Susan Mallery - Only Yours

Come with me.

The words formed in his mind and he almost spoke them. Because for the first time in his life, he was willing to consider the possibility of something more than a temporary relationship.

Then he looked around at the kennel and the grounds, at the other service dogs, lying in the sun. He thought about her family and her home.

This was where she belonged. Besides, to ask her to leave would imply a promise on his part. A promise he could never make.

If she were different…he began to imagine, then realized the foolishness of that line of thought. If she were different, he wouldn’t want her.

“MOM, I WANT TO ASK YOU something,” Montana said as she sat in her mother’s kitchen, a glass of iced tea in front of her.

“Of course. What is it?”

Her mother set a plate of chocolate chip cookies on the table.

They were fresh and the scent of chocolate reminded Montana of all the times she and her sisters had made cookies in this kitchen. Denise had set up three stations, so each of them could measure and stir, then carefully place the raw cookie dough on the cookie sheet.

“You did a good job with all of us,” she said impulsively.

Her mother laughed and sat across from her. “Thank you for that endorsement.”

“It can’t have been easy, raising six kids. Plus, Josh came to live with us.”

“After the first couple, it’s not that much harder. I had a lot of help from your father and not one of you was especially difficult.”

“Still.”

Montana wanted a family, but she’d never thought of having six kids. Talk about overwhelming.

“How are things going with you?” her mother asked.

Montana told her about the puppies and the fundraiser she would be going to with Simon. “Work is busy,” she said. “All my standing appointments. The library reading program is working out really well. Max has brought in some new dogs for training.”

She watched her mother as she spoke, but Denise didn’t respond to the name. Obviously, being subtle wasn’t going to work.

“Mom, I want to talk about my boss.”

“Sure, honey. Is there a problem?”

“Not a problem. Just…” She shook her head. “Is Max Thurman the same Max you used to date? Is he the guy from your tattoo?”

Her mother rose and crossed to the sink. “What an odd question. Why do you ask?”

“Because I work for him. If you two have a past, I don’t want to say something I shouldn’t.”

“How could you possibly do that?”

“You’re not answering the question.”

“I’m not sure I’m going to.” Denise turned to face her. “Yes, I had a life before I met your father. But that was a long time ago. I married your father and I loved him with all my heart. He was a wonderful father and an amazing husband. I would give anything to have him back.”

Her mother sounded emotional and maybe even angry.

“I’m not questioning your commitment to Dad.”

“I should hope not. I’ve been a widow over ten years. I’m just barely starting to date, even though I don’t like it.” Her gaze narrowed. “Have you girls been talking about this?”

“A little. We’re just wondering what happened.”

“Nothing that concerns any of you. I won’t discuss this and I don’t want you three talking about it, either.”

“Mom, why are you mad?”

“I’m not mad. I’m pointing out I don’t need my adult children butting into my private life.”

Montana felt as if she’d been slapped. “All right,” she murmured, standing. “We won’t discuss it again. I’m sorry.”

She grabbed her purse and ran to her car.

SIMON REACHED FOR HIS CELL phone. “Bradley.”

“It’s Erica. How are things in Fool’s Gold?”

“Good.”

Erica worked for the company that coordinated his assignments. As his time in Fool’s Gold would soon be ending, it made sense she was calling.

He glanced at the calendar on the wall. The months had gone by quickly.

“I have dozens of requests, as per usual,” she said. “After Peru, I think the two that look the best are either helping out at a clinic in Appalachia or joining a humanitarian aid group in Pakistan. I suppose it depends on where you want to spend those months. Both teams would be delighted to have you. Should I email the information?”

He felt a light scratching on his leg and glanced down. Cece gazed at him adoringly, obviously wanting to be in his lap. He scooped her up.

“Sure. Send the files and I’ll look them over. I can travel to either place.”

“If you’re going to Pakistan, you’ll need a couple more booster vaccines. One of the thrills of international travel.”

He petted the little dog as she stared at him. Love burned in her little brown eyes. When he shifted his hand so he was scratching her chest, she licked his wrist.

