New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery delivers a celebrated story about finding the courage to forgive.

Just about every nurse at Honeygrove Memorial is swooning with the arrival of heartthrob surgeon Trevor MacAllister. All except disillusioned Dana Rowan, who has vowed never to get involved with a doctor—much less be lured by Trevor’s charm—again. She’s resolved to stay as far away from “Dr. Love” as possible, but with fate conspiring against her, this is easier said than done.

Trevor may be a brilliant surgeon, but being paired with Dana in a training seminar will push his limits…and force him to confront some unresolved feelings. He realizes that beneath Dana’s prickly exterior is a heart just as tender as his own. Learning to work together is something they should be able manage…so long as love doesn’t get in the way.

Prince Charming MD is part of the Prescription: Marriage miniseries along with A Doctor’s Vow by Christine Rimmer and Dr. Mom and the Millionaire by Christine Flynn.

“Good thing he’s a gifted surgeon. He’ll be able to repair all the hearts he breaks.”

Yes, that about sums him up, Dana thought. After all, she had personal experience with Trevor MacAllister’s charm. But that was in the past. As far as she was concerned, Trevor was just another doctor.

Then she saw him. He, of course, looked incredible. Tall, tanned, perfect masculine features. But Trevor was more than model perfect—he was a tremendously gifted and compassionate surgeon. His colleagues respected him, his patients worshiped him, women desired him.

The man should come with a warning label, she thought. Lethal, operate at your own risk.

Because Dana absolutely, positively refused to be attracted to Trevor MacAllister. No way, no how, not ever again. She’d sung that song, danced that dance. And just because she now had to work with him didn’t mean she would fall for his wily charms again…or would she?

Dear Reader,

During this holiday season, don’t forget to treat yourself special, too. And taking the time to enjoy November’s Special Edition lineup is the perfect place to start!

Veteran author Lisa Jackson continues her FOREVER FAMILY miniseries with A Family Kind of Gal. All THAT SPECIAL WOMAN! Tiffany Santini wants is a life of harmony away from her domineering in-laws. But there’s no avoiding her sinfully sexy brother-in-law when he lavishes her—and her kids—with attention.

And there’s more continuing drama on the way! First, revisit the Adams family with The Cowgirl & The Unexpected Wedding when Sherryl Woods delivers book four in die popular AND BABY MAKES THREE: THE NEXT GENERATION series. Next, the PRESCRIPTION: MARRIAGE medical series returns with Prince Charming, M.D. by Susan Mallery. Just about every nurse at Honeygrove Memorial Hospital has been swooning over one debonair doc—except the R.N. who recalls her old flame’s track record for breaking hearts! Then the MEN OF THE DOUBLE-C RANCH had better look out when a sassy redhead gets under a certain ornery cowboy’s skin in The Rancher and the Redhead by Allison Leigh.

Rounding off this month, Janis Reams Hudson shares a lighthearted tale about a shy accountant who discovers a sexy stranger sleeping on her sofa in Until You. And in A Mother for Jeffrey by Trisha Alexander, a heroine realizes her lifelong dream of having a family.

I hope you enjoy all of our books this month. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Silhouette Books.

Sincerely,

Karen Taylor Richman

Senior Editor

Prince Charming, M.D.

Susan Mallery

www.millsandboon.co.uk

SUSAN MALLERY

lives in sunny Southern California where the eccentricities of a writer are considered fairly normal. Her books are both reader favorites and bestsellers, with recent titles appearing on the Waldenbooks bestseller list and the USA Today bestseller list Her 1995 Special Edition Marriage on Demand was awarded Best Special Edition by Romantic Times Magazine.

The Pledge

Graduation day

We, the undersigned, having barely survived four years of nursing school and preparing to go forth and find a job, do hereby vow to meet at Granetti’s at least once a week, not do anything drastic to our hair without consulting each other first and never, ever–no matter how rich, how cute, how funny, how smart–marry a doctor.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

Title Page

About the Author

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

“Good thing he’s a gifted surgeon. He’ll be able to repair all the hearts he breaks.”

Dana Rowan took a sip of her coffee and resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She’d made a special effort to get to the meeting early enough so she could have her pick of seats. She’d deliberately chosen one in the back...as far from the podium as possible. She wanted to avoid gossip, her nurses—who had, collectively and overnight, seemed to have lost their minds—and most especially the “gifted surgeon” in question. So far she hadn’t seen any sign of Dr. Trevor MacAllister, so she’d accomplished a third of her goals. Guess that would have to be enough for now.

The two women sitting in front of her continued to talk about “young” Dr. MacAllister, differentiating him from “old” Dr. MacAllister, who was Trevor’s father and the chief of staff at Honeygrove Memorial Hospital.

“Have you seen him?” Sally asked, then continued without waiting for an answer. “He’s gorgeous. Serious studmuffin material.” She leaned back in her plastic chair and sighed loudly.

“I know,” Melba said. “Don’t forget I grew up here. I was a few years younger than him, but I remember Trevor back when he was in high school, and let me tell you, he was just as good-looking then.” She strained her neck as she peered toward the open door. “I’ll bet time has only improved him.”

Dana wished there were somewhere she could move to. She didn’t think she would be able to stand listening to this kind of talk through the entire staff meeting. Unfortunately, judging by the buzz flying around the room, she would have to leave the hospital or possibly even Honeygrove itself to escape the excitement generated by Trevor MacAllister’s return.

“He’s just a man,” she muttered. “He puts his pants on one leg at a time, just like other mortals. No doubt he has other human frailties, like an occasional bad temper and morning breath.”

But the nurses weren’t listening, and even if they had been, they wouldn’t have cared. She wasn’t saying what they wanted to hear. In the world of hospital gossip and lore, Trevor was a godlike creature. A hometown boy returned to the fold after making his name out in the world.

She took another sip of coffee and tried to disconnect from everyone around her. Regardless of what she personally thought of the man, he was now a surgeon at the hospital. Her job was to schedule surgical nurses and keep the OR operating—pardon the pun—efficiently. That meant working with “young” Dr. MacAllister. Fine, she would put her personal opinions aside and be as professional as the job required. She would survive the minimal contact and do her best to ignore the inevitable stories that would circulate. After all, they meant nothing to her. Like Melba, she’d grown up in Honeygrove and had first-hand experience with Trevor’s considerable charm. She’d fallen hard and she’d been burned big-time. If she allowed herself to examine her heart, she might even still see a few of the scars. But that was in the past. As far as she was concerned, Trevor was just another surgeon. As such, he held no interest for her.

Sally tucked a loose strand of dark hair behind her ear and leaned close to her friend. “He’s divorced,” she whispered, although not softly enough to keep her words from drifting back to Dana. “It’s been two years and he hasn’t gotten serious about anyone since. Think he’s trying to get over a broken heart?”

“Are you crazy?” Melba asked. She made a dismissive gesture with her hand. “A man that good-looking? You don’t actually think his wife left him, do you? I’m sure he’s been real busy these past two years. From what I’ve heard, he’s already been out with a couple of nurses here and he hasn’t officially started work yet. I’m not saying you couldn’t have fun with him, but don’t make it more than it is or you’ll end up with a broken heart.”

Amen, Dana thought, and hoped Sally would listen to her friend. The brunette was pretty enough to tempt Trevor, but he’d never been much on commitment.

Sally grinned at Melba. “You’re warning me off so you’ll have a clear shot at him yourself.”

Melba smiled in return, her teeth flashing white against her honey-colored skin. “I wouldn’t mind having a little fun with the good doctor, but I’m not going to make it more than that. He might have grown up, but I don’t think he’s changed all that much.”

She bent to pick up the plastic coffee cup she’d tucked under her chair. As she straightened, she caught sight of Dana sitting behind them. Her smile turned sheepish. “We don’t usually get this worked up over a new doctor.”

“I know,” Dana told her. “Under the circumstances, I understand the appeal. After all, this is Trevor MacAllister we’re talking about.”

Melba caught her note of sarcasm, but Sally missed it completely. She spun in her seat so she faced her boss.

“Exactly,” the twenty-five-year-old surgical nurse said. “So you’re going to help, right? I’d like lots of rotations that put me right at Dr. MacAllister’s side.” She swayed to inaudible music. “I can see it right now. We’ll look at each other across the patient’s body. Our eyes will meet— the music will start.”

“You’ll drop an instrument and blood will spurt everywhere,” Melba put in.

For the first time that morning, Dana chuckled. “Not an attractive thought, but probably accurate. I’ll be handling business as usual, Sally. Nothing has changed.”

The young woman pouted. “Of course it has. After all—”

There was a commotion by the door. Sally spun back to face front, then drew in an audible gasp. “It’s him! Oh, look, Melba, he’s stunning. I want him desperately.”

Then you’ll probably get him, at least for the night, Dana thought. While everyone in the room stopped talking and focused on the new arrival, Dana took a last sip of coffee, crushed her napkin and placed it in the empty plastic cup. She set both under her chair, after which she straightened in her seat. Only then did she glance toward the door.

He stood under fluorescent light that turned most people’s skin an unappealing shade of muddy yellow. He, of course, looked incredible. Tall, tanned, with the perfect masculine features of a movie heartthrob. She was too far away to distinguish the color of his eyes, but she knew them to be an impossible shade of hazel green.

Several doctors moved to greet him. The older man at his side, his father and the chief of staff, introduced him with obvious pride. Trevor was more than model perfect— he was also an incredibly gifted and compassionate surgeon. His colleagues respected him, his patients worshiped him, women desired him. A true paragon, she thought grimly.

