The M.D.'s Unexpected Family
Cindy Kirk
A Second Chance at Love… When stylist Cassidy Kaye kicks off the bidding at a charity bachelor auction, she doesn’t expect to win the most delicious man in the room. Or for her date with single dad Timothy Duggan to lead to one unforgettable night… and a pregnancy!Now, widowed Timothy is determined to do the right thing and marry Cassidy. His twin daughters adore her – and Timothy knows making them a family is the ideal solution. But Cassidy will only marry for love – so first, Timothy must prove he can provide much more than a diamond ring…
“What’s this?”
Cassidy lifted their joined hands.
Tim pretended to study their fingers, his straight-cut nails and her purple-tipped ones. “It’s me touching you, something I wanted to do all evening.”
She didn’t smile or shoot back some pithy remark guaranteed to make him grin. Instead, she pulled her hand from his.
“You don’t have to do this, you know,” she said softly, her expression serious.
“Do what? Be nice?”
“Pretend to be interested in me.” Cassidy stopped at the edge of the driveway and faced him. “While I appreciate it, we both know you’re only hanging with me now because of the bun.”
Tim cocked his head. Sometimes it was as if she spoke a foreign language.
“In the oven.” Cassidy patted her flat belly.
He almost grinned but pulled the smile back at the last second.
Her blue eyes were so serious and there was an uncharacteristic frown between her brows. He also saw fatigue and weariness in the way her shoulders, normally so straight, drooped.
He raised his hand and cupped her cheek. “I’m with you because I like you.”
* * *
Rx for Love: Just following doctor’s orders…
The M.D.’s
Unexpected
Family
Cindy Kirk
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
From the time she was a little girl, CINDY KIRK thought everyone made up different endings to books, movies and television shows. Instead of counting sheep at night, she made up stories. She’s now had over forty novels published. She enjoys writing emotionally satisfying stories with a little faith and humor tossed in. She encourages readers to connect with her on Facebook and Twitter, @cindykirkauthor (http://www.twitter.com/cindykirkauthor), and via her website, www.cindykirk.com (http://www.cindykirk.com).
To Sia Huff for suggesting I name the black-and-white kitten Domino. It fit him perfectly!!
Thanks, Sia!!
Contents
Cover (#u943e189d-04e6-5813-afbe-ac74ac1bf99d)
Introduction (#uf4b439c7-7579-526c-9764-7b7f6a90c7f0)
Title Page (#u0cf9522f-099e-536f-b75c-2b7d8ce3e3f4)
About the Author (#u72365244-f885-570e-b493-0aad86360904)
Dedication (#u02333b85-24df-587e-9db4-5730df1c5ed5)
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
Epilogue
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter One (#uac39c8bc-039b-5b1a-ae3a-7cc0b34f8642)
Cassidy Kaye knew the instant Tim Duggan walked into the Green Room. Though she was busy doing hair for those participating in the Jackson Hole Bachelor/Bachelorette Auction, her spidey senses never failed to alert her whenever the handsome doctor was nearby.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him pause in the doorway, a tall man with a thatch of hair the color of mahogany. His hair was cut stylishly short above a face with a strong jaw and straight nose. His hazel eyes looked green at the moment, but she knew they could turn a mesmerizing golden brown in a heartbeat. He was boyishly handsome, down to the sprig of freckles across the bridge of his nose.
His gaze scanned the room, his expression solemn.
When she’d first heard Tim would be filling in for his friend Liam Gallagher, she’d been stunned and disbelieving. Unlike the other bachelors up for bid this evening, Tim was a family man, a widower with twin seven-year-old daughters. He certainly wasn’t a party animal. Other than escorting librarian Jayne Connors to a few social events now and then, he didn’t even date.
When his gaze settled on her, something that looked almost like relief lifted his lips and she felt warm all over.
“Back in five,” she told Zippy Rogers, a young woman whose thick dark hair practically begged to be placed into a sexy twist.
Cassidy wove her way through the small area just off the main ballroom of Spring Gulch Country Club, loving the energy in the air. With each step closer to Tim a different kind of excitement filled her. Embracing the sensation, she sidled up to him.
“Hi.” Cassidy cursed the odd breathlessness that attacked her whenever he was near. To compensate she offered him a cheeky grin. “Word on the street is you’re up for bid on the meat market tonight.”
He winced.
She could almost see his mind spinning like a hamster wheel as he attempted to come up with the proper response to her not-so-proper comment.
“Liam had an allergic reaction.” He shifted from one foot to the other. “Right now his face is puffed up like the Incredible Hulk.”
Liam, an all-around nice guy, was a child psychologist who’d recently returned to Jackson Hole to set up practice. Cassidy felt a stirring of sympathy. “Poor guy.”
“He hated to back out at the last minute.”
“If he resembles the Hulk, it was a wise move,” Cassidy said matter-of-factly. “For these events, handsome, not hulk, is what brings in the money.”
Tim’s gaze lingered for a moment on the pretty blondes, sensual brunettes and one dazzling redhead getting their hair and makeup done. It slid to the group of young men standing together talking.
Other than Liam-the-absent, the guys on the chopping block tonight weren’t his buds. These men were businessmen and ski industry people, at least five or six years younger than Tim. His social circle—and hers—was composed primarily of medical professionals and young entrepreneurs with a few attorneys and social workers tossed into the mix.
Cassidy fell into the entrepreneur bucket. She owned a successful hair salon—Clippity Do Dah—in downtown Jackson. In the past year she’d expanded into doing hair, nails and makeup for events, such as weddings and other special occasions.
“I’m not sure exactly what I’m supposed to do.” Tim shoved his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “Liam just told me to show up.”
“Lexi Delacourt is coordinating tonight’s fund-raiser. You know Lexi.”
“Of course.” The lines of strain on Tim’s face eased.
Lexi was a mutual friend. She was also as classy and elegant as they came. The pretty social worker brought that class and elegance to anything she touched, which meant the auction wouldn’t be sleazy. Or at least as non-sleazy as bidding on another human being could be.
“I’ll take you to her.” Cassidy looped her arm through his, congratulating herself on so quickly finding a reason to touch him.
As always, being this close sent blood coursing through her veins like warm honey. Though Cassidy normally preferred bright colors and flash, Tim’s brown trousers and cream-colored shirt suited her just fine. In fact, on him she found the subdued colors incredibly sexy.
Cassidy glanced down, wondering if he liked her bright orange skirt that resembled a tutu—complete with tulle—topped by a clingy lime tee. The outfit was one of her faves.
“This way.” Cassidy tugged on his arm.
His feet remained firmly planted. “You’re busy. I don’t want to interrupt.”
Cassidy looked at him blankly.
Tim gestured toward Zippy, who was busily applying another layer of color to her mouth.
Cassidy approved of the young woman’s efforts. After all, could lips ever be too red?
“No worries.” She tugged again, more firmly this time, and he moved with her, the faint intoxicating scent of his cologne teasing her nostrils. “Zippy is the last woman up, so I have plenty of time.”
He nodded. “I just didn’t want to disturb you.”
She smiled to herself. What would he say if she told him everything about him disturbed her, but in only the very best of ways? Cassidy barely resisted the urge to ask. Instead, she steered the conversation in another direction. “How are Esi and Elle?”
Tim cocked his head and stared as if she’d spoken a language he hadn’t yet mastered.
“Oh, you mean Esther and Ellyn.” Warmth filled his eyes the way it always did whenever he spoke of his daughters. “They’re well. Spending the evening with Grandma and Grandpa.”
“I bet your mother had a coronary when she heard you were filling in for Liam tonight.”
Cassidy didn’t have to be a fly on the wall to know how that discussion had gone down. Suzanne Duggan, retired schoolteacher, helicopter grandmother and all-around pain in the butt would never approve of her doctor son participating in anything as gauche as a bachelor auction, even if it was for a good cause.
“She didn’t say much.”
Tim may have kept his tone offhand but Cassidy wasn’t fooled. Mama bear had definitely given him a few hard swipes of her tongue.
“What did Jayne think?” This time it was her tone that was carefully neutral. To complete the trifecta, she paired the voice with an interested expression and a slightly raised brow.
“Jayne?”
“Jayne Connors,” Cassidy prompted.
“I didn’t think to mention it.”
Relief surged, as sweet as a bottle of cold beer on a hot summer day. Obviously Tim and Jayne were still casual, though Cass had to wonder for how much longer. It was hard to miss the desire in the librarian’s eye whenever her gaze landed on him. Not-so-plain Jayne clearly had Dr. Duggan in her crosshairs.
“...for such a good cause.”
Cassidy realized that while her mind was tripping down the plain-Jayne path, Tim had been speaking. Thankfully, thinking on her feet was a specialty of hers. After all, as a hairdresser, she spent a lot of time on her feet.
