The Doctor's Valentine Dare. Cindy Kirk

out. “Unless you’re going to join the ladies, it’s time to clear out.”

      “Give me a call this week.” Noah squeezed her arm and rose. “We’ll work out the details.”

      After placing his coffee cup and plate in the sink, he joined the exodus of men, leaving Josie to ponder how he’d managed to slip away without her having a chance to tell him no.

      Well, she’d darn well decline his offer later tonight. Before he stepped one foot outside of this house, she’d make it clear there was no way she was attending any function with him, especially one of the medical variety.

      * * *

      “It’s Thursday.” Sylvie sat across the table from Josie at the Hill of Beans coffee shop. “The event is Saturday.”

      Josie grinned at the baker. “Thank you for orienting me to the date.”

      As she predicted, she and Sylvie were well on their way to becoming friends. Her gut told Josie she could trust Sylvie to be discreet. It was good to have someone with whom she could share her feelings. As much as Josie liked and respected Pauline, the woman was Noah’s grandmother.

      “I’m going to call him today.” Josie picked up her phone from the table, glanced at the time, then set it down. “The yoga class I’m teaching at the church starts in an hour. I’ll call him after that.”

      Sylvie took a sip of her latte. “Why not now? Get it out of the way.”

      “Ben mentioned he and Noah have a big surgery today. If I call now I’ll just get his voice mail.”

      The baker’s gaze remained focused on Josie’s face. “I’d say that would make this a perfect time.”

      “Calling when I know he’s busy is a coward’s way.” Josie lifted her chin. “Contrary to what my brother thinks, I’m not a coward.”

      A group of teenage girls tumbled into the shop, laughing and talking loudly, distracting her from the troubling thought.

      “You don’t seem like a cowardly person to me.” Two lines appeared between Sylvie’s brows. “Why would your brother say such a thing?”

      “They stopped by my parents’ house last night—Ben, Poppy and Jack.” Josie had felt a surge of envy at the sight of the happy family. “They brought over the ultrasound of the baby.”

      “That’s cool.” Sylvie hesitated. “Isn’t it?”

      “Everyone is so excited. Even my dad. Poppy and he have this great relationship. It’s almost like she should have been his daughter.” Recalling the big hug her father had given Poppy, Josie had to swallow past a sudden lump in her throat.

      “I still don’t get the coward comment,” Sylvie persisted.

      “Have you ever run away from something?” Josie asked her. “Because deep down you knew if you stayed you’d end up being talked into doing something you’d regret?”

      “Yes.” Sylvie’s face went stark white. “I have.”

      “Well, that’s why I left college after my junior year and took off.” Josie began to shred the napkin between her fingers. “I knew if I stayed I’d end up going to medical school like everyone else in my family. Only instead of loving it like they had, I’d hate it. I had to leave.”

      “When you leave unexpectedly—” Sylvie’s gaze shifted out the window where snow fell in large picturesque flakes “—no matter how good the reason, most people will consider you a coward. What those people don’t realize is that making a decision to leave takes a lot of strength. It’s often easier—safer—to take the path of least resistance.”

      Josie considered what Sylvie said and felt some of the weight lift from her chest. Here, finally, was someone who understood. “I would have hated myself if I’d have stayed.”

      “As would I.” The sadness in Sylvie’s eyes told Josie she didn’t have the market on suffering.

      “What happened?” Josie rested a hand on Sylvie’s arm. “If you don’t mind my asking.”

      “Much the same as what happened to you. I was a square peg trying to fit into a round hole. When I realized it wasn’t going to work, it was best for everyone I left.”

      “You left your...family?”

      “My fiancé.”

      Something in the baker’s eyes told Josie not to push for more. “I’m sorry.”

      “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.” Sylvie lifted her chin, her violet eyes shimmering with determination. “But, like you, I was smart enough to know it was best to leave.”

      Josie nodded. She only wished the thought gave her comfort. “Last evening, Ben tossed out that he hopes if they have a girl, she never treats Poppy the way I treated my mom.”

      Sympathy filled Sylvie’s eyes. “Ouch.”

      “My dad told Ben to drop it.” Josie pressed her lips together. “He didn’t, of course, arrogant jackass. Asked me why I didn’t just stand up for myself. He told me only a coward would run off and break her mother’s heart.”

      Josie wasn’t sure what she expected Sylvie to say. Perhaps agree with her that her brother was a jerk. Or maybe soothe her by repeating she’d made the best decision possible. Instead, her new friend remained silent for a long moment.

      “It’s hard for me to understand people who have such a different personality than I do.” She smiled at Josie. “I bet in Portland you surrounded yourself with men and women who pretty much viewed life through a common lens.”

      Josie frowned.

      “I do it, too,” Sylvie said before she could respond. “That’s why you and I became friends.”

      The tension gripping Josie’s shoulders eased.

      “It’s like my dad and brothers speak a different language,” Josie admitted with a rueful smile. “We look at the same situation and arrive at far different conclusions.”

      A shadow passed over Sylvie’s face. “It’s very frustrating.”

      “I want to understand them.” Josie lifted her hands, let them fall. “And I want them to hear—and understand—me. Sometimes I think I need an interpreter.”

      Instead of laughing at the ridiculous thought, Sylvie’s expression grew thoughtful. “Yes. I believe that might be helpful.”

      Josie gave a little laugh. “Too bad I can’t simply snap my fingers and conjure one up.”

      “You don’t need to do that, not when you have the perfect person at your disposal.” Sylvie leaned back in her chair smiled. “Noah Anson wants something from you. You need something from him. From where I’m sitting, it’s a match made in heaven.”