Love Rescued Me Read online

  "I'll have a double cheeseburger, an order of cheese sticks, and an ice-cream cone to take along with me when I leave." Samantha winked. "I got my first patient today. A wolf."

  "Good for you! That must be why you need the to-go cone." Luce patted Samantha's arm and slipped her order to the bartender to deliver. "I thought it was illegal to own a wild wolf in Washington?"

  "No one owns her. Ranger Man brought her in. She was shot in the woods. You should see her. She's a real beauty." She tried to keep her smile at bay, but it broke out anyway.

  "Okay, back up. Ranger Man?" Luce leaned toward Samantha. "Your eyes did this sparkly thing. Do tell..."

  "There really isn't much to tell. He works for the Forestry Department, doesn't talk much, and he's got the biggest hands I've ever seen." Samantha's legs swung back and forth. "He's afraid of blood, but only when it's on someone. He's new in town too."

  Luce leaned back against the counter and shook her head. "I'd say you know a lot about him. What's his name?"

  "Bobby Thorn, but he doesn't look like a Bobby to me." She frowned.

  Luce covered her mouth and coughed. "Bobby? I know him! He comes in pretty frequently." She motioned for a glass of water from the bartender.

  Luce sipped out of the glass and handed it back behind the bar. "Let me get your order going. We'll talk after you eat. Sure sounds like you had a heck of a first day in town."

  A sense of belonging washed over Samantha, and she patted her leg to the music that played over the jukebox. She couldn't remember the last time she'd talked with another female around her age about everyday things. With Parker in so much trouble during the last year, she hadn't had time to make friends with women her own age.

  Luce worked her way back toward Samantha with drinks in hand, stopped, and waved at someone across the room. "Hey, stranger!"

  Samantha turned toward the direction of Luce's gaze and bit down on her lower lip. Ranger Man ambled in her direction with a swagger that she couldn't help appreciating.

  Those long legs of his filled out a pair of well-worn Levi's better than most guys, and his white T-shirt did amazing things for her female bits. Her stomach fluttered, and she knew she'd better find something else to look at before she was caught staring.

  That something turned into Bobby's feet, which sported cowboy boots. "Oh, shoot me now." She glanced around, realizing she'd spoken out loud, but with the music playing, no one could hear her verbal slip up.

  Bobby bent down and kissed Luce's cheek. He must have whispered something funny, because Luce slapped him playfully on the chest. Lord, help me! He's a charmer too.

  The friendly duo walked toward Samantha. She inhaled deeply, and placed her hands in her lap. Please, don't let me become tongue-tied and make a fool of myself in front of Ranger Man.

  "Hey, Samantha, I'm going to leave you with this flirt and make sure your orders get cookin'." Luce winked and skedaddled back to the kitchen.

  Bobby claimed the barstool Luce sat on earlier, and Samantha closed her mouth. If she didn't know any better, it seemed her new friend loved to play matchmaker. As if I have time for a man! He is gorgeous, though...

  She smiled at Bobby. He began to speak, but with the music playing, she couldn't hear what he was saying.

  "What?" She put her hand up to her ear.

  Bobby leaned closer. The roughness of his cheek brushed against the side of her face, and his breath caressed her ear. Her eyes lowered.

  "How's the wolf?" He tilted back.

  "Oh, the wolf! She's doing fine. She's still sleeping off the sedative." She nodded, at a loss what to say next.

  "Good, good."

  Samantha gazed out at the crowd and watched a woman walk across the room to the microphone. Bobby's size cut off her view, and she couldn't help glancing again at his face.

  "What do you think of Skamania?" He moved in close again.

  "Good, so far. I enjoy the small town feel. Meeting Luce this morning felt like catching up with an old friend. Isn't she great?" Samantha smiled, swinging her legs back and forth.

  The temperature in the room rose, and she grew hot over Bobby's close proximity. Every time he scooted closer, it did funny things to her equilibrium. Whatever cologne he'd splashed on was having a major effect on her.

  "I'm anxious to fix up the living quarters above the clinic," Samantha blurted. Her brows lowered, and she sucked in her bottom lip and caught it between her teeth.

