Harlequin Special Edition November 2014 - Box Set 2 of 2: The Maverick's Thanksgiving BabyA Celebration ChristmasDr. Daddy's Perfect Christmas

by Brenda Harlen

  Eli knew full well Todd had sacrificed himself for his country, but the man would’ve never done so much for his own family. If he were alive today, Eli seriously doubted Todd would stick around to play husband and daddy.

  Eli hated the bitterness that rolled through him and he really needed to get a grasp on this situation. Right now, all that was important was Nora—her comfort, the baby—and taking care of his father.

  Unfortunately his mind kept returning to the last night he and Todd had spent together. Absently Eli reached up to trace the scar, a visible reminder of how ugly jealousy could be.

  When his cell rang, Eli pulled it from his lab coat pocket and smiled. A reprieve, thank God.

  “Hey, Cam,” he answered.

  “Bad time?” his brother asked.

  “Not at all. What’s up?”

  “You talked to Nora today?”

  At his brother’s serious tone, Eli sat up straighter in his chair. “No, why?”

  “Her clinic was broken into. We just got everything all straightened out and cleaned up.”

  Jerking to his feet, Eli was grabbing his keys from the desk drawer. “Was she hurt?”

  Fear raced through him at the thought of her or her baby being injured. This was certainly not the type of adrenaline he’d been hoping for. Be careful what you wish for.

  “She’s fine. Angry, but fine,” Cameron assured him. “She came to work and found the back door open.”

  Eli sighed, closing his eyes. “Tell me she didn’t go in and check it out before calling you.”

  On the other end, Cameron laughed. “She may be stubborn, but she’s not stupid. She called me and I went in to make sure the perp was gone. Then she went through and we made a list of all that had been taken.”

  Eli took off his lab coat and hung it on the peg by the exit. “What on earth would someone want from a vet’s office?”

  “Syringes. Nora’s office was easier to break into than a drugstore and the druggies are desperate. They’ll take things any way they can get them.”

  No longer relegated to big cities, the drug problem had unfortunately trickled into small-town America, causing damage to so many lives, ruining too many families.

  “I’m on my way,” Eli told his brother. “Tell her to sit tight.”

  “No need for you to leave work, Eli. She’s fine. I swear.”

  Yeah, well, her world had been shaken—again—and he intended to go support her. Pain didn’t always come in the physical form.

  “I’m on my way,” he repeated. “It’s not up for debate.”

  Eli hung up his phone before his brother could argue further. There was no reason for him not to go to her. Well, his patients were several reasons, actually. He’d have to reschedule if he couldn’t get back before his lunch break was over.

  When he moved into the front office, Lulu was finishing a salad at her desk. Eli had to blink several times to keep his attention away from the massive cleavage she had on display, outlined by rhinestones riding the edge of her V-neck.

  “I’ll be out for the afternoon,” he told her, quickly deciding he needed to stay with Nora. “If there’s an emergency, call my cell and I can come back. I need you to reschedule today’s patients. Squeeze them in tomorrow, even if I have to work later.”

  Her brows drew together. “Oh, honey. Everything okay? Your dad...”

  “He’s fine. Nora’s clinic was broken into.”

  “I heard that when I went out to get my salad,” she told him, grabbing her nail file from the desk. “Crazy people always wanting to steal instead of working for an honest living. Go ahead. This afternoon was very light, anyway.”

  She started sharpening her bloodred nails into dangerous-looking daggers. When the phone started ringing, she blew on one finger and stared, filing another.

  “You going to get that?” he asked.

  Without looking up, she nodded. “I don’t tell you how to do your job. Now go on and see to your veterinarian friend.”

  Sighing, Eli wasn’t getting into the annoyances that surrounded his father’s receptionist. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Eli grabbed his coat and keys as he rushed out the back door, the frigid air cutting through him. December was downright freezing, unusually cold for Tennessee, but better than the blizzard-like conditions up north.

