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Her gaze swung back towards Brady. Even though she felt gratitude toward him for helping with Miss Daphne's delivery, she still hadn't made up her mind about Dr. Brady Shepard. From everything she'd observed, he seemed just about perfect. Too perfect, she realized. Experience had shown her there was no such thing. Wolves in sheep’s clothing. Unbidden, the words came to her, reminding her of the mistakes of the past. Despite how long you'd known someone, despite their ability to project an air of normalcy, you still didn't know a person. It was best to be cautious.
“I'm more than happy to help you take the pictures,” Brady offered, the words tumbling easily off his lips. “Since I'm bunking down here for the night, we could knock it out easily.”
Brady's offer made perfect sense. Didn't it? Although on one level she recognized it as a kind gesture, another part of her rejected it. The very thought of being so close to him, of working side by side made her a little nauseous. Unsettled. She felt her pulse quicken. Her palms began to feel clammy. If she felt this way, how in the world was she going to be able to work with him at the Country Vet?
“No thanks,” she said in a brisk voice. “I've got Dad here to help out. We can manage just fine. Thanks anyway.” Brady couldn't disguise the taken aback expression on his face. For a moment she felt a twinge of remorse for speaking to him in such clipped tones, but it was far better to establish the lines now before they began working together. Other than her father, the candy canes and Vicky Shepard, she really didn't need anyone. Nor did she give her trust easily. She wasn't the type of person to get close to people. And the sooner Brady Shepard realized it, the better off they both would be.
Chapter Three
The dawning of a new day brought clear blue skies and a glorious sunrise to Celebration. As was his custom, Brady woke up at the crack of dawn, just in time to see the vibrant orange sun burst over the horizon. He stood up and stretched, feeling incredibly rested considering the small size of the mattress. His long legs hadn't completely fit and they'd dangled a bit precariously over the edge. Still, the room had been cozy. That pretty much described Eden Lassiter's home, although it was a direct contradiction to the woman herself. She wasn't exactly warm and fuzzy.
Although he was very grateful for being a recipient of her hospitality, he couldn't stop thinking about how much she'd changed in the ensuing years. She had a formal air. Cold. Distant. Those words described her to a T. There had been a few moments of joy exhibited by Eden, but those moments had been few and far between. For the most part she seemed stoic, as if she was determined to hold everything together. A veneer of perfection, he imagined.
She was an incredibly beautiful woman and he wondered if that was part of her problem. Perhaps the attitude he'd witnessed was ego rather than anything else. Was Eden Lassiter stuck up? Haughty? Memories of his ex-girlfriend came to the forefront. Thea had been a beautiful woman—tall, blonde and regal—who believed the world revolved around her due to her stunning looks. For a while there he'd been taken in by her beauty, failing to see that it didn't extend to her soul. He'd vowed long ago never to venture down that particular road again. Life was too short to spend it in the presence of people who didn't see and appreciate the beauty all around them, choosing instead to focus on their own reflection in the mirror.
It was a shame the spirited tomboy had turned into such a closed off woman.
Something inside him felt guilty about judging the woman who'd given him refuge last night. Perhaps she'd just been unsettled by the storm and his unexpected arrival at her home. Maybe he was being too hard on her. Time would tell if his assessment was too harsh.
The smell of coffee rose to his nostrils. Rich, savory coffee. Clamoring for a taste, he left his room and ventured down the hall towards the kitchen. The moment he crossed the threshold, the scent of cinnamon and dough assailed his senses. Praying he wasn't imagining things, he cast a quick look towards the stove. The sight of freshly baked cinnamon buns sitting on a baking sheet almost brought him to his knees. He couldn't think of the last time he'd had one of these hometown favorites. Feeling grateful, he let out a ragged sigh of appreciati
on.
“Sounds like you're a fan.” The sound of Eden's honeyed voice came from behind him. She was standing in the doorway, a hint of a smile playing around her lips. In the fresh light of morning she was even more spectacular than she'd appeared to be last night. Her beautiful dark hair hung down all around her, creating a soft, demure look. Even though she was wearing a simple pair of dark jeans and a pink sweater, she looked stunning.
“I haven't had a homemade cinnamon bun in years. Vicky used to make 'em for us when we were little.”
