Relentless (4 page)

“I have to be up in three hours,” she said, resting
her cheek on his shoulder as she draped one arm over him and wedged
her thigh between his.

His fingers lingered on her ass, and he closed his
eyes. “Okay, I have to get some work done today, anyway. I can just
start when you leave.”

She stiffened. “You’re not staying here all
day.”

“You left me here while you went to the clinic.”

“Way different. I don’t need the entire population
of Cottonwood Falls to know you’re here. The few which are up at
this time to perhaps see your car is way different than you being
here once the day truly begins.”

He couldn’t explain why it bothered him, her wanting
no one, or as few as possible, to know he was in her bed.

“Fine, I’ll leave when you do.”

“I know.” Her body relaxed, sinking into his. He
buried his nose in her hair and closed his eyes. Stubborn.
Headstrong. And a few other adjectives he could use to describe the
woman in his arms.

That afternoon, as he ate lunch in Topper’s Diner, a
shadow fell over him. He looked up and swallowed his burger bite.
Bobby stood there, hat in hand.

“Hey,” Bobby said. “Do you mind?” He gestured to the
seat across from him.

“Not at all.”

He slid into the booth and asked for a Coke when
Sherry came to take his order. Toby waited for him to say
something, but he just sat there, toying with the napkin
holder.

“Spit it out, Bobby. What’s bothering you?”

“I ran into Tim.”

“Tim who?”

“Tim Retals. He was a year ahead of us in school.
Anyway, he’s one of the other deputies.”

He raised his eyebrows. “And?”

“Tim was on patrol last night, and he said he saw
your car outside Dr. Glazer’s rental.”

“Get to the point, Bobby.” He took another bite of
his burger.

“Here you go, hon,” Sherry said, placing down the
drink and walking away.

“Are you serious? Sleeping with Melinda Glazer?”

“One, I fail to see how my sleeping habits are
anyone’s business, and if they were—which again, they’re not—what’s
wrong with Mellie?”

“Wrong with? Nothing, man. But, crap on a cracker,
Toby, her father is sick with cancer. Are you taking advantage of
her weakened emotional state?”

Toby flicked his tongue to catch the ketchup in the
corner of his mouth. “Are you telling me to stay away from Mellie
because you think she’s in a delicate emotional place?”

Bobby didn’t even crack a smile. In fact, his
expression was identical to the one time in school when they came
to fisticuffs. Heated anger and a tenuous grip on his control.

“Shit,” Toby said. “You are.” He shifted in the
booth seat. “I thought the two of us were friends. Remember The
A-Team?”

“You’re different, now, Toby. All flash and money.
The fast life is where you are. That’s not what we do or who we are
around here. We’re not ignorant hicks just because we choose to
keep a piece of the past surrounding us and not totally conform to
the mainstream way of life and welcome all the hate and crime you
live with in your world. When I first heard you were coming back, I
thought it would be for something good. I’ll admit, I had a moment
when I thought your money would help us out. Now, I know better. It
won’t, and we don’t want it. Not how you’re trying to do it. So,
yes, in this instance, I’m doing exactly that.”

Toby sat forward, resting his elbows on the table.
Instantly, three elderly women sent him a disapproving look. He
focused on the man across from him. “In no world does Mellie need
your help in protection. That woman is fire and ice. She doesn’t
crack. Secondly, life is a business. Either I do this or someone
else will. It’s called progress—you get onboard or get out of its
way.”
Why is it churning my gut to think of him protecting her?
And, why am I focusing on that bit?

Bobby held his gaze for a while. “You really mean
that, don’t you?”

“It’s the way the world works, Bobby. You can’t have
your head in the sand.”

His laughter was anything but jovial. “Right,
because we’re not in your league here; we must be back in the Stone
Age. I remember you used to consider yourself the Hannibal of our
group.” He finished his Coke and stood. “This is one time,
Hannibal, when your plan won’t come together. And I, for one, will
be glad.” Bobby walked away and pushed out of the diner without a
look back.