“Raising money for the new Women and Children’s Center is something I fully support,” he continued. Compassion filled those hazel eyes. His caring nature was one more check in his positive column. “For such an affluent community we have so many women and children who struggle...”
For a second, her throat constricted and breathing came hard. Instead of remaining stuffed away in a rarely opened file cabinet in her head, the comment brought her own childhood front-and-square.
Cassidy plucked the disturbing memories from her head, shoved them back into the file cabinet and firmly shut the drawer. The past had no place in her life. She was all about the present and the future.
“Lexi is right there.” Cassidy gestured with her free hand, wishing the auction registration desk had been farther away. She wasn’t ready to release Tim back into the world. These one-on-one times were rare and the warmth of his skin beneath her fingers an unexpected pleasure.
“I should speak with Lexi.” Yet he made no move to step away.
Though Cassidy sometimes wondered how she could be the only one to feel the sizzle that was so blatant whenever they stood close, she wasn’t foolish enough to entertain the thought that Tim hesitated because he wanted to spend a few more moments with her. He was simply uneasy about what he’d agreed to do and was trying to put off beginning the process for as long as possible.
“I have this image of standing up there and not getting a single bid.” He emitted a slightly embarrassed chuckle. “I’m a middle-aged dad. Who’s going to bid on me?”
Tim wasn’t fishing for a compliment; he wasn’t that kind of guy. He obviously had no idea just how appealing he was to the opposite sex.
“You’re thirty-four. You’re successful. You’re hot.”
He laughed. “Yeah, right.”
“If it will ease your mind, I’ll start the bidding,” she promised him. “Kick things off.”
Gratitude flooded his face. “You’d do that for me?”
“Hey.” She punched him in the shoulder. “We’re buddies.”
Okay, perhaps that was a stretch, but saying it felt incredibly good.
“You’re a very nice person.” His gaze lingered on her face so long that her lips began to tingle. For a second, she had this crazy thought he might kiss her.
Instead he squeezed her shoulder and strolled off in Lexi’s direction.
* * *
After Cassidy finished making Zippy even more stunning, she took a few moments to touch up her own makeup and hair.
The auction of five women and five men had already started. The order had been predetermined beginning with a female and following a female–male format. Liam, or rather Tim, would be last on the auction block.
From the laughter and applause that arose from the ballroom each time the bidding concluded for an individual, Cassidy decided it wouldn’t take long to get to Tim.
Still, she lingered in front of the long mirror, taking a second to add a touch more orange-marmalade gloss to her mouth before fluffing her hair with her fingers. For the evening festivities, she’d resurrected the true blond of her childhood then tipped the ends with royal blue to match the color of her eyes.
Though she often wore glasses in vivid hues or patterns, the frames were a fashion accessory rather than a necessity. Tonight she’d left them in the small apartment over her shop, the place she now called home.
Cassidy smiled broadly, making sure there were no lipstick smudges on her teeth. Satisfied, she sauntered into the ballroom on five-inch heels.
After obtaining a number for bidding, she secured a spot halfway back from the stage and watched the spirited bidding for a date with Zippy. Mr. Business Exec with the receding hairline and Mr. Snowboarder with the sun-streaked shaggy hair both seemed equally determined to win a date with the beautiful attorney.
Zippy was the last woman on the list. The bidding reached one thousand dollars before Business Exec conceded to Snowboarder. Once the applause ended, many of those who’d stayed to watch headed to the adjacent ballroom where silent-auction items flanked the perimeter of the room and a champagne fountain anchored the center. A plethora of hot hors d’oeuvres were dispensed by waiters in black pants and white shirts, holding silver trays.
Thankfully, not everyone left in search of food and drink. Cassidy calculated at least a hundred remained in the ballroom when Lexi stepped forward to introduce Tim. The dark-haired social worker, lovely in navy chiffon, included in her introductory remarks that Tim had grown up in Jackson Hole, was a respected member of the medical community and the father of twin girls.
The young doctor’s face remained calm but Cassidy wasn’t fooled. He was nowhere as relaxed and confident as he appeared. Her fingers tightened on the numbered paddle in her hand. She’d made a promise and was ready to do her duty.
Nick, Lexi’s husband and well-known family law attorney, was serving as the event’s guest auctioneer. He took the microphone from his wife and his gaze scanned the audience. “Do I hear a bid of one hundred?”
For a second the room was silent. One hundred was the lowest acceptable bid. From what she’d overheard while she waited, the lowest winning bid so far had been three hundred, while eleven hundred was the night’s record. Most had come in around five hundred.
Cassidy was just lifting her paddle when she saw a redhead off to her right raise hers.
She recognized the woman in the sexy black dress that hugged a taut body and emphasized ample breasts. Leila Daltry was a customer at Clippity Do Dah. She stopped by regularly to get her hair cut and for an occasional color boost. A registered nurse, the striking redhead worked in the obstetrics department at the hospital. Though she wasn’t the right woman for Tim, Cassidy liked her well enough.
Nick asked for a two-hundred-dollar bid. When none was forthcoming he moved into his going once, twice speech. Cassidy stopped him by lifting her number. No way was she letting Leila get Tim that cheap.
Leila turned slowly and her cat-green eyes narrowed. Though the RN had always been friendly enough, Cassidy absorbed the feral gleam directed her way and grinned back.
If Leila thought a hostile glance could intimidate her, she was mistaken. Cassidy Kaye ate feral cats for breakfast.
“Three hundred,” Nick confirmed when Leila waved her paddle as he upped the bid.
The curious gazes of the well-dressed men and women in the room were now shifting between her and Leila. Once again, Nick upped the bid. Without even thinking, Cassidy lifted her number.
“Four hundred is the bid,” Nick called out. “Do I hear five?”
The redhead hesitated now, her gaze shifting from Tim’s impassive expression to Cassidy’s cool gaze. Though nurses were paid well, the cost of living in Jackson Hole was through the roof. Five hundred dollars was a lot of money.
Leila tossed her head and raised her paddle.
“We’re at five hundred dollars,” Nick pronounced. “Will someone give us six?”
Let it go, Cassidy told herself. Five hundred was a respectable bid.
“Going twice,” she heard Nick say.
Without taking a second to talk herself out of it, Cassidy shot her hand into the air.
“We have six hundred.”
Leila’s head snapped around and the satisfied smirk on her face vanished. If looks could kill, Cassidy would be six feet under.
“Going once, going twice. Six hundred dollars to number ninety-eight.”
It was a charitable donation, Cassidy told herself as she wrote out the check. Though she had to admit dropping that amount of money in a single night hurt.
Or rather it did until she turned and found Tim standing. Right. There.
“I’m sorry you got stuck,” he said.
Normally never at a loss of words, for a second Cassidy could only stare. Her heart gave a painful twist.
“I mean, I know you were only trying to increase the bid. I can give you the money to—”
She shot out a hand, stopping him before he could say more. “You’re not getting out of our date that easily. I bought you fair and square, mister.”
He smiled then, a warm easy lifting of his lips that did strange things to her insides. And when he took her arm, she realized he was worth every penny.
They strolled into the ballroom, where they both enjoyed a glass of champagne. After handing the empty glasses to a passing waiter, they wandered out onto the veranda, where the conversation shifted from mutual friends and future events to their upcoming “date.”
“I’ll pay for the evening.” Tim’s tone brooked no argument. “You pick where we go. Fair?”
Cassidy considered for a moment then nodded.
The moon bathed his face in a golden glow and a light breeze tousled his hair. He really was a great-looking guy. Not only did he have a fabulous face, his lips were firm and perfectly sculpted.
As she stared, she wondered what they would feel like, taste like...
“Sounds like we’ve got a deal.” He stuck his hand out but she ignored it, keeping her gaze focused on his lips.
Cassidy firmly believed hesitating or second-guessing was for wimps. Stepping close, she wrapped her hands around his neck and covered his mouth with hers.
Chapter Two (#uac39c8bc-039b-5b1a-ae3a-7cc0b34f8642)
That smoking-hot kiss was still at the forefront of Tim’s mind two weeks later when he pulled into his parents’ driveway. Probably because this afternoon would be the first time he and Cassidy would be alone together since she’d surprised him so thoroughly after the bachelor auction.
Over the past four years, his friend Jayne had brushed several kisses across his cheek. Nothing that came close to the sensual feel of Cassidy’s warm full lips plastered against his mouth. Before he could get his rioting emotions under control, he’d kissed her back. And it had taken all of his willpower not to continue kissing her.
He wondered if that was how they’d end this evening, too...
“Yippee, we’re here,” one of his daughters called out from the backseat as he eased the car to a stop in front of the two-story white clapboard that had been his home as a child.
Large leafy trees protected the house and the lush green lawn from the late-afternoon sun. A variety of perfectly groomed bushes added to the home’s well-tended appearance.
By the time Tim pushed open his car door, the twins had already hopped out and sprinted up the sidewalk to his parents’ front porch.