Dana was faintly annoyed by all the fawning. Wasn’t there supposed to be a meeting in progress? So a new doctor was on staff. It happened all the time. Why did they all persist in acting as if they were being visited by a religious icon?

The meeting room was about thirty feet square and she was nearly as far from the door as possible. A couple dozen other people milled around talking now that the initial hush had receded. Dana had felt confident that she would be neither noticed nor acknowledged. So when Trevor looked in her direction, she didn’t bother to turn away.

“He’s looking at me!” Sally exclaimed.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Melba told her.

Dana barely heard them. Despite the physical distance between them, despite the number of years since she’d last seen him, despite the stern lectures she’d given herself to avoid making a fool of herself over this man ever again, once he caught her attention—she couldn’t turn away.

Those hazel green eyes trapped her. Trevor seemed to single her out in the crowd. All his attention, all his considerable energy, flowed toward her, around her. She felt it as tangibly as a touch...or a kiss. Heat flared in her thighs and her chest, working up and down, making her want to fan herself...or run for cover.

She was, she realized with dismay, not breathing, so she forced herself to inhale and exhale slowly and deeply. Noises in the room faded to faint buzzing, while the corners blurred into nothing. A wanting as powerful as a force-three hurricane built inside her.

Trevor’s father said something and the object of everyone’s attention shifted toward the chief of staff. For Dana, it was like breaking free of a tremendously powerful tractor beam. Her breathing once again became involuntary. The heat waned, as did the desire. The room returned to focus and she could hear what everyone whispered.

If she’d been standing, she would have collapsed into the nearest seat. As it was, all she could do was lean weakly against the chair back and wait for her strength to return.

What had just happened? She shook her head. Scratch that—she didn’t want to know the answer. She absolutely, positively, refused to be attracted to Trevor. No way, no how, not again. She’d sung that song and danced that dance. If nothing else, she had the ability to learn from her mistakes. He might have the gifted hands of Michelangelo, but he had the morals of an alley cat.

Dana shook off the residual effects of her momentary weakness and forced herself to look at the hospital’s chief of staff. Walter approached the podium and nodded to a few friends. The room quieted. From the corner of her eye she watched as Trevor made his way to an empty chair in the front row. He never once glanced her way, so she could only assume what she’d experienced before had simply been the result of low blood sugar or the placement of the moon or something. Obviously Trevor hadn’t been looking at her.

She wasn’t sure how long the meeting lasted. In some ways it felt as if she’d been sitting in her chair for days; in other ways, it seemed only a few seconds. But as soon as Walter excused everyone, Dana sprang to her feet and hurried toward the door. She told herself the real reason she was fleeing was that she had piles of work waiting on her desk, that it had nothing to do with avoiding Trevor. Besides, she need not worry. Already a crowd was collecting around him. A crowd of mostly women, she noted with some disdain. Even if he only greeted them individually, he would be stuck there for an hour.

She continued to walk forward purposefully. The corridor—and freedom—were in sight, when someone touched her arm.

She didn’t have to turn around to identify the person. She knew the same way bats know how to fly in the dark or cats know how to land on their feet. She knew because, despite the years and the past, or maybe because of them, a part of her still recognized him.

She stopped and, without turning to face him, said, “Hello, Trevor.”

“Dana!”

The pleasure in his voice made the heat return. It washed through her, a liquid warmth that dissolved will and purpose along with bones.

Because there was no way around it, she shifted until she was facing him, then glanced up. It was like tumbling out of a tree. For a moment she had a wonderful sensation of free-falling for eternity. Then she hit earth with a thump and had all the wind knocked out of her.

She couldn’t move; she couldn’t breathe. She could only look at him and wait for him to blow her away. He did. He smiled. A perfect mouth curved over perfect teeth, exposing a perfect dimple. The man should come with a warning label. Maybe something from the surgeon general or the military—lethal, operate at your own risk.

“I was hoping I would run into you,” he said, and placed his hand on her arm, just above the elbow.

The polite gesture allowed him to guide her out of the room and into the corridor. She thought about protesting, but she hadn’t gotten her breathing going again, so words were impossible. She could only stare mutely and try to figure out why on earth he sounded so pleased to see her.

People passed them. She had a sense of movement and bodies. By the time she had herself nearly under control, they were in the elevator, heading down. She forced herself to remember what had happened all those years ago. How he’d humiliated her in front of the entire school. The anger had long faded, but the sense of shame lingered. Now she focused on that, willing the emotions from the past to push aside the heat and desire she refused to acknowledge. No matter what, she would not want this man again. Ever.

“What are you doing?” she asked when she realized they were alone in the elevator and Trevor was staring at her with a smile tugging at his lips.

“Taking you for coffee.”

She made a show of glancing at her watch. “I’m very busy.”

He shrugged. “So am I, but this is important. Don’t worry, it won’t take long. I just want to get a few things straightened out.”

She didn’t like the sound of that, but before she could complain, the doors opened and two nurses stepped inside. They took one look at Trevor and simpered. There was no other word for their flirty expressions and open body language.

“Good morning, Dr. MacAllister,” they said in unison.

Dana thought about sticking her fingers down her throat and making a retching sound, but doubted anyone else would appreciate the humor in the gesture. The attention was nauseating. How did the man stand it?

Silly question, she thought, glancing at his handsome features. He accepted the adoration with the equanimity of one born to greatness. Women had been fawning over him since he was in the cradle and no doubt they would continue until he was on his deathbed.

“Doesn’t it get boring?” she asked as they exited the elevator, collected mugs of steaming coffee and made their way to a quiet table in the corner. She took the seat facing the rest of the room because she wanted to watch the reaction of the women already there. Most had already seen him and were staring hungrily.

Trevor settled next to her, oblivious to the attention. “Doesn’t what get boring?”

“The women. Or have you grown so used to being worshiped that it’s just matter-of-fact?”

Instead of responding glibly, he took a drink of his coffee, then set it on the small table between them. “I see my reputation has preceded me.”

There was a trace of regret in his tone. Dana dismissed it as wishful thinking on her part. He was too pretty to have values or anything close to a conscience.

“What did you expect?” she asked. “Honeygrove isn’t exactly a small town, but people do know one another. They remember what you were like growing up. Combine that with the hotbed of intrigue one normally finds in a hospital, throw in a fascinating and eligible surgeon—” she motioned to the room behind him “—it’s high drama.”

“You’re right.”

He leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table. The traditional doctor’s white coat flattered his tan and made already broad shoulders seem wide enough to support a building. She told herself that her attraction was a meaningless physical response to having been without a date for months. In the past couple of years she’d thrown herself into her career. She had a great promotion and raise to show for her efforts, but her social life bordered on monastic.

A moment of silence fell between them. Dana used the time to compose herself, trying to still the faint tremors in her arms and legs and slow her heartbeat. She was a grownup. She could easily handle this situation. Her gaze settled on his face, on well-defined eyebrows and a straight nose. She bit back a sigh—okay, so he was a fine-looking specimen. But that extraordinary body hid the heart and soul of a rogue. She would do well to remember that.

Dana leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. “Well, Trevor, you called this meeting. What did you want to talk about?”

“You’ve been avoiding me for nearly a week. I want to know why.”

His statement made her stiffen slightly. “I’m not avoiding you. I’ve been busy.” She didn’t make a habit of lying and had a bad feeling she didn’t do it well. Hopefully Trevor wouldn’t catch on.

“I’ve left several voice-mail messages about setting up an appointment so you and I could talk. My office is ready to start scheduling patients, but we have things to work out first.”

Dana nodded. He was right. It was her job to keep the surgical unit working smoothly. There were dozens of details—personnel and their schedules, supplies, equipment, repairs, purchases. A new surgeon coming on staff required coordination between her team and his.

“I wasn’t avoiding you,” she said again, hoping repetition added conviction to her voice. “However, I’ll be happy to set up a meeting for later today or tomorrow. If that’s convenient?”

His hazel green eyes never looked away. The force of his attention was as tangible now as it had been earlier. She found herself wanting to promise him anything he requested. When she started to involuntarily lean toward him, she straightened quickly and forced a quick, tight smile.

“Thank you,” he said.

Even his voice was tempting, she thought with disgust. Low and sexy, the well-modulated tones were designed to make women whimper. It wasn’t Trevor, she told herself firmly. Maybe her flu shot had wom off early and she was coming down with something. That was it. A mild case of food poisoning or the plague. Anything but him.

“If that’s all...” she said, pushing to her feet.

“It’s not.” He put his hand on her forearm to hold her in place.

Dear God, he was touching her. Heat flared again, racing from the point of contact to the rest of her body. Fire collected in her breasts and between her legs. She would never survive this. Never. After all this time, nothing had changed.

She sank back weakly, wondering why her body had to betray her. Hadn’t the lesson been painful enough? Weren’t the emotional scars a reminder of all he’d done? She shook her head. Apparently her hormones didn’t care about broken hearts or shattered dreams.

Slowly, she pulled her arm free and placed her hands in her lap. “What else, Trevor? I can’t afford to extend this break much longer. I have a pile of work waiting for me on my desk.”

“This won’t take long.” He stared at her. “I suspect you’ll deny it, but I can tell you’re still angry with me. It’s been years, Dana. You need to let the past go. We’re going to have to work together, and it’s time to put our history in perspective.”

He spoke calmly, but it was all she could do not to shriek at him. How dared he bring that up? “Perspective? Easy for you to say. You’re not the one everyone talked about for weeks afterward. You went on with your life, while I was left to deal with a ruined reputation.”

