Dr. Emily Berthoff was as gorgeous as ever.

Emily raised her eyes and met Kevin’s. Her demure smile seemed to hold a touch of sadness and the air whooshed from his lungs, leaving him with a burning need for oxygen.

He studied her intently, remembering…. Suddenly her hunter-green dress faded to white, a veil covered her face and her smile was full of love…. Kevin furiously blinked the dream away.

“Why didn’t you tell me Emily was coming?” Kevin asked.

His best friend, Bryan, looked unconvincingly baffled. “Did I forget to mention that?”

“Yeah, I’d say you forgot to mention that!” Kevin mocked.

“A lot has changed in seven years.”

Kevin scowled at his friend. “Eight. And yeah, a lot has changed. I’ve just made a bid that will put my entire business at stake, and I don’t need some woman turning my life around to fit her agenda.”

“I wouldn’t exactly call your ex-fiancée some woman.”

CAROL STEWARD

lives with her hero/husband of twenty years and three teenage children in Greeley, Colorado. When she isn’t busy caring for preschoolers in her home, she keeps busy with the activities of her daughter and two sons, and with volunteer work for various organizations. A retired cake decorator, Carol enjoys camping, restoring antiques, tole-painting, needlework, gardening, traveling, sewing and collecting Noah’s Ark items.

She loves to hear from readers. You may write to her at Carol Steward P.O. Box 5021 Greeley, CO 80631-0021.

Second Time Around
Carol Steward

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Two are better than one, because they have a good

reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up

his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he

falls and has not another to lift him up….

A threefold cord is not quickly broken.

—Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12

For my mother, Phillis Bohannan, for teaching me

never to give up. Thanks, Mom.

Acknowledgments:

To Robin and Michelle for your inspiration even

before God introduced us.

Many thanks to Marty, Deb and Bette for your

expertise and continued support.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Letter to Reader

Chapter One

From the parlor, building contractor Kevin MacIntyre heard the church bells outside announcing the celebration. He ran a finger inside his shirt collar, suddenly feeling as stuffed as insulation between two-by-four studs. Why the suit bothered him today, he hadn’t a clue. He wasn’t the type to shy away from formal occasions. In fact, he typically enjoyed them. He guessed it was because his best friend was making the long-awaited trip to the altar, and Kevin had yet to find Miss Perfect. With all the hours I’m putting in at work, I don’t have time for anyone else, anyway. What do I care?

Kevin picked up a miniature plastic football and tossed it to the groom. The music began softly, then grew louder and faster. Kevin opened the door to the chapel and peeked out to see if it was time for them to take their places. The usher escorted the beautiful guest down the aisle on his arm. Dr. Emily Berthoff was as gorgeous as ever.

Emily raised her eyes and met Kevin’s. Her demure smile seemed to hold a touch of sadness, and the air whooshed from his lungs, leaving him with a burning need for oxygen.

He studied her intently, remembering… Suddenly, her hunter-green dress faded to white, a veil covered her face, and her smile was full of love…. Kevin furiously blinked the dream away. No longer concerned with starting any wedding, he pushed the door closed. “Why didn’t you tell me Emily was coming?”

The groom looked unconvincingly baffled. “Did I forget to mention that?” Bryan threw the football back across the room, the ball hitting Kevin in the stomach before dropping to the floor.

“Yeah, I’d say you forgot to mention that!” Kevin mocked.

Bryan followed his chortling toddler across the room to get the toy, and the two embraced in a growling hug. “Just be glad Barb is feeling better. Laura was going to ask Emily to stand in as the maid of honor.”

Kevin straightened his suit, then combed the unruly waves of hair back into place with his fingers. “Laura’s trying to get even with me, isn’t she? Your future wife has a warped sense of humor.”

Bryan chuckled.

Jacob handed Kevin the football. He picked the toddler up and tossed Bryan the ball. “Go tackle your dad,” Kevin whispered into Jacob’s ear as he set the boy down. Then Kevin watched with envy as his best friend and son played together, casually waiting for Pastor Mike to come for them. I’m going to miss having Jacob around.

“She’s a romantic. Thinks you and Emily should give it another try.” Bryan checked his watch, stuffed the toys into a baby-size backpack, then pulled his suit jacket on. “You’ve got to admit, Emily is still available—not to mention as beautiful as always.”

“Even if I did admit it, it doesn’t mean anything.” Kevin had chased away memories of Emily Berthoff long ago. Moved on with his life. Pursued his dreams and was on the verge of making them come true. And she was no longer a part of the plan.

“Maybe Laura’s right, Kevin. A lot has changed in seven years.”

He scowled at his friend. “Eight. It was the year the Buffs beat Nebraska. Yeah, a lot has changed. I’ve just made a bid that will put my entire business at stake, not to mention the risk I’ve let you take on this investment. I want to pay you back as soon as possible. I don’t need some woman turning my life around to fit her agenda.”

Bryan smoothed his son’s tiny vest, while obviously trying to wipe the smirk from his own lips. “I wouldn’t exactly call your ex-fiancée some woman. That in itself tells me how you feel about her.”

“Wait just a minute here! Don’t go assuming anything. Seeing her here surprised me. That’s all.” Kevin checked his pocket for Laura’s wedding ring, wishing Bryan would let the issue die, just as his and Emily’s relationship had died. “It’s been too long to care what the doctor does. She made her choices.”

Until he had unexpectedly run into Emily in Laura’s hospital room two months ago, he’d successfully erased the enchanting woman from existence. Since then, unmanageable thoughts plagued his mind with reruns of the years they had been together: dreams of a family, of traveling across the country together, of waking up to one another—

Bryan’s somber voice interrupted him again. “Put the show aside, Kevin. I know it hurts. You’re not going to like this, but I’m going to say it anyway….”

Kevin wanted to walk out of the room in the worst way. He didn’t need Mr. Happy here to throw his own words back in his face. Problem was, on the other side of that door was a chapel full of smiling loved ones ready to celebrate “happily ever after.” There was no escaping. No matter how desperately he wanted to leave, he couldn’t do that to his best friend. Not today.

“It’s time you put the past behind you and looked at your future. And Emily’s as good a place as any to start.”

Kevin started to say something, and was politely told to wait his turn. The echo of his own words reverberated in his ears. He couldn’t believe it had been little more than a year since he’d used that same line on Bryan. “Just because it worked for you, don’t count on it changing my life.”

“Come on, Jacob, hold still.” Bryan stood his son on the sofa and straightened the toddler’s tiny bow tie. Returning his attention to Kevin, he added, “You never stopped caring for her. If it hadn’t been for your dad, you probably would have gone after her then.”

Kevin tugged on the knot of his own necktie, certain it was getting tighter by the minute. “Drop the subject, Bryan.”

Bryan stepped in front of him and looked him in the eye as he readjusted the silk strip around Kevin’s neck. “That’s why you haven’t stayed with any other woman. You only have feelings for the one who walked away. Swallow your pride, Kevin. Talk to her. You owe it to both of you to settle it, once and for all.”

“Forget it.” There was nothing more to say. He didn’t want to see, let alone talk to Emily Berthoff, M.D., again. Not because it might rekindle the fire, but because his fire had never gone out.

The tall oak door opened and a middle-aged pastor with a receding hairline nodded. “Morning, Kevin. You ready, Bryan?”

“Thought you’d never get here.” Still staring Kevin in the eye, Bryan waggled his eyebrows. “Best day of my life.”

Kevin walked behind Pastor Mike and the groom into the small chapel filled with candles and flowers and smiling faces. He watched the bride’s father present Laura to Bryan. Their gazes were fixed on each other and love radiated between them.

“We are gathered here to celebrate the union of Laura Bates and Bryan Beaumont….”

Even in his sulking mood, he couldn’t help but feel the happiness choke out the bitterness. He laughed at Laura’s youngest son, who was fidgeting with his suit. Kevin lowered his eyebrows and shook his head slightly until the boy stopped. Bryan was going to have his hands full. In just over a year he’d gone from no children to four; from married, to widowed, to honeymooner. You have my best wishes, friend.

The soloist sang about love that never ended, and Kevin felt the noose around his neck slip another notch tighter.

He found Emily instinctively, yet stubbornly turned away. With beautiful red hair and a bright smile, she had always stood out in a crowd. Always would. His mind drifted to bitter memories of that day, a month before their wedding, when Emily had announced she’d unexpectedly been accepted into a prestigious medical school—across the country. The day when the very foundation of his dreams had crumbled like bad concrete.

Though they had known there was a remote possibility she’d be accepted at Johns Hopkins, they’d made their plans based upon her attending medical school in-state.

Time was supposed to heal all wounds, so the saying went. It hadn’t worked in eight years, and he doubted it ever would. In that respect, Bryan was right; there would be no one for him, because the only woman he’d ever loved had walked away.

