Happy New Life (10 page)

“Is that what you say to all your patient’s moms?” She buried her face
against the corded muscles of his chest.

He pulled away. “Let’s make sure that Tramp is comfortable.”

He picked Tramp up off the cold steel table and carried him out of the
building. Liz turned out the lights.

Tramp’s head lay limp and bumped up and down as Cole trotted towards
the log cabin that was nestled in the woods.

The cabin was cozy with plaid rag rugs, rustic furniture and wooden
rocking chairs. It was not how Liz had pictured Cole’s home. His wood burning
stove was warm. Cole laid Tramp on the big pillow next to it.

A standard black poodle peeked her head out between the wooden spindles
on the staircase leading down from the upstairs.

“Hey, girl,” was what the poodle needed to hear from Cole. She bolted
down the stairs and hovered over Tramp.

“Get down, Lily.” Cole told the black standard poodle sniffing around
Tramp. Lily lay down next to Tramp as if she was taking care of him.

“She’s used to all the sick animals over the years.” Cole fluffed up
the covers around Tramp. “It might be a long night. I’m going to make some
coffee. Can you stay for a cup?”

Liz didn’t know if he really wanted her to stay, so she bent down on
the plaid rug and patted Lily and Tramp. 

“No. I guess I should go.” She gestured towards the door. “I guess
that’s what I’m supposed to do. I know that you will take good care of Tramp.”
Fumbling with the car keys, she had to thank him for his generosity. “Cole, I
don’t know how to thank you. You surprise me with all of your talents.”

“Stay.” His eyes begged her more than his words. “Just for a cup of
coffee.”

He stood in the doorway between the kitchen and family room. “One cup.”

Tramp was settled. What would a cup of coffee hurt?

Just one,
she thought, but she knew better.

The kitchen was just as rustic as the family room. It looked like a
room straight out of Better Homes and Gardens. The grey granite countertop
complimented the rich pine cabinets. The double stainless steel kitchen sink
was nestled between two windows that overlooked a beautiful pond. A plaid tile
floor completed the whole look.

“I love this kitchen.” Liz loved the coziness. “I can imagine some
really good family dinners cooked in here.”

She was a great interior decorator, but she would’ve never thought of
using a plaid tile floor with red, blue and gray hues.

“Yes, there has been.” Cole admitted.

He handed her a hot cup of coffee.

She held the rooster mug up to her nose. She closed her eyes and let
the moment engulf her.

“Something wrong with the coffee?” he asked.

“Oh, no.” She pulled the cup away from her face and she placed it on
the countertop. “Have you ever had a certain smell that wakes up all your
senses?” She continued when he nodded, “That is what good coffee does to me.
It’s such a welcoming aroma. Not bad, Dr. Michaels.” She toasted and stressed
the
doctor
in his name before setting the mug back on the counter again.

She looked around the large country kitchen. She could picture herself
cooking a big Christmas dinner for Cole. Hayes playing with Lily and Tramp
while she and Cole fished in the pond. Making love to Cole in the hammock
nestled between the two tall oaks. She looked out the kitchen window and closed
her eyes tightly.

Get it together
. She gripped the edge of the sink.

“Do you like what you see out there?” Cole’s breath softly fanned her
face.

With her body starting to come alive and ache with desire, Liz turned
around and came face to face with him.

His arms fit around her waist just as perfect tonight as they had at
the Pet Mall. She relaxed, sinking into his strong embrace.

He moved his mouth over hers, devouring its softness. It was a kiss for
her tired soul to melt into. Their eyes met for just a second. She felt her
knees weaken as his mouth descended to meet hers.

Gently, he eased her down on the granite counter top. It was cold on
her burning flesh. She shivered. Cole was unable to control himself. His hand
seared a path down her abdomen and onto her thigh. Liz let him explore every
inch of her.

Aroused now, she drew herself closer to him. Flesh against flesh, they
were able to take the time to explore, to arouse, to give each other pleasure.

“God, you’re beautiful.” He said, as his mouth began to explore even
more and his hands peeled away her clothing piece by piece. “I told you that
you are dangerous.” He picked up a lock of her hair and caressed it gently.

