Healing Dr. Fortune

by Judy Duarte

  Jeremy didn’t want to let her go without having some way of getting in touch with her, so he reached into the pocket of his lab coat and pulled out one of his cards. Then he took the pen he kept handy, jotted his cell number on the back and handed it to her. “If you need anything, give me a call. Like I told you before, I’m not a pediatrician, but I’ll try to answer any questions you or your brother might have.”

  She took the card, then blessed him with a smile. The light in her eyes and a single dimple in her cheeks just about turned his stubborn heart on edge. “Thank you, Dr. Fortune. I really appreciate this. I’ll try not to bother you, though.”

  “You won’t. And call me Jeremy.”

  Her hand lifted to the silver necklace she wore, and she fingered the delicate heart charm that lay against the soft cotton fabric of her light blue T-shirt. Her head cocked slightly to the side, as if she was considering whatever might be brewing between them.

  Of course, there wasn’t anything going on between them. At least, not yet.

  “So you’re not married?” he asked.

  “No, I’m not.”

  A grin tugged at his own lips. He realized that now wasn’t the time to ask her out, but he wondered if her thoughts were drifting in that direction, too.

  The attraction seemed to be mutual, although his interest in her had been heightened by that crazy dream he’d had. And while his rational nature knew there hadn’t been anything prophetic about it, he didn’t want to let her slip away again without at least having a deeper conversation with her.

  If he had her number, he’d give her a follow-up phone call tomorrow. Then he might even ask her to dinner. But he didn’t have her number and wouldn’t go as far as to ask for it.

  If there’d been anything to his dream, if his attraction to her was due to something bigger than either of them, then she would have to call him.

  And he’d just have to wait and see if she did.

  Chapter Three

  While Max ran into the pharmacy to pick up some vitamins and a special diaper rash ointment Dr. Kragen had recommended, Kirsten waited in the car with the sleeping baby secured in his seat in the back.

  She’d been relieved to hear that Anthony was healthy and thriving. And now that her worries had been somewhat stilled, she couldn’t help thinking about the kindness of Dr. Fortune—or rather, Jeremy. He seemed to have taken a special interest in her, although she couldn’t say how or why she’d come to that conclusion.

  It was in the way he looked at her, she supposed. The way their gazes seemed to connect and the hormones and pheromones that seemed to spark whenever he was near.

  She reached into her purse and pulled out his business card. She’d been a little surprised that he’d given it to her—and pleased that he had.

  But how many doctors actually gave out their personal phone numbers? Not many, she suspected.

  She turned the card over and looked on the back, where the numbers were written in bold strokes—clear and legible, unlike the proverbial doctor’s scrawl she would have expected to see.

  He’d given her permission to call him, but would she?

  Should she?

  Maybe she could use the results of their visit with Dr.

  Kragen as an excuse to call him now. At least, he would then have a record of her number.

  She hesitated only a moment before taking her cell phone from her purse and dialing the number he’d given her.

  Jeremy answered on the third ring. “Hello?”

  Her words jammed in her throat as she contemplated hanging up before indentifying herself. But she felt compelled to finish what she’d started. “Dr. Fortune? This is Kirsten Allen. I just wanted to let you know that Dr.

  Kragen told us Anthony looks good and appears to be healthy.”

  “I’m glad to hear that.”

  “I’d worried about not having any of Anthony’s medical records, but Dr. Kragen ordered a blood test to check to see if he’s had any of his immunizations yet. So that’s one less thing for me to stress about.”

  “Jim’s one of the top pediatricians in the county, so you were in good hands. He has a private practice, but he works one day a month at the clinic.”

  Kirsten bit down on her lip as she contemplated a response. She wasn’t ready to end the call, although they really had nothing else to talk about.

  “Well,” she said, “I just wanted to thank you again for being so nice to me…to us.”

  “It was my pleasure, Kirsten.”

