Kindergarten? Brenna echoed. That must make you, what, eleven years old?
Morgan giggled. Four! But Im almost five.
Adam ruffled her hair fondly, looking more relaxed than he had since hed first pulled over for Brenna. She imagined that sitting in front of a plate of pot roast beat the heck out of interminable hours cooped up in a car with antsy kids. Thats right, he said. Well have to search Mistletoe for the perfect way to celebrate your birthday next Thursday.
Elizas fork hit the edge of her plate with a clatter. Friday! Her birthday is Friday. Dont you even know that?
Adam flushed darkly. I know exactly when each one of you was born. Morgans birthday is June twenty-sixth.
Thats Friday, Eliza said, less forcefully.
Oh. Her father leaned back against the vinyl bench. I was just confused about my days.
His oldest daughter nodded, while his younger daughter looked on apprehensively. Geoff continued to shovel in food at warp speed, sparing absolutely no attention for the people around him.
I promise, Adam added. I know every one of your birthdays. June twenty-sixth. February tenth. November third. Youre the most important people in my life.
Brenna was moved by the declaration but also vaguely uncomfortable at being present for it. She was barely at ease with open sentiment in her own family, much less a strangers. She focused on her fried-chicken salad with all the intensity of a grad student taking a final, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw Adam reach across the table for Elizas hand. And saw the girl reflexively jerk away.
Ouch.
Eliza shoved her plate to the side. She waited a beat before asking, Can I go play air hockey? Geoff can go with me.
The boy had emptied his plate, stopping just short of licking it clean.
Reluctantly Adam nodded. I guess. You need quarters?
No. Mom gave me money.
There was some shuffling as Brenna stood so that the two adolescents could get out of the booth.
Can I go, too? Morgan implored. I wanna watch.
Dont you want to finish your cheeseburger? Adam asked.
Nuh-uh. My tummy feels funny.
All right. But Ill save it for later in case you change your mind. His expression was nakedly poignant as he watched his children walk away. Whatever his shortcomings, he adored those three. Brenna hoped for his sake that he found a way to convince them of that in the next few weeks.
With a sigh, Adam looked at Brenna. You must think Im the worst parent in the world.
Far from it. Trust me.
I do surgeries where another persons life is literally in my hands, and it doesnt make me half as nervous as a two-minute conversation with my daughter.
With a sigh, Adam looked at Brenna. You must think Im the worst parent in the world.
Far from it. Trust me.
I do surgeries where another persons life is literally in my hands, and it doesnt make me half as nervous as a two-minute conversation with my daughter.
I dont know. She feigned confusion. Morgan didnt seem that scary to me.
His laugh was deep and appealing, and his dark eyes crinkled attractively at the corners. Believe it or not, I-
Brenna!
She turned her head, knowing her transportation dilemma had just been solved. Josh. Hey.
Her stepbrother dropped his arm from Natalies shoulders long enough to extend a hand across the table toward Adam. Im Brennas brother, Josh Pierce.
Dr. Adam Varner.
The two men shook, then Josh took a step back to continue the introductions, gesturing toward the very pretty blonde at his side.
This is Natalie Young, my girlfriend, Josh said. He looked from Brenna to Adam, then back again, grinning from ear to ear. And we are so glad to meet you.
Chapter Four
Brenna almost groaned at the naked joy in her stepbrothers expression. No, she wanted to tell him. Josh had made no secret of the fact that he wanted Brenna to date more, but Adam Varner was not an option. This was a critical time for her small company, her first potential growth spurt, a chance to turn a profit, instead of living bill to bill each month. Brenna needed to work hard this summer, not get distracted by a man-no matter how good looking he was, or how endearing his efforts with his kids. Besides, Adam had his own summer plans and would be gone in a few weeks.
Dr. Varner here is just passing through Mistletoe, she said quickly. He gave me a lift when my car died. Would you and Natalie mind taking me home?
Of course not, Josh said absently. His bright smile had dimmed to a frown. At first Brenna thought he was upset about the car situation-he and Fred had both nagged her to let Fred cosign on a car loan. Its no more than he would do for me, Josh had said.
Brenna had barely stopped herself from insisting that the situation was different. Instead, shed simply told him, I want to be self-sufficient. Need to be. When you grew up subject to the whims of an unstable parent, you found that as an adult, you liked to be in control. Reliant on no one.
So, Dr. Varner, youre an out-of-towner? Josh asked. His tone had subtly shifted from Welcome to the family to Youd better not have any outstanding warrants for your arrest. How convenient that you just happened to be driving by in time to pick up a lone woman in distress.
