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

by Brenda Harlen

  “And here I thought you came out to see me. You just using me for my cooking?”

  She threw him a glance over her shoulder. “On Thursdays I am.”

  Eli clutched his chest. “I’m wounded.”

  He sat with her at the small breakfast nook while she ate and discussed her day of napping and caring for two patients. Once she was finished he quickly cleaned up the kitchen, after insisting she go lie down on the sofa. She conceded only because she loved having him in her home, taking charge and being all protective.

  When he brought her in a bowl of Rocky Road ice cream, she nearly melted into a puddle of love right there.

  “You’ve been such a good girl, listening to the doctor’s orders, I thought you needed a reward.”

  Nora laughed as she took the bowl. “Whipped cream, too?”

  He settled onto the couch next to her and propped his feet on the coffee table. “I stopped by the store on the way home. Figured you’d like some.”

  “You’re so good to me.”

  She dove into the sugary mess and devoured every single bite.

  Eli took her bowl back to the kitchen and Kerfluffle followed on his heels. When they returned, the kitty curled right up in Eli’s lap.

  “Looks like I’m not the only one who likes having you here,” Nora said as she snuggled into Eli’s side. “I really do appreciate everything you’ve done for me, Eli.”

  His arm wrapped around her and he kissed the top of her head. “If I didn’t want to be here, Nora, I wouldn’t be. But we need to talk about us.”

  Her heart nearly dropped. Those were words a woman never wanted to hear from the man she was in love with. “We need to talk” was just as bad as “it’s not you, it’s me.”

  “Don’t tense up on me.” He laughed. “I just think it’s time we look at the big picture here, especially since we’ve gotten closer than either of us was prepared for.”

  He was right. They’d danced around the attraction for a while, but then spiraled straight into bed and into each other’s hearts again without considering the long-term effects.

  Nora sat up and turned to face him, drawing her knee up on the couch. “I know we didn’t plan to sleep together. I told myself I wouldn’t, that you would still be leaving and I would have to let you go.”

  Again. The word hovered in the air between them and she truly hadn’t meant to blurt everything out, but if he wanted to talk, she needed to be honest and up front about her feelings and emotions.

  Eli looked down at his lap as he stroked Kerfluffle. The muscle ticked in his jaw and he seemed to be contemplating what to say...or how delicate he should be with his words.

  “Don’t be afraid to tell me we can’t have any more than just these few months together, Eli.” She swallowed, forcing tears back as the ache in her body threatened to consume her. “I’m not eighteen anymore and I have a more realistic view on life. I didn’t expect you to fall into bed with me and then fall in love all over again and decide to stay.”

  “But I have,” he whispered.

  Hope spiraled through her. Had she heard him right?

  He brought his dark gaze up to meet hers. The intensity staring back at her had Nora’s breath catching in her throat.

  “I did fall in love with you again, Nora. I never stopped loving you.”

  “I know you said that the other night when...” She trailed off, shaking her head. “I just didn’t know how strong you felt about me, about us.”

  He reached out, put one hand on her stomach and held her gaze. “When you say ‘us,’ I know you mean me and you. But when I say ‘us,’ I’m talking the three of us. I know this baby isn’t mine, Nora, but I love you, and I love this child. I want to see if we can grow together, to be a family.”

  The tears Nora tried to hold back earlier came spilling down her cheeks...now for a whole different reason. He wasn’t leaving her; he wanted to be with her.

  “What about Atlanta?” she asked. “You loved being away from Stonerock.”

  “But I never loved being away from you,” he told her. “I’ve been gone for years. Years. And in all that time I haven’t found anything that comes close to fulfilling my heart the way you do.”

  Nora covered her face with her hands as sobs ripped through her.

  “Oh, honey, please. Don’t cry.”

  Eli’s arms came around her and she found herself crushed against his chest.

  “I know you’ve been on a roller coaster lately, so I want to take this slow.” His soft chuckle vibrated against her. “As slow as we can considering we’ve already slept together. But I want to make this right and I don’t want to mess this up.”

  Nora leaned back, swiping at her damp cheeks. “I’m sorry. I just... I thought you would never consider a life here in Stonerock, and then to hear you say you want to stay here, with me...”

  She was at a total loss for words.

  Eli’s strong hands framed her face, his thumbs sliding away stray tears. “I’m staying here tonight. I’ll stay every night if you let me.”

  She clutched at his wrists. “You can’t stay tonight,” she told him. “I can’t... I mean, with the bed rest and the baby...”

  “I don’t expect to have sex, Nora.” He kissed her softly. “I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize this baby or you. I want to stay because I want to feel you by my side. I want to wake up next to you before I go off to work.”

  “Why?” she asked, searching his eyes. “Why are you so intent on staying? I mean, there’s only so much happiness love can supply. What about everything you’ve worked for?”

  Eli shrugged, taking her hands in his and squeezing. “I’d been considering staying and Dad asked me if I’d be interested in taking over his practice. He wants to retire soon and I took his offering as another sign that being here was the right step at this chapter in my life.”

