Salvaging love, p.3
Salvaging Love, page 3
Chapter Four
“How ’bout this, kids.” Duggan cut into the tension. “Let’s walk for a few minutes. Ellie, you can give us a general idea about what you think is worth saving. I have to be at my job site in half an hour, and you have your hands full.” He indicated the three puppies on the ground who were trying to wrestle with Buffy. The blonde pup snuggled tight in Duggan’s arm.
“It’s all worth saving.” She reached down to put the leashes back on the dogs and they all headed out of the park. It didn’t seem to bother her that the uncoordinated puppies constantly tripped over and tangled up in one another. Buffy powered through the chaos and kept the lead. Kincaid swore the older dog rolled her eyes a time or two. “This park is amazing. Everything’s built around it. It’s a great place for people to gather and kids to play. People hold weddings here. At the other end is a playground and I know the playground equipment is falling apart, but that can be replaced. The gazebo—”
“Is about to crumble,” he said.
“True, but imagine what it used to be—a jazz band up there, couples sitting on picnic blankets or dancing to the music in the late afternoon light… The community has organized music in the park on Sunday afternoons again and it brings everyone together. You two should come back for that on a Sunday.”
“The band better be careful the gazebo doesn’t fall apart around them.” Jesus, she’s a complete romantic.
“It’s not that bad. It needs a new coat of paint.”
“Princess,” Duggan chimed in. “No offense, but it needs to be put out of its misery.”
“Then build a new one. But don’t bulldoze the entire park so people can stare out of their tenth-floor condo windows at their million- or billion-dollar river view.”
“A perfect, pristine, brand-new view sounds good to me,” Jackson said.
“Don’t you already have a million-dollar view, Mr. Kincaid?”
She vibrated with frustration and Jackson found he liked it when she got frustrated with him. Her eyes heated up and her cheeks flushed again. He wanted to see her hair down. He’d bet she was a stunning mermaid rising from the sea.
“People live here and work here. It’s their community. Oh, shit!” She stopped walking. “I forgot George. Hold these. I’ll be right back.” She shoved the leashes in Jackson’s hand and ran into the bakery. The line was long, but people waited, chatted with friends, sat outside on the benches, read their papers. Content. Ellie bypassed the line and went right behind the counter.
She came back with another coffee and three small bags. “Here,” she said, holding out bags to him and Duggan. “Marie’s cinnamon rolls might help convince you.”
He tossed his empty coffee cup into the trash and took one of the bags from her.
“These smell like heaven,” Duggan said as they continued walking.
“Needed more caffeine?” he asked Ellie.
“What?” She tried to take the leashes back from him.
“I’ve got them. You got another coffee?”
“This is for my friend, George. There he is.” Sitting down in between two of the buildings was an older white-haired black man, who looked homeless.
“Hey, George,” Ellie said softly.
“Sweetheart, gorgeous day, isn’t it?” the man said.
Ellie sat right down next to him on the ground and handed him the coffee and pastry. “It is. We might have a nice spring after all. George, these are my…um…” Ellie motioned toward Jackson and Duggan.
“Friends. Jackson Kincaid and Connor Duggan,” he finished for her.
“George Franklin. Nice to meet any friends of my precious Ellie,” George said. “Looks like you have new responsibility today, Ms. Buffy.” Buffy sat at George’s feet and he scrubbed the fur behind her ears. “When did you get more puppies, Ellie?”
“They were left at the clinic door, and I couldn’t not take care of them.”
“Of course not, that’s not your way. Our Ellie rescues everyone and everything.”
“I do not,” Ellie said. Her blush, highlighted in the sun, made her even more beautiful. “George, I’m running a bit late today.” Before she got up, George stood and helped her.
“Sure thing, honey. Thanks for the breakfast.”
She patted him on the back. “You have a good day. Stay out of the sun and come into the clinic if you need anything, okay?”
“Sure thing, sure thing,” he said, sitting back down to sip his coffee.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Ellie said. “That homeless people aren’t going to convince you this is a neighborhood worth saving. But homeless people are everywhere and it’s not always their fault. At least there are a lot of people here with compassion. The whole neighborhood helps George out.”
Now she was more than frustrated—she was impassioned. And the gold flecks heated up in her eyes. What a sight. Fired up, dressed in her tight yoga pants, which did more for the eye than that stupid apron she’d had on last night. He’d sat in his office imagining what was under that apron and he was not disappointed at all this morning to see she had curves. Curves he wanted to get his hands and his mouth on.
Cooling his desire, he focused. “The development plans are for condos and retail. People can do what you’re saying they do now, but in much nicer, newer, safer surroundings. It doesn’t take a construction god like Duggan to see these buildings are in serious disrepair. The roofs haven’t been replaced in years. Irresponsible painters did a crap job too many years ago to count and I can see down to the bare wood in several places. The windows look original, which means they let more heat out onto the street than they keep inside. And I don’t see any gutters on several of the buildings, which means water damage is affecting more than the roofs. God knows what Duggan would find behind the walls, and by that, I mean old knob and tube wiring, poor plumbing and mold.”
