Spring River Valley: The Spring Collection (Boxed Set) (22 page)

“It’s the middle of the day.”

“Men love sex in the middle of the day.”

“Since when are you an expert?”

Evie waggled her eyebrows. “Since I met Tanner. Who’s waiting for me, so I’ve got to go. Call me with details later. It will all work out. I know it will.”

“I hope you’re right.”

*

“This seems a bit radical, don’t you think?” Owen asked as they pulled up in front of Bailey’s apartment. Matt had asked Owen to pick him up from the car wash, where his car was being thoroughly detailed, and take him to Bailey’s.

“I think it’s incredibly romantic,” Claudia said from the back seat. Whatever fight she and Owen had had last night seemed to be resolved for the moment, though Matt sensed a little residual tension. Fortunately, when he asked Owen to explain the circumstances, she’d readily agreed to come along and talk to Bailey on his behalf. The text he’d finally gotten from her said she was sorry and that she adored him. He probably didn’t need any witnesses, but he wanted her to know that she would never have cause to doubt anything he ever told her. She’d never have cause to doubt how he felt about her.

“Maybe you should go in first, Claudia?” Matt said as Owen pulled into a parking spot.

“Sure.” She got out of the car, and he pointed to Bailey’s door. She leaned into the open car window. “Any girl would be lucky to have a guy willing to go to all this trouble for her. You’re a keeper, Matt.”

Owen rolled his eyes as Claudia walked away.

“What? That was nice of her to say.”

“She didn’t say it to you, she said it to me. It was some kind of jibe at me for some reason.”

“I thought you two worked out your problems.”

“I said I was sorry for whatever it was I said last night. She said she was sorry for dumping my ass out of the car. We’re good for now, but look at her…she’s still got a bug up her butt about something.”

Matt eyed Owen. “What’s with you two anyway? Are you dating or what?”

“Are you kidding? We’re just friends. Friends who fight three or four times a week these days.”

“Oh, man.”

“What?”

“Nothing, just watch and wait for our cue.”

*

Bailey ran for the door the moment the bell rang. She couldn’t hide her disappointment at finding the person at the door was not Matt. Claudia didn’t seem insulted, though, by Bailey’s less than enthusiastic greeting.

“Oh, hi. This is a surprise.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry to intrude.”

“No, of course not. It’s actually nice to see you. I was a little worried about you after we saw you in the bathroom yesterday. Are you okay?” Bailey stepped back to let the singer into her apartment.

“I’m okay. Guy troubles…I suppose.”

Bailey let out a faint laugh. “I hope you aren’t here for romance advice, because I’m the last person to ask. Please, sit down. Can I get you coffee or something?”

“Nope. I can’t stay long. I just came over to let you know that Matt wasn’t cheating on you last night.”

Bailey glanced out the living-room window. Matt had sent Claudia to talk to her rather than coming over himself? “How did you know…?”

“He and Owen are good friends. It was all true what he told you about needing to help Owen. He and I had a fight, and he got out of my car under…less than ideal circumstances. He called Matt to pick him up, and he asked Matt to come alone because he was embarrassed. It’s the absolute truth.”

“I know.” Bailey sat down opposite Claudia. “I know he thinks I don’t trust him, but really it’s me I don’t trust. I acted terribly, and I’m so sorry. Is he around? Did he bring you here?”

“Owen did. He’s outside too. Matt asked us both to talk to you…and he did it because he wants you to know that he understands how you feel and that you’re sensitive about certain things, and he’s willing to be a hundred percent up-front with you. If he has to prove to you that he means everything he says, he’s prepared to do that.”

“He shouldn’t have to prove it. I should trust him enough to believe him. I was wrong. I’m sorry he had to drag you and Owen here as witnesses. I feel terrible.”

“No, don’t. I think it’s sweet. Most guys would just get angry at being questioned, and they’d take off. Believe me, I’ve been there. Matt’s willing to do anything to make sure you never feel off balance with him.”

