Tempting Doctor Forever (Barrett Ridge Book 2) Page 2

  He’d been her knight in shining armor even if he was a married man with a kid and a newly minted doctor’s license. He’d decked the two guys and carried her to safety. It had sealed the deal for her. Her vague crush on her brother’s best friend had morphed into hero-worship.

  Another unruly and unwonted flush crept up her neck. Seriously. She wished she could slither off and disappear. She prayed her infatuation didn’t show in her eyes.

  “Would you believe that this is my first mayday? Maybe I only get into trouble when you’re around.” Crap. That didn’t come out right. So much for not reminding him of his last round of heroism.

  “You make a charming damsel in distress. You have since you were seven years old and I plucked your kitten from the street drain. I’m happy to help a family friend.”

  Sam winced. He’d put too much emphasis on the word friend. That knocked any wind out her sails. She was still the little sister of his old high school buddy. Her glance flickered to his left hand. No ring. But that wasn’t unusual for a doctor. Indeed, a surgeon. Sam struggled to remember how long ago Ethan’s wife had been killed in a car crash. She pressed her lips together and cursed her foolish thoughts. Ethan was probably still grieving for his wife.

  “I should be able to get myself out of this. Copper made it through. If I can’t back up, maybe I can wiggle all the way to this side.” Sam strained forward, but with every inch she gained, her sweater pulled lower and lower.

  “I’m not complaining, but I think you’d better stop unless you want to give Mateo an eyeful.” Ethan lifted his eyebrow with a playful leer.

  “Fabulous.” Sam caught the glint of attraction in his expression, and her mood lightened, at least a little.

  “Hold on. Don’t go anywhere.”

  “Ha. Very funny.”

  Within a minute, Ethan returned, holding a hammer in one hand and a crowbar in the other. “I guess it’s a good thing that I unpacked my toolbox as soon as the movers left.”

  “Aren’t you a Boy Scout?”

  “He’s always prepared,” Mateo chimed in. He shot his father a prideful glance before he flushed and turned back to Copper.

  Ethan went still. A tenderness slid over his features as he studied his son. Sam had the impression that it was a rare moment of father and son harmony. Was Ethan already in the middle of teenage angst and crisis?

  “Sam!” a female voice called from behind her. “Sam? What are you doing spying on the new neighbor?” It was her grandmother. Great. She needed more witnesses for her humiliation.

  “Copper wasn’t in the backyard, Nana, so I went looking for his escape route. I noticed the fence board was cockeyed.”

  “Who’s Copper?”

  Ethan’s face mirrored the question that must surely be on hers. “Copper is Ginger’s dog. You know, Ginger Novak’s golden retriever.”

  “Oh. Well, then of course he’d be over there. Why wouldn’t he be?”

  “He’s supposed to be staying at your house.” Was Nana making a joke? Sam wished she could see the older woman’s expression.

  “I can’t imagine why,” Nana said with a confused and irritable note in her voice.

  “Don’t you remember that the Novak’s left on vacation, and we’re taking care of Copper.”

  “That’s right. What a funny thing to forget.”

  “Nana, are you okay?”

  “I’m dandy. Why do you ask?” Sam couldn’t see her grandmother, but she was confident that the silver-haired woman had planted her hands on her hips. “Now, explain why I’m talking to your backside.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  ETHAN CHOKED ON a laugh, and Sam rolled her eyes.

  “I guessed that Copper snuck through the loose board in the fence, so I was going to call him back. Through the hole. I stuck my head through, but I couldn’t see too much, so I inched forward, but my knee slipped, and I jammed forward.”

  “That makes sense.” Ethan twirled the hammer. “It’s rescue time, fair damsel.”

  “I’m never going to live this down if you tell anyone.”

  “I’ve already told Austin, and he’s texted everyone in your family. Aren’t there seven of you?”

  “Shut up. I don’t like you.”

  “Who are you talking to, Samantha? I hear someone.”

  “It’s our new neighbors.”

  “You sound very friendly.”

  “It’s Austin’s old buddy, Ethan Cordero.” Sam paused, chewed her lip. “And his son, Mateo. Who’s also a new student of mine.”

