you didn’t.”
“No, I never saw you in my E.R.,” she noted wryly. There was something about Gray McCoy that was allowing her to relax for the first time since being released from the hospital. Maybe it was his easygoing way, the warmth and care she saw burning in his eyes toward her. Or? Again, she felt him silently appreciating her as a woman. It lifted her spirits. Sky swore masculine heat radiated off his body. And she felt she could trust him. Maybe because he was an ex-SEAL? Her experiences with them had always been positive in the past. Why not now?
SKY WORRIED THAT Gray McCoy would ask her too many questions about her stint in the Navy. But to her relief, he didn’t say another word. He was quiet as he drove her over in his truck to Albertson’s, the main grocery store for Jackson Hole. They would pick up her SUV at the inn afterward. He walked quietly behind her, reminding her of a guard dog watching over his mistress. She pushed the cart around, gathering the food for her dinners. Like a silent shadow, he wasn’t one for small talk, but then, SEALs were a very closed-mouth bunch anyway. As she went to the vegetable section, Sky saw Gray’s face grow amused.
“Are you vegan?” he wondered, watching her put a lot of green stuff into her cart.
“No. Why?”
Shrugging amiably, Gray enjoyed watching Sky’s grace as she moved. He liked following her, the sway of her hips inciting a cauldron of heat in his lower body. She had healing hands with long, tapered fingers. “Employees have a house on the ranch. There’s a full kitchen, living room, an office with a computer, and there’s two bathrooms. Since I was the only one living there, I made meals every night.” He gave her a hopeful look. “I was going to ask if you wanted to cook, and then I’d take the next night and make us a meal.”
Sky laughed a little. It felt so good to laugh! “Let’s see if I’m following this. You’re afraid I’m going to make rabbit food when you’re a strapping wrangler who’s wanting a beefsteak instead?”
God, she looked incredibly desirable when she smiled. Really smiled. A smile that went straight into those shining dark blue eyes with huge black pupils. Those ginger lashes were long and emphasized the cobalt color of her eyes. Gray had the good grace to look down at his dusty boots for a moment. When he lifted his head, his mouth twitched with a smile. “You’re pretty good. Is that your nurse’s radar in action? Reading a patient?”
A surge of joy tunneled through Sky as she basked in the sunlight of his masculine smile. He’d hooked his thumbs into the pockets of his Levi’s, standing with his weight on one boot. He was comfortable in his skin as a man. And he was comfortable with who he was. “It’s nurse’s radar for sure. Was I right?”
“Yes, you were.”
“What do you like to eat?”
“Meat and potatoes. A salad is okay, too.”
“Where were you born, Gray?” It was the first time she’d said his name, and it rolled off her tongue like a delicious chocolate. Sky liked the sound of his name. It fit him. Gray was a color that was neutral, a combination of black and white. His dark side was as a shadow warrior in black ops. His light side? Did he have one? Sky thought he did. In time, perhaps he would reveal that side of himself to her.
“Cheyenne, Wyoming.”
“Ah, the capital of the limited palate?”
He grinned a little. “Guilty as charged.”
Sky leaned against the cart and studied Gray openly for the first time. He didn’t seem to mind her looking him over. His cheeks had turned ruddy even beneath his deep tan. There was a little boy hidden in this man’s body; she could feel it. Sky bet he had a little boy’s awe of the world and that it was magical. Maybe she’d find out later. “I’m kind of a garbage-can eater,” she confided. “I’ll eat just about anything.”
“Where were you born?” he teased.
Laughing softly, Sky said, “Casper, Wyoming.”
“Vegan city?”
“Not really. My mother’s full-blood Cheyenne, and I was raised on venison and buffalo for the most part. That and a lot of trout. My father is a gourmet chef when he gets in the mood, and growing up, he taught me about spices, sauces and gravies.”
“Gravy is definitely something I could get used to.”
“Figures. Meat, potatoes and gravy kind of guy.”
His straight, dark brows rose. “Is there anything else?”
Sky shook her head and gave him a sour grin. “I don’t mind cooking dinner every other night. The real question is, will you eat what I make or starve?”
“I won’t starve,” Gray assured her. “I probably don’t have a gourmet gene in my body, but I’ll do my best. My mother always said when food is cooked with love, it always tastes good.”
“I like your can-do spirit,” Sky teased. “Are you open to Chinese?”
“Sure, as long as there’s some meat with it.”
“Middle Eastern food?” Because it was a favorite of hers. His smile deepened.
“Yeah, I like lamb, couscous and stuff like that.”
“See? This isn’t going to be a food nightmare for you like you thought.”
Gray enjoyed their repartee. “What’s that bok choy you just grabbed used for?”
“It’s for wonton soup. The Chinese version of chicken soup. You’ll love it.”
“As long as it has a healthy amount of meat in it, I’ll survive.”
Sky smiled and continued down the row of vegetables. “Lots of chicken,” she promised.
“Gray!”
A woman’s voice floated over the veggie department, and Sky stopped the cart, looking in that direction. A red-haired woman in her early thirties smiled and came their way. Sky saw that she was decidedly pregnant.
“Hey, Val, good to see you,” Gray greeted her warmly, grinning as she walked over with her arms full of plastic vegetable sacks.
Val nodded. “Who is this, Gray?” And then she got devilry in her green eyes. “Your new girlfriend?”
Sky felt her cheeks go red hot.
Gray winced. “No. Val McPherson, meet Sky Pascal. Iris just hired her today to be my assistant. She’s also an R.N. and will be setting up a small medical office at the ranch.”
“Hey, Sky, welcome to Jackson Hole,” Val said, shifting all the veggies to one arm and thrusting her hand out toward her.
“Here...” Gray muttered. “Let me...” He took all the sacks from Val.
“Hi,” Sky said, liking the woman immediately. “How far along are you?”
Val looked over her shoulder and watched as what had to be her husband rounded the corner. She waved him to come over. He had the cart. Turning, Val placed her hands on her swollen belly. “Seven months and counting.”
“That’s wonderful,” Sky sighed.
“It is now,” Val griped. “Morning sickness sucked, I’ve got to tell you.”
Laughing, Sky nodded. “Yeah, it’s a real pain. Are you going to have a home birth or go to the hospital?”
Val raised her brows. “I want a home birth, but my husband here—” she grabbed the man’s hand and drew him to her side “—is scared out of his mind I’ll end up dying at home trying to give birth. Griff? This is Sky Pascal. She’s an R.N. and will be working at the Elk Horn Ranch.”
Griff doffed his gray