Stranded with the Rancher. Tina Radcliffe

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ eyes opened and her brows rose in surprise before she released a short laugh.

      “Those soft, melt-in-your-mouth ones that are sprinkled with sea salt,” Dan explained.

      “I would have never guessed.”

      “Now you know my secret. I hope I can count on your discretion.”

      Beth crossed her heart with a finger and nodded.

      Dan smiled and couldn’t help appraising the city girl. Today her hair was swept back, away from her face in a no-fuss ponytail, low on her neck. He didn’t know much about makeup, but her face didn’t look to be made up.

      She wore plain, ordinary jeans, not even the skinny kind, and a bulky forest-green sweater that fell to her hips and concealed her figure. Obviously, she was more comfort-focused than fashion conscious.

      Points for her.

      “How’s your shoulder?” he asked.

      “The patient is much improved.”

      “Hmm” was his muttered response.

      She pinned him with her gaze. “Do I sense doubt at my qualified medical opinion?”

      “Full range of motion?” he countered, ignoring her comment.

      “Partial, and the pain is significantly diminished.”

      Dan nodded and poured the coffee. “Black, right?”

      “Yes. Thanks.”

      “Did you get a call through to New York?” he asked as he slid into a chair across from her.

      “Interesting segue,” she said as she took a sip of coffee.

      Dan smiled and wrapped his hands around his mug, waiting.

      “I did get in touch with the on-call physician after a few tries, and he was very understanding. I’ve rescheduled my flight for Thursday afternoon. That will give me some time to relax before the Friday morning interview.”

      “That’s positive thinking.”

      She blinked. “You don’t think I can get to New York by Thursday night?”

      “The truth?”

      “Always.”

      “Could be, but you might have saved yourself some stress by making it for the following Monday.”

      “No. They’d have replaced me for certain if I couldn’t get there before then.”

      “Do you honestly want an employer who values you so little they’ll hold the weather against you?”

      Beth didn’t answer. She stared down at her coffee, finally lifting the mug and taking another sip.

      “You said you wanted the truth,” he murmured.

      “And you’re very good at that,” Beth returned with a tight smile.

      “Muffin?” Dan offered. He slid a plate with a plump, golden muffin across the table, along with a napkin.

      “Peace offering?” she asked.

      Taken off guard by her response, Dan laughed and shook his head. “Maybe.”

      Beth peeled the paper off her muffin and broke it in half. “What are these?”

      “My mother calls them kitchen sink muffins. Fruit, nuts and seeds. They stick to you, that’s for sure.”

      She took a bite. “Good stuff.”

      He noted her long, slim fingers as she picked up crumbs from the table. No rings, and while her nails were polished, they were short and practical. Even the color, a pale pink, was simple and subdued.

      The woman was a puzzle. She gave away very little, yet her panic in the truck had been very real and didn’t mesh with the no-nonsense, controlled woman with the quirky sense of humor who sat across from him. He pondered that as he ate his own muffin.

      There was an intimacy in the quiet meal they shared. It was pleasant, and he couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to share breakfast each day with someone like Beth.

      Her gaze met his and she quickly looked away, her face coloring and her lashes fluttering in apparent confusion. Her attention quickly moved to the view outside the window.

      Was she having the same thoughts?

      Dan studied her profile, admiring the smooth column of her neck visible above the sweater’s rolled collar. A few tendrils of hair had escaped her ponytail and rested on her ear.

      Yes, she was beautiful, but what did he really know about Beth Rogers? Experience had taught him the hard way that you didn’t really get to know someone when things were going fine. Reality poked up its head when you least expected it—usually when your guard was down. When the going was rough. Yeah, that was when you really discovered a person’s mettle.

      The wall phone began to ring and Dan grabbed it before the sound woke the entire household.

      “Gallagher.” He paused. “Okay. Tell Abel to relax, I’m on my way.” Dan shook his head and put the receiver back in the cradle.

      “Everything okay?”

      “Looks like I’m going to deliver a baby today. Midwife can’t get through.”

      “Have you ever delivered a baby?” Beth asked.

      He shrugged. “Naw, but there’s no better time to learn than the present. Besides, Ben is the doctor on call. He’ll meet me there.”

      “Why bother Ben when I’m sitting around doing nothing?”

      “You want to go?”

      Beth nodded.

      Elsie strolled into the kitchen, her eyes curious. A pleased smile crossed her face when she spotted Beth and Dan. Today his mother’s sweatshirt was buttercup-yellow and bore the words I May Be Wrong, But I Doubt It.

      “Go where?” she asked.

      “Home birth and Emily can’t get through.”

      “You’ll have to take Beth. She’s a doctor and you’ve never delivered a baby.”

      Dan barely resisted groaning. Thank you, Mother. He could count on Elsie to reduce him to the youngest child in a heartbeat.

      Beth’s eyes met his and she bit her lip as though undecided as to whether she should weigh in on the discussion. “I’m happy to assist,” she finally said. “Your decision.”

      “I can do the ranch chores while you’re gone,” Elsie added as she poured herself a cup of coffee.

      “What СКАЧАТЬ