The patrons were watching Toby and making no qualms
about doing so. He finished his meal, paid, and left. Bobby’s words
rattled around in his head as he walked up the main drag. This was
the third person he’d heard this from, and it had begun to make him
question what he was doing here. Gazing to each side of the street,
he tried to envision his strip mall in place of the buildings there
now. It wasn’t as easy as it had been before.

The town square would have to go, probably become
more parking. He pivoted to take it all in. The towering Cottonwood
trees surrounding the square offered shade to those who chose to
sit on the numerous benches. In the center was a fountain. Right
now, small children with their families ran around and played with
reckless abandon. Something they’d not be able to do if it was a
parking lot.

“There are other parks in Cottonwood Falls,” he
muttered, turning his back to the square and walking on.

Logic told him some of those would have to go as
well, again, for parking and to have a place to store the
construction vehicles. He again observed the way the people
interacted with one another.

Once he reached his car, he ducked inside. He drove
around, looking at places that could use a complete makeover or
just be torn down. Toby passed his old high school and smiled at
the boys playing football. A little farther, and he reached the
hospital. He’d been born there. It wasn’t a massive
twenty-plus-floored building that did it all, including elective
surgeries. It had one floor. On his way back to his parents’, he
passed the police station. Four cars, that was it. And, they didn’t
double up in the vehicles. They had the sheriff and three deputies.
Another fact that would definitely have to change.

He walked in the house and was met by the scent of
fresh lemon pie. His mom welcomed him with a smile as she walked
toward him, wiping her hands off on her apron.

“Bobby was looking for you,” she said, kissing his
cheek. “Did he find you?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Good, good. Dinner is at six sharp.” She went back
to the kitchen and began rolling out the dough. “Chicken pot pies
tonight.”

“You’re spoiling me, Ma.”

“Good, then maybe you’ll stay around. You know the
old Felton house is up for sale.”

“You mentioned that already.”

“Sometimes, as I’ve learned being married to your
father all these years, you Latner men need more than one
reminder.” She shooed him away so he jogged up to his room and
pulled out his computer to get some work done.

***

Melinda walked out to her vehicle, exhausted. The
day had been long and trying. Her father’s chemo hadn’t gone as
they’d expected. He didn’t do well on it and had been sick much
sooner, so she’d been home to help her mother. Then, someone had
hit a stray dog right before closing, and she had to head back to
the clinic for an emergency surgery. It was ten at night, and
they’d just finished up.

She unlocked her SUV and tossed her bag across to
land on the passenger seat. Starting the engine, she called her
mother.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Mama. Do you need me to come by and do
anything?”

“Are you just leaving the clinic?”

“Yes, ma’am. But, I haven’t left the parking lot yet
so I can head to your house if—”

“No, dear. Thank you, but he’s finally settled into
sleep. We’ll be fine. You can come over, and I can fix you
something to eat if you’d like.”

Food was the farthest thing from her mind, but she
heard the need in her mother’s tone. “That,” she said, pushing her
bone-weary fatigue away, “would be perfect. I’ll be right there.”
So, instead of heading back to her small place, she turned the nose
of her vehicle toward her parents’.

Her mom, Inez, stood out on the porch as she drove
up. Melinda parked and hopped out with a wave. She hugged her mom
then trailed her in the house. They went to the kitchen where she’d
spent many an hour watching her mom and grandmother whip up
fantastic meals.

“How was work, other than the emergency that kept
you late?”

“Papa has a terrific staff, and they handled it all
extremely well. Tomorrow is surgery day, so I will be out of touch
most of the time, but I’ll call you in between my surgeries.”

Her mom set a plate of grilled salmon, asparagus,
and rice pilaf before her. “You don’t need to do that. We’ll be
fine.”

“I need to do it, Mama, so I’m fine.” She picked up
her fork, grateful she’d listened to her mom, for her belly was
grumbling in anticipation. “This looks delicious, thank you.”

Her smile was sad. “I thought I would fix some of
his favorite food; didn’t do much good, as he didn’t want to
eat.”

She reached out and squeezed her mom’s hand. “They
said he wouldn’t feel like it much, and that his nausea will get
worse before it gets better. It’s new for all of us, Mama.”

