Highland Doc's Christmas Rescue

Her eyes widened as she broke off their kiss and stared into Lyle’s blazing ones. “Oh.”

There was a lift to the corners of his mouth as she went over the edge of pleasure again.

Returning to herself, she saw the tension in Lyle’s face that made his cheekbones more pronounced. His eyes were still locked with hers, but his attention was elsewhere. He thrust into her, faster and stronger. Throwing his head back, he let go a throaty groan as he found his release.

Cass’s eyes slowly closed as Lyle shifted to her side, still breathing heavily. He intertwined his fingers with hers. Like their lives had become.

Could she let them remain so?

* * *

Lyle returned to bed to find Cass napping under the covers with her head on his pillow. Her scent would linger there when she was gone. Fulfillment filled his chest, made his heart light. Cass had come willingly and given without reservation.

He eased in next to her and pulled her close. She was warm and sleek along his side. After murmuring something unintelligible she settled like a kitten beside him. He brushed her hair from her face. Her lashes rested in a dark semi-circle long her cheek.

With Cass he’d found the most pleasure he’d ever experienced. He’d had relationships since Freya but only Cass had managed to capture his attention so fully that he thought of her more often than his job. No matter what he was doing, she slipped into his mind. Even after she’d left the pub this afternoon, he had been more concerned about her reaction than his own to seeing Freya.

Cass shifted against him. He looked down to find her watching him. “Hey.”

A shadow of uncertainty filled her eyes. “Hi. I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you.”

“I’m not complaining.” He hoped it would happen often. His body was already coming to life. Leaning down, he kissed her.

Cass stopped him from taking it deeper and further with a hand to his chest. “I’d better go. I don’t want to miss the head count at the clinic.”

Lyle wanted her to stay but he wouldn’t make her. Still, he had to protest at her leaving. “They don’t do a head count, do they?”

She smirked. “So asks the man running the show.”

“I’m not a dictator.”

Cass sat up, bringing the sheet along to cover her. To his disappointment. Was she still self-conscious about her scars? “I know that. In fact, next to my father you’re the nicest man I know.”

Lyle’s chest tightened. Having felt his father’s disappointment most of his adult life, to hear Cass say that touched him. He felt valued. He put his hand behind her neck and brought her lips to his. “Thank you. I think that might be one of the nicest compliments I’ve ever received.”

“You’re welcome. Now I’d better get going.”

By slipping off the bed and snatching up her clothes, she gave him no time to argue. “Bathroom?”

Lyle gave a fleeting thought to outright asking her to stay. He didn’t. Apparently she needed distance to think about what had just happened between them. Maybe he wanted that as well. He pointed. “Door in the hall.”

When he heard the door close, he got up, dressed and went downstairs. Cass didn’t even come into the living room where he was. Instead she went straight to her boots. It was as if she was running. Was she regretting what had happened?

She was in the process of pulling on her jacket when he placed his hands on her shoulders. “Cass.”

“Yes?”

“What’s going on inside that head of yours?”

She didn’t look up.

Suppressing a sigh of frustration, he said, “I think we’ve come far enough in our relationship that we can trust each other. Why the speedy exit? At this rate you’re starting to put a dent in my self-confidence.”

That brought her head up. “Oh, no. It has nothing to do with you. It has everything to do with me. I don’t want the staff gossiping about us. But let me assure you your ego is well deserved.”

He wanted to thump his chest but he settled for a big smile. “That’s good to hear. I’ll walk you back to the castle.” He helped her on with her jacket then pulled on his coat.

Outside the cottage Lyle took her hand. He was relieved Cass didn’t try to pull free, half-afraid she would.

At the side door of the castle, she held him back when he would have gone in. “It might be a good idea for us to say goodnight here. Do you really want the staff to know the despicable things you’ve been doing to a resident?”

Lyle chuckled. “Despicable? What about the wicked things you did to me?”

“Wicked?” She sounded appalled.

“I like the wicked you. But I agree. We should keep this between us. There’s no reason we should be the talk of the clinic, or the village for that matter.” She already had enough troubling her. He didn’t want her worrying about gossip.

Cass reached for the doorknob.

“You’re forgetting something.” Lyle brought her to him and kissed her soundly. They broke apart and he searched her face. “Sometime soon I plan to have you to myself all night.”

Cass’s eyes widened, as her mouth opened and closed before she shut the door between them.

Gratification filled him. She was not as unaffected by what had taken place between them as she acted.

CHAPTER SEVEN

TWO DAYS LATER Cass sat in the castle lounge in front of the roaring fire snuggled into one of the wing-backed chairs. She was attempting to read a book she’d found in the library about the history of Cluchlochry. What she was really doing was thinking about Lyle. She had only spoken to him briefly a couple of times since they had been together. He acted as if he was abiding by her implied suggestion they make their time in bed together a one-time occurrence. Even though she had intentionally given that impression, she missed kissing him or being held in his arms. It was driving her crazy not seeing him. But she would be leaving soon. Could her heart stand for her to take it further?

Was he waiting for her to come to him? Could she let herself do that? Would she be able not to? Indecision roiled in her.

It was a relief to have the distraction when Melissa pushed a young man in a wheelchair into the room and over beside her. At least now she had something to take her mind off Lyle.

The young man, dressed in a T-shirt and sweatpants, looked older than she guessed was the reality. He was gaunt. Dark rings beneath his eyes emphasized his lost look. One of his hands had a tremor.

“Hi, Cass. Have you met Andy Wallace?” Melissa asked as she parked the man near the fire. A small brown and white cocker spaniel jogged along beside him, coming to lie at his feet.

“No, I haven’t. Hi, Andy.” A week ago, could she have sounded that friendly? Being at the castle had changed her...or had it been Lyle? The thought both worried and thrilled her.

Andy nodded, then looked down at his clasped hands in his lap.

Wasn’t he the patient who had been admitted the same day as she had been? In all the time she’d been there she hadn’t seen him. “I’ve heard of you. Nice to meet you.”

Melissa locked the brake on the wheelchair. She patted him on the shoulder. “I need to check on another patient then I’ll be back to take you to therapy. I won’t be long.”

She gave Cass a quick smile and was gone.

Andy’s eyes flickered to Cass with a look of uncertainty before they jerked away.

She leaned down and patted the dog. Not long ago she wouldn’t have done that. “I do know Molasses. I work at the canine therapy center every afternoon so I get to take care of Molasses when she isn’t with you. She’s a good dog.”

“Maybe when I start walking I can do that as well. The doctors keep telling me I’ll walk again but I’m not sure that’ll ever happen.”

“Getting well takes time. I’m sure you’ll get there.” Who did she think she was to give encour

agement when she’d been little more than a walking package of ugly emotions with a bad leg and arm a couple of weeks ago? This morning she’d even caught herself smiling when she thought of Lyle. Her leg was getting stronger and her arm was extending further. She smiled. Lyle had kissed her injuries. She had made more progress than she could have believed possible when she had arrived. For once she’d started thinking there was a future.

Andy said nothing more as he stared into the fire.

There wouldn’t be much conversation unless she helped keep it going. She sensed he needed it. Wasn’t that what Lyle had seen in her? The need to talk about the unseen trauma that physical therapy had no effect on? Could she help do for Andy what Lyle had done for her? Giving him an ear, just listen to him?