  As silence stretched across the line, she suddenly wondered if she’d been wrong to think that he was interested in her in any way other than that of a kindhearted professional.

  “Well…”

  “Would you like to have dinner some night?” he asked, throwing her a curve.

  Her heart dropped like dead weight, then rumbled back to life. “That sounds like fun.”

  Fun? She rolled her eyes. Why hadn’t she given him a more sophisticated answer, one more grown-up and better suited to a doctor’s dinner date?

  “How about tomorrow night?” he asked.

  So soon?

  Goodness. Where would they go? What would she wear? Yet in spite of the questions and the fly-by-night insecurities that pelted her, she found herself saying, “Sure.”

  “I’m looking forward to it,” he said.

  So was she, even if a swarm of butterflies had settled in her stomach.

  After he asked for her address and she gave it to him, he said, “I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

  When the call ended, she sat dumbfounded for a while, the cell phone still in her hand.

  Had she just imagined that conversation? Had the handsome doctor just asked her out to dinner? Would she have the right clothes to wear? Would she say the correct things?

  Of course she would. She was a college graduate, for Pete’s sake—an accountant. Okay, so she was unemployed at the moment. But that was only temporary. She had the skills and the résumé to land another job soon.

  A knock sounded at the passenger window, and she turned to see Max waiting to get into the car. So she hit the unlock button and slid the cell phone back into her purse.

  “Who were you talking to?” he asked, as he climbed in. “Dr. Fortune. He asked me out to dinner tomorrow night, and I told him yes. Do you think you’ll be okay by yourself with Anthony?”

  Max chuffed. “I don’t believe this.”

  “Believe what?”

  “You brought Anthony to the clinic yesterday so you could hook up with a doctor? How long has that been going on?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Your crush on Dr. Fortune.”

  “You’re imagining things. I don’t have a crush on him.”

  “Then what’s going on?”

  She had no idea. She found Jeremy Fortune attractive and the thought of dating him exciting. And for some wild reason, he seemed to find her attractive, too.

  “It’s no big deal,” she told her brother. “Like I said, I met him in the parking lot yesterday. We’ve talked briefly a couple of times, and he asked me out.”

  “A doctor seems to be a cut above your usual boyfriend. Don’t you think a guy like that is out of your league?” Jeremy Fortune might be, but that didn’t keep Kirsten from smiling—or from dreaming about being with him.

  It was all very Cinderella-ish, she supposed. And even if she didn’t have stepsisters to tell her that she wasn’t princess material, she didn’t need them to. Between her own doubts and Max’s, she was already having second thoughts about her date with the handsome doctor.

  But she shook off a few lingering insecurities, as well as any possible shortcomings she might have, and looked forward to tomorrow night.

  Jeremy pulled up along the curb of an older, two-story home in a quiet Red Rock neighborhood. It wasn’t anything like the yard or porch he’d seen in his dream, but then why would it be?

  The house in his dream had only been a random nocturnal image, he
reminded himself. It didn’t mean anything.

  Sure, when he’d spotted Kirsten in the parking lot of the clinic, he’d thought she bore a slight resemblance to the woman he’d envisioned, but that was just a coincidence. He would have found her attractive anyway. The similarity had only opened his eyes and allowed him to escape his troubles for the time being.

  After parking his car, he made his way to the front door and rang the bell.

  Max answered, a scowl plastered to his face. He invited Jeremy in, but he didn’t crack a smile.

  “How’s it going?” Jeremy asked.

  “Okay.” Max closed the door. “My sister will be out in a minute. Have a seat.”

  Jeremy scanned the tidy room, noting the simple furnishings that had been carefully placed around the room: a beige sofa adorned with brightly colored decorator pillows, a wrought-iron floor lamp with a matching shade, dark wood furniture.

  Red candles and a few photographs were displayed on the mantel over a brick fireplace.

  The living room had a cozy, welcoming feel about it, and he could tell Kirsten took pride in her home.

