Her Holiday Hero

When Keely O’Toole returns home to Village Green, Colorado, she lands in a very unfamiliar role—as guardian to her cousin’s seven-year-old daughter. Keely loves little Felicity, but she’s in over her head. And the only person she can turn to for help is former army ranger Dr. Ethan Scott. Her best friend’s brother, a man she can hardly speak to without bickering. But when Keely and Ethan bond while taking care of Felicity, everything changes. Keely wants to give Felicity the best Christmas ever, and Ethan is just the person to light up their holidays...and their lives.

“What…what are you doing?”

The words came out a little breathless, egging him on in ways he couldn’t begin to describe. “Payback.”

“Ethan, I’m warning you—”

“Yeah, yeah, heard that before.” Blinking snow out of his eyes, he gave Flicka a sidelong glance. “Hey, kid, want to learn how to make a perfect snow angel?”

“I do, I do, I do.”

“Good news. Keely has agreed to demonstrate the proper technique.”

She gasped. “Ethan, no. Don’t. I...I’m...”

“You...you’re...what?”

“Cold.” Keely said the word triumphantly, as if she’d come up with the last clue in a difficult crossword puzzle.

“Nothing like a little physical activity to warm you up. Trust me on this,” he whispered in her ear. “I’m a doctor.”

He hooked his foot around the back of her knees and, grinning, dumped her gently into the snow.

Flat on her back, she gaped up at him three entire seconds. “You will pay for this.”

It was both a challenge and a promise. The woman made him smile.

RENEE RYAN grew up in a Florida beach town where she learned to surf, sort of. With a degree from FSU, she explored career opportunities at a Florida theme park and a modeling agency and even taught high school economics. She currently lives with her husband in Nebraska, and many have mistaken their overweight cat for a small bear. You may contact Renee at reneeryan.com, on Facebook or on Twitter, @ReneeRyanBooks.

The Doctor’s

Christmas Wish

Renee Ryan

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MILLS & BOON

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Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.

—Proverbs 3:5–6

To my fabulous, incredibly smart, savvy editor, Melissa Endlich. I’ll treasure your kindness, insight and generosity for many years to come. You deserve only the best in life.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

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

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

The house phone rang at 10:33 p.m. on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The high-pitched sound yanked Ethan Scott’s attention away from the television screen and the football game he’d carved out time to watch live, no distractions.

Who would be calling at this hour?

The hitch in his breath was born out of a hidden fear he kept tucked deep inside his soul. When his parents were killed in a fatal car crash, Ethan had been the first to get the news. As the oldest of four, he had to identify the bodies, to inform his three younger siblings and to handle all the funeral arrangements.

He’d completed each task without hesitation, and had been forced to repeat an eerily similar process a year and a half ago when another deadly car accident had taken his fiancée.

The incessant ringing continued.

Like a shock wave, old memories rippled across new. Ethan’s previously easy, relaxed mood spiraled into something darker.

He debated ignoring the call. Few people had his home number, and any medical emergency would either go to his answering service or come through on his cell phone.

The ringing stopped.

Banishing unwanted memories and the emotions they brought, Ethan sat back to enjoy the game. The Broncos were about to score a touchdown.

The ringing started up again.

Ethan’s gut took a hard roll. Surely the Lord wouldn’t deal him another blow, wouldn’t make him suffer through another unexpected goodbye. He’d had enough sorrow for one lifetime. He put the game on mute, then made the short trek from living room to kitchen.

The sound of doggy toenails clicking on the tile floor alerted him that his treasured black Lab had followed him. He patted Baloo on the head and then glanced at the caller ID.

Keely O’Toole. Ethan’s gut took another hard roll, for an entirely different reason this time.

His neighbor was one of the few women in town he tended to avoid, for reasons he didn’t want to explore tonight. Or ever.

Since Keely made a habit of avoiding him as well, he figured whatever had incited her to call the house—twice—on the landline—had to be important.

He snatched up the telephone receiver. “Ethan speaking.”

A short, tense pause sounded on the other end of the line, followed by a weary female sigh. “Is Ryder around? He’s not answering his cell phone.”

“Hello to you, too, Keely.”

She sighed again, the sound filled with frustration. “Is Ryder home or not?”

“Not. He’s working the night shift at the hospital.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

Something in her voice put Ethan on alert. He could practically feel Keely’s agitation coming through the phone. Both his younger brothers were doctors. But where Ethan was a primary care physician and Brody was working for Doctors Without Borders, Ryder specialized in emergency medicine.

If she was calling Ryder this late at night...

“Talk to me, Keely. What’s going on?”

“I need your help.”

Four words Ethan never expected to come out the woman’s mouth, at least not directed at him.

Something must be seriously wrong. “Are you hurt?”

“It’s not me. It’s Felicity. She’s really sick and I don’t know what to do. Should I take her out in this weather, to the ER waiting room, or do I hold off, pray it’ll go away? I’m really, really worried.”

She was also rambling. Another first.

Ethan mentally sorted through her words, stopping on an unfamiliar name. Felicity. Who was Felicity? His mind went blank. Then he remembered the little girl who had moved in with Keely over the holiday weekend. He didn’t know the whole story, only that Keely was the child’s legal guardian for an indefinite amount of time.

“What’s wrong with her?”

“She’s complaining of stomach pain.”

In full doctor mode now, Ethan digested this piece of information. “Any vomiting?”

“Just once, about an hour ago.”

“When did she last eat?”

“Around six.”

He checked his watch, did a mental calculation between regular dinner hours and now. “What did she eat?”

“A hamburger, fries, oh, and a cinnamon roll. I know they aren’t the healthiest choices, but she starts school tomorrow and I took her to the mall to buy her some new clothes. You might think it’s odd I’m putting her in school two weeks before Christmas break, but I wanted her to meet other kids before—”

He cut her off. “Hold up. Does she have a fever?”

Keely blew out a loud hiss. “I checked it right before I called Ryder’s cell phone. The thermometer said 99.7 degrees. Can you... Ethan, please, can you come over and look at Felicity?”

“On my way.” He hung up the phone and headed for the mudroom just off the kitchen.

Baloo trotted past him and took up position at the back door, a hopeful expression in his coal-black eyes. Normally, Ethan would indulge the dog. He and the black Lab had been through a lot of hard times since Ethan rescued the animal during his tour in Afghanistan.

“Sorry, buddy, you can’t come with me.”

Baloo whined, the sound pitiful and well honed from years of conning Ethan.

“Hang tight, old boy. This shouldn’t take long.” Ethan scrubbed the animal’s face between his hands. “I’ll let you out when I get back.”

The dog’s ears drooped, but he obediently lowered himself to his haunches and rested his chin on his paws.

Ethan grabbed his coat and trod through the three inches of snow that had fallen throughout the day. He didn’t have far to go. The backyard of Keely’s childhood home spilled into his. They had that in common, both living in the houses they’d grown up in, having inherited them from their parents. Ethan, after his had died. Keely, after hers had moved to Arizona.

He was on her back stoop, stomping snow off his boots, when the door flung open. “What took you so long?”

Since she sounded like a terrified new parent, he forgave her for her rudeness. “Came as fast as I could.”

“Don’t just stand there. Come inside.”

Holding his tongue, again, he climbed the steps. As was becoming a habit whenever they were up close and personal, he reminded himself this was Keely. Once upon a time she’d been just another skinny kid hanging out with his younger sister.

Despite growing into a beautiful woman with long, gorgeous red hair, amazing green eyes and a figure that jealous peers had once compared to Jessica Rabbit’s, Keely was still that same annoying girl Ethan tolerated because she was his sister’s BFF.

Except, lately, things had changed between them. Their relationship was morphing into something new, something charged with tension and awkward pauses. The initial shift had started nearly a year ago, right after she’d left her big-city life in New York and settled back in Colorado.

Ethan moved deeper in the house.

The inevitable kick in his gut came right on schedule, as it always did whenever his gaze locked with Keely’s. Tonight, the sensation hit him hard. It wasn’t an altogether awful feeling, kind of reminded him of danger-induced adrenaline.

Precarious territory. “Where’s the patient?”

“Her name is Felicity.”

“Right.” Ethan shed his coat, tossed it on a nearby bench. “Where is she?”

“Upstairs in her room.”

Ethan recognized the panic in Keely’s voice, which was mirrored in her wide, almond-shaped green eyes. Her long, wavy hair was also disheveled, as if she’d dragged both hands through the now tangled strands more than a few times.

At the obvious signs of her distress, everything in him softened. He gently touched her sleeve. “I’m here, Keely. I’ll take care of the child.”