  Bobby nodded. "I heard you planned to stay there."

  Of course he already knew where she stayed. He appeared capable of putting two and two together. Plus, this was a small town, and she imagined news traveled fast.

  Samantha turned to listen to the singer. The warmth on her face intensified, and she willed it to stop. She hated the way she blushed so easily. Maybe it was the woodsy scent coming from Bobby that turned her into a blabbering idiot.

  Bobby lifted his chin toward the middle of the restaurant. "Do you want to dance while we wait for our food?"

  Chapter Five

  Samantha's eyes widened, and she bit the inside of her cheek. Dare she?

  "Sure, why not?" She slid of the stool.

  The jukebox played a slow country song about lost love and broken-down pickup trucks. She followed Bobby onto the dance floor and placed her arms around him. Bobby tightened his hold on her, and she laid her cheek against his chest.

  Compared to Bobby's size, her small frame was nearly swallowed up inside his arms. Being embraced reminded her of how badly she longed for companionship. She'd concentrated so long on being a student, a big sister, and support system for her brother, that she'd neglected being a woman with needs.

  She imagined someone with Bobby's qualities would hold her when she had the courage to let her guard down and never let her fall. Samantha tested that hypothesis and let her body fall away in a totally relaxed state. His arms constricted and gathered her closer.

  Another slow song came over the jukebox. She sighed and rubbed her cheek against his chest. She relaxed, and luxuriated in the cocoon of Ranger Man's arms.

  He moved her smoothly along the floor, and Samantha rode the euphoria she built within his arms. The way his heart beat in her ear caressed her abused soul.

  "Samantha." Bobby ran his hand down the back of her hair.

  She snuggled closer. "Hm?"

  "Come on, sweetheart." He stepped back and, with his arm across her back, guided her toward the front door.

  "But...my food?" God, she was falling asleep on her feet.

  Luce hurried over, holding two bags of take-out food in front of her. Samantha grabbed her bag, and without thinking, reached out and pulled Luce in for a hug.

  "Thank you." Samantha gave her an extra squeeze. "I'm glad I met you today."

  Luce waved away her thanks and turned to Bobby. "Make sure my new friend gets home all right. She's about falling asleep on her feet."

  "Will do, ma'am." Bobby touched two fingers to his forehead and gave a salute.

  The cool outside air broke through the sleepiness that overcame Samantha on the dance floor. She shivered and rubbed her arm with her free hand. Never in her life had she succumbed to falling asleep in someone's arms and still remained standing up.

  "Would you like me to walk you home?" He rubbed her back.

  She stopped walking and smacked her forehead with the palm of her hand. "I can't believe I almost forgot. The wolf! I have to check in on her and make sure she's still sleeping off the medication." She walked a little faster. "She should wake up in a couple hours."

  "You've had a big day. No wonder you dozed off for a few minutes out there on the dance floor." He chuckled.

  "Yeah, so much for making a great first impression, huh?" She grinned.

  Bobby lifted his head. "No, my first impression of you..." He coughed to cover his laughter. "Your ass was stuck in a box."

  Samantha slapped him in the belly, but it didn't stop her from joining in the laughter.

  With only the st
ars illuminating the night, Samantha fumbled with figuring out which key fitted into the front door of the clinic. It didn't help that her hands shook from lack of sleep and a very real awareness of a certain ranger beside her.

  "Here, let me." He removed the keys from her hand.

  She stepped back and admired the width of his shoulders.

  A soft scuffling came from the far side of the building. She jerked her head toward the corner, and caught sight of a shadow on the bush at the end of the building.

  "Hurry!" she whispered.

  "I almost got it." He pulled out the keys and pushed the door open. "There."

  Samantha pushed Bobby through the door with both hands and hurried them inside. She flipped the lock and moved her hand along the wall, searching for the light switch.

  "All you had to do was ask me inside." He grinned and rocked back on the heels of his boots.

  She cocked her head, and her mouth shaped itself into an O. Bobby wiggled his eyebrows, and she slapped a hand over her mouth.

