A Moment in Time (27 page)

"I was wondering if you could have another
look at Layla," Wyn said. "This afternoon, if possible."

Again today?
Valerie thought, but she
said, "Sure. Let me check my schedule. Can you hold on a
minute?"

"Okay, Doc," Wyn said.

Valerie pressed the hold button and sat in
puzzled thought
. I don't think Layla really needs a follow-up
visit today, she decided, but Wyn Conrad obviously does
. She
realized that she'd opened the door to friendship and felt as if
she must follow through. More than that, she discovered that she
wanted to.

She quickly checked her schedule, then got
Wyn back on the line. "How about around six o'clock?" she said.
"That's when I finish up here today."

"That'd be great," Wyn said. "I'll see you
then."

"Okay," Valerie said. She hung up the
receiver, still curious about the call, wondering if her instincts
were on the mark. There wasn't time to think about it now, however,
because she had a busy afternoon ahead of her.

Valerie parked and walked toward the stable
office and saw that no one was behind the big desk. I guess he's
with Layla, she thought. She went through the tack room, then on
out into the stables. Down the row of stalls ahead of her, she saw
Wyn, standing with two horses saddled and bridled, ready to ride.
As she approached him, she saw him grin.

"What's this?" she asked.

"I thought we'd take a ride," he said.

"But I thought you wanted—" she began.

"Layla's doing great," he said, "but I
thought the two of us could use a little recreation. How about
it?"

Valerie couldn't help but smile. "I think
it's a great idea," she replied, "and I sure am glad I'm wearing
pants and sneakers."

"This is Dixie," Wyn said. "She has a lot of
spirit, but she behaves herself."

Valerie set down her carryall and medical bag
and stroked the beautiful Arabian's neck. "She's a real looker,"
she said.

"And this is Demon," Wyn said.

"Appropriately named, I take it?"

Wyn nodded. "But I can handle him." He held
Dixie's reins out to her. "Ready?"

"Yes," Valerie replied. She took Dixie's
reins and mounted the horse with ease, then watched as Wyn mounted
Demon.

Together they rode out of the stable's open
doors and toward a trail that led through Stonelair's lush meadows
and on through the heavily wooded forest in the distance. When they
reached the meadow, Wyn began a trot, and Valerie kept pace,
enjoying the sun and wind and the feel of Dixie beneath her.

Wyn would catch her eye from time to time to
make certain that she was okay. "You're a good rider," he called to
her.

"You're not so bad yourself," she called
back.
He's a terrific rider
, she thought. He sat a horse
beautifully, in full command of himself and the handsome Arabian.
His body may be scarred but he has complete confidence on
horseback.

Wyn began a canter, moving slightly ahead of
her, and Valerie followed suit as before, picking up speed, glad
for the faster pace, and the opportunity to watch Wyn and Demon
move.
They move as one
, she thought,
with a fluid grace
seldom seen in riders, even competent, fully experienced
ones.

She caught up with him, but he put Demon into
a full gallop, turning to grin at her as they headed straight
toward the woods. She gave Dixie a kick, and off she went after
him, determined to catch up with him again and blissful in her
element.

Just as she drew up alongside him, Wyn reined
in Demon and began a trot as they approached the forest trail.
Valerie quickly did likewise, and they rode together along the path
in the dappled sunlight.

When they finally returned to the stable, she
had no idea how long they'd been riding, but she hadn't enjoyed
herself so much in as long as she could remember. After they
dismounted, Helmut Reinhardt appeared from within the stable and
took the horses' reins.

"Helmut," Wyn said, "this is Valerie
Rochelle, our vet."

Helmut Reinhardt nodded and practically
clicked his heels together in an Old World manner. "I'm very
pleased to meet you," he said in thickly accented English.

"I'm happy to meet you, too," Valerie said
and watched as he disappeared into the stable with the horses.
"That was wonderful," she said to Wyn.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it, Doc," he said. He
hesitated, then added, "How about a drink or something before you
go? Or do you have plans?"

"No," she replied. "That'd be great."

