women.
She sat back down at her desk and contemplated what had
happened the previous afternoon. Juliana had not needed to worry
about contraception for years after Lawrence had his vasectomy. He’d
been certain that he wouldn’t want kids, and his mother didn’t even
know she wouldn’t be having any grandchildren from him. She
grinned thinking she should call her and let that little tidbit slip, just to
get even with both of them.
Having unprotected sex was stupid, but she’d been so caught up in
the moment, it hadn’t even occurred to her. It sounded almost as
stupid rattling around in her head as it had the day before when she’d
apologized to Ash. He hadn’t been upset about it at all and had
claimed equal responsibility. She contemplated calling Dr. Guthrie
about it.
Juliana was paged to the sales floor, and before she knew it, her
busy morning was over, and she was completely immersed in her
work. Evelyn kept her on track time-wise, and when two o’clock
came near, she had her purse in hand, workweek planned out, and
tasks delegated. She smiled when she heard Ash’s deep voice from
down the hall, talking with Evelyn.
She poked her head out the door, admiring his denim-clad
physique. He was once again in his dusty cowboy boots, barn jacket,
Western shirt, and black felt cowboy hat, hands on his hips as he
shared a laugh with Evelyn. He was stroking thoughtfully through his
light-brown muttonchop sideburns, nodding at something Evelyn said.
106
Heather Rainier
“What are you two conspiring about now?” Juliana asked as she
slipped under the arm he lifted to wrap around her shoulder. She
loved the way they fit together so nicely. Lawrence and she had been
the same height, so a position like that with her snuggled under his
arm would not have been comfortable, not that he was the snuggling
type regardless of his height issues.
“Miss Evelyn was just telling me about a new restaurant in
Morehead. She thought that we might like it.”
“Oh. Well, I’m ready when you are.”
He helped her into his truck, and they stopped for a late lunch at
O’Reilley’s. On the way home, they went by the grocery store for
steaks, which Ash planned to grill that evening after she’d napped, he
informed her.
Acknowledging that she could do with a little nap that afternoon,
Juliana slipped out of her work clothing and put on a loose T-shirt and
yoga pants then allowed him to tuck her under a blanket on her bed.
“Are you going to join me?” she asked as she looked up at him
sleepily from her pillow. She was not normally a napping person and
was surprised by how easily her body yielded to lethargy.
“No. I haven’t had the time or space to enjoy cooking in a while,
so I’m going to snoop through your cabinets and concoct some
surprises for you this evening. You stay in bed and take a nap.”
She gave him a mini-salute then stuck her tongue out at him
before giggling when he swooped down to her for a kiss.
“Sleep. Doctor’s orders.”
Juliana hmphed. “Doctor who?”
“Doctor Evelyn. We’d better do as she says.”
“You’re right. Ash, you are such a sweet, thoughtful man.”
Ash stopped in the doorway, the expression in his eyes unreadable
in the dimmed room. He leaned lazily against the doorframe, adopting
that sexy, loose cowboy stance that made her salivate. Shrugging
nonchalantly, he said, “It’s a burden. You’re welcome, darlin’. Rest
now.”
Spurs and Heels
107
She conked out and didn’t wake up until three hours later.
Evidently, she’d been sleep deprived for a while. A succulent
combination of aromas wafted into the room, making her mouth water
and her stomach rumble. She smelled smoke from her grill out back,
but she also smelled garlic, onions, herbs, and…chocolate.
“If ever I could love, I think it could be with you…” she started to
sing to herself, humming the melody to the Keith Urban song as she
stretched in bed, careful of the stitches. She hardly felt them when she
moved and counted that as a good sign.
Quietly, the door opened, and Ash stuck his head in. “Oh, good,
you’re awake. Supper will be ready soon. I hope you’re hungry. I
went to the store and got some things. Your refrigerator and cabinets
were practically empty.”
“I don’t keep a whole lot in the house. I hope you didn’t go to
major expense.”
“You don’t worry about that. It was my idea,” he said as he sat on
the side of the bed. “How are you feeling?”
“Good. I slept hard, and my stitches aren’t bothering me. Is that