  In no time he’d gone from one end of the tiny town to the other and pulled behind Nora’s clinic. His brother’s cruiser was parked right outside the back door. Eli killed the engine on his truck and headed toward the back entrance. Before he could step inside, the metal door swung open.

  “I knew you’d show up as soon as you heard.” Nora stood in the doorway with her arms crossed over her chest. “I’m surprised it took you this long to hear about the break-in.”

  “Cam called me,” he told her as he stepped inside, forcing her to step back. “You okay?”

  She nodded, biting her lip. “I’m just angry. I work too hard and I really don’t have time for this. The money I lost today from not working really is what irks me the most. But at least I rescheduled my patients.”

  Money? She was worried about money? Todd had always talked about all the savings he’d set aside. Did Nora not have those funds or had she already spent them? The VA had surely covered the funeral expenses. What about Todd’s pension?

  “What do you need me to do?” he asked. “Did they tear up anything?”

  “Nothing much. My medicine cabinet was broken into, so I need a new lock. Obviously the perp knew exactly what they wanted. I’m just thankful none of the animals were hurt.”

  Eli walked through the narrow hallway, glancing into the side rooms. Kennels sat in one oversize room, and only half were full. One dog snoozed as if his world hadn’t changed one bit, another puppy was pawing through the cage trying to seek the attention of said snoozing dog and another mini-dog started growling when Eli popped his head in.

  “Oh, Harvard, you’re fine,” Nora said, stepping into the room. “He’s harmless.”

  Eli laughed. “Harvard?”

  Nora threw a glance over her shoulder “It’s Professor Wilkes’s dog.”

  Professor Wilkes taught at the community college, and rumor had it he’d had the opportunity to teach at a prestigious Ivy League school, but he turned it down because his wife was from this area and he’d wanted to stay with her. He had since been widowed, but remained teaching at the small college in dinky little Stonerock.

  Nora quickly fed the dogs and moved to the other side of the room where the cats were starting to meow, obviously eager for some lunch, as well.

  “You can go on back to work, Eli. I’m just going to run to the hardware store, grab some new locks and come back and install them.”

  “I’ll do it.”

  She closed the last cage, her hand resting on the latch as she quirked a brow at him. “Seriously, I know how to change locks. No sense in both of us missing a day’s work.”

  Eli shoved his hands in his jacket pockets and leaned against the doorway. “I’m sure you do know how, but you can change the cabinet and get that squared away and I can work on the doors. We’ll get this done twice as fast. I’m sure you’ll need to reorder supplies, which I don’t know how to do, so let me help you.”

  Nora opened her mouth, no doubt to argue, but stopped. Her hand went to her belly as she froze; her eyes widened. Eli was across the room in two strides, his hand coming to rest on hers, his other on her back for support.

  “Nora? What’s wrong?”

  Fear consumed him as she remained silent. Was she in pain? Something wrong with the baby? God, as a doctor, the endless possibilities flooded his mind.

  “I’ve never felt her kick that hard.” She laughed. “Just surprised me.”

  Tension rolled off his sho
ulders as he exhaled the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. “Doesn’t she kick at lot at this stage?” he asked. Babies were certainly not his area of expertise, but he did know enough to be concerned when a woman clutched her abdomen and nearly doubled over.

  Nora shook her head. “Not really. The doctor said she would start getting more active, but this was so...obvious.”

  She smiled, looking up to him with a vibrant sparkle in her eyes. “Here,” she said, sliding her hand over and placing his on her slightly rounded belly. “Maybe she’ll do it again.”

  Eli waited, wanting to feel this new life, but at the same time wondering if the guilt card would show its face again. This was Todd’s position, not Eli’s. Todd wasn’t here, though, and Nora wanted someone to share in this milestone moment.

  As Nora watched his face, waiting for the kick and a reaction from him, he knew he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. He also knew that fate had handed him this opportunity and he would seize it with both hands.