Bryan nudged his hand, and Kevin realized he had missed his cue. He reached into his pocket and pulled out Laura’s wedding ring. He glanced at the bride, who had the smug look of a woman who already had a scheme in mind.

“Relax, your time will come,” Bryan whispered as Kevin handed him the ring.

“Not a chance.” He was supposed to be the one calming the groom. Not the other way around.

In what seemed like minutes, Laura and Bryan were pronounced husband and wife, and the two were joined by four rambunctious children for a walk down the aisle. Kevin waited for the music to change, then followed, trying to ignore the striking woman in the third pew.

Two hours later, the celebration was winding down. Kevin must have talked to every person in the reception hall, except the pretty doctor. Somehow they had managed to miss one another. He supposed he had the pastor to thank for keeping Emily company. Glancing quickly around the room, he consoled himself with the realization that she had left first, without making any effort to talk to him.

He backed through the arched doorway and spun around, ready to make a quick escape up the stairs, out the door, and away from this lousy trip into his unpleasant past.

“They’re perfect for each other, aren’t they?”

Kevin stumbled up the step as he turned toward the all-too-familiar voice. The slick sole of his shoes on the metal edge sent him sprawling across the stairs. Clenching his jaw to swallow the cry, a deep rumble vibrated against his vocal cords.

“Kevin! Are you okay?”

He groaned. “Why in blazes are you hiding in here?”

“I was paged and needed a quieter place to phone the hospital.” Emily extended her hand to help him up. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

He brushed her hand aside, stunned by the sincerity of her remark. After all this time, he wasn’t going to let Emily get to him. “I’ll be fine, thanks for the concern, Doc.”

Children squealed and raced past them across the room in a raucous game of kissing tag. A look of admiration softened Emily’s green eyes. She tipped her head toward the chaos. “Who would have pictured Bryan as a father of four? Laura is so much better for him than Andrea, isn’t she?”

Tearing his gaze from Emily, Kevin looked at the bride and groom. “Like night and day. It took a while, but I finally got through to them.”

She flipped her cellular phone closed and put it into a compact purse, her tone turning cold. “How generous of you. Must have been the jealousy routine. You were always so good at that one.”

He studied her as she concentrated on the newlyweds. Emily’s full lips turned into a smile that crinkled the corners of her eyes as she watched the giddy couple behind the tiered cake. Kevin closed his eyes, wishing after all these years he could forget how wonderful it was to hold her in his arms and kiss the soft fullness of her lips. Don’t be a fool. Emily is off-limits.

Wishing she didn’t still have the power to make his heart skip a beat, Kevin tugged the knot of his tie loose. “So that was it. Your mother convinced you that all men were like your father, huh? And all this time, I thought it was medical school that lured you away.”

The smile disappeared and her eyebrows arched up. “And apparently you still think I should have given up the opportunity of a lifetime to follow your dreams. I’m relieved to know I made the right decision.” Emily turned to leave.

Following her through the doorway, he grabbed her hand. “We can both be happy you realized your career was more important than a family before it was too late.”

“How dare you,” she countered in a broken voice.

Kevin stepped in front of her, deliberately blocking her view of the festivities.

“Sorry if I hit a nerve.”

“You’re not a bit sorry.”

“Oh, there you’re wrong, Doc. There are a lot of things I’m sorry about.” He could never forget the tailspin her announcement had sent him into. It had short-circuited his very existence. “But I guess you’re not interested in hearing all of that, are you?”

Emily’s green eyes widened like those of a cat ready to pounce, yet she remained silent.

He let go of her silky-soft hand, and she stepped back as if giving up without a battle. He should have remembered, their arguments always made her nervous, the tragic remains of a broken home. She lowered her head, and he could no longer see her face through her veil of red curls.

She glanced at him, then away.

Was that a tear? He yanked his tie from around his neck, unfastened the top button, and dragged in a quick breath, inhaling the sweet smell of her perfume. The last thing he had expected was that she would cry.

She cleared her throat and looked at the tie dangling in his hand. “You know, Kevin, I didn’t notice you trying to contact me, either. The final decision was yours,” she said with renewed determination.

Kevin backed away. The old Emily wouldn’t have made a scene. Especially not in a public place. “There was no choice,” he said quietly.

“No choice?” she repeated. “Funny, isn’t it? You’re here in Springville now. Yet the family’s business that couldn’t manage without you then, isn’t.”

He wondered if he should tell her why, then decided against it. It was best to leave things as they were. She was the one who had walked away. Let her think what she wanted. Their future was long gone.

Raw pain glimmered in her misty eyes.

He felt the rapid beating in his chest and wondered if he could have been wrong, then immediately pushed the thought away. He had his business to consider now.

“Fate is a funny thing for sure.” He studied her puzzled look and laughed softly. Forcing the question away, he added, “Who would ever have guessed we’d wind up here together?”

“‘Together’ is a bit presumptuous, isn’t it? We’ve managed to avoid each other up until now—that shouldn’t be too difficult to continue. After all, we have no reason to see each other.” She walked into the main reception hall, stopped by the crowd gathering around the bride and groom.

He wanted to tell her he was bidding for the project on her clinic, but couldn’t risk placing her in an awkward situation. And because the bids were closed, he didn’t want to jeopardize his chances, either. This is business. Strictly business.

Crowding in behind her, he whispered in her ear. “Face it, Emily, we will see each other. I assure you.” He chuckled, then quickly chastised himself for entertaining the thought of walking into her office on a daily basis to prove his point. You’re playing with fire, Kevin, said a voice inside him.

She spun around.

Gazing into her eyes was a mistake. He forced away the sudden image of kissing her and putting that wedding ring on her finger—for good this time.

He turned to see what the commotion was behind him, just in time to see the bouquet bounce like a volleyball from one female to the next…and into his own hands. Cheers and laughs filled the room.

“Sorry, ladies, I’m out of the running.” He shrugged his shoulders and smiled, then tossed the bouquet back into the air.

Emily had sidestepped her way past him and was escaping into the crowd. But the bridal bouquet arched toward her. Obviously surprised, Emily reached out and caught it.

She spun around and shot Kevin a cold, hard stare. Then she threw the flowers back at him, turned and ran.

Chapter Two

Emily frantically chopped the onion, tears rolling down her face. “Who does he think he is?”

“Sounds just the same as I remember him.” Her younger sister looked at the cutting board. “Are we going to eat that onion, or drink it?”

Emily glanced at the pile of pulverized white mush. “When did you get so picky?”

“Well, normally I wouldn’t argue, but we’re making salad, not stew.” Katarina scraped the mess into the garbage disposal, rinsed the wooden slab, then walked across the kitchen, drying the cutting board with a towel. “So Kevin still looks great, huh?”

“I didn’t say anything about the way he had looked—did I?” Emily was certain she hadn’t told her sister he looked so devastatingly handsome that she had even failed to notice what color of dress the matron of honor was wearing. She didn’t tell Katarina Kevin’s hair was blonder than before, his skin more bronzed and his laugh even huskier. She hadn’t, and she wouldn’t. She didn’t dare.

Katarina disappeared into the other room, but her raised voice more than made up for the distance. “You may have the M.D. behind your name, sis, but I’m the heart specialist.” Her sister’s honey-blond head momentarily peeked around the corner. “And trust me, that onion was not strong enough to warrant that river of tears.”

When Katarina reappeared from the living room, soft music floated in behind her swaying body. “Maybe ocean waves will help you relax. You really do need to lighten up, sis.”

Her sister was right. She was too serious. Emily pulled another onion from the hanging basket and chopped a couple of slices, then set the cutting board in front of her cheery sister. “There is your onion.”

“Why are you mad at me?” Katarina shrugged her shoulders, hands palms up in front of her. “I didn’t tell you to break your engagement with Kevin to become a doctor for my sake. In fact, if you’d asked, I’d have said you were crazy to let Kevin go. My hearing was already damaged—nothing anyone could have done, including you. The job of Savior has already been filled—in case you need another reminder.”

“That’s not even funny, Katarina.”

“Lighten up, sis. I was joking!”

Emily’s focus instantly moved to the hearing aid tucked into her sister’s right ear. “Oh, Kat. I’m sorry. I don’t blame you.” Emily set the knife on the ceramic-tile counter and rinsed her hands, then hugged her younger sister. “No, sweetie. It wasn’t just because of you. It was for families like ours who grew up without the money to get proper medical care. If you’d only had the medicine for your ear infections, you’d be fine now.”

Katarina’s eyes clouded, and Emily saw sudden visions of their impoverished childhood. She leaned back and tucked a stray hair behind her ear, remembering arguments she and Kevin had had regarding family finances. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “Guess I haven’t let go of my past after all, have I? I hand it to God, then I yank it back. Bet He thinks it’s a yo-yo by now.”

