“When?” Dawn asked.
“He should be there any minute. This job at the Dalton Law Office will only be a few hours, so when I get home I’m going to help him.”
Great, Dawn thought. Grocery shopping was sounding better and better. “Do I need to let him in?”
“He has a key.”
Super swell. “Okay.”
“And before you say anything, I don’t want you to help. No offense, sweetie, but you’re not a very good painter. More of it goes on you than the walls.”
For once incompetence worked in her favor. “Don’t hold back, Mom. Tell me how you really feel.”
Glory laughed, then there was a long silence.
“Mom? Are you still there?”
“Yes. I was just trying to decide whether or not to confess something to you.”
“Well, now I’m curious. You can’t drop that then clam up.” Dawn straightened away from the kitchen counter. “What?”
“Has Dr. Clifton—Jon—said anything to you?”
“He says a lot.” Dawn couldn’t imagine where this was going. “After all, we work together.”
“Did he mention that we talked the other night when I cleaned the clinic?”
Dawn’s stomach knotted. The fact that their paths crossed wasn’t a big deal. Everyone at the clinic knew he stayed after hours to catch up with paperwork. Glory had filled in for one of her employees, so of course they would exchange words. It was the confess part that gave her pause.
“What did you talk to him about, Mom?”
“Oh, this and that. Then I warned him that he better not hurt you.”
“No.” Dawn felt heat creep into her cheeks.
“It’s been a couple days. I thought he might have said something.”
“Actually we’ve been really busy. Hardly exchanged two words that weren’t about work.” She was certainly at a loss for words now. This was embarrassing on so many levels.
“Hmm,” Glory said. “Then I probably should have kept it to myself.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I figured it would be best if you found out from me.”
Dawn knew her mother had her reasons. “But why right now? Come on, out with it.”
“Now seemed good because we’re not in the same room. And you don’t have to see Jon until Monday. That gives you two days to get over it.”
“I can’t believe you did that, Mom.”
“The kiss shook you up. You’re my child and I was concerned,” Glory defended herself. “You can be mad at me if you want, but I would do it again.”
“Oh, Mom—”
“It’s no big deal. He said the same thing you did. Just friends and I believe him. No harm, no foul. Unless you have deeper feelings for him than you’re admitting.”
“Of course not.”
That was probably true. Although she had to admit, if only to herself, that being off this weekend didn’t inspire the usual elation, because work was so much more appealing with Jon there. She looked forward to seeing him every day. Except not so much now, after what her mom had done, no matter how well-intentioned.
“Okay, sweetie. I have to go. I’m sorry I interfered. Try not to stay mad at me for too long. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
Dawn let out a long breath after ending the call. Remembering Hank was coming any minute, she grabbed her keys and purse, then headed to her car. From the house, she drove north on Main Street to Crawford’s General Store. Her mother’s declaration of guilt kept playing through her mind. And she was right about one thing. If she didn’t care what Jon thought of her outside work it wouldn’t matter that Glory butted in. With that in mind, Dawn tried not to be upset, but she couldn’t quite manage it. How in the world was she going to face Jon on Monday morning?
She turned right on Cedar Street and into the store parking lot, then exited her car. Still preoccupied with the mother-daughter conversation she rounded the corner and headed for the store entrance. And that’s when it happened.
She came face-to-face with Jon Clifton.
His face was as handsome as always but she could feel hers turning red.
“Hi.” He was wearing his Stetson, aviator sunglasses, snap-front shirt, jeans and boots. Nothing about him screamed pediatrician. Anyone who didn’t know him would figure he was a cowboy.
“Hi, yourself.” Dawn had stopped just in front of him, close enough to feel the heat from his body.
“What are you doing here?”
“Grocery shopping.” She forced herself to meet his gaze. “You?”
“Same. What are the odds of meeting like this?”
“Apparently one hundred percent.”
He grinned, a look designed by God to make female hearts skip a beat. “What a coincidence.”
To her it felt more like a force pulling them together. An ironic force, she thought. One that decided it would be amusing for her to see him within half an hour of learning her mom had warned him off.
“I’m so sorry, Jon,” she blurted, twisting her fingers together.
“For grocery shopping? Why?” He took her elbow and steered her back a couple of steps away from the entrance in order not to block it. “This store isn’t big enough for the both of us?”
“No. Of course not.” She caught the corner of her lip between her teeth for a moment. “I found out that my mother talked to you. About me.”
“Yes. The kiss,” he confirmed. Damn sunglasses hid the expression in his eyes.
“Right. I didn’t put her up to it.” She held up her hand as if taking an oath in court.
“It never occurred to me that you did.”
“That night—after the staff party—when I got home—”
“Yeah, she told me.” He didn’t look upset. “It’s okay, Dawn. She’s your mom. You’re lucky to have her on your side.”
“I know. It’s just—well, you and I had a rocky start and we worked it out. Things are going well.” And she cared what he thought of her outside of work. That pushed her feelings into the personal. “I just don’t want to go back to the bad place.”