Tears filled the corners of Bailey’s eyes, and she swiped at them. She didn’t deserve a guy as caring as Matt. “He must think I’m insane.”

“I think he’s in love with you.” Claudia smiled. “You’re very lucky.”

Bailey rose. “Is he outside? I need to talk to him.”

“Well, when I leave, Owen is supposed to come in, then Matt when Owen leaves. It’s a whole thing—we even rehearsed it—but I think we can skip the formalities. You two need to talk.”

“How about you and Owen? Did you work everything out?”

Claudia waved her hand. “I guess. I realized last night that maybe whatever I thought was between us was in my own head. He doesn’t seem to realize I’m a woman. He just sees me as one of the guys.”

Bailey raised a brow. “I’ve watched the two of you sing together. Trust me, he knows you’re a woman.”

“He’s a great performer, and maybe that’s what I was seeing, so I thought it was something more.” Claudia rose too and headed for the door. “Don’t worry about us. We’re fine.” She opened the door and waved toward an unfamiliar car in the parking lot. Bailey guessed it belonged to Owen. The guitarist got out of the driver’s side, and Matt got out of the passenger seat. With a series of hand gestures, Claudia communicated to them that Owen should get back in the car and Matt should come to the door.

Bailey’s heart thumped when she saw him, and all her embarrassment about last night came flooding back. Her face burned, and Claudia put an arm around her shoulders. “You have nothing to worry about. I told Matt the reason you were so upset is because you care about him so much. I told him you weren’t jealous, you were just scared.”

“I’m terrified.”

“Well, you’ll be fine because he’s strong enough to help you get over your fear.” Claudia made her way out the door just as Matt approached. She smiled as she passed him. “My work here is done.” She waved on her way to the car, and a moment later she and Owen drove away.

Bailey hoped they could work out their problems, but right now, her focus was Matt. As much as she wanted to, she didn’t throw herself into his arms. She stepped back and gave him room to close the door behind him. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay—”

“No, it’s not. I was ridiculous last night, and I appreciate you bringing Claudia here, but you shouldn’t have to bring people to back up everything you tell me. If I can’t trust you, I don’t deserve you.”

Matt sat on the couch. He folded his hands together and stared at them. “Are you saying you can’t trust me?”

Bailey knelt in front of him. “No. I’m saying…I don’t deserve you. I don’t have any right to ask you to put up with me, but if you would give me a second chance, I promise not to act like a shrew any more.”

“A second chance? You sound like the first chance is over. You don’t need a second chance with me, baby.” He took her hands in his. “I get that you were hurt, and that kills me. I’ll do anything I have to, to make sure you always know you can trust me. In fact, I’m going to quit working at Colette’s.”

“No! You don’t have to do that.”

“I want to…not just for you. I can pick up more hours at the architecture firm, which is exactly where I want to be, and I can spend my Friday and Saturday nights with you, which is the only other place I want to be.”

“Are you sure you want to make so many changes for me?”

Matt slid down onto the floor and pulled Bailey into his lap. “The changes are for me. I know where I want my life to go…and this isn’t a course change; it’s a course correction.”

“I can’t guarantee smooth sailing, you know. I’m a handful.”

Matt drew her into his arms and kissed her, and Bailey melted. She’d never fit so well against anyone. “Trust me…Bailey. We’re a perfect match.”

THE END

Jaded in June

“You may want to ask Dr. Croft about that drooling problem.” Gillian nudged Samantha as she walked by, nodding toward the lone patient sitting in the Veterinary Clinic’s waiting room.

Sam shook herself out of her daydream and transferred her gaze to her coworker. “Are you talking about the Basset Hound scheduled for four thirty?”

“No.” Gillian smirked and lowered her voice to a whisper. “I’m talking about you. You haven’t taken your eyes off Barkley’s dad since they walked in. I was about to get the mop so I’ll be ready when you melt into a puddle of goo.”