Not to mention a broken heart, she added to herself. She was still shaking, but this time from reaction to his words rather than from attraction. Her face felt hot. No doubt she was blushing. She kept her head high, refusing to let him think he was going to get the best of her.

”I’m not that innocent young woman anymore,” she continued. “I don’t care what you do with your personal life, but while you’re dealing with me, you will remember we are business associates and nothing else.”

He’d handled the whole situation badly. Trevor cursed silently. He’d been a fool to think Dana would have let go of the past It might have been a long time ago, but obviously the memories were still fresh in her mind. The worst part was, her anger was justified. Unfortunately, he couldn’t do anything about it.

“If I could change the past, I would,” he told her.

“How nice for both of us. Tell me. What would you change? Would you still pretend you cared about me to get me to sleep with you, only this time you wouldn’t tell the entire school? Or would you just avoid the whole messy entanglement?”

Fire flashed from her blue eyes. She kept her chin high, her gaze steady. She’d always been tough...that was one of the many things he admired about her. Dana had a survivor’s strength. Life hadn’t always treated her well, but she’d come through. If he told her he admired her though, she would throw his compliment right back in his face.

“I would change two things,” he said. “This time I would make you listen to the truth. You wouldn’t hear it then, but I’m hoping you’ll hear it now.”

“As you said, it’s been a lot of years. Why should any of that matter?”

Because you’re still hurting, he thought. Instead he said, “Just listen. Please.”

She continued to glare at him, but she didn’t move from her seat. He took that lack of action as assent.

He sucked in a breath. After all this time, he was finally going to tell her what really happened that weekend. The hell of it was, she wouldn’t believe a word.

“I really cared about you, Dana,” he began. Cared. What a silly word that didn’t come close to describing his feelings. She’d been his whole world—only she’d never known. She’d seen what everyone else had seen. The handsome facade, the easy laughter. Not the young man he’d been or the tender heart he’d done his damnedest to hide.

“That weekend meant the world to me.”

She snorted in disbelief, but he ignored her and went on.

“I didn’t tell the whole school that we’d been lovers.”

“Then why did everyone know?” she asked. “It was all anyone talked about for a week. That Dana had done it with Trevor.” She pressed her hands to her cheeks. “I was humiliated.”

“I know.” He leaned toward her. “I’m sorry. I never wanted for you to be hurt.”

“Yeah, right.”

“Dana, I give you my word. I only told one person. Joel Haddock. He spread the rumors, not me.”

Her gaze narrowed. “That’s low, even for you. Joel was your best friend.”

Trevor nodded. “Definitely. Was. Our friendship ended that Monday when I found out what he’d done.” He studied her face. “You don’t believe me.” It wasn’t a question.

“Of course not. Joel was good to me. After everyone knew what we’d done, the boys wanted to talk to me only because they thought I was easy. They tormented me, cornering me in the halls, trying to touch me.” She shuddered at the memory. “Joel was there. He listened and he kept me safe.”

Trevor felt old anger surfacing. He knew what Dana had gone through and he’d been helpless to protect her. “Joel was there because he always had a thing for you. He started the rumor to break us up.” He laughed harshly. “It sure worked. You never spoke to me again. Until today.”

“You said you would change two things,” she told him. “The first was to get me to listen to the truth, such as it is. What’s the second?”

She didn’t believe him. He could see it in her eyes and read it in her body language. He told himself it didn’t matter. He and Dana had to work together, not be friends. But he’d hoped for more. Maybe some forgiveness, or at least a little understanding.

“I wouldn’t have told Joel,” he said. “That was my other mistake. If he hadn’t known what happened, or how I’d fallen for you, he wouldn’t have tried so hard to break us up.” He rose to his feet. “I know that semester was difficult for you. I’m sorry for my part in what happened. But I won’t apologize for that time we spent together. I’ve never forgotten it or you.” He flashed her a smile. “Not that I expect you to believe me.”

“Good, because I don’t.”

She stood, also. She wore a dark-peach coatdress. Chinlength, dark-blond hair had been brushed back from her face. She’d changed from high school. Her features were less rounded, her expression more wary. But her athletic body still moved with a grace that made him think about sultry afternoons and tangled sheets.

“I don’t know that we’ve cleared the air,” Dana said. “But at least everything is out in the open. I’m good at my job, Trevor. Just as you’re good at yours. We’re now forced to work together. I don’t have a problem with that if you don’t. As I said before, I don’t care what you do with your personal life—just don’t do it on my time. I can’t tell you not to see my nurses, but I will ask that you keep your flirtations to a minimum. If I see them affecting the running of this hospital, I won’t hesitate to report you.”

The insult was undeserved, but not unexpected. He told himself Dana was reacting to the truth as she saw it. But it was hard to just let it go.

“No problem,” he said, then headed for the door before he exploded. Several women called out greetings. He nodded pleasantly as he walked to the elevator. Once he was inside and the doors closed, leaving him alone, he gave in to his rage.

He swore long and loud, then hit the wall with a closed fist. Dana thought he was little more than a gigolo, which was what most people believed. That Trevor MacAllister had a woman in every port—or in the case of the hospital, a nurse on every floor and in every department. That he went out with a different one each night, bedded them all in legendary fashion and forgot about them the next day. Out of sight, out of mind.

He didn’t want to make any part of his reputation a reality, but she—like the rest of the world—wouldn’t be interested in something as boring as the truth. The only part of the legend he wanted to be real was the bit about forgetting. If only he could put it all out of his mind—let the past go. He could save himself a lot of sleepless nights...and a lot of pain.

Chapter Two

Dana pulled open the dishwasher and began unloading the machine. Despite the beautiful April morning, she felt distracted and edgy. Knowing what caused the feelings didn’t help. Had she been a jogger she would have gone out for a ten-mile run. Maybe she would regrout her shower tiles— anything to take her mind off the source of her trouble. Trevor MacAllister.

She grabbed a handful of silverware and crossed to the drawer next to the refrigerator. It wasn’t fair. After all these years he’d waltzed back into her life as if nothing had ever happened. “For him it hasn’t,” she reminded herself aloud. While he’d been the only guy she’d ever had a crush on in high school, and her first lover, she’d only been one in a line of conquests for him. She hated that she couldn’t stop thinking about him.

The past week had been long and difficult. She’d managed to get through their start-up meeting with a minimum of reaction. At least that’s what she told herself. He couldn’t possibly have known that the entire time he sat so casually in her office, her heart had been pounding and her knees growing weak. She’d felt a flush on her cheeks, but had hoped her makeup was enough to cover it.

So that should be the end of it. Trevor was on staff. Any questions she had could be answered by his office. There was no reason she should have to see him, talk to him or even hear his name. But it wasn’t that simple. For one thing, nearly every female in the hospital was still buzzing about him. For another, she couldn’t seem to escape him. Every time she rounded a corner or exited an elevator they ran into each other. One time he’d been pulling on his white coat over tailored shirt and tie. The height and strength of him had sucked the breath right from her chest. Another time he’d been coming out of surgery, tired, sweaty, with stained scrubs hanging loosely on his body. She shouldn’t have noticed. She never noticed doctors. But she wasn’t that lucky with Trevor. Something about him drew her. Like a moth to a flame, she thought humorlessly. And like that little moth, if she wasn’t careful she would end up a charred piece of nothing blowing away on the breeze.

“This is crazy,” she told herself as she picked up the pot in the top rack of the dishwasher. She carried it to the cupboard, then shoved it in place. “I refuse to spend my weekend thinking about this man. What I need is a distraction.”

She walked through her three-bedroom town house. There were plenty of weekend chores. Cleaning, laundry, some bills to pay. All necessary, but none taxing enough to occupy her thoughts for very long. She considered calling her best friends, but Katie would be busy with Mike, and Lee had mentioned something about going away for the weekend. Which left her on her own.

She eyed the wallpaper in the dining area, but decided stripping the walls was a bit much, even for someone in her condition. Besides, she liked the subtle pattern. Would redecorating really get Trevor out of her head?

She moved back into the kitchen and poured herself some coffee. She could have handled seeing him again, and even talking to him, if only he hadn’t brought up the past. The more she thought about what he’d told her, the more she grew confused. No way did she believe that Joel Haddock had been the one to tell her entire high school what she’d done with Trevor. Yet she couldn’t accept the fact that Trevor was lying. He was many things she admired and many things she despised, but he’d always been completely honest. It didn’t make sense. Maybe—

A rumble caught her attention. She carried her mug to the front bedroom that doubled as her at-home office and stared out the window. A moving van had pulled up in front of the town house next door. She’d heard that the place had been rented. This was exactly what she needed. She would go over, introduce herself to her new neighbors and offer to help. A couple of hours spent carting boxes around and unpacking would be a great distraction.

She left her mug on the counter in the kitchen, pocketed her keys and stepped outside. Three men were already lowering the tailgate of the trailer. She looked around for a passenger car. A sleek, silver Mercedes pulled into the nearest visitor parking slot. Dana stared at the vehicle. A knot formed in her stomach as she realized it looked familiar. A man stepped out of the car and the knot tightened.

“Please, God, no,” she murmured as Walter MacAllister raised an arm in a gesture of greeting, then headed toward her.

The chief of staff was tall and fit, with chiseled features that made him look younger than his sixty years. The long stride was familiar because his son had inherited that powerful walk, along with the elder MacAllister’s good looks. She told herself not to panic, that Walter’s being there didn’t mean anything, but she knew she was lying. Walter and his wife had a beautiful house outside of Honeygrove. They had no reason to rent a town house...at least not for themselves. Which left another possibility too hideous to consider.