“Wow, you’re more than a pretty face,” Duggan joked.
“Stuff it,” Jackson said.
“You two think this is funny, don’t you?” Ellie snapped.
She wasn’t impassioned anymore—she was pissed. He was hard at the thought of all that passion under him in his bed. Fuck, that’s the last thing I need to think about—Dr. Ellie Blevins, naked, all warm, lush curves.
“You knock all this down, build up your condo-retail development and the people that live and work here now won’t be able to stay. You’ll ruin a community. My friend Ruby, after her mom died of breast cancer, she picked herself up from all that grief, started her salon, all with her own money. Across the street, Carl and his daughter, Molly, who has Down’s syndrome, run the hardware store owned by Carl’s father before him. Lachlan’s pub is packed most nights with live Irish music that people come from all over to hear. You”—she pointed to Duggan—“didn’t even take any notes. I can see this isn’t serious to you at all.”
“My apologies, Ellie. You have my attention.” Duggan quit joking. “And, to be fair, I take notes in my mind. And I’ve been taking notes on this place for the past year. Jackson’s right. What he didn’t say is that there’s no question the roofs are leaking, which means there is massive damage in the walls, mold and decaying wood beams and supports, which is a serious hazard. Water causes more damage than people ever realize. At least three of these buildings need heavy foundation repair. I can only guess what disasters I’ll find inside, but I do take notes, and I do take you seriously.”
“I get emotional about this place.” They stopped walking in front of her clinic. “It’s important to me,” Ellie said.
“I think we both get that,” Jackson said, studying her.
“Can you save it?”
Although he enjoyed watching her range of emotions, the defeat she wore on her face now was much less fun for him to witness.
Duggan sighed. “I’ll need to get a better assessment of the insides and write up repair cost estimates. Then Jackson and I will talk about what we think,” he said.
“Okay,” she said, and breathed a sigh. “I have my first patient at nine. Here.” She held out her hand for the puppy in Duggan’s arms.
“If she needs a home, I think I’ll keep her,” Duggan said.
“Just what you need, a puppy to train, with your work schedule,” Jackson said.
“Katie and the girls won’t mind.” He turned to Ellie. “My sister and nieces live with me and they are going to love this baby.”
“Well, she seems smitten with you,” Ellie said.
“The ladies usually are,” Jackson said dryly.
“I’ll bring you a crate, bowls and a little puppy food to get you started. She’s had her shots.”
“I have stuff at home already. I’ll see you again later this week to take more notes,” Duggan teased her.
“Why the pencil behind the ear and the clipboard if you don’t write anything down?” Ellie asked.
“In case I need to get a pretty lady’s phone number.”
Jackson shoved his friend on the shoulder.
“You working by yourself today?” Jackson asked her.
“Matt’s here for another hour, then another assistant and my receptionist will be here.”
“Right. Lock your doors when you’re alone,” he insisted, holding the door to the clinic open for her.
“Things are only a bit run-down. That doesn’t mean it’s an unsafe neighborhood, Mr. Kincaid,” she said, giving him her attitude.
He leaned in close. Damn, he wanted to kiss her. “Lock. Your. Doors.”
“I wondered where Mr. Bossy went,” she said.
“Trust me,” he replied, “I’m familiar with crime. And there’s no sense inviting it.” She searched his face, as if trying to understand him. “Please,” he said.
“Okay,” she whispered.
“Good, Ellie. See you tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow, again?”
“Music in the park. Now that I own it, I might as well make sure no one injures themselves on that wreck you call a gazebo. You still have lots of convincing to do.”
“I will convince you,” she vowed.
“Looking forward to it.”
Her cheeks blushed rosy again, and she walked her motley crew into the clinic.
“I had no idea how much fun this morning was going to be,” Duggan said.
“Shut up.”
“However, aside from watching you two together, this was a waste of time since there’s no way I could get a full assessment this morning. And I’m sure you knew she had to work. What’s this all about, Caid?”
Duggan studied him.
“Fuck, you’ve already changed your mind. I can kiss our fancy condo development goodbye,” Duggan said, chuckling. “Well, she is a million times prettier than most of your women. And it takes one heck of a brain to be a veterinarian. Plus, it’s almost like she enjoys sparring with you.”
He glared at his friend.
“I’m not going to make a move on your woman, Caid. It was harmless flirting. You know me.”
“She’s not mine. Not yet. And I want the month.”
“The month?”
“Told her I’d give her a month to try to convince me not to tear the block down. Said she could spend time with me and talk me out of making billions.”
“You’re playing with her?” Duggan snarled at him. “Jesus, Caid, she’s not that kind of girl. You can see kind and innocent written all over her.”
“I’m not playing.” Jackson was insulted. “It’s not a game. Not to me. Maybe after a month of spending time with me, she won’t want to run away.”
Duggan relaxed his angry stance. “Maybe I’m the one who needs to have his head examined. Did you, legendary player, admit you met a woman who might take you out of the game forever?”
“Thought you had to get to work, jackass,” Jackson said, and rounded the hood of his SUV to climb in.