Kat reached out her hand and held Emily’s, her ornery smile erasing the look of hurt from her blue eyes. “I think there’s one part of your past you’d better examine very carefully before letting him slip away a second time.”

Emily turned her sister’s head and spoke into her ear. “Is your hearing aid on?” she teased.

Katarina nodded.

“Good, because I don’t want you to miss what I’m going to say. I don’t care about Kevin MacIntyre.” Emily tugged the unruly curls to the top of her head and fastened a barrette, then continued. “I don’t wish him any harm, but…I don’t need him. I am perfectly happy on my own.”

“Right. I don’t believe a word of it, but the time will come when you’ll realize what he still means to you.”

Emily watched her sister dance to the back door and pull the Victorian lace curtains closed, seemingly mocking Emily’s problems. Katarina was the only sane person she knew who could switch moods as easily as turning pages on a calendar.

“I am curious,” Kat continued. “How do you plan to avoid him when both of you are friends with Laura and Bryan?”

“They’ll understand.” Emily placed the ivy-trimmed dishes on the antique table and added two glasses of iced tea. She thought of Kevin’s promise that they would see each other again, and the seething anger started anew. “Oooh, he’s so sure of himself.”

Katarina didn’t say anything, just smiled. The disk changed, and it wasn’t long before she began humming with the music. Pretty soon, Emily heard an echo of the wedding processional behind her.

“Knock it off, Katarina.”

“Mama always said your temper was because of that fiery red hair. Came from the Irish side of the family, I suppose.”

Emily shook her head and rolled her eyes, remembering their childish arguments as if they were yesterday.

They continued preparing dinner in silence. Even though Katarina irritated her like only a little sister could, Emily was anxious for Kat’s move to town so they could get together more often. They were the closest of the three siblings in age and in spirit.

If it hadn’t been for her sister’s youthful encouragement, Emily never would have made it through the broken engagement or medical school. Kat’s zany sense of humor was a totally endearing quality that Emily had learned to appreciate, and had come to depend upon.

“Emily?” Her sister touched her arm.

She turned, shaking the daze away. “What?”

Kat had moved the food to the table, and now motioned for Emily to sit. In unison they bowed their heads, while Emily blessed the nourishment before them.

There was an unsettling quiet as they ate.

“Do you think Dad ever loved Mom?” After all these years, Katarina’s voice echoed Emily’s gnawing childhood fear.

Emily stared at her food. Would the mention of her broken engagement ever stop reminding all of them of their father? “I try not to analyze them, Kat. We both know how unforgiving Mom can be. Maybe Dad couldn’t take it anymore. Maybe… Who knows?” Emily shrugged, then took a bite of chicken. She wished her sister would change the subject.

“Don’t you ever wonder why he never came back to see us?”

Slurping the juice dripping from the bite of pear, Emily mumbled, “Of course I do. I doubt I’ll ever get over it.”

“What?” Katarina turned her head slightly, tears brimming in her bright blue eyes. Out of frustration, she combed her fingers through one side of her sporty hairstyle, as if the hair were preventing her hearing aid from working.

“I mean, there are parts of my past I can’t seem to forget.” The hearing aid in Katarina’s ear was tiny and no longer bothered her, but it always would Emily. It was a constant reminder of why she’d gone into medicine. No matter how much she tried, Emily would never forget the pain she’d nursed her little sister through. She’d do everything possible to help prevent another child’s suffering. “How do you deal with it? You’re always so disgustingly cheerful.”

The brightness of her sister’s porcelain skin paled and the smile dimmed. “There are still days when I’m so mad I could spit nails. Trust me.”

Emily took her sister’s hand and squeezed it. “I’m sure there are, Kat.” Caring for Katarina and their youngest sister, Lisa, while her mother had worked two jobs had made Emily realize the importance of an education. Which was why she and Kevin had agreed to wait until she finished her bachelor’s degree to get married. Then came that letter—

Her mind pulled the plug on the memory. “Hey, we’re supposed to be having a good time tonight. Who brought up this maudlin subject, anyway?”

Katarina grinned. “You’re right. Let’s change the subject. So, tell me more about the wedding. The part without Kevin, if you’d prefer.”

In between bites of chicken cordon bleu and salad, Emily told her everything, excluding the charming way Kevin had played with the kids during the reception. Remembering it made her heart swell. There he was in his tailored suit, romping around on the floor with Laura’s sons so the bride and groom could enjoy the reception….

His thoughtfulness and boyish sense of humor were what had first caught her attention so many years ago. She had been sitting solemnly by herself under the golden leaves of the grand old maple tree at the college-sponsored concert, when Kevin spied her staring at him. Even from a distance, she’d seen the way he made everyone around him feel. He had a contagious laugh and a quick wit. As she blushed, he introduced himself. A few minutes later they were sharing the shade, deep in conversation and laughter.

For three years he’d courted her, throughout it all putting up with her mother’s ridicule. But Emily had stayed, falling ever more deeply in love with the man her mother had predicted would love her and leave her, just as Emily’s philandering father had done.

“I’m going to Lincoln next week for a show. Do you want me to take anything to Mom?” If her sister noticed Emily’s distraction, she didn’t mention it.

Emily welcomed the interruption.

“Mom… Oh, yeah, would you take her birthday present?”

“What did you get her? I haven’t found anything yet.”

“It’s an airline ticket. Thought I’d take her to the mountains. Care to join us? I’ve borrowed Laura and Bryan’s cabin for a week.”

“Sounds fun. I’ll check my schedule. With the move, I may have to make a last-minute decision depending on how everything is going.”

“I thought I’d see if Lisa can join us, too. We’ll make it a family reunion.”

After catching up on the latest on Lisa and her beau, they discussed Kat’s growing business and her worries of keeping up with the demand for her designer dolls.

Clearing the dishes while Katarina called her on-again-off-again boyfriend, Emily let her thoughts return to their mother’s influence on the three daughters’ relationships. Katarina couldn’t take that final plunge into matrimony. Lisa didn’t date any man long enough to fall in love.

And Emily—the broken engagement to Kevin had been enough to send the frightened child in her running as far as possible from love and commitment.

Eight years later, she was still running.

Two weeks had passed since her sister’s visit, and since she’d seen Kevin. Emily walked into the church’s preschool to tell the children about being a doctor. She and the teacher visited for a few minutes before a little boy from Emily’s Sunday school class grabbed her hand. “Dr. Emily, come see what a tall tower I can build.” She followed Ricky, welcoming the chance to visit with the little boy away from the examination room.

For the next half hour, Emily watched as Ricky played with the children. After Circle Time, they prepared for the guests to talk about their careers. A cake decorator was first, and gave each child an ornately decorated cookie to keep each busy while she turned a mound of cake into a stand-up penguin.

Emily was next. She looked at the cake and the children eagerly eating cookies. Great, how do I top this?

After telling the children about how much she enjoyed being a doctor, she pulled the stethoscope out of her pocket.

“Dr. Emily, can I listen to your heart?” Ricky blurted out, his raised hand flapping back and forth.

“Sure. You can each have a turn. Come up one at a time.” The familiar boy with streaked brown hair jumped to his feet and nearly leaped over the kids sitting in front of him. Emily recognized most of the children, either from Sunday school or the medical clinic. Before she knew it, all the children were crowded around.

“Shh,” Emily prompted. “We must be very quiet.”

Ricky listened for a minute, then expertly moved the stethoscope. She wanted to cry at the extent of his knowledge of the workings of the instrument, which came from more hands-on experience than any child his age should have.

“I don’t hear anything, Dr Emily.” He frowned. “I think you have a broken heart.”

A deep chuckle rumbled behind them. “An insightful young man.”

Emily’s heart raced at the sound of Kevin’s voice.

The little boy’s brown eyes grew larger. “Wow! There it is. It’s beating as fast as Thumper’s paw. ’Member, in Bambi?”

“Are you twitterpated, Dr. Emily?” a precocious little girl asked.

“Twitterpated?”

“You know, in love.” The little girl sighed. “Like Bambi and Faline.”

Emily felt the blood rush to her cheeks. “No, I’m not. We’d better let someone else have a turn now, Ricky.” She gave him a hug and watched as he ran across the room…to Kevin.

Kevin knelt down and spent several minutes in conversation with the child. From the corner of her eye, Emily watched, angry at herself for paying Kevin any attention.

The other preschoolers filed past, and Emily helped them listen to each other’s hearts beating. Ricky moved back to the circle of children after giving Kevin a high-five. Then Kevin visited with a parent, while Emily finished talking with the children and gave them the disposable masks and hats.

