Authors: Brenda Harlen
Harlequin Special Edition November 2014 - Box Set 2 of 2: The Maverick's Thanksgiving Baby\A Celebration Christmas\Dr. Daddy's Perfect Christmas (38 page)
“I can handle my own daughter, thanks,” Ethan snapped, only to realize how dumb that sounded, considering what he'd said not two seconds before. A realization Claire obviously picked up on, judging from the damn twinkle in her eyes.
“Yeah, well, as someone who used to
be
a teenage girl I can tell you they're very good at ignoring what they don't want to hear. Especially from their fathers. And since this doesn't only concern you, I do reserve the right to set things straight from my end.”
Jeez, the woman was worse than his daughter. But Ethan also guessed she had Juliette's ear, which apparently he didn't. At least not about this.
“Fine. Do whatever you think is best. But for now...let's just get this breakfast over with, okay?”
“Sure thing,” Claire said with a quick smile before following him to the kitchen, and Ethan pushed out another sigh that, God willing, in a half hour thisâsheâwould be nothing more than a tiny blip on the old radar screen.
Because it'd taken the entire three years since Merri's death to fine-tune the playbook that held his family, his life, together...and damned if he was gonna let some curly-headed cutie distract him from it now.
Claire ducked into the main floor half bath as the landline rang: Jules had already picked up by the time Ethan reached the kitchen, deftly cradling it between her jaw and her shoulder as she served up omelets and fried potatoes, looking so much like her mother Ethan's heart knocked.
“Hey, Babaâ” The spatula hovering over the skillet, she went stock-still. “Oh, no...that sucks! Ick....Yeah, I'll tell him....No, we'll work it out,” she said as Ethan motioned for her to give him the phone. But she only brandished the spatula, shaking her head. “Of course I'm sure. You need us for anything?...Okay, then....We'll talk later.” She redocked the phone, glancing at Ethan as she finished dishing up breakfast. “Baba's got a tummy bug, she can't take Bella to dance class.”
He silently swore. Right or wrong, he depended on Merri's parents to sometimes fill the gap, a role they both seemed to relish. And it'd been Carmela's idea to put the little jumping bean in ballet class to burn off at least some of her boundless energy. Kid could run ten circles around her brothers. Speaking of whom... “The boys have their game at ten, I can't do both.”
“Another argument for letting me get my license sooner rather than laterâ”
“Forget it. Maybe I could get Pop to take herâ”
“PopPop in a room full of baby ballerinas. Yeah, I can totally see that. Heyâmaybe Miss Jacobs could do it?”
“Maybe Miss Jacobs could do what?” Claire said as she returned, scrubbing her obviously still-damp hands across her butt.
Ethan looked away. “And I'm sure she has better things to do with her morning.”
“And you always
say,
Dad, it never hurts to ask. Right? Anyway, sit, both of you, everything's ready. So Bella has ballet this morning,” she went on as Claire sat, “and my grandmother usually takes her, 'cause the boys have football or soccer or whateverâit's always something. Only she's sick and can't do it. So I said maybe you could. It's not far, right over on Mainâ”
“Omigoshânot Miss Louise's?”
“Yeah. You know it?”
“Know it? I took classes there for more than ten years! She's still alive?”
“Barely, but yeahâ”
And naturally, Bella picked that moment to bounce into the kitchen in her pink tights and black leotard. “Is Baba here yet? 'Cause I'm all ready, see? And can I have a piece of bacon?”
“Help yourself,” Jules said, holding the plate out for her sister as Ethan said, “You're not supposed to leave for an hour yet. But in any caseâ”
“Your grandmother's not feeling well,” Claire said, chomping the end off her own piece of bacon, “so I'm going to take you.”
Ethan's brows slammed together. “What?”
“My morning's free, so why not? Besides, I've always been a sucker for trips down memory lane. So what do you say, Isabella?”
That got the Very Concerned Face. “But I don't know you. And Baba always takes me for lunch afterward.”
