Even this chance to come to Cottonwood and take care of an injured rancher had come at the right time, convincing her that nursing was where she needed to focus her energies. Her new job didnt start until next month and her finances were getting a little tight. The money she would earn as a live-in caregiver would help with some of those credit card bills she was using as a stopgap measure.
The Hardison Ranch was easy to find. She just had to follow what seemed like miles of white rail fences until she reached the main gate, which featured a hand-painted sign and a metal sculpture of a bucking longhorn cow. Or was it a bull? A steer? Whatever. Sherry knew nothing about cattle, and she didnt want to.
She turned her Firebird right and through the gate, rumbling over a cattle guard, then down a long, red dirt drive. She noticed a picturesque red barn off to her right. It looked like the model for countless amateur oil paintings.
What a trip, she murmured aloud.
When the ranch house came into view, Sherry was impressed. It was a huge, rambling one-story building done in a pseudo log-cabin style. Pastures surrounded it on all sides, but a few trees had been spared to give the house shade from the hot Texas sun. Someone had planted chrysanthemums in front, which were covered in orange blossoms.
The house and grounds looked well maintained, and the few cows she saw in the distance grazed contentedly. She hoped the inside was as nice, but she had her doubts since from what Allison had told her, the Hardison Ranch was a bastion of male bachelorhood. She didnt relish the thought of devoting all her time to scrubbing floors and toilets, but that was what she would do if she had to. When shed left the trailer park, shed sworn she would never live anyplace dirty again, not even temporarily.
Sherry pulled her Firebird next to a pickup truck. Several other vehicles were parked in the drive, all of them trucks or SUVs. Her little red sports car looked out of place, she thought with a grin, wondering what her new employer would think of it.
She hadnt given much thought to her boss and patient, Jonathan Hardison. When shed asked Allison if Jonathan was as cute as his younger brother, her friend had been cagey with her answer, saying, Hes handsome enough when he smiles, which isnt very often. Sherry figured that was fair warning that Jonathan wouldnt be an easy customer.
Well, soon shed know exactly what the situation was. She couldnt sit here in the car all day. She applied a fresh coat of lipstick, powdered her nose, fluffed her blond hair, grabbed her overnight case from the passenger seat, and got out of the car.
SHES HERE! announced Sam, Jonathans eight-year-old son, who peered excitedly out the living room window.
I wanna see! Jons seven-year-old, Kristin, raced to the window to join her brother.
If Jonathan could have done the same, he would have. But he was stuck in a recliner, his leg elevated on pillows. He could move, even walk with the aid of crutches when he had to, but Jeff had ordered him to stay put unless absolutely necessary.
For once, Jonathan had listened to his brother. Now that he was off those nice painkilling drugs theyd given him at the hospital, the leg hurta lot. He would do whatever it took to heal the fracture as quickly as he could so he could get back to work. If that meant acting like an invalid for a few days, hed do it.
His whole family had come to the hospital this morning to take him home, like it was some kind of party. Now they were crawling all over the house. Jeff and their father, Edward Hardison, who was also a doctor, were here to instruct Jonathans new nurse on his care. Wade was here ostensibly because he was running the ranch for the next couple of weeks, but Jonathan suspected Wade and his wife, Anne, were hanging around because they were curious about the new nurse.
Allison was also there to greet Sherry because shed arranged the whole thing. Gregarious Sally, Petes fiancée, didnt really have an excuse for being here, except that she and Pete were seldom apart these days. Theyd all been fussing around him like old women, fixing up a guest room, doing laundry, stocking the pantry. Much as he loved his family, Jonathan wished they would all just go away and leave him in peace. He could work things out with the nursemaid himself.
Wade joined the kids at the window and let out a low whistle. Allison, are you nuts? She doesnt even look like a nurse. She looks like a
Dont say it. Allison held up her hand to halt her future-brother-in-laws tirade. You cant judge a book by its cover. Havent you ever heard that?
Like a what? Jonathan wanted to know.
Lets have a look at her, said Pete, Jonathans wiry grandfather, toddling over to the living room window and peeking around the edge of the curtain. She cant be thatholy moly, thats some hunk of woman.
Pete, really, Allison admonished. Sherry isan individual. She has her own unique sense of style.