  “So you’ll be the hometown doctor?” she asked with a grin. “Then we’ll both have patients showing up at our door.”

  Laughing, Eli shrugged. “That’s fine with me.”

  They watched a movie and when he started yawning Nora figured he needed some sleep. Just because she’d slept the day away didn’t mean he’d had that luxury. He’d worked and had to get up tomorrow to work again.

  “Why don’t we head on to bed?” she suggested as the movie credits rolled.

  “Sounds good to me.” He came to his feet and helped her up. “But I want you in your bed. I’ll carry you up.”

  Nora rolled her eyes. “You’ve got to stop carrying me. I’m getting heavier.”

  Without a word, he scooped her up, much like he had the other night, and carried her straight up the stairs and into her room.

  As they readied for bed, Nora smiled. Is this what it would be like now that he was staying? He hadn’t mentioned marriage, but he had to be heading in that direction.

  Nora pulled her gown over her head as warmth spread through her. He was giving her time to come to terms with Todd’s death and with the pregnancy. He was putting her and her baby’s needs first and his last. How could she not be totally in love with a man like that?

  As she sidled right up next to him beneath the crisp sheets, she inhaled his masculine scent and loved the fact that her bed now smelled of Eli. She wanted his presence to overtake this house, to fulfill her life as they both started forward on this journey.

  Eli kissed her on the forehead. “This is the best part of my day. I love you, Nora.”

  “I love you, too,” she whispered into the dark.

  And she did. She loved this man with all of her heart, and she had to put her past to rest once and for all so she could fully invest in their future.

  Tomorrow, she vowed, she’d go through that box.

  Chapter Sixteen

  He’d held her
most of the night, he’d carried her down the stairs before he left for work and he allowed her the luxury of being alone with no babysitter if she promised to call at the first sign of trouble.

  Nora really shouldn’t like this whole alpha male routine, but she couldn’t help it. She absolutely felt like she was everything to Eli, and because she was his world, she figured he wanted to protect her at all costs.

  Her heart warmed at this new life.

  But her past still shadowed her, and now that she was alone, it was time to tackle that.

  She headed into the spare room and eyed the box in the corner. Nora slowly eased herself onto the floor beside the box and rested her hands on top. Once she opened it, all of Todd’s military life would come spilling out—a life he’d purposely kept from her.

  But by law those things were now hers.

  Pulling at the edge of the packaging tape, she peeled it all away and pried back the flaps. She really didn’t know what she expected, but right on top were his BDUs neatly folded. She pulled them out, hugged them to her chest and closed her eyes. The stories this uniform could tell...

  After setting it aside, she reached in and grabbed an army-green bag. Opening it, she discovered a couple of books, his dog tags and a watch. One of the books slipped from her hands and a folded piece of paper slid out across the hardwood floor.

  She reached for it and realized it was an envelope. When she flipped it over she saw it had been addressed...to her. The stamp was in the corner, but it had never been mailed.

  Slowly she slid her fingernail along the seam and opened it up. Sliding out the trifold paper, Nora realized her hands were shaking.

  The date at the top of the letter was dated two days before he died. Tears clogged her throat. He’d never sent her a handwritten letter while he’d been overseas. Emails, texts, phone calls, yes, but never a letter.

  She rested her back against the dresser and began to read.

  Nora,

  I’m every kind of coward for writing this letter to you. I wanted so badly to tell you in person when I was home on leave, but I just couldn’t. You don’t deserve this lifestyle or a marriage made to be spent alone.

  I see how hard you work to make this marriage work, I see how you want this marriage to work, but I think we rushed into things and I know you don’t really love me...not like a woman loves her husband. I realize you love me as a friend, and that’s all I can ask for. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had for putting up with me all this time, hoping our marriage would turn into something more.

  But I have decided to file for divorce.

  Nora swallowed. Well, at least he had tried to give her some sort of heads-up before the papers arrived. But he’d apparently put the plan in place long before he left to go back overseas.

  She looked back down to his neat handwriting.

  I hate to hurt you and if we stay married that’s exactly what I’ll continue to do. I’ve not been the best husband, Nora. I know you’ve been waiting on me back home. I know you’ve been praying for me, but I have not been as faithful to you. I had an affair. That’s not easy for me to admit, nor is it something I’m proud of.

  Nora read those last few sentences again, sure she’d read wrong. An affair? He’d cheated on her? Yes, they may have not had that level of love most men and women share, but Nora took her marriage vows very seriously.

  Betrayal and hurt coursed through her.

  But it was the next sentence that sliced her heart open. She read it twice; her heart beat harder and faster. Tears welled up in her eyes as she stared at the damning words through a blurry haze.

  Everything she’d believed, everything she’d wanted for her future, her baby’s future, was a lie.

  Nora crumpled onto her side and clutched the letter to her chest. Sobs tore through her; an ache she hadn’t experienced settled deep in her stomach.

  Todd had died, leaving her alone with a baby. Eli had come back onto the scene, making her promises of love and a future.