“Dana.”

Walter reached her side and took her hands in his. He was caring and friendly with all his staff, frequently hosting dinner parties at his house. His was an open-door policy that kept morale high and turnover low. Dana knew it was just his management style at work, yet she’d always felt he’d taken a special interest in her career. He was the one who had recommended her for her current position.

“While it’s always a pleasure to see you, Walter, these aren’t your normal stomping grounds.”

He released her hands and glanced around the complex. “It’s as lovely here as you said.”

She followed his gaze, taking in the delicate pink flowers on the black hawthorn trees, the trimmed ornamental bush, the quiet trickle of the water in the brook flowing through the grounds. “It is nice,” she agreed cautiously.

Another rumble filled the morning. She didn’t want to turn around and find the source of the sound. The knot in her stomach had doubled, as had her sense of foreboding. It would be too cruel of fate to do what she thought it was considering.

A black convertible pulled into the space next to the garage. Dana focused on the car because she had a bad feeling she already knew the driver.

The sports car was low and powerful, with scoops on the hood and wide racing tires. No doubt it could drive circles around her sensible Honda. She’d never been in a convertible—with over forty inches of rain a year in Honeygrove, they weren’t exactly practical. Still, it looked like fun. A metal decal by the passenger door showed an upright snake, while letters on the rear bumper spelled out Cobra.

Dana raised her eyebrows. She would have figured someone with the nickname “Prince Charming, M.D.” would drive an expensive foreign luxury car. Not an American-built muscle car.

She kept her attention on the vehicle as long as possible, but when Trevor came to a stop next to her, she had no choice but to look at him.

He flashed her a grin. She doubted it was his best one—he probably saved those for the actual seduction. This was his everyday smile, the one he gave away without thought. She tried to tell herself it wasn’t special, that there was no reason for her visceral reaction to his presence. For all the good it did. Her heart rate increased as her body responded to Trevor’s powerful magnetism. Damn the man.

“Dana,” he said, as if actually pleased to see her. “What do you think?” He motioned to the large moving van. “We’re going to be neighbors.”

She’d already suspected as much, but it was one thing to think it and another to hear him say the words. “Really?”

Walter nodded. “You always said such nice things about your complex that when Trevor asked me about a place to rent while he had his house built, I instantly thought of here. Fortunately, one of the units was available.”

“Talk about luck,” Dana muttered, shoving her hands into her back jeans pockets. This couldn’t be happening. Trevor couldn’t move in next door. It wasn’t just that she would have to see him from time to time; she would have to hear him. Their units shared two common walls. One was the living room, which wouldn’t be a problem, but the other was the bedroom. She resisted the urge to groan. She didn’t want to spend her evenings listening to him play Don Juan to whichever woman he might have up there.

“We’re ready, sir,” one of the movers called.

“Sure.” Trevor walked to the man and spoke with him briefly, then headed for the front door. He was gone for a few seconds, then the garage opened and he reappeared. “I know where I want all the furniture,” he told the men. “The boxes are marked by room.”

The movers began unloading the van. Trevor helped, giving directions when necessary and carrying in boxes. His red polo shirt hugged powerful muscles in his shoulders, back and chest. Worn jeans—obviously designed to drive women insane—had faded to white at the hips seams, the knees and the crotch.

Walter looked at Dana. “Is this going to be a problem for you?”

She had to forcibly withdraw her attention from his son. She probably looked like a hungry wolf eyeing a rabbit as a potential meal.

His hazel eyes were shrewd and saw far too much. Did he expect her to tell him the truth? She smiled broadly. “Not at all. In fact, I came outside to offer my help.”

The older man raised his eyebrows. “That was before you knew the identity of your new neighbor. I can tell what you’re thinking, Dana, but you don’t have to worry about Trevor. He won’t be making noise and keeping you up late. Rumors of his exploits are exaggerated.”

“Thank you,” she said, wondering if there was a parent alive who didn’t think the best of his offspring.

The three men continued to carry furniture into the town house. Dana trailed after them and found Trevor in the master bedroom. He told them where to set the large dresser.

She wasn’t sure what she’d expected as far as decor, but the simple wooden pieces in the bedroom looked faintly conservative. Maybe he saved flashy for the sheets. Black satin or possibly silk.

“I’m here to help/’ Dana said. “What would you like me to do?”

Trevor glanced at her. “I appreciate that, although I’m a little surprised.”

“That I would be neighborly?”

He nodded. “I don’t think I’m who you would have chosen to live next door.”

He had that right. Still, he was her boss’s son and she could make the best of a bad, albeit temporary, situation. “Not a problem. I hope you’re not worried about me. Cramping your style and all.”

“You’d be surprised how little that concerns me. There isn’t as much style as you think.”

“Good looks and modesty. Gee, Trevor, it’s amazing some woman hasn’t snapped you up before now.” She’d intended the comment to come out sarcastically, but oddly, as she spoke the words she found that she meant them. She knew from personal experience that he could be as charming as the devil himself. If he ever combined that with sincerity, he would be irresistible.

He ignored her statement and led the way down the hall. “I have a lot of books, so if you really do want to help, you can start there.” He motioned to the neatly stacked boxes in the center of the room. Two of the walls contained floor-to-ceiling built-in bookcases.

“Dr. MacAllister, could you let us know where you want the sofa?” one of the movers called.

“Be right there.” Trevor walked to the door. “Thanks, Dana. I appreciate your help.”

When he was gone, she moved to the pile of boxes and opened the first one. Inside were medical texts. No surprise there. She took an armful and placed them on the bookshelves. So much for escaping from what was on her mind, she thought with a grin. She’d gone from the frying pan into the fire. Now she wasn’t just thinking about Trevor— she was actually in his house. Oh joy. And they were going to be neighbors. Could it get worse?

She mentally withdrew the question, not wanting to tempt fate any more than she had. The only good thing about the situation was that she would see him with an assortment of women. That should take care of her wayward hormones. Even they would eventually figure out he wasn’t worth lusting after. Not when he was more interested in quantity than quality.

Time passed quickly. She worked efficiently, flattening the boxes as she emptied them. There were tons of books. Not just the medical texts, but a collection of mysteries and bestsellers, three boxes of biographies and some books on travel. Surprisingly, all looked well read. She fingered the spine of a battered techno-thriller about a Russian submarine escaping to the West. He couldn’t have read all these himself. When would he have had the time? He worked long hours in his office and in surgery, and he was out every night. But she didn’t think Trevor had bought the books used.

“You’re looking serious about something,” he said, walking into the room and carrying two canned soft drinks. He handed her one. “I thought you might be thirsty.”

“Thanks.” She took the drink and popped the top. “I was just admiring your collection.” He eyed the full shelves. “I like to read. It’s how I relax after surgery.”

“I’m surprised you have the time.”

“When something’s important to me, I make the time.”

She sensed a double meaning there, one that made her uncomfortable. “Are the movers finished?” she asked.

“Yeah, they left about twenty minutes ago. So did my dad. You want the nickel tour?”

“Sure.” Easier to trail after him than to keep looking at him, she thought as her body once again betrayed her.

He led her through the three-bedroom town house that was a mirror image of hers. In the three years she’d lived in the complex, this unit had always been a rental. The walls were cream, the carpet a neutral beige. Cream vertical blinds allowed in light.

They started in the living room. Like the furniture she’d seen in his bedroom, the pieces were conservative and tasteful. A dark-blue leather sofa with a matching recliner stretched across the back wall. A television and other complex-looking electronic equipment filled an entertainment unit opposite. The end and coffee tables were oak, oversized but simple. A few paintings leaned against the wall—a couple of oil seascapes, and three watercolor scenes of a bay—along with a collection of photographs that looked to be blowups from several different trips. Knowing what she did about him, she would have pictured something flashier.

The room she used as an office he’d filled with exercise equipment. She didn’t dare picture him in shorts, and a cropped T-shirt, covered with sweat—her pulse was already rapid. In the master suite, several boxes stood open. She saw piles of linens—not silk or satin, but plain colors in cotton. Even the comforter was a sensible shade of blue and not the least bit exotic.

“What do you think?” he asked as he led her back to the living room. He motioned for her to take a seat on the sofa.

“It’s very nice,” she said, not sure how to reconcile what she’d seen with his life-style. She settled in the far corner, sinking onto the soft leather cushion. “You’re living here temporarily?”

“Until my house is built. I bought a piece of land.”

He sat down just left of center, which put him far enough away that they didn’t touch but not so far that she could forget about him. Of course, that might require his moving to an eastern bloc nation.

“Have you started construction?” she asked, pleased her voice sounded normal. That was something.

“I’m still working with the architect. I have some definite ideas, but I don’t know if they’re practical. We’re still figuring out things.”

So he could be her neighbor for a while. Great. She took a sip of her soda. Silence filled the room. She glanced at the coffee table, then at the fireplace in the corner.

“You’ll like that—”

“You don’t have to—”

They spoke at the same time. Dana shifted in her seat “Go ahead.”

“You don’t have to stay if you have plans,” he told her. “I appreciate your help, but I don’t want to take advantage of you.”

If only he did, she thought before she clamped down on her wayward thoughts and willed them into submission. She looked at her watch. It was barely noon.

“Expecting someone for lunch?” she asked, then covered her mouth in horror. She hadn’t really said that, had she?

He finished his soda and set the can on the coffee table. A lock of dark hair fell across his forehead. “Not at all. I meant what I said. I don’t want to keep you, but if you’d like to stay, I’d enjoy your company.”

