* * *
Ty held Ellie’s hand tightly in his as they walked into the Swallow Creek Arena where the rodeo was being held. Tonight’s agenda was more about family fun and kicking off the rodeo than actual competitions. There were kids’ events, exhibits, a barbecue cook-off and a barn dance.
From the time they made their entrance, familiar faces greeted Ty, introduced themselves to Eleanor and told him how good it was to see him.
No one mentioned his father.
But no doubt about it, he’d be seeing his father soon.
Acid gurgled in his stomach.
He glanced at Ellie in her jeans and Western-style snap-up that his sister-in-law had insisted she wear. It seemed his whole family was planning to dress her before the weekend ended, but Ellie took it all in her stride, smiling and going along with their wardrobe suggestions.
The jeans were a little snug and looked good clinging to her body. The shirt did nothing to hide her generous curves and looked even better. Ty’s mouth watered just recalling what those curves felt like in his hands, his mouth, pressed to his body.
And the boots. There wasn’t a single practical thing about Ellie’s red boots but hell if they weren’t his favorite part about her outfit. Somehow the bright boots suited her, the real her, the passionate woman beneath the surface.
“You okay?” she asked, her big eyes looking up at him.
“Fine,” he answered, squeezing her hand gently. “I’m fine, darlin’. Just so long as I have you at my side.”
Which crazily enough was true. Having her next to him both excited and calmed him.
“Just thinkin’ how much I liked your boots.” He grinned, liking how her gaze dropped to her boots and a blush that almost matched their bright color spread across her cheeks. “And what’s in ’em,” he added, just to watch the color in her cheeks deepen.
“Ty Donaldson?” a familiar feminine voice called out from behind them with a distinctive Southern drawl. “Is that really you?”
“Layla?” Ty spun, surprise filling him at the sight of the pretty little blonde barreling toward him. He held his arms out and she stepped into them. “Layla! What are you doing here? Last I heard you were practicing in Florida.”
She hugged him then smiled up at him as if he was a sight for sore eyes. “I’m still in Miami. How about you? You still a big-city doc up North?”
“Absolutely. Angel’s is where I was meant to be. There’s no place in the world I’d rather practice than at that hospital.”
Ellie shifted at his side and he put his arm at her waist, proudly pulling her close to him. “Excuse my been-away-from-the-South-too-long rudeness, Layla. This is Dr. Eleanor Aston. She’s a pediatrician at Angel’s. One of the best. Y’all have a lot in common.”
* * *
Eleanor told herself that it didn’t mean a thing that Ty introduced her as a coworker and not as his weekend date. Or that he’d introduced her as “Eleanor” rather than the “Ellie” he’d taken to calling her by. Or that when he’d said they had a lot in common she’d instantly wondered if he meant they’d both slept with him.
She was just being overly sensitive when there was no reason. But when the petite woman had launched herself into Ty’s arms, Eleanor had felt overly sensitive, gawky and jealous.
Jealous. Her. She really wasn’t the jealous type.
She winced. She had no claims to Ty. None whatsoever. Yet...
She was jealous of the slender young woman Ty grinned at as if she were his long-lost best friend.
“Layla is the daughter of Swallow Creek’s longtime mayor, Rick Woods. She was one of my closest friends from school.”
Okay, so maybe she was his long-lost best friend. Or did he mean closest as in former girlfriend? Hating the way she was reacting, Eleanor pulled in her little green monster and accepted the smiling woman’s outstretched hand.
“I have Ty to thank for encouraging me to go into medicine,” Layla said, shaking Eleanor’s hand with enthusiasm. “I owe him big-time.”
“Hmm.” Ty scratched his chin. “Then maybe you should consider moving up North so you can pay your debt.”
Eleanor’s gaze jerked to him, but she couldn’t read anything beyond the friendly grin on his relaxed face. Was he flirting with the woman? What was she thinking? Of course Ty was flirting. It was what he did with every woman.
Layla gave him a confused look. “What would I do up North?”
“More good than you’d believe possible. You should come and work at Angel’s.”
Layla gave him a thoughtful look. “Why do you say that?”
“Although nothing’s official, the current head of Pediatrics is going to make a career change. Soon. You’d be the perfect person to take his place.”
Interest flickered on the blonde’s face, but she still looked hesitant.
“You’d like working at Angel’s, Layla. Those kids reach in, grab your heart and don’t let go. The entire hospital is about serving others, giving to those in need. If ever I question my life choices, all I have to do is step into that hospital to know I’m exactly where I’m meant to be, helping those who can’t help themselves.”
Eleanor bit her lower lip. Ty was right, of course. There was no place like Angel’s. While she stood, feeling more and more out of place, they chatted about Angel’s awhile longer, about Ty’s family, about a couple of mutual friends.
“Have you seen Luke since you’ve been home?”
Her smile fading and her expression growing guarded at Ty’s question, Layla shook her head. “I’m just here for a few days to visit with Mom and Dad.”
“That going okay?”
A smile that Eleanor could only describe as sad slid onto the woman’s face. “Probably about as well as your visit. How’s your father?”
“Right.” Ty laughed, put his arm around Eleanor’s waist, instantly making her feel a little better. What was wrong with her? She shouldn’t be jealous of his easy camaraderie with the woman. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t seen him talk to hundreds of women at Angel’s. Then again, perhaps she’d never really liked that either.
His thumb rubbing across the indent at Eleanor’s lower back, toying with the waistband of her jeans, Ty’s gaze remained on Layla. “Why don’t you come grab a seat with Ellie and me? We’ll tell you more about the Angel Mendez Children’s Hospital and why you should think about joining our team.”
Ellie. He’d called her Ellie. Instantly, the tension that had been gripping her shoulders eased and she let out the breath she hadn’t even realized she’d been holding. Who would have ever thought that the nickname would make her feel better instead of worse?
“You’re sure I wouldn’t be intruding?” Layla looked back and forth between Ty and Eleanor.
Reining in the remainder of her green monster, Eleanor shook her head. “No, please do. I want to hear all about Ty’s youth. Maybe you could tell me some good stories for me to tease him about.”
Layla smiled back, hooked her arm through Eleanor’s and began to do just that.
Later, Eleanor admitted that she liked the beautiful young doctor from Ty’s past. It hadn’t hurt that he’d kept Eleanor close, holding her hand while they talked, asking for her input regarding Angel’s. That Layla had been sweet, friendly and not once had she looked at Ty in any way that made Eleanor feel uncomfortable. Once she’d gotten over her initial jealousy, she’d realized that nothing more than friendship had ever existed between