The Doctor's Devotion (Love Inspired) (17 page)

“Might have? Best buds don’t keep things from each other.”

Mitch dropped his chin to his chest, knowing that.

“Yeah, I’m hurting but I’m not so weak of a guy that I can’t celebrate with my best friend when his heart revives and his life turns around from shards and shrapnel to songs and sunshine.” Ian snatched the chocolate. “So what’s the scoop?”

“We like each other. A
lot
. The attraction is out of this world. I want a future with her.”

“But?”

“You know me well. But she lives in Texas and she’s strapped to a whopper of a building loan, among other things.”

“But otherwise she’d consider moving here?”

“Yeah. She’d love to.”

“That’d be good for Lem, too. He seems to have a lot more vitality with her around these parts. You, as well. In fact, you look so smitten you border on goofy.” Ian shook his head and smirked.

Mitch loved how Lem had adopted his entire team. Kate, Nita and Ian had begun to call him Gramps, which tickled Lem pink.

“I thought you’d ask me if I’ve been popping Stupid Pills.” Mitch laughed but dipped his head.

Ian clamped a hand over Mitch’s shoulder and turned ten shades of serious. “Nah, man. I’m happy for you…
if
you can find a way to make this work. And
if
you’re over the betrayal Sheila caused you.”

Ian, not always the realist. Just these days.

“You
are
over her and your breakup. Right?” Ian scratched the five o’clock stubble along his jaw.

“Her? Yes. The breakup? I’m getting there.” But the words felt like razors across his tongue. And by the concern taking Ian’s face hostage, he found the words lacking certainty, too.

“Maybe I was more in love with the idea of being in love than with Sheila, which wasn’t fair to her.”

“Bro, if you still have that tendency…”

“The potential for Lauren’s heart to break is there.” Mitch’s heart felt as if it dropped into his stomach. Was he in any kind of position emotionally to pursue a low-risk relationship with Lauren?

The question put a sick feeling inside because Mitch didn’t honestly know the answer with full certainty. Was he ready?

Not according to the doubt creeping up in Ian’s eyes. Because Ian knew him better than anyone. Better than he knew himself, at times. In fact, Ian’s head tilted in a telltale way. “You don’t still have the ring?” Ian had a surgical way with questions.

Mitch didn’t answer.

Ian got nose to nose. “Mitch? You still have it? Because dude, if you do, that’s
not
cool. Lauren could get hurt if you don’t have it all back together emotionally after your breakup.”

“Lauren isn’t a rebound fling, if that’s what you mean.”

“I know that. You and Sheila had drifted apart, thanks to the distance. My concern is Texas is a whole lot farther from Illinois than Sheila’s unit was from ours when you two imploded as a couple.” Ian turned to go. “Keep that in mind.”

“Trust me, I am.”

Doubt assailed Mitch. Was it merely infatuation? Was he simply caught up in the excitement and newness of attraction?

Or, like Nita said, was it love on their horizon?

He could easily fall for Lauren. Felt as if he was already in the beginning stages of caring that deeply for her. Part of it was that he did deeply know and care about her from years and years of Lem’s gazillion colorful stories.

Lord, don’t let Ian be right. Don’t let this love be wrong.

But while Mitch could think that, he couldn’t bring himself to pray it with meaning. That wasn’t the right way to pray.

He dipped his head where he was. “God, please. Don’t let me act foolishly. I don’t want to hurt Lauren or Lem.”

But an acute knowing sank teeth into Mitch that whatever was going to happen, happiness or hurt, was already in progress.

Mitch fled the break room and paced a barren, under-construction hallway.

Was their relationship prognosis good or grave?

Regardless, it was already in motion.
No reversing it.

The gravity of that thrust Mitch to one knee right there in the trauma center’s section of a deserted construction hall.

Fist to his bent forehead, he focused on God. “Fitting, huh? I’m under construction in places, too. I know You’re on it. Thank You. I’m here to ask for Your excavating services, too. See, there’s this mountain that I can’t move alone. I could really use a hand. And a little guidance, too. I’m moving forward. So if I’m headed in the wrong direction, I know You can drag me out of cornfield-high blindness and set me on the right path.”