  “Hello, Mrs. Barrett. Long time no see.”

  “Well, you can only hear me, Ethan, but welcome back to Barrett Ridge.”

  “Thank you. We’re glad to be back. Now, I’m going to make some noise as I pry some of these boards loose so Sam can extricate herself.”

  “Do you need my help?” Nana asked. “I have a hammer somewhere in the tool shed. I think.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ve got this.”

  “That’s lovely. I’ll go check on my crocheting.” Nana hummed an off-key tune and added, “I’m missing one baby blanket.” Her footsteps faded away.

  Sam winced, and Ethan’s brow furrowed. “Don’t ask.” Sam lowered her voice to a whisper. “She’s started to drift a bit lately. It’s not too bad.”

  Sam sagged, and mud oozed through her pant leg. Her kneecaps were thoroughly popsicled. The sun was warm for a winter day, but the ground was barely above freezing.

  Poor Nana. She was having an increasing number of forgetful episodes recently. How long had it been going on? It was a good thing that she’d moved in at the beginning of the school year. What started as Nana doing her a favor and letting her live virtually rent-free, was quickly turning into a necessity.

  “I’m sorry.” Ethan’s expression was sympathetic, understanding.

  “Thanks. That’s life I guess.” Sam caught herself frowning and purposefully turned it into an easy smile. “I can’t believe you haven’t freed me yet. Get on with it. My humiliation won’t be complete until I’m standing before you covered in mud and bark.” There. That was a perfectly friendly and comfortable attitude to take. She was not suffering from teenage infatuation.

  Ethan studied her for an instant, and then he was all business.

  “Can I help, Dad?”

  “Why don’t you hold the board high up here.” Ethan pointed to a spot about two feet above Sam’s head. “You steady it so it won’t crash back onto Sam.”

  “Got it.”

  A few whacks and screeching nails later, two boards lay on the sparse winter grass, and Sam crawled back to her side of the fence. Kneeling back on her heels, she massaged the throb in her bicep. She surveyed a gaping snag in her knit sweater and the thick mud stain on her slacks. As bad as it was, she decided there was more damage to her morale than to her clothing.

  All par for the course, she supposed. Fate seemed to have a warped sense of humor when it came to her and Ethan. If she wasn’t the awkward kid or foolish teenager, she was a snoopy, klutzy neighbor woman. The hero hat still fit Ethan to a tee, but she seemed to wear the damsel in distress tiara whenever he was near.

  The two Cordero’s waited in silence. Sam slapped on a perky grin, and within moments, it settled into her soul. She rose and dusted her palms together as moss and dirt flew in all directions.

  “See? Good as new.” Sam pointed to her filthy and torn clothing. “No harm, no foul.”

  Ethan’s gaze scanned her from top to toes and back up again. Sam refused to blush again, but she stood a bit straighter and prayed her padded bra would cover any evidence of the tingling awareness in her body.

  “Missus Barrett?” Mateo sidled a step closer. “If Copper used to live here, isn’t this his home? He can stay if he wants.” Mateo smiled hopefully.

  “That’s kind of you. I know he’s more comfortable over here since this was his home, but Nana and I are responsible for him. You’re welcome to play with him and take him on walks if you want. I’m sure he’d
love that.”

  Mateo glanced at Ethan for reassurance.

  “Are you sure? We don’t want to impose.”

  “Dogs need kids to play with. Grown-ups are boring.”

  “Can I take him for a walk now?”

  “How about tomorrow?” Ethan said. “You’ve got boxes to unpack in your room, and we still need to put the fence back together.”

  Mateo’s shoulders dropped, but he gave in with good grace. Sam picked up on an underlying, low tension between the two. Copper settled on his haunches next to Mateo and leaned against the teen.

  “Would you guys like to come over for some supper tonight? A little bit of welcome to the neighborhood and a lot of thank you for fixing the fence.” Mateo bobbed his head with an ear to ear grin, but Ethan frowned. “Of course, all of you are welcome.” Was there a smooth way to ask if there were any other family members? A daughter. A new wife. A girlfriend.

  “It’s just us. Mom died two years ago.” Mateo’s tone was matter-of-fact, but his face was a mask.