  Max sat in a recliner, his eyes glued to the television, watching a college basketball game. A portable travel crib rested beside him, where Anthony lay on his back, kicking his feet and watching a dinosaur mobile.

  “Who’s playing?” Jeremy asked, taking one last stab at being friendly.

  Max was so focused on the game that it took him a moment to respond. “Oklahoma State at Texas A&M.”

  “What’s the score?”

  “The Aggies are up by five.”

  Silence again.

  Jeremy decided to let it go. He was just about to take a seat when Kirsten entered the living room wearing a simple black dress and heels. Her hair had been swept up into a twist, revealing that small pair of diamond studs.

  She wore only the slightest bit of makeup: mascara to highlight those pretty blue eyes, a pink shade of lipstick to accentuate a natural pout.

  He’d known she was attractive in denim and T-shirts. But the transformation from casual tomboy to classy dinner date was jaw-dropping.

  “You look great,” he said.

  Her cheeks flushed when she smiled. “Thank you.”

  Max lifted the remote toward the television and turned down the volume. Then he stood, crossed his arms and shifted his weight to one hip. “So where are you guys going?”

  Jeremy hadn’t suffered through a date-night interrogation since he’d been a teenager going to his last high school prom. And it prickled him to have to go through it now, especially from a man who was probably more than ten years his junior. But he shook off his irritation and played the game. “I thought we’d go to Bernardo’s, the new Italian restaurant that just opened up a few blocks down the street from Red. That is, if Kirsten doesn’t mind.”

  “Bernardo’s sounds good to me.” She offered him a breezy smile, then grabbed her purse from a small table near the door. “I’ll see you later, Max. You can call me if you have a problem with Anthony.”

  “I’ll be okay.”

  Good, because Jeremy was looking forward to put ting some distance between them. What was that guy’s problem?

  Jeremy opened the door, then followed Kirsten out of the house. Moments later, they were in his rental car and headed into town for dinner.

  “I’m afraid I need to apologize for my brother’s rude ness,” Kirsten said. “His life has been turned upside down, so he’s been a little testy with everyone lately.”

  “No apology necessary.”

  “I know. But…” She pursed her lips. “I guess everyone has their cross to bear. And Max is mine.”

  Jeremy wasn’t sure why she felt that way. “How old is he? Twenty-four?”

  “Actually, he’s twenty-six.”

  “Then I’d say it’s probably time for him to move on and make a life of his own.”

  “I wish it were that easy.” Kirsten glanced out her window at the passing scenery, then back to Jeremy. “He’s between jobs, so I can’t very well boot him out into the street. And now that he has Anthony…”

  “I can see how that would complicate things.” Jeremy had a strong sense of family loyalty, too, so he under stood why she was supportive of Max. “How’s it working out?”

  “It’s been tough.” She gave a half shrug. “But there’s not much I can do about it until he lands another job and can move out.”

  “What kind of position is he looking for?”

  “Anything at this point. I think he wants to move as badly as I’d like to see him go. But he doesn’t have a high school diploma, which limits his options when it comes to finding something that will pay the rent, and now he has day-care expenses to cover.”

  “That’s too bad.”

  “I know.” She took a deep breath, then sighed softly. “I tried to talk him into getting his GED and picking up some college courses, but he refused to even consider it.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m afraid it was probably because I suggested it.” She rested her hands on top of the small black purse that sat in her lap. “And because he’s never been particularly ambitious. After he dropped out of high school, he just drifted from job to job for one reason or another.”

  “In that case, you might not be doing him any favors by letting him stay with you.”

  “Actually, two years ago he was hired on at the feed store and was able to keep that one until a couple weeks ago. He really seemed to like it, but when the new management took over, they laid everyone off, and Max was back at square one.”

  Jeremy was glad to see that her brother had managed to hold a job, but he couldn’t understand why the guy wouldn’t try to take the GED exam or improve his chances of getting a better paying position.