Esther and Ellyn loved spending time with their grandma and grandpa. But this afternoon, Tim had found himself wishing Finley Davis, the teenage daughter of friends, was available. He knew his mother’s feelings about this date with Cassidy and he wasn’t in the mood to hear her tell him again that Cassidy was clearly out to snare herself a wealthy doctor.
Stepping out of his hybrid SUV, Tim expelled a resigned breath. Suzanne Duggan, retired grade-school teacher and A-plus grandmother, was a wonderful woman. But there was no denying she could be a trifle opinionated.
Thankfully, it wasn’t Suzanne, but his father who sauntered around the side of the house just as the screen door slammed shut and the girls disappeared from sight. His father waved a greeting, his gloved hand gripping a wicked-looking pair of garden shears.
Though in his mid-sixties, Steve Duggan could pass for a man ten years younger. The recently retired engineer was tall, topping Tim’s six-foot frame by a good three inches. His sandy hair still held the red all three of his children had inherited, although in recent years more and more silver strands had been added to the mix.
Tim met his father’s warm hazel eyes and realized, not for the first time, how fortunate he’d been to grow up in a home with two loving, supportive parents. From the moment his daughters had been born, he’d been determined to give them that same experience. Except now, with Caro gone, he had to be both father and mother.
They need a mother.
Tim ignored the voice inside his head and the accompanying fear that gripped him, fear that he was somehow shortchanging the girls by choosing to remain single. But his situation was different than most widowers. His practice was challenging. At the end of the day, there was no time left for the demands of a wife. He’d already failed one woman. He wouldn’t make that mistake again.
At ease with his decision, Tim gestured with his head toward the shears. “Looks like Mom is keeping you busy.”
His father smiled ruefully. “The woman’s honey-do projects will keep my free time occupied into the next millennium.”
The two men laughed, both aware that was no exaggeration.
As his father fell into step beside him, Tim sensed his curious gaze. Steve paused at the bottom of the porch steps.
“I was surprised when Suz mentioned you’d be dropping off the girls at four. That seems a bit early for a date.”
It seemed early to Tim, too. But Cassidy had paid six hundred dollars. Six hours or so of his time didn’t seem much to ask.
“Cass has a full evening planned,” he told his dad. “Beginning with grabbing some pizza, then checking out Brew Fest.”
When Tim had stopped by Cassidy’s salon earlier in the week to find out what she had in mind for their “date,” she’d asked if he had plans for Old West Days, a popular yearly event held the last Saturday of May. Other than taking the girls to watch the parade in the morning, Tim had been available.
“I’m surprised the woman could take time off today,” his mother said in lieu of a greeting as she stepped out onto the porch. Suzanne was a slim, attractive woman with a sleek bob of light brown hair and bright blue eyes. “If you’re a beautician, Saturday is a big day.”
“It’s her salon. I imagine she sets her own schedule.” Tim deliberately kept his tone mild, refusing to get drawn into a pointless discussion. He glanced around. “Where’d the twins disappear to?”
Suzanne’s tense expression softened at the mention of her “girls.” Esther and Ellyn were his parents’ only grandchildren. But something told Tim it wouldn’t be long before his sister and her husband added to that number.
“The moment they hit the front door they made a beeline straight for Miss Priss and the kittens.”
Tim smiled. “And how is Prissy?”
His parents had reluctantly taken in the calico last year when Silas, an elderly neighbor, had moved to a nursing home. The older gentleman had been panicked at the thought of his best friend going to an animal shelter. He’d assured his neighbors that Miss Priss had not only had all her shots but she’d also been spayed.
Six weeks ago, the supposedly neutered cat had given birth to four kittens.
“Prissy is a sweet girl,” Suzanne said with a fond smile. “And an excellent mother.”
From his mother, that was indeed high praise.
“Darn cat is spoiled rotten,” his dad groused. “Do you know she won’t drink from a bowl? Miss Particular will only drink running water from the spigot in the tub.”
His father’s tone said clearly what he thought of that practice.
“Hush, Steve. From what I’ve read about cats, it’s a primal thing.”
Before a parental argument ensued over an animal neither of them had really wanted, Tim changed the subject. “Have you found homes for the babies?”
“For three of them. So far, no takers for the runt,” his mother said with a sigh.
Runt was a mischievous male with a black head, a white body and a raccoon-striped tail. An odd combination to be sure.
Steve fixed his gaze on his son. “Your girls adore the runt.”
At his father’s raised eyebrow and the pointed look that accompanied the comment, Tim lifted his hands, palms out. “One day I’ll get them a pet. Now is not the right time.”
Tim expected his father to come back with some pithy comment. Instead his expression turned thoughtful. “I’ve found the best things are often those that are unexpected.”
If his father’s cryptic remark was intended to make Tim reconsider his decision to punt on kitten number four, the play failed. “I’m not changing my mind.”
He slanted a glance at his mother and found her staring.
She gestured toward his jeans and white polo, frowning slightly. “What made you decide to dress so casually for your date?”
Though Suzanne had made it completely clear she thought the whole bachelor-auction-date thing had been a mistake, obviously in her mind that didn’t negate the fact that her son had an image to uphold in the community.
“It’s Old West Days.” Tim glanced down. “And this isn’t really a date.”
He didn’t know why he’d added the last part. Actually, this was as close as he’d come to a date in the four years since Caro had passed away. While he may have escorted Jayne Connors—a media specialist at the local high school—to various functions over the years, that was because he and Jayne had an understanding. They’d agreed to fill in as each others’ plus-one when needed.
“You’re absolutely right. It’s not a date.” His mother’s lips tipped in approval. “In fact, that’s exactly what I told Paula when she called in a panic.”
Tim knew Paula was Paula Connors, Suzanne’s BFF and Jayne’s mother. The women talked every day. When they weren’t on the phone, they were texting each other. The two friends belonged to the same clubs, volunteered at the hospital and served together on too many-community committees to count.
He’d have thought the women had more important things to discuss than his personal life, which was nonexistent. “Why does Paula care if it’s a date or not?”
“Oh, Tim.” His mother clucked her tongue. “She cares because of Jayne. You know she and I still hope the two of you will get together.”
Tim stifled a groan. He’d walked right into that one. It had been about a year after Caro died that he’d revived his childhood friendship with Jayne. From the start he’d been clear he hadn’t been looking for anything more than friendship. Thankfully, Jayne felt the same way. The only ones who couldn’t seem to get the message were their respective mothers.
“Jayne and I are friends, Mother.” Tim wished he’d recorded those words so he could simply pull out his phone and push Play each time Suzanne put on her matchmaking hat. The thought of how she’d react to that stunt made him grin.
“I’m happy you find this so amusing.” Suzanne took a step forward, her compact body rigid and stiff as any soldier. Though only five foot three, she was definitely a force. It was easy to see how she’d been able to keep classes of rowdy fifth graders under control during her years of teaching. “Well, son, let me tell you what I know.”
His father shot Tim a sympathetic glance before pivoting on his sneakers and retreating around the side of the house.
“You and Jayne are perfect for each other. She’s a good person. While this Cassidy creature—”
“Not. One. More. Word.” The steel in Tim’s voice brought his mother up short. He didn’t want to be a hard-ass, but on this matter, he’d brook no argument. Up to this point, he’d tried to ignore his mother’s subtle digs against Cassidy, but he’d had enough. “Cassidy Kaye is a well-respected businesswoman in this community. I won’t allow you to disparage her character.”
Suzanne blinked. She opened her mouth but when her eyes met his steely ones, she appeared to reconsider and closed it without speaking.
Seizing the blessed moment of silence, Tim changed the subject. “Are you certain keeping the girls overnight isn’t a problem? I don’t anticipate being out late. I can easily swing by and pick them up.”
“No, no.” Suzanne waved a dismissive hand, regaining her composure. “They’ve been looking forward to a sleepover with Grandma and Grandpa.”
“Okay, then.” He thought about going inside to tell his daughters goodbye, but knew it wasn’t necessary. This was their second home. “Thanks again.”
Tim was almost to the car when his mother called his name. He turned, cocked a brow.
Suzanne hesitated, chewed on her lip. “I hope you have a wonderful evening.”
Tim accepted the olive branch she’d offered with a smile. “I’m sure I will.”
* * *
Cassidy took a bite of the Philly steak pizza and nearly groaned in ecstasy. “Oh-my-gosh.”
Across from her in the booth, Tim grinned and picked up a slice. “That good, huh?”
“Positively sinful. Take a bite. You’ll see.” She let the flavors linger on her tongue. Even as she savored, she watched Tim from beneath lowered lashes, eager for his reaction.
When she’d asked what kind of pizza he liked, he said anything that didn’t have anchovies, while admitting hamburger was a particular favorite.
She’d nearly grimaced, stopping herself in the nick of time. Hamburger pizza? Boring with a capital B.
