Her Sister's Secret Son

When Jessie laid the baby down in a playpen, he fussed for a minute until she gave him a rattle. “You said you found puppies along the road? I don’t know how anyone could throw them away, do you?”

“Well, no.” Now Rachel felt guilty because she didn’t want them either.

“If you’ll come with me, I’m sure the doctor will see you right away.” Jessie turned toward a closed door, knocked once, then opened it, pushing it wide.

Rachel was still struggling to explain, “I thought I could just drop them—” Stopping in midsentence, she stared at the man’s identity, frowning at his fair hair. Several days had passed and he hadn’t had it cut.

Openly familiar, Jessie teased, “Are we interrupting anything important?”

With an uneasy feeling that didn’t make sense, Rachel wondered at their relationship. Was he married to Jessie, the father of her child?

Caught in the act of aiming a dart at a gameboard on the opposite wall, he grinned. “Not at all.”

However, at the sight of Rachel, his smile fled. When his gaze wandered over her before finally leveling on her face, the corn flakes topped with strawberries and cream she’d eaten for breakfast curdled in her stomach. Conscious of her less-than-flattering attire—denim cutoffs and a blue cotton T-shirt—she tugged at the ragged edge of her shorts.

When a plump owl on a wooden perch behind the desk winked, Rachel jumped. She’d assumed it was stuffed.

“We’re repairing a broken wing,” he explained with a crooked smile. He rose and came around the desk. It was made out of oak—old, but not antique. “Hello, we meet again.” His gaze fixed on her hair.

Rachel resisted the urge to smooth it back. “You’re a vet!” She couldn’t hide her surprise. This man didn’t fit her mental image of a vet.

Folding his arms, he leaned against the corner of the desk. “It’s a legitimate way to make a living.”

“I only meant…” She glanced at his credentials on the wall, proof of his veterinary qualifications—even if they were fairly new. “It’s such a surprise.”

By now, Jessie couldn’t hide her curiosity. “I didn’t realize you knew each other.”

“We don’t,” Rachel said hastily.

He corrected her. “We’ve met.”

“I see,” Jessie said with a chuckle. “Well, while you two are deciding, Dylan can help me clean the pups and set up the examining room. Shout if you need us.”

Rachel hastily said, “Dylan can’t stay. We have to go.”

Dylan looked back. “Just a few minutes, okay?”

With a resigned sigh, Rachel agreed, fully aware of the matchmaking gleam in Jessie’s eyes. It didn’t match the annoyed gleam in his eyes when he said dryly, “My sister isn’t long on ceremony.” He held out his hand to Rachel. “I think we just got off on the wrong foot. Can we start over? I’m Jared Carlisle.”

The name suited him, both gentle and hard. Of course, he would have to be both in his line of work. But what about his personal life? Rachel placed her hand in his. She didn’t want an introduction, didn’t want to know this man who looked at her with eyes that saw a reflection of her twin sister.

On that note of caution, she murmured, “Dr. Carlisle.”

He winced at her formality. “If you insist. But I prefer Jared. And you’re Rachel.”

“Mmm.” So, he hadn’t forgotten her name. She tugged her hand free. She felt awkward, yet unable to define why.

“I need to explain about the other day.” His gray gaze confronted hers.

Preferring to forget that first disturbing meeting, she shifted under that unwavering look. “There’s no need.”

“I think there is.” His eyes clouded. Apparently intent on dredging up the past, he continued, “What I said that day was uncalled for. I didn’t know about your sister.”

Rachel took a fortifying breath. “You and Laurel were acquainted?” Obviously, they weren’t friends.

He hesitated before saying, “I hardly knew her.”

“I see,” Rachel murmured, when she didn’t see at all. Nevertheless, she accepted his condolences without further comment. Her thoughts were private, too personal to share with a stranger who obviously had his own memories of Laurel.

“Your son resembles you,” he said.

“Dylan?” she said in confusion.

He smiled a polite sort of smile that meant less than nothing. “How many children do you have?”

“None.” She had the pleasure of wiping the smile off his face. “Dylan is my nephew.”

He recovered from his surprise. “Let me get this straight. Dylan is Laurel’s son, not yours.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I thought…”

Rachel wondered why a searing glance from this man should hurt so much. “I know what you thought.” An awkward silence hung between them. He’d obviously assumed she was Drew’s mistress. She didn’t know how to stop the gossip, short of painting a sign and wearing it around her neck.

“He called you Mom.” Jared’s voice sounded almost accusing—as if he couldn’t bear to be wrong about her.

“I’ve taken care of him since the day he was born.”

“I owe you another apology.” His gaze flickered over her. He didn’t apologize, she noted.

“Apology accepted,” Rachel snapped, making a valiant effort to contain her temper. Her head was beginning to ache from the effort. “I don’t have to explain Dylan’s existence to you or anyone else.”

At the wounded tone of her voice, Jared could feel his indifference slipping. He’d insulted her, he’d infuriated her without even trying. Before the situation deteriorated further, he decided to take control.

“Jessie must be waiting,” he said, taking the upper hand. After all, he was a vet, trained to deal with emergencies—the four-legged kind. Women, he’d discovered, were an entirely different species.

Jared opened the door to the examining room and motioned Rachel inside first. She stepped past him then stopped at the sight of some caged ferrets. The antiseptic smell mixed with the odor of animals was familiar to Jared. His lips twitched when Rachel wrinkled her delicate nose.

“Don’t you like ferrets?” he asked, pointing to the playful spine-coiled creatures.

Rachel, on the other hand, had a steel spine. “Not caged ones. Are they yours?”

“We’re boarding them for the owners.” Jared smiled at her nephew. “Hi, Dylan.”

Dylan didn’t waste any more time on pleasantries. “Do you take care of sick dogs?”

Jared reached for a sterile white lab jacket. “Yes, among other things.”