She drew in a few unsteady breaths, her legendary hostility toward him diminishing with each exhale. “I... I believe you.”

He dropped his hand. “One last question before I have a look at her. How old is she?”

“She turned seven last month.”

His throat squeezed shut. His eyes began to burn.

What were the odds? He swallowed, hard. He’d barely regained his equilibrium when Keely took off at a clipped pace.

Ethan followed after her. They moved at the speed of light from kitchen to living room to stairwell. The smells of home filled him, a mixture of floral scents, furniture polish and freshly baked bread.

He hadn’t been inside this house in years. Like a good neighbor, he’d left Keely alone. She’d done the same for him, a situation that worked for them both.

But now, as he followed her through the house, Ethan wondered why he’d kept his distance. He liked the grown-up Keely, sometimes, when she wasn’t being snarky or unnecessarily antagonistic. A couple of unfortunate incidents from the past didn’t mean they couldn’t find a happy rhythm going into the future. Maybe they could even be friends. Now that she was twenty-nine and he thirty-four, their five-year age gap didn’t seem so large.

At the top of the stairs, she stopped outside the second room on her right. Hand on the doorknob, she swung her gaze to his. Slam. He told himself he was imagining the body blow. But, of course, he wasn’t.

“Keely, after I’m through examining the child I’d like the two of us to—”

A little girl’s whimper cut off the rest of his words. Ethan’s pulse picked up speed. Blood rushed in his ears. Memories yanked at him, emptying his mind of everything but a miserable sense of grief and loss.

He hadn’t expected this strong reaction. He saw kids every day at the office. No problem. Yet here he was, his heart pounding and his breath speeding up. He fought the urge to close his eyes. If he did, he’d be back at Fort Bragg, back to the time when he thought he would be a husband and a father. A split-second swerve to miss a skunk had taken away that future.

This wasn’t about him.

Mouth grim, he shoved aside the unwanted memories and walked into the room.

* * *

Keely couldn’t figure out why Ethan’s shoulders were bunched as he made his way toward Felicity’s bed, or why he seemed overly tense. She’d take his behavior personally, but now that she thought about it, she realized he’d been relatively relaxed when he first entered through the back door. He’d only grown silent and progressively distant as she’d guided him through the house.

A tall, broad-shouldered man, he moved toward Felicity at the slow, steady pace of a graceful jungle cat. With his glossy black hair and pale blue eyes, Ethan Scott was entirely too good-looking for his own good. The two days’ worth of scruff on his well-defined, square jaw gave him a dangerous edge.

Keely had no problem imagining him in the Army Ranger uniform he’d once worn. She shook away the thought, and lifted up a silent prayer that Ethan proved to be the capable doctor everyone in their small town of Village Green, Colorado, claimed he was.

With heavy, lumbering steps, Keely joined him beside Felicity’s bed. Tonight he looked more like a regular guy than a former soldier turned successful doctor. He wore faded jeans and a long-sleeve T-shirt that read Of Course I Don’t Look Busy. I Did It Right the First Time.

Typical Ethan, the big, bad, frustrating bane of her existence.

“You must be Felicity,” he said to the little girl in a low, rough voice that sounded slightly tortured. What was up with that? “I’m your neighbor Ethan. I’m also a doctor.”

In her unnaturally pale face, Felicity’s big blue eyes rounded. “You don’t look like a doctor.”

“That’s because I keep my white coat at the office.” He drew in an audible breath, then carefully sat on the edge of the bed, his eyes running over the child, gauging, measuring. “I understand you’re not feeling well.”

Felicity’s blond curls bobbed up and down. “My tummy hurts real bad.”

“Can you tell me where it hurts?”

She whimpered. “Everywhere.”

He went still for a beat, his expression bland, giving nothing away. Keely had no idea what was in his head, but she knew what was in hers. Concern for the little girl she’d agreed to take into her home. The transition from carefree single woman to legal guardian of a seven-year-old had begun months ago, only becoming official this week. She was still reeling.

“Okay, Felicity, I’m going to—”

“You can call me Flicka.” Cheeks bright pink, the little girl lifted a skinny shoulder. “But only if you want to.”

The easy, affectionate smile Ethan gave the child was very different from the tight, barely tolerant ones Keely received.

“Okay, Flicka, I’m going to perform a few tests. When I press on your stomach, I need you tell me if it hurts.”

The little girl nodded again. There was nothing but trust in her eyes, even while her hands clenched around the bedcovers as if she were preparing to embark on a wild amusement park ride.

Incredibly gentle, Ethan pressed on her stomach. “Any pain?”

“Nope.” Felicity’s death grip released, as did Keely’s fear. But when Ethan moved his hands to the lower right portion of Felicity’s abdomen, Keely’s breath caught in her lungs.

“How about now?” he asked. “Does it hurt when I press here?”

“Not really.”

“You’re doing great, Flicka. Just a little bit longer and we’ll be through.” Ethan continued the rest of the exam with a firm but gentle manner.

When he held Felicity’s ankle with one hand and her knee with the other, then rotated her hip, the little girl simply watched him in silent fascination. No gasp of pain. No clenched fists in the comforter.

Keely nearly cried in relief.

Eventually, Ethan stood, said goodbye to Felicity, then motioned for Keely to follow him into the hallway.

The moment they were alone, she asked the question burning in her mind. “Is it her appendix?”

“Nothing indicates that particular diagnosis.”

What kind of cryptic, unhelpful answer was that? “Are you certain?”

“She’s not experiencing swelling in the abdomen or pain in the lower right region. At this point I don’t believe an ultrasound or additional lab work is necessary.”

He’d pitched his voice low, as if to calm her fears. Keely wasn’t appeased. “If it’s not her appendix, then what’s wrong with her?”

“She has a stomachache.”

His matter-of-fact tone increased her distress. “Is there something you can give her to make her feel better?”

“For now, there’s nothing to do but continue supportive measures. Keep her hydrated and resting. If the symptoms persist or worsen, call me and I’ll come back over.”

Why was he so calm? Didn’t he understand how worried she was? “I can’t bear seeing her in pain.”

“Keely, relax. Flicka has a stomachache, probably brought on by stress or the consumption of junk food or both.”

“You’re saying this is my fault because I let her eat junk food.”

“That’s not what I’m saying. Kids suffer stomachaches all the time. I’m confident she’s going to be okay.”

Why didn’t she feel better? Why this terrible spasm of guilt in the center of her heart? “I feel so helpless.”

“You did the right thing calling me.”

Actually, she’d called Ryder. Ethan’s younger brother by two years was so much easier to take. Though he was just as good-looking as Ethan, nearly identical actually, with Ryder there was none of the friction and hostility she experienced in the company of this particular Dr. Scott.

“I mean it, Keely. You can call me anytime, no matter how late.”

She gaped at him. “Why are you being so nice to me?”

“Because I’m a nice guy.” The grin he flashed her was full of the teenage boy she remembered, the one she’d spun a few girlhood dreams around, not the one who’d humiliated her in front of his friends, twice.

“Seriously, why?”

“I’m giving you a pass because you’re new to this parenting thing.” His eyes sparked with genuine compassion.

No fair. The man had amazing eyes, long-lashed and full of secrets. She saw sorrow there as well, more prominent than usual.

It wasn’t the first time she’d noticed that look in Ethan’s eyes. Their paths crossed a lot, primarily because he often came into her restaurant, Senor O’Toole’s, on his lunch break.

He might be the big, bad, frustrating bane of her existence. But the lone wolf image didn’t ring true, not tonight. Hardly ever, if she was being honest with herself. The raw vulnerability simmering under that tough exterior made Keely want to reach up and smooth away his pain.

She resisted. “Felicity’s really going to be all right?”

“For now.” He looked about to say more. He even opened his mouth, but then closed it and headed down the stairs.

Keely hurried after him, catching up just as he was shoving his arms through the sleeves of his coat.

He reached for the doorknob, then paused. “Call me,” he said. “Anytime, for any reason.”

There were so many ways to take that suggestion, even more ways to respond. She chose the most sincere. “I will, and thank you for coming over so quickly. I really appreciate your help tonight.”

“You’re welcome.” He gave her a warm smile.

Her heart stuttered. It actually stuttered.

“Good night, Keely.”

“Night, Ethan.”

Still smiling, he swung open the door. And disappeared into the night.

Chapter Two

Keely waited until Ethan was out of sight before she shut her back door. The rhythmic sound of the dishwasher sloshing through the rinse cycle accompanied her return journey through the kitchen and then into the living room.