Cole’s muscles were perfect but not too perfect. Their bodies were in
perfect harmony with one another.

Liz allowed her hands to explore every nook and fold of his body. She
wanted to make sure that every inch was burned in her mind before she was taken
to a height of passion she’d never known before.

Afterward, lying there, he kissed the tip of her nose. His eyes made
love to her just as his body had.

“Beautiful.” He pulled back and walked away.

“Where are you going?” She watched. Her body still ached for him.

“Checking on the patient and getting you a blanket to wrap up in.” He
said not looking back.

“Are you okay?” Liz asked as she snuck up behind him as he searched
through the closet.

“Yeah, great.” He unfolded the blanket and wrapped it around her.

Mmm…a nice cozy blanket. Liz felt great. Comfortable. Cole picked Liz
up and carried her over to the couch. She laid there with her head on his
shoulder.

“Thank you, Cole,” she whispered.

Cole held her tighter. She wasn’t sure if she was thanking him for
Tramp or for her.

“Where have you been the past year?”

He didn’t answer.

She looked up at him. His eyes were closed.

TEN

“I love you not because of who you are, but because of who
I am when I am with you.”

~Roy Croft

Confused.

Liz rubbed her eyes and tilted her head to the side. She slept so well
that she forgot where she was.

She smiled, seeing Cole sitting in the chair with a steaming cup of
coffee, staring at her.

“Hey, sleepyhead.” He stood up, walked over and handed her the cup.
“It’s still early, but I thought you might want to get Tramp home before you
have to leave to get Hayes.”

She glanced over his shoulder at the wall clock.

6 AM.

“You’re right.” She sat up in the fluffy bed, and pulled up the covers.

She didn’t know why, but she was a tad bit embarrassed. It wasn’t like
Cole didn’t get an eyeful all night.

She took the cup.

“Thank you.” The coffee reminded her that she had an early breakfast
date with Jenna at The Fatted Pig.

They were going to go over a few more details before she had to leave
for Cincinnati.

She sat the cup down on the bedside table. “I totally forgot.” She leaped
out of bed and, hopped around the room, slipping her jeans on and grabbing her
shirt. “I have an early meeting this morning.”

There was no way she was going to tell him that she was meeting Jenna
to finalize the details of the benefit.

“Okay.” Cole’s voice was flat. “Tramp should be fine. I checked on him
while you were sleeping. Just be sure to let him rest today, and go through
your house putting up all the cleaners he might find.”

He seemed aloof. Not the eager man who wanted to touch her, hold her,
taste her from last night.

Liz refused to let regret creep into her soul. He made her feel alive,
and she wasn’t going to let guilt take that away. Even if it was only for one
night.

On the way home, Liz replayed the events of the previous night. She glanced
in the rear-view mirror at the smile she couldn’t suppress. Cole had her
hypnotized, and she loved it.

In a strange, sick way, she was almost glad Tramp needed Cole.
Otherwise, last night would’ve never happened. She reached over and patted him.
He wasn’t completely back to his old self, but he hung his head out the window
until they got home, then he laid in front of the hearth.

She grabbed a quick shower and pulled her damp black hair into a
ponytail. Wearing her yoga pants and long-sleeved knit shirt, she slipped on
her tennis shoes and bolted out the door.

Tramp would be fine for about an hour, then she’d come back and he’d
have to ride to Cincinnati with her. She wasn’t about to leave him alone for
the day, and she wasn’t about to ask Cole to keep him.

The Fatted Pig was packed. It wasn’t unusual for all of Grandberry
Falls to have breakfast before church. It was a big social gathering, sorta
like the annual hoe downs.

“Hi, how are you?” Liz smiled at Mayor Mitch and a group of his
friends.

“Hi, Liz.” Wendy Owens waved. “I’m so excited Mitch hired you to
re-vamp that musty old mayor’s office.”

“Oh, that’s great.” Belle agreed. “I hear you always do a bang up job.”

Liz was flattered.

“Is your aunt here?” She asked Belle, and looked around for Jenna.

