Free Stony Creek Cowboy [Stony Creek] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Taylor Berke Page A

her car door and leaned across her to buckle her in. She felt her body light up again at the brief contact and his sensual grin.
    “You drive home safely, now, and have a great first day on the job tomorrow, you hear?” Jackson murmured. With that, he gently took her hand and gazed into her eyes. He brought it up to his lips and lightly kissed her knuckles. The door closed and she found herself on autopilot driving home. She had to get her head together as tomorrow was the new start of her medical career. The whole night seemed surreal, and were it not for the state of her moist thighs, drenched thong, and swollen lips, she might think it the most real of erotic dreams.
    Nah, no one would have noticed any of those things? Would they?

Chapter Seven
     
    Billie used her keys to open the back door of the office. It was eight in the morning and she would have given anything to continue sleeping in her opulent bed with Madison and Zeus. Being the responsible woman she was, however, she got up at six and soaked in her tub. Unfortunately, the scented water didn’t provide the anxiety relief that she was seeking. Her thoughts kept drifting back to chilly dark barns and tall, sensual Neanderthals. As she walked into her office, she heard a unique version of “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks. Ah, she thought, Julia must also be in. Odd sounds met her ears. She must have lost some hearing from listening to Julia because she swore she heard the clink of glassware and the fizzle of champagne.
    A glance around her private office yielded no clues, but a glass at the front reception area did. Julia stood with two glass filled with the bubbly and a smile. Billie moved to take a glass.
    “To your success, Dr. Rothman!” she said with a smile.
    “Thank you, Julia. I will just take a sip. I can’t start seeing patients smelling like I’ve been at the honky-tonk, can I?”
    “ I wouldn’t worry too much about that around here, doctor. It actually might improve business,” she laughed.
    With a start, they both turned at the sound of bells jingling, indicating someone had walked through the front door. They couldn’t tell who it was because there was a huge delivery of sunflowers walking in. Billie always thought of sunflowers as beautiful and happy.
    “Who are they from, Tommy?” Julia asked after the young man was revealed behind the greenery.
    “Don’t know, ma’am. Not my business to know, only to deliver. Hi, Doc. My ma says she has an appointment to see you at the end of the week and to start practicing not laughing when you see her,” Tommy said to Billie’s smile.
    “Why would I laugh at your mother, Tommy? Did she hurt herself in a funny way?” Billie asked.
    Tommy had a smirk on his face as though he thought the whole thing was a riot. “It will make sense when you see her, Doc. Good luck today! Bye, Ms. Julia.”
    Julia started to smell the beautiful flower arrangement that she placed on top of the reception counter. She handed Billie an envelope and told her to go into her office to read Jackson’s note. Huh? How did she know that these were from him?
    As though a mind reader, Julia filled in, “Who then, dear?”
    Good point.
    Billie sat in her office and closed the door. For a moment she just held the envelope as though touching the hands that had held it before. Damn, she had to be more careful with her feelings. She had little knowledge as to the depth of Jackson’s feelings, if any at all. Perhaps they were as shallow as the puddle outside the back door. Nice to be positive, Billie, she groused in her head. Just open the darned thing.
     
    Dear Billie,
    Just wanted to wish you the best of luck on your first day of work. Many people are so glad you decided to move here and I am counted among their numbers. See you real soon.
    Jackson
     
    That’s it? After practically needing a defibrillator from their time spent together last night, that’s all he had to say? Ugh! The flowers were beautiful, and