Summer's Desire Read Free

She’s lived here all her life. There was
some trouble and I heard she got kicked out of her apartment. Why?”
    “She’s working at my place.”
    Mindy Sue nodded. “Good. She’s in good hands then.” He
opened his mouth to ask another question but Mindy Sue put her hand up in front
of her. “Stop right there. The trouble was not her fault in my opinion and you
know I hate gossip. Ask her yourself.”
    “Fair enough. Call if you need me.” He walked out
the door. On the way to his pick-up he spotted Beverly Rain hurrying toward him
and he wanted to run in the opposite direction. That woman never had anything
pleasant to say.
    “Wait, Doctor. I have news for you.”
    Holden bit back a few curses. “Good morning, Mrs.
Rain.”
    “Yes, well it’s Miss. If you are going to the
O’Malley place you’d better know what you’re in for.”
    “What would that be?” He really didn’t have the
patience for her today.
    She looked pleased with herself. “The horse was
taken from Jacob Ash. He’s one mean son of a gun. Please be warned. I wouldn’t
want anything to happen to the new doctor.”
    “Have a good morning.” He bit back a smile. She did
not like his dismissal at all, but the sour look on her face made his day. She
opened her mouth and he walked away as fast as he could. Being friendly was one
thing but gossip just plain hurt.
    He hopped into his truck and wondered how things
were going at home. Hopefully Summer was getting accustomed to the house and
his brothers. They could be a handful and he didn’t need her scared off the
first day.

 
    *
* * *

 
    Summer peered around the big house and wanted to
scream. It looked as though a storm had come through. There wasn’t one empty,
clean, spot in the whole place, with plates, cups, clothes, papers and mud spread
throughout. No wonder Holden was so intent on having her stay.
    She glanced at Matt. “Pigs live better.”
    “Now, Miss Summer, that’s debatable with them living
mostly outside and all.” His lips twitched as though he was trying to contain
laughter.
    For a second she was tempted to wipe the grin off
his face, but he was so darn cute. “Very funny. Now who usually cooks around
here?”
    It took him so long to answer she thought he hadn’t
heard her.
    “Which day?”
    Shaking her head she grinned. “I think I get the
idea. No one cooks and no one cleans.”
    Matt shrugged his shoulders. “We do, when
necessary.” He shifted from one foot to the other staring at the mud caked
floor.
    She felt bad for him. Maybe he was really the shy
type inside. “Go on to the horses and whatever else you men do. I will try my
best to make a dent in this mess.”
    A smile swept his face as he glanced at her. “Start
in the kitchen. I’m starved.” He was out the door before she could answer him.
    First, she’d have to clear a path to the kitchen.
They hadn’t unpacked from the move, so there were boxes everywhere. Holden said
he’d pay her double, but now that she thought about it, she still had no idea
how much the original pay was. A lapse of judgment on her part. She really didn’t
have anywhere to go, but if she didn’t like it here she could wait until she
got just enough money to put gas in her car and run for it. That was the big
appeal of being a bartender. You could find a job anywhere. Just not in
Carlston, not anymore.
    It’d been hazardous and time consuming moving boxes
and making a clear path to the kitchen. It was not what she expected. The
cabinets were polished maple, the stove and refrigerator were stainless steel.
Summer chuckled and shook her head. She’d almost expected some kind of wood
burning stove. It would be worth cleaning up here just to see what it all really
looked like.
    Hearing footsteps, she turned. The youth before her
appeared just old enough to start shaving. He was well toned, probably from
working the ranch. She tilted her head to look into his eyes. “You must be
Mark.”
    He nodded as a shy smile