Dr. Dad To The Rescue

Dr. Dad To The Rescue
Jodi O'Donnell

FabulousFathersHE NEEDED HER TLC….In all of Texas, there was no better doctor than Holden McKee.But faced with his son's broken arm, the lonely widower forgot to be a dad. Until Edie Turner came to his aid. With tender, loving care she helped his son heal–and made his own heart beat faster.Edie's caring ways soothed the bitterness in Holden's soul–and her gentle caresses stirred something more masculine. But Edie had secrets of her own, and the one thing Holden couldn't heal was a broken heart….Or could he?This Fabulous Father just might be the perfect husband!

“I’m not one of your patients, Edie.” (#uf68207e5-d1fd-5d6b-8711-306a693eae9e)Letter to Reader (#u9ec93e78-1119-597c-b032-ae07828b5366)Title Page (#u3b9d1a0f-3675-5172-9fac-1ef041059fcd)Dedication (#ua1580d1a-8c82-598d-8286-1681b2b7601e)ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (#u78b44770-2223-5587-84ff-1d6a423bc6a3)About the Author (#u6c7dd26c-0189-5843-9bd3-a58947c2ec1b)Prologue (#u3f6b4f3d-22db-53d3-a12d-07ba0678546f)Chapter One (#u4c8bb722-b8bd-590d-8acd-ab2cb991a9f4)Chapter Two (#u59fb0bb8-320d-5cca-a673-65ff462b78e2)Chapter Three (#u530793ed-8c3e-5b42-a14d-8ecb6a6c0b2f)Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

“I’m not one of your patients, Edie.”

Holden bit out the words. “Platitudes and encouraging pats on the back are not what I need from you.”

She shook her head, trying to clear it as she drew in a shuddering breath, which brought her breasts flush up against him.

She saw the havoc her action wreaked on his composure. On his ability to remain detached and in control, which was so blasted important to him, and not just as a physician.

Fully knowing what she was doing, she took another lung-filling breath. His gaze burned into hers.

Edie didn’t pull away. Couldn’t turn away, and not because she had promised herself she wouldn’t.

“What do you need from me, then, Holden?”

Dear Reader,

Silhouette Romance novels aren’t just for other women—the wonder of a Silhouette Romance is that it can touch your heart. And this month’s selections are guaranteed to leave you smiling!

In Suzanne McMinn’s engaging BUNDLES OF JOY title, The Billionaire and the Bassinet. a blue blood finds his hardened heart irrevocably tamed. This month’s FABULOUS FATHERS offering by Jodi O‘Donnell features an emotional, heartwarming twist you won’t soon forget; in Dr. Dad to the Rescue, a man discovers strength and the healing power of love from one very special lady. Marrying O’Malley, the renegade who’d been her childhood nemesis, seemed the perfect way for a bride-to-be to thwart an unwanted betrothal—until their unlikely alliance stirred an even more incredible passion; don’t miss this latest winner by Elizabeth August!

The Cowboy Proposes...Marriage? Get the charming lowdown as WRANGLERS & LACE continues with this sizzling story by Cathy Forsythe. Cara Colter will make you laugh and cry with A Bride Worth Waiting For, the story of the boy next door who didn’t get the girl, but who’ll stop at nothing to have her now. For readers who love powerful, dramatic stories, you won’t want to miss Paternity Lessons, Maris Soule’s uplifting FAMILY MATTERS tale.

Enjoy this month’s titles—and please drop me a line about why you keep coming back to Romance. I want to make sure we continue fulfilling your dreams!

Regards,

Mary-Theresa Hussey

Senior Editor Silhouette Romance

Please address questions and book requests to:

Silhouette Reader Service

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Dr. Dad to the Rescue

Jodi O’Donnell

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

For my soul sisters, both human and canine.

You saved my life.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

My thanks to Tammy Hermanson for her help with the ins and outs of physical therapy, and to William R. Irey, M.D., for providing me with the technical descriptions on broken arms. Any errors are entirely my own.

JODI O’DONNELL

grew up one of fourteen children in small-town Iowa. As a result, she loves to explore in her writing how family relationships influence who and why we love as we do.

A USA Today bestselling author, Jodi has also been a finalist for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award and is a past winner of RWA’s Golden Heart Award She lives in Iowa with her two dogs, Rio and Leia.

Dear Sam,

We haven’t been communicating too well lately, have we, son? So I thought maybe a letter would help me get out some things I don’t seem able to say. The fact is, I’m at a loss as to what to do, and it isn’t a feeling I’m used to.

I know it’s been a rough year since your mother died. Rough for us both. And what with being so busy moving us to Dallas and getting established here as an ER doctor, I haven’t always been there for you. I don’t have much of an excuse for that, except to say I’m doing my best. You see, I lost both my parents when I wasn’t much older than you are now. Lost them—and my best friend in the whole world, Elsa Dog.

I know you miss your mother, Sam. Believe me when I say I’d give anything to bring her back. But I can’t, so we’ll have to go on without her. We still have each other, you know, even if it seems to me you could use a friend.

Maybe we both could use a friend. Someone faithful and loyal and true. Someone whose love and devotion would help you heal and believe in the future again. Someone like E.D. was to me. But I also need something—someone—more. And it would take a miracle....

Love, Dad

Prologue

Rural East Texas, twenty-four years ago

Pale legs flashed between breaks in the brush as the boy raced headlong through the pine woods. His jagged breathing was the only sound in the early-evening silence.

Matching her gait to his, as she did everything, the golden retriever loped alongside him, worry in the brown-eyed glances she cast up at him.

Lungs bursting and heart about to, Holden McKee collapsed on the cushioned ground, soaked from days of April rains. Even now the downpour started again, drops pattering down between the thick canopy of evergreen boughs.

Holden didn’t care that the damp seeped into the seat of his cutoffs as he sucked in air and the scent of loamy earth, pine resin and silty river water.

He swallowed, trying as he’d been trying for weeks not to break down. He was ten years old. Too big to blubber like a baby.

But his mother was dying!

The retriever’s tongue swiped at his cheek, taking away raindrops and the few tears that escaped from Holden, despite his efforts.

“Cut it out, E.D.,” he scolded not very strongly, fending off the dog’s advances. He gave the retriever a smile to show he didn’t mean it. Her chestnut eyes showed sympathy. She cleaned another swatch of his cheek, and he was comforted, as always, by her loyalty. Sometimes it seemed she was the only one who understood him.

He didn’t know what he’d do without her.

Holden buried his face in the dog’s neck. “Oh, Elsa Dog.”