The Doctor and the Single Mum

“It’s a wonderful gesture.”

There was a hint of surprise in his voice that Jill resented. Or maybe she just took exception to him, however unfair that was. Or it could be her reaction was more about looking for a reason to keep up a robust level of mad to squash or squeeze out the stubborn attraction to him that she couldn’t seem to shake.

Whatever her motivation, there was an edge to her voice when she said, “Friends are there for each other.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” His voice had an edge, too, and the words clearly indicated he hadn’t missed the underlying meaning in her words. There was a spark of anger in his blue eyes that had nothing to do with loss from a war halfway around the world and everything to do with conflict between the two of them. “And I’ll look forward to someone being there for me when I have more than one friend in town.”

“You actually have one now?” she asked, leaning a hip on the other side of the counter.

“As a matter of fact, I do. Cabot Dixon and I go way back to my summer camp days. His father’s ranch is where my parents sent me, and we hit it off.”

“C.J. and Tyler are good buddies,” she said.

“I wondered. Cab brought the boy in and I noticed that he’s the same age.”

“Hope it was nothing serious.”

“No.” Adam shook his head. “But because of patient privacy laws I can’t say more than that.”

“Don’t break any rules on my account.”

“Not to worry. But there is something I plan to do on your account.”

“Don’t do me any favors.”

“Actually it’s me I’m concerned about.” He picked up his ice cream again and started eating. “It seems the people here in town are all very protective of you. To win their hearts and minds I need to prove myself to you, earn your friendship. And that’s exactly what I intend to do.”

“Good luck with that.” She struggled for a flip attitude but was pretty sure it didn’t work, what with her heart pounding so hard. “I’ve built up an immunity to nice, charming men.”

“Then it’s a good thing I’m not nice or charming.” He finished the last of his sundae and dropped the cup and spoon in the trash.

Suddenly Jill realized he hadn’t paid for it. “I forgot to ring up that ice cream. Some friend I am. That’s no way to mind Maggie’s store.”

He reached into his jeans pocket and slid out some folded bills. After pulling one from the wad, he put it on the counter and said, “Keep the change.” Then he met her gaze and said, “Jill?”

She couldn’t look away even if she wanted to. “What?”

“I’m really not the devil.”

She’d have to take his word on that because right now she was pretty sure he was. He tempted her just by walking in and breathing the same air. Technically he lived right above her and probably they were trading oxygen and carbon monoxide all night long. That could do a number on her if she thought about it too long.

So she wouldn’t think about it, and no way was friendship a possibility. Men and women couldn’t be friends. More often than not, it went bad. She didn’t need any more bad in her life than she’d already had.

Chapter Three

It was Saturday and Adam didn’t know what to do with his first real weekend off since moving to Blackwater Lake. He wandered around the apartment that grew on him more every day. The boxes were gone, stuff was put away and pictures were hung. They weren’t as soul-stunning as Jill’s, but he planned to take his own photos and get some shots that were wall-worthy.

His computer was hooked up and on the desk in the second bedroom he was using as a home office. Medical books and a few fiction paperbacks were stacked on the floor, and he could use some bookcases. A trip to the antiques and furniture stores in town could fill some time today.

Then he looked out the living room window with a view of the lake. There was a small wooden building nearby with a sign that read Blackwater Lake Marina and Bait Shop. It was about time he explored his new hometown, starting with what was right in his own backyard.

He grabbed his keys, locked the front door, then jogged down the stairs to the covered porch. Beside Jill’s door sat a pair of C.J.-sized muddy sneakers and a small baseball mitt. Just a guess but both probably belonged to the little guy who lived downstairs. Thoughts of the redheaded rascal made him smile and he wondered what the kid was up to on a day off from school. Hopefully hanging out with Tyler Dixon on the ranch where a kid could be a kid. Adam wouldn’t trade his time there for anything. And what C.J. did was none of his business since his redheaded, red-hot mom had warned him off.

He walked down the path and turned right, heading for the marina store. A few minutes later he stepped onto the wooden walkway outside. A few yards from the door, the dock jutted into the lake, a small number of boats tied up on either side.

He entered the store and waited for his eyes to adjust from the bright sunshine outside. Bending over a box, Jill had her back to the door and was restocking the tall, refrigerated case with bottled water. Before she straightened he had time to look his fill and conclude that she did have one terrific tush.

And that kind of thinking was to his goal what the iceberg was to the Titanic. To win over the people of Blackwater Lake, he had to be her friend, nothing more.

“Mom?” That was C.J.’s voice.

Adam moved a step farther inside and saw the kid. Racks of souvenir T-shirts had hidden him, sitting cross-legged on the floor beside the cold case. His elbows were resting on his knees, and his small, freckled face was cradled in both hands. If he was a photo, Adam would title it Boredom.

“Mom,” he said again, louder this time.

“What, kiddo?”

“Why can’t I go outside?”

“Because you’re not allowed to play by the lake when there’s no one to watch you. That’s the rule.”

“It’s a stupid rule. I know how to swim.”

“True. But better safe than sorry,” she said.

“I’m already sorry because I can’t go outside.”

Adam smothered a laugh. This kid was priceless.

“I wanna go to Ty’s house,” he said, taking a new direction.

“We’ve been through this already. I have to mind the store, so I can’t drive you.”

“I could call Ty. I bet Mr. Dixon could come and get me, Mom.”

“He’s busy running his ranch. You shouldn’t bother him,” she said.

“When’s Brew coming back?”

“A couple of hours.”

The kid let out a big sigh. “I don’t got nothin’ to do for a couple hours.”

“I don’t have anything to do,” she corrected.

“Then you can drive me to Ty’s.”

Adam cleared his throat to cover a laugh and let them know he was standing there. “Hi.”