Then she noticed that Perfect Pizza—a popular eatery in downtown Jackson—had added a Philly steak option. She’d immediately known that was the one she wanted them to share on this special night out. He’d been agreeable and it now sat on the table between them, a gooey mass of cheese and perfectly spiced meat.
“Wow.” Tim’s eyes met hers. “This is good.”
She shot him a wink. “Told you.”
As he chewed, he glanced around. Following the direction of his gaze, she took in the dining room area. Even though it was only a few minutes past four, the place was packed.
“I can’t believe all the people that are here in the middle of the day.” His voice reflected the surprise in his eyes.
Cassidy decided the man really needed to get out more. Anyone who ate out with any regularity knew Perfect Pizza was always busy. “In an hour it’ll be standing room only.”
“Good call on coming early.” He took a sip of soda. “Are you going to tell me now what’s on the agenda for the rest of the evening? Or is that still a secret?”
Cassidy picked up her slice of pizza, her lips slightly curving as she took a bite. Tim was a planner, a busy OB doctor who scheduled his personal life with the same precision he used in his medical practice.
When she’d told him she’d chosen the Saturday of Old West Days for their date, he’d fished for a detailed outline of the evening. She’d deliberately been vague, hoping the uncertainty would keep his thoughts on the evening...and on her.
Of course, she had no illusions anything would develop between them. They were from two different worlds. Even back in high school, she’d known her crush on him would go nowhere. Guys like him didn’t date girls like her.
The pizza caught for a moment in her throat before she determinedly swallowed it down. Only one thing mattered. Tonight, he was hers and they would have fun. She’d make sure of it.
“Cassidy.”
Startled, she blinked away thoughts of her past and looked up to find him staring. At her. More specifically, at her bright pink lips.
Her heart played hopscotch in her chest as Tim leaned forward, reaching out to her, carefully avoiding the pizza that sat between them.
Cassidy held her breath.
“You have a piece of—” the side of his finger brushed her mouth and sent heat shooting through her blood “—cheese.”
She gave a shaky laugh. “Guess you can’t take me anywhere.”
He smiled, but there was a strange heat in his eyes. Or perhaps she’d simply imagined it, because a second later it had vanished. “You look lovely tonight.”
“Thank you. I wanted to do something in honor of Old West Days.” Though Cassidy loved flashy dresses and short skirts, for today’s festivities she’d chosen a pair of jeggings that hugged her long, slender legs like a second skin. She’d topped the tight pants with a bandanna tee in lime green. A bright blue belt cinched the shirt tight around her waist. Cowboy boots completed the ensemble.
Though she’d momentarily considered pulling her hair up in a stylish tail, at the last second she’d decided to let it tumble loose around her shoulders, better to show off several thin streaks of lime near the front.
Cassidy knew she looked her best. She’d made sure of it. But she wasn’t the only hottie in the room. “Allow me to say, Dr. Duggan, that you look übersexy this evening.”
Her gaze lingered on his white polo and sun-bronzed, muscular arms.
Tim laughed a bit self-consciously.
“No lie. Jeans, white shirt and buff bod do it for me every time.”
He laughed. “Now it’s my turn to thank you. I can’t remember the last time anyone told me I was sexy.”
“You’ve obviously been hanging around the wrong women.”
He only grinned and moved the conversation to her business, something Cassidy could talk about for hours. In addition to her hair salon, Clippety Do Dah—that happened to be doing a rockin’ business—last year she’d expanded into hair, makeup and nails for special events.
“Is Hailey still helping you out?” Tim asked.
Speech therapist Hailey Ferris was a genius with makeup. For the past couple of years she’d been helping Cassidy with special events.
“Not anymore. Too much on her plate. Wife to Winn, mother to Cameron and now being pregnant...” Cassidy lifted her hands and let them drop. “That’s not even taking into account her speech therapy clients.”
“I forgot that she’s part of that multi-therapy clinic Meg Lassiter started,” he said, referring to another of their friends.
“Her plate totally runneth over.” Cassidy took another bite of pizza. She was happy for Hailey, truly she was, but Cassidy really needed the help. “She told me she’ll fill in when I’m desperate, but knowing her situation I won’t ask.”
“Do you have a replacement in mind?”
She shook her head. “I’ve been beating the bushes and coming up empty. If you know anyone—”
“I may.”
Cassidy vowed if he said Jayne Connors, she was going to slug him. Or throw up. Or maybe both.
“Jewel Lucas.”
The slice of pizza hovered an inch from Cassidy’s lips as an image of the dark-haired woman with the vivid green eyes came into focus. “I thought she worked for the paper?”
“She does special features, but it’s not anywhere near full-time.” Tim relaxed against the back of the wooden booth. “I ran into her at the grocery store last week and she mentioned she was looking for another part-time job. Kids are expensive. And she’s a single parent.”
Jewel had given birth shortly after high school graduation. Supposedly the father could have been any one of a number of guys. The pretty brunette had always marched to the beat of her own drummer. Something she and Cassidy had in common. “What makes you think she’s qualified?”
“Caro used to say Jewel had a way with makeup.” He looked sheepish. “Forget I said anything.”
“No. No. Thank you.” Cassidy paused. “How old is her son now?”
“I believe Cullen is in middle school.”
Another positive, Cassidy thought. “I’ll definitely keep her in mind.”
The subject switched again and Tim found himself telling Cassidy little anecdotes about his daughters. To his surprise, her eyes didn’t glaze over and she seemed genuinely interested, especially when he got to the part about their fascination with the kittens.
“I always wanted a pet when I was growing up.” A shadow passed across Cassidy’s pretty face. “There were some feral strays around the neighborhood. I’d feed them when I could. Still, they rarely got tame enough to pet. It’s hard to trust when you’ve been burned.”
Silence hung between them for several moments.
“My mother still has an available kitten.”
“You should take it,” she urged, which wasn’t at all the point he’d been trying to make.
He shook his head. “Pets are a lot of work.”
Tim couldn’t help recalling Caro’s long-ago response when he’d once mentioned the possibility of getting a dog or a cat.
“And messy,” he added. “I know my mother is always sweeping up hair.”
“A little hair on the floor isn’t such a big thing.” She flashed a smile. “Speaking of hair, you’re due for a trim.”
“I’ll give you a call next week and set something up.” Tim hesitated, realizing he wanted to see her again and not just for a haircut.
He wanted to chat with her over dinner about her job and his practice, about kids and pets and mutual friends. He felt comfortable with her. And, as he’d discovered this evening, if he didn’t want to talk, she was more than willing to take the conversational ball and run with it.
Should he ask her out for real? The moment the thought crossed his mind he remembered his daughters and the responsibility he carried. There was no way he could toss dating into the mix when his free time was already so limited.
For now, he would enjoy this evening.
Tomorrow was soon enough to return to the real world.
Chapter Three (#uac39c8bc-039b-5b1a-ae3a-7cc0b34f8642)
“If I get on the bull, you have to get on it, too.” Cassidy pinned Tim with her gaze and he heard the challenge in her tone.
After sending their saturated-fat levels into the stratosphere with the Philly steak pizza, Cassidy suggested they stop at Wally’s Place, a popular local saloon, for an after-dinner drink and dessert.
For Caro, the perfect after-dinner drink and dessert had always been a glass of Sauternes and crème brûlée.
For Cassidy, the drink of choice appeared to be Corona straight from the bottle and one of Wally’s famous “salted peanut chews.” She popped the last bite of the bar into her mouth and slanted another glance in the bull’s direction.
A red-faced tourist was slowly pulling himself up from the padded floor next to the mechanical bull.
“There’s no line.” Cassidy’s tone held an excited edge. In one fluid motion she stood and shoved back her chair. “This is our chance.”
Seeing no good way out, Tim slowly rose to his feet. “You really want to do this?”
“Do leopards have spots?”
Though he was pretty sure they didn’t, he took the response as confirmation. The appealing way her tight-fitting jeans hugged her backside kept his mind occupied as he followed her to the other side of the bar.
“Do you want to go first?” She paused by the bull, slapping one hand on the side, as if staking a claim. “Or can I?”
Can I? She spoke as if being first up was something to be prized.
Tim gazed at the mechanical contraption. He’d been in Wally’s many times over the years, but had paid little attention to the ride. Right now, the doctor in him couldn’t help but think of all the ways Cassidy could get hurt.
If she was determined to do this—and it appeared she was—he would go first. That way she could witness the danger up front and close.
From the time he’d been small, Tim had been a thinker. Unlike his two sisters, he’d never been impulsive. Normally his caution served him well. But this time he hesitated too long. While he was pondering the situation, Cassidy scrambled onto the bull. She now sat, listening intently as the man in charge gave her pointers.
When the operator paused to take a breath, Cassidy slanted a glance in his direction and winked. The impact of the flirtatious gaze had him sucking in a quick breath. For whatever reason, her smile did the craziest things to his insides.