“It's okay, Belly,” Jules said, “Ms. Jacobs is one of my teachers, she's coolâ”
“And maybe Juliette could go with us, if that would make you feel better,” Claire said, adding, at the teen's nod, “and we can still go to lunch after.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.” Then she grinned at her breakfast. “Even though I probably won't be hungry for hours. This looks amazing, Juliette.”
“Thanks,” she said, then shot Ethan a grin that sent a brief, sharp pain shooting through his skull.
Copyright © 2014 by Karen Templeton-Berger
ISBN-13: 9781460341902
A Celebration Christmas
Copyright © 2014 by Nancy Robards Thompson
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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Mistletoe Baby
Pregnantâ¦and widowed. It wasn't quite how Nora Parker had planned to be ringing in the holidays this year. Though she was excited to meet her new baby, the last thing she'd expected was the return of Dr. Eli St. Johnâthe man who'd broken her heart years ago. Now he was back, filling in at his father's practice. He definitely wouldn't be staying in town. And
she
definitely shouldn't be looking forward to seeing him again!
Eli had left his small town for bigger adventures, assuming Nora would always be waiting. Now she was his best friend's widow, expecting a baby Eli wished was theirs. With the holidays approaching and his time in town dwindling, did he dare make one last effort to claim the Christmas gift he should have accepted years ago?
“We're friends, Nora. Let me be there for you while I'm here.”
Her eyes widened as she licked her lips. Desire twisted in Eli's stomach that had nothing to do with the old feelings he had for her. Those were gone, those were a lifetime ago.
This thread of attraction was for the woman she was now, the stubborn, sexy, vibrant woman who kept insisting she didn't need anybody.
“I have friends, Eli.” She offered an innocent, sweet smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. “You're here to take care of your father and work. There's no need for you to add anything else to the mix.”
Unable to help himself, Eli reached out, slid a hand across her silky cheek and stroked his thumb across her lower lip.
“Maybe I want to add you to the mix,” he murmured as he stepped closer.
* * *
THE ST. JOHNS OF STONEROCK:
Three rebellious brothers come home to stay.
Dear Reader,
Welcome to my Harlequin Special Edition debut! I'm so excited to introduce you to the St. Johns of Stonerock. My heroes weren't always upstanding citizens of the small, quaint town. As you'll soon find out, these three brothers who were once hellions have become quite the powerful males: Eli the doctor, Drake the fire chief and Cameron the police chief.
In
Dr. Daddy's Perfect Christmas,
you'll meet ex-soldier turned big-city doctor Eli St. John. He's filling in as the hometown doc and is instantly swept back into the life of his onetime love, Nora Parkerâ¦who happens to be widowed and expecting a baby.
Reunion stories have always been a favorite of mine. With any good reunion comes that period of getting to know each other all over again. What Nora and Eli rediscover about each other, and about themselves, will have them fighting for everything they thought they'd lost.
Second chances don't always happen in life. I'm thrilled I could give Eli and Nora their much deserved happily ever after. :)
I hope you enjoy Eli's story and eagerly await the rest of the St. John boys!
Happy reading!
Jules Bennett
DR. DADDY'S PERFECT CHRISTMAS
Jules Bennett
Books by Jules Bennett
Harlequin Special Edition
ÎDr. Daddy's Perfect Christmas
#2370
Harlequin Desire
  Her Innocence, His Conquest
#2081
  Caught in the Spotlight
#2148
  Whatever the Price
#2181
  Behind Palace Doors
#2219
  Hollywood House Call
#2237
  To Tame a Cowboy
#2264
  Snowbound with a Billionaire
#2283
 *When Opposites Attractâ¦
#2316
 *Single Man Meets Single Mom
#2325
Silhouette Desire
  Seducing the Enemy's Daughter
#2004
  For Businessâ¦or Marriage?
#2010
  From Boardroom to Wedding Bed?
#2046
  *The Barrington
Trilogy
 ÎThe St. Johns of Stonerock
   Other titles by this author
available in ebook format.
JULES BENNETT
National bestselling author Jules Bennett's love of
storytelling started when she would get in trouble as a child and would tell her
parents her imaginary friends were to blame. Since then, her vivid imagination
has taken her down a path she'd only dreamed of. And after twelve years of
owning and working in salons, she hung up her shears to write full-time.