Now that her initial fear for Felicity’s well-being was put to rest, Keely’s mind wanted to linger on the man who’d eased her worries. She’d hardly recognized her neighbor.

Ethan had instilled a sense of calm. He’d been unspeakably gentle with Felicity and Keely was grateful for that. But now she was left feeling confused and edgy and not quite herself.

With his quicksilver smile and excellent bedside manner, Ethan had prodded awake the loneliness she kept stuffed behind a healthy dose of busyness. She’d always thrived on filling her days with activity, to the point of barely having a free moment to herself. Better to be busy than to open herself to ridicule or, even worse, another heartbreak.

At some point in the past year since her broken engagement to William Cutter Sloan III, Keely had convinced herself that activity helped heal her pain, making her feel vital, needed, wanted even. In reality, she’d been sleepwalking through life, burying her pain and humiliation in work, work and more work.

Well, she was wide-awake now, thanks to the seven-year-old little girl she’d taken into her home.

A sense of purpose swelled as Keely mounted the stairs. She was determined to raise the child to the best of her ability. The days ahead would require faith, hope and love.

It all started with love, as her pastor often said. Keely now understood exactly what he meant.

She paused outside Felicity’s bedroom and drew in several tight breaths. Ethan claimed the little girl’s stomachache wasn’t serious. Keely hoped his diagnosis proved accurate.

She’d never forgive herself if something happened to her cousin’s daughter. Keely had promised Juliette she’d take care of Felicity until she was once again free to do so herself.

Who knew when that would be? Six years, nine, the full twelve? It was up to the Colorado Department of Corrections and contingent on Juliette’s good behavior.

For a brief second, Keely stood rooted to the spot by a deep, painful ache in her chest. Her cousin had made a terrible mistake. She deserved forgiveness. Yet Keely couldn’t help wondering why Juliette hadn’t come to her for help, or gone to any of their other family members. Including Keely’s twin brother, Beau, who was dripping in money from his days as a world-class professional skier.

By letting pride rule her actions, her cousin had not only lost her freedom. She’d lost the chance to raise her daughter. As a result, Keely would be responsible for Felicity during the child’s most formative years.

Lord, help me to be a good influence. Give me the wisdom to guide Felicity from child to young adult.

Releasing a sigh, Keely took one last deep breath and entered the bedroom.

Felicity lay resting on her side, eyes shut, her hands clasped together beneath her chin. She looked so sweet, so innocent. Keely had to swallow several times to release the lump lodged in her throat.

Nothing had prepared her for this melting of her heart, this wondrous, piercing mix of fear, resolve and deep devotion for a child she’d only met three times before Saturday. She hadn’t expected to care this much, this fast. Maybe she was capable of loving again after all. For the past year, she’d wondered.

As if Felicity sensed her presence, her eyes slowly blinked open.

“Hey, kiddo.” Pasting on a smile, Keely moved deeper in the room. “How are you feeling?”

“Better, I guess.” The words came out raspy. “I’m thirsty.”

“I bet you are.” Keely sat on the edge of the bed and retrieved the cup of water she’d brought to her little cousin earlier. With her free hand she helped the girl sit up and take a few sips.

When she’d had enough, Felicity collapsed back on the bed with a sigh.

Letting out her own whoosh of air, Keely set the cup aside and brushed back a tangle of blond hair from the pretty face that was a tiny copy of her mother’s. “Here’s hoping by tomorrow you’ll be good as new.”

“I don’t think I’ll be better by morning.” Felicity stared at Keely in open terror. “I mean, you know, not completely. Not good enough to go to school.”

Keely bit her lower lip. Ethan had been right. Felicity’s stomachache had been brought on by stress or, more specifically, by worry over starting another school, her third in the same number of months.

Poor kid. She’d experienced a lot of upheaval since her mother was caught embezzling money from her employer. Sent to live with her grandmother during the trial, then with Keely once the verdict was carried out and the paperwork for legal guardianship was complete, Felicity had undergone too much inconsistency in her young life. A little coddling was in order.

“I’ve been thinking about that.” Keely cleared her suddenly thick throat. “It’s late and you haven’t had much sleep. Let’s push your start date back a few days.”

“You really mean it? I don’t have to go to school tomorrow?”

“No school tomorrow.”

Felicity’s entire face lit up, her O’Toole heritage already evident in her pretty, petite features. According to family lore, their ancestors had been world-famous Shakespearean actors known for their extraordinary beauty and charm as much as their talent.

Keely hadn’t caught the acting bug, but she’d traded on her looks for about a second and a half when she first arrived in New York City right out of high school. It had taken all of three weeks to realize her talents were better suited for the business office of the modeling agency, rather than the runway.

She’d really loved her job as a booking agent but was happy to be home after a ten-year absence. She had her brother here in Village Green. Her lifelong best friend Olivia Scott, now Olivia Mitchell, also lived in town, and Keely had a little girl right here in her home, depending on her.

“Keely?”

“Hmm?”

A moment of silence passed, and then came a very small, very sad sigh. “Do you think my mom misses me?”

Even knowing this conversation was coming, Keely still felt a pang of dread. What if her words instilled fear rather than calm? “Of course she misses you.”

“Do you think she’s lonely without me?”

“Your mother loves you,” Keely said truthfully, if somewhat evasively. “We’ll visit her next month. In the meantime you can write to her.”

Although Juliette would eventually be able to see her daughter weekly, she wasn’t allowed visitations during the first month of her incarceration.

The holiday season was going to be difficult for Felicity. Since her father had signed over custody before her birth, Juliette was the only parent the child had ever known. Keely was determined to give her sweet cousin the best Christmas of her life. It wouldn’t take away Felicity’s pain or sense of loss, but it would certainly offer her a lovely distraction.

“I know having your mom gone is really hard, but I’m here for you now, and always.”

Choking out a sob, Felicity flung herself into Keely’s arms.

With a fierceness that grabbed her by the throat, she pulled the child close and once again silently promised to make this Christmas season one the girl would remember for years to come. “Oh, sweetie, I’m going to take really good care of you, I promise.”

Felicity clung for several, long seconds. Keely gently rocked the child back and forth. Once she felt Felicity relax, she eased her back onto the bed. It was hard not to look at her without seeing Juliette. Mother and daughter had the same cornflower-blue eyes, attractive dimples and exotic tilt to their features.

“Will you read to me before I go to sleep?”

“I would love that.” Keely sorted through the stack of books she’d placed on the bedside table this afternoon.

“Do we want one of the American Girls, or should I read from—” she picked up the book at the bottom of the pile “—My Friend Flicka?”

Keely couldn’t help smiling as one of the mysteries from earlier in the evening was now solved. You can call me Flicka, Felicity had told Ethan.

Her dimples flashing prettily, the child pointed to the book in Keely’s hand. “That one, please.”

“My Friend Flicka it is.” Still smiling, Keely opened the book and began reading about a boy and his horse. Her mind was only partly on the words, mostly on Felicity.

She was a sweet child with an inherently kind nature. Not too many years in the future, she would steal young boys’ hearts without even trying. Keely only hoped Felicity’s life took a happier route than Juliette’s.

Now that she was Felicity’s legal guardian, Keely would ensure that her little cousin made wise choices. Keely would start the process by loving her, and creating a stable home and, of course, raising her in the church. Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

With the verse from Proverbs convicting her, she turned the page and continued reading. By the time she made it to the end of the first chapter, Felicity was sound asleep.

Keely spent the rest of the night on the phone clearing her calendar and ensuring that her managers were okay running the restaurant a few more days without her. Then she texted her brother and asked him to check in periodically during the afternoon and evening shifts. With his ski shop, the Slippery Slope, next door to the restaurant, it shouldn’t be a problem.

The next morning, Keely woke feeling better about her role as a surrogate mother to her cousin’s daughter. Maybe, just maybe, she’d get it right with Felicity.

Please, Lord, let it be so.

* * *

Just after sunrise, the child herself came into the kitchen when Keely was sipping her first cup of coffee for the day.

“Hey there.” She set her steaming mug on the counter. “I was just about to run upstairs and check on you.”

Rubbing at her eyes, Felicity smiled around a jaw-cracking yawn. “I’m hungry.”

Which answered Keely’s next question. Obviously, the child was feeling better this morning. “How do pancakes sound?”

“Yummy.”

While Keely mixed up the batter, she and Felicity discussed their favorite foods, which led to the popular chocolate-versus-vanilla debate. Chocolate won, of course.