Cheeks flaming, Sam turned her attention back to her computer screen. The other receptionist was right. She had been a bit slack-jawed since Aiden Cole had come in with his Golden Retriever for the dog’s yearly check-up. Barkley was a gorgeous dog, but Aiden, broad-shouldered and athletic, with sun-streaked blond hair that didn’t quite match his darker eyebrows and intense green eyes the shade of summer mint, had her weak in the knees. She would have died before admitting she’d been lost in a naughty fantasy in which he had her pressed up against the wall and was running his strong, capable hands up and down her body. She needed a cup of cold water—preferably to pour over her head—but the watercooler was out in the waiting room, and she’d have to pass right by him to get a drink. “I’m perfectly solid, thank you.”

Gillian snickered. “I’m not judging. In fact, if I weren’t an old married lady, I’d be asking you to take this outside so we could settle our claim. He’s one hot property.”

“Gillian.” Sam hissed her co-worker’s name through clenched teeth, though she was secretly grateful the other woman was, in fact, happily married. She had no doubt there was plenty of competition for the attentions of Mr. Cole outside the Clinic. She wouldn’t want to have her office mate as a rival. Not that it mattered. At the moment, Aiden only had eyes for Barkley, who also stared at him adoringly, and for the television set playing in the waiting room to keep the human patients entertained while they waited for Dr. Croft.

“Go out there and talk to him,” Gillian whispered, holding a file folder in front of her face as a screen. “Tell him you’re available.”

“That’s unethical.”

Gillian rolled her eyes. “It’s only unethical if want to date the dog. I can’t understand why a pretty girl like you is so shy. If I looked like you…” Gillian sighed. At fifty-six she had the sweet, softened features of middle age, with laugh lines and a few strands of gray in her dark brown hair. “Well, I did once, and I used it to my advantage to snag a man. Get out there and make your move.”

Sam wanted nothing more than to go for it, but was it really proper to hit on a clinic patient? Okay, so it was a veterinary clinic. The human companions weren’t technically patients. And Dr. Croft didn’t have a no-fraternizing policy. She could just casually jot her phone number on Barkley’s bill when the visit was over. That seemed much safer and less…brazen.

“When we come back from the break, our next guest, Dr. Eliza Fraser, will be asking the question, can you make a ‘friends with benefits’ relationship work for you?”

Sam turned to glare at Gillian who had just turned up the volume on the television. “What have you got on out there?”

“It’s the talk show with that psychologist—you know, the guy who’s always asking people…oh, what’s his catchphrase?
How’d that turn out?
I love him. His next guest is a sex therapist who thinks it’s okay to have casual sex. She says it’s actually good for people. I
have
to hear this interview.”

Sam glanced at Aiden who hadn’t seemed to notice the change in volume. He was scratching Barkley’s ears, and the dog was yawning in that way dogs did when they were actually more nervous than tired. The goldie shivered a little, but be was behaving remarkably well, considering he was definitely smart enough to know he was in for a shot in the rump before the day was over.

Gathering her courage, Sam rose from her seat and headed into the waiting area. She snagged a sturdy canvas toy from a basket she kept under the counter, having found that agitated pets sometimes calmed down if they had something to chew on. Despite her wobbly knees, she strode over to Aiden and held out the toy. “Hey…Barkley looks a little anxious. Would he like something to play with while he waits?”

Those green eyes flicked upward to meet hers, and she could have sworn her heart stopped. Up close, with a five-o’clock shadow darkening his square jaw and his muscles bulging beneath a Spring River Valley Athletic Club T-shirt, he was devastating. “Thanks.” He reached for the toy, and his fingertips brushed hers. “He’s more of a wreck than usual today. I think he can’t wait to go outside and play.”

Barkley whined, pleading for attention with big brown eyes. She knelt down and buried her fingers in the dog’s mane-like fur. He bowed his head and wagged his wispy tail. “Well, he can keep that for later. We found that some of the bigger dogs have a much easier time if they have something to concentrate on.”