Susan Mallery - Only Yours

After finishing her elephant ear, she walked around, looking at the different booths. There were people selling everything from handmade jewelry to CDs. A guy offered samples of local wild honey. A woman in a turban told fortunes. One band replaced another and the music continued.

Around eight, she ran into her sister. Dakota had Hannah in a stroller. The little girl grinned with excitement and waved at everyone she saw.

“Having fun?” Montana asked.

“Sure. This is one of my favorite festivals.”

“Is Finn still in Alaska?”

“Yes. He comes back tomorrow. I can’t wait to see him.”

“I’m sure he’s thinking the same thing.”

Dakota grinned. “That’s what he tells me. I have to say, I really like that quality in a man.”

“I would, too.”

They started walking together. Their progress was slow, as most of the residents of the town knew them and Hannah, and wanted to stop and talk about how the little girl was doing.

“Do you think we got this much attention when we were her age?” Montana asked as Eddie Carberry, Josh Golden’s seventy-something assistant, paused to play “where’s the baby” with Hannah.

“We were triplets in a small town,” Dakota said with a laugh. “We probably got a parade.”

“I wish I could remember it.”

“You could try past regression therapy.”

Montana shook her head. “I’m not that interested, but thanks.”

“Anytime. So what’s new?”

One of the advantages of being a triplet was understanding how the others thought. To anyone else, the question would have been casual. Practically a throwaway. But Montana knew better. “What’s up?”

Dakota widened her eyes. “Nothing. Why do you ask?”

Montana moved her off the path and onto the grass where there were less people. “You want to talk about something specific. I can tell. What is it?”

Dakota drew in a breath. “There is some concern about what’s happening with Simon.”

Montana wasn’t even surprised. “Did you volunteer or lose the bet?”

“I offered to talk to you.”

Which was just like her family. Love came with worry and snooping. “There’s not much to say. I’m trying to convince him to stay because Mayor Marsha asked me to.”

“We know that part. But what about the rest of it?” Dakota studied her. “He’s an intriguing man.”

“Don’t let Finn hear you say that.”

“I’m not the one in love with Simon.”

“I’m not either.”

“Are you sure?”

Montana thought about the question. There was no point in lying—Dakota would be able to tell. “He’s a really good guy who’s overcome some scary stuff. I’ve seen him with his patients. He cares. He gives them all he has, but still manages to hold back, emotionally. He’s unreachable.”

“A handsome, scarred stranger who heals children and can’t be touched emotionally,” Dakota said lightly. “He’s like catnip.”

Something she’d thought herself. Great minds and all that. “I’ve never been a fan of catnip.”

“You know what I mean.”

“I’m doing okay. I’m not in love with him.”

“Could you be?”

Montana didn’t want to think about that. “He needs me.”

“He doesn’t sound like he needs anyone. You can’t save him.”

“Someone has to.”

Dakota’s expression turned serious. “No. They don’t. Montana, you give your whole self in relationships. That’s not always the best way to keep yourself from getting hurt.”

“He’s lonely.”

“He’s leaving.”

“I know that.” Simon had been completely honest about that. She knew that getting involved was dangerous, that given her history, falling for a guy like him could be a disaster.

“Do you?”

“Of course. He’s made that very clear. He’s going to Peru when he leaves here. I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about me.”

“It comes with the job,” Dakota reminded her. “We want you to protect yourself. Just a little.”

Because the reality was, Simon could break her heart. She could fall in love with him, only to watch him walk away.

“I want to help him. But you’re right—I have to be smart about it. And I am. I know how this is going to end.”

Dakota looked like she was going to say more, then sighed. “That’s all we can ask.”

“There’s my precious baby girl.” Bella Gionni, a local hairdresser in town, walked toward them. She crouched down to smile at Hannah.

“You’re ignoring us,” Montana pointed out, grateful for the interruption.

“I’ll get to you next,” Bella promised, cooing over Hannah. “She’s growing so fast. Is that a tooth?”

“She has a couple now,” Dakota said. “But even though she’s teething, she’s hardly ever fussy.”

“I’m going to go walk around,” Montana murmured.

“Are we okay?”

She smiled. “Of course. I know you love me. Sometimes it’s annoying, but mostly it’s nice.”

“Gee, thanks.”

Montana walked away. As she got lost in the crowd, she thought about Simon. Her need to see him had only increased. Now, what was she willing to do about it?

SIMON HADN’T INTENDED to come to the Summer Festival. He’d seen it on his way back to the hotel, where he’d planned to order room service and then read. But instead he’d found himself changing his clothes and heading out.

The night was warm and the sounds of live music drifted to him. The sidewalks were crowded and he could see where the streets had been blocked to car traffic so those attending could spread out.

He’d lived in cities where people walked or used public transportation, but he’d never been anywhere like Fool’s Gold. The small town feel appealed to him, which he never would have expected.

Despite the short time he’d been there, he recognized several people. When they greeted him, he responded. It was almost as if he’d lived there forever. An illusion, but a nice one.

He ate ribs and a corn dog, washing both down with a beer, then walked around some more. He told himself he was simply exploring, but he knew the truth. Montana would be here and he wanted to find her.

“Hello, Dr. Bradley.”