Yeah, kind of trashy chic, added Anne, who was peeking through the shades from a different window. My gosh, get a load of that car!
Get a load of those spike heels, Wade added.
Shes wearing leopard-skin pants! Sam observed.
For pitys sake, Jonathan said, the womans going to think were a bunch of weirdos, peering at people through cracks in the curtains. But his mind was focused on the commentsome hunk of womantrashy chicspike heelsleopard-skin pants. He was undoubtedly intrigued. Did that mean big hair and tight clothes? His heart beat a little faster at the thought even as he told himself to knock it off. The last thing he needed was to develop a crush on some fast-talking city girl.
The doorbell rang, and Allison gave an exasperated sigh. Anyone else want to take a verbal shot at poor Sherry before I let her in? Cause I promise you, first person who says anything mean to her face, Ill kick em clean to the Gulf of Mexico.
As Allison opened the door, Jonathan pretended to find great interest in the TV Guide. Everyone else could make a big to-do over Sherry. He intended for her to know shed been allowed here under protest. Agreeing to the nurse was the only way he could get Jeff to discharge him from the hospital.
Allie, honey, you look fabulous! The newcomer stepped through the door and enveloped Allison in a hug. Being engaged must agree with you. Jeff, you rascal, its about time someone made an honest man out of you. She kissed Jeff on the cheek.
Jonathan watched all this from the corner of his eye, getting only an impression of a slender body topped with a huge cloud of blond hair. He was dying to get a good look at her, but he didnt want to be caught staring. And he had this niggling suspicion that he would want to stare.
Allison introduced Sherry to the rest of the crowd, including the children, who had suddenly gone mute.
Finally Jonathan couldnt put it off. Allison was leading Sherry to his corner of the room. He looked up from the TV Guide and assumed a smile, which immediately froze on his face. Standing before him was the most fantastic creature hed ever laid eyes on, a cross between Florence Nightingale and Madonna.
Jonathan, this is Sherry McCormick, Allison was saying. Jonathan was only vaguely aware of what anyone said, however, as a buzz had started in his head, drowning out everything else.
Sherry held out her hand. Her fingers were tipped with inch-long, peach nails that exactly matched her lipstick. Nice to meet you, Jonathan. I hope I can be a big help to you.
Jonathan, this is Sherry McCormick, Allison was saying. Jonathan was only vaguely aware of what anyone said, however, as a buzz had started in his head, drowning out everything else.
Sherry held out her hand. Her fingers were tipped with inch-long, peach nails that exactly matched her lipstick. Nice to meet you, Jonathan. I hope I can be a big help to you.
Her voice was high-pitched and breathy, kind of like Marilyn Monroes. Jonathan took her hand, which felt cool and soft against his. He squeezed it briefly and murmured some pleasantry.
This was his nurse? He could more easily picture her sashaying down a runway than pushing a wheelchair down a hospital corridor. But she was a friend of Allisons, and she had a sincere-looking smile, so he supposed he had to trust that she had some idea of how to take care of people.
So how did you manage to do this to yourself? Sherry asked, indicating the full-leg fiberglass cast.
Jonathan didnt want to talk about his accident. He hadnt been bucked from a horse for a good many years, and it was an embarrassment that hed let his normally placid gelding get the best of him.
Sheer stupidity, he finally answered, hoping it would quell her curiosity.
Let me show you to your room, Allison said. She looked at the small case Sherry held in her left hand. You brought more luggage than that, right?
Oh, lots more, Sherry replied. I dont travel light.
If youll give me your keys, Jeff said, Ill bring your stuff in from the car.
Sherry obliged him, then allowed Allison to lead her down a hallway to the bedrooms. The children, whod been staring at Sherry as if she were some exotic animal at the zoo, trailed after the two women. Youre right across the hall from Jonathan, Allison was saying as their voices faded away.
Holy cow, Pete said, stifling a laugh.
Shesdifferent, said Edward, who made a show of mopping his round face with his handkerchief.
Jeff warned us Sherry was flamboyant, Wade said, grinning ear to ear. But nothing could have prepared me for the reality. Shes kind of
Kind of what? Anne asked in a teasing voice as she joined Wade on the couch, leaning her head on his shoulder. Last I checked, you liked big hair and tight clothes.