Refocusing on the bull, Cassidy wrapped the reins tightly around one hand. In a surprisingly graceful gesture, she lifted the other hand high in the air.
The operator, a bald guy with a Fu Manchu mustache and an easy smile, dropped a cowboy hat onto her head. “Ready to ride?”
This was wrong. Reckless. Crazy.
Fear sluiced through him. She could be seriously hurt.
“Cassidy, don’t—”
“Let ’er rip,” she called out and immediately the bull began to move slowly up and down.
She made an engaging sight in her tight jeans and the green tee that showed off her curves to full advantage. The cowboy hat perched on her blond curls only added to her charm. Though he recalled vividly how soft she’d felt against him when they’d kissed, Tim saw muscle definition in the arm holding the reins and in the long legs gripping the bull as it picked up speed and began to buck.
A whistle from between the teeth of a gangly cowboy split the air. Within seconds a slew of men gathered around, cheering her on.
Tim was powerless to do anything but watch and admire. The look of pure joy on her face as she and the bull moved as one held him transfixed.
Finally the ride ended. Cassidy emitted a loud whoop and hopped off. After handing the hat back to Fu Manchu, she waved cheerily to her “fans” then sidled up to Tim.
“It’s a real kick.” Her breath came in excited puffs and her cheeks were an enticing pink. “You’re going to love it.”
Though Tim seriously doubted that, he wouldn’t back out. A deal was a deal.
He strode over to the bull with a confidence he didn’t feel, secured the reins and wished—for the first time—he’d at least tried rodeo club in high school.
“Don’t force it,” Cassidy murmured in a low undertone meant for his ears only. “Relax and move with the bull.”
Moving with the bull wasn’t difficult, not at first. Then, just as Tim thought he might be getting the hang of it, the blasted animal went loco. It shifted side to side before pitching radically forward, nearly sending him toppling. But he held on and—remembering Cassidy’s words—did his best to relax and stay loose.
His heart pounded. Sweat dotted his brow. Adrenaline zipped like a lightning bolt through his veins. Tim heard himself whoop like Cassidy had only minutes before. Holding tight to the reins with one hand, the other sliced the air.
“Ride ’em, cowboy,” Cassidy called out.
He grinned as another hard lurch nearly sent him toppling. But he didn’t panic—panicking wasn’t in his nature—and stayed loose.
It felt as if he’d just gotten into the groove when the bull slowed then stopped. Even before Tim’s feet were back on solid ground, he was shocked to find himself wishing the ride had lasted longer.
The thought had barely crossed his mind when Cassidy let out a squeal and flung her arms around his neck. The momentum of her body slamming against his sent him staggering back. Quickly regaining his footing, he swung her around.
When they stopped twirling, he kept his arms around her, his gaze on her laughing face. Mesmerized by Cassidy’s luscious hot-pink lips, eyes that almost looked violet in the dim light and the intoxicating, sultry scent of her perfume, he couldn’t bring himself to look away.
Seriously tempted to kiss her right then and there, Tim didn’t know what to think when she stepped back, grabbed his hand and tugged him straight through the doors of the saloon.
While perplexed, he couldn’t help but feel that leaving was a good thing. When she’d first gotten off the bull, he’d noticed how many of the men stared as if she was a piece of meat and they hadn’t eaten in a week. No, Tim had zero qualms about leaving the bar.
Finally pausing once they reached the boardwalk, Cassidy grinned up at him. “That was a blast. I had so much fun.”
Was? Had? Immediately picking up on the change in tense, Tim fought a surge of disappointment and forced a light tone. “Are you telling me the date is over?”
For a second she simply stared. Then she wagged a finger at him, blue eyes laughing and a little too bright. “You’re not getting off that easy, Doctor. I have an entire night of debauchery planned. Trust me, we’re just getting started.”
* * *
A stagecoach ride couldn’t by any stretch of the imagination be considered debauchery. Still, Cassidy had always wanted to check out this Old West Days attraction and this “date” with Tim seemed the perfect opportunity.
“Last year the girls begged me to take them on a stagecoach ride,” Tim informed Cassidy as the old-fashioned coach, painted in vivid shades of red and green, creaked its way through town with them inside. “But the line was so long we gave up and got cotton candy instead.”
Cotton candy.
Cassidy smiled. Something else on her list for tonight. “The rainbow kind is my favorite.”
“Then I shall buy you some.” His gentlemanly tone reminded her of the guys in the old movies Cassidy watched when she had trouble falling asleep.
She loved this teasing, relaxed side of Tim. Since his wife died, he’d seemed so somber.
One of her goals tonight was to show him how much fun life could be, if you didn’t take it—or yourself—too seriously. By the smile on his lips, her plan appeared to be bearing fruit.
Cassidy relaxed against the back of the tufted leather seat, wishing Tim would loosen up even more and put an arm around her shoulders. She could picture the scene now. Picture herself resting her head against his broad chest, playing with the buttons on his shirt—
Without warning, the stagecoach jerked, propelling Cassidy forward. With the lightning-fast reflexes of a former high school wide receiver, Tim pulled her against his chest as if she was a ball sent his way in a Hail Mary.
“What happened?” She knew her slightly breathless delivery had little to do with the sudden jolt and everything to do with the thrill of having his arms finally around her.
“I’d say we hit a buffalo. Or a rut.” He chuckled. “One of the perils of traveling down a dirt road to add authenticity to the ride.”
“Oh.” Cassidy expelled a shaky breath but didn’t move a muscle, afraid if she did he might release her. And that she couldn’t abide. Not when she was finally right where she wanted to be.
“You’re okay.” His tone was soft and soothing, his hand stroking her arm in a gesture that was obviously meant to be reassuring.
Obviously he’d concluded her labored breathing was due to nearly planting her face in the rustic floorboards. The truth was, his nearness, his arms around her, was stoking the fire that had burned in her belly since he’d arrived at her apartment door.
After a moment, he shifted uncomfortably.
Cassidy lifted her gaze and found him staring. From the predatory gleam, she wasn’t the only one experiencing the effects of the closeness. Slowly, with her eyes firmly fixed on his face, she moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue.
The deliberate action was calculated to draw his attention to her mouth, a mouth that yearned for a long, slow taste of his lips.
By the flash of heat in his eyes, the ploy worked. The web of attraction that had been hovering dropped and tightened around them, shutting out the world.
Though the road had turned smooth as a baby’s backside, instead of releasing her, Tim tightened his hold. Which was just fine with her.
Cassidy reveled in the closeness and the spicy scent of his cologne. Her entire body tingled with anticipation.
Tim leaned close and cupped her face gently in one large palm. The lips she wanted so desperately on hers were only a breath away.
Placing her hand flat against his chest, Cassidy smiled up at him. She prayed he’d see in her eyes she wanted this as much as he did, maybe more.
Without warning, the stagecoach shuddered to a stop. The unexpected movement jerked them back against the seat. Seconds later, the door swung open and sounds of exited chatter from a group of waiting passengers filled the small interior compartment.
“End of the line, folks,” the round-faced driver called out, his deep voice at odds with the boyish face.
Tim muttered something under his breath and released her.
The driver held out his hand to Cassidy but his apologetic smile was directed at both of them. “Sorry about the bump earlier. Have to admit I didn’t see the rut until I’d hit it. Anyway, I hope you folks enjoyed the ride.”
“Loved it.” Cassidy flashed the man a brilliant smile then glanced back at Tim. “I wish it had lasted a little longer, though. I wasn’t quite ready for it to end.”
* * *
Street dances had never appealed to Caro. Tim had thought his wife’s objections made a lot of sense: intoxicated people who didn’t know the first thing about how to properly dance making fools of themselves. Consequently, during their marriage, they’d never once come down to West Deloney during Old West Days.
Yet, here Tim stood on this last weekend in May gyrating with Cassidy and hundreds of strangers. The scene in this section of downtown Jackson bore a distinct resemblance to Times Square on New Year’s Eve. Music blasted from a popular regional band who’d taken the stage in front of the local theater. There was vitality and electricity in the air that Tim found contagious.
He couldn’t believe the number of people he knew—and the number Cassidy knew—who stopped to bump and grind beside them before moving on. After a particularly fine rock classic that got everyone’s blood pumping, Tim concluded he’d definitely been missing something all these years.
Granted, this was a far different atmosphere than a dance at the Spring Gulch Country Club with fine cuisine and music from a band attired in black tie. This was loud and dusty and a bit uncivilized. Enjoyable, but in an entirely different way.
The rock song ended and the band immediately launched into a sultry rhythm that quickly became a pulsating beat in his blood. Cassidy’s hands encircled his neck and her hips began to sway in a sexy samba.
Their eyes locked and Tim found himself drowning in the liquid blue depths. The people surrounding them faded into nothingness and all he saw was her.