  “I’m so sorry. That must be hard.” Sam wanted to pinch herself. That was about the lamest expression of sympathy ever.

  “We don’t want to be any trouble,” Ethan said. “We’ll come over another time.” His tone was reserved and almost formal. “I’ve already got the Danny’s Pizza on speed dial, so we’re set for food tonight.”

  Sam could take a hint. “Copper! Come here, boy.” She whistled, and the retriever bounded through the gap in the fence and parked himself at her side. She rubbed a silky ear. “I’ll keep him in the house while you finish the repairs. He’s done making a nuisance of himself.”

  “Don’t worry. Let him play with Mat,” Ethan said. “I’ll make sure Copper ends up on your side of the fence.”

  “No. We’ve been enough trouble already. It’s almost his dinner time anyway.”

  Mateo squinted from one adult to the other and crossed his arms over his chest. The lost expression in his eyes tugged at her heart.

  “If you’re not busy after school tomorrow,” Sam said, “I know Copper would love to have you take him for a walk.”

  “That would be great.” Mateo’s expression perked up.

  It was on the tip of her tongue to suggest that Mateo wanted his own dog, but she cut off the words before they spilled out. She knew better than to step in the middle of parent-child relations. It was practically Teacher 101 in college.

  With a quick wave to Mateo, Sam marched back to the house with the sounds of Mateo and Ethan discussing the merits of screws or nails to resecure the fencing. She let herself in through the kitchen door, and Copper dashed to his water dish.

  Why did Ethan still get to her? That teenage girl with a crush was long gone, and Ethan had the marks of a man with plenty of emotional baggage. Understandable, of course. He’d lost his wife not so long ago. No doubt he was still heartbroken.

  That seemed a reasonable explanation for his sudden chilliness. And the clear fact that she was simply the younger sister of an old high school buddy.

  Sam dumped kibble into Copper’s food bowl and pulled out greens and other salad makings from the refrigerator crisper. Through the kitchen sink window, she spotted the last board as it wobbled into place. A thwack-thwack-thwack echoed.

  Ethan was back on his side of the fence, and she was on hers.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  ETHAN SCANNED THE converted sunroom with a view of the quiet street with the tall, bare alder tree branches casting long shadows on the black pavement. For a 1920s craftsman house, it was surprisingly cozy, doubtless due to the sparkling new vinyl windows and perhaps a new layer of insulation in the walls from the most recent renovation.

  At least according to the ever so chatty Samantha Barrett. Not that he’d exchanged more than a handful of sentences with her. No. He overheard all her chatter with Mateo.

  She’d brought Copper over for a play date with Mateo, and he’d stared through the kitchen window for at least five minutes, mesmerized by the easy sway of her hips as they’d tossed a Frisbee for Copper.

  Austin’s little sister was all grown up with all the womanly curves in all the right places, and a pair of joyful, merry eyes. He found himself waiting for the moment when she’d plant her hands on her hips and throw back her head in laughter at some playful antic from Copper.

  Ethan grunted at his own foolishness. Like he was going to run after Austin’s sister. She wasn’t the casual date type for an easy lay to chase away a lonely night. You didn’t mess with your kid’s teacher or the neighbor and especially not your buddy’s sister.

  As he bent to unpack the last book box, a blur of yellow caught his attention on the street. The academy’s school bus lumbered past, but it must have stopped at the corner because a trickle of teens with bulging backpacks sauntered down the sidewalks. Ethan checked his watch. Where had his day off gone? Mateo was on that bus.

  And there was Mateo. Thin and a tad short for his fourteen years. His thick shock of glossy black hair flopped over his eyes as he hung his head and shuffled past a pair of chattering girls who edged their shoulders closer together as if forming a wall against the new kid in town.

  Ethan’s gaze narrowed, and he tugged the utility knife from his pocket and slapped it on top of the book box. Dammit. It must be shun the new kid in school time.

  Mat burst through the front door and dumped his backpack in one flash of motion.

  “Hey, Dad.” With a quick nod and averted eyes, Mat scooted past the office and shot up the stairs.