She made a mental note to stop by her best friend’s brand-new chocolate shop with Felicity in tow. If they went in one afternoon this week, perhaps her cousin could meet Olivia’s twin daughters, Megan and Molly, who were Felicity’s same age and attended Village Green Elementary. It was an excellent way to help the child make new friends in a safe, comfortable environment.

By the time Keely set a full plate in front of her, she knew she’d made the right decision to keep Felicity home for the day.

She was just about to dig into her own stack of pancakes when a knock sounded on the back door.

Thinking she knew exactly who was standing outside her house, Keely chewed on her bottom lip. She wasn’t sure she was ready to face Ethan again, not before she’d consumed at least two more cups of coffee. The animosity between them she could handle. It was familiar, comfortable, but this sudden getting along, even if only for a child’s sake? Well, that confused and intimidated her.

Another knock came, louder and more insistent.

“Aren’t you going to see who it is?”

The question spurred Keely into action. “Be right back.”

She felt a catch in her throat when she opened the door to a very different man than the one she’d interacted with last night. He’d ditched the casual T-shirt, jeans and—sadly—the scruff. He now wore a pair of dark blue dress pants and a crisp white button-down. He was also rocking a beat-up leather jacket and aviator sunglasses.

Keely sucked in a breath, wondering why her pulse sped up whenever the man came within five feet of her.

Not much got to her. In truth, very little got to her. But a clean-shaven Ethan Scott decked out in professional attire and really cool shades?

Oh yeah, that got to her.

* * *

Ethan removed his sunglasses, only to realize his mistake the moment his unhindered gaze connected with Keely’s. He should have called instead of coming over to check on Flicka in person. Too late to change his mind now. He was tethered to the spot by a pair of sea-green eyes.

Why had he never noticed how long and full Keely’s lashes were? How had he missed the flawlessness of her complexion?

He tried to look away. He really tried. But then the doctor in him took over and he noted the tiny lines of stress around her mouth, the purple smudges beneath her eyes.

She’d had a rough night.

“Is Flicka still experiencing stomach pains?”

“No, she’s fine. She’s—”

“Dr. Ethan, Dr. Ethan, you’re here!”

Charmed by the enthusiastic greeting, he peered around Keely and smiled at the girl. She was smaller than he’d calculated, skinnier, too, but utterly adorable as she frantically waved a hand over her head.

“Hey, Flicka.”

He’d barely shifted around Keely when the little girl launched herself at him. He caught her and held her close for one beat, two, then slowly set her back on her feet and studied her more closely. “Looks like someone’s feeling better.”

“I am.” She bounced from one foot to the other. “My tummy doesn’t hurt at all, not even a little bit. Are you here for breakfast? Keely made pancakes and they’re really, really good.”

As he sorted through the rapid-fire speech, Ethan’s mind hooked on one word. Pancakes. His favorite. He shot a questioning glance in Keely’s direction. “Is there enough for me?”

“Sure, why not?” Face as grim as her tone, she headed toward the kitchen without another word.

Hardly a warm invitation. But there was one thing Ethan had learned since Keely moved back to town and took over her family’s restaurant: She’d inherited her mother’s gift in the kitchen. He’d take whatever she was serving, with whatever prickly attitude she adopted. Her cooking was that good.

Flicka took his hand and dragged him deeper into the house. “I didn’t think I was ever going to see you again, ever, at least not for a few more days.”

He chuckled. “I’m your neighbor. Our paths will cross often, maybe every day.”

Keely made a soft sound of protest in her throat, barely audible, but Ethan caught it. “Got a problem with that?”

Her pause told its own story. But then she lifted a careless shoulder that didn’t ring true with her tight expression.

“Not at all.” She blessed him with a sugary sweet smile. “I enjoy your company, Dr. Scott.”

They both knew that wasn’t true, but Ethan decided to be an optimist this morning. Maybe he and Keely really could set aside their differences and become friends. Neighbors were supposed to be friendly, weren’t they? Wasn’t that the same as being friends?

Flicka carried the conversation while Ethan dug into a large stack of fluffy pancakes. He hadn’t shared breakfast with a single mother and her daughter in nearly two years.

Technically, he wasn’t doing so now. Flicka wasn’t Keely’s child. Still, he had to focus on his food, and the girl’s excited chatter, rather than the unease he felt. The cozy setting felt too familiar, a taste of the life he’d had and then lost so abruptly. Out of sheer survival, he shut his mind to everything but the plate of food in front of him.

Holding painful memories at bay was hard work. By the time he finished his pancakes he was exhausted. He needed to vacate the premises stat. Unfortunately, he’d only dealt with one of the reasons he’d made the short journey across their adjacent yards. He said goodbye to Flicka, included a promise to stop by soon, then asked Keely to walk him out.

At her challenging stare, he tried not to show his impatience. He wasn’t in the mood for one of their legendary arguments this morning. “I have something I need to run by you.”

“All right, fine.”

Once they were alone on the back stoop, he allowed himself a good long look at his neighbor. What he saw put him immediately on edge. She was especially beautiful in the morning light, her hair several warm shades of red, gold and copper.

She’d tamed the long strands in a sleek ponytail. The simple style highlighted her stunning features. Even with her face free of cosmetics, Ethan could easily picture her on the cover of a fashion magazine.

“What did you want to speak with me about?”

A muscle knotted in his chest at her wary tone. The progress they’d made last night was gone.

“First off,” he began as calmly as possible, “I didn’t come over to mooch breakfast, although I certainly enjoyed every bite. So, thanks.”

“Oh, uh...you’re welcome.”

Her faltering voice told him he’d caught her off guard, as if she didn’t expect a compliment from him, which made Ethan wonder why he didn’t do it more often. There were many things he liked about Keely. Her smile, her eyes, her quick wit, her smile, her...

What had he come over for again?

Thankfully, Keely filled the conversational void. “You were right, by the way.”

He felt his eyebrows travel toward his hairline. “Although I never tire of hearing that, especially from you, it’s so rare. But I’m one step behind. What was I right about?”

She made a face. “Felicity’s stomachache. It was definitely brought on by stress. Her recovery started almost immediately after I told her she didn’t have to start school today.”

The comment brought him to the other reason for his visit.

“I’d like you to bring her into the office for a complete exam.” Last night had been an emergency, but Ethan didn’t normally treat patients unless he knew their history. “I assume you have access to her medical records.”

She nodded. “The school required them for enrollment.”

“Bring them with you to her appointment.”

“Okay. Ethan, I...” She hesitated, clearly debating whether to argue the point.

He cut her off before she could begin. They were in his wheelhouse now. “Keely, the child needs a primary care physician.”

“You’re right, of course.” She gave him a firm nod. “I’ll call the office later today and make an appointment.”

“Good.” They were on the same page.

“But I think it would be best if I made it with one of the other doctors in your practice.”

“Why not me?”

“I... It’s hard to explain.”

“Try.”

She dropped her gaze and sighed again, softer this time. “I guess it’s because we’re neighbors. It could get awkward.”

Nearly everything about their relationship was awkward. But this wasn’t about them. Or was it?

“Is it because of what happened at the Young Professionals mixer last year?”

“Of course not.”

The response came too quickly. He lifted a single eyebrow.

“All right, yes,” she admitted. “It’s partly the reason.”

Something inside him went ice-cold. “You’re still holding that against me?”

Her gaze snapped with familiar annoyance. “You embarrassed me in front of Parker Thorpe and two of his associates.”

Of course he’d stepped in. For good reason. “The guy was married.”

“And that matters why?”

“Married,” he reiterated.

“Parker and I were just talking.” She huffed out the words in obvious frustration.

Ethan resisted the urge to hiss out his own frustration. He and Keely had done this dance too many times to count in the past year.

Yet, no matter how he explained his side of the argument, the woman refused to believe he’d actually been looking out for her. At the time of the mixer, she’d been new to town and had no idea what kind of guy Parker really was beneath the dentist-enhanced smile and hundred-dollar haircut.

“Look, I’m not saying the conversation wasn’t innocent, at least on your end.” He held her stare. “But it wasn’t on his.”

“You can’t possibly know that for certain.”

“Parker Thorpe is, was and always will be a player.”

“As I recall, you said the same thing about Kenny Noble.”

Ethan frowned at the reminder. “Kenny was eighteen. And you were twelve.”

“I was thirteen. And, besides, I was just talking to him.”

“You were still too young to be hanging out with a senior in high school. You were only twelve.”

“Thirteen,” she corrected again, this time with an exaggerated eye roll. “There was no need to tell him how old I was—”

“I beg to differ.”

“—in front of half your stupid football team.”

Okay, she had a point there. Ethan ran a hand over his jaw and went on the defense. “I was trying to protect you, not just from Kenny but from all the guys.”