“My grandmother taught me to make these. I’m not sure if you remember her or not, but she was some kind of woman. She was good at everything, especially baking.” Eden waved her hand in his direction. “No need to stand on ceremony. Grab a plate and help yourself,” Eden said, motioning towards the stacked plates on the kitchen table. Brady quickly complied, taking a plate and depositing two cinnamon buns smack in the middle. “There's a fresh fruit bowl and some bacon and sausage also.” Brady would have groaned out loud again at the smell of bacon wafting in the air if he didn't fear it would have been unbearably rude. An image of his own grandmother wagging her finger in his direction kept him in line. Settling himself down into one of the hard-backed chairs, he scooted himself towards the table. The moment he bit into the bun, he lost all sense of decorum. He let out a loud sigh of appreciation. “Oh, these are amazing,” he raved. “They are hands down the most delicious cinnamon buns I've ever tasted.”
Eden smiled at the compliment. “I won't tell Vicky you said so.” Her smile took him by surprise. He stopped eating mid-bite, transfixed by the sight of her face. It had been transformed by her smile from pretty to absolutely radiant. It confused him though. From one moment to the next he didn't know what to expect from her. Had he done something last night to bring about her reserved air? Or was she simply more relaxed now that he'd proven he wasn't a serial killer? She was proving to be a bit of an enigma. He continued to eat as Eden moved around the kitchen, pausing to fill a glass of orange juice for him. She placed the OJ down in front of him then turned back to the stove. Her movements were light and graceful. With Eden's petite frame and elegant air, she reminded him of a ballerina. She turned towards him abruptly, catching him off guard when he was staring at her. “Would you like some coffee?” she asked, pot in hand. Thankfully, she hadn't seemed to notice his gaping at her. With a mouthful of food in his mouth all he could do was nod, grateful for her hospitality. “How's Miss Daphne doing this morning?”
“She seems to be doing well. And the puppies were feeding the last time I poked my head in there.”
“You're quite the early riser,” he said before taking a swig of his coffee.
“I like to get up with the dawn and greet the day,” she answered. “There's always a lot to be done around here before I head in to work.”
“I have to admit, my office in California didn't open until ten o'clock.” He felt rather sheepish admitting it. There was no point in explaining that things were done a little differently in the community he'd lived in. The LA lifestyle was a lot faster paced and sophisticated than anything he'd ever known. Truth to be told, he'd never quite gotten acclimated to the flash and the affluence. Even though he'd been nervous about coming home, once he'd seen the sign welcoming him to Celebration he'd felt a strong sense of belonging.
“My sleep pattern changed ever since I began working at the Country Vet. I'm usually the one who goes in and opens up the office in the morning. Vicky and Tom like to have breakfast together before she heads to work.”
“Does that still work for you?” Brady asked. “I know you're taking care of your father. I'm pretty flexible with hours, so if there's anything you need changed—.”
“No,” she cried out, her face hinting at panic. “Things are perfect. I-I love my job, Brady. I couldn't ask for a better place to work, surrounded by animals and loving owners. And Vicky.” A hint of sadness echoed in her voice.
His curiosity was piqued by Eden Lassiter. Was she lamenting the fact that she now had to work with him as opposed to his grandmother? Or was she simply expressing her gratitude over her position at the Country Vet? Clearly, it meant the world to her.
He took another swig of coffee, then said, “That's good to know. It means we're getting off on the right foot with our working relationship.”
A loud bang echoed down the hall, causing Eden to jump. The coffee in the cup she'd been holding sloshed over the sides of the rim, splashing onto her skin. She let out a wounded cry and placed her coffee cup down on the counter. Brady jumped from his chair and moved toward her, needing to see if she'd been burned by the scalding hot coffee. Eden was cradling her hand against her chest, a wounded expression etched on her face. Brady reached out and touched her skin, immediately noticing the reddened flesh. With wide eyes she recoiled from him, drawing her hand back as if he'd slapped it.
“I'm fine,” she said. “It just stings a bit.”
Brady frowned. When burns were left unattended they often left scars. He'd hate to see her beautiful skin marred by a burn mark. “Where's your medicine cabinet?”
Eden nodded towards the kitchen counter. “There's a medicine kit in the bottom drawer.” Brady walked over to the counter and jerked the drawer open, withdrawing the white medal box. After riffling through the contents, he came across some aloe vera cream and cloth bandages. Turning back towards Eden he held up the items. “Can you do me a favor?” Eden nodded solemnly. “I know you said you're fine, but I'd like to put some cream on that burn and cover it up just in case. Does that sound okay?”
“That's fine,” Eden said, her voice barely registering above a whisper.
