at her, Maura slowly put the phone back in her handbag.
It was Abe. He wanted to let me know that were going to have company tonight.
Is that all? From the look on your face I thought a tornado was about to hit. Who is this company anyway? Someone interesting?
Maura did her best to wipe all expression from her face. You might think so. Its Quint Cantrell. Abes grandson.
Mmm. I saw him not too long ago in Ruidoso, Bridget said thoughtfully. I was pulling into a parking space on the street and he was coming out of the Blue Mesa. I have to admit he looks sexier now than he did when we were in high school.
Like a jolt of loud, unexpected thunder, jealousy shook Maura. Then maybe you should join us for dinner, she quipped. Im sure youd be more than welcome.
Unaware of her sisters reaction, Bridget playfully wrinkled her nose. No thanks, sis. Quint obviously isnt into redheads with freckles. Actually, she added in a more serious tone, I dont think hes into women. Period. Not after the wringer Holly put him through.
For the past few days that was exactly what Maura had been telling herself. The man didnt want a woman in his life. Yet during that short time shed spent with him on the Golden Spur, hed touched her, looked at her as though hed actually wanted to be close to her. Or had that only been the twisted imaginings of a lonely divorcée?
One way or the other, Maura supposed she would find out tonight. And she wasnt ready for the answer.
Maura? Are you all right?
As Bridget touched her arm, Mauras thoughts jerked back to the present and she turned a strained look on her sister.
Sure. Why wouldnt I be?
Her gaze shrewdly studying Mauras face, Bridget shrugged. I dont know. You tell me. Is something going on with Quint that you havent told me about?
Setting her jaw, Maura quickly turned and started toward the door. Dont worry, little sister. If I see that Quint Cantrell is back into women youll be the first to know.
Chapter Four
An hour later, when Maura arrived back at Apache Wells, she was surprised to find Quints pickup already parked next to Abes old Ford. But once she entered the small ranch house, neither he nor Abe was anywhere to be found.
But before she could get to her room to change out of her revealing dress she heard voices on the porch, then footsteps entering the house.
Maura! Where are you, girl?
Abes yells had her groaning as she turned from her room. Quint would just have to see her like this and shed have to appear as though she was comfortable with exposing plenty of skin to his sharp gaze.
Here I am, she announced as she stepped into the cozy living room.
Abe, whod been reclining in his favorite leather chair, plopped his boots on the floor and let out a low whistle. Across from him, sitting at one end of a long couch, Quint stared at her. Maura found it much easier to focus her gaze on the elder Cantrell.
Ooooeee! Dont you look pretty! The old man glanced over at Quint. Look at her, boy. Have you ever seen anything so pretty around here?
Quints shocked stare couldnt decide if it wanted to settle on Maura or his grandfather. Grandma wasnt exactly ugly, he reminded a grinning Abe.
Abes grin turned into an impatient frown for his grandson. Been many a long year since your grandma was with us. Its high time we had another pretty woman in the house.
Across the room, Maura cleared her throat and like a magnet Quint felt his gaze drawn to her slender image outlined by the open doorway. The flowered dress she was wearing made her look all woman and then some. His male ego wanted to think shed worn the sexy garment for his benefit, but he knew otherwise.
You should have warned me earlier that Quint would be here for supper, Maura said to Abe. I wouldve gotten back sooner. It will take me a while to prepare something and
You should have warned me earlier that Quint would be here for supper, Maura said to Abe. I wouldve gotten back sooner. It will take me a while to prepare something and
Forget about cookin, honey! Abe interrupted. I didnt hire you as kitchen help! Jim has already fixed things. All we have to do is heat it up.
She looked surprised and Quint got the feeling that his grandfather probably manipulated his nurse as much as he tried to maneuver him. He could only wonder how long Maura would be willing to put up with the old man and what it would do to him when she flew the coop.
Maura said, Oh. Well, I usually prepare our meals. You
Tonight youre gettin a rest, Abe interrupted again. So dont worry about it.
A smile fluttered around her lips. All right.
Abe motioned for Quint to get to his feet. Go find us some of that blackberry wine and pour us all a drink, Quint. I feel like celebrating tonight.
Quint rose from the couch and ambled toward the doorway where Maura still stood. What do you have to be celebrating? he asked his grandfather.
Bein alive. Aint that enough?
Quint exchanged a pointed look with Maura and this time when she smiled the expression was genuine.
Ill help you find some glasses, she told him.
He followed her down a short hallway and into the small kitchen. Along the way, he caught the rosy scent of her perfume as his eyes watched the folds of her dress move to the sway of her shapely hips.
Lord, it was no wonder Abe was behaving in such a goofy manner, Quint thought. Just looking at this woman was enough to send a mans temperature skyrocketing.