“That’s your argument? You were protecting me? By humiliating me in front of your friends?”

That hadn’t been his intention. Several of the guys had made derogatory remarks about her curvy figure. Ethan still felt a simmering rage whenever he remembered some of the names they’d called her.

He started to explain himself, again, but she cut him off. “I have to get back inside. Felicity will be wondering where I am.”

She turned to go.

“Keely, wait.”

She spun back around. “What now?”

“Don’t forget to call and set up Flicka’s appointment. Make it with me or Connor, it doesn’t matter, as long as you—”

He was talking to her back.

“I mean it,” he called after her, raising his voice over the wind. “The kid should see a doctor for a complete exam.”

She stopped, sighed, slowly nodded. “I’ll take care of it today.”

Despite her reasonable tone, Ethan sensed she was still upset. And that bothered him. A lot. Keely wasn’t a woman who held on to petty grudges. If she was still this twisted up about the past, then he’d clearly hurt her and would have to make it up to her.

If only he knew how.

Chapter Three

The rest of Ethan’s morning went about as smoothly as his conversation with Keely. Before he saw his first patient, he had a stack of lab reports to review and phone messages to return, nearly all of which required his immediate attention.

He prioritized. Then took action, tackling the refills from pharmacies first, the more involved problems next. Halfway through dictating a letter on a patient he was referring to a specialist, his computer screen went blank. “Not again.”

He pounded at a few keys, only to lose most of the work he’d completed in the past hour. Good times.

Mouth grim, he tried to focus, but an image of breakfast with his neighbors flashed in his mind. He hadn’t realized how much he missed being part of a small, happy family.

Logically, he knew he’d been living in limbo too long, running in place, moving neither forward nor backward. He wasn’t ready for another relationship; perhaps he never would be, but it was time to stop spinning his wheels. Time he got connected in the community and did his part for the town.

Decision made, he opened his email program and fired off a message to a former classmate and the newly elected mayor of Village Green. If there was a volunteer opportunity in need of Ethan’s particular skills, Hardy Bennett would hook him up.

Ethan sat back. Why didn’t he feel better? Why couldn’t he shake the notion that the need for his skills was much closer to home, literally next door? He’d seen something in Flicka’s eyes, a sense of loss he recognized on a soul-deep level.

Clearly, the story behind the little girl’s arrival in Village Green was an unpleasant tale. Because he knew how it felt to have the future yanked away without warning, the unsettling sensation in his gut dug deeper.

His nurse stuck her head in the office. The Santa hat sitting at a jaunty angle on her head, along with the jingle-bell earrings she wore, was a visible reminder that the Christmas season had officially begun. “Your first patient is here, Dr. Scott.”

He glanced at his watch, frowned. Tasha Dupree was ruthless when it came to keeping Ethan and his partners on schedule—one of the many reasons he valued her—but she was way ahead of herself this morning.

“My first patient isn’t due until nine.” He raised a hand to keep her from interrupting. “I marked off the extra time this morning to answer phone calls and update patient charts.”

“It’s a walk-in. And before you tell me to hunt down one of our other doctors, the patient specifically requested you.”

Ethan made his way around his desk. Tasha gave him a big, toothy grin. He eyed the nurse more closely. She definitely had an amused look in her dark brown eyes that were the same color as her hair.

Somewhere in her late twenties, Tasha was known for her quirky sense of humor. He had a bad feeling about this walk-in appointment.

“You gonna tell me the name of the patient?”

“I’d rather let you find out for yourself.” She handed him the tablet she’d brought with her.

Ethan gave the screen a cursory glance, and groaned when he noted the name of his early-morning walk-in. Lacy Hargrove.

No denying the young divorcee was beautiful. She was also on the prowl for husband number three. Word around town was that she planned to bag herself a doctor this time around. Ethan was currently at the top of her list now that his medical partner Connor Mitchell was newly married to Ethan’s sister, Olivia.

Tasha gave him a sympathetic pat on the arm. “Want me to join you in the exam room?”

“Does a chicken have wings?”

The question earned him a dry laugh. “Of all the birds you could have referenced, I find it interesting you chose a chicken.”

Ignoring the wisecrack, Ethan scanned Lacy’s complaint. When his eyes landed on a familiar word—stomachache—his mind went to last night’s patient.

Ethan liked Flicka. But she reminded him of the little girl he’d thought would become his stepdaughter. Samantha had been just as sweet, just as charming. With his mind poised between past and present, he experienced a moment of utter grief before tucking away the emotion and focusing on work.

Blinking the screen back into focus, he finished reviewing the notes on Lacy’s ailment. Mouth pressed in a flat line, he handed the tablet back to Tasha and spoke in an even tone. “Where did you put the patient?”

“Exam room 3.”

“Let’s go.”

“Right behind you.” Adopting his same professional manner, Tasha followed him down the hallway in relative silence, if he didn’t count the tinkling jingle bells.

After determining that Lacy’s stomachache was simply indigestion, Ethan gave her the name of a good antacid, bolted from the room and continued seeing patients throughout the day.

By half past six, he was back at his desk, staring at his computer without really seeing the screen. He’d been feeling off since last night’s unplanned house call. The encounter with Keely had opened old wounds. This morning’s homey breakfast had only made the pain that much more real.

As he leaned back in his chair, Ethan’s gaze landed on a photograph from his army days. He was in full battle gear, his arm slung over Tracy’s shoulders. He’d been sent to Afghanistan to treat high-value patients. Tracy, an experienced helicopter pilot, had been assigned to fly the injured soldiers in from the battlefield.

It was love at first sight for them both. Following regulation, they’d held off dating until they were back in the United States. Tracy had been a single mother. Her daughter, Samantha, had stolen Ethan’s heart nearly as quickly as her mother had.

He’d proposed to Tracy six months after their first official date. She’d died three weeks later in a freak accident eerily similar to the crash that had taken his parents.

Samantha’s biological father had shown up at the funeral and taken her away immediately following the service. Ethan’s heart had been ripped out not once, but twice.

The loss of so many loved ones had left its mark. Life was fragile and could be gone in a blink. Too much pain came with loving and then losing. He would not willingly fall in love again, wouldn’t—couldn’t—go through another funeral.

Yeah, okay, he knew it was irrational. He loved his siblings, didn’t he? He could lose them, just as he had lost all the others. But why cloud the issue with logic, when he was perfectly happy living in the great state of denial?

Ethan didn’t blame God for his many losses. That would give the cold, distant deity too much power.

Needing to get away from his maudlin thoughts, he abruptly rose and left the office building. Once he was sitting in his SUV, the engine idling, he checked the time on the dashboard. Ryder would have left already for his shift at the hospital.

Ethan wasn’t especially looking forward to going home to an empty house. At least Baloo would be there waiting for him. Man’s best friend.

Fifteen minutes after pulling out of the office parking lot, Ethan swung his car onto his street. His neighbors had begun decorating their houses. Lights blinked from roofs. Man-made snowmen, plastic reindeer and Santa sleighs adorned the snow-coated lawns. He’d been dropped in the middle of Christmas Town, USA.

Instead of soothing his dark mood, the decorations reminded him of the family he’d lost, the plans he’d had for the future.

Once he was safely inside his garage, he told himself for the third time—or was it the fourth?—that he was perfectly fine with Baloo’s company for the evening. He actually preferred to be home alone with his dog most nights. He couldn’t experience any more grief if he didn’t let any more people into his heart. He had his siblings. They were enough.

He could practically hear his mother sighing in disappointment, and Tracy telling him that was no way to live. Yeah, well, they’d both left him. Not by choice, but he felt the hole in his heart, and his life, anyway.

Baloo greeted him with a series of exuberant barks.

Ethan scratched the animal behind the ears. “Bet you’re ready to go outside.”

Rising to his full height, Ethan glanced briefly out the window and noticed Keely’s house ablaze in light.

His throat cinched up tight. Since when did his neighbor turn on all her lights? Maybe Flicka was sick again. Or was she afraid of the dark? The thought tugged at the part of him that had nearly become a father.

There was something about the kid, something in her eyes, a lost look that reflected his own pain. He’d sleep easier knowing she was all right.

And while he was checking on the child, he’d point out to Keely—with extreme patience, of course—that she’d forgotten to make the appointment for Flicka’s wellness visit. It was the responsible thing to do.

Ethan was nothing if not responsible.

* * *

Because Keely was standing at her kitchen sink, looking out the window while she washed vegetables, she noticed the exact moment Ethan exited his house with a rambunctious Baloo.