Then she turned the stage over to Kevin. He leaned close as Emily walked past. “Any time your heart needs a jump start, let me know.”

“You’d be the last person I’d call,” she mumbled, wishing she could dispel her reaction to him. Emily silently joined the parent volunteer in the back of the room. She and the other woman listened as Kevin told about the construction business, demonstrating with a toy log set.

The children were mesmerized by the rugged-looking man with the contagious smile and rumbling laugh. Other than the uncustomarily clean blue jeans, he looked every bit the brawny construction worker. A red-plaid flannel shirt over a blue T-shirt and a bright yellow hard hat completed the irresistible image. His strong hands moved the tiny logs with the same delicacy one would use to move fine china.

All the little boys proclaimed they, too, wanted to be builders after his enthusiastic description of tearing walls apart and building others. The energy in the room began to escalate.

“Why did you become a builder?” The teacher prompted the conversation back to the subject, her calming voice reminding the children to listen.

“My father was a builder, and it was something I always enjoyed. It’s hard work, but I like bringing families together in a new home,” he said.

It was obvious that he loved talking to the youngsters. The children drilled him with questions, and he took time to answer each one. He still had his way with kids.

Emily wondered why he hadn’t married. Coming from a family with six children, he had wanted to have at least four of his own. He had chivalrously promised Emily that he’d support them all, yet that wasn’t enough for Emily. She wanted a career of her own, one through which she could provide for her family, if necessary. She wasn’t about to watch history repeat itself.

Emily stared critically at Kevin. Why was he here? How had he, of all people, come to be asked to speak to the preschool?

Kevin smiled lazily, then winked at her before saying goodbye to the preschoolers. She realized the desperate attempts she was making to taint her image of the only man who could touch her heart with a mere glance.

The children would be leaving soon, and this was Kevin’s only chance to talk to Emily alone. As he exited the preschool room, he nodded for her to join him outside. He could see her reluctance.

“Why are you here?” she demanded as soon as the door closed behind them.

He folded his arms across his chest and smiled. “I heard there was a damsel inside with a broken heart. Thought I’d come to the rescue.”

“Very funny.”

He smiled. He had decided after the confusion at the wedding that he needed to find out if she was still interested—if that had been the reason for her tears. He challenged himself to make her laugh. Or at least smile. She had a beautiful smile. “Actually, I was just waiting for the rescue breathing.”

Her eyes were clear as green ice. “I’m serious.”

“It’s obvious that hasn’t changed.”

Emily put her hands on her hips and waited. She had changed from the college co-ed he’d fallen in love with, he thought. Her shyness had matured to a quiet confidence, her insecurities had been replaced by a calm determination, and her wide-eyed look of fear reflected a love that hadn’t died.

“Okay, the truth,” he continued, hoping that reflection was wrong. “I’m working on developing a new image.” He started to tell her about the bid, but she took an abrupt step toward him and flashed him a look of annoyance.

“I really would have thought you’d grow up a little in eight years.” She turned and walked back inside.

“Just as I thought, you can’t handle the truth,” he mumbled, once she had turned the corner and disappeared from sight.

Kevin recalled Laura begging him to come talk to the preschoolers. He glanced through the narrow slat of a window into the preschool and watched as a little boy clung to the teacher, doing whatever he could to get her attention. There was no question in Kevin’s mind that Laura was trying to set him and Emily up again.

“Better luck next time, lady.”

Chapter Three

The conference room was filled with the aroma of gourmet coffee and glazed doughnuts. Sunlight filtered in through the broken slats of the blinds. The chief of staff addressed the doctors and board members, summarizing the top three clinic renovation proposals. At the mention of a small independent builder, Emily let out a quick gasp.

Her colleague Bob Walker leaned close. “What’s wrong, Em?” he whispered. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Ignoring him, Emily examined the different bid summaries with a sudden urgency. Why hadn’t she considered this possibility earlier? Muffled voices buzzed around her. Her heart rate increased. He wouldn’t dare.

Dr. Bob Walker pushed a note in front of her, a barely legible invitation to join him for dinner scrawled across the prescription pad. Sending him a reprimand from the corner of her eye, she scrunched the note into a tiny ball and tossed it into the trash can.

She thumbed back through the folders and, with a sudden chill of comprehension, looked again at the unbelievably low bid. Kevin was vying for this job. That’s why he had been so confident he’d be seeing her again.

“Emily? What are your feelings about the bids?”

“Yes, Emily, what are you thinking?” Bob added, a mischievous glint in his eye.

Still dismayed, she cleared her throat and brushed a stray hair off her forehead. With a quick appraisal of the spreadsheets before her, it was hard to argue the obvious. “Since the project committee is behind on fund-raising, I’ll admit it does make this incredibly low bid very appealing.”

The other committee members nodded. Dr. Roberts agreed, adding, “With the incentives City Council is offering, I think it’s critical that we make the commitment now. Sonshine Medical Clinic is finally gaining the support we need.”

Emily closed the folder, suddenly aware of what the outcome of this vote could mean to her own peace of mind. No matter what happened between her and Kevin, she reminded herself, this was business. If the contractor was Kevin…she’d learn to deal with it when the time came. If not, her paranoia could cost both the clinic and the company bidding a very important project. She had to keep her personal turmoil out of the way.

“There isn’t really any question, is there?” Dr. Walker added.

Not regarding which sealed bid to accept, maybe, but Emily had plenty of questions, doubts and uncertainties.

The company was offering incredible upgrades that the clinic couldn’t otherwise afford. How could Kevin afford to be so generous? Surely his fledgling company didn’t have this kind of money to donate. And from the way he’d reacted to seeing her at Laura and Bryan’s wedding, he wasn’t trying to win her over again. Surely I’m just imagining this. Kevin doesn’t want to be near me any more than I want him around. He wouldn’t do this.

There was no question but that she wanted the clinic to flourish. She wanted to help their patients. And despite her and Kevin’s history, she wished him every success, both personally and professionally. She just didn’t like the idea of their goals being mutually dependent.

Turning her mind back to the meeting, she concentrated on the discussion. Others expressed gratitude at the upgrades, and Emily added suspiciously, “Can we trust his word on that?” The faces around the table looked puzzled by her sudden lack of enthusiasm. “It’s just—I’m merely concerned that we be sure the company will follow through once it has the job in hand. Well, it does seem determined to win this bid, doesn’t it? Question is, how many promises would the company make in order to get the job?”

Everyone began talking at once, and Bob leaned close. “You know something about this company, Em? I’ve never seen you so feisty. To be honest, I like it.”

“What’s wrong, Bob? Did the new receptionist break your date?” She edged away.

He smiled. “Come on, have dinner with me. No one need find out.”

Emily looked around the table, then turned her head so that only Bob could hear. “I think you’re making a big mistake, Bob. Your third strike with me was two receptionists and six months ago. One more, and you’ll strike yourself out of the clinic, as well.”

The doctor sobered, and leaned back in his chair, nonchalantly pretending he hadn’t heard anything she’d said. That was fine with her. Just so he understood.

Emily let her mind wander back to Kevin as the board’s discussion progressed without her.

Thirty minutes later the chief of staff spun his pen on the chipped tabletop. “I think it’s obvious that number two believes in our mission. Unless there’s any disagreement, I’ll share our feelings with the board and let them make the announcement.” All present turned and looked at Emily, anticipating another argument.

What if it’s not Kevin? Can I take that chance? She shook her head.

As the others made their way through the conference room door, she opened the folder again, looking more carefully for some inkling of proof. Could Kevin believe in the clinic’s mission? She saw no evidence, but decided he deserved a chance. She thought back to their conversation at the wedding. Trust me, Emily. We will see each other again. Kevin had gloated. But why did he want this job?

Unfortunately, her emotional struggle would have to be sacrificed for the good of the patients. She would learn to ignore Kevin, and his charming antics.

Silently edging her way past the board members, Emily considered Kevin’s possible motives. Whatever his reasons, one thing was for sure: when Kevin MacIntyre went after something, there was no stopping him….

She recalled the weeks he had spent trying to convince her to go on that first date with him. Flowers, phone calls, surprising her between classes. Yes, Kevin MacIntyre could write the book on charm.

Emily wondered how she’d face him each day, then rallied. It’s over now. We’ve both moved on. If he gets the job, well, if I can work with Bob, I can surely handle Kevin. I have to. The clinic’s future depends on this renovation.

Emily returned to her office. If the staff needed her, they wouldn’t hesitate to call. She needed a minute to breathe. Time to collect herself and banish Kevin MacIntyre from her thoughts—if only temporarily.

Emily closed her office door behind her and leaned against it. Dear God, help me. I don’t think I can handle this alone—

The phone rang, and she knew her moment of reprieve was over. She took two calls, then began seeing patients.