I think the wine is over there, she said while pointing to a white metal cabinet situated at the far end of the room. If youll look for it, Ill find the wineglasses.
Drawing in a deep breath, Quint tore his eyes off her backside and headed to the cabinet. Gramps hardly ever drinks spirits. I dont know whats come over himhes acting strangely happy, he mumbled as he pushed aside cans and jars on the jammed pantry shelf. Is it okay for him to drink this stuff, anyway?
He pulled out the bottle of blackberry wine and walked over to the cabinet where she was placing goblets on a silver tray.
A small amount wont hurt, she said, then slanted a glance at him. And why do you call Abe being happy strange? Id think him being happy is a good thing.
It would be a good thing, Quint thought, if his grandfathers joy didnt depend on a woman. Hed learned through the years that they were fickle creatures and more often than not slanted the truth to their own advantage. Before their breakup, hed caught Holly in several lies, yet shed insisted shed kept the truth from him because shed loved him. Hed heard the same excuse from his own mother when hed discovered shed been dishonest about her past. Women never separated right and wrong with a clear line. They always wanted to soften and blur the edges with emotions and reasons. As though that would keep a man from feeling hurt and betrayed.
I just dont want his bubble burst.
After twisting off the cap, he offered the wine bottle to her. She took it and carefully began to fill each glass with a small amount of the dark liquid. Quints gaze fell to the shiny crown of her head and the dark red strands of hair lying on her bare shoulders.
You think Im going to do something to hurt your grandfather? she asked.
He wasnt expecting such a direct question from her, but then he probably should have. She had a blunt way of getting things out in the open.
Not necessarily. Sometimes Gramps just expects too much out of people. And when they fall short he gets disappointed.
She leveled her green gaze on him and Quint felt his heart pause, then jerk into a rapid thud.
Have you ever disappointed anyone, Quint?
What was the matter with him? Why did just watching her speak feel like an erotic adventure? Sexual starvation, he thought. And that was a fixable problem.
Hell, yeah, he answered. Havent you?
Something flickered in the depths of her eyes before they dropped away from his.
Oh, yes. More than Id like to think.
She drew in a deep breath, then looked up at him one more time. Whatever youre thinking, Quint, Im here to help your grandfather. Not hurt him. As long as you understand that, I think you and I can be friends.
He wanted to be more than Mauras friend. When hed come to that realization, he wasnt sure. Maybe just a few seconds ago when hed looked at her moist lips. Or had it been minutes ago when hed first looked up and saw her standing in the doorway, that dress hugging her breasts like the hands of a lover? Yes, he wanted to be more than Maura Donovans friend and the idea was shaking the fire right out of him. She wasnt a casual sort of woman. But his body didnt seem to care one whit about that fact.
I believe youre here to help Gramps. So lets not rehash the issue, okay?
A slow smile spread across her face and Quint stifled a groan. If he could just kiss those luscious lips once, maybe twice, then he could hopefully put these crazy urges behind him.
Im perfectly agreeable to that, she said, then picked up the tray and offered it to him. Wed better get back to Abe before he thinks weve deserted him.
Smiling to himself, Quint took the tray and followed her out of the room.
Much later, as the three of them finished coffee around the dinner table, Maura quietly listened while Quint and his grandfather discussed the pros and cons of allowing Red Bluff Mining Company to reopen the Golden Spur. Mauras knowledge about mining or taking gold from raw ore was practically nil, but from listening to their debate she could see that each man had good, solid reasons to back up his stand on the subject.
Throughout the meal, Maura had been a bit surprised to see that Quint wasnt a yes-man to Abe on any subject, even though the elder Cantrell was the patriarch of the family and held the strings to a fortune in land and money. Clearly Quint respected his grandfather, but he wasnt shy about speaking up when he didnt agree with the old man.
Maura admired Quints spunk, but she was touched even more by the closeness and love she felt flowing between the two men. Gilbert had never shown much respect for his parents or tried to be a part of her family. Shed often voiced her disapproval about his lack of family connection and tried to make him see the joys he was missing, but her pleas had gone unheeded. One thing she knew for certain about Quint, hed always be around for anyone he cared about.
All right, Gramps, Ill call them. Maybe not in the next few days. But soon. And Ill get a rough estimate as to the initial cost to start things up. But thats all Im going to promise. Im not interested in gold, Quint was saying toAbe.
Maura smiled to herself as she saw Abes eyes begin to twinkle. Clearly he believed he was the winner tonight.
Maybe not. But the gold will make it easier for you to be a rancher. And it sure as heck might be nice to leave to your youngns.
The muscles around Quints mouth tightened, but he didnt make any sort of reply to his grandfathers suggestion. Maura wasnt surprised. When shed brought up the idea of him raising children, hed turned as cool as a frosty morning. Which could only mean he wasnt interested in acquiring a wife, much less kids.