Dana wondered how he could say that. She wasn’t being especially nice, which made her feel slightly ashamed. She wasn’t sure how to respond to him.

“Come on,” he said, rising to his feet. “You can talk to me while I unpack my desk.”

She followed him up the stairs. The last bedroom was a combined office and guest room. There was a gray-and-white striped sofa that folded out into a sleeper. His desk was relatively small and L-shaped, with a computer set up on one side. He reached for one of the boxes in the center of the floor.

“The moving company packed for me,” he told her as he opened the top. “It makes unpacking a treasure hunt. I’m never sure what’s inside.”

She pointed to the writing on the side of the box. It said Office. “I guess that’s not much help.”

He chuckled and reached inside. Instantly his smile faded. He pulled out a framed photograph.

“What is it?” she asked, moving toward him.

He turned the frame toward her. It held an eight-by-ten photo of a beautiful dark-haired woman. She had wide green eyes and a perfect smile. For a second Dana thought she must be a fashion model and tried to figure out if she’d seen her on any magazine covers. Then the truth sank in.

“This must be the former Mrs. MacAllister,” she said, wondering if she sounded as shocked as she felt It was one thing to know intellectually that someone like Trevor would marry a stunningly gorgeous woman; it was something else to see proof. Even more shocking was the realization that, if the rumors were true, he’d been the one to dissolve their marriage.

“Vanessa,” he said, turning the photo faceup and gazing at it. “I’m not sure why I’ve hung on to this.”

“Maybe to remember what you lost,” she said.

“Possibly.” He set the frame photo-side down on his desk. “Like many who’ve gone through a divorce, I have regrets.”

“Maybe you should have thought of that before you left her.”

“I did,” he said quietly. “She didn’t give me a lot of choice.”

Dana perched on the edge of the sofa. “I know this is none of my business and I have no right to ask. I probably shouldn’t even mention it.”

“But?”

She drew in a breath. “Vanessa is obviously a beautiful woman. Why on earth would you leave her? Was it so very important to run around with other women?”

He stiffened. His arms dropped to his sides and he stared at her as if he’d never seen her before. “That’s what you think.” It wasn’t a question.

“I don’t know what to think. I guess some people are different. Not wrong, just different.”

“You mean about wanting a stable, faithful marriage?” “Exacdy.”

“You see me as one of the different ones?”

“Aren’t you?”

Hazel green eyes darkened. A muscle in his jaw twitched and she realized he was angry.

A twinge of guilt rippled through her. “I’m sorry, Trevor. I told you I had no right to ask that question. It’s none of my business.”

He reached into the box and pulled out several file folders. “Too late now, Dana. You’ve expressed your opinion.

I’d hoped for better, but, hey, why would you give me the benefit of the doubt?”

“I didn’t mean it like that” She stared at the can in her hand. She wasn’t sure what to do or say. Leaving would be too much like running away. Why had she spoken with out thinking?

“You want to know why I left my wife?” he asked, his voice litde more than a growl.

She didn’t want to know anymore. She had a bad feeling she wouldn’t like what he had to say. But she’d been the one to start this line of questioning, so she had no one to blame but herself. “Why?” she asked in a small voice.

He smiled, but it was without humor or beauty, more a twisting of his perfect mouth, as if he were in pain.

“I found her with another man.”

Dana caught her breath. That was impossible.

“I see by the look on your face you’re surprised,” he continued. “I couldn’t believe it, either. That’s why I forgave her. The first time. When it happened again, I packed my bags and I left.”

“Why on earth would she cheat on you?” she blurted out without thinking.

“If that’s a compliment, thank you.” He tossed the empty box aside and sat on a corner of the desk. “I don’t have an answer for that. I was a surgical resident, so I was gone a lot When I was home, I was exhausted That’s not by way of an excuse.” He shrugged. “I tried to understand, to explain it all away. The first time, I managed. But I couldn’t do it again.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Me, too.” His eyes were flat and devoid of emotion. “The worst part of it was I didn’t miss her all that much. Hell of a thing to say. After I left Vanessa, I had the uncomfortable realization I might never have loved her at all. But I missed being married. It was hard getting used to being alone. I guess I kept her picture to remind me of what should have been rather than what was.”

Dana couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Not only that Trevor’s wife had cheated on him, but that he mourned the loss of his marriage. She wouldn’t have thought he would. Wasn’t the freedom to pursue as many women as possible his ultimate goal?

“Why’d you come back to Honeygrove?” she asked. “You’ve made a name for yourself. You could have gone anywhere.”

This time when he smiled, it was genuine. She found her lips curling up in response.

“I missed home. I wanted to be near my folks. They say L.A.’s the place, but it’s too much of a big city for me.”

She might have been more surprised if he’d broken into song and dance, but not by much. He missed his family? He wanted to live in a smaller town? Maybe aliens really did exist and they’d taken over his body. Or maybe Trevor MacAUister wasn’t who or what she’d imagined him to be.

He glanced at his watch. “I’ve kept you long enough. I really appreciate the help, Dana, but I don’t have the right to claim your entire Saturday.”

She found herself oddly reluctant to leave. She wanted time to explore this new and possibly improved man. But she rose to her feet and allowed him to guide her toward the entrance.

His fingers were warm and strong where they rested on the small of her back. As they passed the kitchen, he took the soda can from her and placed it on the counter, then he held open the front door.

“Thanks for everything,” he said.

“No problem. I was happy to help.” She gazed up at him. He was so incredibly perfect to look at. It was wrong for one man to be so very beautiful.

He leaned one shoulder against the door frame. “If I get lost at the grocery store, will you come lead me back home?”

He was flirting with her. That she could accept. It was her eagerness to respond that made her cranky. “I don’t think there will be a shortage of volunteers for that job,” she told him, trying to ignore the excitement spreading through her.

An odd light glimmered in his eyes. Something that made her think he was thinking about kissing her. She told herself she should be insulted if he imagined she was that easy to manipulate. And yet...the thought of his kiss made her lips tingle and her body hum. She remembered his kisses, the strength of him, his power, his taste, the sensation of drowning in something sweet and wonderful.

“Bye, Dana,” he said, then straightened and reached for the door.

He was going to close it behind her, without kissing her. She was both disappointed and confused.

“Bye,” she told him as she stepped off his porch and headed for her own place.

“Dana?”

She paused and turned toward him. “What?”

“Don’t believe everything you hear. The truth isn’t as exciting as people want it to be, but that doesn’t make it any less the truth.”

He shut the door before she could ask him what he meant.

She stalked toward her place, annoyed that she regretted leaving him. What was wrong with her? She couldn’t possibly want anything to do with him. But she hadn’t wanted to go and... As she paused in front of her door, she pressed her fingertips to her temples. She felt as if she’d just been on a roller-coaster ride that had left her hanging upside down for too long.

Hours later, she was just as confused and out of sorts. It was nearly nine on a Saturday night and she could hear Trevor moving around next door. As far as she could tell, he didn’t have company. Did that mean he was actually staying in? Had she been wrong about him? If so, did that mean she was wrong about what had happened fourteen years ago?

She wasn’t sure she wanted to know that. If Trevor hadn’t betrayed her, she’d had no reason to hate him then and no reason to mistrust him now. But she sensed with a certainty she couldn’t explain that it was necessary to go on mistrusting Trevor. Especially if she wanted to keep her life sane and her heart in one piece.

Chapter Three

Trevor leaned against the balcony and inhaled deeply. If the town house were about fifty miles due west, he would be able to smell the Pacific Ocean. He hadn’t liked all that much about living in Los Angeles, but he did miss his daily jog along the beach. Still, giving that up was a small price to pay for coming home.

Home. He smiled at the thought. He’d worked so hard to get away—college in three years, a fast-track through medical school, internship and residency—and here he was, back where he’d started. Considering all, there was no place he would rather be.

He moved away from the railing and sank onto the white plastic chair tucked in the corner. The night was cool but clear. He told himself he should go in and grab something for dinner. It was nearly nine and he hadn’t eaten yet But instead of stirring, he relaxed and let his head rest against the chair back. Here it was, a Saturday night, and he was all alone. Who would believe it?

One corner of his mouth twisted up. His reputation was an amazing thing. He’d always been impressed with the stories that circulated about him. How did they get started and why did people believe them? If he went out as often as the rumors claimed, he would be existing on less than three hours’ sleep a night. If he was intimate with as many women as those rumors maintained, he would have the libido of Don Juan and the endurance of a triathlete, not to mention the IQ of a gnat. In this day and age, casual sex was more than stupid—it was deadly.

The irony usually amused him. The contrast between what the world believed and reality was as great as that between water and fire. The truth was, he spent most nights alone...even Saturday nights. He preferred it that way. But sometimes he thought about what it would be like to have a special woman in his life. As he’d told Dana earlier that day, he might not regret leaving Vanessa, but he did miss being married.

Dana. The quirk at the corner of his mouth turned into a genuine smile. He was sorry he’d missed the look on her face when she’d realized they would be neighbors. She’d probably wanted to spit nails, but instead she’d been gracious. Some of that, he knew, was because of his father’s presence. She wasn’t about to curse him out in front of the chief of staff. Ironically, Walter was the person she should blame for Trevor’s current living conditions. That sly old dog. Matchmaking again.