He turned and recognized one of the nurses from the hospital. She was with a man and two small children. Her family, she confirmed, as she made introductions.

“Are you enjoying the festival?” she asked.

“Very much.”

“In the early fall we have an artist series. I haven’t heard who all is coming, but it’s fun to guess. A few years ago we had Wyland come. He’s the one who does those huge murals of undersea life? So beautiful. I love his work.”

“Sounds impressive.” A more polite response than the reality—which was that he wouldn’t be in town come fall.

“I’m sure you’ll like whoever comes.”

They chatted a few more minutes, then he excused himself. He walked purposefully now, searching for the one face he most wanted to see.

He heard laughter by the carousel and turned. He caught a flash of blond hair, but it was only one of her sisters. The one with the baby.

He took two more steps, then stopped. She was close—he could sense it. And then she was walking toward him. She smiled as she spotted him.

He stayed where he was, letting her come to him, letting it be her choice. When she was in front of him, she took his hand, as if this had been their plan.

“Let’s go home,” she said and led the way.

THEY WENT TO HER HOUSE. Simon noticed very little about the short walk through a quiet residential neighborhood. He could see the houses were small but well maintained. Montana’s was a single story, set back from the sidewalk. They climbed the two steps to the tiny porch, then she used her key to let them in.

The living room was about half the size of his hotel room. She’d left a single lamp on to illuminate the space, but didn’t stop there. He saw a dining room, a kitchen, then they were in a short hallway. The door on the left led to a bedroom that had been converted into an office. Next was a bathroom. The door at the end of the hall led to her bedroom.

There was no moon and they’d long left the light of the living room behind. As they walked through the doorway, Montana reached for a switch on the wall. Two nightstand lamps went on.

Simon glanced around, positioning the dresser and the bed in his mind before turning off the lights. He sensed more than saw her turn toward him.

Desire held him in an uncomfortably tight grip. He was aware of his blood pounding in his ears, the rush of need that made him hard to the point of pain. He wanted her more than he’d ever wanted any woman, but having her would come at a price. The point was driven home further when she turned the light back on.

“I thought men liked to see as well as do,” she said lightly, her brown eyes searching his.

“It’s better in the dark.”

She pressed her hands lightly on his chest. “I’m not like them.”

“Like who?”

“The ones who didn’t want to see your scars. I’m not intimidated by them.”

“You should be.”

She was determined, he realized. She thought that her ability to see what had been done to him would change things. She was right in that, but wrong in the outcome. The scars would horrify her. She might try to get through it, but she would be stiff and unable to respond. He should know.

Most of the women he’d spent time with had agreed that it would be best if he left on his T-shirt. Easier for both of them. But he already knew that Montana wasn’t like other women.

“I want you,” she said, her expression earnest. “I want to be with you. Now. Here. I want all of you.”

For reasons he couldn’t explain he had trouble telling her no. As if the act of refusing might hurt her and he couldn’t risk that. But to show her the scars…

Montana wore a summer dress in some floral fabric. The top outlined her curves while the skirt was full and fell to her knees.

As he watched, she unfastened the buttons down the front, then shrugged out of her dress. Underneath she wore a lace bra and bikini panties. Both were a soft pink.

Every part of her was beautiful. Her full breasts, the curve of her hips, the slight roundness of her belly. His erection throbbed. Need nearly suffocated him. But before he could reach for her, she stepped back.

“My last serious boyfriend was also a doctor. I was in Los Angeles, thinking I needed to see something beyond Fool’s Gold. While he wasn’t a plastic surgeon, he was very into perfection. One night, after we’d made love, he put his hands on my body and showed me everything that was wrong.”

She raised her chin as she faced him, but he heard the hurt in her voice.

“He said he could ‘fix’ my breasts,” she began. “That there were laser treatments to get rid of my freckles. He said I would be really pretty, if I lost 15 pounds on top of all that. The best part was that he seemed to think he was helping me in some way…. I know it’s not the same, but it’s not unusual to be judged by your appearance.”

Her eyes were overly bright, as if she were holding back tears.

“He was an asshole,” Simon growled, beyond furious. The need to lash out, to find the man who had tried to break Montana’s spirit burned as hot as his passion. She was everything a man could want. What kind of low-life bastard did that to anyone, let alone a woman like her?

“You intimidated him in some way,” he continued. “He didn’t think he was enough so he had to make you less.”

She smiled, but her lips trembled. “I didn’t intimidate him, believe me. He wanted perfection and I could never be perfect. Worse, I wasn’t that interested in being perfect. Perfect is boring. At least that’s what I tell myself. Most of the time, I even believe it.”

He moved toward her and cupped her face in his hands. “You are so beautiful that sometimes it hurts just to look at you. Your eyes are a thousand shades of brown and gold with hints of blue and green.” He touched her cheekbones with his thumbs. “Your freckles are like the girl-next-door fantasy brought to life. Your mouth is sexy and soft and when you smile, the world seems like a better place. Swear you’ll never change anything. Swear it.”

More tears filled her eyes. “Wow. That was really good. I wish you’d been there back then. I was pretty heartbroken. I’m better now. I figured out he was a jerk and not for me, and I came home.

“I can’t begin to know what it was like for you,” she continued. “But please, Simon. I want to make love with you. With all of you. Not just some parts of you.”