The Doctor Wears A Stetson (Contemporary Western Romance) by Anne Marie Novark Read Free Book Online

bell
jingled, she swallowed a groan of frustration and pushed out of the
embrace.
    Sam stood on the threshold. "I thought you
had already gone to lunch."
    "I was just about to leave." She grabbed her
cap and jammed it on her head, striving to get hold of her
emotions. "I'll see you tonight, Cameron. Six o'clock."
    He exchanged a territorial-male-kind-of-look
with Sam, then stared down at her. The passion in his gaze left
Jessie breathless. He brushed the back of his hand gently against
her cheek. "Don't be late. I hate to be kept waiting."
    Cameron pushed past Sam and stalked out the
door. Goosebumps flittered across the surface of Jessie's skin.
What in the world had she gotten herself into?
    ****
    The afternoon passed quickly. Jessie put the
engine back in the Jaguar while Sam worked on Mrs. Perkins' sedan.
When she finished with the Jag, she sat in her office in front of
her computer for a couple of hours and crunched the numbers again
for the thousandth time.
    Soon, she'd have to make a tough decision
that would probably cost her friendship with Ruth McCade.
    Jessie had promised her friend she'd never
lease the mineral rights on the portion of the Diamondback Ranch
she'd inherited from TR. But where else could she get the money she
so desperately needed? It was either break her promise or lose the
garage. What choice did she have?
    At a quarter to five, she left the garage
and rushed home to get ready for her "date." In the two years since
TR's death, she could count the times she'd been out with a man on
one hand with fingers left over. Not much experience in that
department, even when she was younger. Especially when she was
younger.
    She pulled the truck around back of the
house and parked. Gazing at the home she and TR had shared
together, Jessie drew in a deep breath. It couldn't compare to the
magnificence of the Diamondback ranch house, but it had a charm all
its own. She loved this place; she loved living in a real house.
Before marrying TR, she had lived with her father in the tiny rooms
behind the garage. If only she could have loved TR like he
deserved.
    Loud barks greeted her when she climbed out
of the pickup. "Down, Sherlock! Down, boy." The German shepherd
followed her to the door where a large orange tabby waited, meowing
impatiently. "I know, Katnip, I know. Life's tough for an old
tomcat."
    Jessie opened the door and switched on the
lights. The animals bounded past her into the kitchen. After
feeding them, she stood at the sink and thoroughly washed her hands
with a degreaser until all traces of black disappeared.
    She enjoyed working at the garage. Really,
she did. But seeing Cameron again had resurrected the dreams of her
youth. Her life was satisfying, she reminded herself. Comfortable.
Rewarding. Only sometimes a little lonely.
    Jessie quickly showered and changed into a
cream-colored sweater and dark brown slacks. Sitting at her vanity,
she applied mascara and a dab of lipstick, then frowned at her
reflection in the mirror.
    She really shouldn't be going out with
Cameron McCade. TR had hated the McCades with a passion. There'd
been a feud of some sort between his grandfather and theirs. Jessie
had never found out what it was all about. But she did know it had
something to do with the mineral rights. The same ones she was
going to be forced to lease in order to raise money to save the
garage.
    She hadn't allowed TR's feelings to
interfere with her friendship with Ruth McCade. And she wouldn't
let her husband's animosity toward the McCades stop her from going
out just this once with Cameron. She had many regrets concerning
her marriage to TR Devine. One more added to the pile wouldn't
matter that much.
    Jessie grabbed her purse and let herself out
of the house. She'd always had a weakness for Cameron McCade. That
had never changed and probably never would.

Chapter Three

    Inside Sarah Sue's Cafe, almost all the
tables and booths were occupied. It seemed everyone in town was
here tonight. Delicious