Tim barely noticed the music had ended, scarcely heard the lead singer announce the band was taking a break. His hands were on Cassidy’s waist and his eyes trained on that sexy mouth.
God, he wanted her.
“Break it up, you two. This is a family event.”
Tim groaned and dropped his hands from Cassidy’s waist.
Liam Gallagher, old friend and the reason that Tim was on this date in the first place, slapped Tim on the back. “Haven’t seen you in weeks and where do I run into you? At a street dance of all places. Unbelievable.”
“Cassidy. Good to see you.” Liam’s smile widened. He jerked a thumb in Tim’s direction. “I haven’t had a chance to thank you for bidding on this guy.”
“My good deed of the month,” she said with a cheeky smile, not appearing off balance by Liam’s unexpected appearance. Then again, Cassidy always seemed to handle whatever life tossed her way with a smile and an impudent attitude.
The two bantered like old friends about the auction, or as Liam dubbed it, the “Jackson Hole Meat Market.”
Tim watched the two, an uneasy knot forming in his gut. Women liked Liam. He was a good-looking guy with thick brown hair, and his smile always seemed to make the ladies swoon. Not to mention the psychologist could converse easily with anyone. Over the years Tim had developed that skill but the art of small talk still didn’t come naturally.
Liam paused, as if suddenly realizing only he and Cassidy were engaged in conversation. “Am I interrupting?”
Tim met his friend’s gaze. “Ever heard the saying ‘three is a crowd’?”
Liam laughed uproariously as if Tim had made a joke. But within minutes, the psychologist had come up with an excuse to leave.
Tim thought he’d once again have Cassidy to himself but Liam had barely disappeared when he caught sight of Jayne Connors headed in their direction.
Though known for her tailored dresses and heels, apparently in concession to the casualness of the event, tonight Jayne wore navy pants and a sleeveless white shirt.
When her gaze landed on Tim, she waved and smiled. Her bright smile dimmed when she caught sight of Cassidy. The look of disbelief she shot him made no sense. Tim distinctly remembered mentioning his date with Cassidy to her.
“What a surprise.” Tim offered a welcoming smile when she drew close. “I thought you didn’t care for these kinds of events.”
“Back at you.”
Tim sensed Cassidy’s watchful gaze on him.
“I was wrong,” he told Jayne. “It’s fun.”
Cassidy offered the woman a friendly smile. “Good to see you, Jayne.”
“You, too, Cassidy.”
To Tim’s surprise there seemed to be genuine warmth between the women. He hadn’t realized they were so well acquainted.
“The Jackson Chamber of Commerce has been plugging Old West Days all week,” Jayne explained. “Since I didn’t have plans for the evening I decided I’d wander around and see what the hype was all about.”
Cassidy lifted a hand as if in mock toast, approval in her eyes. “I salute your spirit of adventure.”
Though she looked pleased, Jayne lifted one shoulder. “It’s not as enjoyable when you’re by yourself.”
“Join us.” Tim spoke without thinking.
“Yes, please join us,” Cassidy echoed, though with less than her normal exuberance.
“That’s kind of you both to offer, but you caught me on my way back to the car.” Jayne pressed two fingers against her temple. “The music, the heat, the noise is giving me a headache.”
Tim was struck by the words. Only moments before Cassidy had confessed to Liam that the crowds and the noise energized her. Still, he could understand how Jayne might find the whole scene overwhelming. If he’d ever been able to drag Caro here, she’d likely have headed home with a headache, too.
“Feel better.” Cassidy touched Jayne’s arm. “I’ll see you Monday. If you need to reschedule—”
“I’m fine,” Jayne assured her. “I’ll definitely be there.”
Tim tilted his head.
“Haircut,” Jayne informed him. “Nobody cuts hair like Cassidy.”
“You’re too kind.” Cassidy’s quicksilver grin flashed. “Though it’s completely true.”
The band launched their next set with a Southern rock favorite from the sixties. The popular tune was apparently familiar to many in the crowd and en masse they began to sing the words.
The librarian winced. “That’s my exit cue.”
With a pained look on her face, Jayne said her goodbyes and hurried off.
When Cassidy tugged on his arm, Tim leaned close, inhaling a whiff of her perfume. Something about the enticing scent made him want to move closer.
“Let’s explore.” As she spoke her hand slid down his arm and her fingers laced with his.
Her hand wrapped in his felt so natural, Tim didn’t even think of pulling away. Deliberately heading in a direction away from the band, they wove through the crowd. It took several blocks before the streets and sidewalks became less crowded. Instead of loud and pulsating, the music became festive background noise.
With no destination in mind, he and Cassidy wandered, strolling side by side, enjoying the warm summer breeze and each other’s company.
After several blocks the streets grew crowded once again and Tim quickly discovered the reason. Vendors. Booths stood like soldiers at attention, lining both sides of the street. Tim’s gaze swept over signs touting everything from cotton candy to rings made from horseshoe nails. Cassidy paused at one of the first booths, where an older gentleman dressed as an Old West sheriff stood selling tin stars.
“Give me your opinion.” Tim slanted a questioning look in Cassidy’s direction. “Think the girls would get a kick out of one?”
For a moment Cassidy silently stared at the badges, her expression unreadable.
“I wanted one in the worst way when I was their age,” she said finally, almost to herself.
“Really?”
She nodded. “I had this crazy idea the badge would give me superpowers and allow me to control those around me. Stupid.”
Something in the way she spoke, or maybe it was the turbulent emotion in her eyes, had him reaching for her hand and giving it a squeeze. “Did you ever get one?”
A shadow passed over her face. “Naw. But that was okay. It wouldn’t have helped anyway.”
Glancing away, she focused on a teenage girl walking by with a cone of rainbow-colored cotton candy. She touched his arm. “Be right back.”
She did that a lot, he realized, little squeezes and pats. His family wasn’t overly demonstrative but he liked it when Cassidy touched him. And the contact made him want to touch her back.
The line for the tin stars moved quickly. After making his purchase, Tim started down the sidewalk toward the cotton-candy seller. He thought back, trying to recall what he knew of Cassidy’s childhood. She’d been several years behind him in school. There had been a lot of talk when the pigtailed blonde from the wrong side of the tracks had worn a Halloween cat costume to school most of her kindergarten year.
But the incident Tim recalled most vividly was the time Cassidy had shaved her head. She’d been in fifth or sixth grade at the time. The buzz she’d created when she came to school demanding everyone call her Sinéad had lingered for weeks.
As far as Tim knew no one ever figured out what that was all about. Some blamed the incident on her crazy mother, who wasn’t exactly a stellar influence. Others said it was a need to stand out, brought on by an absentee father.
“Tim.”
He blinked and saw Cassidy approaching him, holding two cones of rainbow cotton candy. “I got one for each of us.”
He took the spun sugar, deciding it wouldn’t hurt to ignore proper nutrition for one evening. “I have something for you, too.”
Reaching into his pocket, Tim pulled out a tin star and pressed it into her hand.
She stared at it then up at him, her expression questioning.
“Better late than never,” he quipped when she remained silent. “Perhaps you’ll finally get those superpowers.”
Her fingers curled around the star and she slipped it into her purse. She cleared her throat before speaking. “Thanks.”
“Thank you for the cotton candy.” He took a bite and had to admit the fluff tasted as good as he remembered. Plucking off another piece, he held it between his thumb and forefinger for a second before popping it into his mouth. “What’s next on the agenda?”
“Do you like rodeos?” She gazed up at him, a hopeful gleam in her eyes, a faint smear of sugar on her full lips.
Tim forced his gaze from the lips that reminded him of delicious pink strawberries.
Rodeos, he reminded himself. They were talking about bulls, broncs and roping. Despite growing up in Wyoming, Tim had little exposure to the sport. His parents had never taken him or his sisters to the rodeo. Caro had never expressed an interest and he hadn’t cared enough to press the issue.
Tim saw the look in Cassidy’s eyes. She wanted to go and he’d made it clear from the start he would go along with whatever she wanted.
Besides, so far he’d enjoyed everything about the evening she’d orchestrated, including riding the bull at Wally’s place. “Sounds like fun.”
She flashed a bright smile and took his arm.
An easy breeze ruffled her hair but Cassidy made no move to push it back into place. He liked that about her, too. Unlike those women who needed to be perfectly groomed at all times, Cassidy gave herself permission to revel in the moment.
Tonight, he’d gone with the flow and as a result felt more like the kid he’d once been than a widowed father of two with heavy responsibilities. As they started down the street in the direction of his car, his gaze kept returning to her mouth.
All too soon the evening would draw to a close. Though it had been a long time since he’d dated, from everything he’d heard and read, a good-night kiss was practically expected in today’s dating world.
Although this wasn’t really a date, not in the true sense of the word, he was determined to savor every moment and fulfill all her expectations. If that meant a good-night kiss, so be it.