Twelve hours later, Emily pulled into her garage. She walked into the house, dropped her purse and collapsed on the sofa. Ignoring the blinking light on the answering machine, she set her pager on the end table and closed her eyes. She flipped her shoes onto the floor and propped her ankles on the arm of the couch.

It was days like this when she asked herself what she was thinking when she gave up the man she loved for that miraculous acceptance into medical school. And the answer was always the same. She had been thinking of her mother’s struggle to provide for her and her sisters when their father walked out. She had been thinking of Katarina’s hearing loss. Of the people she wanted to help. The last person she’d been thinking of was Kevin—the one person she should have considered more.

Her stomach growled, proclaiming that the salad she ate for lunch was long gone. She was famished. Dragging her fatigued body off the couch, Emily rummaged through the cupboard until she found a can of beef stew. The wind howled outside as a winter storm moved in from the west; snow was already sticking to the streets. Thank goodness I’m not on call tonight, she thought. Emily dumped the stew into the pan, turned on the burner, then simply stared at it, waiting for it to boil.

Kevin’s words had haunted her for the past two weeks. We can both be happy that you realized your career was more important than a family before it was too late. They stung because after years of wondering, she finally knew why Kevin hadn’t come after her. He felt she’d abandoned their dreams for a job. That truth was especially difficult after days like today. Days that started before seven and didn’t end when the office closed. Days that melded, one into the other. Days when crises happened nonstop.

Help me to remember that it’s not for my own glory, Father, but for Yours.

Emily couldn’t accept credit for the many decisions that had led her through the last few years. For without Him, she couldn’t have survived it at all. Medical school, internship, finding a clinic whose mission fit so perfectly with her own. It was nothing short of a miracle, finding her way back to Springville, Colorado. Or so she’d thought.

Until she saw Kevin MacIntyre standing in her patient’s hospital room.

Until her past caught up with the present and threatened to crush her future.

Until Kevin made her realize she couldn’t “have it all.”

There were countless days when she wished for all the things that he’d accused her of rejecting for her career. Times when she longed for the serenity of a man’s loving embrace. Nights when she dreamed of her own children. And still she battled daily with the green monster, envying women who had mastered that delicate balance between career and family. There were even moments when she cursed the day he had walked away. And days when she wondered if Kevin had ever felt the same.

Her eyes burned with tears she refused to shed.

It appeared she now had the answer. He’d moved on with his life. And on, and on, obviously not letting their broken promises slow his social life any. It appeared her mother was right. Kevin was like her father: a fifties type of man, who wanted his woman to raise the children and have dinner ready at six o’clock. Kevin MacIntyre was definitely not the man to offer support throughout her demanding career.

Snow swirled around the parking lot and drifted along the curb. Kevin closed the door of his short-bed pickup, ready to work out with Bryan at the gym before heading home. Cranky and ready to burn off some frustration, Kevin stepped through the glass doors and headed for the lockers.

“Hi, Kevin.”

He turned, temporarily distracted by the silky voice.

“Evening, Kristen. Looks like life is treating you well.”

“Could be better. You’ve been avoiding me.” The brunette leaned her elbows on the handles of the stationary bicycle and flashed him an accusing smile. Perfectly shaped eyebrows arched high above blue eyes.

He returned the smile, inwardly calculating just when he’d last seen her, or anyone not related to the business. “No, it’s not that,” he stalled, suddenly tongue-tied and in a hurry to make an exit. “Work is keeping me busy. Maybe we can do something soon.”

He ducked into the men’s locker room, surprised when Bryan stepped in just behind him.

“Gone into hiding, have you?” his friend joked.

Kevin shrugged, wondering himself why he’d brushed the woman off. He and Kristen had dated a few times after she had decorated one of his model homes. Things had been going fine. Neither wanted a commitment. Both enjoyed the same things. So why did he find himself avoiding her as if she were trying to tie him down?

“How are Laura and the kids?” Kevin asked, hoping to change the subject.

It worked.

Bryan talked enthusiatically about his new family, and a few minutes later they headed for the weight room. Kevin was anxious to get back in shape before the longer days of the spring building season began. He’d put in more hours at his drafting table than actually working with the crew over the past winter, and it was beginning to show around his midsection.

“You okay?” Bryan eyed him accusingly some time later as he added another cast-iron disk to each end of Kevin’s weight bar. “I’ve never seen you avoiding—”

“Fine, just bored with it all, I guess.” Kevin lifted the barbell, only to be interrupted by another female acquaintance. After she left, Kevin sat up and wiped his hands on the towel draped around his neck.

Bryan elbowed him. “What were you saying about your life being boring?” His friend raised an eyebrow and chuckled.

“You’re a newlywed. You shouldn’t be noticing other women,” Kevin grumbled.

Bryan snapped the towel in midair. “Don’t worry, I’m perfectly happy where I’m at. Unlike you—”

“Let’s get out of here. We aren’t going to get anything accomplished in this place. Why don’t we go get a bite to eat?”

“Thanks, anyway, I’ve already eaten.”

“Oh.” On the way to the locker room, Kevin suddenly realized that although he was busier than ever, his personal life had come to a screeching halt in the wake of his company’s booming success. Now that he thought about it, he hadn’t been on a date in months. What was wrong with him? No wonder he was irritable. All work and no play…is bound to get on a man’s nerves.

Nothing was the same anymore. Dating had lost its appeal, second only to going home to an empty house and an answering machine full of jobs to pursue. Which was just what he had wanted—a successful business. He should be ecstatic. There were plans to evaluate, bids to make, orders to call in; business was right on track.

But something was still missing.

Bryan pulled his bag from the locker with a look of total satisfaction. To his credit, though, he didn’t say a word. And there were plenty of choice comments he could have made. Kevin knew, because he’d used them all on Bryan little more than a year ago.

His friend got a drink from the fountain, then cleared his throat. “I still have that weight set I bought Laura at the house. Why don’t we work out there?”

“I don’t know if I’m in any mood to deal with disgustingly happy newlyweds and four energetic kids at this hour,” Kevin muttered under his breath.

Bryan looked at his watch and laughed. “Another fifteen minutes and they’ll all be in bed, anyway. Come on over. I need someone to push me before Laura’s good cooking puts twenty pounds on me.”

“You poor thing.” Kevin considered going home, but quickly dispelled the unappealing idea. Unlike his friend, he had no one, nothing to greet him at home. No commitments. No leash. Keep talking, Kevin. Maybe you’ll convince yourself.

“Come on. It’ll be fine.”

“Sure, why not.” What was he bellyaching about? He had a business that was claiming more of his time each day. More than he’d ever dreamed possible. “I’ll meet you back at Laura’s—I mean, your house.” He winced at the mistake. He still found it difficult to understand why his best friend had agreed to stay in the house his new wife had shared with her late husband.

“Don’t let it bother you. I do it, too. It’ll always be Laura’s, no matter how many changes we make. She promises to start looking for our own house as soon as things settle down.”

“With four kids, you don’t plan on that being anytime soon, do you?” Kevin wrapped an arm around his friend’s back and laughed. “Ah, wedded bliss.”

Bryan elbowed him in the stomach. “I’ll take the chaos of a house full of kids over a quiet one any day. You sure you don’t have time to build a house for us this spring?”

“If I’d known you were going to be back in town and in the market, believe me, I wouldn’t have filled all my slots. You wouldn’t believe how many calls I’ve had this week alone. But if the bid for the clinic falls through, you’ll be the first person I call.”

“Not a chance. There’s no way the committee can afford to turn you down. I’m glad to hear you’re keeping busy.” Bryan stopped beside his new four-wheel-drive and tossed his bag inside. “Let’s get going. We can catch up while we work out. Laura will be glad to see you.”

A few minutes later, Kevin stomped the snow from his shoes and followed Bryan into the turn-of-the-century home, half expecting an ambush.

The sound of happy children and the smell of fresh-baked cookies met him at the front door and tugged on his heart. Laura’s youngest son, Chad, ran to Bryan and jumped into his arms. “Hi, Dad! Did you come home to tuck us in?”

“I sure did—wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Chad beamed at his stepfather’s attention. “Have you brushed your teeth?”

The youngster scrunched his nose, then turned toward Kevin and said hello.

Bryan set his stepson down and patted him on the behind. “Get it done, and I’ll be right up.”

“T.J.! Kevin and Dad are here!”

“Chad, don’t yell, please.” Laura passed through the kitchen just as they did, and gave her husband a kiss. “You’re home so soon? We’ve only been married a few weeks. You can’t be that out of shape yet,” she teased.

Bryan tilted his head toward Kevin and laughed. “Too many distractions there.”