They sat on one of the couches in the
library, sipping champagne that he had opened. The wolfhounds were
sprawled about the room, all of them asleep. Valerie and Wyn talked
enthusiastically about horses and their love for riding, sharing
experiences and laughing together, unaware of the time. It was not
until darkness approached and Wyn had to get up and turn on lamps
that they realized they'd been sitting together for hours.

He returned to the couch and sat looking at
her with an expression of complete happiness on his face. She
returned his gaze, and her heart swelled with pleasure. She
couldn't remember when she'd felt this happy, this . . . excited by
someone.

He drew closer to her and said, "What are you
thinking about?"

"I ... I was thinking about what a great time
I had," she said.

"I did, too," he said. "I... I didn't even
think it was possible."

"I didn't either," she said. She reached over
and touched his hand. "I didn't know it could be like this."

He grasped her hand in his, enjoying its
feminine, yet strong, feel against his. Oh, God! he wondered.
Can this really be happening to me?
Then he thought:
To
us?
He began to stroke her hand gently, reluctant to let it
go.

Valerie felt her body tremble slightly at his
touch, at the connection between them. She didn't know how to
describe it. It was almost as if some chemical reaction had taken
place between them, as if some force were operating over them
without their control. It was frightening, this feeling and her
knowledge of it, but simultaneously it thrilled her to the very
core of her being.

She'd never felt this way before. Not with
Teddy, not with anyone.
Was it merely sexual?
she asked
herself.
Or was it something more?
She didn't know, but she
suddenly realized that she was willing to explore it, to take a
chance, to risk whatever may come to get to know this man
better.

Wyn seemed mesmerized by her hand, stroking
it, staring down at it, slightly embarrassed to look into her eyes,
for fear that he would see mere indulgence there or, worse,
rejection. But look up at her he finally did, unable to resist. His
heart surged with a newfound joy when at last he witnessed the look
of tenderness, perhaps even the disquiet of love or lust, in those
emerald eyes. Hers was not a gaze of pity, nor was it mere empathy.
It was much, much more, of that he was certain.

He set down his champagne glass and brought
her hand to his lips and kissed it, barely brushing it with his
mouth, all the while searching her eyes for meaning. He was not
disappointed, for Valerie's lips quivered slightly at his kiss and
her eyes watched him fearlessly, unblinkingly, and, he thought, a
bit proudly.

When he released her hand at last, Valerie
let out a deep breath. Her heart was racing, and she could feel her
pulse beating a steady tattoo. She wanted to say something, but
needed to recover her equilibrium first. It was as if she were
under a magic spell and couldn't quite get out of its grasp.

"I want to see you again, Doc," he said
softly. "Soon."

She nodded slightly and her lips parted.
"Yes," she barely breathed. "Oh, yes."

After a few moments of staring into one
another's eyes, she shook her head and sighed pleasantly, almost
wistfully. "I'd better go," she said. "I really do have a big day
tomorrow."

"I know," he said, "but I wish you didn't
have to. I wish . . . well, I wish you didn't have to leave at
all."

She nodded again, knowingly, understanding
what he wanted, what they both wanted. She drew herself up and
reluctantly relinquished the magic of the moment for the reality of
what lay ahead.

"Walk me to the car?" she asked.

"You bet," he said.

They rose simultaneously, and Valerie
retrieved her carryall and medical bag. Together they walked out to
the Jeep, and she got the keys out of her carryall. She started to
open the door, and, from behind her, his arms enfolded her in a
tender hug.

She felt as if she could stay in his arms
forever, just like that, and be happy, but she had to leave now or
she didn't think she ever would. She turned to him and kissed his
lips quickly, then turned again to the car.

"I really have to go," she said. "While I
still can."

He grinned. "I'm glad you feel that way,
too," he said.

She got in the Jeep and started it, then sat
looking at him.

"I'll call you, okay?" he asked.

"Yes," she said.

"Tomorrow okay?"

Not soon enough
, she thought. "Yes,"
she replied.

" 'Night, Doc." He touched his fingers to his
lips and touched hers with his fingertips.

