by Ann Omasta
As I tried to go to sleep, flashes from my stressful day kept popping into my mind. Each time the handsome doctor made an appearance a pair of darker, more mysterious eyes swept in and took over. It didn’t make a bit of sense. I wasn’t the type to be attracted to a notorious bad-boy.
For all I knew, the stranger that was trying to rescue the kitten was a mass-murderer. The rumor around town was that he had recently been released from prison, so it was hard telling what he’d done to end up there. I didn’t want to give any extra fuel to the small-town rumor mill fire, but there was usually at least a nugget of truth buried in there somewhere.
Besides, Noah was perfect for me, and I had a date scheduled with him for tomorrow. I woke up today with no viable boyfriend prospects, and now I had two. Wait, scratch that… I had one nearly-perfect man that seemed to be interested in me, whom I should be completely focused on––Dr. Noah James.
I fell asleep with thoughts of my upcoming date with Noah swirling through my mind, so why did I end up dreaming about the handsome, rough-around-the-edges, kitten-saving stranger? Frustrated with my misbehaving subconscious, I huffed out a breath and struggled to extricate myself from the tangled sheets.
Today was the day of my date with Noah, and I wouldn’t let anything get in the way of that. We were destined to find happiness together. I was sure of it.
Time seemed to crawl by in super-slow motion as I tried to study, but secretly watched the clock counting down the minutes until it would be time to get ready for my date with Noah. At around two in the afternoon, I began to wonder if it was possible for the seconds to actually tick by in reverse. It certainly felt like it.
I called the vet’s office to check in on the kitten and was surprised when Noah answered the phone. Apparently, he didn’t yet have any office help. Visions of living in his huge, old-fashioned home and helping him run the office as his wife danced through my mind. Our kids could grow up learning how to care for the animals.
Realizing I was jumping ahead with these daydreams as quickly as my mother would, I used my best professional voice to ask him about the kitten’s well-being. He indicated that he’d been bottle-feeding the little guy, and that he still needed near-constant care. He promised that he would be ready to come home in about a week. I doubted if my parents would allow me to adopt a kitten, since my dad was allergic, but decided that maybe I could talk the stranger into taking him. After promising to see Noah at the restaurant at the allotted time tonight, we ended the call.
I tried studying, but found myself reading the same page of my tort law book several times and still not absorbing a word of it. I slammed the book shut and gave up for the day. My mind was too distracted for studying.
Instead, I decided to take a long bath with some of the luxurious lilac-scented bath oil Molly had given me for my birthday. A girl could do with a bit of pampering before her first date with her future husband. I would just have to be careful not to say anything to that effect tonight. Nothing would scare an eligible bachelor off faster than a clingy, needy woman with visions of marriage dancing through her head on the first date.
Once I was clean and dry, I put on my favorite little black dress. It was short, swingy, and classic. I paired it with some reasonable black heels, ran a straightener through my chin-length blonde hair, slid on some red lip gloss, and declared myself to be ready.
I tried to sneak out of the house without my parents seeing me, but Mom had an eagle-eye for anything that might bring her closer to having additional grandchildren.
“Don’t you look lovely. Special night?” she asked in a too-high tone before I could slip past the kitchen.
“Nothing too exciting.” I tried to blow off the question, but she was like a dog with a fresh, meaty bone.
“Is that so?” She quirked a single brow in my direction, making me wonder what she knew.
Rather than risk being caught in a lie, I gave a half-nod. This prompted her to say, “Hmm. Mimi mentioned seeing that handsome, young veterinarian walking out of the men’s store this morning with a new tie. Is that timing a coincidence?”
“Perhaps,” I answered before running out the door. Leave it to the older generation of women in this town to know what was going on, even at the men’s store. Secrets were not something that could survive any length of time in this town.
I got to the small Italian restaurant early, but Noah was already there waiting for me. He was prompt, too. It was starting to appear that the man truly was perfect.
He stood when I approached the table. I gave him a genuine smile in greeting before sitting down.
“I love your tie,” I commented as soon as I was settled in my chair, silently thanking my mom for the tip.
“Oh, this old thing?” He gave me a knowing smile, making me wonder if he had already figured out that seeing Mimi outside the store meant that I already knew he’d purchased it this morning.
He asked my permission before ordering a fancy bottle of red wine, cheesy garlic bread, and lasagna for us both. If we ended up going on additional dates, I would have to let him know I prefer to order my own food. For tonight, I decided to take it as a chivalrous, if slightly old-fashioned, gesture.
I was disappointed when I heard him order the garlic toast. That didn’t bode well for our chances of sharing a fantastic goodnight kiss.
Once the wine arrived, I took a big gulp. My nerves could use a swift kick in the pants, and I was hoping the alcohol would be just what was needed to liven up our conversation.
He showed me how to swirl and sip the wine to properly appreciate the ‘nose’ as I tried not to comment on how pretentious he sounded as he schooled me.