Against her better judgment, she allowed herself to observe man and dog. Halfway between their yards, Baloo bounded into a snowdrift, then popped up with a ball in his mouth and white flakes clinging to his black fur. Keely could hear Ethan’s uninhibited laughter as he brushed off his snow-covered dog.

She never saw this side of him. She couldn’t help wondering why. She sensed something tragic had happened to him before he returned to Village Green. There were times when they weren’t sniping at each other that she saw the grief in his eyes. Thanks to Cutter, she knew that look of loss well.

Though Keely didn’t know any details, she sensed Ethan’s heart had been shattered by the loss of a woman.

Had it been a death or a bad breakup?

Either scenario indicated a man unwilling to let go of something, possibly someone, from his past. A good reminder, she told herself, that Ethan wasn’t the man for her.

That didn’t mean Keely couldn’t enjoy watching him now. Riveted by the sight of all that masculine energy unleashed in a game of fetch, she continued to stare.

As if sensing her eyes on him, Ethan paused in the middle of his windup. The smile he shot in her direction reached deep inside her heart and squeezed.

Gasping softly, she moved away from the window and that heart-tugging grin. No doubt about it, she was in serious trouble.

What was it about the man? He was good-looking, and sure, she liked good-looking men. What woman didn’t? He was also single, financially stable and a successful doctor.

But she also knew he could be arrogant, bossy and treat a woman—Keely—like a twelve-year-old girl instead of the adult she’d become. Added to her suspicions as to why he didn’t date, she knew to keep up her guard.

Minutes later, even prepared for the resounding knock, Keely still had to lock her knees and gulp for air.

Felicity rushed into the kitchen. “I heard a knock at the back door. Do you think it’s Dr. Ethan?”

The kid had excellent hearing. Keely filed away that piece of information with everything else she’d discovered about the little girl today. Turned out, Felicity enjoyed dance classes and ice-skating as much as Keely had at her age.

She also disliked playing soccer, tennis and other organized sports. Again, just like Keely.

There was still so much to discover about her cousin. At least she’d made considerable headway today. Unfortunately, whenever the subject of school came up, or Keely broached the possibility of meeting new friends, Felicity’s face turned gray and the complaints of not feeling well began.

Keely was concerned there might be a larger problem brewing than the child’s simple reluctance to attend a new school and meet other girls her age. Please, Lord, let this be a normal part of the transition into my home and not a symptom of something bigger.

A second knock sounded. Felicity gave Keely a look of impatience. “Can I see if it’s Dr. Ethan at the door?”

“Go ahead.”

The door squeaked on its hinges mere seconds before Ethan’s low chuckle rumbled in response to the child’s excited hello. Clearly, Felicity wasn’t shy around their handsome neighbor. The thought gave Keely hope for the girl’s future.

“I brought my dog over to meet you,” she heard Ethan say to Felicity. “His name is Baloo.”

A series of happy barks mingled with delighted little-girl squeals. “He’s so pretty.”

“Don’t let him hear you say that.” Ethan spoke the words in an amused stage whisper. “Baloo’s sensitive about his gender.”

“Oh, sorry. He’s so handsome,” Felicity cooed. “You’re a handsome boy, aren’t you?”

It wasn’t long before the child invited their visitors to come inside the house.

Baloo bounded into the kitchen first, tail wagging fast as a whip. Keely smiled at the handsome black Lab. “Hey, big boy.”

All but quivering with excitement, the dog leaped at her. Ethan caught hold of his collar just in time.

“Sit,” he ordered.

Baloo whined pitifully but immediately obeyed, then politely offered a paw to Keely.

Charmed, she obliged the dog by giving him a hearty handshake.

“That’s so cool,” Felicity announced, moving in for a better look. “Can I try?”

“Go for it.” Keely stepped aside so the little girl could take her place in front of Baloo.

With the same patience he’d displayed the previous evening, Ethan showed Felicity a series of tricks that Baloo could do. Sit. Shake. Lie down. “Now you try.”

“Okay.”

Only after Felicity took over issuing the commands did Ethan shift his attention to Keely. Oh boy. She blamed the stutter in her pulse on those piercing blue eyes. When Ethan zeroed in on a woman, she knew it, all the way down to her toes.

He’d changed clothes since this morning. The five o’clock shadow provided a dangerous, appealing edge. He wore a different T-shirt, but the slogan was similar to last night’s: Here I Am. What Are Your Other Two Wishes?

The man really was annoying. Snorting in exasperation, she lifted her head, found herself caught once again in his gaze. She really wished he’d quit staring at her with...those eyes.

“Hey,” he said with a knowing smirk.

Unable to speak, she hummed out a quick response.

His smile turned into a muffled chuckle. The slightly condescending sound increased her unease. Then came the familiar frustration. Antagonism was one step away. But giving in to the emotion would be childish.

“I, uh...” Keely grabbed the remaining scraps of her dignity. “I wasn’t expecting you to stop over again tonight.”

“Came to check on my patient.” He broke eye contact—finally—and focused on Felicity.

The little girl was running Baloo through his repertoire of tricks a second time around.

“How you feeling this evening, Flicka?”

“Huh?” Hand wrapped around Baloo’s outstretched paw, the little girl looked up. “Oh... I’m good. I didn’t have to go to school, so Keely and I spent all day baking cookies and making care packages for the Youth Center’s Christmas party.”

“Sounds like fun.”

“It was super fun. In a few days I have to meet Keely’s best friend, Olivia, and her daughters, Megan and Molly.” The child’s eyebrows pulled together in a worried frown. “They’re my age and Keely says they can’t wait to meet me.”

“If Keely said that, then it’s true.”

“I guess so.” She heaved a sigh, the little-girl worry evident in the sound. “Hey, can I take Baloo into the other room and see if he’ll play tug-of-war with a sock?”

Though innocently asked, the question brought a complete change over Ethan. His smile dropped, his shoulders tensed, his gaze went distant. It was as if he’d been transported to another place, at least in his mind, somewhere not altogether pleasant.

He cleared his throat, twice. “It’s one of his favorite games, especially with little girls on the other end of the sock.”

As the two hurried off, an awkward silence fell over the kitchen. Keely couldn’t understand why Ethan’s entire demeanor had changed simply because Felicity wanted to play tug-of-war with Baloo. She remembered a similar change in him last night.

In the days leading up to their broken engagement, Cutter had looked much like Ethan now. The memory made her doubly wary of the man standing in her house.

Nevertheless, she couldn’t stop herself from worrying about Ethan. He needs me. The thought surprised her. Ethan Scott was the most capable man she knew. And the most annoying.

And yet...

She placed her fingertips on his arm. “Are you all right?”

Shrugging away from her touch, he blinked slowly, squared his shoulders and drew in a long breath. Once again he was Mr. Cool, Calm and Casual.

“Something smells good.”

Now that they were back to polite small talk, a surge of complicated emotions spread through her. The sense of relief was easy enough to understand. The agitation, not nearly so much.

“I made chicken à l’Orange and baked sweet potatoes. And a healthy salad.” Don’t ask him to stay for dinner. Do. Not. Ask. “You’re welcome to eat with Felicity and me. There’s plenty.”

He looked about to turn down her offer. But suddenly, inexplicably, Keely very much wanted him to stay.

“Consider it payment for not teasing me over how I overreacted last night.”

“You didn’t overreact.”

She frowned. “I thought Felicity had appendicitis.”

“Given her symptoms, it was a logical concern.”

For the second time in so many days, Keely stared at Ethan as if he were a stranger. In many ways, he was. She felt as if they were meeting for the first time. She decided to pretend the change in their relationship didn’t matter. But it did.

And that scared her far more than she was willing to admit. The man had too many secrets, none of which he seemed willing to share with her. Been there, done that, have the remnants of a broken heart to prove it.

“While we’re on the subject of Flicka.” He pointed a finger at Keely. “I noticed you didn’t make the appointment yet.”

She blinked at him in shock. Ethan was arrogant, and the big, bad, frustrating bane of her existence, but he wasn’t a micromanager. His office staff handled scheduling. “How can you possibly know whether or not I made an appointment for her?”

“I checked.”

Of course he did.

“It’s important, Keely. Flicka needs a primary care physician. Make the appointment.”

“Felicity really took to Baloo tonight. What do you think? Should I get her a dog for Christmas? Would it help ease the transition for her?”

“Changing the subject, are we?”

“You better believe it.”

He laughed. Despite her irritation at his bossy manner, the deep rumble made her smile in return.

Knowing he was right, again, Keely stopped resisting. “I’ll make the appointment tomorrow.”

