One Night Before Christmas

“Good, then. Shouldn’t we be getting my luggage? I’d like to see the patient this evening.”

With it being only a week before Christmas, he must be in a hurry to return home to his family. After a moment’s hesitation she said, “I don’t know if that’ll be possible. The players may have gone home by the time we get back.”

“I didn’t come all this way to spend time in my hotel room. I have a practice in Miami to be concerned with.” That statement was punctuated with a curl of one corner of his mouth.

He had a nice one. Why was she thinking about his mouth when she should be talking to him about Rocket? The off-center feeling she had around this stranger unnerved her. She worked in primarily a man’s world all the time and never had this type of reaction to one of them.

They started walking toward the baggage area. As they did, Melanie put the sign she was still carrying in a garbage can, then pulled her phone out of her pocket. “I’ll try and get Coach. Have him ask Rocket to hang around. But football players sometimes have minds of their own.”

“I can appreciate that, Ms...?”

Melanie stopped and looked at him. He faced her, his broad shoulders blocking her view of the other people passing them.

She raised her chin. “I’m Dr. Melanie Hyde.”

A flash of wonder flickered in his eyes.

Good. She’d managed to surprise him.

“Dr. Hyde, if Mr. Overtree expects my help he’ll need to be examined as soon as possible. I have patients at home who are trying to stay out of wheelchairs.”

With that he turned and walked toward the revolving luggage rack.

Melanie gaped at him. So much for “smoothing him over.”

* * *

Dalton had little patience for silly games. Even when they were played with attractive women. He’d been astonished to find out that the team doctor was female and the person who had been sent to pick him up. Usually that job fell to a hired driver or one of the team underlings. He had to admit she was the prettiest chauffeur he’d ever had.

As far as he was concerned, he was here to do a job and nothing more. He wasn’t impressed by the game of football. The only aspect that drew him in was that he cared about helping people who were hurting. He’d been called in to examine an injured player at great expense. The money he earned, good money, from making these types of “house calls” was what he used to support his foundation. It oversaw struggling foster children with physical and mental issues, giving them extra care so they had a chance to succeed in life. He would continue to do this job as long as the teams paid him top dollar. However, he didn’t buy into all the football hype.

He knew from experience that not everyone was cut out for games. He’d left that far behind, being constantly teased for being the “brain with no game.” It had taken time and work on his part but he’d overcome his childhood. Now he was successful in his field, had friends and a good life. He had proven anyone could overcome their past. That was why he’d started the foundation. To give other kids a step in the right direction so they didn’t struggle as he had.

The tall, athletic-looking doctor came to stand beside him. She almost met him eye to eye. He liked women with long legs. Glancing down while watching the baggage conveyer as it circled in front of him, he confirmed the length of her legs. She wore a brown suit with a cream-colored blouse. There was nothing bold about her dress to make her stand out. Still, something about her pricked his interest. Her features were fine and her skin like porcelain, a complete contrast to her all-business appearance. Not of his usual fare—bleached blonde and heavy breasted—she looked more of the wholesome-girl-next-door variety. Under all that sweetness was there any fire?

He looked at the bags orbiting before him. Football was still such a man’s world, so why would a woman choose to become a football team doctor?

His black leather duffel circled to him. He leaned over and picked it up. Slinging it over his shoulder, he turned to her. “I’m ready.”

“This way, then.” She pulled on the large down-stuffed coat she’d held. As she walked, she wrapped a knit scarf effortlessly around her neck and pulled a cap over her hair. He followed her. There was a nice sway to her hips. Even in the shapeless outfit she had a natural sex appeal. He shouldn’t be having these sorts of thoughts because he wouldn’t be here long enough to act on them.

The automatic glass doors opened, allowing in a blast of freezing-cold air that took his breath and made his teeth rattle. “Hold up.” He stepped back inside.

She followed. He didn’t miss the slight twitch at the corner of her full lips. She was laughing at him. He didn’t like being laughed at.

He plopped his bag on the floor and set his shoulder bag beside it before putting on his trench coat.

“Is that the heaviest overcoat you have?” she asked.

Tying the belt at the waist, he looked directly at her. “Yes. There isn’t much call for substantial clothes in Miami.”

“I guess there isn’t. Would you like to stop and get a warmer one on our way to the practice field?”

He shook his head as he picked up his bags again. “I don’t plan to be here that long.”

Again they headed out the door, Dalton tried to act as if the wind wasn’t cutting right through his less-than-adequate clothes. Even with a shirt, sweater and coat he was miserable.

“Why don’t you wait here and I’ll circle around to get you?”

“No, I’m fine. Let’s get moving.” He bowed his head against the spit of icy rain.

Dalton had spent a lifetime of not appearing weak and he wouldn’t change now. As the smart foster kid, he hadn’t fit in at school or in the houses he’d been placed in. With a father in jail and a drug addict for a mother, he’d been in and out of homes for years. It wasn’t until his mother died of an overdose that he’d stayed in one place for any length of time. At the Richies’, life had been only marginally better before he was sent to another home.

He’d had plenty of food and clothes, but little about his life had been easy. When all the other kids were out playing, he was busy reading, escaping. The most miserable times were when he did join in a game. He was the last one chosen for the team. If finally picked, he then had to deal with the ridicule of being the worst player. He learned quickly not to show any weakness. As a medical student and now a surgeon, the honed trait served him well.

Football, freezing weather and a laughing woman, no matter how attractive she was, were not to his taste. He needed to do this consultation and get back to Florida.

* * *

Melanie couldn’t help but find humor in the situation. Dr. Reynolds’ long legs carried him at such a brisk pace, she had trouble staying in the lead enough to show him where the car was parked. He must be freezing. Niagara Falls was not only known for the falls but for the horrible winter weather. What planet did he live on that he hadn’t come prepared?

She pushed the button on her key fob, unlocking the car door as they approached so that he wouldn’t have to wait any longer than necessary outside. Minutes later she had the car started and the heat blasting on high. She glanced at her passenger. He took a great deal of space in her small car. Almost to the point of overwhelming her. Why was he affecting her so? Melanie glanced at him. Judging by the tenseness of his square jaw, he must be gritting his teeth to keep them from chattering.

“I’m sure it’ll be warm in a few minutes.”

An mmm sound of acknowledgement came from his direction as Melanie pulled out into the evening traffic on the freeway.

Her phone rang. “Please excuse me. This may be the office about Rocket.” She pushed the hands-free button. “This is Mel.”

“Rocket is on his way back.” Her father’s booming voice filled the car.

“Great. I’m sure Dr. Reynolds will be glad to hear that. We should be there in about thirty minutes.” Her father hung up and she asked her passenger, “Have you ever been to Niagara Falls?”

“No.”

“Well, the falls are a beautiful sight any time of the year, but especially now with the snow surrounding them.”

“I don’t think I’ll be here long enough to do much sightseeing.”

“It doesn’t take much to say you’ve seen the falls. They’re pretty large.”

“What I came for is to see Mr. Overtree, so I imagine I should focus on that.” Obviously he wasn’t much for small talk or the local sights. Melanie stopped making an effort at conversation and concentrated on driving in the thickening snow and slow traffic. With her heavier clothes on, she began to get too warm but didn’t want to turn down the heat for fear Dr. Reynolds needed it.

They were not far from the team camp when he said, “I don’t think I’ve ever met a female team doctor before.”

She’d long ago become used to hearing that statement. With a proud note in her voice she said, “As far as I know, I’m the only one in the NFL.”

“What made you want to be a sports doctor?”