“And you came to this zoo instead?” Then, as realization hit her, she grinned mischievously. “Oh. You mean…distractions. Well, you may as well use that contraption you two brought me last year. It’s going to rust if someone doesn’t use it. I told you I didn’t have time.”

“I’m not giving up on you yet.” T.J. ran into the room and gave Kevin a high-five, and Bryan let his embrace loosen. “Is Jacob asleep already?”

Laura playfully pushed him away. “‘Already’? You haven’t been chasing him since six this morning. I’m wiped out.”

“Mom,” their daughter beckoned.

“Just a few minutes, T.J. Kevin, please don’t get him riled up, it’s bedtime.”

Kevin gave his friend’s wife a salute. “Yes sir, lady.”

Bryan kissed Laura again before she headed to the children’s bedrooms, then turned to Kevin. “I’ll help Laura tuck the kids in, and be right down.”

Kevin and T.J. visited about school and sports for a few minutes before Kevin sent the young man up to bed.

He could see why Bryan liked this chaos. He paused. Don’t go there, Kevin, said an inner voice.

He and Bryan lifted weights for an hour, taking time to catch up on each other’s lives and discuss business before he left. Bryan insisted he wanted to remain a silent partner because he knew nothing about the construction business, but Kevin appreciated his friend’s willingness to brainstorm business tactics, anyhow. Just talking helped clear things in his own mind. And there was certainly enough to muddle his thoughts these days.

One of which was the Sonshine Medical Clinic bid. With Bryan’s business sense, and Kevin’s construction knowledge, they had come up with what they hoped was a winning proposal—one that would help the company remain secure for generations to come.

Laura sent a plate of peanut butter cookies home with him, another reminder of what was missing in his life. Homemade cookies…and someone to share them with. A lot of good building a company is going to do—you don’t even have anyone to pass it down to when you’re gone. He immediately thought of his father, and pushed the bittersweet memories away.

Kevin pulled the truck into the garage and climbed the steps to his empty house. Here it was, nearly ten o’clock, and he’d done everything possible to avoid coming home.

While dinner was heating in the microwave, Kevin showered and threw on a pair of ragged old sweats. Clearing that morning’s breakfast dishes from the table, he poured a tall glass of milk and turned the big-screen television on to catch the end of the late news and eat his “dinner.”

After the sports segment ended, Kevin switched off the TV, immediately deafened by the silence. He turned it on again and tossed the remote control onto the sofa, then retreated into his office. He clicked on the radio, hoping the noise would drown out the emptiness so he could concentrate on work.

He had already waited a week past the deadline to hear from the clinic regarding the renovations. If they wanted to break ground in a month, a decision had to be made soon. He couldn’t afford to put off other projects much longer.

Having spent a year looking for the right project to launch a commercial branch, he couldn’t believe it when he learned the best prospect would mean facing Emily on a daily basis. This decision came with a bucketful of mixed emotions. He’d almost backed away because of her; yet Bryan had convinced him to go through with it, even agreed to remain a silent partner to show his support and assure Kevin that he’d have the money necessary. They both knew Kevin couldn’t manage the financial end without Bryan’s investment. There was a lot riding on this bid. It was one thing to jeopardize his own financial security, but Bryan’s and his employees’ was another issue altogether.

The renovation of Sonshine Medical Clinic was a high-profile project with a strong emotional tie to the community. Even if Kevin lost money, if all went well, it would bring in more work than his growing company could manage. He wasn’t going to get anywhere in this business by playing it safe. His dad’s experience had proven that. In order to prove to himself and his family that he could have kept the family business going after his father’s death, he had to do this, and succeed. Nothing was going to stand in his way. MacIntyre Construction would make it to the top, and stay there.

He looked at the note Bryan had given him and read the verse from the Book of Proverbs: “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” Kevin shook his head, trying to maintain his optimism. If it’s meant to be, it’ll work out. Think positively.

Kevin perched himself on the edge of the chair, the clinic’s blueprints spread across his drafting table. He took a deep breath and let it out, struggling to get his mind back on business. He looked at his changes. “Okay. We’ll have to open this wall to do the extra wiring.” He jotted notes to contact subcontractors as he went along. His eyes roamed down the sketch to the office with “Dr. Emily” in the corner. His mind drifted back to the day he went to visit Laura in the hospital and ran head-on into his past…

“If you’ll excuse us, sir.” Emily had said. No hello. Just that phony smile plastered across her face. Her disposition was as bristly as steel wool. Trying to ignore Emily, he had joked with Laura, leaving the poor patient in tears because it hurt to laugh after her abdominal surgery. Emily had mistaken Laura’s tears for her feelings having been hurt, and the doctor had actually scolded him. So much for bedside manner.

Even angry, she’d attracted him. Affected him. Made him look at the years without her and see how empty life was. He faced the truth—he’d been living a superficial and indulgent existence. After nearly eight years apart, merely seeing Emily had changed his life—again.

Kevin slapped the ruler onto the paper and drew in the new wall. It’s strictly business, Emily. Strictly business. He tried to erase the image of the unforgettable redhead from his mind. He didn’t need to be reminded of the pain. Hers, or his. Eight years was a long time.

He had changed. The past was over. And love was out of the question—something to be avoided at all costs.

But handing my troubles to God just isn’t as easy as it sounds.

Chapter Four

The phone rang, and Kevin let the answering machine do its job, glad the volume was turned down. He was in no mood to talk to anyone. The machine clicked off, and he returned to work. A couple of hours later he decided to call it a night. On the way through the kitchen, he pushed Play on the recorder, and was puzzled by the final message.

Kevin rewound the tape and played the last message again.

“How could you?” the woman’s voice said.

“Emily?” He sat down at his desk and dialed the only listing in her name, but was intercepted by the clinic’s answering service. She wasn’t the doctor on call. He tried to explain the situation, only the receptionist wouldn’t give out a home number.

He thought of calling Laura and Bryan to get her number, then realized it was far too late to call anyone. Besides, Laura would never give up her task as matchmaker if she knew he was trying to reach Emily.

That night Kevin slept fitfully, pondering what exactly she had meant by her message. How could I what? Could she have found out he was bidding on the job? No, that couldn’t be the case. They couldn’t reveal names on a silent bid. Unless they’d already hired another contractor. No, he couldn’t even consider that.

If he didn’t get the bid, he’d be furious she found out he had even been interested in the project. Knowing the way women think, she’d jump to the conclusion that he’d done it to be near her. Not a chance. It was business, pure and simple.

By dawn, he was just plain mad. He wondered why she thought she should have any say in his life at all. It was still too early to reach Emily at the office, and he had plenty to do before the clinic opened, anyway. After breakfast, he loaded his briefcase, tossed it into the cab of his truck and headed to the job site.

Kevin inspected the equipment, gave directions to get the workers going, then went into his pickup and pulled out his cellular phone. He called his office manager, relieved that she had a message for him to call the clinic director. Kevin called right away, encouraged when the director wanted to set up a meeting as soon as possible.

When Kevin asked to speak to Dr. Berthoff, though, he had no better luck getting hold of her than he had had the previous night. He considered leaving his mobile number, but decided against it. Sounds like it won’t be long before I’ll have plenty of opportunity to talk to her.

After getting the crew started on the two houses they were finishing, Kevin left for the clinic. Trying not to be overly confident, he gathered his courage and walked inside. He was escorted through the lobby, down dingy halls, and into the director’s office.

“Kevin, I’m glad you called.” The balding gentleman pumped Kevin’s arm enthusiastically and motioned for him to sit down in the vinyl-upholstered armchair. Kevin could see why they were renovating. Run-down didn’t begin to describe the place.

An hour later he walked out of the meeting with a new contract that would drastically change his life, one way or another. If all went as planned, he’d be doubling his staff size within the year. If not, he’d be jumping into the market looking for a new employer himself.

He turned left and headed to the lobby.

“Kevin?”

He’d know that voice anywhere.

Pivoting, he realized he must have taken a wrong turn and ended up near the examination rooms. Emily and another doctor stood shoulder to shoulder, having been reading a chart. He looked at the man, then to Emily, then back again.

“Excuse me, Bob. Unless you need this immediately, could we finish discussing it later?”

Kevin watched as the doctor assessed him. “Sure, why not over lunch?”

Emily’s gaze met Kevin’s as she gave the preppy doctor a curt response. “You know why not.”

As if her punch needed help, Kevin mumbled sympathetically to Bob, “I wouldn’t let it keep you up nights.”

Emily paused momentarily to scold him with her eyes, then motioned for Kevin to follow her. There was a tilt to the corners of her lips, but he could say with certainty that it wasn’t a welcoming look. “How are you, Kevin?”

“From the sounds of your message, maybe I’d better let you tell me. That was your charming voice on my answering machine, wasn’t it?”