  Ethan smiled, but other than greeting his child, he refrained from asking any other questions. The chances were that Mat didn’t want to talk. He began the subtle art of teenager inquisition at dinner. He’d let whatever crap had happened during the school day settle down.

  Transitioning to a new school was challenging, and a small town in rural Oregon was light years away from the trendy, hyper-self-aware culture of Los Angeles. Mateo would make it, he reminded himself. All plans needed time to unfold. Even Rome wasn’t built in a day.

  With his free hand, Ethan massaged the back of his neck. He needed to slow down and relax into the process. One week into his new hospital, and he was already thigh high in paperwork and a heavy workload. Not that he minded the influx of patients. Helping the sick and the injured kept him motivated. He lived for the glorious moment when he solved a mystery of an illness or cured a patient with a delicate surgical procedure. That he’d made someone’s life better.

  Sick patients were simpler than his own life. He could examine and diagnose, then suggest a course of treatment. He was the expert, and people normally took his advice and lived better lives for it.

  Yes. It was much simpler than home life. Moping teenagers. One in particular. Mateo. Nothing was right according to Mat. Too much homework ruined his life. The kids in school hated him. Why did they have to leave Los Angeles?

  Ethan moved books from the box to the last two empty bookshelves. Had he been this moody as a kid? He’d have to ask his dad, but he remembered being serious, but fairly easygoing. Well, maybe that was a bit of an overstatement, but he’d been reasonable and hadn’t much to complain about.

  He wished for the nine thousand five hundred and sixty-first time that things had turned out differently. What if Felicia had actually tried to be happy? Instead of giving into alcohol and white shit up her nose. Once upon a time, he’d been in love with her. They’d been happy. Before they’d moved to Baltimore for his residency and fellowship. She’d been a creature of the eternal sunshine of Los Angeles. The cold winter and gloomy, short days had depressed her.

  She would have hated the move to Oregon. Especially in January. But deep down, Ethan reveled in the change of seasons. The chilly air carried a hint of mountain snow. It smelled like home.

  He’d have to take his dad up on the offer to head out to the ranch for dinner on Saturday. Mat hadn’t been to Pipo’s since they’d moved in. They were overdue.

  Ethan tapped the final book into its new
home and sliced the tape on the bottom of the box. He folded it flat and carted it out the front door as he headed to the trunk of his car.

  He popped the trunk and added it to the stack of boxes. He might need to get a pickup truck after all. His sleek, low sedan was perfect for the highway, but it wasn’t practical. Before he knew it, he’d be running errands for his dad and the ranch.

  “Hello, Mr. Novak.”

  He slapped the lid shut and spotted Nana Barrett. Novak? That was his landlord. “It’s Ethan Cordero. I’m your new neighbor.”

  “Oh. It’s a pleasure to meet you, I’m sure. I’m going for a walk.” She was in a bright pink robe with a lacy collar and a fuzzy pair of soft-bottomed slippers.

  “Are you all right today, Mrs. Barrett?” Ethan switched on his concerned and caring medical tone.

  “I’m fine, Mr. Novak, and how is Ginger?” Nana gave a cheery wave and toddled down to the next house and stopped next to a budding dogwood tree with whom she launched into a fresh conversation.

  That was decidedly abnormal. Either her dementia had taken a deep dive in a matter of days, or she had a sudden onset of an illness. Or maybe a trauma. Her mobility was unaffected, nor had he noticed any bruises, at least what he could see over her legs, arms, and face.

  Ethan approached the older woman as she chatted up the tree. “Mrs. Barrett? I’m a friend of Samantha’s and Austin’s. I’d like to help you.”

  “I’m fine. I don’t need help, but you know, you could tell me how to get to Mary’s house. I’m late for bridge.”

  “Let’s go back to your house. We can find her phone number, and we’ll see what happens then.”

  “No. I think I’d rather walk.”

  This wasn’t going well. It was time to improvise. “If you’ll take my arm, I’ll get you to Mary’s.”

  He held out the crook of his arm and slapped on the best Cary Grant debonair smile that he could muster. Nana fluttered her lashes and slipped her arm through his. He aimed toward her house. He hoped Sam wouldn’t be too much longer getting back from school.