Adam looked unsure how to answer. We were glad to be able to help.
We? Josh echoed, his gaze darting to Brenna. Just how many strangers were in the car?
She sighed. Four, three of them not even old enough to drive. Stop looking at Dr. Varner as if hes suspect. And stop being so overprotective! Im the older sibling, remember?
As bossy as you are, he said lightly, how could I forget?
Natalie politely smothered her laugh.
Adam scooted over on the bench. Would you two like to sit down? We probably wont see my kids again until they run out of quarters.
Thank you. Natalie sat next to him, and Josh took a seat on Brennas side.
The waitress reappeared, clearing plates and promising a box for Morgans cheeseburger. When she asked if Josh and Natalie needed time to decide on their orders, Josh laughed. He had the menu memorized and had probably known what he wanted even before he parked his truck out front. He asked for the barbecue plate, and after a moments consideration, Natalie ordered a half-size fried-chicken salad.
So, Dr. Varner Natalie began.
Please, call me Adam. Doctor seems too formal for vacation. And I desperately need a vacation, he added with a rueful grin.
Considering his traveling companions, Brenna doubted hed get any real rest or relaxation.
The blonde returned his smile, her interrogation techniques a lot more amiable than Joshs. What brings you to Mistletoe?
Three weeks of bonding with my kids. I have two girls and a teenage son. Were looking forward to hiking, exploring the town. Well be staying at the Chattavista.
What a coincidence! Natalie said. Josh works for the lodge.
It wasnt that big a coincidence-there were only two real places for tourists to stay around here. The Mistletoe Inn located downtown, as it were, and the more rustic Chattavista Lodge outside the town proper. Nestled among hills dotted with Georgia wildflowers, the lodge was in perfect proximity to a river that offered fishing, tubing and rafting. People made the most of outdoor sports in the spring, summer and brilliantly colored fall. During the colder months of the year, when holiday visitors were more likely to stay at the inn, the lodge offered discount space for corporate retreats, attracting businesspeople from Atlanta and surrounding states.
I take groups out on the river, Josh said. Well, and answer the phone and other stuff. But white-water rafting is a much more exciting job description.
Brenna smiled in his direction, feeling a big-sister rush of pride. And also feeling suddenly, inexplicably old. The quiet, shaggy-haired boy whod seemed unsure how to react when his father married Brennas mother was now a broad-shouldered, confident man. Despite his joking about playing outdoors for a living, she knew how committed he was to doing a good job. Josh is a trained guide, a CPR instructor and a certified Wilderness First Responder.
Josh flashed a grin across the table at Natalie. Brennas just trying to make me sound good for you. Is it working?
His girlfriend chuckled, but before she could reply, the waitress returned with their food.
Josh offered his heartfelt thanks, then stole a glance at Brenna. There was a mischievous gleam in his eye. Now, if I wanted to repay the favor and make Brenna sound good for anyones benefit, I might mention how she kept making the deans list and got her MBA.
Apparently hed weighed the potential risks of Adams being a total stranger against the likelihood of Brenna finding another boyfriend soon and had come down in favor of the good doctor.
Well, cant fault his taste, anyway.
You have an MBA? Adam asked, looking at Brenna in surprise.
Some people found it perplexing that shed busted her butt for six years in higher education and now walked dogs. I interned at a corporation after I got my bachelors, then tried jobs at two other places once I completed my MBA. After three false starts, I realized that cubicles and Monday-morning meetings just arent for me. I lack the corporate group-think mentality. More alarmingly, shed felt restless, edgy. For the first time in her life, shed worried about turning into her mother, so shed abruptly quit and come home to Mistletoe, wanting to feel grounded.
And it had worked. Creating her own business from the ground up was challenging but immensely satisfying; she was carving out her own unique place among family and friends. My MBA isnt being wasted, though. I am my own marketing staff, HR and accounting department.
Lot of responsibility, Adam said.
Its not exactly on a par with heart surgery, she said with a wry smile, but I am very aware that people are trusting me with keys to their homes and members of their family. Furry, four-legged members, but still.
Its not exactly on a par with heart surgery, she said with a wry smile, but I am very aware that people are trusting me with keys to their homes and members of their family. Furry, four-legged members, but still.
Dad! Geoff yelled from the middle of the dining room. Adam whipped his head around as if anticipating an emergency, but Geoffs chief concern as he ambled toward them seemed to be, Any food left?