More skeptical looks. “She didn’t make it back to Carolina for Thanksgiving or Christmas or New Year’s this year, either,” Dylan observed.
Cal shrugged and centered his attention on the TV, where a log of pregame nonsense was taking place. “She had to work all three holidays.” He wished the game would hurry up and start. Because the sooner it did, the sooner this conversation would be over.
“‘Had to,’ or volunteered?” Fletcher murmured with a questioning lift of his dark eyebrows.
Uneasiness settled on Cal. He’d had many of the same questions himself. Still, Ashley was his wife, and he felt honor-bound to defend her. “I saw her in November in San Francisco. We celebrated all our holidays then.” In one passion-filled weekend that had, oddly enough, left him feeling lonelier and more uncertain of their union than ever.
Concerned looks were exchanged all around. Cal knew the guys in the family all felt sorry for him, which just made the situation worse.
Dylan dipped a tortilla chip into the chili-cheese sauce. “So when’s Ashley coming home?” he asked curiously.
That was just it—Cal didn’t know. Ashley didn’t want to talk about it. “Soon,” he fibbed.
All eyes turned to him. Cal waited expectantly, knowing from the silence that there was more. Finally, Joe cleared his throat. “The women in the family are all upset. You’ve been married nearly three years now, and most of that time you and Ashley have been living apart.”
“So?” Cal prodded.
“So, they’re tired of seeing you unhappy.” Dylan took over where Cal had left off. “They’re giving you and Ashley till Valentine’s Day—”
Their wedding anniversary.
“—to make things right.”
“And if that doesn’t happen?” Cal demanded.
Fletcher scowled. “Then the women in the family are stepping in.”
Cupid and the Cowboy by Carol Finch (#1055)
Carol Finch is a widely published author making her debut in American Romance—and we’re delighted to welcome her! She writes with genuine wit and charm, and she brings you characters you’ll like instantly—not to mention a wonderful and vivid sense of place. You’ll soon discover that Moon Valley, Texas, is your kind of town.... Available in February 2005.
* * *
“Damn, here she comes again.”
Third time this week that Erika Dunn had shown up uninvited at his ranch house. She was making it difficult for Judd to settle into his self-imposed role as a recluse.
Judd Foster peered through the dusty slats of the miniblinds and heavy, outdated drapes that covered his living room window. She had the kind of unadvertised and understated beauty that intrigued a man who’d been trained to look beyond surface appearances. The woman didn’t just walk to his house; she practically floated. She was too vibrant, too energized. He didn’t want her coming around, spreading good cheer and flashing that infectious smile.
He just wanted to be left alone.
His attention shifted to the covered dish in her hand. Judd’s mouth watered involuntarily. He wondered what delicious culinary temptation she had delivered this time. More of that melt-in-your-mouth smoked chicken that had been marinated in pineapple juice and coated with her secret concoction of herbs and spices? Or something equally delectable? Apparently, Erika figured the most effective way to coax a man out of his property was to sabotage his taste buds and his stomach.
Judd focused on Erika’s face. Her face was wholesome and animated and her eyes reminded him of a cloudless sky. Her ivory skin, dotted with freckles on her upturned nose, made her look fragile and delicate—a blatant contrast to her assertive, bubbly personality. She was part bombshell-in-hiding and part girl-next-door. A woman of interesting contrasts and potential.
Judd watched Erika balance the covered plate in one hand while she hammered on the front door with the other. He knew she wouldn’t give up and go away, so he opened the door before she pounded a hole in it. “Now what?” he demanded.
Erika beamed an enthusiastic greeting as she sailed, uninvited, into his house.
The instant Judd felt himself leaning impulsively toward her, he withdrew and stiffened his resistance. “The answer is still no,” he said right off.
Might as well beat her to the punch and hope she’d give up her ongoing crusade to buy his property. He didn’t want her to sweet-talk him into signing over the old barn that held fond childhood memories. He didn’t want to salivate like Pavlov’s dogs when the aromatic smoked meat, piled beneath a layer of aluminum foil, whetted his appetite.
Undaunted, Erika thrust the heaping plate at him and smiled radiantly. “No what? No, you won’t do me a favor by taking this extra food off my hands? No, you’ve decided to stop eating altogether?”
She glanced around the gloomy living room, shook her head in disapproval, then strode to the west window. “Really, Judd, it should be a criminal offense to keep this grand old house enshrouded in darkness. It looks like vampire headquarters.”
Leaving him holding the plate, she threw open the drapes, jerked up the blinds and opened all three living room windows. Fresh air poured into the room, carrying her scent to him. Judd winced when blinding sunbeams speared into the room, spotlighting Erika’s alluring profile—as if he needed another reminder of how well proportioned she was.
He didn’t. Furthermore, he didn’t want to deal with the lusty thoughts her appearance provoked. He didn’t want to like anything about Erika Dunn. Erika was too attractive, too optimistic. Too everything for a man who’d become cynical and world-weary after years of belly-crawling around hellholes in Third World countries.
He wondered what it was going to take to discourage Erika from waltzing in here as if she owned the place and trying to befriend a man who was completely unworthy of friendship. He hadn’t been able to protect the one true friend he’d had in the past decade and that tormented him. He didn’t want anyone to depend on him or expect anything from him.
Emergency Engagement by Michele Dunaway (#1056)
In this emotional story by Michele Dunaway, you’ll find a classic plot—the “engagement of convenience”—and a group of very contemporary characters. Michele is known for this appealing combination of enduring themes and likable characters who live up-to-the-minute lives! Available in February 2005.
* * *
He wasn’t supposed to be there. It wasn’t his night; in fact, this week he wasn’t supposed to deal with any emergencies unless they occurred during normal office hours.
But because of a wedding, there’d been a shortage of pediatricians to staff the pediatric emergency floor. So, when his partner had asked, Quinton had agreed to take Bart’s shift. Even though it was a Friday night, Quinton had nothing better to do.
Which, when he stopped to think about it, was pathetic. He, Dr. Quinton Searle, pediatric specialist, should have something to do. At thirty-five, he should have some woman to date, some place to be, something.
But the truth was that he didn’t, which was why, when the call came through, he was in the wrong place at the right time. He turned to Elaine. He liked working with her. At fifty-something she’d seen it all, and was a model of brisk efficiency, the most reliable nurse in any crisis. “What have I got?” he asked.
“Four-year-old child. Poison Control just called. The kid ate the mother’s cold medicine. Thought it was green candy.”
He frowned as he contemplated the situation. “How many?”
Elaine checked her notes. “The mother thinks it was only two tablets, but she isn’t sure. The container’s empty.”
Great, Quinton thought. He hated variables. “Is she here yet?”
Elaine shook her head. “Any minute. She’s on her way. Downstairs knows to buzz me immediately so we can bring the kid right up.”
Quinton nodded. “Downstairs” was slang for the main emergency room. As part of the Chicago Pres-byterian Hospital’s patient care plan, a separate emergency floor had been set up especially for chil
dren. Children were triaged in the main E.R., and then sent up to the pediatric E.R. He shoved his hand into the pocket of his white doctor’s coat. “Let me know the minute you get the buzz.”
ISBN-13: 9781460369234
One Good Man
Copyright © 2005 by Charlotte Douglas
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One Good Man Page 17