Chapter Nineteen

T
he situation with Lauren, and Ian’s admonishment, made for a rough week. For days, grace eluded. Though home from battle, Mitch still felt very much at war. With himself and his past. He wavered between caution and hope for a future with Lauren. All the while, fending off pitchforks of uncertainty and guilt over Ian’s words of wisdom. The rift between himself and Ian would work itself out. For now, Mitch’s growing desire to spend more meaningful time with Lauren won out over any reticence.

At the next shift change, Mitch met Lauren at the time clock as she punched out her card reader. He pulled her aside. “Look, I know things are up in the air, but I’d like to take you to dinner and treat you to a movie.”

At her stunned look, he grinned and added, “Lem approves this message.”

With all the political campaigning on TV lately, that made her laugh. “I imagine he does.” She shifted her handbag and peered shyly at Mitch. “I prefer plays, but I’d gladly go to the movies with you, too.” Her eyes grew vulnerable. “In fact, I’d follow you to the moon if I could.”

He grinned. “Next time the local car-rental place runs a special on rocket rentals, I’ll take you there. As long as there are no lunar geese orbiting around.”

Lauren’s beaming expression rivaled the fullest of moons. It stayed on her face all the way to the mall, where they browsed shops and bought Lem a stuffed snake for a gag gift.

Later, on the way out of the mall after shopping, the movie and dinner, Lauren took Mitch’s hand when he reached. A rocket ride could not compete with the rush and out-of-this-world thrill of being close to her. Stars winked approval overhead as they stepped from the mall curb to the lot where Mitch had parked. He squeezed her hand as she stepped over a patch of loose gravel in the median. She held tight, and all sorts of emotions stirred inside Mitch.

His heart felt as big as the movie screen.

He caressed Lauren’s hand and walked slower to draw out the moment.

“Even the flowers seem to smile when we pass,” she whispered into the softness of moonlight. What was it about the luminescent glow that made a moment so conducive to a kiss?

Mitch smiled, too. He’d never been happier to have parked at the edge of the lot. Good way to exercise. And take every opportunistic second to court a woman who deserved it.

Her answering smile could light the galaxy, as if the stars whispered Mitch’s secrets and his heart’s thoughts to her soul and mind. “I know,” she said, drawing a breath as long and deep as the Mississippi River. “I could get used to this. Everything seems to come to life and become magic and animated when two people start to fall in love.”

Her words stunned them both, and made them pause in their steps.

Her vulnerable look. The silver hue that moonlight and streetlights cast around the edges of her glistening eyes. Her hair, red like hearts.

Exquisite.

He tightened his grip on her hand. And his past loosened its hold on his heart. A little. At least, for now.

He captured her nervously flitting gaze. “Lauren, if love is what’s breathing magic in the air between us, I hope the magic stretches this special moment into the longest, most lingering Forever.”

* * *

Today was the day.

Mitch had courted Lauren for a month, which was all it took to make him want to seek Lem’s blessing for a permanent future with her. Mitch ascended Lem’s steps early to ensure she wasn’t awake.

Lem met him outside. “I’ve never seen you so serious. What’s more important than another hour’s sleep?”

“Lauren,” Mitch said as they sat on the gliding rocker. Mitch looked Lem in the eye. “She’s important to me.”

“I gathered that. She’s sweet on you, too.”

“I’d like to take our relationship more seriously. The kind of serious that I hope will lead to marriage.”

Lem’s grin exploded. “If you’re asking my permission, all I got to say is what took you so long?”

Mitch chuckled. “So I have your blessing?”

“Indeed! Nothing would make me happier.” Lem frowned. “Wait, if things progress, you’d rope her into moving here, right? You wouldn’t skip off to Texas on me, would ya?” Lem’s countenance fell. He grew genuinely upset at the prospect.

Mitch put a steadying hand on him. The man really did not want to be alone. “You have my word, Lem. I’ll get her here.” Lem still looked distraught so Mitch added, “I promise.”

Lem’s quivering limbs relaxed. “When you gonna ask her?”

“Soon. I’ll let you know. First, I need to be sure she feels the same.”

“Whoop!” Lem leaped like a man half his age.

Joy detonated in Mitch because if Lem was this happy about them, he’d turn inside out when the time came to say vows. And Mitch had every intention of doing so. He rose. “Let’s boot her out of bed.”