  The gentle movement beneath his palm may have been subtle, but it shot straight to his heart. Eli’s eyes sought Nora’s and her smile widened.

  “That’s amazing,” he whispered. “I mean, I’ve felt babies kick before, but knowing this is your baby...”

  He had no words. Nora’s baby, a little girl moving beneath his hands. It was enough to have his own throat clogging with tears.

  Damn, he felt as if he were the expectant daddy. How absurd was that?

  “Thank you,” he told her, sliding his hand away. “I’ve never been part of something so personal and incredible.”

  Nora placed both of her hands on her abdomen. “I’m glad you were here. Sharing this pregnancy with friends makes it even more special.”

  Friends. Yes. He’d do good to keep that solid fact in the forefront of his mind. Nora most definitely had enough on her plate without contending with his advances. And didn’t he have enough to keep himself occupied, as well?

  “What do you say we hit the hardware store?” he asked.

  “Can we grab lunch first? I’m starving.”

  Eli nodded. “You read my mind.”

  As he escorted her out, he reiterated to himself that friends were all they were, all they could be. Then why did he want to spend his every waking minute with her and rediscovering the new Nora?

  Eli escorted her through the lot and up into his four-wheel-drive truck. As long as he was here, he would stick close to her, allow himself the luxury of being her friend. He might want more, but he would take what he could get.

  And in the end, he’d walk away.

  Chapter Seven

  “In all my years I only closed the clinic early twice.”

  Eli set his father’s plate of grilled chicken and steamed vegetables on a tray in front of the old recliner where Mac had been stationed since being released from the hospital. He’d known his father wouldn’t be too pleased with the fact Eli left early, but Nora had come first. For once in his life, he was making her needs his top priority. He doubted many people had ever put her first.

  “Once was when Drake broke his arm and had to have surgery,” Mac went on. “And the other time was when you and your brothers decided to spray graffiti on the railroad overpass and I had to do damage control with the chief and the mayor.”

  Eli stood back, resting his hands on his hips. “Am I going to get scolded?” he joked with a smile.

  Mac looked up, pointing his fork. “Don’t get smart with me, young man. I’m simply stating that I only closed for emergencies and when I was needed.”

  Eli waited, glancing at his mother as she came in and took a seat on the sofa with her own dinner. Just like old times, she tried to stay out of arguments, but Eli knew she’d already formed an opinion.

  “I’d say what you did today was exactly what I would’ve done,” his father said before stabbing a piece of chicken. “Nora really has nobody in her life and I’m glad you’re here for her.”

  Raking a hand over his hair, Eli sank into the accent chair across the room. “I came back for you, Dad.”

  His father raised his bushy brows and eyed him across the room. No words were spoken, none needed to be. Mac St. John knew where his son stood.

  But his father didn’t know how seeing Nora all grown up and sexier than ever had taken a major toll on Eli’s nerves. He was having a hard time denying the fact he wanted to spend more time with her and get to know her all over again.

  “How is Nora after the break-in?” his mom asked.

  Eli eased back against the cushion and nodded. “She’s okay. Angry, but she’s fine. Was more worried about the animals than her clinic. None of them were injured, thank God. We would’ve seen a whole new level of mad had something happened to one of her pets or patients.”

  Bev smiled as she picked up her tea. “Sounds like her. Always looking out for everyone but herself.”

  “I’m looking out for her,” Eli found himself saying before he could think. Damn it.

  “Of course you are.” Mac nodded his approval. “I knew when you were coming home you’d be spending more time with her than here.”

  Eli opened his mouth, but shut it as his father held up a hand.

  “I’m not saying that bothers me. In fact, I’m glad she has you.” He motioned to Bev with his fork. “She’s capable of taking care of me. You’re needed more with Nora and the clinic.”

  “Why didn’t either of you tell me she was pregnant?” Eli asked, looking between his mother and father.