" 'Night, Wyn," she said.

She put the car in gear, pulled out of the
parking area, and turned to drive down the long lane, already eager
for tomorrow to come, already hungry for his touch, knowing in her
heart of hearts that this was right and true and pure.

Wyn stood watching her taillights disappear
down the lane, then began walking up to the house, his mind
consumed with Valerie. He could hardly believe the evening that had
passed, and felt the urge to shout his joy from the rooftops. But
he walked on in silence, looking forward to tomorrow for the first
time in many, many months. He couldn't help but grin. He'd never
thought he would be able to think of such things again, not in the
condition he was in. He'd never thought he would even want to think
of such things, not after his miserable experience with
Arielle.

Valerie Rochelle,
he thought.
What
an amazing woman
.

Chapter Twenty

There, Noah," Valerie said, giving the
elderly husky a firm stroke, "I think you're as good as new." She
looked up at Eddie Lowell. "He really is in great shape," she
said.

Eddie smiled, his darkly tanned face a mass
of leathery wrinkles. "You're like Wonder Woman, Val," he said. "I
never would've believed a pacemaker would make such a difference. I
didn't think he was going to last out the year, and now he's
practically like a young pup again."

"Just like you," Valerie said.

"Oh-ho," he laughed. "I wish! Try telling
Jonathan that. I can hardly keep up with him."

She looked at Eddie, somewhat surprised that
the forty-something antiques dealer had mentioned his
twenty-something boyfriend in what virtually amounted to an
intimate manner.

"Maybe that's what keeps you so young,
Eddie," she said. "Having a younger partner, I mean. You never seem
to age at all."

"Well, you're sweet to say that, Val," he
said, "but sometimes I feel like old Noah here did. Maybe a
pacemaker would do the trick for me, too."

"I don't think so, Eddie," she quipped.
"You'd have to have a heart first."

He laughed at her joke. "You're right," he
said, "but I wouldn't be a successful antiques dealer if I
did."

Valerie leaned over and gave him a peck on
the cheek. "I know your heart's made out of pure gold, and you know
I'm crazy about you," she said.

"And I'm crazy about you, Val," he said,
beaming. "Are you coming by for that drink tonight?"

"Yes, I am," she said. "Fancy dress,
right?"

"Oh, sure," he said. "As fancy as blue jeans
or khakis get. Well now, I'd better get out of here and let you do
your work."

She handed him Noah's leash. "I'll see you
about six-thirty," she said, giving the dog another stroke.

"Good," he said, starting for the door. "Oh,
and feel free to bring Teddy." Then he added, "If you want to, that
is."

"Thanks, Eddie," Valerie replied, "but I
think he's busy tonight, so I'll come alone."

"Okay," he said. "See you later."

She held the door to the examining room open
for him and watched as he left. She quickly made some notes on
Noah's chart, then left the examining room and went out to the
reception desk. "Noah's chart for filing," she told Tami, handing
it over the desk to her.

"Thanks, Val," Tami said.

Daphne rounded the corner from her office.
"Was that Mr. Lowell with Noah I saw leaving?" she asked.

"Yes," Valerie said.

"I remember the last time I saw Noah," Daphne
said. "He was really sick. He looks like a whole new dog, doesn't
he?"

"He sure does," Val replied.

"Mr. Lowell must be so happy," she said. She
looked at Val with a quizzical expression. "You seem to be very
good friends with him."

"I've known him for a long time," Val
replied.

"You're lucky," Daphne said. "You have so
many nice friends like him."

"I am lucky to have Eddie for a friend," Val
agreed. "I guess you can't have too many, Daphne."

"You know when I went over to his place on an
emergency," Daphne went on, "I was amazed by the house. All those
paintings and things. It was really beautiful. He must be
rich."

"I don't know about that," Val said with a
laugh, "but it is beautiful."

The telephone rang and Tami picked up the
receiver. "Good morning," she said. "Animal clinic."

Valerie started for her office but turned
back when Tami called out to her. "What is it?" she asked.