“I’m awake.” Lauren stumbled out, looking half asleep and half annoyed. “What’s all this carrying on right by my window?”

Uh-oh. “How much did you hear?” Mitch approached.

“A bunch of whooping and hollering.” She woke fully and tugged her robe tight.

“We’re going to hit the lake on jet skis today.”

She smiled with still-sleepy eyes. “You keep saying that, but every time we plan it, trauma tsunamis roll in.”

“Precisely why we’re starting early. Ready?” Mitch was anxious to get going.

She looked down. “Right. People go wave-running in pajamas.”

Mitch laughed, properly chagrined. “Let’s eat on the way.”

“Are your feet on fire? Give me ten minutes.”

“Five. Your makeup will just wash off in the water.”

“Who said I’m putting on makeup just for you?”

Mitch smirked. “You always do.”

“You’re suffering a terrible case of confusion.” Cheeks adorably flamed, Lauren bolted into the house. Mitch followed.

She doused water on her face. “I should hold your head under. You embarrass the daylights out of me.”

“I love to see you blush.”

“And I hate to blush more than almost anything.”

“See? We’re made for each other.”

Lauren smiled and met his gaze in the mirror.

“By the way, today’s another group date. But next time we go out, it’ll be just you and me again.”

She drew a breath. “And my nerves.”

He smiled. “What would you have to be nervous about?”

She shrugged. “Oh, I don’t know. That whole getting my heart stomped on thing.”

He moved close. “I’d never hurt you, Lauren.”

She held up a finger. “You’d never
mean
to hurt me.”

Mitch didn’t have a rebuttal for that because in truth, no one entered a dating relationship intending to hurt or be hurt.

Lauren rustled around a tiny zippered bag and fished out a tube. “Waterproof mascara to the rescue! Something’s better than nothing, right?”

He smiled at her. Next she raised gloss and ran it across her lips. “I, uh, should go sit with Lem while you get ready,” Mitch stammered.

She continued the face-paint ritual. “Is he going with us?”

“Not today, he said. I invited.” Mitch went to sit with Lem.

Four minutes later Lauren emerged in a pair of pink sporty shorts and a trendy rhinestone-scrolled T-shirt.

“Impressive. I only see you move that fast in emergencies.”

“This
is
an emergency.” She patted Mitch’s cheek in passing to put her satchel in his truck. “I forgot to pack a swimsuit.”

“No stores’ll be open this early, carrottop,” Lem said.

Her shoulders slumped. “That’s right. I forgot this is the country. That makes me really miss city living.”

A bad feeling hit Mitch. “Kate’ll be there. See if she has one you can borrow,” he suggested as he opened the car door for Lauren.

Mitch felt Lauren’s eyes meld to him as he watched traffic and maneuvered accordingly.

At a red light, he extended his cell to her. “Call Kate.”

“You’re bossy.”

“Nope. Just pining to see you in a swimsuit.” He laughed.

She socked his arm. Hard. He deserved it. But laughing with her and seeing her face flush that adorable red was worth it. “You’re beautiful when you blush. It becomes you,” he said tenderly.

* * *

“I’m not sure about this,” Lauren said to Kate a little later as she viewed herself in the hallway mirror of Mitch’s lakeside home. Nita napped on his couch, ice water at her side.

“It looks fine,” Mitch assured.

Kate nodded. “It’s very modest. But if Mitch strokes with you wearing that, you’re running his code and not me.”

They shared a laugh on the walk to Mitch’s dock to meet Ian. He stared across the lake beneath hands shielding the sun.

Mitch approached. “What’s so interesting?”

“I think that’s the army medic who helped us that first crazy day at the center.” Ian indicated a man and woman skiing in playful circles on matching wave runners out in the middle of the lake.

Mitch squinted. Sure enough, the man resembled Caleb. “Let’s invite them to hang with us today.”

“First we have to service your other wave runner. It needs oil. Also, your grill needs propane before we can cook.”

“Plus I need to talk to Lauren about how I feel. Not leave her in the dark like I left you.”

Ian chuckled. “Hey, I apologize for my outburst last month. Being negative and instilling doubt. I was tired and feeling sorry for myself instead of happy for you. Just had an off day. Don’t take anything I said seriously. I was way wrong.”

“I don’t know, Ian. Maybe not on everything. We’ll see.”