Jules doesn't just write Happily Ever Afterâshe lives it.
Married to her high school sweetheart, Jules and her hubby have two little girls
who keep them smiling. She loves to hear from readers! Contact her at
[email protected]
, visit her website,
www.julesbennett.com
, where you can
sign up for her newsletter, or send her a letter at P.O. Box 396, Minford, OH
45653. You can also follow her on Twitter and join her Facebook fan page.
To Stacy Boyd and Gail Chasan,
editorial dream team. Thank you both so much
for loving this series as much as I do!
Chapter One
D
on't look, just keep walking.
Dr. Eli St. John walked up the freshly dusted, snow-covered sidewalk toward his parents' bungalow and refused to even glance over to their neighbor's house.
Since he'd be calling Stonerock, Tennessee, home again for the next few months, he'd no doubt see that neighbor more often than he'd like. But on his first day back, he preferred to ease into being home, ease into knowing she was now within reaching distance. Not that he would do anything about it.
He was such a coward.
An uncomfortable weight settled in his chest at the thought of seeing his one-time love, the woman he'd never forgotten, the woman who'd married his best friend.
Eli wiped the snow off the bottom of his boots on a Santa Claus welcome mat, and before he could reach for the handle, the door swung wide open, causing an evergreen Christmas wreath to bounce in protest.
“I'm so glad you're here. I knew we could count on you.”
Eli sank into his mother's familiar embrace. Before he could step over the threshold of the front door, his mother, Bev, was there to greet him with a smile and love. Just like she'd done each time he'd come home from a tour of duty.
Now, the times he had sneaked in after curfew as a teen were a different story. But that hell-raiser had grown up, leaving the proverbial good times behind.
Leaving Nora Parker behind. Now that he was going to be home for a good bit of time, dodging the one woman who still owned a small portion of his heart would be nearly impossible. Not only was she his parents' neighbor, she was a recent widow, and his parents loved her like she was the daughter they never had.
Turning his attention back to the reason for his homecoming, Eli eased back from his mother's embrace and met her gaze.
“What's this?” she asked, brushing her fingertip along his most recent scar.
Refusing to get into the reasons behind the scar, he shrugged. “Army injury.”
He wasn't lying, technically. There was no way he would ever come clean about the ugly reminder of how he'd spent his last encounter with his best friend.
The last time he'd seen Todd alive, they'd gotten into a drunken fistfight. Out of character for both of them, but Eli would do it again in a heartbeat, given the reasons behind the unleashed rage.
His mother hugged him again. “I'm so proud of you for serving, but selfishly I'm glad you're done for good.”
Bev pulled back and Eli stepped into the foyer.
“How's Dad?”
Nodding, she started forward toward the living room. “He's okay. You of all people know doctors make the worst patients.”
Eli laughed, thankful that he was home, but worried what he'd encounter when he saw his father. The man had always been so robust, so full of life and busy caring for others. But his father had failed a stress test earlier in the week and a heart cath showed he had some major blockage.
Eli had been a medic in the army the past several years, but since he got out six months ago, he'd been an ER doctor in Atlanta, and he'd seen his fair share of massive heart attacks. Chest pain was nothing to mess around with. Since his father hadn't been having pain, they scheduled the surgery for tomorrow, for which Eli was thankful. The drive on his way up from Georgia had given him enough time to prepare himself.
And enough time to work on scenarios and reactions to seeing Nora. Why did he care? Shouldn't time and distance have severed any ties he had to her? They were different people now and whatever feelings they'd had in the past were left there when he chose to walk away from her.
Hardest decision of his life, to leave her and go fight for his country.
The scar on his face proved he'd never fully gotten over her, even though they'd both moved on.
They'd each made their choices, and there was no going back.
Eli tried to slide those thoughts from his mind as he followed his mother toward the living room. He was here for his father first and foremost...not to rehash or run from emotions he'd felt years ago. He had his own life now, one he loved and was eager to get back to once his father was cleared to return to work.
