Always (6 page)

      In a town the size of Digby, running into people she knew was unavoidable. Still, this had passed uncomfortable and was moving at warp-speed toward a major violation of cruel and unusual punishment.

      She shot Sue an accusing glare, but the woman's trembling chin and silent tears curbed Taylor's harsh words. Why hadn't Sue told her?

      "Not even a little tuna?" the woman pleaded.

      "Not even that."

      "Poor Precious."

      "Will be much healthier on this diet. Try it for a month, then we'll see how she's doing and discuss it again. Okay?"

      "Oh, all right."

      Gordon walked Mrs. Johnson to the door, then turned toward the reception desk. "All right, Tom," he said, taking a few steps before he froze to stare. His gaze traveled from Taylor, to the mayor, to Sue, then back to Taylor again. "Taylor?"

      "Gordon."

      "You two know each other, too?" the mayor asked, sounding disgustingly pleased with this turn of events.

      "Yes," they said simultaneously.

      "Well, this oughta make things a lot easier on all of us then." Bradshaw walked over to slap the vet on the back. "See, Gordon, the new clinic won't be finished for a few weeks, so we were–"

      "We?" Taylor asked, wanting to make certain Gordon knew she'd played no part in this torturous plan.
 

      The mayor shot her an apologetic look. "All right,
I
wondered if you'd mind sharing your clinic with Dr. Bowen until then, because Smith won't cover her anywhere else."

      "Share...my clinic?" Gordon's eyes grew round and his face darkened. "With..."

      "Dr. Bowen." The mayor chuckled and shook his head. "My secretary told me this is a homecoming for the doc. I should've realized she'd have friends here already. Now isn't this going to work out great?"

      Gordon's gaze shifted from the mayor to Taylor again. He looked trapped. Angry.

      Desperate.

      
I don't believe this.

      But they were adults now–all his lies, his false promises and his betrayal had taken place over ten years ago. She was mature enough to handle this. Besides, what choice did she have? If they were going to work together, they had to at least be civil to each other.

      "She says she's only staying for the term of the contract, but I'm hoping we can change her mind." Bradshaw chuckled and winked, oblivious to the tension in the air.

      "I see." Gordon folded his arms in front of him and looked away, making Taylor squirm inwardly.

      Undaunted, the mayor continued, "Dr. Bowen here was a little worried about this being clean enough, but–"

      
"Clean
enough?" Gordon snapped his head around to stare at her.

      "Uh-oh." Sue ducked her auburn head, reached for a stack of files and started to sort them.

      "Well, I didn't exactly
say
that," Taylor began, realizing too late this was a sensitive issue.

      "When was the last time you visited a real doctor's office,
Doctor
?" He took another step–so close she could smell the faint hint of soap on his skin. Soap...and something else. Something more intimate.

      Gordon himself.

      "How long, Taylor?" he repeated.

      "Years." She sighed and shook her head. All her medical experience had taken place in a hospital environment. Until now.

      "I doubt most of them have operating rooms.
Sterile
operating rooms."
 

      Taylor blinked but resisted the impulse to take a backward step. She hated to admit it, but he was absolutely right. "I apologize,
Dr.
Lane," she said slowly, lifting the corners of her mouth in a smug smile, knowing what she had to do. "You're right and I stand corrected."

      "I am? You do?"
 

      Gordon's surprise at her admission left him momentarily vulnerable. For some reason–pride?–she couldn't resist the sudden need to demonstrate to him and Sue that she was completely over her broken heart. She was beyond all that now.

      "Yes, you're absolutely right. For routine medical care, I'm sure this facility will be more than adequate. Where shall I hang my stethoscope?"
God, give me strength. Fast.

      Gordon arched a brow and his expression of astonishment shifted to one of mild amusement. His mouth twitched suggestively. "Follow me, Doctor." Beyond the slight twitching, his lips barely moved until he flashed her a-cat-that-ate-the-canary-grin.

      
Taylor, you're in big trouble.

      Chapter 3

      They were alone.

      This wasn't at all what Taylor'd had in mind when she agreed to follow Gordon down the hall and into the back of his clinic.

      Gordon pushed open a door and familiar, sterile scents greeted her. "This is the operating room. Satisfactory, Doctor?"

      "Gordon, I'm sorry. I...I made an assumption." She looked inside the immaculate room. "Obviously, an erroneous one." She touched his upper arm and immediately regretted it. His warmth radiated into her hand, making her yearn to maintain the connection.

      He lowered his gaze to her hand on his arm. She saw his Adam's Apple bob up and down in his throat–a gleam of perspiration coated his forehead.

      When he looked at her again, his expression was different. The righteous indignation which had driven him a few moments ago was now curiously absent, replaced by something that snatched all the from her lungs. The passion she'd seen in his eyes this morning had returned.

      With a vengeance.

      This morning, it might have been the circumstances more than anything that made him look at her like a man who wanted something above and beyond simple conversation. Now it was more.

        
Much more.

      She swallowed the lump in her throat and licked her parched lips. So many memories.

      So much pain.
 

