Free To Tempt a Wilde by Kimberly Kaye Terry

sound rusty, as thoughit had been a while since he’d laughed. Dr. Crandall chose that moment to glance at both of them briefly, his head moving from one to the other, a smile coming to his tired face before he turned back to the calf.
    â€œFunny woman. You got jokes, huh?”
    Althea laughed outright, her mood brightening.
    She didn’t know if it was watching the amazing birth, or the fact thatshe’d helped in some small way in bringing a life into the world…or the fact that she was with Nate Wilde, but suddenly she felt lighter…less burdened.
    â€œI’ve been known to, once or twice.” She paused, her glance gliding over Nate’s face, noticing the smile that lingered around his sensual, full lips making her heart skip a beat.
    â€œYou…you have a nice smile, Mr. Wilde.” She hadn’t known she wasgoing to say the words even as they flew out of her mouth. Or what possessed her to say them in the first place.
    When she saw his smile drop away, Althea wished she could retract her comment. One day spent together didn’t mean the man liked her, or had even changed his opinion of her.
    â€œNate,” he said, after a brief pause. “Call me Nate,” he finished, his voice gruff.
    The small concession hegave shouldn’t have made her heartbeat quicken, shouldn’t have meant a thing to Althea.
    But it did.
    â€œWell, if you two are done with the introductions…Miss Bessie and Bessie Jr. did quite well, I’d have to say!” The veterinarian broke in, dragging Nate’s attention reluctantly away from Althea.
    â€œYeah, that they did, Dr. Crandall.”
    Dr. Crandall had been with the ranch from as early as Nate couldremember, dating back to his foster father’s early days when he’d first bought the land. He’d been the first and only vet that Clint Wilde had hired to help him with his then-struggling ranch. As the vet had been new to the area, as well as being the first and only black veterinarian to set up shop in Landers, Wyoming, it had been a slow and difficult building of his practice.
    But Clint Wildehadn’t cared about the color of Dr. Crandall’s skin, had only cared that he could help him take care of the animals’ medical needs on his struggling ranch.
    From there the two men had forged a friendship that lasted Clint’s lifetime. When Clint Wilde had died seven years ago, although there were plenty of other vets in the area the Wilde men could have hired, there was no thought to replace DocCrandall. He, like all the others who were a part of the ranch, was family.
    Nate helped Dr. Crandall to his feet. For a moment, as he watched the older man struggle to his feet, he wondered how long it would be before he retired. He handed him his cane.
    As though reading Nate’s thoughts, Dr. Crandall looked across at him, a tired smile creasing his lined cheeks, and slapped him on the back.
    Hard.
    Nate barely stopped from pitching forward at the hearty slap, and caught the twinkle in the older man’s fading dark brown eyes.
    â€œI ain’t dead yet, son…plenty of time for me to keep on practicing. Besides, soon, Yasmine will be joining me,” he said, pride shining in his eyes as he mentioned his daughter. He glanced around. “Think you all can handle the cleanup, son?” he asked, and Natenodded.
    â€œYes sir, we can handle the rest. Marc here will help,” he said, nodding toward the cowboy who’d been helping with the birthing.
    â€œGood enough.” He glanced down at the watch on his wrist. “Been a long day, time for me to head on back home. The wife and I are expecting Yasmine to call and let us know when her flight is in.”
    â€œShe’s coming back soon, then?” Nate asked as he walked alongsideDr. Crandall, subtly keeping his hand near the old man’s back in case he needed assistance.
    From his side vision he saw Althea watching him and Dr. Crandall,