by Peggy Webb
“She tried. I guess I’m a slow learner.”
Catching her shoulders, Dan turned her around. She was furious, and justifiably so. He experienced a moment of regret that he had so quickly destroyed the easy camaraderie between them. Not even telling himself it was all for the best could ease his conscience. But what was done, was done.
“What are you planning now?” she asked. “Another demonstration of your superior strength?”
“I’m going to button your coat. You can’t go out in the cold like that.” His fingers brushed lightly under her chin as he fastened the top button.
Janet briefly considered fighting, then decided there was more to be gained by submission. She’d be damned if she’d give him the satisfaction of knowing what his touch did to her.
He handled the buttons with ease, as if performing a chore he’d done many times before. He probably did this every day for dozens of women—all of them no doubt sitting at home right now, baking gingerbread and knitting afghans and hoping he would call. She hoped they all got high cholesterol from eating hot dogs.
Two buttons down and two to go. She held her breath.
“Did you know your eyes turn gold in the center when you’re angry?”
She glanced up at him and then wished she hadn’t. Up close he was even more devastatingly delicious. And so totally unsuitable. She had to keep telling herself that.
“There’s nothing mysterious about the color of a person’s eyes. It’s merely a matter of genes.”
“In your case, it’s magic.”
His hands moved to the button over her breasts. Janet fought to keep from sucking in her breath. Even through all her layers of clothing, she was astonishingly aware of his touch. A slow, lazy smile curved his lips. He knew, damn him.
“Magic,” he said again, so softly she barely heard him.
“There’s no need for two of us to go to the vet,” Janet said, trying to regain control through some conversation. “I’ll come by in the morning after my hospital rounds and pick up Harvey.”
“What time will you be finished?” His hands lingered over the button. She wanted to scream.
“Nine.”
“Good. I’ll bring Harvey and pick you up at the hospital.”
“No.”
His hands were still on her, one inside her coat and one outside, not fastening the button, not doing anything, just hovering there like two giant flatirons. She was getting hot.
“Why not?”
“It’s perfectly ridiculous—a waste of time. One person should be able to take care of Harvey. It’s more efficient that way.”
“Is efficiency one of your top priorities?”
Why didn’t he move his hand? She took a deep breath. “Yes. But that’s probably something you wouldn’t understand.”
“Being a coach?”
“I didn’t say that.”
He’d meant to drop a bomb and end it all, nice and quick and clean. No futile speculations, no useless dreams of turning the beautiful doctor into a hearth-warming homebody. Instead he found himself lingering over the simple pleasure of buttoning her coat.
And she kept baiting him, dammit. He smiled as he took hold of the last button. Of course, he was also baiting her. It seemed that the coach and the doctor were destined to do battle. He felt invigorated, challenged—and he was definitely looking forward to their next skirmish.
He fastened the last button on her coat, then reached and caught her shoulders. “I suppose we could debate the issue all night,” he said.
“If you think I’m staying here all night, you’re crazy.”
“I don’t want you here all night.”
“Then why are you hanging onto me?”
He merely tightened his hold and smiled. “Game tactics. I don’t want you leaving the field until I’ve scored my point.”
“You should know something about me, Coach Albany. I never quit the field.”
“Neither do I.” He reached to turn her collar up around her face. Except for the deepening of her color, she didn’t show any sign of emotion. “Since you’re obviously too stubborn to give in to my way...”
“I am not...”
“...and I’m definitely too bullheaded to do things your way, we’ll compromise.”
“That’s the first sensible thing you’ve said all evening.”
“I have my moments.”
She wished he hadn’t smiled again. His smile compensated for a multitude of sins.
“I’ll bring Harvey and meet you at the vet’s on west Jackson. That way we’re both spared spending unnecessary time in each other’s company.”
“Agreed.” Janet ducked out of his grasp and reached for her medical bag. “Good night, Coach.”
“See you tomorrow, Doc.”