“You’re a good man, Caid,” Duggan said, serious now. “It’s time you let a good woman know that about you.” And with a puppy in one arm and his clipboard in the other, he walked away.
She called this clinic her dream. Her entire face lit up when she spoke about this neighborhood, about her career. For a year, he and Duggan had been working with an architect to design the new development here, but dreams? Jackson Kincaid sure as fuck didn’t have any dreams. His had died the day he was separated from everyone he loved. His father dead, his mother in jail and his sister put in a separate foster home. But he wanted. Fuck! He wanted Ellie. He wanted to be surrounded by her light and dreams. Could he ever belong with someone like her, someone who believed in dreams? Could she see her way to sharing her dreams with him?
Chapter Five
Aside from all his hovering, gorgeous, sexy amazingness, unbelievable eyes, a voice that when it went deep might have her agreeing to anything, Jackson Kincaid was all kinds of irritating.
Noon on Sunday and all Ellie knew was that he’d said he’d see her tomorrow, again. He hadn’t said when or where. They didn’t even have each other’s phone number. Not that she’d be brave enough to call him anyway.
And she hadn’t slept well. Ellie loved sleep—she excelled at sleep. But last night all she’d been able to think of was his face when he’d smiled at her with that sexy I-want-to-devour-you smile. Yes, please, she wanted to say, devour me. When she had dozed off, he’d been there in her dreams.
Then there was the locksmith he’d sent over yesterday afternoon to put new heavy-duty locks on the clinic’s doors. The man had been grumpy and had said no more than three words when she’d tried to talk to him, and pay him, and those three words had been, “It’s paid for.” He’d left without any explanation. So she didn’t know Jackson had done it, but she suspected.
Now she strolled through the farmers’ market stalls at the end of the park, wondering if he was going to appear out of thin air like he had a habit of doing.
“Thought you were closed today?”
Startled, Ellie glanced up to see Jackson standing there. He had the most confusing way of starting conversations. “I am? I mean I am.” He was leaning up against a tree studying her, looking delicious again in faded jeans and a black long-sleeved shirt. Is delicious an appropriate word to describe men?
“Do you wear scrubs for fun?”
“No.” She suddenly felt self-conscious and crossed her arms. “The clinic is closed, but I still had to check on the animals this morning. And later.”
He walked closer. “Ellie, I was teasing you.”
“Teasing me?”
“Christ, you do know what that is?”
“You know, Mr. Kincaid, we could have a conversation without you angry-swearing at me, again.”
He closed his eyes for a minute and when he opened them said, “I’m not angry at you. I’m mad because I don’t understand how a gorgeous, successful, intelligent woman like you doesn’t understand teasing.”
She jerked her head at his words. Gorgeous, successful, intelligent. He thought she was all of those?
“Jesus, Ellie,” he said. He reached out and put his hands on her shoulders to steady her. “I apologize. I don’t mean to sound like a complete jerk.”
“It’s okay,” she said, and almost walked away right then from humiliation, except his warm hands were on her again, soothing her soul. She didn’t know what it was like to be teased. No one had treated her like that. Especially not while she was growing up. Taunted was more like it. She was comfortable in her scrubs and yoga pants even though they weren’t flattering. Shopping gave her the hives. Memories of clothes shopping with her mother made her nauseated. He made little circles on her shoulders with his thumbs and studied her.
“Let’s start over. I’ll keep my mouth shut, and you can tell me more about this community you love while we listen to the music,” Jackson said.
“Why?” She’d been daydreaming about his eyes again. Green, today. They were dark like a forest. Like they changed colors based on what he was wearing.
“Why?” he asked. “We have a deal. I thought you wanted the chance to convince me.”
“I get the feeling nothing I’m going to say will change your mind.”
“I want you to try.” He moved an inch closer and stilled his hands, but the warmth remained.
He sounded sincere, but he was so many things she didn’t understand, male, hot, bossy, confusing as heck.
“Yesterday you said that everything and everyone was worth saving. Make me believe that.”
Ellie sensed a hidden depth to his words. Did he really care to hear about the neighborhood? Standing close to his warmth, she wanted him to. Initially, he’d come across rough, but bringing her coffee, being pissed about her unlocked clinic door at night? No one in her life had ever been concerned enough about her safety to get pissed.
He dropped his hands and she wanted to lean into him to get his warmth back. The tiny hairs on her skin were tingling from being so close to him.
“I promise not to be a jerk for the next hour, Ellie.”
He used that quiet, deep voice again and gave her that killer grin.
“Are you sure you can handle an entire hour without being a jerk?” she asked and tipped her face up to grin back.
For a second she thought she’d pissed him off, but then he threw back his head and laughed. I love that gorgeous sound.
“Are you teasing me, Dr. Blevins?”
“I’m a quick study, Mr. Kincaid.”
“Good to know,” he said. His voice had grown deeper and his smile was downright seductive. “And it’s Jackson.”
Holy cow! His voice felt like a caress down her whole body.
“Shall we?” He gestured to the people gathering by the jazz band in the park.
“Okay,” she breathed, barely able to get that word out.
