Still by Ann Mayburn Read Free Book Online

hung in the air. As she watched him walk into the building she had to fight herself to keep from running after him. Every word she’d said had been true, and she told herself that if they were meant to be together he’d call. Still, as she pulled out of the parking lot and back onto the main road she didn't wipe away the tears that rolled down her cheeks.

 
     
    Chapter 3
     
     
    Present Day
     
    The darkness of deep night still reigned when Michelle pulled into the long, paved drive of her ranch. Callahan woke up when she called his name, blinking in confusion as he took in his surroundings. When his gaze turned to her his eyes widened and he rubbed his face, then looked again.
    She waited for his brain to kick in while they drove past the empty paddocks and fenced in meadows that covered the front two acres of her property. Back in the fifties this had been a working ranch, but when she bought it last year, it had been a neglected mess. The main house came into view, a stately Spanish style home with a stacked river stones foundation, softened by the cream stucco walls leading up to the red tile roof and the exposed stone chimneys. Lights shown from the wrought iron chandelier hanging in the main foyer, visible through the vaulted windows.
    Instead of pulling into the garage she pulled up to the front door. Thankfully her chef and grounds keeper as well as long time good friends, Yuki and James, were still asleep in their log cabin past the stables. The last thing she needed was them noticing her late arrival. In an odd way, she felt like a teenager coming home past curfew and trying to sneak in. Not that James and Yuki would have done anything except cheer that she’d finally broken her celibacy, but she had enough on her plate right now.
    Putting the car in park, she raised the roof and secured it back in place.
    Callahan finally broke the silence. “Nice place, Doc.”
    “Thank you. I’ve been remodeling it for months now; I’m almost done.” She opened her door and stepped out with Callahan following suit. When they reached the front door he patiently waited for her to unlock it, then opened it for her. One of the things she’d always liked about him was his old world manners, even if his smart mouth usually ruined the effect.
    Once they entered the foyer he wandered over to the fountain that sat in the middle of the large space, perfectly tucked beneath the winding staircase leading to the second level. A low, amber glow came from the chandelier above that gave the Mexican tile floors a mellow sheen. The fountain stood almost as high as Callahan was tall, a bronze sculpture of horses running through the surf. The water of the fountain flowed beneath the horses' hooves as they ran through the waves.
    He didn’t look at her, trailing his finger through the water. “I thought I heard a horse neigh outside. Do you ride?”
    “Yes, we had horses when I was growing up. Right now I have two, an Arabian and a Tennessee Walker. Yuki and James, my chef and grounds keeper respectively as well as good friends, are thinking about getting horses, but they’re not sure if they want to put down roots in Austin yet.” She moved into his line of sight, resting her hip against the edge of the fountain. “Now tell me, Callahan, are you ready for my help?”
    Need blazed across his weary features, but his stubborn pride was stronger…for now. “No, Doc. I don’t need your help. I’m fine.” She arched her brow and he flushed, looking down at the rolling waves around the horse’s feet. “I mean we all have our problems, right? Everyone has a cross to bear.”
    “Callahan, right now you’re not dragging that cross, you’re nailed to it.”
    “I’m fine,” he said in a low, dangerous tone.
    Oh, she’d hit too close to home and he didn’t like it. Well, now, it was time to find out how far she could push him, if she’d totally misread him and whether or not he'd try something physical. Her mind slipped one