I forced myself to let that slight annoyance go, and soon, we were chatting about everything under the sun. He told me about the frogs and snakes he used to sneak into his room as a child. Caring for them was what helped him decide to study to become a veterinarian. I told him about my constant need for justice, even in playground disputes, that led me to a career in the law.
“But you didn’t finish law school?” I tried not to notice the judgment that edged his tone.
“Not yet,” I answered, doing my best not to sound defensive.
“Hmm.” I’m sure he intended for it to sound noncommittal, but he ended up just seeming like a pompous ass.
I was ready to toss down my napkin and leave in a huff, until he added, “I’m sure you’ll finish and pass the bar exam. You seem like the type of woman who can do anything she puts her mind to.”
The compliment and subsequent raising of his glass in my direction blew me away. I had been starting to become convinced that he didn’t like me at all, and that we were all wrong for each other, but then he knocked it out of the park with his kind, sincere-sounding words.
“Thank you,” I said, even as I felt my cheeks flush with heat.
To shift the subject back to him, I asked, “How are you liking our little town?”
“Oh, I love it!” he enthused.
I gave him a wide smile because I couldn’t agree more with his glowing assessment of the picturesque location that we called home.
He seemed to be lost in thought when he said, “My Grammy brought our family here on vacation a couple of times when I was a kid. Those trips are some of the best memories of my childhood.”
Something about the wistful way he uttered the words made me think that he didn’t have a lot of happy memories from growing up, but I decided not to ask him about it just yet. We had plenty of time to discover all of each other’s secrets.
The conversation flowed naturally after that, and soon it was time for dessert. I was stuffed, so I suggested we go for a walk downtown, instead. Noah readily agreed.
He paid for dinner and took my elbow to escort me from the restaurant, reconfirming my initial impression that he was a gentleman.
As we walked past the harbor, I shivered and pulled my light, knit shawl more tightly around my shoulders. Noah immediately noticed and offered me his suit jacket.
I gladly accepted and smiled as I hugged the fabric that was still warm from his body heat around me.
He offered to buy me ice cream from the train caboose, but I declined. “Normally, I can’t turn down ice cream, but I’m too chilly and full tonight.”
“As you wish,” he murmured gallantly as he wheeled us around to head back toward the area where we had parked our vehicles.
I pointed out my little car and said, “That one is mine.”
He backed me up against the driver’s side door and asked, “Can I see you again?”
“That would be wonderful,” I answered honestly, before adding, “But I’m going to need to prioritize my best friend’s custody battle over dating. They are fast-tracking it to court, since her fiancé is wealthy and famous, so it may start taking up a large amount of my time.”
Noah’s dark brows cinched together as if he was truly perplexed. “Grant Chandler is letting an unlicensed lawyer work on his custody case?”
I was not surprised that he figured out who I was talking about. It would be hard to live in this town and not know about the movie star’s latest woes, but the condescending tone he used when asking the question made me bristle with annoyance.
“Yes, he realizes the benefit of having someone who truly cares about the outcome on his team,” I snapped in response. I purposely left out the fact that Grant had the exact same concerns about my inclusion on the legal team for the case.
“I didn’t mean to offend you,” Noah said, proving that he quickly picked up on my irritation. “I was just surprised to hear that he didn’t hire the most expensive, experienced law firm around.”
“Oh, he did,” I assured him. “They are just adding me into the mix.”
“Gotcha,” Noah said, just before he leaned in to press his lips to mine.
His kiss was soft and warm. I reached up to wrap my arms around his neck as he pulled me closer.
A noise just to our left drew both of our attention. We turned our heads just in time to see the stranger from last night staring at us with a stunned expression.
For some strange reason, guilt churned in my stomach at having been caught kissing by this particular man.
Noah’s hands fell from my lower back as he stepped back and said in a flat tone, “Gage.”
The man’s deep voice responded in the same unemotional tone, “Noah.”
My wide-eyed gaze volleyed back and forth between the two of them before I asked, “You two know each other?”
“Yes, he’s my brother,” Gage answered just before Noah clarified, “Half-brother.”
With that, Gage turned and stalked away from us.
7
Avery
To say I was stunned by the revelation that Noah and Gage were half-brothers would be the understatement of the year. How had this news not leaked out via the town’s infamous grapevine?
Noah made almost as quick of an exit as Gage had after our awkward interaction. I didn’t have the chance to ask my date any questions, so now they were swirling through my mind unanswered.
Did these two very different men grow up in the same household? Did they not get along? It certainly seemed like that might be the case. Where was the rest of their family? Why was Gage sent to prison?
No matter how much I tried to convince myself that I was only interested in Noah, Gage would not leave my mind alone. Some irrational part of my heart was convinced that he was simply misunderstood.
I shook my head as I pondered my own silliness. It was precisely this type of fuzzy logic that left me alone, while everyone else was happily paired off. A handsome, charming doctor, who cared for animals, was actively pursuing me, yet I couldn’t seem to keep thoughts of his bad-boy half-brother out of my head.
As if she was sensing my dilemma, my cell phone began jangling with an incoming call from Molly. The moment I picked up, she said, “I need some juicy gossip to distract me from all of this stress. Tell me all about your date with the hot doggy doctor.”
