Breaking Free: A Colorado High Country Crossover Novel, Pamela Clare [i can read book club .TXT] 📗

after ten in the morning, and Winona was still in bed, her head on Jason’s chest, her heartbeat slowing. He’d woken her with soft kisses and had then made long, slow love to her, carrying her over the edge twice before letting himself go. He was almost too good to be true.

She kissed a brown nipple. “I wish every weekday could start like this. I feel so decadent. Sleeping in, sex, and coffee.”

She tried not to remember that he would be leaving soon. He’d said he wanted to stay to see the eagle released into the wild. After that…

He raised his head, confusion on his face. “Where’s the coffee?”

“For the moment, it’s just in my imagination.”

“I can fix that.” He kissed the top of her head. “Just stay where you are.”

He got up, walked naked toward the kitchen, the twin mounds of his delectable ass shifting as he moved. When he returned five minutes later carrying two full coffee mugs, she got the reverse view, his cock swaying.

He handed her the mug of coffee with milk in it. “Here.”

“That is the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen—you naked and bringing me coffee.”

Jason chuckled. “I can do it again if it turns you on.”

“It does.” She sipped, moaned.

Jason got back into bed beside her, the two of them sitting with their backs against the headboard as they sipped. “I wonder how Hank is feeling this morning.”

“Sore, I’m sure, and probably not very happy with himself.”

“Did he really blow up his own house?”

“He was trying to extract hash oil from marijuana plants using butane, and the fumes ignited. His house burned to the ground.”

Jason shook his head. “That man must have nine lives.”

“You were good with him. I think everyone was impressed by what you can do. Megs kept talking about wanting you on the Team.”

“That’s what she said to me, too.”

It was such a normal thing to do—a couple savoring physical contact, sipping coffee together, planning their day. Except they weren’t truly a couple.

The thought put a bittersweet ache in Winona’s heart. “I need to get to the clinic. It’s past time for rounds, and I’ve got a shipment of food and supplies coming in today. Naomi and little Shota are coming home this afternoon, and I want to welcome them home—and to hold my little nephew again.”

“I’m going to give that security company in Denver a call and set up an appointment.”

When they had finished their coffee, they showered and made breakfast together. They were almost finished eating when Winona’s phone buzzed with a text from the game warden. She scrolled through the message, then jumped to her feet.

“That was Dan, the game warden. He’s bringing me an injured bear cub. A driver found it by the side of the road. Dan says it has a broken leg.”

“Can I help?”

She hurried to put on her scrubs. “Maybe. You can certainly watch.”

“Damn, you look sexy dressed like that.”

“In scrubs?” She laughed. “You’re crazy.”

He moved closer, nuzzled her neck. “Maybe I should have my way with you on one of your exam tables.”

“Gross! Do you have any idea what’s been on those tables?”

“So, that’s a no, then?”

She laughed again. “Yes, that’s a hard no.”

When they arrived at the clinic, Winona got a treatment room ready. Anesthetic. IV kit. Sterile gloves. Sterile surgical kit. Pain meds. “I have no idea what shape our little friend will be in, so I have to be ready for everything.”

A few minutes later, Dan arrived, carrying a very unhappy but good-sized nine-month-old cub in a blindfold. “I’m pretty sure her rear right leg is broken.”

“Bring her back here.” Winona gestured toward the treatment room, stepping out of the warden’s way.

The cub bawled, terrified and in pain.

Winona helped the warden settle her on the table, then quickly gave the cub anesthesia through a mask and slipped into a pair of sterile gloves so she could examine it. “There’s some ruptured muscle and definitely a fracture. I’d say she got clipped by a car. I’ll need to take X-rays to see how bad it is.”

Winona went for her portable X-ray machine, the one she’d held a year’s worth of fundraisers to buy, and wheeled it in. She put on a lead apron and asked the two men to wait outside while she took images of the bear’s leg.

She studied the images, then walked out into the hallway, where she found Jason and Dan talking. They stopped when they saw her. “The leg is broken, but the fracture is non-displaced. I won’t have to do surgery to stabilize it. I’ll clean the wound, stitch her up, and put her in a splint.”

“That’s good news.” Dan pointed to Jason with a jerk of his thumb. “I was talking with Agent Chiago about the wolf situation. I was hoping the two of you could head up with a ranger tomorrow and see if you have better luck tracking the animal. We haven’t been able to get close.”

Jason met Winona’s gaze. “I said I’d do it if you have the time.”

“I’ll have to get someone to cover for me and watch over our newest patient. If I can make that happen, then yes. I’d be happy to help.”

“Give me a call when you know.” Dan took off.

Winona turned to Jason. “Want to assist me in putting a splint on this little girl?”

“You bet.”

“Today was a good day.” The smile on Winona’s face put a hitch in Jason’s chest, the last rays of the sun giving her skin a bronze glow. “We saved a bear cub. I got to snuggle Shota and see Naomi.”

Jason took her hand, shared his highlight. “I got an appointment for Monday with the security company. We had lunch with your brother and his family, and Chaska didn’t punch me.”

That made Winona laugh. “He’s a good guy—I promise.”

“I believe you.”

They’d grabbed a pizza from Knockers, and Winona had given him directions to a place above Scarlet Springs that she called Caribou where they could eat and watch the sunset.