The Doctor's Husband (Colorado Blues) (7 page)

“This place is terrific.” Rory held Fisher on his shoulders and walked around the outside of the house, explaining to Evan as they went what work he’d done to make it inhabitable again.

“Yeah, it is, isn’t it? Mind you, when Gina first laid eyes on it she wasn’t that impressed. She’s pretty happy now though, isn’t she, tiger?” He bounced the toddler up and down and was rewarded with chortles of glee. Fisher waved his hands in the air, his little face showing just how much he was enjoying it.

“Must be pretty nice having a ready-made family.” Evan couldn’t be sure if it was jealousy nudging him in the ribs or happiness for his brother.

“Yeah, this little guy is perfect. When I first met him I was taken back because I didn’t know about him. It didn’t take long for me to warm up to him. Planning on adding to the brood as fast as we can too. I can see Gina with a heap of kids around her feet.”

“Guess you got lucky. Both you and Chance seem to have found the women of your dreams.” He jammed his hands into his pockets and glanced up at the mountain behind the ranch. Snow caps gleamed white in the clear blue sky.

Rory put the wriggling toddler down on the grass and watched as he went straight for a daisy poking its head up through weeds at the fence line. “You and Denver seem pretty close. I sense something else. Do I detect a whiff of disharmony there?”

He stood with his hands on his hips reminding Evan of those big brother talks that came his way with uncommon regularity. Nothing much had changed between them over the years.
Here comes another one.

Evan laughed, the sound bitter to his own ears. “Disharmony? No. More like I want to rush her off her feet but I don’t want to scare her away.” He kicked at the grass, frustrated. “I dropped her off at the hospital so she could check out that job you told her about while I had an interview in town, which I think went rather well by the way. Then after having a cup of tea with the old man we checked out the house that goes with the job, if she wants it mind you, at the hospital. Seems they were rather taken with her and asked for a resume on the spot.” He glanced at the house where Denver was inside with Gina wondering if they were talking the way women did given the chance. They’d seemed rather friendly since they met the other night.

“So what’s your problem then? If you’re both keen to work here and you seem cozy enough to me, why the long face?” Rory kept his gaze flickering over to Fisher exploring the garden while he listened to his brother.

“I want what you have, you and Chance.” It sounded weak when he said it. The picture was in the back of his mind already. The white house, cat lazing on the back lawn tossing his paws at the blades of grass and the flowers he wanted to see there and Denver. Denver was the center of it all.

“So propose to her. What’s the worst that can happen?”

“I’ll scare her off. We’ve only just started dating and that took me two years to get her to agree to go out with me.”
And I don’t want to have to start all over again if she freaks out. Or worse, lose her if I stuff it all up.

“Well it seems to me that you’re moving fast from there. Didn’t you share her bed last night?” Rory watched him with a grin on his face.

“Yeah, but having sex doesn’t mean she wants to commit to me. It’s probably because she was ready for it. Doesn’t mean she wants to marry me or anything.” He huffed out a breath, annoyed with himself. Because it was what he wanted didn’t mean it stood to reason she wanted it too.

Rory slapped him across the shoulders. “Man, you should see your face. You’re looking like the world’s going to end. When the time is right, in bed or otherwise, I’m sure you’ll know. When she’s in a really good mood, ask her. Ask her if she wants to commit to you and a relationship. Doesn’t mean you have to get married. Perhaps letting her know you want to go exclusive will give you an idea if she’s ready or not.”

He thought about it, kicking himself he’d never thought of it that way. “Yeah, I like the idea of exclusive. That shouldn’t be enough to scare her away. I can see if I asked her to marry me it probably would. Your way sounds much better. Thanks, brother.” As usual, Rory came through with the goods. Always the reliable brother.

“I aim to help, even love struck fools like you. One more string to my bow as sheriff.” He stepped forward and hooked a finger in the little boy’s mouth, pulling out a long strand of grass. “You’ll choke on that, big guy.” He patted the little boy on the head and let him reach for another blade of grass. “Women give out signals, Evan. It’s just a case of timing right.”

“Yeah right.” Signals, did this get much more complicated? “Must be a bonus having Fisher.” Evan watched the two of them together and felt a pang of jealousy hit him hard.

“Sure is. Took me by surprise at first, but who wouldn’t fall for this little guy? Can’t wait to give him a brother or sister either.” Rory picked Fisher up and swung him around. The little boy giggled and reached for his shirt, clinging to his chest, eyes closed tight.

“Really? Well, good luck. I hope you produce many kids and soon. I can see myself as an uncle.” He smiled at the picture his brother made with a toddler against his chest and tried not to let the stab of jealousy get any worse.

***

“Are you sure there isn’t anything I can do?”