Jenna’s mom raised Belle after her parents died. And Belle’s sister,
Maggie, was all set to be the mayor’s wife, according to Hazel. But neither
Maggie nor Mitch knew that yet. Liz heard that Maggie was in a relationship
with one of the wealthiest entrepreneurs in New York City, so the mayor of
Grandberry Falls was probably out.

“I can’t wait to see the furniture.” Wendy all but confirmed she was
dating the mayor by rubbing her hand down his arm.

“I’m sure it will look great.” Mitch smiled. “I’m sure Ms. Day is
busy.”

“Well, I still haven’t seen Jenna.” Liz looked around.

It was possible to have missed her in the crowded restaurant.

“Over here!” Jenna hollered and waved above the crowd from a two person
table near the window.

Liz made her way through the restaurant with a few nods and hellos to
some faces she recognized. She had to make the most of her time. She couldn’t
wait to see Hayes. The quicker her meeting with Jenna went, the faster she’d
get to Hayes.

“Where have you been? I’ve been calling you all night.” Jenna’s brows
rose. “I saw your car zooming around the back roads last night. I tried to
catch you, but you were going so fast, I lost you.”

Liz was at a loss for words. She didn’t want her night with Cole to be
played off or down-graded by Jenna. But she also couldn’t keep the fact that
Tramp almost died and Cole did save him.

Besides, there was nothing to tell Jenna about her and Cole. They were
two consenting adults who needed each other. That’s all. End of story.

As a matter of fact, there was no good morning kiss or reminders of
what had gone on all night. He had been ‘business as usual’ that morning.

“Tramp is going to be fine. Just make sure he has plenty of water.”
That was it. No kiss goodbye.

Nothing.

Just sex. Pure, needful sex.

“You aren’t going to believe this.” Liz told Jenna about Tramp eating
the toilet bowl cleaner and how Joe from Claws and Paws had mentioned the
veterinarian down the road.

“You mean Cole Michaels?” Jenna’s voice was harsh with frustration.

“Yes, as a matter of fact, he saved Tramp from dying.” Liz wasn’t going
to let her put Cole down for saving Tramp.

“Just as long as Tramp was okay.” There was a heavy dose of sarcasm in
her voice.

“Cole was great.” She completely let that slip. “I mean, he was really
good with Tramp. He knew exactly what to do.”

“Going by first names, I see.” Jenna’s jaw clinched. “Obviously there
was more to it than I know, first name basis and all.”

“Jenna, I am surprised at you.” She wanted to put the guilt on Jenna.
“You are the one who took Hayes to get a dog. Now that Tramp is here, I am the
one who has to clean up the ripped up toilet paper and socks. And now, when I
leave him alone, he tries to commit suicide by eating the toilet bowl cleaner.”

Jenna laughed.

“I am starting to get little offended. First my husband leaves me and
now my dog can’t bear to live with me. What’s next?” She threw her hands up in
the air.

“All right, all right. I get it.” Jenna brushed off the situation with
Cole, which was exactly what Liz wanted.

She needed time. Time to figure out what was the history between him
and Jenna. Time to figure out the feelings taking over her heart.

“If he stays only your vet and dog trainer, I can live with that.”
Jenna sighed. “Now let’s get down to the benefit business.”

Liz found her heart in her stomach at the thought of having to choose
between Cole or Jenna.

“Yeah, let’s.” She shook the troubling thought out of her head and
focused on the task at hand.

Jenna was going on and on about how they’d had good donations for the
auction. Liz ran her hands through her hair and rubbed her eyes. She was not
able to concentrate as well as she would have liked. Her body was still
reeling, but her mind was emotionally exhausted. She really wanted to know the
history between her friend and Cole.

Maybe they had dated. He was not married.

“I can tell you aren’t listening to me.” Jenna said and packed up her
binders.“If you are thinking about Cole, please promise me that you will be
careful around him. He does know how to turn on the charm.”

“I promise.” She didn’t deny it. “I was just thinking that I could give
a free consult and services as an auction item.”

That would be a good item to bid on.

Jenna agreed. “That does sound good. You know, everyone is talking
about the big city designer in town.”

ELEVEN

“True friendship is seen through the heart, not through the
eyes.”

~Author Unkown

Why?
Liz smacked the palm of her hand on the stirring wheel.