“I’m going to hold you to it.”

As if she didn’t know that. “You never answered my question. Are you staying for dinner?”

His hesitation returned. But this time it lasted only a few heartbeats. “Yeah, I guess I am.”

He looked mildly surprised by his acceptance.

That made two of them.

Felicity’s laughter rang out. Keely’s throat constricted at the happy sound, so different from the groans of pain last night. In that moment, Keely knew she was in over her head. How was she supposed to parent a child she barely knew?

All the fears she’d held at bay since she’d begun taking over legal guardianship shot to the surface. A gasp of utter panic leaked out of her.

Misinterpreting the sound, Ethan’s gaze narrowed over her face. “I don’t have to stay for dinner. You can take back the invitation and I won’t hold it against you.”

“It’s not that.”

Concern etched across her face. “Then what?”

“I... Oh, Ethan, I want to take good care of Felicity, but what do I know about kids? I spent the last decade working in a world of fashion models.”

“Keely, listen to me.” The epitome of calm confidence, Ethan took hold of her shoulders and gently turned her to face him. “You’re doing a great job so far.”

Instead of calming her fears, his unexpected words of praise had the opposite effect. “What if I fail her?”

Hands still on her shoulders, he tweaked her nose in a big brother sort of way. “You’re exhausted from last night. Once you get some sleep, everything will look better in the morning.”

“You’re probably right.”

“Of course I’m right. I’m always right.”

The arrogant comment did what no kind words could have done. She bristled. Prepared for a fight, she snapped her gaze to his, felt her anger melt at his compassionate smile.

That look had her abandoning her pride and admitting, “I’m really scared.”

“It’s okay to feel scared. It means you care.”

Two nights in a row the man had shown her unspeakable kindness. Defeat settled on her shoulders. Because if history had taught Keely anything, it had taught her that a truce between her and Ethan never lasted.

Chapter Four

Now that the emotion of the moment was over, Keely told herself to step back, take a breath, and put some distance between her and Ethan. Things were changing between them, their relationship morphing into something different.

Step. Back.

Instead of heeding the internal warning, she held her ground, drawing strength from the man’s solid presence.

She should probably feel embarrassed for admitting her fears to him, knowing he could use them against her one day. Though he’d never been that small and petty. Argumentative, yes, but never unkind. And so she stayed rooted in the moment.

It felt good, she silently admitted, allowing Ethan’s confidence in her abilities to chase away her worry. A sob of gratitude slipped past her lips.

He tugged her into a friendly hug. “That’s it. Let it out, sweetheart.”

Sweetheart. The endearment spread warmth through her chilled limbs.

“Flicka seems to adore you. That’s half the battle in these types of situations.”

Drawing on his assurance, Keely stepped out of his embrace. To her horror, a rogue tear escaped. Tenderly, almost affectionately, he wiped her wet cheek with the pad of his thumb.

She could hardly stand his casual show of kindness. Any moment she was going to break down in sobs.

Taking another step back, she searched for another topic. Think, Keely, think. “I’m determined to make this Christmas special for Felicity. I plan to pull out all the stops, whatever it takes to make her feel comfortable in her new home.”

“Tell me what I can do to help.”

His immediate offer of assistance didn’t mesh with the Ethan Scott she knew, the man who’d turned avoiding her into an art form. So much had changed in two short days.

As she stared into Ethan’s blue eyes, she saw the secrets he kept inside him, remembered the way he kept everyone but his closest family and friends at arm’s length.

A timely reminder. Never again would she weave dreams around a man who couldn’t be completely open with her. And now that Felicity was in her life, she had to think of her, as well.

Bottom line, falling for Ethan Scott was far too risky. Even a friendship between them carried complexities she didn’t want to explore.

And yet she found herself asking, “You truly want to help me give Felicity a memorable Christmas?”

“Isn’t that what I just said?” He sounded more than a little insulted.

And they were back to familiar territory, just as she’d feared their tenuous truce a thing of the past. “Somehow I can’t see you trimming a tree, stringing popcorn or pinning up stockings to the mantel.”

Instead of his rising to her provocation, a look of sorrow came and went in his eyes. It was the same expression she’d seen right before he stepped into Felicity’s room last night. Had he lost someone he cared about, someone he’d done all those things with in the past?

“I was thinking of something more manly,” he said, not quite smiling. “You know, like hanging your outdoor lights.”

Her twin brother usually did that, but with the Slippery Slope’s extended hours during the holidays, Beau’s free time was limited. “That would be lovely, Ethan. Thank you for offering.”

She’d text Beau the good news later tonight.

“No problem, happy to do it.”

As they stared at each other, something quite wonderful passed between them. Keely opened her mouth to say something, but Ethan spoke first. “How does Sunday sound?”

She blinked, trying to picture him on a ladder, hanging Christmas lights. The image was entirely too homey for her peace of mind.

This had to stop, this thinking of Ethan Scott as anything other than a distant acquaintance. Thankfully, she remembered she’d invited him to dinner, which was only half done. “I’ll finish up in here while you go see if Felicity and Baloo need anything.”

Ethan’s features softened into what might be considered affection, with a twinge of amusement around the edges. Somehow, after she’d spilled her guts only moments before, that look was far worse than a sneer.

And then he smiled. “Trying to get rid of me, O’Toole?”

No. Yes. “Maybe.”

He laughed, a deep, masculine rumble in his chest.

Something actually fluttered in her stomach, and her knees threatened to give out. She frowned at her reaction.

“Right,” he said, still laughing. “Off I go.”

Keely grimaced after his retreating back, trying feverishly to isolate the exact moment when things had changed between her and Ethan. Long before Felicity had moved into her house.

Forcing her breathing to calm, she gathered all the ingredients for making a salad. She’d just retrieved her favorite wooden bowl when her cell phone rang.

A quick check of the screen had her wondering why the newly elected mayor of Village Green was calling her. She put the phone up to her ear. “This is Keely O’Toole.”

“Keely. Hardy Bennett here. I’m glad I caught you.”

Her frown deepened at the overly friendly note in his voice. The man was usually all business when they spoke, which was often, since she was the coordinator of Village Green’s annual Christmas parade. “Hardy, what can I do for you?”

“It’s what I can do for you.” He laughed at his own joke. “During our previous conversation you hinted that your committee was short on staff.”

“Well, yes, we could use at least one more member.”

Two would be better, but with the parade only three weeks away, Keely didn’t hold out much hope for finding volunteers at this late date. Hardy, proving why he’d won the mayoral election in a landslide, offered up a solution to her dilemma.

“I have an updated list of potential volunteers. I’m shooting an email with the names to you...” She heard the click of computer keys. “Now. Once you’ve reviewed the list, let me know who you’d like to fill the open position.”

He spoke as if it was as simple as picking a name off the list and putting the person in place. “I’ll take a look and get back to you in the morning.”

“Good enough.” Hardy ended the call.

Keely opened the email app on her smartphone and absently thumbed through the potential candidates for the hole in her committee. She’d barely begun when a familiar name popped out at her. She snorted. “Yeah, right.”

She moved on. Backed up. Stopped. Considered. Not him, Keely.

No, she decided, definitely not him.

She scrolled to the end of the list. Then looked again, drawn once more to the third name from the top.

The sound of purposeful footsteps had her jumping in surprise. She bobbled the phone from one hand to the other, then lost her grip entirely.

With catlike reflexes, Ethan reached out and caught the phone before it hit the floor. He started to hand it over but then glanced at the screen and froze.

“What is my name doing in an email from—” he scrolled to the top of the page “—our illustrious mayor?”

“Apparently, Hardy is under the impression that you’re interested in getting involved in the community.”

“Well, yeah, I sent him an email just this morning asking him to plug me in somewhere.” Confusion dug across his forehead. “But why is he forwarding my name, and these others, to you?”

“Because I happen to have the perfect volunteer opportunity for your particular skill set.”

He shot her a wary glance. “What sort of opportunity?”

“Village Green’s annual Christmas parade needs you.”

Silence met her words.

“The committee is short at least two members.”

More silence.

Keely searched his face, but the man was good at hiding his emotions when he wanted to be. At least he hadn’t said no. Yet. She gave him her sweetest smile. “Don’t you want to give back to your community? Wasn’t that the point of your email to Hardy?”

“How much time are we talking about?”

“Just over three weeks.”

“Uh-huh.” His gaze neutral, he passed the phone back to her. “What would I be doing on this committee, precisely?”

“That would be up to the parade coordinator to decide.”

“Who’s the coordinator?”

She beamed at him. “Me.”

His eyes widened. “So I’d be putting my life in your hands for the next three weeks?”