  Mac dug back into dinner while his mother eased her fork down, gently dabbed at her mouth with her napkin as if she were sitting at a grand dining table rather than a TV tray in her living room. Neither parent met his gaze.

  “We knew Nora would tell you,” Bev informed him. “She was pretty upset when she discovered the pregnancy, not because of the baby itself, but because of the timing.”

  Eli completely understood and couldn’t even fathom what Nora must’ve felt, and was still feeling, burying her husband and discovering the pregnancy in the same day. The woman was stronger than most men he’d been in the service with.

  “She’s having a girl,” Eli said.

  His mother’s smile lit up her entire face. “Oh, she’ll be such a wonderful mother. I can’t wait to buy stuff for that sweet baby.”

  Eli rolled his eyes, knowing his mother was already mentally shopping. “No need to go overboard, Mom.”

  “If I want to go overboard with buying precious baby things for Nora and her little girl, then I most certainly will. Besides, that’s the closest I’ll probably ever come to having a grandchild.”

  Eli knew his mother meant the statement playfully, but a part of him took it personally. Yes, he and his brothers were not ready to settle down, but at one time Eli thought he’d marry and have children with Nora.

  “Nora wouldn’t be able to do this without you guys so close,” he told his mom. “I know she’s independent, but she’s still vulnerable.”

  After his parents finished eating, Eli got his father his medicine and joined his mother in the kitchen as they cleaned up the dishes. “You’ve been seeing Nora quite a bit,” his mother mentioned in that casual yet nosy tone.

  Eli shrugged and added the plates to the dishwasher. “She’s my friend. I care about her.”

  “I always figured she’d marry one of my boys. You were definitely the front runner, but when you left, I was certain Drake or Cameron would scoop her up.”

  Resting his hand on the edge of the countertop, Eli laughed. “Maybe she didn’t want to be ‘scooped’ by either of my brothers.”

  Bev wiped her hands on an old plaid kitchen towel and folded it neatly on the counter before turning to face him. “What I meant was, I always considered her one of my own and selfishly I’d hoped she’d be part of ou
r family...officially.”

  Eli wasn’t quite comfortable with this particular topic. At one time he’d assumed Nora would be part of his family, too, but he’d made the choice to leave Stonerock and she’d made the choice to stay.

  As teens they’d been in love, as much as teens could be, and had dreams like any other young couple. Then reality and goals flushed to the surface, leaving them no choice but to end their relationship.

  That had been one of the hardest moments of his life. The second hardest was when she’d married Todd.

  “It’s never too late,” his mother told him in that soft tone of hers. She offered a smile, causing the wrinkles around her eyes to deepen. “I know you still hold a special place in your heart for her.”

  Yes, he did. But not nearly the same way or level he had when he’d been eighteen. This was so much more...intense and complicated.

  “I’ll always care for her.”

  Bev’s head tilted, her eyes softened. “Then why don’t you see where this will go while you’re home? You never know what could happen in a few months’ time. Plus with the holidays it’s the perfect opportunity to get closer to her.”

  Eli raked a hand through his hair and sighed. “Because the end result will be the same, Mom. I’m going back to Atlanta. I hope to get that promotion and I just purchased a new condo. I really like the life I’ve started.”

  “You haven’t mentioned any friends or girlfriends since you’ve been home. Just sounds like a lonely new life to me,” she muttered, but driving her point home just the same. “But I’m proud of you, of your achievements.”

  Eli lifted the dishwasher door, closed it and reached out to hug his mother. “Some of us just aren’t meant to have long, happy marriages like you and Dad.”

  Her tiny arms came around his waist. “I know, but I want the best for my boys.”

  Eli heard the unspoken words: Nora was the best...for him.

  Bev eased back, looked up to Eli and smiled. “I’m just glad you’re here now. I could’ve cared for your father on my own, but he was so worried about his clinic.”