Trevor thought back to his parents’ multiple attempts to fix him up with women. “Nice ladies,” his father called them. Women with humor and brains; some pretty, some not; all the type to be put off by his reputation. He’d dated a couple and they’d been among his most successful relationships. Both his parents had warned him about Vanessa, not wanting to interfere yet wanting him to know she was more interested in marrying someone as attractive as herself than in a genuine relationship. She’d wanted to be part of a handsome couple. Unfortunately, her pretty face hid the morals of an alley cat His parents had been right about her. He wished he’d seen it sooner. Once he’d decided to move back to Honeygrove, his father had started a subtle campaign to remind him of a girl he’d dated in high school. What his father didn’t know was that Trevor didn’t need any help remembering Dana. If anything, there were days he would like to be able to forget her.

A car pulled up nearby. He couldn’t see the vehicle, but he heard it stop and the doors open. A man and a woman stepped out, their voices carrying on the faint breeze. Another door opened, then a young girl laughed. From her conversation and the sound of her voice, she was around five or six. The family talked together as they headed for their town house.

Trevor swallowed the envy that welled inside him. He’d hoped for children, but Vanessa had convinced him to wait. At the time he’d been devastated, but now he was glad. He wouldn’t want her to be his child’s mother. Not after he’d learned the truth about her. But his ultimate goal hadn’t changed. He wanted what that couple had, what so many others had found. A loving mate, happy children, a contented home life.

The elusive dream. He closed his eyes and asked, as he had a thousand times, what combination of features and characteristics, what movements, what words, conspired to make people—women—assume the worst about him. He was not interested in sex for sex’s sake, nor did he crave a different woman every night If the world knew the few number of ladies he’d actually made love with... He grimaced. No one would believe him.

For the most part he ignored the rumors, until they hurt someone he cared about or kept him from someone he really wanted to know. Someone like Dana.

He told himself the past was long over and getting lost in it again was a waste of time. He reached for the bottle of beer sitting on the plastic table next to him and took a drink. He tried to think of other things, of the surgeries he had scheduled for next week, of the two patients he’d admitted to the hospital that Saturday morning. He even toyed with the idea of renting a video. But it wasn’t enough. Silent and unwelcome, the past intruded, slipping by his defenses and swirling through his mind like thick fog.

He didn’t even have to close his eyes to remember. The image was so clear, so striking, it was almost like looking at a life-sized photograph. He could see Dana in black jeans and a fuzzy peach sweater the exact color of her tempting mouth, clutching her books to her chest. She’d been all of fifteen, a sophomore in high school. Big eyes and a smile that lit up the room.

He’d told himself she was too young. After all, he was a senior, only a few months shy of graduation. But something about her had appealed to him. Maybe it was the way she blushed every time he caught her looking at him. Or the faint stutter when she’d managed to return his casual “hi” after the championship basketball game.

He told himself not to go there—the past would offer nothing but heartache. The past was finished and couldn’t be changed. He was ten kinds of fool for wanting to relive it. Still, he relaxed in his chair and closed his eyes.

He could smell the rain of the afternoon. Ironically, it had been April, as it was now...only a lifetime ago. He recalled standing by his locker as one girl after the other said hello to him. Even then he’d had an undeserved reputation for having a way with “chicks.” They, his friends joked, playing on the word, “flocked to him.” At seventeen, he hadn’t understood the phenomenon any more than he did now, but back then it had seemed more of a blessing than a curse. He could get as many dates as he wanted, with any girl he wanted. After taking out a few of the prettiest ones, he found he needed more than someone to look at He wanted to care about the girl he was with; he wanted to be intrigued. Which was why he’d finally gathered the courage to talk to Dana.

Trevor smiled at how nervous he’d been. He’d felt terror that she would notice his shaking and sweating or that his voice would betray him by cracking. She’d been standing with her two close friends, Katie and Lee, friends who were still important to her. The three girls had looked at him, but he’d seen only Dana.

“Hi,” he’d managed, pleased his voice didn’t crack.

She’d blushed, but had managed to hold his gaze. “Hi, Trevor.”

Idiotically, he was thrilled she knew his name. In his head he understood that he was a popular senior and many underclass students knew who he was. But this was Dana. That she had taken the time to figure out who he was made him feel he could conquer the world.

“How’s it going?” he asked.

“Fine.” Her voice was low and soft.

He pointed to her math text. “You taking Murphy’s class?”

She nodded.

Mr. Murphy was known for his Friday tests and not grading on a curve. “How are you doing in algebra?”

“Pretty good. He’s hard, but I like math, so I don’t mind.”

He tried to think of something funny to say, or something that would put her at ease. But his usual wordplay had deserted him. He could only think about how much he wanted to make her smile, and maybe hold her hand.

“I was, ah—” he cleared his throat “—going to the library tonight to study. About seven-thirty. You want to come?”

Technically, it wasn’t a date. In the peculiar world that was Honeygrove High School, the library was considered neutral territory. A safe place for a potentially interested boy and girl to test the waters. Many a relationship had blossomed or fizzled between the tall rows of dusty books.

From the corner of his eye he saw Lee and Katie exchange amazed glances. Seniors didn’t date sophomores. Trevor knew he would take some heat from his buddies, but he didn’t care. There was something about Dana. Something that made him—

“I’d have to be home by nine-thirty,” she said, and squeezed her eyes shut. “Dumb, huh? But it’s a school night and my mom insists.”

When she didn’t open her eyes, he realized she was waiting for him to mock her. Instead, he wanted to grab her in his arms and give her a bear hug. Or shout his pleasure to the world. In a roundabout way she’d just said yes.

“No problem.” Now that he’d been accepted, his ability to be cool returned in spades. “I’ll pick you up at seven-thirty.”

Her eyes popped open, along with her mouth. She blinked. “You will?”

“Sure. See ya.”

He walked casually down the hall, greeting friends, acting as though nothing extraordinary had happened. Of course, no one knew that his heart pounded like a jackhammer as he worried about finding a secluded table at the library and at the same moment tried to figure out how he would have time to wash his car before he picked her up.

When he reached his classroom, he glanced back. Dana stood with her friends. The three girls were talking frantically and gesturing. Dana’s smile was so wide she looked as if she’d just been crowned a beauty queen. His lips curved up in response. Tonight couldn’t come fast enough.

* * *

It was 9:16. Trevor let his wrist rest casually over his steering wheel so she wouldn’t know he’d been checking the time. Dana’s mother had been pretty impressed with him. Parents usually liked him well enough, so he doubted Mrs. Rowan would mind if her daughter was a few minutes late. But he was determined to get Dana inside on time. He’d learned that by sticking to the rules from the beginning, he and his date found it easier to negotiate changes later. Besides, he didn’t want to make Dana uncomfortable. A voice in his gut told him this wasn’t going to be a casual relationship. He was in it for the long term and he could afford to take it slow.

Which didn’t mean he wouldn’t kiss her. If she cooperated.

She was staring at the algebra book on her lap. Her left index finger traced the edge of the spine up and down. He could feel her nervousness, her uncertainty, and he guessed she’d never been out with a boy before. Which probably meant she hadn’t been kissed. The thought of being her first pleased him.

He leaned forward slightly and rested his right hand on her shoulder. “I had a good time.”

She looked up, eyes wide like a cornered animal. She nodded. “Me, too.”

“You’re pretty smart.”

Dismay filled her face. “Oh. Sorry.”

“No. Don’t apologize. I like smart girls. I can talk to them. They say stuff back.” He grinned now, remembering their heated discussion about the right way to solve a word problem. “You’re not afraid to tell me what you think.” “My mom says I’m too outspoken.”

She was warm and the peach sweater was as soft as it looked. He moved his hand closer to her neck, then stroked the delicate skin under her ear. Her breath caught and he felt a shiver race through her.

“Outspoken is good,” he said lightly, relieved it was dark in the car. She wouldn’t be able to see his predictable reaction to her nearness. It was embarrassing. He’d gotten hard the second he’d seen her and things hadn’t changed in the past two hours.

“You think so? I’m not sure. My mom says—”

He leaned over the console between them and angled his head. She stopped talking and froze in place, her mouth slightly parted, her eyes still wide. His lips touched hers.

Lightning ripped through him. Heat and need and feelings he’d never experienced before. He was trembling and felt as if he were about to explode. Fighting the desire to haul her hard against him, he kept the kiss light and still, trying to give her time to get used to what they were doing. After about a minute, he drew back somewhat.

Her eyes were closed, her mouth still parted. She smiled and touched a hand to her lips. “Wow.” Her eyes opened and she covered her face with her hands. “Oh, no. I didn’t really say that, did I?”

He chuckled. “Yeah, you did, and I’m glad. I thought it was a ‘wow,’ too.”

She peeked at him between her fingers. “You did?”

“Promise.”

He cupped the back of her neck and drew her closer. This time she melted against him. Her slender arms settled around his neck and he felt the tentative touch of her fingers in his hair. Her mouth yielded to his. He thought about deepening the kiss, but he was conscious of the time and of not wanting to go too far, too fast She was special and he wanted to enjoy every moment they had.

“Dana, I have to take you in,” he murmured against her mouth.

“Oh.” She nodded. “I guess you’re right.”

“Can I see you tomorrow?”

“Yes!” she said eagerly. “Of course. I’d like that.”

He loved that she wasn’t grown up enough to be sophisticated. In time she would learn to pretend a lack of interest, to be coy and hold back. But her enthusiasm only made him like her more.

“Tomorrow is Friday. How about getting something to eat, then going to a movie. What’s your curfew?”

She chewed her bottom lip. “I don’t know. I’ve never been—” Even in the shadowed light of the Mustang’s front seat he saw her blush. “That is, you’re sort of my first, well...date.” The last word came out as a whisper.

“I’m glad.” He climbed out of the car and walked around to her door, then escorted her to her small apartment. “You can let me know tomorrow at school. I’ll talk to you at lunch.”