“I appreciate it, Denver, honestly. It’s all done. The caterer is organized, the garden is all prettied up out the back, and the church is booked. Only thing left is to get my man there and make it official.”

“Sounds like you’re a whizz at organization then.” She glanced around the newly renovated kitchen. The smell of fresh paint still clung in the air. “I do like this room. So much feeling of open space in a room that isn’t that big. Did you design it?”

“Yes. Rory gave me free rein in here since it’s my domain. I wanted what Callie has—a huge open kitchen with dining room. Sadly that wasn’t going to happen in a space this small so I had to be clever and make the most of it.” Gina put the kettle on the old wood stove and smiled. “I turned the bathroom into a walk in pantry and that gave me more space. We added a couple of bedrooms for Fisher and hopefully the next one, with a bathroom between them to make up for what I took.” She grinned and dropped a hand down to cup her stomach, her eyes glazing over for a second and Denver smiled to herself.

“How far along are you?”

Gina opened her mouth and stopped. She swallowed and looked down, a tinge of pink staining her cheeks. “I haven’t told Rory yet. I want it to be a surprise between the two of us tomorrow night.”

Denver zipped her fingers across her lips.

“Thank you.” She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear before opening a cupboard and taking out two cups. “I’m so lucky, I know that. Finding Rory was the best thing that could have happened to me. Tell me about you and Evan though. I know you two work at the same hospital but there’s more there. I can tell just by looking at you together.”

“I’m not sure what you mean.” Denver fidgeted under the close scrutiny.

“You can’t take your eyes off of each other, Denver. I’ve seen you looking at the man like you want to gobble him all up.” A smile lit Gina’s mouth.

“I didn’t think I was that obvious.” She leaned back against the counter and folded her arms. She realized she didn’t want Evan for the job alone anymore. She wanted him because he made her feel special and loved, and because he knew how to make her tremble with need even when he wasn’t around. How the heck that had crept up on her, she didn’t know. All Denver knew was that she wanted him more than she’d wanted anything in her life before.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you like that.” Gina slid her hand down Denver’s arm. “This family is pretty open about their feelings and I should have been a bit more sensitive.”

“No, it’s okay. You’re right. I do want him. This is all kind of new to me. In my family feelings are kept on hold until the time is right. No bursting into spontaneous outpouring declarations of love.” She shook her head. “Being with your family has made me realize how cold that left me feeling.”

“Didn’t your mother...”

“No.” Denver sighed. “She died when I was little. My father brought me and my brother up or should I say, nannies brought us up.” The thought of what she’d missed hit hard. “Life wasn’t so bad, although it wasn’t anything like this where you guys are always touching each other and professing your love or lust for one another.” She hoped her outburst wasn’t embarrassing Gina and thought honesty was okay in this house.

Gina laughed out loud. The tears filled her eyes and she did nothing to try and control the amusement she obviously found in Denver’s statement. When the kettle whistled, Denver nudged her out of the way and picked it up, poured boiling water into a teapot, and placed the lid on not sure the hysterical pregnant lady would cope without burning herself.

“Oh, my. That’s classic. Sorry, Denver. Lust—I get that. Who can blame me? Look at what I’ve got for goodness sake.” Her eyes shone in pleasure and a glow blushed over her cheeks leaving a rosy tinge on her skin.

“Yes, I know. And that’s what scares me. I have one of those good-looking Watson boys too, and my life has changed so much in the last couple of weeks since Evan took me out for dinner. Spending one on one time with him over a meal has changed my feelings for him enormously. I can’t believe I love him already.” She wiped a hand over her face, confused by her own feelings and wondering where to go from here. The idea of having a husband to get her job was falling way behind the idea of having the man she had fallen head over heels in love with. In her life as well as in her bed. The thought made her quiver with nerves.

Gina patted her on the shoulder and then reached for the teapot. “It will sort itself out. Enjoy the time you have here together and see what happens.” She poured a cup of tea each and placed them on the small wooden table in the center of the room. As Denver took a seat, Gina stepped over to the pantry and walked inside, coming out seconds later with a tin.

She took a plate from the cupboard, placed it on the table, opened the tin, and artfully placed chocolate chip cookies in a circle, keeping one in her hand as she sat down. “If I say so myself, this is a good batch of cookies. Fresh this morning.” With a smile at Denver, she took a bite and leaned back in her chair, chewing happily.

Evan watched Denver sleeping. Her eyelashes swept down over flushed cheeks and her lips parted showing the tip of her pink tongue. Lips that kissed their way down his body last night, sending him wild with a passion that threatened to engulf him again. He knew he was ruined forever. They shared a magic in bed he didn’t want to let go of. Before this week at home ended, he had to make her his.