      The intensity in his eyes suddenly faded. He blinked and looked at her again. "Well? Do the facilities meet with your approval?"

      His tone and his words reminded Taylor that this was
his
clinic and she was the intruder. "It's very professional. Besides, barring a major emergency, I'm not planning to perform surgery." She allowed her arm to fall to her side, leaving her strangely bereft.
 

      He closed the door and walked farther down the hall. "This is the kennel." His tone was all business now. "I don't imagine you'll have much need for this part of the clinic."

      "No, probably not." Taylor's eyes burned, but she focused on her surroundings, banishing thoughts of what had been. And what could have been. Why was she doing this to herself?

      "Hey, there, fella." He stopped at a large pen. "How are you doing today, Patches?"

      Forcing her misery into submission, Taylor turned her attention to the beautiful spaniel in the pen. "He's gorgeous."

        
"Yeah, I think so."

      "Is he yours?"

      Gordon sighed and reached in to scratch the dog behind the ears. "No, Max wouldn't put up with that." Patches looked at Gordon with eyes of adoration.

      Taylor could relate.

      "He's mine."

      Taylor's heart vaulted into her throat as she whirled around to confront the newcomer. A boy–pre-teen, she guessed–stood in the doorway staring at them with an insolent expression.

      "Ryan, why aren't you in school?" Gordon straightened, ignoring the dog's whimper for continued attention.

      "It's lunch. I came to see Patches." The boy's voice cracked, eliciting a surge of compassion from Taylor, though she had no idea why. "Is he gonna be all right?"

      Gordon looked down for a moment, then faced Ryan. "He's doing better, but I'll know more when the tests come back from UNC. Does your mom know you're here?"

      
Mom
? Taylor watched Gordon for a clue. A terrible suspicion slithered through her, making her want to run away. Sue's son?

      "Well..." The boy lowered his eyes and shuffled his feet. "Nope."

      "So Sue doesn't know you're playing hooky?"

      "I'll get back before she sees me."

      
Sue and Gordon's son
?
 

      "Too late, I saw you." Sue's head appeared over the boy's and she ruffled his curly red hair. "Only for a minute, Ryan. You're going to be late getting back to school. English, right?"

      "Yeah." Ryan grumbled and shifted his feet, then looked up at Gordon.

      "Go ahead." Gordon smiled and inclined his head toward the dog. "This mutt's begging for attention. Give him some."

      "Cool!"
 

      Taylor stepped back as Ryan made a beeline for the pen and threw open the door. The boy's entire face lit up with love. Patches wagged his tail and jumped up and down, whimpering.

      She caught sight of the look on Gordon's face and wondered again about his relationship to the boy. And to Sue. There was no physical resemblance to Gordon, but the child looked about the right age.
 

      Her stomach burned and her cheeks felt hot. She was over that phase, and it was high time she took control of her emotions.
Now, Taylor.

      They all followed Ryan to Gordon's office. "So when can I take him home?" Ryan asked.

      "I see no reason why you can't take him home today after school."
 

      "All
right
!" Ryan absolutely beamed at Gordon and flashed his mother a broad smile. "Did you hear that, Mom?"

      "Yes, I heard." Sue's expression as she looked over her son's head was solemn. "You'd better wash your hands and get back to school."

      "I know." Ryan rolled his eyes. "I'll be back after school to pick up Patches."

      Ryan paused to look at Taylor as if just now seeing her for the first time. "Who's she?"

      "Well, how rude." Sue shook her head and looked down,
 
avoiding Taylor's questioning glance.
 

      Taylor stepped forward to extend her hand to the boy. "I'm Taylor Bowen."
Are you Gordon's child?

      The boy shook her hand, then walked to the corner sink to wash. Sue handed him a paper towel as he turned around.

      "Taylor used to live here," Sue explained with only a slight catch in her voice. "She's the new doctor."

      Ryan's eyes grew huge and his mouth fell open. The red hair and freckles gave him an impish,
Little Rascals
quality. "A
girl?"

      Gordon, Sue and Taylor all laughed, albeit somewhat nervously, but Ryan stood his ground. "I ain't taking my clothes off when I go to the doctor. No, sirree."

      "Don't say ain't." Sue tousled his hair again.

      Taylor summoned a serious expression, not difficult when she remembered Ryan's possible paternity. "I assure you, Ryan, that I won't ask you to remove all your clothes unless it's a matter of life and death."

      Taylor met Gordon's eyes. Big mistake. His gaze locked with hers, transporting her back in time again. They'd been so young. So much in love.

      So...passionate.

      Heat crept up her neck to her ears and she snatched herself from Gordon's spell. When she glanced back at Ryan, she saw suspicion written clearly on his face. The boy looked from Taylor, to Gordon, then back to Taylor.

      "You coming over for dinner this evening?" Ryan asked Gordon.

      "I, uh, wasn't invited." Gordon flashed Sue a grin.

      
They aren't married
. An irrational surge of relief eddied through Taylor. Divorced? There was no way the Gordon she knew would stand by and not claim his own child. Not a chance. She searched Sue's eyes for possible answers to her questions.