“Okay.”

When he took her hand, she stared at him in wonder, then smiled. His chest tightened with pleasure. She was very special, he told himself as he waited while she unlocked the door and stepped inside. He’d finally found a girl he could really like and he promised himself he would do everything in his power to make this work.

* * *

“Trevor,” she breathed, her voice thick with passion. “I think I like this.”

He’d fallen for her, he thought with wonder. It had only been a few weeks and already he didn’t know how he’d managed to survive without her. Around Dana, he felt able to take on the world. The rumors about his playing around didn’t matter. He was hers and she knew that She believed in him. He hadn’t realized how much he’d needed that belief, until she’d given it so completely. Her honesty, her intelligence, her humor, her adoration, all conspired to make him love her. Which he could handle. It was their sensual playfulness that was getting him into trouble. Her shirt had long since been discarded and he was fighting the temptation to remove her bra.

“This is a mistake,” he muttered, searching for control. He could hear his hormones laughing at his feeble attempts.

“I’m glad your parents are away for the weekend,” Dana said, and dropped a kiss on his mouth. “This is fun.”

She rubbed against him again and he groaned. “You can’t keep doing that. Dana, I’m serious. You can feel what’s happening to me. It means I want you. I know you like the kissing and touching, but you’re not ready for anything else.”

He placed his hands on her waist and lifted her off him, then rolled into a sitting position and tried to think pure thoughts.

Dana came up behind him and wrapped her arms around him. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to tease you. I like what we do together. But you’re right. We should stop.”

The lamp on the nightstand provided the only illumination in his room. He stared at the bookshelves in front of him, at the familiar trophies for football and track, at a few car models and some books. But he didn’t see any of them.

He turned and cupped her face. “Dana, I wish...”

She smiled. “I know. I love you, Trevor.”

His breath caught in his throat. Had she really said those magic words? He’d never been happier in his life. “I love you, too. I love you so much I—”

She kissed him, cutting off his words. He pulled her close and they tumbled back onto the bed. They were kissing and touching, and suddenly they were both naked and he was stroking her belly, moving closer to that place he’d never been before.

He nuzzled her breasts, tasting them, tasting her, hoping she didn’t notice how much he was shaking. He’d experimented with girls before, but he’d never made love.

As he prepared to enter her, he asked, “Should I stop?”

She shook her head. “I love you.”

He drew in a shuddering breath and slowly entered her. The pressure was unbearable, as was the pleasure. He tried to hold back, to think of something else, but it was like trying to control the tide. One more thrust of his hips and he lost it.

When the spasms had faded, he looked at her. Dana touched his face. “I thought it would take longer.”

Typical Dana, who didn’t know enough to pretend to salvage his male ego. He kissed her fiercely. “Don’t ever change,” he told her. “I love you exactly as you are.”

She wrinkled her nose. “What does that have to do with anything?” She shifted against him.

Amazingly enough, he felt himself become aroused again. He started to move. “Let’s try that once more,” he said. “This time it will be longer.”

She pulled him close and kissed him. “I think I’d like that,” she murmured against his mouth.

* * *

On Monday Trevor got to school late. He’d had a dentist appointment and for once he hadn’t minded having his teeth cleaned. In fact, he figured he could have flown to school instead of driven. He’d never been so happy in his life.

Friday night had been magical. His only regret was that Dana had spent the rest of the weekend with her mother— some family obligation she hadn’t been able to get out of. But he would see her tonight.

He walked into school just in time for fourth period. He slid into his seat next to his best friend, Joel, who gave him a knowing wink. The two boys had hung out the previous afternoon and Trevor had confessed what had happened with Dana.

As his history teacher lectured on the precursors to Pearl Harbor, Trevor noticed he was getting more attention than usual.

Karl, a fellow football player and full-time jerk, leaned over and whispered, “I heard about you and Dana. Way to go.”

Trevor frowned. The comments continued when he left class. By lunch he realized the entire school knew. He was furious for both Dana and himself and concerned for her. While making love was seen as a rite of passage for males, females could easily be labeled sluts. He didn’t want anyone saying anything bad to Dana.

He searched for her through lunch, but never saw her or her friends. Finally, he cut his last class and drove to her apartment.

She was pale, her cheeks tearstained, her shoulders slumped as she answered the door. Her pain was so tangible he felt it cutting through him, too.

“Dana, what—”

She held up her hand to stop him from talking. “Don’t,” she said harshly, her voice cracking with sobs. “Just don’t. You got what you wanted. I almost understand that. What I don’t understand is how you could have told everyone.” Fresh tears filled her eyes and trickled down her cheeks.

“I didn’t,” he said. “I swear.” He didn’t tell anyone. Except Joel. Joel, who had always watched Dana, had always made cracks about her. Trevor hadn’t thought about it one way or the other until that moment Had his friend wanted Dana for himself?

“Do you know what they’re saying about me?” she asked. “Do you know what they called me today?”

He was bleeding to death. He could feel the gaping hole in his chest. “Dana, listen to me. I love you. I would never do anything to hurt you.”

“Liar.”

She said the single word with a finality that told him she’d already made up her mind.

“I never want to see you again,” she continued. “Don’t come over here or talk to me. Don’t even look at me. I’ll hate you forever. I swear I will.”

He’d tried everything. He’d written notes, spoken with her friends, called her daily. But he had nothing he could offer her as proof. Joel had denied everything, then taken Dana’s side, as if he, too, believed Trevor had been the one to spread the rumors. Trevor’s only relief had come the following fall, when he’d finally left for college.

Trevor reached for the beer on the table at his side and gave his head a quick shake, hoping to dislodge the memories. He knew better than to spend much time in the past It had a way of grabbing on to him and never letting go. Dana had thought their brief relationship meant nothing to him, yet she was the reason he’d completed his undergraduate degree in three years instead of four. At first he’d buried himself in his studies to forget. Eventually he got caught up in the process, until the work consumed him and became its own reward. And now she was back in his life.

He knew he hadn’t returned to Honeygrove because of her, yet he couldn’t be sorry she was around. He didn’t expect to pick things up where they’d left off, but he would like a chance to make things right. For reasons he didn’t want to explore, he would prefer that Dana not think of him as the bad guy. When that was resolved, he would make some effort in his personal life. It was time to find someone, and settle down. He wanted a loving relationship and a couple of kids. Goals most men found easy to accomplish, although he’d had a hell of a time making that happen.

All he wanted was someone to see him for who and what he was on the inside. Someone to care about him, to believe in him and the truth instead of the rumors.

He finished the beer and stood. If that didn’t happen, there was always work. He could bury himself in it just as he’d buried himself in his studies. It was one lesson he’d learned very well.

* * *

“We went dancing,” Sally said. “You know, that new club downtown? The one with the really cute D.J.?” She sighed rapturously and wrapped her arms around herself. “He held me close and I thought I was going to die.”

“You’re going to wish you had if you let yourself fall for him,” Melba intoned ominously. “I’m telling you, don’t go getting serious about Trevor MacAllister.”

Angie, a blond nurse pretty enough to make other women dislike her on sight, came up and joined the conversation. “Listen to Melba,” she said, and gave a slow, self-satisfied smile. “You might have had him Saturday night, Sally, but I had him all Sunday night, and I do mean all.” She gave a little wink, then walked over to the elevator and pushed the Down button.

Dana wished there were a means for her to gracefully escape from the conversation, but she was trapped between Sally and Melba, with no way to tell them she wasn’t interested in the object of their conversation. Worse, she was stuck waiting for him. He needed to talk about several changes in the current surgery schedule.

“Like I said, we went dancing,” Sally repeated, speaking loudly so that Angie could hear. She tucked a strand of dark curly hair behind her ear. “Some of us don’t believe in putting out on the first date. You know, some of us believe we’re worth more and have some class.”

Angie glanced over her shoulder and grinned. “Some of us got asked and some of us didn’t.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m so tired. I swear, I didn’t get but a couple hours’ sleep. I would blame him completely, but he kept telling me he was inspired.”

Dana gritted her teeth. She told herself she was annoyed at being kept waiting, then shook off the thought. No point in lying to herself. She knew better. She was cranky because she’d actually started to believe Trevor’s “I’m so alone” act. To think that she’d gone over and actually helped him unpack. He must have been laughing when she left. All that talk about his ex-wife and how he’d found her with another man.

She clutched her clipboard and wished she could toss it across the room. To make matters worse, she’d truly felt sorry for Trevor. Like an idiot, she’d assumed he’d spent Saturday night in. After all, she’d heard his television playing until nearly nine at night

She turned to Sally. “I know that Trevor moved over the weekend,” she said. “He must have been busy unpacking. What time did he pick you up?”

Sally looked surprised that Dana had joined the conversation, but she answered quickly enough. “Late. The club doesn’t really get going until almost eleven.”

There went that theory. By ten Dana had been reading in bed. She wouldn’t have heard Trevor leaving the town house. Not that it was any of her business.

She knew that her irritation was fueled by the fact that she’d been so taken in by him, and had been feeling guilty for being slightly less than pleasant during their conversation. She’d seriously considered inviting him over for dinner on Sunday. Good thing she hadn’t.

Never again, she told herself. She would do her best to avoid the man like the wart scum he was. The next time she saw him, she would—

The elevator doors opened and Trevor stepped out. All conversation ceased as the four women turned their attention to him.

“There you are,” he said.

Dana blinked. He’d walked right past Angie and Sally with little more than a nod, but he was giving her one of his better smiles. That didn’t make sense. How could he ignore those other women? He’d dated them. According to Angie, he and the pretty nurse had done the wild thing through most of the night.