He only hoped he could stop at one.
Chapter Four (#uac39c8bc-039b-5b1a-ae3a-7cc0b34f8642)
After spending several hours at the rodeo, watching everything from father-and-son team roping to kids chasing ties on calves, Cassidy noticed Tim stifling a yawn when he thought she wasn’t looking. Reluctantly, Cassidy decided it was time to call it a night.
Still, she dragged her feet as Tim walked her up the flight of steps to the apartment over her salon in downtown Jackson. Hands down, the evening had qualified as the best of her life.
“Want to come inside for a few minutes?” Cassidy unlocked the door and opened it wide, keeping her tone casual.
Tim hesitated.
Cassidy held her breath.
“Sure,” he said after an endless moment. “I’d love to come in.”
She dropped her bag to the sofa and, out of the corner of her eye, saw him survey the tiny apartment. She knew where he lived, a big house in the Spring Gulch subdivision, just outside of Jackson. Though she’d never been inside his home, she’d attended many parties in the area and knew the opulence of the residences.
What did he see when he looked around the small two-bedroom unit she called home? The tiny rooms? The lack of amenities? When his gaze lingered on the overstuffed sofa, she wondered if he recognized it as coming from the big-box store on the edge of town.
At least he would find no fault with her housekeeping. After growing up in squalor, in dirty rooms so crowded with junk you could scarcely see the floor, Cassidy was frightfully neat. Though most of the money she made went straight back into her business, it had been important to Cassidy to create a home, not simply just have a place to sleep.
To brighten the room she’d added a variety of pillows to the sofa. Paintings, done by local artists, hung on the walls, adding additional color.
Tim rocked back on his heels. “Your place has a nice feel.”
Pleasure rippled through her at the obvious approval in his voice.
“Thank you.” Cassidy kept her tone nonchalant. “Can I get you something to drink? I have beer, wine, soda or water.”
“Water sounds good.”
In the kitchen Cassidy retrieved two tumblers from cabinets painted a cheery sunshine yellow and quickly filled them with ice and water. She returned to the living room and placed the glasses on a flat steamer trunk that doubled as a much-needed storage spot and served as a coffee table.
When Tim took a seat on the sofa, she sat beside him, though not as close as she’d have liked. Something warned her if she moved too fast, she might spook him.
Or...perhaps not. When she gazed into his eyes, there was heat smoldering, which she hadn’t expected. Still, Cassidy kept the conversation deliberately light as they talked about the high points of the evening, then about her salon and his medical practice before moving on to his daughters.
Hearing the pride in his voice, seeing the love in his eyes when he spoke of “the girls,” made Cassidy’s heart ache just a little. She had no idea who her own father was, or even if the man was still alive.
Over the years there’d been a succession of men in and out of the shack where she lived with her mother. When Cassidy had once quipped they should put in a revolving door, she’d gotten a backhand across the mouth and a bloody lip.
Not wanting to go down the same path as her mother, Cassidy had been careful in her own life. Some of the men she’d dated had the mistaken impression she was easy. That was far from the truth. Cassidy had only been with two men, both of whom she cared for and she’d been convinced they cared for her. They’d cared, but they hadn’t loved her.
She needed to be loved. Totally. Completely. And she refused to settle for less.
Nearly another hour passed before Tim stretched. “I suppose I should be heading home.”
Her heart flip-flopped but, despite his words, he remained seated.
“What’s the hurry?” She kept her tone light, her smile easy.
“It’s been a long day,” he said, then settled back and told her about twin babies he’d delivered before dawn.
“You should have said something.” At the rodeo she’d observed him yawning. Now, for the first time, she noticed the lines of fatigue edging his eyes. “We could have rescheduled.”
“Never crossed my mind.” His lips tipped upward. “I enjoyed every bit of the evening.”
“Even when the drunk cowboy stomped on your foot at the street dance?”
Tim winced. “Not that, but everything else.”
“I had a fab time, too.” She leaned forward, brushed her lips lightly against his. “Thank you for a wonderful evening and the tin star.”
She waited for him to say they’d have to do it again. Instead he cupped her face in his hands and gazed at her. In seconds the eye contact turned into something more, a tangible connection between the two of them. “You’re a wonderful woman, Cassidy Kaye.”
Then he did what she’d been hoping he’d do since he arrived at her door. He kissed her, long and slow and deep.
He tasted like the most decadent candy, and like a child who had never been given enough, she wanted more. Lots more.
So Cassidy did the only thing a woman faced with such a situation could do—she wrapped her arms around his neck and took another helping.
* * *
“I’ll definitely consider your offer.” Jewel Lucas leaned forward on the small table at the Hill of Beans coffee shop, her entire attention focused on Cassidy.
“I’m a joy to work with,” Cassidy told her. “Just ask me.”
“Modest, too.” Jewel laughed. The sunshine through the window caught the wisp of red in her auburn hair. She was a pretty woman with thick curls tumbling to her shoulders and emerald-colored eyes. In her jeans and striped summer tee, she could more easily pass for a college girl than a mother of a boy ready for middle school.
Until this morning, Cassidy’s interaction with Jewel had been confined to a smile and a brief hello if they passed each other on the street. Today, they’d bonded over chocolate-chip bagels with cream cheese and lattes made with whole milk.
Playing detective, Cassidy discovered that prior to coming to Jackson Hole to live with her grandparents, Jewel’s life had been one of turmoil. The fact that they both had mothers who cared more for their drugs and boyfriends than their daughters had been an instant bond between the two women.
When Cassidy asked Jewel if she’d like to earn extra money doing makeup for weddings and other events, Jewel had seemed genuinely intrigued. Best of all, she hadn’t said no. Not yet, anyway.
A car backfired on the street, drawing Cassidy’s gaze out the window. Her heart hitched. But as the guy drew closer, Cassidy saw the tall, broad-shouldered man wasn’t Tim. Other than being about the same height and build, the two didn’t even resemble each other.
“Earth to Cassidy.”
Cassidy turned back to find Jewel staring at her with a bemused smile over the rim of her cappuccino cup.
“You promised to tell me about Old West Days. But—” Jewel glanced at her phone and made a face at the time displayed “—you have to get back to the salon and I have to get home to the ranch. So just give me the good stuff.”
“Good stuff?”
“You’re stalling.” Jewel pointed a finger at her. “I’m talking hot cowboys with big, ah, Stetsons.”
Cassidy realized during the entire course of the evening she hadn’t seen a single hot cowboy. That was a first. “There weren’t any.”
She heard the note of stunned disbelief in her voice.
“They were there.” Jewel rolled her eyes. “You just weren’t looking. You had eyes only for the handsome doctor.”
Probably true, but this type of speculation was something Cassidy needed to nip in the bud. She carelessly waved a hand in the air. “It was an arranged thing. I guess I felt I owed Tim my full attention.”
Her tone was offhand, just as she intended. It would never do for word to get around that she was hung up on Dr. Tim Duggan. Especially with the attraction being one-sided.
“Did he ask you out again?”
The hopeful gleam in Jewel’s eyes surprised her. She wouldn’t have guessed the woman was a romantic. Cassidy decided not to hold this fact against Jewel.
“Of course not. We didn’t go on a real date. It was just a bachelor-auction payment thing.”
Jewel’s brows pulled together. “You had a good time and enjoyed each other’s company, right?”
“A second date wasn’t part of the deal.” An unexpected lump rose to Cassidy’s throat. She cleared it before continuing. “I don’t expect to hear from him again.”
“It’s only Monday.” Jewel made it sound as if a couple days of silence after a fabulous evening were no big deal. “He’s probably one of those guys who follow the three-day rule.”
As far as Cassidy was concerned, waiting three days to call someone you were interested in seeing again—just so you wouldn’t appear too eager—was incredibly juvenile. When Cassidy found herself hoping that was the reason, rather than the fact that Tim simply didn’t care, she realized Jewel wasn’t the only one with a romantic heart.
“I have to get back to work.” Suddenly edgy and more than a little irritated with herself because it did matter, Cassidy pushed back her chair and stood.
Jewel rose and they left the coffee shop together, splitting off in different directions once they reached the sidewalk.
Lost in thought, Cassidy flipped into autopilot mode and turned toward her salon.
The truth was, things couldn’t have gone better on the date. Tim had lightened up considerably under her teasing. They’d ridden the mechanical bull, eaten cotton candy and danced. He’d bought her a gift.
A tin star.
Exactly like the one she’d wanted so desperately as a child. The badge was now tucked safely into one of the pockets of her large zebra-striped bag. As she pushed open the door to the salon, Cassidy resisted the urge to take the badge out and gaze at it one more time.
“Look what came for you,” Daffodil Prentiss, one of the stylists, announced before the salon door even had a chance to close.