“Not a chance. We’re both reasonable people. If disagreements arise—and I’m sure they will—we know how to handle them. I’m truly not offended by what your mother said. I can sign something in blood if that would convince you I’m telling the truth.”
“No. That won’t be necessary.” But she couldn’t help laughing.
Jon studied her for a moment, hesitating, then said, “Do you want to grab a cup of coffee at Daisy’s Donut Shop? I haven’t eaten yet this morning because there was no food in the house. And you know what they say about shopping on an empty stomach.”
“I do.” A weight lifted from her. She was so relieved that he didn’t seem upset about her mother’s interference. “And I’m going to rationalize that a doughnut is the lesser of two evils. In five minutes I could shove enough junk food in my shopping basket to put on five pounds. Two and a half on each thigh. Not pretty.”
He glanced down at her legs in her favorite worn jeans and there was a look of pure male appreciation on his face. “I disagree. Vehemently.”
Dawn felt warmth in her cheeks again but this time in a good way. To take the heat off, she made a show of checking out his legs, looking awfully masculine in his own jeans. “Yours aren’t so bad, either.”
“Thank you.”
This was definitely tipping into personal territory and she felt obligated to make at least a token attempt at a protest. “Since you grew up in Thunder Canyon you probably already know this, but if we are seen getting doughnuts together people will talk.”
“True.” Jon didn’t look especially concerned. “Hmm. To the best of my knowledge I’ve never been the subject of town gossip. Might
be fun to give everyone something to talk about,” he suggested. “What do you think?”
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re diabolical?”
“Are you flirting with me, Nurse Laramie?”
“Absolutely not, Dr. Clifton,” she answered, in the spirit of teasing. “Just asking a question.”
“Well, I’m turning over a new leaf. You should come along and watch. It could be very exciting.” He tipped his sunglasses down to reveal a deliciously wicked look in his eyes that suddenly darkened to a sexy shade of bad boy blue.
“Be still my heart,” she said. She fanned her face with a hand and was only half teasing. “How can a girl resist a temptation like that?”
“Excellent. Might as well walk. It’s just a short way to Cedar Street and a half block down on Broomtail Road.”
“Good idea. Work off that doughnut.” Dawn fell into step beside him. “Not only do I love Daisy’s buttermilk doughnuts, but the longer I’m out of the house, the better.”
“Why?”
“Hank’s coming over to paint.”
“And you’re trying to get out of baseboard duty?”
“Well, no. Actually I’ve been informed that my services aren’t required.”
“Why is that?” He had a long stride and it was a challenge to keep up.
“Probably because my mom wants the walls to actually look good.” Dawn tripped on an uneven spot in the sidewalk because she’d been distracted by his grin.
He took her arm to steady her, then dropped his hand as if he’d touched a hot stove. “Your painting skills are substandard?”
“That’s what I’m told. Apparently I have many fine qualities but painting isn’t one of them.”
“I sense there’s another reason that you’re grateful for a doughnut run giving you a reason to procrastinate.”
“Besides being diabolical, you’re very intuitive, Doctor.” She met his gaze. “I don’t particularly want to hang out with Hank. Mom gave him a key to the house.”
They passed Bee’s Beauty Parlor and Wings To Go, then stopped in front of the door to Daisy’s and he grabbed the handle. “I’m also sensing hostility.”
“Congratulations on your diagnosis.”
When he opened the door, she preceded him inside where they got in line. The place was crowded and the tables filled with people talking. No one paid any attention to the newcomers.
“You know, Dawn, I have no business giving advice. I know anatomy and physiology. I’m a science guy and the intricacies of relationships confuse the hell out of me.”
“But?” she prompted when he hesitated.
“But—” His observation had to wait as it was their turn to order.
They did and the service was quick. He ordered a lemon doughnut to her buttermilk, and neither wanted a fancy latte, just basic black coffee. Since it was a beautiful day they opted to sit at one of the outside tables by themselves.
Dawn broke off a piece of doughnut and ate it, then met his gaze. “So, relationships scare the hell out of you. That’s because of your ex?”
“I take part of the responsibility because, like I said, relationships confuse the hell out of me. But we were talking about your father.”
“Hank.”
“Yes.” He nodded. “It would appear he’s trying to make amends.”
“He’s going to let my mother down again.”
“Maybe.” Jon blew on his hot coffee, then took a sip. “Maybe not. But it might be better if you let him screw up before punishing him.”
“He’s already screwed up. More times than I can count,” she protested.
“Recently?” His voice was calm, an island of reason in a sea of chaos.
She thought about that and reluctantly admitted, “No.”
“Could be he’s turning over a new leaf. It’s going around.”
Impossibly, that made her smile. “Taking a page from the diabolical doctor’s book?”
“Stranger things have happened.” He shrugged. “Why not just meet him halfway?”
“You mean give him enough rope to hang himself?” she said.
“I’m glad to see you’re so open-minded,” he teased.