“What do you mean?” Ian moved close. “Everything’s all right with you two, huh?”

“It’s going better than I ever dreamed it could.” He cleared his throat. “I—” Mitch coughed into his hand “—think I love her.”

Ian’s forehead inclined, and his eyebrows disappeared beneath his ball cap. “There’s no
think
to it. You either do or you don’t.”

Mitch straightened. “I do. Really,
really
do.”

“Whoa. Wow. That was fast. She know?”

“Not yet.”

“When you gonna talk to her?”

“Today sometime.”

“You know how trauma goes. Better get the time while the getting’s good. Never know when cases will roll in and the current crew might call us in.” He took keys and burger tongs from Mitch. “I’ll man the jet ski and the grill. You go man your future with the girl.”

“Thanks, Ian. I appreciate your support. Especially in light of…everything you’re going through.”

Ian scraped the charred grate. “Hey, what are friends for?”

“Getting gook off my grill.” He indicated Ian’s motions.

Ian laughed. “You’d do the same for me on all counts. Not that the tables will ever turn. I got off to a rocky start. You two’ll be great together. You have God on your side.”

“So do you, Ian.”

His motions slowed, and he peered up at Mitch with an expression of such absolute anguish, Mitch didn’t know what to do. “I don’t know anymore, man.” Ian struggled to snap out of it, then nudged Mitch. “Go. Get your girl before I knock you down.”

He left Ian, now laughing. Or trying to.
God, let him know You haven’t abandoned him. That his life still harbors good things.

Vest applied, Mitch approached the table where the ladies talked leisurely. “Hey, beautiful, will you have this ride with me?” He extended her life vest like a romantic invitation.

She stood like a blooming rose. “Thought you’d never ask.”

Mitch helped her on the jet ski, then fired up its engine. “I think Caleb’s on the lake. We’ll invite him over in a bit.”

“Good idea!” Her hands came around his shoulders as he sat.
Oh, yeah.
He could stay like this all day. But, alas, the lady wanted to ride. Mitch revved it, and Lauren squealed in his ear.

“Ow,” he said, then laughed. But he enjoyed her giggles as he sped to full throttle, veering sharp left. She responded by holding him tighter and laughing hysterically. So he cut as far to the right as possible without dumping them in the water.

She scooted suction-cup close, held on for dear life and laughed like crazy. He loved the carefree, uninhibited sounds.

“Little detour.” Mitch took a scenic route to his dock. “Having fun?”

“Yes, but I thought you were inviting Caleb?”

“I’m waiting for Ian. He went to get propane for the grill and juice for the other jet ski.” Mitch assisted her onto the dock. “Also, I need to talk to you. I’m going to be direct and share my feelings. Hints aren’t getting across.”

“The kiss got across.” She giggled.

“Well, yes, but that was probably impulsive.”

“You regret it?”

“Absolutely not. I crave it.” He stayed his gaze on her eyes and not her lips. Kissing would get nothing else accomplished. “I’m trying to tell you how I feel and where I see this going. And by that, I mean all the way to the altar.”

“Wow. Did not expect that.” She smiled, but sadness overtook it. “My life is in Texas. There’s a lot you don’t know, lots to consider.”

He bent his forehead to hers. “So let’s phone the bank Monday during business hours. For now, I’d love an answer.”

“Depends on the question.”

He laughed. “You somehow have me wanting to propose at this point, but for now, I’ll settle for you admitting your feelings.”

“I’m only here for the summer.”

He leaned back. “Seriously, Lauren. Summer’s all you got?”

She sighed. “Mitch, I care for you. A lot.”

He grinned smugly. “Lem says you love me.”

“I never told him that!”

“He says you don’t have to.” He turned superserious. “If you love me, I’d like to hear it from you.”

She dipped her head and murmured into his shoulder—something that sounded like three magic words.

“What?” he asked.

She tipped up her face and flashed eyes no longer embarrassed. “I said I love you, too.”

His eyebrow arched. “How much? Past Texas?”

“We’ll see.”

“Not the answer I was looking for.” Still, he didn’t want to push too much and end up pushing her away. “Let’s see if Caleb’s around. He must live on the lake.”

“Have you thought about asking him to work for you if he’s going to be around?” Jet ski started, they rode away from the dock.