Claiming the Doctor's Heart. Renee Ryan

shared since the third grade. Four years since her death, he was past the worst of his grief and moving on with his life. Some days were easier than others; most were just hard work.

      He would tackle this latest problem as he did all the others. One detail at a time. He spent the rest of the night either on the phone or waiting for someone to return his call.

      Unfortunately, he arrived at his office the next day with his child-care problem still unresolved. Connor would not rely solely on his sister. He would figure out another solution.

      His mind on several options, he headed toward the east wing of the building where he had his personal office space. He stepped across the threshold and...

      Stopped cold.

      Olivia Scott stood beside his desk, seemingly absorbed with the task of writing on a piece of paper beneath her hand.

      Connor’s heart took a quick, hard thump. Ethan’s sister looked like summer in a pair of white jeans, a fancy blue top and high-heeled sandals.

      His mind went momentarily blank. “Olivia?”

      She looked up and smiled. “Oh, Connor. Hi. I was just leaving you a note. Guess I don’t have to now.” She lifted the piece of paper beneath her fingertips, then tossed it in the trash.

      She shifted a step closer. Her scent, a pleasant mix of lavender and vanilla, was very female and more than a little distracting. “Aren’t you going to ask me why I’m here?”

      “Okay...” He angled his head, swallowed. “Why are you here?” He swallowed again. “And why were you leaving me a note?”

      Leaning back against his desk, she rested her hands on either side of her. “I have a proposition for you.”

      He simply stared at her, uncertain how to respond to that.

      “I heard your housekeeper injured her knee yesterday.” Her gaze turned somber. “Ryder told me about the accident when he came home last night.”

      Ah.

      “I figure this probably puts you in a bind when it comes to child care for your daughters this summer.”

      “It does.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “My sister is helping out for now. But I need to find a more permanent solution, at least until Carlotta’s knee heals.”

      Olivia’s pretty smile returned. “That’s where I come in.”

      He waited for the rest.

      Her smile brightened even more. “I know the perfect person to watch your girls this summer.”

      He tried to focus on her words, not on the fact that his heartbeat had picked up speed, or that he experienced a flash of insight, as if he were on the verge of something life-changing. “Who did you have in mind?”

      “Me.”

      Chapter Three

      For the second time since entering his office, Connor found himself rendered speechless. Had Olivia just offered to watch his daughters for the entire summer?

      He swept his gaze over her face, measuring, gauging. The teasing light had fled from her eyes, replaced by a look of unmistakable sincerity. There was also a twinge of excitement he didn’t understand.

      There had to be something he was missing.

      “Don’t you already have a job? In...” He tried to remember what she’d studied in college. Surely Ethan had told him. Marketing? Finance? “Banking?”

      She glanced away a moment and sighed. “That’s right. For a number of years I helped failing companies with debt consolidation and financial restructuring.”

      “Impressive.”

      She shrugged. “Mostly just a lot of number crunching.”

      “I’m sure there’s more to it than that.” He ran a thriving medical practice. He had a good idea what it took to keep afloat in a tight economy.

      “Anyway, I’m not doing that anymore. I’m looking into other options for the future. In the meantime, I’m free to help you out.”

      “Are you saying you’re unemployed?”

      “I’m saying I’m in Village Green while I consider my next career move.” She didn’t expand. Nor, Connor noted, had she addressed his question directly.

      Could this meeting get any more confusing?

      Her smile flashed again, quick and devastating. That smile, it made him think of silver linings at the end of a long, dark day.

      “This is a God thing, you know, my being available to watch your daughters like this.”

      Connor had no comment. He’d given up on God years ago. Or, more accurately, God had given up on him. It hadn’t mattered that he’d prayed nonstop for his wife’s return to health. Not only had she not gotten better; Sheila had died slowly, painfully. Even his efforts to provide her comfort at the end had failed.

      He did his best raising the twins on his own. But Molly and Megan needed a woman in their lives, one who would love them as much as Sheila did. That’s why he’d started dating, though he wasn’t really in the game, merely attempting to take the first step. A lunch every now and then when he had time, which was hardly ever.

      Olivia moved closer, the sound of her heels on the wood floor breaking through his thoughts. “I’ll take excellent care of your girls.”

      This seemed too good to be true.

      He opened his mouth to respond, but Olivia smiled at him again, a big toothy grin that gave him pause. Having her in his home every day might not be wise.

      He shoved his fingers through his hair and carefully stripped his voice of emotion. “Let’s say I agree to your offer. When would you be available to start work?”

      Her earnest gaze met his. “Immediately.”

      “What’s the rush?”

      “No rush.”

      He stared at her.

      She never blinked, not once. But he got the sense she wasn’t being completely candid with him.

      “What’s in it for you?”

      Now she blinked. Twice. Her hesitation was obvious. But then she looked at him again, smiled and said, “Let me take care of your daughters for you, Connor.”

      She grabbed his hand and a new kind of alertness took hold of him. “I promise to do right by them,” she whispered, releasing his hand. “And you.”

      He didn’t doubt her sincerity. But what did a bank exec know about kids?

      As if reading his mind, Olivia continued.

      “Back in high school I earned enough money babysitting to buy my first car. I love kids. Always have, especially girls around your daughters’ age. I—” She cut herself off and blinked slowly, as if the words were painful to say. “I really do love kids.”

      Her voice held a strange mix of sincerity and reserve, with a hint of hope underneath. Connor knew the feeling. He felt poised on the brink of something new himself, something life-altering.

      Some of the knots in his gut unraveled. Then he remembered that watching his daughters was only part of the job description. “You’ll have to take on Samson, too.”

      This seemed to amuse her. “How bad can one tiny puppy be?”

      “Bad enough to put my housekeeper in the hospital.”

      Olivia’s expression sobered. “Right.”

      Reaching out to him, she laid her hand on his arm. Something inside him shifted under her gentle touch.

      “Don’t worry, Connor.” She chuckled. “I