He took her arm to escort her out.
“Don’t bother,” she said. “I can find my way.”
“I insist. My early childhood training in manners, you know.” Chuckling, he opened the front door.
His laughter followed Janet all the way down the steps and to her car. It was still echoing in her thoughts when she reached her apartment.
She pulled off her muddy clothes, drew her bath, climbed into the tub and picked up a medical journal. She read two paragraphs, then gave up and leaned her head against her plastic bath pillow. Scoliosis couldn’t hold a candle to Coach Dan Albany.
Janet climbed out of the tub, booted up her laptop and went straight to email.
From: Janet
To: Belinda, Bea, Joanna, Molly, Catherine, Clemmie
Re: My dog and Dan Albany
My poor weekend dog apparently got hit by a car, and I found out this arrogant soccer coach, Dan Albany, thinks Harvey is his dog. The insufferable coach lives around the corner, and I have the awful feeling I’m going to have to do battle with him in order to keep Harvey happy. Does anybody know anything about Dan Albany? You know what they say, “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”
Janet
From: Joanna
To: Janet, Clemmie, Catherine, Bea, Molly, Belinda
Re: Dan Albany
Are you KIDDING ME!!! Dan’s your neighbor? He’s a DREAMBOAT!!! Grab him before some hussy sinks her claw into him. Hey, Molly, you remember him don’t you?
Big Hugs!!!
Joanna
From: Molly
To: Janet, Clemmie, Catherine, Bea, Joanna, Belinda
Re: The HUNK
OMG, Dan Albany was a high school soccer star when Joanna and I were in grade school. He was a standout player in college and could have gone pro. Daddy says he came back home because his mother had a stroke and he wanted to wanted to be near her. How many men do you see who are drop-dead handsome and sweet, too? GRAB him, Janet!!!
Hugs,
Molly
From: Belinda
To: Janet, Joanna, Molly, Bea, Clemmie, Catherine
Re: The Albany guy
Ditto, what Joanna and Molly said. You won’t be sorry. Trust me on this.
Xo
Belinda
From: Clemmie
To: Janet, Joanna, Molly, Bea, Belinda, Catherine
Re: Check him out
My brothers rave about Dan Albany. Of course, they rave about everybody who can handle a ball of any kind. Invite him to lunch to discuss Harvey, and I’ll come over and check him out for you!
Hugs,
Clemmie
From: Catherine
To: Janet, Joanna, Molly, Bea, Belinda, Clemmie
Re: The Coach
Extreme physical fitness enhances as man’s libido. Janet, you should know this. If I were in your shoes, I’d check out this soccer coach. He sounds like a man with POTENTIAL!
Xoxo
Catherine, whose mind keeps running along those lines
From: Bea
To: Janet, Joanna, Molly, Catherine, Belinda, Clemmie
Re: Soccer
I’ll bet he has muscles in his legs that are so delicious they’d make
you slap your mama! When you saw him, did your Virginia stand up and salute? That’s what I want to know.
Of course, you’re going to be cautious, so ask Mr. Jed about the man’s pedigree. If it’s not suspect, go for it!
Bea
From: Janet
To: Bea, Joanna, Molly, Clemmie, Catherine, Belinda
Re: Medical School
Hello? Has everyone forgotten that I still have to get through medical school? Besides, a man that good-looking probably has half the unmarried population of Tupelo at his beck and call. I have one thing to say: STD!
Janet
Still, after she’d closed her email and shut off her laptop, Janet couldn’t get Molly and Joanna’s dreamboat assessment out of her mind. Maybe she would ask Mr. Jed’s opinion of Dan Albany. Strictly for informational purposes, of course.
Chapter Three
Dan rose at 5:00 a.m. on Saturday, as he did every morning. Like any well-trained athlete, he kept his body in superb condition with a strict regimen of exercise. Diet, he fudged on. He had a fondness for junk food, and so far his body hadn’t suffered. He didn’t believe half those horror stories put out by the doctors anyhow. A little pizza for breakfast never hurt anybody.