Eli had seen countless patients laid up, recovering or even dying, but when your father was the one being treated, the whole scenario changed. Eli wasn't a fan of being back home for a long period of time, but there was no way he'd leave his father or his father's patients in a bind.
Fortunately, Eli had handled seventeen years in the military and in medical school so coming home to a disgruntled father, who was waiting on quadruple bypass surgery instead of practicing medicine himself, was nothing Eli couldn't handle.
Eli moved through the old bungalow-style home, leaving his suitcase in the foyer. As much as he loved coming home for visits, he'd never done so with the intention of staying longer than a few days. And in those visits home, he'd managed to avoid Nora for the most part. He'd seen her and even exchanged the requisite pleasantries, but other than that, he'd kept his distance.
Now he'd be homeâat a minimumâfor the rest of the winter and into the spring.
Nothing like being thirty-five years old and living with Mommy and Daddy again. Of course he'd do anything for his parents, including give up his bachelor lifestyle. Family had always come first, no matter what. At least he was going to be staying in the apartment above the garage. That was still somewhat private.
Eli stepped into the living room where his father was reclined in the old, plush chair that should've been retired to a garbage dump about five years ago. The man was a doctor; he could afford new furniture, for heaven's sake.
Familiar ornaments adorned the full artificial tree that occupied the corner of the space. His mother still hung all of their stockings along the edge of the mantel even though Eli and his brothers had each moved out right after they graduated. The worn-in comfort of the home, especially now at Christmas, helped ease his nerves in dealing with the inevitable reunion with Nora. He wasn't so worried about the old feelings creeping up; he was more worried about how he could look her in the eye when he knew a truth she could never uncover.
Eli glanced from the television to his father. Remote in one hand, Dr. Mac St. John gave the television the one-fingered salute with the other.
Suppressing a chuckle, Eli stepped closer, but he knew what he'd find on the TVâsports. His father had always been a sports fanatic, namely football. Apparently this game was not to his liking. Or, more to the point, the refs' decisions weren't to his liking.
“Still disagreeing with their calls?” Eli asked.
His dad turned to face him and in one swift motion Mac had the footrest down and was on his feet. “Well, there's one of my boys.”
Mac wrapped his arms around Eli's shoulders and gave him a manly slap on the back. Eli returned his father's embrace, welcoming the comforting touch. At one time Eli and his brothers feared the wrath of their father, but Eli now understood that the anger from his dad had only stemmed from fear and love. Eli didn't even want to think about what he and his brothers had put their parents through.
His mother had once said that raising teenagers wasn't for wimps. At the rate Eli was going with his career really taking root, he didn't have time to date, let alone find a wife and have children. Besides, he'd settled pretty well into his bachelor status. Working in Atlanta with a promotion on the horizon was the main component in his life, other than his parents and brothers.
“Let me look at you.” His father eased back down into his chair, resting his hands on his knees. “You look good, son. Real good. You don't know how much this means to me that you're willing to fill in.”
Eli didn't want to think about the patients at his dad's office. More than likely they were the same judgmental people who lived here when he was a havoc-wreaking teen. He and his brothers hadn't exactly been the town's golden boys.
Apparently stealing street signs, racing down Main Street in dual-exhaust trucks and spray painting old buildings was frowned upon. Not that anyone could prove the St. John boys had anything to do with such shenanigans. Eli and his brothers were way too sneaky and smart to get caught.
On a sigh, Eli shook away the memories. People in small towns never forgot the person you used to be. Even worse, they never let
you
forget it, either. Yeah, he'd be well received as the new hometown doctor.
Eventually they'd see he had changed, but whether they did or didn't, he was heading back to Atlanta inâhopefullyâthree months. Eli was already anxious to get back.
The head of the trauma unit was going to retire in a couple of months. An old army buddy had given Eli the heads-up that the position was coming available. Eli had actually only worked in the ER for a few months, but since he was already an internal doctor, he had a leg up on any outsiders vying for the position.
He couldn't worry about that right now, but he was hopeful that he would hear something soon.
“What time is your surgery scheduled in the morning?” Eli asked, taking a seat next to his mother on the old floral sofa that belonged in the same Dumpster as the recliner.