“Hot doggy?” I chuckled at my silly friend before answering, “It was fine.”
“Fine?!?” Molly practically spluttered into the phone. “Oh no, that doesn’t sound good at all. What’s wrong with him? Does he talk with his mouth full? Speak too loud on his cell phone? Chomp his ice? Pick his nose?”
“Eww, no.” Even when she was upset, Molly could still manage to cheer me up.
“What’s the problem, then? I know he’s handsome and has a killer smile. He proved that he remains calm and helpful in an emergency. Oh, and he’s a doctor. If I wasn’t already madly in love, I might ask him out myself.”
Molly audibly sucked in a breath, “Wait… is he too serious? Does his sense of humor suck?”
“No, his sense of humor seems fine. He even has some funny signs about ‘being the person your dog thinks you are’ posted in his office,” I answered.
“There’s that ‘fine’ word again,” Molly said quietly.
I smiled over how astute she was. “Yes, on paper, he checks all the right boxes for being boyfriend and possibly even potential-husband material.”
“But…” she prompted me.
“I don’t know. Something is missing between us. There isn’t a jolting spark of attraction that crackles in the air when we’re near each other, like you and Grant have.”
“You can see that firing back and forth between us?” Molly sounded astounded that her radiating happiness might actually be visible to the naked eye.
“No,” I giggled at her. “But I sense it. You two have a magnetic connection between your souls, like my brother and Claire have. I want that, too.”
I was tempted to tell her about Gage, but sensed that now wasn’t the right time.
“I understand wanting that, and you deserve nothing less,” Molly said, fully accepting my explanation.
“Tell that to my mother,” I grouched, knowing the woman would be absolutely devastated and beyond disappointed in me for not bagging the eligible veterinarian as a husband.
It was Molly’s turn to chuckle now. “No way! That is all you. Use some of your fancy legalese to confuse her into complacency.”
“I wish I could,” I lamented before asking, “Speaking of legalese… Any news on the lawsuit? Please tell me the birth mother changed her mind and dropped it.”
“Nope, it’s full steam ahead,” Molly answered sadly before perking up slightly. “But they have agreed to hold the proceedings in Maine, since so many people on the film crew are counting on Grant to be here to finish the movie.”
“That’s good news,” I answered half-heartedly, overcome by sadness that my friend was facing down this potentially devastating loss.
It simply wasn’t fair. Molly couldn’t love Scout any more if she had given birth to him. She was his mom. His birth mother had given him up and not even bothered to see him for most of his life, yet she had legal rights to the boy that Molly would never have.
Deciding to share the idea that had been swirling around my brain, I said, “I know you’re planning a big wedding, but what would you think about having a quick, civil ceremony?”
Molly’s silence on the other end of the line made me wonder if she thought I’d lost my mind. Rushing to explain, I added, “You can always have a fancy, formal affair later, but an official marriage certificate would give you some parental rights with Scout that you don’t have as Grant’s fiancé. It would seal the two of you as a cohesive family unit for Scout that may give you an edge over his single birth mother, who abandoned him.”
“You are a genius!” Molly half-shouted, making me move the cell phone away from my ear. I was glad I had made the adjustment when she yelled, “Grant, we’re getting hitched tomorrow.”
The sound was muffled for a moment as she explained my suggestion to her fiancé. He proved that he wholeheartedly agreed with the idea when he whooped with excitement at a high enough volume that I could have practically heard it from across town without our phone connection.
With that de
cision made, Molly and I excitedly started making plans for her quickie wedding.
8
Avery
Molly and Grant’s wedding at the courthouse was small, intimate, and perfect in every way. Her brother, Max, stood by Grant’s side as his best man, while I took my place as Molly’s maid of honor. The two of us had been planning for this moment since we were kids. While the venue didn’t look quite as lavish as we had anticipated, the obvious love shared between the bride and groom couldn’t have been more perfect.
Max’s wife, Danica, our town’s doctor, focused on making sure all the details, from the flowers to the dress, were just right for the last-minute occasion. Molly’s parents stood side-by-side with their eyes shining with pride as they watched their delighted daughter marry the famous movie star.
Since I was the only adult in attendance without a date, I carried Scout and helped him with his duties as the official ring bearer. I had already agreed to babysit him until tomorrow, so the newlyweds could have some privacy.
Once the vows were pledged and the happy couple was pronounced husband and wife, Molly plopped down into Grant’s wheelchair. She bellowed with laughter as he enthusiastically wheeled her away. Scout’s pudgy hands clapped together and his eyes danced with glee as he watched his parents’ giddy departure.
How could anyone even consider taking this child away from the two of them? It simply didn’t make sense. I wished the judge could see this happy scene. It would prove that these three were a cohesive family that should remain together.
Once the newly-married couple left, the celebration quickly broke apart. I said my goodbyes and carried Scout out of the courthouse.
Looking down at him, I asked, “What should we do with the rest of our day, little man?”