After polishing off half a pizza, he went into the den to check on Harvey. When he neared the fireplace, he noticed Janet’s green silk scarf lying on the rocking chair. He picked it up and let the silky material drift through his fingers. Her scent clung there. Jasmine. Such an old-fashioned, beautiful fragrance. Without thinking he put the scarf to his nose and inhaled.
Harvey whined.
Grinning sheepishly, Dan threw the scarf back onto the rocker and knelt beside the dog. “Sometimes coaches get foolish fancies, don’t we, boy?” He rubbed the dog’s head. “How are you feeling this morning? Up to breakfast?”
When he’d managed to get Harvey to eat a few bites of cold hot dog, Dan left for a brisk five-mile run. He returned feeling invigorated and ready for anything—even the ridiculously outspoken Dr. Hall.
Whistling, he bundled Harvey into his pickup truck and headed to the veterinarian.
o0o
Janet was waiting for him at the vet’s office, wearing a suit and classic pumps. Perfectly correct dress for a doctor. She probably wore the pumps to bed. The thought gave him a perverse sort of satisfaction.
“Good morning, Doc.”
“Good morning, Coach.”
The labels made clear exactly where they stood—on opposite sides of the battlefield.
“I’ve already signed Harvey in,” Janet said. “The receptionist should be calling his name soon.”
Dan watched her move toward him with that lovely fluid grace he’d noticed last night. She put her hand on Harvey’s head.
“How are you, boy?” She bent closer and scratched under the dog’s chin. “Feeling better? That’s a good boy.” The dog’s tail wagged feebly.
“Quite a bedside manner you’ve got there, Doc.”
“Would it surprise you to know it’s not a manner? It’s real feeling.”
“Not in the least. I believe last night proved you have feeling.”
The memory of his touch burned through her. Janet unbuttoned her wool suit jacket to let some of the heat escape. “It won’t happen again,” she assured him.
Although he was absolutely positive she was wrong for him, he hated being dismissed by her.
“We’ll see,” he said. He figured it was his male pride talking.
She figured it was his ego. “You need to practice your technique, Coach. Caveman tactics are out of style.”
“Not if they work.”
Two minutes together and they were already battling up a storm. Dan didn’t know why, but he hadn’t enjoyed a Saturday morning so much in a long, long time.
Before Janet could reply, the receptionist called her name.
“Janet Hall? You can bring Harvey back.”
“I’ll carry him,” Dan said.
“Fine. Let’s go.”
Together they walked toward the receptionist. Billie Jean Haskins, her name tag read. She was young and vivacious and bleached blond and trying very hard to make a good impression on her first day of work. She’d thought Janet Hall was beautiful but remote in a cool, professional sort of way. It surprised her to notice that the doctor had managed to land a man who seemed so... casual. His hair was windblown, his shirt was open at the throat, and his jeans were comfortably faded. He was the most devastating man Billie Jean had ever seen. She decided she could earn Brownie points with the doctor by complimenting her on her taste in men.
“My, my, Dr. Hall, I must say that there’s not a man in Tupelo to equal your husband.”
“He’s not my husband—”
“We’re not married—”
Janet and Dan spoke at the same time. Their denial was so vehement that Billie Jean was taken aback. She attempted to correct her mistake.
“Well, I just naturally assumed that he belonged to you, the two of you being so familiar and all. I mean, the way you were arguing a while ago, I just knew you were husband and wife.”
“We weren’t arguing—”
“We were just discussing—”
Janet and Dan looked at each other. He was the first to laugh. It started as a muffled chuckle and grew to a full-bodied roar of mirth. Janet joined him.
Billie Jean thought they were crazy. Besides that, they had made her wonder if she’d chosen the right job. Maybe she should have stuck to hairdressing the way her sister had advised her. But what did Mildred Ann know anyway? Billie Jean heaved a big sigh. Life was so tangled up it was a wonder anybody could get through without going loony.