“Stop thinking so loud.” She opened her pale blue eyes, blinked, and looked up at him. “Whatever it is, it can’t be that bad to leave such deep furrows in your forehead.” She reached up a hand to wipe at his skin above his eyebrows. Her touch jolted all the way down to his groin and he sighed. Evan reached for her hand and brought it to his mouth. Lips grazed over her skin and the taste of her triggered something in his brain. She smiled and he needed no further encouragement.

He pushed her back on the pillow, her hand up above her head, and let his body cover hers. Denver all but purred under him as she spread her legs so he could rest between them. Evan kissed her deep and passionately, moving the angle of his head to deepen the kiss as the heat swelled in his groin. His erection nudged at her center and he grinned to himself when Denver moved under him to position him at her entrance.

“Someone is keen this morning. Didn’t I satisfy you enough last night, Dr. Sinclair?”

She laughed, a happy sound echoing in his ears. “Oh yes. You know what they say about one taste and you’re hooked?”

“I think I do.” He nipped at her top lip and wriggled his hips, pushing at her moist opening and backed away as she arched toward him
. I want you to want me like I want you, Denver. It’s all I ask.

“Stop teasing me, Evan, and put out before I explode without you.” The pale blue of her eyes fogged to a steely grey.

“Put out? Oh baby, I’ll put out for you anytime.” He plunged his tongue into her mouth and at the same time eased his cock inside the warmth she offered, sinking into bliss. Her hands slid down his back and held onto his butt, pulling him in as far as he could go before she wrapped her legs around his. Evan gasped as her nails dug into his cheeks almost sending him over the edge. He gritted his teeth and trailed his lips down her throat. He wanted to make it last as long as he could. The heat between them was more than he had hoped for and knew Denver enjoyed it as much as he did. Was it enough to make her stay with him, or would she need a long drawn out relationship before she took the plunge into marriage with him?

Evan could feel the eruption building inside her as she panted and urged him on faster. Her muscles tightened and started to quiver around him and he stilled tried to make it last.

“No, Evan, I want it now, please don’t stop.” Her eyes were shut and her jaw tense as she teased the climax to its peak. “Faster, oh God don’t stop now.” She threw her head back on the pillows and clenched her jaw as Evan pumped into her, giving her what she wanted. Her body bowed and a low groan slid from her throat.

His own climax close, he fought the hands that gripped him, trying to hold him inside her and gave a final thrust of his hips to follow her over the edge of oblivion. He tensed all the way down to his toes, curled back as he rode the crest of his orgasm. When the spasms slowed he rested his forehead on hers, his breath ragged. “Holy heck, what a way to wake up in the morning.” He kissed the tip of her nose and watched as she opened her eyes. They were hazy from lovemaking.

***

Her hands slipped from his body and she lay there, sated underneath him. Sex made her feel loose and at ease, and with Evan it was especially good. “Hmmm.” If she were a cat she would be purring. The thought raced through her mind.

“I take it you enjoyed that wake up call.” Evan rolled off her and onto his back. He reached out a hand and gripped her fingers, twining his in between hers in a simple gesture. The contact pleased her enormously.

“Mindless sex first thing in the morning has a way of making me feel all loose and free. I could get used to it.” She closed her eyes and waited for a response, hoping it was the one she wanted.

Beside her Evan shifted and she opened her eyes and looked up at him. He rested his head on his hand, elbow dug into the pillow. His gaze appeared thoughtful, pondering.

“What have I said wrong?”

“Mindless sex, Doctor? I actually put thought into that, I’ll have you know. It took considerable concentration to make you purr like a kitten.”

Her lips twitched before she could control the urge to laugh. It was no good. Peals of laughter filled the room.

“And now she laughs at me. What a blow to a guy’s ego.” He trailed his fingertip over her breast, toying with a now pert nipple. “Even so, I’ll still admit you have a beautiful body, Denver, and I love to see you in my bed. Perhaps...” He bent down and sucked the tight bundle of nerves into his mouth, swirling his tongue around it before letting it pop out of his mouth again. “Perhaps I will have trouble letting you go after this week is over.” The heat from his mouth traveled straight down to her core making it almost impossible to keep still. “I think its something we should talk about after the wedding is over.”

Denver watched as he gripped the sheet cover her lower body and ripped if off leaving her exposed to his hungry gaze. “Maybe we should try that again but slower to make sure we agree. What do you think?” He gave her a quick grin and leaned over, trailing his tongue from her breasts down her stomach.

She heard the soft chuckle as her legs opened for his mouth without any encouragement. Oh yes, this was going to be a good discussion. Right now she had other things to concentrate on. The hot tongue sliding between her folds being the most important. Denver closed her eyes, raised her hands above her head and stretched out, giving over to the pleasure.