Wades face turned ruddy. Not for a nurse, he murmured, though he and Anne shared an understanding look. Anne, who was normally a sedate, conservative attorney, had first caught Wades eye by decking herself out like a country-western singer, complete with sequins, and brazenly flirting with him at a rodeo.
Edward fixed his oldest son with a penetrating stare. Youre awfully quiet about all this. What do you think of her? Are you comfortable with her taking care of you and the kids?
Comfortable? Not likely, when he had an arousal like a steel bar pushing against his jeans.
He shrugged, trying to look indifferent. Im sure shell be fine, and if shes not, Ill send her packing. He fervently hoped she would be a terrible nurse, and that he would find ten excuses before nightfall to fire her. Because otherwise he was going to have to work to keep his hands off her.
Chapter Two
Sherry struggled to breathe normally as Allison took her on a tour of the house. Though no women had inhabited this house for many years, it was neat and clean as a convent, calming her earlier fears. Which was good, because she had plenty of new concernslike how she was going to remain a detached care-giver while caring for the most gorgeous man shed ever laid eyes on.
Shed only been teasing Allison when shed asked if Jonathan was good-looking. Normally she didnt care what her patients looked like, only that they needed her. Shed figured that if he was related to Jeff, who was movie-star handsome, he wouldnt be a gargoyle. But nothing had prepared her for exactly how good-looking the older brother would beand very different from Jeff.
He was taller, for one thing. Sherry could tell even though Jonathan had been in a recliner. He was rangier, tooa bit broader in the shoulders, more sinewy, like a cowboy from those old cigarette billboards. His face still held on to its summer tan, though it was almost winter. His dark, wavy hair, a little unruly, was nothing like Jeffs sun-burnished locks. But it was the eyes that really caught Sherry in a snare. Dark, mysterious, wary. Nothing tickled her libido faster than a man with secrets to hide.
Unfortunately, her policy was strictly hands-off when it came to her patients. What a bummer. Why couldnt a guy like him show up in her life when she could actually take advantage?
Well, she might not be here that long, she reminded herself. The mans superficial smile hadnt extended to his eyes. Jonathan Hardison didnt want her in his house.
She didnt always make a great first impression. That was something shed learned early, though shed never understood why it was true. She always tried to be her most pleasant when she met new people.
At least most people liked her when they got to know her. Jonathans resistance made her just that much more determined to win him overif he didnt fire her first.
As for the kids, they were so precious they made her heart ache. All children made her feel that way, bringing back memories shed just as soon keep buried. She liked to think she would be good with children, but in reality she hadnt spent enough time around any to know. She imagined she could keep them safe, clean and fed, which was the minimum this job required. But she wasnt sure if they would like her. For all she knew, they might believe she was trying to replace their mother.
We laid in some groceries earlier today, Allison was explaining as they entered the kitchen. I have no idea what you like to cook, so I bought some staples and also frozen convenience stuff, just in case. The ranch has an account at the grocery store, so you can just charge whatever you want.
Sherry inspected the cupboards and refrigerator contents in the large, homey kitchen. There seemed to be plenty of everything she would need for several days. Will I need to get some sort of authorization?
Allison looked at her blankly. For what?
To charge the groceries.
Allison laughed. Thats not necessary. I just called Clem down at Grubbs Food Mart and let him know its okay for you to sign on the Hardison account.
Wow. That was small-town life, Sherry guessed. Everyone knew everyone and trusted everyone, apparently. Sherry wasnt sure how she felt about that. She was accustomed to the anonymity of the big city. She met new people every day and none of them could judge her on her past, only on what she let them see.
Sometimes that was enough, she conceded with a grin.
Why are you smiling? the little girl asked.
Sherrys grin grew. Because Im happy to be here, I guess. Sometimes I just smile for the heck of it. You know, doctors have done tests on people that prove smiling makes you happy, even if you arent happy to start with.
That sounds like hogwash, the boy said as he peered hopefully into an empty cookie jar.
Sam, Sherry reminded herself. Sam and Kristin. She prided herself on remembering names because shed learned that her patients felt more relaxed when she related to them as people, one on one.
Sam! Allison scolded. That wasnt very nice.