Marrying Dr Maverick

When she glanced at Brooks, he was watching her, listening to her, and her pulse raced.

At the end of the day, would he still believe he should hire her?

* * *

As Brooks drove to other ranches, Jazzy could see they were all recovering from the flood. In some fields, alfalfa had survived. Many ranchers had been soil-testing to find out what nutrients the flood had depleted. Some reseeded with fast-growing grasses, while others planted soybeans. All were trying their best to recover. Most were making headway.

She watched Brooks work with calves, with goats, with cattle. She helped however she could and realized she liked assisting him. They grabbed a quick lunch at the diner, talked about Rust Creek Falls and Thunder Canyon. Whenever their fingers brushed or their eyes met, Jazzy felt energized in a way she never had before.

At the end of the day when they were driving back to Strickland’s, Brooks said, “I know I’m doing the right thing opening this practice. Dad’s going to be angry about it, but in the end I think he’ll thank me.”

“You’re doing something for his best interests, even if he doesn’t see it that way. I guess roles reverse as parents age.”

“And as children grow wiser.”

She thought about that and all the advice her parents had given her. But she particularly remembered one thing her brother Brody had told her. He’d said, “You have to find the life you want to live, rather than settling for the life you’ve fallen into.”

What life did she want to live?

Brooks drew up in front of the boarding house, braked and switched off the ignition. Leaning toward her, he explained, “If you’re my assistant, you wouldn’t spend all your time in the field with me. Mostly what I need in the beginning is somebody to set up the office, make appointments, get the word out about the practice.”

He paused for a moment, then honestly admitted, “At first I thought I’d been impulsive about asking you to work for me, but today I realized it really was good instinct that made me ask. You’re great with the animals, Jazzy, and with the clients. You seem to be able to talk to almost anybody. That’s a gift, and a great one in a receptionist. So if you take this job, you’ll be a little bit of a lot of things—a receptionist, an assistant, a tech. What do you think? Do you want to work with me?”

Brooks was leaning toward her and she was leaning toward him. She felt a pull toward him and thought she saw an answering pull toward her in the darkening of his eyes. But if she accepted, they’d be boss and employee.

“Sure. I’d like that a lot.”

Brooks extended his hand to seal the deal. When his hand gripped hers, she found herself leaning even closer to him. Whether he was aware of it or not, his thumb gently stroked the top of her hand, just for a moment.

Then he pulled away. “I’ll wait until you get inside,” he said gruffly. “Tomorrow I’d like to take you to the practice in Kalispell and let you talk to the office manager. Is that okay with you?”

“That’s fine with me.”

Looking into Brooks Smith’s eyes, Jazzy realized their association was going to be more than fine. The thing was—he was a confirmed bachelor. So she’d better keep her head.

They’d both keep their heads because that’s what bosses and employees should do.

Chapter Three

Jazzy had no sooner hopped into Brooks’s truck Friday morning—he’d waited outside today—when she fastened her seat belt and turned to him. “I have a favor to ask.”

Brooks cocked his head and his face said he was ready for almost anything. “I’d guess but I’ll probably guess wrong.”

“What makes you think you’d guess wrong?” she joked.

“Because I cannot read a woman’s mind. What’s the favor?”

“I’ve been helping Dean at the elementary school when I’m not needed somewhere else, even though my carpentry skills are at a minimum. Still, I don’t want to let him down. Can we stop over there on the way to Kalispell? I tried to call last night and kept getting his voice mail.”

“He’s engaged now, isn’t he?” Brooks asked, obviously tuned in to the local chatter.

“He is. He bought a place with some land and he’s just moved in with Shelby and her daughter Caitlin.”

“Shelby works at the Ace in the Hole, right?”

“Yes, but for not much longer, she hopes. She’s going to reapply for a job as an elementary school teacher once the school’s up and running again.”

“That could be a while.”

“It might be, but that’s what she wants to do. Anyway, he doesn’t always answer his phone in the evenings. So I thought it might be just as well if we could stop at the school. I’ll explain I’ll be working with you, but I’ll still help out around the school on weekends.”

“You want his blessing?” Brooks didn’t sound judgmental. He actually sounded as if he understood.

“Something like that.”

“We can pick up donuts on the way and bribe him.”

“Brooks!”

“I’m kidding. I often pick up donuts and drop off a couple of boxes for people who are volunteering. We all do what we can to say thank you.”

After a stop at Daisy’s, they drove to the elementary school property in a drizzling rain that had begun to fall. The low-hanging gray clouds predicted more of the same. Just what Rust Creek Falls didn’t need.

At the school, the building crew had made progress, but it was slow going without money for materials, and work often had to stop while they waited for supplies. Today, however, Dean was there with a crew. They found him easily in the school library, building shelves. He looked up when he saw Jazzy and did a double-take as he spotted Brooks.

After Jazzy explained why they were there, Dean gave her an odd look. “You’re not going back to Thunder Canyon?”

“I don’t know when. For now working with Brooks will give me experience to open that horse rescue ranch I want to open someday.”

“She’s good with animals,” Brooks assured Dean. To Jazzy he said, “If you’re going to be a few minutes, I’ll look around.”

Perceptively Brooks probably sensed that she needed to convince Dean this was the best move for her. She nodded.

When Brooks left the library, Dean frowned. “What kind of relationship do you have with Brooks? I didn’t even know you knew him.”

“I didn’t before the other night. But we hit it off.”

“Hit it off as in—”

She knew she shouldn’t get impatient with Dean. He cared as an older brother would. But his attitude was much like her family’s when they second-guessed the decisions she made. “I know you think you have to look out for me while I’m here. But I’m thirty years old and old enough to know what I’m doing.”

Assessing her with a penetrating glare, he asked bluntly, “Did you hook up with him?”

“No, I didn’t hook up with him!” Her voice had risen and she lowered it. “He’s going to be my boss, so don’t get any ideas you shouldn’t.”

With a glance in the direction Brooks had taken, Dean offered, “Maybe he’ll get some ideas he shouldn’t.”

Jazzy vehemently shook her head. “He’s not like that.”