Cowboy Love (22 page)

"What about you? You thought you loved your bull rider? How can you say you love me if you were just in love with him a few weeks ago?"

Dipping her head, she answered, "I wasn't in love with Jack. I realize that now. I don't know, maybe I loved what our life might have been, him being in the PBR and all, but it wasn't real. When I found out he cheated, it hurt my pride more than anything, I guess."

"Believe I love you and don't question it. I know what I feel and I want you, no one else. We will just have to trust each other and believe what we feel is the real thing," he finished in a whisper, pulling her tight against his chest.

"I'm sorry, Tanner. I want to believe in this, I really do, but it's hard. It's going to take time."

"I know. We hold all the time in the world in the palm of our hands. We'll make the distance thing not a big deal," he said, pulling back so he could look into her eyes.

"I just hope it doesn't become too much."

"It won't. We'll make things work. I promise," he said, brushing his thumb across her face. She rubbed her cheek against his hand before she pulled back out of his arms.

"I need to get moving. Are you going to walk me to my car?"

They silently walked outside holding hands. He took her bag and put it in the back, shutting the trunk firmly before he returned to her side and pulled her into his arms. He bent his head, taking her lips with his, softly moving them over hers as he tasted her one last time before she left.

When they came up for air, he said, "You had better go or I won't let you in a minute."

"I know," she whispered, hugging him even though she knew she would be seeing him soon. "I'll call you when I get home."

"Please do. I want to make sure you get home all right."

"I will. I'll see you in a few days."

"I love you," he whispered, as he held her tight.

"I love you, too."

He let her go and she slipped into the driver's seat of the car, pulling the door firmly behind her before she started the engine. She waved tearfully before pulling out of his parents' drive to head back to Dallas and her lonely apartment.

* * * *

Getting out of bed the next morning seemed like a chore. Tired and miserable, Lord help anyone who got on her bad side today because she was in a very bitchy mood. She got to work, received reports on her patients and began her day. When time for lunch came, Chris couldn't join her, so went downstairs and walked to the sandwich shop next to the hospital. She brought her meal to an empty outside table and shocked rippled through her as Jack confronted her.

Rolling her eyes, she tried to ignore him.

"I want to talk to you," he demanded.

"Well, I don't want to talk to you," she replied, picking up her food and taking a bite with the intention of ignoring him completely.

He slipped into the chair across from her and grabbed her wrist as she started to rise.

"Get your hands off me." She pulled her arm from his grasp.

"Fine. What's going on between you and your lover boy?"

"None of your business. Our relationship is over, done, finished. What's between me and Tanner has nothing to do with you."

"Oh, yes, it does, if you want to keep your job," he snarled, his eyes snapping in anger.

"Are you threatening me?"

"I happen to know some higher ups in this place. Trust me darlin' when I say I can get you fired if I so choose."

"I don't believe you!" Her eyes widened in shock.
Will he really try to get me fired?
"Why do you care, Jack? Because I got out of our relationship and no one has ever turned you down before?"

"It doesn't matter what my reasons are, Amy. You're mine and I won't let you go until I'm ready."

"In other words, you don't care what I want and that you cheated on me." The reality of her situation weighed heavily on her mind as she contemplated his words.

"No, it doesn't. So from now on, you had better leave the loser alone and focus on me," he rasped.

"You know what? Do your damnedest. I love Tanner, not you, and if that means losing my job, fine. I don't think you possess as much power as you claim to, but if I have to go somewhere else to work, then I will," she shouted.

"You love him?" Jack laughed almost hysterically as the anger built in her.

"Yes, I do, and there isn't anything you can do to stop what's happening, Jack." She trembled as her rage grew, but she wasn't going to let him take control of her life.

"You'll be sorry you crossed me. Watch your back. Your life is going to be a living hell from now on," he threatened. He stood, knocking the chair off balance until it fell to the ground behind him as he turned and walked away.

Her anger deflated as her body shook as the adrenaline rushed through her. She stayed there for several minutes before she realized her cell phone vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out and smiled slightly, when she recognized the number flashing on the screen.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, why? I'm surprised you called. Something wrong?"

"I had a bad feelin' in the pit of my stomach that you were hurt, so I thought I'd call and check on you." Worry laced his voice. "Are you sure you are okay? You sound upset."

"Yeah, I'm all right. I had a bad run-in with Jack again."

"What did he say?"

"He wanted to know about us. I told him I love you and it didn't sit well with him."

"Are you sure that's all?"

"Everything will be fine, Tanner. No big deal." She paused a moment, trying to gain control of her emotions. Whispering in the phone, she murmured, "I miss you."

She did not want to tell him about Jack's threats. If she did, he would want to drive up here and punch Jack again and that would make matters worse. No, she would deal with this on her own.

"I miss you, too. I can't wait to see you again. Do you have any idea how miserable it is tryin' to sleep without you next to me?"

* * * *

He was worried. Her tone gave her away. Something happened between her and the other guy, but she wasn't going to tell him. When she changed the subject, he let her. For now. He'd find out soon enough and he would take care of the bull rider in his own way.

He could hear a smile in her voice as she said, "Yeah, actually I do. I didn't sleep well either."

"I can't wait to hold you again."

"I know what you mean, but I hate to cut you off. I need to get back to work. I still have medications I to give. Can I call you later after I get off?"

"Of course. I'll talk you then. I love you."

"I love you, too. Talk to you around seven-thirty."

Chapter 16

She hung up the phone and headed back upstairs. Total shock reverberated through her as Jack came out of the nurse manager's office with a smug smile on his face.
How in the hell does he know her?

She could tell by the look on his face he had already started to cause trouble and she needed to be prepared. She didn't think that he could get her fired, at least not right away.

The next day, Carol called her into the office and her stomach tightened as apprehensive slithered along her arms.