“Nice of you to notice.”
“I aim to please.”
He certainly pleased her, in a lot of ways. For one, he’d managed to get her to relax for the first time since the phone conversation with her mother and finding out Hank had a house key. Jon had given her a different perspective and she would think about what he’d said.
What didn’t please her was how pathetically easy it had been for him to convince her to spend time with him. It was all kinds of dangerous, what with her hyperactive hormones that refused to behave. There must be a way to sedate them because nothing had changed. She still worked with him and the pesky attraction just wouldn’t go away.
The bottom line was she didn’t want to get hurt again and there were a lot of ways to get hurt when you crossed the line from friends to lovers.
Chapter Ten
On Monday Dawn managed to pull off a minor miracle and actually get home from the clinic a little early. Her sister and niece were coming over for dinner and she always looked forward to seeing them. After rounding the corner she saw that Glory hadn’t arrived yet but Marina’s car was in front of the house. Like Hank, she also had a key.
After hurrying up the sidewalk she let herself inside and immediately smelled the delicious aroma of the roast she’d put in the Crock-Pot before going to work that morning. She called out, “I’m home.”
“In the family room.”
Dawn saw her sister sitting on the floor with baby Sydney on an animal print blanket in front of her. “How’s my favorite girl?”
“Great!” Marina said wryly.
“I was talking to my niece.”
“I’m crushed.” There was an amused expression on her sister’s freckled face. “FYI, when you have a baby no one is interested in you anymore. The mother disappears. It’s all about the child. Consider this a public service announcement so you’ll be prepared.”
“Duly noted.” Dawn dropped her purse on the couch, then sat down on the floor beside her sister. “But your warning is wasted on me. I don’t believe I will ever have a child.”
“How can you be so sure?” Marina asked.
“You should understand better than anyone. I don’t want a man.”
“You don’t need one.” Marina thought about that statement for a moment. “Well, technically you do, but his presence isn’t required in raising the child.”
“We are proof of that,” Dawn agreed. “And now that we don’t need Hank around he keeps turning up. What’s that about?”
“Beats me.” Marina tenderly took her baby’s bare foot and brushed her thumb over the bottom.
“Hank was here for dinner recently and he said something about Syd. Implied he’d seen her.” The last time she’d seen her sister was Sunday breakfast, but her mom was there. She couldn’t bring this up in front of Glory.
“Yeah. He brought a baby gift. A little stuffed pink unicorn.” Her sister hesitated for a moment, then added, “And he put the crib together.”
“No way.” Dawn was surprised.
“Yeah. Syd’s been sleeping in the cradle since she was born, but she’s four months old now and is getting too big for it. The crib was still in the box and he offered to set it up.” She tucked a long, straight strand of red hair behind her ear. “I let him.”
Dawn had to admit the man was doing all the right things. He’d been there for Glory every time he said he would be. The faint smell of paint still lingered in the back bedrooms and was proof of his presence. Just a couple of days ago Jon had suggested she let him make a mistake before punishing him. But Jon hadn’t experience
d years of unmet expectations and broken promises. He didn’t know the bitter disappointment, the soul-deep sadness of a little girl let down over and over again.
“How do you feel about him, Marina? Hank, I mean.”
“I honestly don’t know. It doesn’t hurt me anymore but I worry about Mom. And now Syd. Protecting her is my top priority. A little girl without a father is especially vulnerable to the potential heartbreak of letting a man into her life who doesn’t stick around.”
“I never thought about it like that. You not only have to worry about yourself, but your baby girl.” Affectionately she nudged her sister’s shoulder with her own. She smiled at the little girl who was alternately waving her arms and legs and gnawing on her fist. “She’s so beautiful. And you are an outstanding mom.”
“I appreciate that and have to say I learned from the best.” Marina nudged her back. “You’ll be a terrific mother, too.”
“Like I said, it’s unlikely that I’ll ever trust a man enough to let him into my life.”
Her sister’s blue eyes narrowed. “That’s not what I heard.”
“What did you hear?”
“Someone saw you and Jon Clifton chatting outside Crawford’s General Store on Saturday morning. For a long time, I might add.”
This was Monday, so it hadn’t taken long for the two of them to be the subject of town gossip and for that gossip to reach her sister. “It’s true. We did run into each other.”
“And?”
“And what?” Dawn planned to make Marina work for this. After all, what was the point of being the subject of gossip if you couldn’t torture your sister with it?
“And then you went to Daisy’s for coffee.”
“Don’t forget the buttermilk doughnut. And he had a lemon filled.” She snapped her fingers. “We both take our coffee black.”
“It’s a sign.” Marina was completely undaunted by the sarcasm and lack of cooperation in extracting information.
“Of?”
“Compatibility.”
“Don’t be a romantic, sis.”
“I’m not. But remember I said it first. I told you that you were wildly attracted to the new doctor. You were so passionate in putting him down that it was clear to me you were a little bit smitten.”
Her Maverick M.D. Page 12