“They're doing it at seven,” she told him. “But they're going to admit him this evening. We wanted to wait until you came before we left.”
Eli glanced to his watch, then over to his dad. “Are you ready to go or do we need to finish this game you're cursing under your breath about?”
His father pointed the remote at the TV, shutting it off. “I guess we can go. Let it be known that I am not happy about having my independence taken away.”
Eli laughed. “Noted. Let it also be known we're glad you're having surgery so you'll be around for a few more years.”
The doorbell chimed through the house and Eli held up his hand. “I'll get it. You two go get whatever you need to take to the hospital.”
He figured his parents were already very well prepared to go. He also knew as the hometown doctor his father was popular and figured whoever was at the door was here to send Mac off. Eli thought it best to intercept the visitor and usher his parents on out the door before throngs of people came by.
Eli neglected to glance out the sidelights before he jerked the door open to the one woman who could make his knees weak and his gut clench.
All that rehearsing in the car did absolutely no good when he was rendered speechless.
Nora Parker, the epitome of hometown girl, stood on his parents' porch looking all bright and fresh even as the blistery cold winds swirled about. She'd wrapped herself in a cheerful red coat and multistriped hat and matching scarf.
The girl who had won over the hearts of his parents when his youngest brother, Drake, had befriended her in junior high and brought her home after school still had a place in their lives. Shortly thereafter she'd stolen his heart and just a few years later they'd turned their backs on each other, him to pursue his dreams, her to make a life in the only place she wanted to call home.
Now, here she was, no doubt checking in on his father. Their inevitable time together was about to begin whether he was mentally prepared for it or not.
Game on.
“Eli.” With eyes wide, she pasted on a radiant smile. “I knew you were coming home, but I didn't expect to see you here tonight. I didn't miss Mac and Bev, did I?”
Eli forced himself to snap out of this stupefied state and stop staring like some lustful teen. Good grief, he hadn't even invited her in from the biting cold.
“You didn't miss them. Come on in.” He gestured, opening the door wider. “It's freezing out there.”
Her sweet, floral perfume slid right under his nose as she passed through. Eli closed the door, turning to offer to take her coat, but, like an idiot, he became mesmerized as she started talking.
For pity's sake, he acted like he'd never seen a female before. This wasn't just any female. This was the one girl who'd stolen his not-so-innocent heart at the age of sixteen. This was the girl who had finally settled down four years ago with his best friend.
This was the girl who had no idea about the deceit behind her own marriage and the lies behind her late husband. Eli couldn't tell her, though. He'd never purposely hurt Nora again. Once was enough to leave him scarred. Literally.
“So,” she said, looking around. “They're still here?”
Oh, right. While he was fighting the urge to travel down that lane of not-so-pleasant memories, she'd been waiting for a response.
“We were just getting ready to go,” he supplied. “Come on into the living room. Do you need me to take your coat?”
“Oh, no. I can't stay long.”
He followed her, clutching his fists the whole way. Those instant lustful feelings that had slammed into him at the sight of her standing on his parents' porch had better just go away. How disrespectful could he be? A giant gap of years lived between them, proving nothing from the past was the same.
Eli, Nora and her late husband, Todd, had gone to the same school, grown up in this same small town. Not only that, Eli had served alongside Todd in the army up until six months earlier when Eli had gotten out for good, but Todd had reenlisted...and only a few months ago he'd been killed in action.
“I'm sorry about Todd,” he told her as she stood in the foyer. “I wasn't able to get back for the funeral due to my work schedule, but I was thinking about you.”
Wasn't that the story of his life? He'd thought about her too much over the years. But they'd made the mutual decision to sever their relationship and he couldn't fault her for moving on, marrying and having a life. Even if that life had been a lie and she had no clue.
At the age of eighteen, he'd been confident and cocky that he could make the world a better place and had thought for sure Nora would come with him and share his dream. But she'd had strong reasons for wanting to stay, just as he had strong reasons for leaving. So they'd been at a stalemate, both too young and stubborn to budge, thinking love would get them through.