“Send me that information, as well,” he told her.

Erica agreed she would and they hung up.

Montana tapped on his partially open door, then entered. “Hi. I was waiting in the hall. I didn’t want to interrupt your call.”

“You wouldn’t have.”

She stopped in front of his desk. “I’m here to take Cece for a walk.”

The little dog had been spending most of her days at the hospital. When she couldn’t be in Kalinda’s room during a treatment or for meals, Fay dropped her off in his office.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, taking in the troubled expression.

“I had a fight with my mom. Except it wasn’t exactly a fight. I don’t know. I asked her about Max.”

“Your boss?”

She told him about the tattoo on her mom’s hip, how she’d had it for years, probably since before she’d gotten married.

“We never knew who the guy was. Even when Max moved here and hired me, I didn’t put it together. He never said anything and Mom never talked about him. But Nevada saw them together. Or rather, not together. They just stared at each other. It was intense.”

“But if they had a relationship, it was years ago.”

She sank into the chair on the other side of his desk. “I know, so it shouldn’t matter, right? She loved Dad. We all know that. But when I asked her about Max, she got angry and told me it wasn’t my business. That she didn’t want me and my sisters talking about her. She seemed really angry. We have a good relationship. I’m not used to being on the outs with her.”

“So talk to her again.”

“Maybe. I’m giving it a couple of days. I would apologize, only I didn’t do anything wrong. We’ve always been a family who talks about things. She and Dad encouraged that. No secrets. But here we are, ignoring a very tall man.”

He’d never had a close family, so he couldn’t relate to what she was feeling. What he did know was that Montana was hurt and he had to help.

“Maybe she’s embarrassed and doesn’t want you to know.”

“Embarrassed about what? An old boyfriend? Max is a great guy. I guess what scares me is that I always thought Dad was the great love of her life. But what if she loved Max, too?”

“People can love more than one person.”

“Other people. Not my mother.”

He relaxed back in his chair and petted Cece. “That’s rational.”

“I know.” She sighed. “As I said, I don’t usually fight with my mom and I don’t like it. All right, enough about me. Who were you talking to before? Is it okay to ask that? It sounded like you were talking about a trip.”

“My assignment after the next one.”

“Oh.”

She glanced at her lap, then back at him. “Where are you thinking of going?”

“Appalachia or Pakistan.”

“That’s a big difference.”

“There’s poverty in both places, and people who need my help.”

“How do you decide?”

“I have someone send me background information. I look over the cases and see which seems like the place I can do the most good.”

“So why did you come to Fool’s Gold?”

“The hospital set up a program that brought dozens of patients from several states here. Also children from Mexico. I don’t have to be in a Third World country to make a difference. I go where I think I can get the most accomplished.”

“I’m glad you chose us.”

He waited for more, for some hint that he should stay, or an attempt to make him feel guilty. Instead she smiled.

“You and Cece are becoming quite the item.”

“She’s my kind of girl.”

“Adoring?”

“It helps.”

“You are just such a typical guy.”

He knew that wasn’t true but liked hearing the words.

He rose, supporting the dog in his arms. “You okay?”

She stood as well. “I guess. I’ll talk to my mom and everything will be fine again.”

“Can I do anything to help?”

“You already did. Talking about it was good.” She reached for Cece. “I’ll take her for a walk and bring her back.”

He glanced at the clock. “I have to prep for surgery.”

“Okay, then I’ll go to Kalinda’s room and see if Cece can stay there. If not, I’ll take her back to Max’s.”

Simon waited for her to ask more questions about where he would be going, or to suggest he should stay. Instead she kissed him lightly, then walked out of his office, leaving him very much alone.

“HOLD STILL,” DAKOTA grumbled, checking the hot curlers clinging to Montana’s head. “These have to stay in longer.”

“How much longer? They hurt.” Montana did her best to ignore the sense of heat burning perilously close to her right ear. She was more a curling iron kind of girl, but hot rollers made the curls last longer.

“You’re such a baby,” Nevada told her, lounging on the bed, flipping through a magazine.