“A bit of an exaggeration but yes, in a manner of speaking that’s precisely what you’d be doing.”

He leveled her with a dark look, no doubt meant to intimidate her. The gesture had the opposite effect.

Keely would probably wonder over her nerve for years to come, but in that moment, she couldn’t help herself. She moved in close, lifted herself onto her toes and pressed her lips to his ear. “Afraid?”

“Not even a little,” he clipped out, sounding as though he was forcing the word past jagged glass.

She’d clearly hit a nerve, which had been her goal. Gloating would be in poor taste. So she stepped back and, deciding to soften her approach, explained that much of the work was already done. “We’re just finalizing details at this point.”

He appeared to consider her request. That was when Keely knew she had him.

This is crazy, she told herself. She needed to spend less time with Ethan, not more. It wasn’t too late to let him off the hook, to let them both off the hook.

Instead she found herself nudging him along. “So, I can count on you?”

He nodded.

Giving him no time to change his mind, she shot out her hand. “Welcome aboard, Dr. Scott. Our first meeting is Wednesday night, seven o’clock sharp.”

* * *

The following afternoon, Ethan took a break between patients and escaped into his office with the idea of reducing the never-ending stack of unanswered phone messages.

He’d barely read through the first one when his mind wandered back to a single moment from last night. In Keely’s kitchen, when she’d asked him to stay for dinner. He hadn’t planned on accepting. He still wasn’t sure why he’d agreed to stick around.

One moment he was introducing Baloo to Flicka. The next, he’d been transported to another time, another home, another life. Every instinct had urged him to grab his dog and bolt, before the memories became unbearable.

And yet he’d accepted her invitation.

Things had gone downhill from there.

Now he was committed to working on the town’s annual Christmas parade, in a position that would require him to take orders from Keely. Part of him couldn’t imagine a worst-case scenario. Another part actually looked forward to watching the woman in action. Something about Keely intrigued him.

She ran her restaurant with efficiency and poise. Whenever a problem arose, she simply dug in and did what was needed. He was becoming more comfortable around her, thinking of her in familiar terms. Not quite friends, nothing so simple.

Then there was Flicka. She was a sweet kid, yet full of a silent, underlying despair that made him want to erase her pain.

A portion of the ice around his heart chipped away, leaving him feeling raw and vulnerable, missing the family that had been ripped away from him.

He spun his chair around and took in the view of his hometown. Village Green was all dressed up for the holidays, a virtual winter wonderland straight off the front of a Christmas card. Along shoveled walkways, storefronts were decorated with garland and twinkling lights.

The festive decorations did nothing to ease Ethan’s gloominess. This would be his second Christmas without Tracy and Samantha. Still wallowing in grief from their sudden deaths, he’d found last Christmas lonely and depressing.

Admittedly, Ethan wasn’t as sad this year. Yet he wasn’t at peace, either. He couldn’t shake the notion that he was at a crossroads in his life. The sensation had been growing over the past few months.

A rustling sound from the doorway had him spinning back around. His medical partner Connor hovered on the threshold of his office, his attention engrossed on the tablet in his hand.

“Got a minute to discuss a patient?”

Ethan checked the watch he’d worn in the military and continued to wear as a symbol of where he’d been and how the past had shaped the man he’d become. “Sure.”

His next patient wasn’t due for twenty minutes.

“I’ll keep it brief.” Connor stepped fully into the office, then shut the door behind him.

Ethan felt his jaw tighten. He recognized that look on the other man’s face. He’d seen it often enough during their long-standing friendship to know whatever Connor had to say, Ethan wasn’t going to like it.

He made his way around the desk. Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he leaned back on his heels and waited.

Connor dropped his gaze back to the tablet. Ethan studied his partner’s bent head as he punched at the screen. They’d been friends longer than Ethan could remember. They’d played on the same sports teams and run in the same crowd.

But while Ethan had alternated between keeping his siblings out of trouble, working two jobs and earning his college degree before joining the military, Connor had taken the traditional route of college, medical school and marriage to his childhood sweetheart. Sheila’s death had hit Connor hard, leaving him to raise his twin daughters on his own, until he’d found happiness a second time around with Ethan’s sister, Olivia.

Throughout the years, even with time and distance between them, Connor and Ethan’s friendship had remained strong.

When Connor became a widower, Ethan had been there for him. After Tracy’s accident, Connor had given Ethan a reason to come home, by selling him half of his already thriving medical practice.

At last, the other doctor lifted his head. “I saw a new patient this afternoon. Felicity O’Toole.”

Ethan’s heart thumped extra hard as two simultaneous emotions moved through him. Relief that Keely had brought Flicka into the office. And insult that she’d made the appointment with Connor and not him.

With Connor being the father of twin daughters Flicka’s age, it made sense Keely would want him to be the child’s primary care physician. Nevertheless, if Ethan had any doubt as to whether the woman still held the past against him, he now knew she did.

He was suddenly regretting his agreement to work on the parade with her. If she wanted to, she could make his life difficult, or at least uncomfortable. Except Keely was never spiteful and he’d given his word.

Surely the next three weeks wouldn’t be too terrible.

“Keely specifically requested that I let you know she’d followed through her with her promise.” Connor shifted his stance, angled his head at a curious tilt. “Want to tell me what that means?”

Ethan gave his partner a brief explanation of Sunday night’s events, then finished with “I insisted she bring the child to the office for a complete exam.”

“All of which she told me. And yet she made the appointment with me instead of you?” Connor’s eyes filled with bafflement. “Why do you think she did that?”

“No idea.” Hearing his own heartbeat pounding in his ears, Ethan drew in a tight, audible breath. “Maybe you should have asked Keely.”

“I did. She got all nervous and tongue-tied. What is it with you two? One would think...”

He fell silent.

“One would think what? Spit it out, Connor.”

The other man waved away the question. “Not relevant to the conversation.”

Since dropping the subject worked for Ethan, he refocused on the practice’s newest patient. “Did you discover anything in Flicka’s medical history I should know about, in case I have to make another house call?”

Connor’s eyebrows pulled together. “Who’s Flicka?”

A smile tugged at Ethan’s lips. So the kid only wanted him to call her by the nickname. But the warmth that spread through him immediately turned to ice. Only heartache resulted when a guy got too close to a woman with a sweet kid. “I meant Felicity.”

“She likes to be called Flicka?”

“Yeah, she does.” At least by Ethan.

“I’ll make a note of that.” Connor typed in the change. “You can read her chart later, but basically the child is healthy and up to date on all her shots.”

Good. That was good.

“She’s also extremely fond of you. Throughout the exam, it was Dr. Ethan this and Dr. Ethan that, with a little Baloo thrown in to mix things up.”

Ethan chuckled.

“Given everything she’s been through,” Connor continued, “I suggested Keely create an environment of consistency and—”

“Hold up.” Ethan lifted a hand in the air to stop Connor. “What situation are you talking about?”

“Keely didn’t tell you about the girl’s mother?”

“She did not.”

And Ethan hadn’t asked. Why hadn’t he asked? Because he hadn’t wanted to get too close, or overly involved with the child and her pretty guardian.

No better way to keep things on the surface than by not asking too many personal questions.

“Felicity’s mother is Keely’s first cousin.” Connor went thoughtful again, but only for a moment. “She’s in prison serving a twelve-year sentence for embezzlement.”

The words echoed in Ethan’s head.

Prison. Embezzlement. Not what he’d expected. Even if Flicka’s mother served a third of her sentence, and was released on good behavior, she would miss out on a lot of her daughter’s life, possibly even the important preteen years.

No wonder Keely was concerned about her role in the child’s life. Ethan’s estimation of his neighbor went up five notches. Dangerous ground, since he was perfectly happy keeping the woman at a distance.

“It’s been a hard year on the girl. Village Green Elementary will be her third school in as many months.”

“That explains the stomachache Sunday night.”

Connor nodded. “That would be my diagnosis.”

They briefly discussed the rest of the child’s medical history. Prior to Sunday night she’d had the usual childhood illnesses, nothing out of the ordinary.

Even though Ethan had access to Flicka’s chart, he appreciated Connor giving him the information firsthand. “Thanks for the update.”

Connor swung open the door. “No problem.”

In the hallway, Ethan fell into step beside his partner. His head was still full of Keely and her little cousin. Now that he understood the situation more clearly, he felt a driving need to make things right between him and his neighbor.

Keely had a challenging road ahead. She would need a friend. Why not Ethan? He could think of a thousand reasons why not. Most of which kept him from making the trek across their backyards later that night.

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