"Can I talk to you?"

"Sure, Carol."

"Sit down, Amy. We need to talk." Carol sat down at her desk and she sat across from her with a sinking feeling in her chest.

"Jack Miller came into my office yesterday and gave me information that is pretty serious."

Amy hung her head for a moment, contemplating how she could handle this.
Honesty is the best policy.

"Carol you know Jack Miller and I were in a relationship for a while."

"Yes, I am aware."

"I realize that, but what you might not know is our relationship is no longer. I split with him about a month ago, maybe a little more, and he's furious." She took a deep breath before continuing. "Now, he's trying to cause trouble. He threatened me yesterday because I told him I am in love with someone else. He doesn't take kindly to being told no."

"Well, I'm glad your relationship with him is over. It's the best thing for you, and I'm happy you've found someone else, but the truth is, Amy, he has friends, powerful friends in this organization. The accusation is you took narcotics from the floor."

"What?" Amy shouted, standing up. "I would never take narcotics out of the count for my own use."

"I understand but the dates he's mentioned are dates the count was off and also when you were here, it looks suspicious."

"Son of a bitch. I'm sorry, Carol," she said, shaking in anger, as she sat back down. "What happens now?"

"There will be an investigation, of course. Although due to your almost perfect work history here, you won't be suspended. Your record with this hospital is excellent so I don't anticipate a problem. You can continue to work until everything is concluded. I just needed to warn you ahead of time, before things came down from the board of directors."

"I appreciate your help. You have no idea how much this means to me. I'm sure the whole mess will work out fine. Trust me, if I run into him again, I may have to kill him myself, the bastard."

"I will, Amy. Just watch yourself around him if you run into him. And be careful with your threats. Should anything happen to him…"

"He really pisses me off to no end. Thanks again," she said, before she walked out the door and back to her patients.

* * * *

On Wednesday, anticipation zinged through her as she thought about seeing Tanner again. When Chris found her, she almost couldn't hold in her excitement.

"Tanner is driving up this afternoon so we can see each other on my days off." She shifted excitedly in her chair.

"You two are spending a lot of time together, aren't you? Didn't you just drive down there over the weekend?"

Chris gave her a sly look before she said, "Jason was looking for you. He called up here on Saturday to make sure you didn't pull an overtime shift."

"Oh shit! I think we had a ride this past weekend and I totally forgot! I'd better call him." She picked up the phone at the desk and dialed Jason's pager number.

"You haven't told me what's up between you and Tanner."

"Nothing you need to worry about, Chris. Things are fantastic." The bright blush on her cheeks at the mention of the man she loved gave away her secret.

"Come on, Am, fess up. I already know you two have been together, so what are the red cheeks for?"

"You heard about our disagreement when Jack called."

"Well, not seeing him for those two weeks made me realize my feelings for him ran deeper than I wanted to admit."

"When I drove out to Brenham this weekend, I admitted to him and myself I love him."

"You're kidding? That's awesome, Amy!" Chris grabbed her in a huge hug as several of the other nurses looked at them questioningly.

"Ssshhh! The whole floor will find out what's going on."

"Sorry," Chris whispered. "I'm so happy for you."

"I'm happy, too, happier than I've been in a long time, I think."

"I knew you two would be perfect together, I just knew it!"

A frown settled on her face as they sat back down at the desk.

"What's wrong?"

"Jack. He's making trouble for me here at the hospital and I'm not sure how I can stop it."

"What's he doing now?"

"He's put a birdie in someone's ear and accused me of lifting narcotics from the count."

"You've got to be kidding me. There is no way you could steal narcotics. I don't think you take anything stronger than Tylenol."

She shook her head. "He must have some pretty influential friends her at the hospital to be able to accuse me and know dates the count had been incorrect."

"That bastard!"

"I know. I'm not sure what I'm going to do."

"Have you told Tanner?"

"Hell no! And I'm not going to. I can handle this myself."

"You should tell him, Amy."

"I'm not going to and you won't tell him either, Chris. This has nothing to do with him."

"Fine, I'll drop it for now."

The phone rang and Amy picked up the receiver.

Jason's angry voice zipped across the line. "Where the hell were you this weekend? We had a rodeo."

"I'm sorry, Jason. I completely forgot."

"Forgot? How could you forget, Amy? That's not like you at all. The rodeos are the most important thing to you."

"I know, but I had something to do."

"I drove to Brenham, so the rodeo slipped my mind."

"You went to hang out with that guy, didn't you?" The disgust in his voice concerned her. Jason wasn't normally so hateful, especially with her.

"I can't believe you! You jump out of the pan into the fire, don't you? You got yourself hurt hanging around Jack and now you are doing the same thing all over again."

"Jason, I'm sorry I messed up and forgot the rodeo. I realize I put you in a bind and if you want to find another riding partner, that's fine. As far as my love life goes, if I get hurt, it's not your concern."

"The hell it's not!"

"I'm not discussing this with you. What's between Tanner and me is just that. You are my friend, but I'll not let you ruin this for me. I'll talk to you later." She hung up the phone, refusing to let him say another word.

"Whoa, that was
not
pretty."

"No, it wasn't. I can't believe Jason would act like that. You'd think he's jealous or something."

* * * *

When the shift ended, the two women walked out to their cars as the warm summer air blew across the parking lot, drying the sweat on their skin.

"Have fun. Is Tanner meeting you at your place?"

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do." Chris laughed as Amy blushed.

"Sure, Chris. I know what you would do."

"I hope you two have a good time."

"I'm sure we will. I'll see you on Saturday." Amy pulled open the door on her car and slid into the driver's seat.

When she pulled into the parking lot of her apartment complex, she turned the car off, grabbed her things and stepped out, locking the car.