  "Oh, no. Oh, God, no!" She ran her hand through her hair and tittered her way out of the embarrassment.

  Samantha stepped over to the door, and squinted through the glass door into the darkness of the night. "I thought I saw someone watching us by that big bush at the corner of the building." She shrugged. "I'm used to living in the city, I guess."

  "No problem. I'll go take a look outside for you." Bobby unlocked the door. "It's probably nothing, but you'll sleep better knowing no one is out there."

  "Thank you." She exhaled, and her shoulders drooped.

  "Lock the door behind me. I'll knock when I come back." Bobby walked outside and stood beside the door, waiting until she closed and locked it. She set the sack of food on a nearby chair and then peered outside until Bobby disappeared out of view.

  Samantha paced the waiting room. Boy, if Bobby didn't think she was crazy after tonight, he'd better go get himself checked out by a doctor.

  Two soft knocks startled her, and she jumped. She hurried over to unlock the door.

  "I didn't see anything. I walked around both sides of the building and peered over the fence into the playground out back. Nothing." Bobby shrugged.

  "It's probably my imagination." She used her finger to twirl a circle beside her head and then leaned over to pick up their dinner. "Do you want to come upstairs and eat your dinner before it gets cold? I have a microwave we can heat them up with."

  "Sure, sounds great."

  Samantha opened one of the bags and noticed a small covered bowl inside. "Oh, great! Luce remembered. Give me a second, I want to slide this into the she-wolf's cage." She picked up the ice cream and rushed to the back of the clinic.

  The wolf moved her legs in a lazy attempt to wake up. Her eyes remained closed, but Samantha knew it wouldn't take long before she aroused from her slumber.

  "You are such a beauty." She reached into the cage with the cup of softened ice cream and dumped it into the stainless steel bowl near the wolf's head. She paused inside to rub the wolf between the eyes.

  "That's a little human treat for when you wake up. The domestic dogs go crazy over the stuff, and I think you will too."

  She hurried back to the waiting room.

  "It's starting to look like a real vet's office in here." Bobby nodded. "I'm impressed."

  "Thanks. Looking at everything now, I realize how much I did do today." She motioned him to follow her.

  "No wonder you fell asleep on your feet."

  She turned around and scrunched up her nose. "Um, yeah. About that—"

  Bobby raised his hand. "Don't worry about it. I really do understand."

  Samantha hoped he spoke the truth. Heaven forbid she'd made a complete fool of herself.

  She opened the door that shut her apartment off from the clinic and navigated the narrow steps. Totally aware of the way her hips swayed with each step she climbed, she used it to her advantage. It thrilled her that Bobby might enjoy his view, and she grinned.

  "Good thing I impressed you downstairs, because I haven't done a thing upstairs, except unpack the coffee maker and microwave." She swung her arm around at all the boxes and furniture that crowded the place. "If you want to risk life and limb, and move a couple of the chairs over to the table, I'll nuke the food." Samantha ambled to the kitchen.

  The apartment turned out to be surprisingly quite large. It was the same size as the clinic below, and even though it needed some work, it served its purpose. Parker would have his own space after he was released, and they could regain the life they had before everything fell apart.

  Samantha put the sacks in the microwave and warmed the food. She carried the hot bags by her fingertips, then set them on the table, ripped the bags open, and spread the paper out to form a makeshift plate.

  "I know, pretty fancy, huh?" She grinned.

  "Not really." He picked up his burger.

  Samantha's head jerked up, and she realized he joked with her. Maybe the guy wasn't all brawn and good looks after all, and somewhere below the surface, a comedian softened the rough guy personality. His ability to relax pleased her, and she wished she could keep the night going on forever. The idea of going off to bed alone tonight depressed her.

  "Hey, I do aim to please. You should see what I can throw together in an emergency." She winked.

  "I imagine you have lots of emergencies, you being a doctor and all." Bobby took another bite of his burger.

  "Depends. Most days are just routine care appointments. Shots, worming, sterilization—" She paused. "Sorry, I forget not everyone talks this way. But, yeah, some days are more exciting than others. Especially when some guy brings me a wolf."