  He knew he should keep his thoughts to himself, but he said, “Maybe, if he won’t take your advice, it might be time for you to back off and let him captain his own ship, even if it has leaks.”

  “I’m sure you’re right. But my biggest fault is that I tend to think with my heart more than my head.”

  Learning that bit of news about Kirsten probably ought to throw up a red flag for a guy who’d always been methodical and rational, but Jeremy found it appealing that she had a soft heart. Maybe because she reminded him of his mother in that way.

  Molly Fortune had been the one to encourage Jeremy to follow his dream and go to medical school. Not that anyone had given him a hard time when he chose not to work at Fortune Forecasting. His dad and brothers had been pretty supportive, too. But it had been Molly’s proud smile at his graduation that had made it all worthwhile.

  He shot a glance across the seat at Kirsten, wondering if she had any other qualities that would remind him of his mother.

  Molly had been a dynamic woman—warm, loving and a real mama bear when it came to her husband and her five sons. So when she passed away four years ago, the entire family had taken it hard. But Jeremy had a feeling he might have grieved for her even more than the others had.

  He hadn’t spent that much time with her after he moved to Sacramento and started his practice with a prominent orthopedic medical group, but he’d valued her opinion and her unwavering support, even if he didn’t always take her advice. And she’d always been just a phone call away.

  Of course, he’d accepted her loss and moved on with his life, but her death had left a hole.

  He looked across the seat at Kirsten and couldn’t help wondering if a loving wife and a family of his own would make him feel whole again. He hoped so—whether that woman turned out to be Kirsten or not.

  As he pulled into the parking lot at Bernardo’s, he stole another glance at his lovely dinner date.

  They’d only met a couple days ago, so he had no way of knowing whether she was the kind of woman he was looking for or not.

  But he had every intention of finding out.

  Kirsten sat across a romantic, candlelit table from Jeremy, listening to him tell her about his day at t
he clinic. It was clear that he enjoyed his work and cared about his patients, and she found herself smiling at just about everything he said.

  But she wasn’t the only one who was enjoying the evening so far. Jeremy’s body language and ready smile told her that their date had gotten off to a good start.

  “What do you do for a living?” he asked.

  “I’m an accountant.” She lifted her water goblet and took a sip.

  “Where do you work?”

  She’d hoped that wouldn’t come up, but realized it might. “I’m between jobs at the moment, but I’ll get another position quickly. I’ve got some great letters of recommendation and a solid résumé. It’s just a matter of time.”

  He smiled, then took a bite of his manicotti.

  She didn’t want him to give too much thought about the only similarity she and Max had other than their family resemblance, so she decided to shift the focus of the conversation back to him. “The clinic is lucky to have you. Do you ever think you’ll work in private practice?”

  “Actually, I do have a practice—in Sacramento. I’m just volunteering my time at the clinic.”

  Her heart cramped at the thought of him leaving town, which seemed to be what he was saying. “What brought you to Red Rock? And how long will you be here?”

  “I came for my father’s wedding, which was supposed to have taken place last month. And I’ll be in town as long as it takes to…” Jeremy glanced down at his plate, then back at Kirsten.

  The sun-bleached streaks in his hair glistened in the candlelight, and his eyes locked on hers. She sensed the emotion in his voice before he even spoke a word.

  “My dad disappeared on what should have been his wedding day, and he hasn’t been seen or heard from since. There was no way I could leave town, so I took a leave of absence. That allows me to stay in Red Rock until he’s found.”

  Her heart broke for him as he continued to give her the details about the vehicle accident, about the police investigation that went nowhere. “I don’t usually rely on hunches and feelings, but I… Well, I believe he’s going to turn up.”

  She reached across the table, placed her hand over his and felt his warmth, his strength in spite of his vulnerability. She understood the feeling all too well. Her own father had run off when she was fourteen. And she’d hung on to the belief that he would return, that he’d never abandon her and the family.