Sanctuary Cove

“Was,” Josh said, correcting her again. “He’s retired. He was a neurosurgeon. One of the best in his field. He was the head of neuroscience at the Westchester Medical Center up until his retirement a few years ago.”

“Impressive. And your mother? What did she do?”

“She studied to be a nurse. That’s how they met, though she had a short-lived career. She stayed home with us—me, my brother and sister—when we were young. The plan was she would work again when we were all in school. By the time Angie, the youngest of us, made it to that stage, my mother was heavily involved in charitable work and decided to keep with that rather than go back into nursing. She’d been away from it too long anyway. She ran a number of charities before my father retired.”

Emma was intrigued. “Where are your parents now?”

Josh rose to retrieve the coffeepot and topped up their mugs. “Right now, Europe. In the summers they travel a lot. The winters they tend to spend in Palm Beach.”

“Quite the lifestyle.”

“It is, but they’ve earned it. My dad worked hard during his career. It’s great they’re able to enjoy themselves now.”

“How often do you see them?”

“Not nearly enough,” Josh said with a wistful smile.

His obvious closeness to his family touched Emma. She took a bite of her muffin and washed it down with coffee.

“What about you?”

Emma glanced up at Josh. “What about me?”

“Your parents. Where are they?”

“Oh...” The pain of loss could still overwhelm her all these years later. “They passed away when I was still in college.”

He rested his hand on top of hers. “I’m sorry,” he said softly. “So young. Do you mind me asking how?”

“My father had been ill for a while. A heart condition. Unable to keep working, his life became centered on my mother. When she died unexpectedly, I—I think he just gave up.”

“I’m sorry,” he repeated. “Do you have siblings?”

She shook her head. “My parents—”

The sudden barking outside caused Emma to jerk around, and she accidentally knocked over her coffee mug. Thankfully, it didn’t break, but coffee spilled and dripped down to the floor. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” she said, quickly righting the mug. “I’ll clean it up...as soon as we make sure everything is okay outside.”

“The dogs are fine. They’re playing.”

Despite Josh’s assurance, she rushed to the window. Relieved that nothing was amiss, Emma turned. Seeing Josh mopping up her spill, her nerves jumped and she rushed back. “Oh, no. Please let me do that.”

She reached for the dishtowel, but he pushed her hand away. “It’s okay. I’ve got it.” He gave her a long look. “There’s no harm done.”

“Good. I’m so—”

“Please don’t say it again,” he said, cutting her off. “You don’t have to apologize, but even if you had something to be sorry for, you’ve done it enough already.”

“I’m s—” She had almost apologized for apologizing so much, but caught herself. Instead, she chuckled awkwardly and glanced toward the window.

“You don’t have to worry about those two getting along. They’re doing fine and working out their hierarchy in a constructive way,” he said as he tossed the dishtowel in the sink.

She placed her now empty mug next to it. “Speaking of the boys, I better get them home. I appreciate the coffee.”

“Anytime.” As they reached the back door, he placed a hand lightly on her shoulder. “It wasn’t my intention to have made you sad. Before you leave, can I show you something that might lift your spirits?”

Uncertain of what it was all about, she followed him into the clinic. He pushed open the door to the recovery area and stepped aside to let her look in.

“Oh, gosh...!”

At the sound of her voice, the golden retriever lying on her side raised her head and the five tiny yellow balls of fur snuggled against her stirred with a chorus of yips and yawns. As soon as Emma squatted down, the pups scrambled to their feet and over to her. In their eagerness to get her attention, they climbed and tumbled over each other, and her, causing her to lose her balance and land on her backside. The pups wasted no time and piled into her lap.

“Aren’t you guys the cutest?” she said, lifting one pup. He wiggled and slathered her face with lavish kisses before nibbling on her nose with his sharp puppy teeth. “Ouch!” Emma exclaimed, then hugged the pup to her and laughed.

“That’s nice,” Josh commented.

“What?”

“Hearing you laugh. It’s a nice sound. You don’t do it enough.”

When she looked up at him, there was an odd light in his eyes.

“Have dinner with me, Emma. I’d like to get to know you.” His smile was warm and encouraging. “How about it? Let me take you out one night this week.”

Her mouth was suddenly dry. She wanted to say yes. She really did. But the flutter in her belly made her nervous and the word was stuck in her throat. “Umm, I...”

He arched a brow and held his hand out to help her up. When she was standing, he didn’t let go but, rather, covered their joined hands with his. “I hope the word you’re searching for is yes.”

“Some communications professional I am,” she said with a self-deprecating chuckle. “Yes,” she finally said, and found herself drowning in his honey-flecked brown eyes. “I’d like that.”

“Is Saturday good for you?”

“Sure.”

“Terrific!” He nestled the puppies back with their mother, followed Emma out and helped her load Max and Theo into her X5. He waved to her as she pulled away.

As she drove home, she admitted to herself that she was looking forward to her meal with Josh. After all, he was intelligent, charming, funny and very appealing to the eyes. What did she have to lose?

Then she thought of Richard.

Josh was not Richard, she reminded herself again, and she had to stop making comparisons. Why shouldn’t she enjoy the company of a good-looking, fascinating man who seemed to be interested in her? The possibility that he was interested in her sent a little thrill up her spine. It made her feel wanted, and she liked the sensation. Richard had hurt her and he’d shaken her self-confidence. It was nice to feel wanted again.

CHAPTER SEVEN (#u276d3288-08b9-5d3c-9d86-5b07a3deeb7c)

FOR EMMA, SATURDAY arrived in some ways much too soon and, in others, not soon enough. The day dawned clear and unseasonably warm. The trees were shrouded in their fall splendor, and the ground was carpeted in the russets and golds of the leaves they’d already shed.

Later, as she rummaged through her closet, she tried to convince herself it didn’t really matter what she wore for her dinner with Josh. Then she berated herself for not having had the foresight to bring at least some of her dressier clothes from the city so she’d have more to choose from. It couldn’t be helped, she resigned herself. She would just have to make do with what she had.

She pulled out a flowing silk dress in shades of blue on a white background and a simple gray jersey one, and took both into the bathroom. Holding first one, then the other before her in front of the mirror, she settled on the pretty, feminine silk. She had no idea where Josh was taking her, but the silk dress would be suitable for a casual setting or something a little more formal. She was certain there were no restaurants in driving distance for which it wouldn’t be appropriate.