  But as of this moment, both men were out of her life. Both men had betrayed her and, according to the letter, Eli’s betrayal was unforgivable.

  * * *

  Eli checked his watch at least six times in the past thirty minutes. He couldn’t wait to finish his day and spend the weekend with Nora. They could work on the nursery, talk about the baby and just be together.

  His nurse had placed the last client in room one and Eli pulled the chart from the holder. With a sigh and a smile, he opened the door.

  “Maddie, it’s good to see you this afternoon.” He tossed the file onto the counter and washed his hands. “How’s the wrist?”

  Drying his hands, then tossing the paper into the trash, Eli rested his hip against the counter.

  Maddie held up her hand. “Feeling better, though I’m still afraid to support myself on my pole. My workouts have gone to hell.”

  Eli couldn’t suppress the grin. “I think it’s wise to let it heal a bit more and I’m sure you can find another workout until then. Do you have a treadmill? You could walk. Just twenty minutes a day is good for you.”

  Beneath bright purple eye shadow, Maddie’s eyes rolled. “Walking is just so...vanilla. I like a little spice in my life.”

  Spice in the life of a senior citizen is so not an area he wanted to get into...especially when it involved a pole.

  Eli carefully checked out her wrist and requested she keep her splint on for another week. “Just come in between Christmas and the first of the year. I’m sure you’ll be good to go then.”

  “I suppose I’ll have to tough it out a few more days, then.” She reached into her oversize bag again and pulled out another foil-wrapped loaf. “For the holidays I opted for peppermint berry bread.”

  Peppermint berry? Good heavens. Nothing about that sounded appealing...and how the hell did one make peppermint bread?

  Eli took the loaf and laughed. “Cinnamon raisin.”

  Maddie quirked a brow.

  “My favorite bread,” he said with a grin. “It’s cinnamon raisin, same as my dad. Looks like I’m staying and you might as well know.”

  Maddie slapped the paper-covered table. “Well, hot damn, it’s about time you came to your senses. Word around town has been that you’re cozied back up with the sweet vet.”

  “Word would have this right. I plan on taking over Dad’s practice and getting even cozier with the beautiful vet.”

  Maddie smiled, slid off the table and grabbed her rhinestone cane. “I’m glad to see she’ll finally get a happy ending. That poor woman has really been through it.”

  Eli couldn’t agree more. Nora was getting her happy ending...they were getting their happy ending, one long overdue.

  “Have a Merry Christmas, Maddie.”

  She patted his cheek. “You, too, Doc.”

  Once she was gone he quickly closed things up and sent Lulu and Sarah home for the long weekend. He wanted to get out early and stop by to see a friend who could help him with a surprise for Nora.

  Eli may be rushing things, but he had to let her know just how serious he was about her, about staying and starting a new life.

  He only hoped his friend could keep things on the DL. It would be the ultimate Christmas surprise.

  After he made the all-important stop, Eli made his way to Nora’s. The twinkling lights across her porch called him. The tall tree in her wide window also twinkled and Eli couldn’t wait to make this their home. Couldn’t wait to start their life together the right way.

  He let himself in the house and called out her name. He didn’t see her in the living room or kitchen. Maybe she’d decided to lie down. He went into the spare room she’d been resting in and found her lying on top of the cream comforter, a letter clutched to her chest. She was asleep.

  Eli crept closer and
nearly tripped over the box in the floor and the contents strewn around it.

  His gut clenched. These were Todd’s things. Nora had spent the day going through her late husband’s belongings from overseas.

  Eli’s eyes darted back up to her and now he noticed the tear tracks on her face, her red nose and the puffiness beneath her closed lashes.

  The letter was turned in, so Eli had no idea what it consisted of, but if he had to guess, he’d say it was something written in Todd’s scratchy penmanship.

  Before he could step back, Nora’s eyes fluttered open and fixed on his.

  “Hey,” he said softly, looking down at her. “How are you feeling?”

  Her gaze wasn’t warm, wasn’t loving like it was when he’d kissed her goodbye this morning. Something was wrong, something more than just her going through Todd’s old things.

  “What happened, Nora?”

  She sat up, thrusting the letter toward him. “You happened. You and Todd happened, Eli,” she accused, her voice husky from sleep.

  His eyes skimmed over the letter to see why she was so upset, so angry. The letter was addressed to Nora, dated only days before Todd’s death...but it was the last part of the letter that Eli zeroed in on.

  His knees weakened and he sat on the edge of the bed next to her.

  “I don’t want to hear excuses,” she whispered. “There’s no reason for this kind of betrayal. You said you loved me. I assumed even as a friend you would’ve loved me enough to tell me my husband had cheated on me.”

  Eli closed his eyes, as if he could possibly close out the hurt that threaded her voice. Opening his eyes, he looked back down to the damning letter in his hands.

  Todd just had to go and hurt her one more time. Barely containing his rage, Eli reached up and raked his hand over his scar. He’d been so close to having her back in his life, so close to having her fill his heart like nothing else could...but because of his warped version of keeping her safe from the truth, his gentlemanly qualities blew up in his face.