“If you’ll follow me, I’ll take you back to Dr. Bailey.” She turned away from them and started down the hall toward the examining rooms.
Dan looked at the receptionist’s stiff back and proud little chin. He hurried forward and fell in step beside her.
“It was a natural mistake, honey. Please don’t think you offended us.” The only thing that had offended him was Janet’s vehement denial that they were married. She thought he was that unsuitable, did she?
Seeing Billie Jean’s obvious discomfort, Janet sought to reassure her. She caught up to them and patted Billie Jean’s arm. “It’s all right, Billie Jean. Anyone might have made that mistake. I’m certainly not upset.” Except at Dan Albany. He thought she was that wrong for him, did he?
She’d show him.
He’d show her.
Both tall people, Dan and Janet looked at each other across the top of Billie Jean’s head. He saw the wicked sparkle in her eye and she saw the determined light in his.
If she knew what was good for her, she’d never see him again.
If he had any sense he’d run like hell.
The drumbeat of their steps punctuated their thoughts as they marched down the tiled hallway. When they reached the examining room, the strong smell of antiseptic wafted through the open door.
He barely noticed.
Dan bowed from the waist. “After you.”
Janet thought he looked absurd, holding that big dog and bowing like some seventeenth-century cavalier, especially when she already knew he had no manners at all. Absurd, but charming in an offbeat way.
She gave him her most flirtatious smile. At least, she hoped it was flirtatious. Since it hadn’t been used since the Dark Ages, she couldn’t be sure.
“How gallant. Thank you, kind sir.”
Dan thought that smile looked as false as his Great-aunt Hettie’s teeth. False but cute in a funny, heart-tugging kind of way.
The veterinarian paid their odd behavior no attention. He was no doubt used to all kinds.
Suddenly aware of Dr. Bailey, they stopped their game long enough to tell him about Harvey. On the examining table the dog looked up at his two owners with mournful eyes, but his tail never stopped its weak wagging.
“He’s gritty, isn’t he?” Dr. Bailey said. “That wound looks as if it’s old, at a
couple of days, and yet he’s in surprisingly good shape.”
“He’s a fighter,” Dan said.
Janet knew the dog was a fighter, but she also knew that his wound was quite serious. “What’s the prognosis, Dr. Bailey?”
“There is a lot of infection. I’ll try to save the leg, but I won’t know for a few days. I’ll need to keep him here, of course.” He smiled at them. “He’s in good hands, and you can come to visit whenever you wish. No set visiting hours.”
Janet and Dan said their goodbyes to Harvey and left the office, both so busy with their plans that they barely noticed each other as they walked across the parking lot to their cars.
When she reached her car, Janet turned to Dan. “Do you have a busy day planned?”
“Soccer practice this afternoon.”
She didn’t want to tip her hand by asking where. She merely nodded and smiled.
“And you?” He opened the car door for her.
“I’m not on call this weekend. I’m going to enjoy the wicked pleasures of pampering myself all day, and tonight I’m going to indulge in the ballet.” Idle chatter, she thought, but it gave her time to assess her opponent. She slid into the front seat and treated him to another of her flirty smiles. She fancied she was getting better with practice. “Take care.”
“You, too.”
He gave her a small salute, then got into his old Ford pickup. It looked even more battered parked there beside her sporty Corvette, even if her car had seen better days. But appearances could be deceiving. Never judge a warrior by his battle gear. Chuckling, he turned the key and backed out of the lot.
Janet, just in front of him, tooted her horn and waved.
o0o
The first thing he did when he got home was look up her address in the telephone book. He didn’t know how he had managed to see her twice and still not know where she lived.
His fingers traced the Hs. There were several pages, but he was not discouraged. When a man sets out to prove to a woman that he is God’s answer to her prayers, nothing will stand in his way.
