Prince Charming, M.D.

“This must be the former Mrs. MacAllister,” she said, wondering if she sounded as shocked as she felt It was one thing to know intellectually that someone like Trevor would marry a stunningly gorgeous woman; it was something else to see proof. Even more shocking was the realization that, if the rumors were true, he’d been the one to dissolve their marriage.

“Vanessa,” he said, turning the photo faceup and gazing at it. “I’m not sure why I’ve hung on to this.”

“Maybe to remember what you lost,” she said.

“Possibly.” He set the frame photo-side down on his desk. “Like many who’ve gone through a divorce, I have regrets.”

“Maybe you should have thought of that before you left her.”

“I did,” he said quietly. “She didn’t give me a lot of choice.”

Dana perched on the edge of the sofa. “I know this is none of my business and I have no right to ask. I probably shouldn’t even mention it.”

“But?”

She drew in a breath. “Vanessa is obviously a beautiful woman. Why on earth would you leave her? Was it so very important to run around with other women?”

He stiffened. His arms dropped to his sides and he stared at her as if he’d never seen her before. “That’s what you think.” It wasn’t a question.

“I don’t know what to think. I guess some people are different. Not wrong, just different.”

“You mean about wanting a stable, faithful marriage?” “Exacdy.”

“You see me as one of the different ones?”

“Aren’t you?”

Hazel green eyes darkened. A muscle in his jaw twitched and she realized he was angry.

A twinge of guilt rippled through her. “I’m sorry, Trevor. I told you I had no right to ask that question. It’s none of my business.”

He reached into the box and pulled out several file folders. “Too late now, Dana. You’ve expressed your opinion.

I’d hoped for better, but, hey, why would you give me the benefit of the doubt?”

“I didn’t mean it like that” She stared at the can in her hand. She wasn’t sure what to do or say. Leaving would be too much like running away. Why had she spoken with out thinking?

“You want to know why I left my wife?” he asked, his voice litde more than a growl.

She didn’t want to know anymore. She had a bad feeling she wouldn’t like what he had to say. But she’d been the one to start this line of questioning, so she had no one to blame but herself. “Why?” she asked in a small voice.

He smiled, but it was without humor or beauty, more a twisting of his perfect mouth, as if he were in pain.

“I found her with another man.”

Dana caught her breath. That was impossible.

“I see by the look on your face you’re surprised,” he continued. “I couldn’t believe it, either. That’s why I forgave her. The first time. When it happened again, I packed my bags and I left.”

“Why on earth would she cheat on you?” she blurted out without thinking.

“If that’s a compliment, thank you.” He tossed the empty box aside and sat on a corner of the desk. “I don’t have an answer for that. I was a surgical resident, so I was gone a lot When I was home, I was exhausted That’s not by way of an excuse.” He shrugged. “I tried to understand, to explain it all away. The first time, I managed. But I couldn’t do it again.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Me, too.” His eyes were flat and devoid of emotion. “The worst part of it was I didn’t miss her all that much. Hell of a thing to say. After I left Vanessa, I had the uncomfortable realization I might never have loved her at all. But I missed being married. It was hard getting used to being alone. I guess I kept her picture to remind me of what should have been rather than what was.”

Dana couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Not only that Trevor’s wife had cheated on him, but that he mourned the loss of his marriage. She wouldn’t have thought he would. Wasn’t the freedom to pursue as many women as possible his ultimate goal?

“Why’d you come back to Honeygrove?” she asked. “You’ve made a name for yourself. You could have gone anywhere.”

This time when he smiled, it was genuine. She found her lips curling up in response.

“I missed home. I wanted to be near my folks. They say L.A.’s the place, but it’s too much of a big city for me.”

She might have been more surprised if he’d broken into song and dance, but not by much. He missed his family? He wanted to live in a smaller town? Maybe aliens really did exist and they’d taken over his body. Or maybe Trevor MacAUister wasn’t who or what she’d imagined him to be.

He glanced at his watch. “I’ve kept you long enough. I really appreciate the help, Dana, but I don’t have the right to claim your entire Saturday.”

She found herself oddly reluctant to leave. She wanted time to explore this new and possibly improved man. But she rose to her feet and allowed him to guide her toward the entrance.

His fingers were warm and strong where they rested on the small of her back. As they passed the kitchen, he took the soda can from her and placed it on the counter, then he held open the front door.

“Thanks for everything,” he said.

“No problem. I was happy to help.” She gazed up at him. He was so incredibly perfect to look at. It was wrong for one man to be so very beautiful.

He leaned one shoulder against the door frame. “If I get lost at the grocery store, will you come lead me back home?”

He was flirting with her. That she could accept. It was her eagerness to respond that made her cranky. “I don’t think there will be a shortage of volunteers for that job,” she told him, trying to ignore the excitement spreading through her.

An odd light glimmered in his eyes. Something that made her think he was thinking about kissing her. She told herself she should be insulted if he imagined she was that easy to manipulate. And yet...the thought of his kiss made her lips tingle and her body hum. She remembered his kisses, the strength of him, his power, his taste, the sensation of drowning in something sweet and wonderful.

“Bye, Dana,” he said, then straightened and reached for the door.

He was going to close it behind her, without kissing her. She was both disappointed and confused.

“Bye,” she told him as she stepped off his porch and headed for her own place.

“Dana?”

She paused and turned toward him. “What?”

“Don’t believe everything you hear. The truth isn’t as exciting as people want it to be, but that doesn’t make it any less the truth.”

He shut the door before she could ask him what he meant.

She stalked toward her place, annoyed that she regretted leaving him. What was wrong with her? She couldn’t possibly want anything to do with him. But she hadn’t wanted to go and... As she paused in front of her door, she pressed her fingertips to her temples. She felt as if she’d just been on a roller-coaster ride that had left her hanging upside down for too long.