The Doctor's Valentine Dare. Cindy Kirk

for her father’s love and approval—when she’d also listened attentively.

      Occasionally, she’d forget her audience and bring up something she’d learned in yoga class. Although her dad hadn’t rolled his eyes, usually one of her brothers would make a joke. They’d all laugh. Eventually she’d quit sharing.

      A heaviness filled her chest at the memories, an unwelcome sensation she hadn’t felt in a long time. Was she crazy for coming back and trying to rebuild a relationship? Perhaps it would have been better if she’d stayed in Portland and returned home only for the occasional Thanksgiving or Christmas holiday.

      Though she’d come home to Jackson Hole filled with determination and enthusiasm, she had to admit she still had no clue what made her father and brothers tick. If she couldn’t understand them, how was she ever going to form a connection?

      While adding a spoonful of each salad to her plate, Josie listened to Mary Karen chatter about her oldest set of twins, then found a seat at the large oval table.

      Cassidy Duggan, owner of the Clippety Do-Dah Salon—and Daffodil’s boss—stopped on her way back to her seat to ask Josie who’d designed the cake she’d brought that evening. Cassidy was absolutely convinced her twin daughters would adore a unique cake for their upcoming birthday.

      After giving the hair salon owner Sylvie’s contact information, Josie lifted the glass of iced tea to her lips, feeling as out of place as she’d been at the New Year’s Eve party. Did everyone in this book club have kids?

      She let her gaze search the room, mentally cataloging those in attendance, and realized, yes. Tonight, everyone in attendance were parents. Except...

      From across the room, her gaze met Noah’s. He smiled.

      Blood flowed through her veins like warm honey.

      Josie told herself she didn’t want Noah to sit in the empty chair beside her. Of course, it was a free country and if he happened to choose that seat, she could hardly ignore him. In her mind she began to plan all the topics they’d discuss, none of which involved teething, dance classes or children’s birthday parties.

      Noah was still filling his plate when Poppy placed a hand on the chair next to Josie’s and announced, “There’s a spot for you over here.”

      Josie shifted her gaze to find Liam Gallagher headed in her direction. She amended her earlier assessment. Apparently there were three of them without children here, not two. When she slanted a glance at her sister-in-law, Poppy offered a benign smile.

      “You can thank me later.” Her sister-in-law leaned over and whispered in her ear.

      Liam pulled out a chair and smiled warmly. “May I sit next to you?”

      “Absolutely.”

      Josie discovered Liam was an interesting conversationalist, full of humorous stories about all the places he’d lived before returning to set up practice as a child psychologist in Jackson Hole.

      She attempted to keep Liam talking, even while casting surreptitious glances in Noah’s direction, but the psychologist refused to monopolize the conversation. To her chagrin, he kept redirecting everything back to her. He listened intently to whatever she said, so intently she felt as if she was in a therapy session and should request a bill at the end of the evening.

      When Cassidy passed by them on her way to get a piece of cake, Josie seized the opportunity to redirect the psychologist once again.

      “I heard Tim and Cassidy started dating after a bachelor auction,” Josie commented, praying Liam would take the ball and run with it.

      “It’s true.” Liam rested an arm against the back of her chair in a casual gesture that had Poppy smiling in approval as she refilled their glasses of iced tea. “Actually, Tim was filling in for me that evening. I had a bad allergic reaction and couldn’t participate. Cassidy was the high bidder. They fell in love, got married and had a baby boy. The rest is history.”

      “It’s strange how life works,” Josie murmured, thinking of her own journey back to Jackson Hole.

      This time her gaze settled on her brother. She watched as he slipped his arm around Poppy’s waist and took a heavy glass pitcher from her hands. Whatever he whispered in her ear made her smile.

      Benedict seemed different—softer—when he was around his wife. Still, his brusque words when she’d returned told her he hadn’t changed, not really, not enough. Not nearly enough.

      “People don’t change.” The words came out on a sigh.

      “They can.”

      Josie inhaled sharply and jerked her attention back to her right. Instead of Liam, Noah sat beside her, a piece of cake and a cup of coffee in front of him.

      “You’re not Liam.”

      “Very perceptive.” He forked off another bit of cake. “This is excellent. Try a bite.”

      Before Josie was even aware what was happening, the fork that only moments before had been in his mouth, was in hers. Shades of New Year’s Eve. The taste of butter and almonds and sugar melded in a sweet explosion.

      “It’s very good.” She handed the fork back to him. “Now tell me what happened to Liam. Did you bury him in the basement?”

      “I believe he grew tired of being ignored and went in search of greener pastures.”

      “I wasn’t—” Josie paused, flushed.

      She hadn’t ignored the psychologist, she thought defensively. Still, she had let her mind wander. It was a bad habit. One she thought she’d successfully broken.

      “I need to apologize.” She began to rise but Noah’s hand on her arm had her sitting back down.

      “I was kidding.” Noah took another bite of cake. “Liam received a call from his answering service. A patient was in crisis and he had to leave.”

      “He didn’t say a word.” Josie wasn’t sure if she felt indignation or relief.

      “He probably didn’t want to disturb your reverie.”

      She swatted his arm, but Noah only grinned. The boyish smile had her going warm all over. For the first time since she’d walked through the door, she let herself fully relax.

      After all, she had no desire to try to impress Dr. Anson with her wit and charm. Absently, she took a bit of her own piece of cake. It wasn’t simply good, it was stellar.

      A bell sounded, a gentle tinkling.

      Beside her, Noah cocked his head. “What is that?”

      “Five-minute warning for the men to leave the kitchen.”

      Noah forked off another bite of cake, seeming in no hurry to leave with the other men. “The hospital is holding a post-Christmas event for their medical staff Saturday night.”

      “My dad mentioned something about it.” Josie gazed at him speculatively. “I told him it appears the medical staff isn’t very important to the hospital.”

      He frowned, much the way her father had done. “What makes you think that?”

      “Think about it. They made no effort to fit the party in during the actual holiday season.”

      “They were being accommodating. Everyone is busy over the holidays. Attendance will be higher in January when there aren’t as many demands.”

      The last thing Josie wanted was to engage in a conversation about anything medical. Still, recalling the experience with Liam, Josie kept her focus on Noah. Though, she had to admit, her attention rarely wandered when she was with Noah. But she knew if she got too close, she’d get burned.

      Yet the intoxicating scent of his cologne, the square cut of his jaw and those intense blue eyes called to her at a primal level. Even more disturbing was the realization that it only took one flash of