Her mom poured some tea and joined her at the table.
“I know; it’s just hard.”

Melinda ate a bite of the fish, so flaky and moist
it fell apart in her mouth. “Perfect,” she said after she
swallowed.

She stayed for an hour after her mom went to bed,
just in case her father woke, then she dragged herself back out to
her vehicle and headed to her place where she stumbled into bed
with a groan.

When her alarm went off, she fumbled around to smack
it silent. Pushing up, she wiped her hand along her face, rolling
her eyes when she felt drool. “Cripes, that’s pathetic.” Yawning,
she navigated to the shower and stood under the hot spray.

Dressed, she made herself some breakfast that she
ate slowly. Dishes in the sink, she stared at the mess and said, “I
promise, when I get home today, I will put more things away.” Then,
she closed the door on it and walked to her vehicle, mug of coffee
in hand.

“I’ll be in my office if you need me,” she mentioned
to Janelle as they passed in the hall.

“You got it, Doc. How’s Dr. Glazer doing?”

“It was rough yesterday. I’m going to call and see
how he’s doing today. Thanks for asking.”

“We all love him here and send our love.” Janelle
pushed through back to the kennel area.

Melinda closed the office door and sat at the desk.
Her hand shook as she called her mom to find out he was, as
predicted, nauseous but in okay spirits. That finished, she looked
over her day.

The phone beeped, and she pressed the button.
“Yes?”

“Dr. Glazer, there’s someone here who wants to speak
with you.”

She checked the time. “I have a few moments. Send
them back.”

Had she been thinking clearly, she would have gone
up front. As it was, she hadn’t, and now, she had a visitor coming
to her. The door opened, and before she even lifted her head, she
knew who it was. Her body’s betraying arousal told her all she
needed to know. Toby.

“What do you need?” she asked, daring to peek at
him.

Big mistake.
He had dressed in another suit
today. The charcoal suit fit him perfectly. The ends of his
brown-blond hair tapered down to the collar. She longed to drag her
fingers through the silken strands. His blue eyes were vibrant
against his tanned skin.

“Most people start off with ‘good morning’ or some
other nicety.”

She rocked back in the chair. “So, this is about
work? Your useless attempt to get my father to sell?”

“Actually, no,” he corrected with a frown. “This was
about me coming to ask you out for dinner.”

She froze, allowing the chair to bring her back
level. “I’m sorry, you’re asking me on a date?”

He strolled closer, sucking up her air supply.
How does one man look so damn fine?
He leaned forward and
rested his knuckles on the desktop. “That’s exactly what I’m doing.
And, no, it’s not got anything to do with my business or this one.
I’m asking because I want to take you out.”

She picked up a pen and tapped it on the wood, doing
her damndest to remain calm about this situation.
Sure, I can
handle working emergency vet situations, but have Toby Latner ask
me for a date, and I’m about two seconds away from a meltdown. What
the frack is wrong with me?

His scent, combined with the soft undertones of
sandalwood, was turning her into a horny slut. She wanted to slam
the door shut and spread her legs for him.

“Mellie?” His voice was a low thrum of
decadence.

“Tonight?”

“Yes.” He stood fully upright again, bringing more
attention to how well the suit fit. “Is that a problem?”

“You want to go out to eat here in Cottonwood
Falls?”

“No. Macon. Somewhere upscale. I want you in a
dress, Mellie. So, I can see everything you’re blessed with.”

More heat flushed through her. “Haven’t you already
seen that?”

“Humor me. Will you be done by seven?”

“I can be.” The words slipped out before she could
contemplate saying no.

“Excellent. I will pick you up then.” His gaze raked
over her once more before he spun on his heel and strode away.

Janelle popped her head in seconds later. “Are you
going out with Toby Latner?” Her question ended on a small
squeal.

“I think so,” Melinda replied.

“I was going to invite you again for drinks, but
hell, go with him.”

“I should call him and cancel.”

Janelle scowled at her. “Oh, no. Why not go out with
him? He’s hot, nice, a gentleman.”

And fucks like a god.
Thank goodness her lips
remained closed and didn’t let that statement pass. “I don’t know
if I should.”