“Dr. MacAllister,” she said, ignoring the frenzy stirred up by her suddenly out-of-control hormones. Bad enough that he was a skirt chaser. Worse that her own body betrayed her by melting on command every time she saw him and he bestowed a smile on her. Why couldn’t she grow up? A crush at fifteen was excusable. A crush at her age made her look really stupid.

“I’m sorry about having to make changes,” he said, motioning for her to lead the way to her office.

She glanced back and saw the three nurses eyeing them. He still didn’t acknowledge any of them. How strange.

“The schedule is more flexible than usual this week,” she said. She entered her office and moved to sit behind her desk. Trevor took the chair across from her. He pulled a sheet of paper out of the front right pocket of his white coat.

She watched him as he read the sheet. “You look tired,” she said. “Rough night?”

The words popped out without warning. When he glanced at her, she was determined to bluff her way through and tried to smile casually. She wasn’t sure how it actually looked.

“I was up late unpacking,” he said.

“You didn’t have a date?” She heard the incredulity in her voice and wished she could call back the question.

“No. I stayed in. What about you? Anything fun over the weekend?”

Her social life was incredibly dismal, but he didn’t need to know that “I prefer to keep conversation strictly business.”

“I see.” Perfect eyebrows arched. “You were the one asking about my personal life.”

“I know. I apologize. For a moment I forgot myself.”

He leaned forward and rested his hands on her desk. “Forget away.”

Her brain screamed at her to watch out. Trevor was lethal when he flirted. She’d already suffered once at his hands and didn’t see any reason to do it a second time.

“This is none of my business,” she said slowly. “But I want to remind you that hospitals are notorious for gossip. While there’s no policy against staff members dating, it can create tension in the workplace. You might want to remind your dates that they should be discreet”

“My dates?” He studied her for a moment. “I see. How many did I have this past weekend?”

“Two that I heard about”

Hazel green eyes stared at a place over her left shoulder. His facial expression didn’t change, but suddenly she couldn’t read what he was thinking. It was as though an invisible screen had fallen to shield him.

He handed her the piece of paper. “These are my changes in the surgery schedule. If there’s a problem, I would appreciate you contacting my office.”

He was gone before she could say anything else. Dana was left staring after him, wondering why on earth she felt as if she’d disappointed him.

Chapter Four

“Who ordered this?” Lee Murphy asked as their waiter delivered a basket of steaming cheese garlic bread.

Dana shook her head. “Don’t look at me. I wouldn’t have ordered it, but I don’t mind helping everyone eat it.”

Katie Sheppard smiled. “You know they just bring it unless we tell them we don’t want any. It’s a tradition.”

“Calories,” Lee said, eyeing the basket, then grabbing a slice. “Unnecessary calories.”

“But if we didn’t actually order the food, the calories don’t really count,” Dana said.

Her two friends laughed. When the waiter reappeared, they gave him their order, then settled in for a chatty lunch. Dana sipped her diet soda and listened while Katie talked about her wedding plans. The affair would be simple, with only family and close friends.

“I’m not going to have a maid of honor,” Katie said, her brown eyes crinkling as she smiled. “I want the two, of you to be my attendants, though. Just like we promised in high school.”

Dana looked at Lee. “I can’t believe I’m about to get all teary.”

Lee grimaced. “Terrible, isn’t it? We should be annoyed because she broke the pact. Next thing you know we’ll be planning a wedding shower.”

Dana shrugged. “I was thinking about a brunch.”

“Me, too,” Lee admitted, then laughed. “We’re hopeless.”

Katie addressed them both. “So you’re really all right with this? I know we promised, but...” She smiled. “I can’t help it. I love him.”

“We understand,” Lee told her. “What’s a little promise among friends?”

Katie picked up a piece of garlic bread. “I feel badly about that. Really I do. Does it help to remind you two that I really meant it at the time?”

Lee touched Katie’s arm. “You don’t have to explain. Dana and I aren’t mad at you. Why would we be? You’ve found a wonderful man who loves you, and you’re going to spend the rest of your life with him. We’d be pretty crummy friends to want to stand in the way.”

“She’s right,” Dana added. “Be happy, Katie. That’s what this time is all about.”

“Thank you.” Katie reached down and pulled a magazine out of her oversized purse. “I was hoping you’d say that So I brought a copy of a bridal magazine. There are a few dresses I think you’ll like.”

Lee and Dana groaned in unison. “Nothing with ruffles,” Lee said. “I mean that, Katie. No cute bows, no little capes on the shoulders and definitely no trains.”

Katie held up her hands in mock surrender. “That was never my plan. I was thinking more along the lines of simple and elegant.”

She opened the magazine and angled it toward Lee. Dana glanced at the picture, but found her attention drifting from the conversation of dress styles and colors. Not that she wasn’t interested in her friend’s wedding. She was still adjusting to the fact that Katie was marrying a doctor.

Years ago, after graduating from nursing school, the three lifelong friends had signed a pact swearing none of them would ever marry a doctor. They all had their reasons. Katie’s doctor father had always been available to everyone but his family. Lee’s father, also a doctor, had gotten Lee’s mother pregnant, then left her with an illegitimate baby. Dana’s father had also left She had watched her mother wasting her life, waiting for a man to come rescue her after her divorce. Her fantasy had always been to marry a doctor, and she’d refused to go out with several honest, decent men simply because they didn’t fit her preconceived notion of what she wanted.

Until a few months ago, the three friends had kept their promise. Then Katie had gotten involved with her close friend Mike Brennan. Dana couldn’t blame her. Mike was one of the good guys and wildly in love with Katie. Marriage was the next obvious step in their relationship. Turning her back on a very special life of love would be as foolish as Dana’s mother’s insistence on holding out for a white knight, who never showed up.

But... Dana bit back a sigh. She hated to admit it, even to herself, but at times she was envious of her friend. She didn’t want to get involved with a doctor, but she did want to find someone she could care about Someone who would care back. Like most women, she wanted a family—including children and a husband. Focusing on her career hadn’t left her much opportunity to socialize. Maybe now that she’d received her promotion she could start taking care of her personal life.

“So what do you think?” Katie asked, turning the magazine so Dana could see the photograph of the bridesmaids’ dress.

The dark-green gown had a boat neck and long sleeves. The simple bodice set off the floor-length, tulip skirt.

“This part comes off,” Katie said, pointing to the skirt “See the knee-length panel underneath? It’s really a shorter skirt, so you can wear the dress again, to a party or something.” She chewed on her lower lip. “Do you like it?”

Dana glanced at Lee and nodded. Her Mend smiled. “We love it. No frills, no ruffles and no bows, which pleases me. But this is your wedding, Katie. Are you happy with it?”

“Yes. I looked when I went shopping for my dress, and I really like this one best We need to arrange a time to go order them.”

Before they could continue, their waiter returned with their food. All three had ordered grilled-chicken salads. Dana thought about all the lunches they’d shared since graduating from nursing school. By now they should have their own table at the restaurant Or at least a plaque on the wall, commemorating their patronage. The thought made her chuckle.

An hour later, she and Lee started across the street toward the hospital, while Katie got into her car to make a quick trip home to check on her father. He was doing better, but was still not as strong as before his heart attack.

“You were quiet at lunch,” Lee said. “Is everything all right?”

“Fine,” Dana told her. “I was just thinking about things. Katie marrying Mike. I’m really happy for her, but it’s strange.”

“To think about her marrying a doctor?” Lee asked. “But if it makes her happy, that’s what counts.” She glanced at Dana. “It’s none of my business, but how are you doing, now that Trevor’s back in town?”

“Tough question,” Dana admitted. “I’d feel better if we weren’t neighbors.” She’d already filled both women in on that particular detail. “As far as dealing with him at the hospital...I guess I’m doing as well as can be expected. Nothing has changed. The nurses are lining up to date him. He’s already been out with two that I know about. At least I don’t have to worry about having a crush on him.”

Lee stiffened slightly. “A crush wouldn’t be so bad.”

“It would for me. I gave Trevor my heart once and he trampled all over it.”

“I know. I’m sorry. That was really difficult for you.”

They walked into the hospital. Dana paused by the reception desk. “Trevor and I have talked about the past,” she said, her voice low so that they wouldn’t be overheard. “He brought it up when he first came here.”

Lee raised her eyebrows. “I’m surprised. Did he apologize?”

“Not exactly. He said he wanted to explain. He swore he wasn’t the one to spread the rumors about him and me. He said the only person he told was Joel Haddock.”

“Who?”

“You know, the dark-haired skinny guy I was friends with that summer. He’d been close to Trevor. Trevor claims Joel wanted to go out with me himself, and that when he found out about Trevor and me, he spread the story to break us up.”

“Do you believe him?” Lee asked.

“I don’t know. Trevor has a lot of flaws, but he’s always been honest He has no reason to lie this many years after the fact.”

“Does the past still matter?”

Dana shook her head. “There’s a hard question. I guess it shouldn’t, right?”

“Only you can answer that Trevor was important to you once. You were hurt badly by what you thought were his actions. Would knowing none of it was his fault change anything?”

Dana wanted to say that it wouldn’t. She wasn’t that fifteen-year-old girl anymore. Trevor was no longer the center of her world. She’d grown up and moved on. Yet, in ways she couldn’t explain, it did matter.

“I’m confused,” she admitted.

“It’s a start,” Lee said, and glanced at her watch. “I’m really sorry, but I’m running late. I have to get to the clinic.”

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