Alyssa flushed with pleasure at his praise. Was he suggesting she stay on at their ranch? It wasn’t her plan to do so, but maybe she should think about it. It was a great working environment.

Beau continued speaking. “I wonder if anyone around here would be interested in taking some classes to become my right hand.”

Oh, so he wasn’t hinting at her staying, just thinking out loud. Well, fine. She had other plans, anyway. But she felt oddly deflated that he wasn’t wanting her to stay. It was a silly idea anyway; her family would miss her—especially her father, who whined incessantly about her being so far away as it was. Still, Beau could at least want her to stay even if she couldn’t.

“Alyssa?”

What, she wasn’t good enough? Did he just think good vets just grew on trees? Like she didn’t have anything special, and they could just train anyone to have her skills and compassion. Well she didn’t think it worked that way. She knew she was good at what she did, and if Beau couldn’t see it? Screw him. Stupid man.

“Alyssa?”

“What? You think my expertise can be learned by anyone? I don’t think so.” She turned to look out the window and folded her arms over her chest.

“What are you talking about? Alyssa, I was just saying how much I appreciated you being there tonight. You handled the ranch hands really well and anticipated my needs, and well, I am damn thankful it was you by my side tonight.”

“Oh, well, you’re welcome. I’m here to work after all.”

Beau groaned. “Are you ever going to let me live that down?”

She smiled sweetly. “Nope, I have no intention whatsoever of letting you live that down.” Men, in her experience, needed a little humility dumped over their head, on a regular basis—especially Beau—and she was happy to do the dumping.

* * *

Beau had no idea what had just happened as they were driving back, but he’d learned—at a young age—never to question a woman when her mind seemed to have veered from the conversation. He had a mother and a sister, and both sometimes said things that seemed off the wall, and the few times he had questioned them about it, they had gone off on him. Finally, his father had taken him aside and told him just to let strange statements go—that if the woman wanted to elaborate she would, and if she didn’t, he was just asking for trouble if he pursued it. Unless a woman said everything was fine… and then you started with flowers and an apology, whether you knew what you were apologizing for or not.

They got back to the calving barn and unloaded the animals. It did appear that the calf had been nursing, and that all was fine and dandy in the animal world. The mother was a little shaky, but her eyes were clear and focused, so he thought she would be good. He didn’t want to give her any blood or an IV if he didn’t need to.

They got the animals settled. Alyssa sighed. “It looks like they’ll both be okay. Don’t you think?”

“Yep, I agree. We’ll keep an eye on her, but I don’t think we need to worry. We’ve got a few hours before our shift if you want to go grab some more sleep.”

“I could use a bit more.” She yawned and then nodded.

“Don’t forget to get your stuff out of the truck.” He didn’t want to stumble upon any of it later when his defenses were down. Especially her sleep shirt. Yeah, no reminders of her in just her bra, thank you very much. That was not something he wanted to dwell on. Or her shimmying into her jeans. Or her slender bare feet. Nope, no reminders.

“I’ll grab it on the way in. Good job out there,” she said over her shoulder, as she started toward the door.

He saluted and looked back at the cattle, or at least pretended to, as he watched her walk away. She had a fine ass, and the shirt tied at her waist made him think of untying it and shoving her up against the barn wall. Nope, not a good idea. He needed to record what had happened in the field. Work was the answer, not fantasizing about the hot woman.

On her way back to bed.

Alone.

He rubbed his hand down his face and walked to the workstation they had in the birthing barn. Work. Work. Work.

He had just finished logging all the data into the computer when his dad walked in. He set one of the travel cups of coffee he held on the desk. “Heard you had some trouble this morning.”

Beau picked up the mug and took a long drink of the life-giving elixir. He’d been dragging, and this would help. “Yeah a vaginal tear. Got it stitched up. I think she’ll be fine. No trouble with the calf.”

“Good. We’ll need to check the dam later, to see if it’s wise to breed her again.”

“Of course, thanks for the coffee.”

“You bet. Figured you would need some about now. How’d Alyssa do?” His dad settled one hip on the desk.

Beau’s mind whipped back to her yanking her clothes off in the front seat of his truck. He took another drink of coffee to get his brain and body back under control. “She did great. Anticipated my every need. Her being there made everything so much smoother and quicker. I barely had to think what I needed next and she was handing it to me. She’s quite the asset.”

“I kind of figured that. Her father called me last night to ask how she’s doing.” He laughed. “Concerned fathers. Especially fathers and their daughters. I’m also guilty in that respect.”

Beau grinned at his dad. He was a rough and tumble cowboy, but he had a soft spot for his daughter. He’d about gone crazy when she’d turned up pregnant, with no baby daddy. But Emma had talked him down. Beau guessed his mother probably had had a hand in calming his father, too. “You told him she was doing good, right?”

“Yep. Told him she’s a great help. Haven’t seen any evidence to the contrary and I have only had good reports from everyone.” He shook his head. “Well, better get to it. Your grandfather will be chewing me out if I dawdle too long. Daylight’s burning.”

Beau looked out at the pitch black. “Not yet, it isn’t.”

His dad barked out a laugh. “Your grandfather has a different opinion. He can see a tiny ray of light and believe it’s full sun.”

“Yep, even if it’s from a flashlight.”

“You got that right. Later.”

“See ya.”

Beau sat there for a minute thinking about family—both he and Alyssa were from close-knit families. Ranch families often were. He figured her father missed her and Beau realized he was going to feel the same, when she was gone. She had a way of lighting up the room and putting everyone at ease, and her veterinary skills couldn’t be beat. Yeah, he was going to miss her when she left them to go back to her life. Well, hell.