From Brooding Boss to Adoring Dad. Dianne Drake

… Red.”

      The walk was short from Trinique’s cottage, down a long, winding jungle path, and each of her steps was deliberately slow. Sure, she’d seen the hospital compound online, knew the look of the buildings by heart. But there was a world of difference between the internet and in person, and she was actually a little nervous about this. She’d done it. She had her property—one hospital building, a handful of small cottages, and a stretch of beach. Paradise in a way most people would define it.

      “He’s very grumpy this morning,” Davion said, catching up to her then falling into step. “When he came back to the bar last night, he broke glasses … on purpose. Threw a couple on the floor then took the money you’d given him earlier and put it into the cash register for my mother.”

      She pulled the deed from the pocket of her skirt for Davion to see. “He didn’t give in without a fight. I know it wasn’t easy for him.”

      “But he always does the right thing. Sometimes it takes him a while but, like I told you before, he’s a good man.”

      “I think he’s a very … interesting man.”

      Davion nodded. “That, too. And stubborn.”

      “I’ve definitely seen that side of him.”

      “And he’s seen that side of you, hasn’t he?”

      “How did you get to be so perceptive at your age?”

      Davion chuckled. “Being around Adam. He’s been in and out of half my life now, and I’ve been learning from the master.”

      “Well, that’s what’s going to make you an exceptional doctor. You know how to read people. So, you say he’s been in and out of your life for most of your life. How long, exactly, has he been here?”

      “Off and on, almost twelve years, I guess. Started coming when he was in medical school, came more often when he was out. Until he moved here permanently a couple of years ago.”

      Well, she couldn’t fault Coulson for that. Jamaica was a wonderful place to visit. She’d been coming here almost from the day her father had adopted her, nearly twenty-five years ago. He’d bring her when she was well, and she’d feel guilty when she was sick because she knew she was keeping him from coming.

      “So, is this your first time to the island, Dr Glover?”

      “Please, call me Erin. And no. I’ve been here so many times I can’t remember. My father was from here … and my grandmother lived here until her dying day. Almost as far back as I can remember we tried to get here at least three or four times a year, more often if we could.”

      “And where would here be, if I may ask?”

      “In her later years, my grandmother moved to Kingston because of her health. But when she was young she lived in Alligator Pond. Ran a little fishing industry there, had a couple of boats.” That was being modest. Her grandmother had been a major player in the fishing business there, a woman well respected in her industry.

      Davion arched his eyebrows. “Alligator Pond doesn’t have many … redheads.”

      Erin laughed. “My grandmother wasn’t a redhead. Have you ever heard of Odessia Glover?”

      Davion gave a soft whistle. “She was an honorable lady, well known for her generosity. She was your grandmother? ”

      Nodding, Erin added, “And Algernon Glover is my father.”

      “A respected gentleman. I’m impressed. Surprised, but impressed.”

      “I was impressed, too, the first time I met him. And after all these years, he still impresses me.” She stopped, looked ahead, held her breath. “Is that my hospital?”

      “That’s it. And all those buildings to the north. Adam told me that he’s put up a dividing line, and you’re not to cross over it. That everything on the other side is private property.”

      “The rope?” She had to laugh. There was a slack rope tied loosely from palm tree to palm tree—in places it dipped into the sand. A lame, funny gesture, actually.

      “I told you he’s stubborn. And if you haven’t looked at your bill of sale at the back of the deed he gave you last night, he’s added a provision on the end of it.”

      She pulled the paper from her pocket, thumbed through the few pages and, sure enough, he’d penciled it in. A fence? “How like him!”

      “Good fences make good neighbors!” Adam shouted, stepping out from a copse of palms. His side of the line, of course.

      She jumped. “Why do you sneak up on people that way?”

      “Why are you always so jumpy?”

      “Look, I’ve got to go,” Davion said. “I’m helping in the clinic this morning and the patients are probably already lining up. They heard there’s a lady doctor here and they want to see her.” With that, he trotted off, crossed under the rope, and headed toward the larger of three buildings she could see on the other side of Coulson’s group of palm trees.

      Erin strolled over to the dividing line, but didn’t cross it. “Are you serious about the fence?” she asked him.

      His answer was a grin and a shrug. “Just trying to keep things honest between us.”

      “It’s a rope, Coulson. Not even a taut rope.”

      “A fence by any other name …”

      “And how do I know this so-called fence is the true dividing line? Maybe it’s well over on my side and you’re cheating me of something I rightfully own.”

      “What you rightfully own, Red, are the buildings, and the easement all the way down to the beach. I was being generous, giving you this little strip along the side here, because I thought, at some point, you might like to put in a better drive up to the hospital’s front door. But I could take it back, if you don’t want it.”

      “And what do you want in additional payment, Doctor? A case of glasses to smash?”

      “Stubborn, and with a temper, too. You’re actually pretty cute when you’re acting like that. It sets off the sparks in your green eyes.”

      “Hazel. Not green.” She gave in to him with a laugh. “So, is this how the neighbor relationship is going to work between us? We’re going to stand back and spar at each other from across the … rope?”

      “Unless you want to build a real fence. Doesn’t have to be a tall fence. Maybe six or eight feet.”

      So, what was it about Adam Coulson that disarmed her? Here she was, standing on her side of this convoluted boundary he’d strung up, arguing almost into a seduction with him. It wasn’t that she wanted to be seduced, wasn’t that she particularly wanted to be friendly. But now they were practically face-to-face, and all she could think was how good he smelled—all masculine and tropical, maybe with a hint of lime.

      “Look, I know you’re enjoying yourself playing gatekeeper at your rope, but am I going to have to ask permission to cross over so I can go to work? Provided you still want me to come and work.”

      He swooped low, in a courtly gesture. “Permission to enter. And work.” Said with a grin. “Oh, and lunch.”

      “Lunch?”

      “You know, that meal that comes in the middle of the day?”

      “You’re asking me to lunch?”

      “Not a date, Red. A discussion. Since you’re going to be handling some of my medical load for a while …”

      “Wait a minute. How did one morning at your medical clinic turn into me handling part of your medical load for a while?”

      “I’m busy and it’s you who’s drawing them in, so it’s up to you to take care of them. I just thought I’d be civilized