Cassidy came to an abrupt halt. She widened her eyes to take in the huge bouquet of Gerbera daisies taking up most of the reception desk counter. The bright, flashy colors drew her to the flowers like a moth to a flame. Her heart skipped a beat. “These are mine?”
“Your name is on the card.” With well-practiced ease, Daffy put a customer under the dryer then stepped forward.
“They’re quite lovely, don’t you think?” Kathy Randall, Cassidy’s next appointment, piped up from her seat in the waiting area. Ignoring the magazine lying open in her lap, she stared at Cassidy and the bouquet with undisguised interest.
Cassidy had no doubt word that she’d received flowers would be all over Jackson by nightfall. Kathy was extremely well connected in the community. Her son, Tripp, was the mayor of Jackson.
Reverently, Cassidy touched the edge of a hot-pink petal with the tip of one finger. No one had ever given her flowers before, not even a basket on May Day when she’d been a kid. Of course, in her neighborhood, any basket left would likely have been stolen off the porch before the recipient opened the door.
She couldn’t imagine who would have sent them. A satisfied customer? Perhaps a bride, thanking her for making her special day even more special?
“Here.” Daffy reached into the bouquet then pressed the card she’d retrieved into Cassidy’s hand. “You should read—”
The waiflike blonde with the huge blue eyes and gentle spirit appeared to reconsider what she’d been about to say.
“Or do it later.” Daffy spoke quickly, her cheeks now a deep pink. “Your two o’clock is here.”
“I don’t mind waiting,” Kathy Randall protested.
Deliberately slipping the card into her pocket, Cassidy smiled at Kathy and spoke loudly enough for everyone. “Tell me that today is the day you’re going to let me add a pretty pink streak to your hair.”
The entire salon erupted in laughter at the thought of the mayor’s proper mother going pink.
Crisis averted.
While the flowers could be from a bride or a customer, the bouquet was too perfectly chosen to have come from anyone but Tim.
* * *
Cassidy didn’t have to worry about seeing Tim at the book club meeting at Mary Karen and Travis Fisher’s home the following night. While many of the women brought their husbands or boyfriends for a meal prior to the book discussion, Tim had no reason to be in attendance.
Jayne also wasn’t part of the book club group. For Cassidy, tonight marked only her second meeting.
When Hailey Ferris, speech therapist by day, makeup artist extraordinaire by night, had approached Cassidy several months earlier about joining the group, Cassidy had been hesitant. Granted, most of the women in the group were friends. They were also doctors and lawyers or wives of doctors and lawyers.
Snooty society women. Her mother’s slurred words echoed in her head. Think they’re better than us.
But Cassidy had reminded herself that second-class was merely a state of mind. And she refused to think of herself as less than anyone else.
She’d accepted the invitation.
Last month’s book had been difficult to get through and not at all enjoyable. But the book Mary Karen Fisher had chosen for this evening, Naked in Death, by J.D. Robb, had been devoured in one evening.
Cassidy identified with the spunky Eve Dallas, who’d had a horrible childhood but had made something of herself. She liked it that Roarke, Eve’s love interest, could see beneath the detective’s brash exterior.
She only wished Tim had been equally mesmerized by her. But as she parked her car and walked to the front porch of Mary Karen’s large two-story home in the mountains surrounding Jackson, Cassidy told herself that a relationship between her and the dedicated doctor apparently wasn’t meant to be.
That was why he’d sent the flowers, thanking her for a lovely evening and wishing her only the best in the future. It had been a brush-off, a classy one but a brush-off just the same.
While initially disappointed—the empty pint of Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food in the garbage was proof of that—Cassidy certainly didn’t want any man who didn’t want her. She had a lot to offer. If Tim Duggan was too nearsighted to see she was a gem, well, it was his loss.
Cassidy lifted her hand to knock only to have the door flung open before her knuckles reached the wood.
“Mo-om,” a boy about ten with thick curly blond hair and bright blue eyes bellowed in a surprisingly strong voice. “Another lady is here. This one has pink hair.”
Actually, it was only the tips that were edged in pink. Cassidy recognized the child as one of Mary Karen’s oldest set of twins. Since the boys were identical, she wasn’t sure if he was Connor or Caleb.
Mary Karen rushed into the foyer. The mother of five was a pretty, petite woman with a mass of blond curls and big blue eyes. Her husband, Travis, was a successful OB in practice with Tim. “Connor, there’s no need to yell.”
“I didn’t yell.” His jaw jutted out. “I—”
“You know, I believe I saw Finley taking a fresh batch of mozzarella sticks downstairs,” Mary Karen said, interrupting her son.
Connor’s eyes filled with alarm. “Not fair. Caleb will eat them all.”
The boy sprinted off, leaving the two women alone.
“I’m so happy you made it.” Mary Karen held out her hands to Cassidy, pulling her in for a brief hug.
“I loved the book,” Cassidy told her hostess as the two crossed the spacious foyer with the gleaming hardwood floors.
“It sure beats She’s Come Undone.” The pretty blonde made a face and they both laughed. “That one had me depressed for weeks.”
The Wally Lamb bestseller had been the previous month’s selection and Cassidy agreed with MK’s assessment. If it hadn’t been for the camaraderie among the women, Cassidy might not have returned.
That would have been a shame because this was a great group of women and Cassidy enjoyed them. The actual book discussion wasn’t even a large part of the evening. Mostly they drank wine, ate gourmet food and caught up on each other’s busy lives.
Mary Karen slipped an arm through Cassidy’s, leaned close and spoke in a conspiratorial whisper. “Just FYI, Lexi and Nick are in Texas this month so I made the entrée. If it tastes hideous, pretend to like it so everyone will agree it’s fabulous. Sort of an Emperor’s-new-clothes kind of thing.”
Cassidy nodded but wasn’t sure why Mary Karen worried. Food was food, right? While Lexi’s gourmet entrées were always the talk of the book club, Cassidy was easily pleased. She’d be satisfied with ramen noodles and beer.
They reached the great room just as loud cheers of the masculine variety came from outside. Cassidy slanted a questioning glance in Mary Karen’s direction.
“The boys—oh, I’m sorry—the men are playing basketball.” The hostess gave an indulgent laugh. “Though we all know they act more like little boys when they get together.”
“Mrs. Fisher.” Finley Davis, the teenage daughter of Dr. Michelle Davis, a local OB, came up from the stairs leading down into the basement. “Is it okay if Mickey and I start a movie for some of the smaller kids?”
“Absolutely.” Mary Karen gave the girl, apparently one of several babysitters for the evening, an approving smile. “Let me show you where we keep the remote.”
As Cassidy watched MK hurry off, she recalled the “rules.” Whoever hosted the book club hired babysitters to watch the children of the attendees. Cassidy was one of the few single persons in the group. Her thoughts slipped briefly to Tim.
What would it be like to share an evening like this—one surrounded by mutual friends—with him?
“Cassidy. What are you doing here?”
For a second she thought she’d conjured up Tim’s image. She blinked once. Blinked again. Huh, still there.
Despite the “have a happy life” bouquet of flowers brush-off, she was genuinely pleased to see him. Even with sweat beading his brow and that lean, muscular body clad in gray gym shorts and a faded green T-shirt, he looked amazing.
He stared at her expectantly and she realized he’d asked a question. Frazzled, she tried to recall what it was. Oh, yes, something about not expecting to see her here. “I came for the book club. What about you?”
“Basketball.” He wiped the perspiration from his forehead with the back of his hand. “And it gives the girls a chance to play with some of their friends.”
“Esther and Ellyn are here?”
“Downstairs.” He smiled, the way he always did when mentioning his daughters. “We’ll stay for dinner then head out.”
“Thanks again for the flowers.” Cassidy decided she might as well get the niceties out of the way. She’d called last night to thank him personally, but had been forced to leave a message when she’d reached his voice mail. “They were beautiful.”
“I had a great time.” He rocked back on his sneakers, looking suddenly uncomfortable. “I’d have suggested we see each other again but—”
“Hey, it was a one-night thing.” Cassidy waved a hand. “It—”
“One-night thing.” Dr. Travis Fisher appeared out of nowhere, as if conjured up by a magician’s wand.
A tall, lanky man with sandy-colored hair, Travis always held a mischievous gleam in his eyes. Despite being a father of five and a respected doctor in the largest OB practice in the region, Travis had a playful, approachable side that Cassidy found refreshing in someone so prominent.
Travis crossed his arms, looking decidedly un-doctor-like in his sweaty gym clothes. His gaze slid expectantly from Tim to her. “Details are necessary for absolution. Confess to Father Travis, my children.”
Cassidy rolled her eyes. “Sorry to disappoint, Father Travis. Tim and I simply attended Old West Days together. A bachelor-auction date, hence the one-night-thing.”
“I heard you’d purchased my partner.” Travis’s lips turned down in mock sorrow as he glanced from her to Tim and back again. “Perhaps next year, you’ll do better with your money.”
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