She walked into a cubicle with her name on the door, and he paused to examine the nameplate: Emily Berthoff, M.D.

Her answer was interrupted by the phone.

Taking the opportunity to collect information, he tapped on the wall, pretending to examine the structure. Her office was filled with books, books and more books. Same old Emily. Only difference was the titles. He could still picture her with her nose in those college textbooks. Heaven knows, he’d done his best to take her mind off her studies…. It hadn’t worked then, and if he was smart, he wouldn’t bother trying now.

The wallpaper here was outdated, even by his standards. There wasn’t a plant, flower or photograph in sight. Nothing to indicate a family or a life beyond her career—

She ended the phone call and looked at him expectantly.

“I don’t think I’ve had the chance to congratulate you, Doctor.”

“Congratulate me?”

“On your degree.” Kevin touched the rounded desk corner sticking out from under the stacks of books, files and journals.

“Oh.” Her green eyes opened wide with surprise. “I never know whether to take you seriously or not.”

Blast it, lady, don’t look at me like that. I’m trying to be nice. How could one sentence throw him all the way back to the day she’d walked out of his life?

Emily walked back to the door and closed it. “The last time we discussed my career choice, you were less than encouraging.”

And now she was back, he thought. Every work-day for the next six months. He had to keep peace between them.

“Whether or not I liked your decision is no longer an issue. I said ‘congratulations,’ and I meant it. It took a lot of work, and you deserve credit for it.”

Obviously confused, she said merely, “Thank you.” Emily put her hands in the pockets of her yellow blazer and took a deep breath. “Why, Kevin?”

Same Emily. Right to the point. “Why? I thought the message said, ‘How could you?’” He smiled. “Don’t I get some sort of congratulations for accomplishing my goals?”

“The way I remember it, your plan was to run your father’s business. In fact, as I recall, that’s why you stayed—and I left. Alone.”

“Things changed. I have my own company now, which just happens to have landed a terrific deal.” The elation inside was fading fast. He hadn’t expected a red-carpet celebration, but even a halfhearted welcome would have been appreciated.

“So I figured out. Which was the meaning of my message last night. How could you bid on our project?” She stepped around the desk and looked him in the eye, as if trying to intimidate him. “Why this job? Why not some other building project?” she asked with more than a hint of disapproval.

“It was purely a business decision,” he said, meeting her challenging gaze. Two can play this game, Doc.

“A business decision?” Her voice caught.

“That’s right, strictly business. Relax. It had nothing to do with you.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets and jingled the change against his truck keys. He wasn’t about to tell her how many times he had almost turned away because of her.

She ran her fingers through her hair, lifting it away from her face, and he felt his heart skip a beat. Don’t do this, buddy. She’s off-limits. Business and pleasure don’t mix. Remember that, whatever you do!

“Surely there’s another opportunity that would bring in a better profit than ours. As long as this is ‘strictly business,’ that is,” she said tartly. Reaching for the desk, she closed a thick book and placed it on the jam-packed shelves. “How could you do this?”

Kevin crossed his arms and took a deep breath. “I could do it for the same reason you went across the country to your prestigious medical school. It was the best option available at the time.”

She stared, a cold look that could build walls in an instant. Her phone rang, and she answered, still holding his gaze. “I’ll be right there,” she said into the receiver. Her eyes left his and she stepped around the desk. “I have an emergency.”

He nodded, then opened the door and waited for her to go ahead. “Let’s make a deal, Doc. I won’t practice medicine, and you don’t tell me how to run my business. Okay?”

Without responding, Emily rushed out of her office, and Kevin followed. Down the corridor, he saw a petite woman struggle to keep a stocky teenager, who’d obviously met up with someone’s fist, on his feet. From the lobby, he heard the receptionist trying to get the woman to wait for a wheelchair.

“Here, let me get him.” Kevin wrapped his arm behind the boy’s back and followed Emily’s directions. Once the patient was secure on an examination table, Emily put on gloves and began to clean his cuts. Kevin backed through the door, right into the doctor Emily had brushed off earlier. Through the opening, Kevin heard Emily tell the nurse to bring in novocaine and a suture kit, then turn to soothe the upset mother.

“Looks like Dr. Emily has it under control. Guess I’ll go grab some lunch by myself,” said the other doctor as he removed his stark-white lab coat and headed out the back door.

Kevin looked back at Emily, then walked down the long hall to the lobby. “If nothing else, this should be an interesting few months,” Kevin muttered as he headed to his truck.

The remainder of the morning was a chaotic combination of reviewing applicants’ resumes and ordering supplies. Always in the back of his mind was Emily, and the anger he’d seen in her expression when she saw him in the hallway.

But there was no room for second thoughts. He’d just landed the deal that could make or break his business. Emily had already met her goals, despite what they had cost her personally. He had let her go then, determined he wouldn’t stand in her way.

Now, he’d be certain she didn’t stand in his.

After getting his day back under control, Kevin called Bryan to tell him the news.

His friend bolstered his enthusiasm. “Told you they’d jump on your offer.”

Kevin swallowed a lump of pent-up apprehension and felt a wave of relief, content that he’d done the right thing. “Yeah. They’re having some publicity shindig Friday night to get the deal moving. As a partner in the business, you’re obligated to attend, and bring your lovely wife.”

“Sounds great.” Bryan paused. “Hey, friend, don’t forget, you’re expected to bring a date, too.”

A date. Sure, why not. After all, this is a reason to celebrate.

Emily zipped the crushed-velvet evening dress, then stepped into her black pumps just as the doorbell rang. “I can’t believe I have to go to this reception for Kevin.” She grumbled all the way to the front door. She tried to steel herself for a miserable night. Adding insult to injury, her car had had a flat tire when she’d left the office, and the first person to the rescue happened to be Bob Walker—Dr. Casanova.

She opened the door and met him on the porch. “Hi, Bob. I appreciate the lift.”

“If I’d known a flat tire was all it would take to change your mind…” He smiled suggestively and lifted her hand to kiss it.

Emily pushed him away, amazed that a man with such a brilliant mind could be such a loser. “I don’t want to go through this all evening. I won’t. If I had any choice in the matter, I wouldn’t even be going tonight.”

“I wish you’d change your mind, Emily. All I ask for is a few minutes to explain.”

“There’s nothing to explain. I’m well aware of the facts of life. I think that was covered in basic premed, wasn’t it? Maybe you missed that year.”

“It was nothing,” he began, following her to his car.

Emily opened her own door, ignoring his attempts to act like a gentleman. “One receptionist may have been nothing, the second one—”

“We never went out.”

She dropped herself into a seat that barely cleared the ground. “Because she was married.” Emily looked at him. “You just don’t understand, do you, Bob? That is bordering on harassment.”

“No harm in a little flirting.” He shrugged, ignoring her warning.

She shook her head and closed her door to Bob’s lame explanation. He’d blown any chances of a relationship with her, or any woman in their office. And now Emily was getting a headache, complete with a sudden case of the jitters. The last thing she needed was Bob next to her whining all evening.

Everyone in the clinic would be there to kick off the renovation. It was critical that she and Kevin be on their best behavior. Neither could take a chance of endangering their positions by revealing their past relationship.

Kevin’s employees would be there, as would his silent partner and best friend, Bryan Beaumont. At least she would have Laura to visit with.

When they arrived, Emily walked into the restaurant as quickly as she could to avoid being paired up with Dr. Casanova. She was immediately greeted by Laura.

“Emily, I thought you’d never get here,” Laura exclaimed. “Is this your new boyfriend?”

Emily turned around to see who Laura was referring to, praying it wasn’t Bob. I can’t believe I ever even considered dating him, she thought. “No, he’s not. In fact, if Bob is any indicator of men these days, I’m through looking. Men just can’t be trusted.” She glanced at Laura, realizing she’d stuck her foot in her mouth already. “Oh, I know Bryan’s different.”

Laura smiled. “Yes, he is. But he isn’t the only trustworthy man alive, you know.”

There was a dreadfully long silence before Emily explained the situation with her car, ignoring Laura’s comment altogether. She didn’t need to expose her jaded opinions of men to a woman who’d found another wonderful husband after the death of her first husband. Just because all the men in my life walk out when I need them most doesn’t mean a thing, I’m sure. Who needs them, anyway? “Would you and Bryan be able to give me a lift home?”

“I’m sure Bryan wouldn’t mind. Let’s go find him. Kevin was introducing him to some of your partners. I went to the ladies’ room and haven’t caught back up with him.”

“Laura, I’d rather not…”

Laura touched Emily’s arm sympathetically. “Kevin brought a date, so there’s no reason to feel awkward. She’s actually pretty nice.”

A date? Why was she surprised? There was no reason Kevin shouldn’t bring someone. In fact, she should be thrilled. What better way to avoid him?