  His eyes crinkled at the corners, and Samantha's heart skipped a beat. Conversations over a thrown-together dinner, talking and teasing each other—it all came so naturally. She really enjoyed this change of pace from the busy last couple weeks of moving.

  "What else do you do for excitement?" He leaned back in his chair and munched on his cheese sticks.

  The apparent interest in her life pleased her, and she took her time chewing her food to come up with a good answer. She swallowed and inhaled. The wildest urge to get his goat came over her.

  "I love to go camping." She paused before continuing. "There's something about sleeping outside in the cold night air while bundled down in a sleeping bag that makes life seem so simple." She nodded and clamped her teeth to keep from laughing. "Best of all, I like to build bonfires during fire season just to see if Smokey the Bear will come."

  A giggle sneaked out, and she hurried to take a bite of hamburger. Her stomach fluttered at the obvious flirting going on between them.

  "How about you?" She quirked her eyebrow.

  She hoped he took her up on the conversation challenge. If she was honest with herself, she wanted him to continue talking—she longed for the night to go on and on.

  "I spend most of my free time knitting. Well, at least in the winter. In the summertime I'm too busy visiting local churches and participating in bingo nights."

  Their laughter echoed off the barren walls. Samantha didn't remember the last time she'd laughed so hard.

  The jovial mood died down, and the contentment of a full stomach hit her. She glanced at her paper sack spread out on the table. It surprised her that she'd eaten everything.

  "I should get out of here and let you sleep." Bobby stood and wadded up the rest of his sack.

  Samantha took the garbage from him and piled it with hers. "I'm glad you walked me back home. I had a great time talking with you." She smiled. "I'll walk you out."

  The light still lit up the waiting room, and he stopped at the door. He cupped her cheek, leaned down, and kissed her lightly on her parted lips.

  "Sweet dreams, Sammy." He opened the door. "Remember to lock up."

  She stood in front of the door. Her hand found the spot on her cheek where Bobby's hand lay only moments ago. She stared at the door, lost in thought. No one called her Sammy, except
Parker.

  ***

  Chuck Morgan stepped out of the shadows and put the unlit cigarette from his mouth back in the pack it came from. Seeing Thornton with the lady vet surprised the hell out of him, and Chuck had become distracted. If his plans fell through the drain now, it would only piss him off.

  Chapter Six

  The government-issued truck rattled to a stop on top of the ridge looking toward the Cascade Mountains. Bobby remained in the cab, scanning the beauty that always fascinated him from this vantage point. The grandiose feel of the area forced him to view his own problems as smaller bumps in his journey. If he stuck with his plan, he'd be able to right a few wrongs.

  The eerie howl sent a scurry of goose bumps down Bobby's arms and up his neck. It reminded him of the old saying "Someone just walked over your grave."

  He turned in the seat and gazed through the back window. The wolf paced the cage in a tight circle. Maybe she smelled freedom or sensed her own kind out there waiting to reunite with her. One thing he knew, she wanted out, and he was the only one here to do the job.

  The morning he came across the hurt she-wolf, he thought someone's dog had gotten shot. It was the first time Bobby had ever seen a real-life wolf, and he'd blinked ten times before it finally registered that he was looking at a federally protected wild animal.

  He rubbed the back of his neck with one hand. He'd have to act fast when releasing the wolf, and keep himself out of danger at the same time. She wasn't some domesticated animal and not the same wounded animal from a few days ago. No way did he believe she'd make this easy on him.

  He'd removed the canopy off his truck earlier with the sole purpose of leaving the wolf in the cage during transport. He stepped out of the truck and, using the floor of the pickup, hoisted himself up to the top of the cab. It appeared to be a safe spot to lie down and unclip the latch on the crate. If he lucked out, the wolf might dart for open ground and not turn on him. Then again, he never called himself lucky.

  His arm came over the cage, and the wolf moved to the back corner, snarling and growling. Bobby's hands shook. Give him a drug dealer, a murderer, or even a baby, and he knew what to do. A wolf scared him half to death.