They made their way through the crowd and to the hors d’oeuvres, finally finding Bryan at a table near the front of the room. Laura invited Emily to sit with her, which Emily was glad to do, until she realized Kevin and his date were seated at the same table. She glanced around, quickly realizing that most everyone had quit mingling—she had a choice between Bob’s table, or Kevin’s.

Friends had informed her that Kevin had started dating soon after their breakup. That knowledge was unsettling, especially now that she was sitting across from him and his gorgeous girlfriend. Laura was right: Kristen seemed amazingly likable. If nothing else, Emily would love watching Kevin squirm.

Emily sat down, and was soon listening as Kristen explained her work as an interior decorator, though her attention drifted to Kevin and Bryan joking together. Emily remembered with fondness their friendly banter. Ignoring the emotion building inside, she distracted herself from admiring how handsome Kevin looked in a suit and tie. The khaki blazer and baby-blue shirt accentuated the color of his eyes and complimented his curly golden hair.

She turned toward the raucous sound of laughter and the clinking of silverware against china across the room. Toasts were made to a successful project. Platters of shrimp scampi emerged from the kitchen. She and Kevin exchanged a glance. Déjà vu. Unexpectedly, the years between disappeared, and Emily found it impossible not to return Kevin’s disarming smile.

Emily heard a pager beeping, and to her relief noticed Bob leaving the party.

Laura quickly jumped up and headed toward the ladies’ room. Bryan quietly asked Emily to check on her, explaining that his wife had been battling the flu for a couple of weeks. Emily wanted to laugh, surprised at the naiveté of this father of four. Taking into consideration that his wife had left their marriage before telling him she was expecting, she simply patted his shoulder and followed Laura.

She went into the ladies’ room, and wasn’t surprised to find the newlywed blotting her face with a cold paper towel.

Laura looked up, a wan hint of embarrassment coloring her cheeks. “Are you here as a friend, or a doctor?” Laura took a mouthful of water, swished it through her mouth and spit it out.

“I’m not sure which you need more right now.” Smiling, Emily stepped closer to the trim woman and felt her forehead. “No fever. Your husband seems to think you need a doctor. He hasn’t a clue what’s wrong, does he?”

Laura shook her head. She leaned her elbows on the edge of the sink. “He’s had so much to adjust to. And contrary to what you think, we weren’t trying yet. He wanted to wait a few more months,” she mumbled through the soggy paper towel.

Emily let out a long sigh, struggling between her instincts as a doctor to agree with Bryan and the brief jealous longing of a woman. “Have you taken a test?”

“Who needs one? This is my fourth, Emily. The flu doesn’t last two weeks. Besides, the office doesn’t usually want to see a patient until they’re ten weeks, right? I wanted to wait another week or two to tell Bryan. I don’t want to worry him.” Laura took a deep breath and exhaled.

“With your recent history, it wouldn’t hurt to come in earlier, Laura—make sure everything’s settled in the right place.” Emily suggested Laura sit down in the soft chair in the corner for a few minutes before going back to the party.

Laura stood up straight and smoothed the front of her column dress, then brushed her hair back into order. She took a compact from her purse and applied some color to her pale cheeks. “That shrimp sounded so good, but when I smelled it…”

Emily could sympathize with a missed dinner.

“I wish I could see the look on Bryan’s face when you tell him,” she said to lighten the mood.

Laura’s face paled again as she looked toward the creaking door behind Emily. “Looks like you may get your wish,” she whispered.

Bryan peeked into the ladies’ room and looked around uncomfortably. “Are you okay, honey?”

The concern in his eyes was obvious.

Laura closed the gap between them and hugged her husband, whispering in his ear. His face creased into a heartwarming smile. Bryan’s hands were on her waist, and he pulled her closer.

Emily felt like an intruder watching the tender exchange of their kiss. Yet, much as she tried, she couldn’t look away.

Bryan gave his wife one more hug, then held her at arm’s distance and looked into her eyes. “Maybe I’d better take you home.”

Emily interrupted. “I think that’s an excellent idea. I hear jelly beans do wonders for morning sickness, which, by the way, can occur any time of day.”

Laura glanced at Bryan, a guilty look on her face. “I should be fine now. This is Kevin’s big night. You should be here for him.”

Easing his way out of the ladies’ room, Bryan shook his head. “You can’t even stand the smell of the food, Laura. You know how protective Kevin is. He’d insist.”

“You can’t tell him the news now. I don’t want to overshadow his night.”

Bryan thought a moment, then turned to Emily. “Could you explain for us, Em?”

“I’ll tell him that Laura wasn’t feeling well, and I insisted you take her home. He wouldn’t dare argue.”

Laura broke into a wide smile, and exchanged a knowing glance with her husband.

“Don’t get any ideas. Just doing my job.” The two turned to leave, and Emily added, “Bryan, I want to see her on Monday, just to be on the safe side.”

“Consider it done.”

The two left, and Emily felt tears sting her eyes. This is ridiculous. You deal with pregnant women every day, Emily. Why should Laura be any different?

Emily sat down and took a deep breath, willing herself to relax. Other women came and went, and each time Emily claimed she had something in her eye. Finally, she dried the tears, then splashed cool water on her face. She allowed her eyes a few minutes to clear before returning to the table to get her purse and leave.

But the elegant decorations—calla lilies and spires of fresh greenery—had been cleared from the tables, and the guests were already gone. She must have lost track of time.

Kevin and his date were making their way toward her. Kristen released Kevin’s arm when he turned toward Emily. “How is Laura?”

“She wasn’t feeling well, so I insisted Bryan take her home.” Emily looked toward the table for her purse. As if reading her mind, Kevin produced it. His hand looked incredibly tender holding the tiny evening bag, and Emily felt emotion choke her throat. “Thank you.”

His gaze lingered, and Emily’s heart raced despite the knowledge that Kevin’s girlfriend had reclaimed her place beside him. “It seems your ride left already. Let us give you a lift home.”

“No. Thank you, anyway.” She glanced around, observing that the room was now filled with wait staff whisking dishes and linens into the back room. “I’ll call a cab.”

“It’s bad PR to leave a member of the clinic board waiting for an unreliable cab service.” He broke away from Kristen again, and pulled Emily aside. “Not to mention, I want to know what’s really going on, and why you’re upset.”

She glared at him. “Now’s not the time. You have a date.” The last thing she needed tonight was to share her private misery with Kevin.

“I think that’s up to me to decide.” His eyes drilled intimately through her. “Let me get Kristen’s coat.”

“What?” She stared at him in amazement. “When did you become so cultured?” The words slipped from her mouth. So far, they had both been careful not to reveal their past relationship, and she hoped Kristen missed the inference.

“You might be surprised,” he quipped, a teasing glint in his eyes.

When he returned, Kevin helped Kristen with her fake fur coat, then escorted them both to his truck. The awkwardness didn’t end when they all piled into the cab, with Kristen crowded into the middle.

Emily gave Kevin her address and asked if he needed directions. When he turned in the opposite direction, Emily glanced at Kristen. The woman’s resentment was apparent. “Kevin, I need to get home,” Emily insisted.

“I need to call it an early night myself. I’m sure Kristen understands, don’t you?” Kevin’s voice carried a tone that Emily knew all too well. The discussion was over. And from the look on his date’s face, so was their relationship.

Kevin pulled to a stop in front of the woman’s town house. Trapped between them, Kristen looked at Emily, as if it were obvious that she refused to exit the truck from Kevin’s door as she had entered.

“I—I’m sorry, Kristen,” Emily stammered as she got out to let Kristen exit. Kevin walked around the truck to escort his date to the door.

“I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but tell Kevin not to bother calling back until it’s over for good this time.”

Emily stared at the woman, who turned and began walking so fast on her spiked heels that her legs wobbled. Kevin trailed behind, and didn’t seem surprised, moments later, to have the door slammed in his face.

Emily hurried to climb back into the truck before Kevin returned to help her. She hiked the hem of her dress an inch to step up onto the chrome running board, but her foot slipped. From the corner of her eye, she saw Kevin rush forward, too late to catch her before she hit the ground.

Chapter Five

“Emily!” Kevin dropped to his knees beside her. “Are you okay?”

She groaned softly, rubbing the back of her head. “I can’t believe I did that.”

“Well, it’s a first for me, too. Never had a lady hurry just to avoid letting me help her get in. Guess that’ll teach me to take two women home at the same time, huh?”

Emily lay awkwardly on the cold ground trying to explain how she’d fallen, but finally her irritation won. “Oh, forget it,” she said, trying to get up gracefully. “Would you mind helping? Please.”

He placed a hand on her shoulder to hold her still and leaned closer to examine her head. “You sure we should move you?”

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