Beating Heart: A Small Town, Single Dad Romance (Magnolia Falls Series Book 4)

The next few weeks flew by in a blur. I was busy at work, and the locals were now treating me like I’d lived here my entire life. Oscar, who owned the local market, stopped by to see me almost daily with different ailments. It didn’t matter that I was a pediatrician. He ignored me every single time that I reminded him about it.

This town had an open-door policy, and the locals did not hesitate to stop by.

“Hey,” Lana said as she peeked her head into my office, and I hit send on the email to Boston Children’s Hospital. I’d just confirmed the remote interview I had scheduled with them early next week. “Midge Longhorn is here, and I reminded her that this is a pediatric office, but she just brushed me off. She said you’d see her if I told you that it was an emergency.”

I’d gotten to know Midge as I had eaten at her restaurant, the Golden Goose, several times over the last few weeks. Cutler and Nash loved the place, and seeing as I spent all my free time with them, we ate there often.

Did I mention I spend a lot of time with my neighbor?

We traded kisses and orgasms like it was our day job. We’d yet to have sex, as Nash thought we should take it slow.

I didn’t know if he was protecting me or himself at this point.

Because I was ready.

I’d never been so turned on by a man, and after years of having a dull sex life, I was ready to jump the man’s bones.

But I wouldn’t beg.

“Did she say what was wrong?”

“Nope. Just that she was adamant about seeing you.”

I sighed and glanced down at my watch. I was meeting Demi, Ruby, Saylor, and Peyton at Whiskey Creek tonight for a happy hour girls’ night. We’d grown close, and it had helped to heal the pain I still felt when I thought about Farah. I sent a quick text to them in our group chat, letting them know I would be running a little late due to Midge showing up unexpectedly.

“Okay, I’ll meet her in room one. I know you need to head out, so I’ll lock up. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“You’re a saint. I’m going to continue to spend every day that you’re here convincing you to stay.”

I smiled and closed my laptop before making my way down the hall to room one just as Midge arrived, holding a lollipop in her hand with a wicked grin on her face. “Thanks for seeing me, Dr. Chadwick. Doc Dolby never let me just drop in.”

“Well, it’s definitely better to make an appointment, but seeing as this is a pediatric office, I don’t think that would have worked either.”

“I can’t go to see Davis Ward about this issue.”

Davis was the family medicine doctor in Magnolia Falls, and he’d seemed pleasant enough the two times I’d met him.

“Why not? What’s going on?”

“I don’t know what’s going on, but I know what isn’t going on. Does that make sense?” The older woman raised a brow.

“No. It doesn’t make sense to me, so how about you just say it?” I sat on the rolling chair and wheeled myself directly in front of her.

“Doug is what’s not going on.” Nash had filled me in that Doug Callan was her ex-husband and now boyfriend. They’d recently moved in together, and it was the talk of the town. Apparently, Midge had divorced Doug many years ago and married his brother, Dennis Callan, who also happened to be the minister in town. She’d then divorced Dennis after a very short marriage, and she and Doug had remained enemies up until recently.

Ahhh… the joys of small-town living. Everyone knew your business.

“Again, I’m going to need you to clarify.”

“Doug and I are only having sex five days a week,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest.

My eyes widened as I gaped at her. “That sounds like a lot of sex to me. What’s the problem?”

“The problem is, I went a lot of years without it. And now, I want it every day. So I’m hoping you can help me with that.”

“Are you asking for medication?” I cleared my throat, because this conversation was unexpected, and I was completely caught off guard.

“No. His package is working just fine. I think we just need to spice things up, you know? I was hoping you could give me some tips.”

“Some tips?” I repeated her words, fighting the urge to follow it with, that’s what she said.

Raunchy humor came with being surrounded by my brothers and cousins.

“Yes. Why do you seem so surprised?”

“Um, because I’m a pediatrician, and I’m single.” I shrugged.

“Oh, please. Everyone knows you and Nash are bumping pleasantries. That man has been single since Cutler’s mom left town. Everyone has tried to tie him down, and then what do you know… our new doc happens to be a single, hot woman who lives next door. So, I could use some pointers, you know, from the younger generation. I need Doug to look at me the way Nash looks at you. How do you seduce your man?”

“I—er, I,” I stammered, pushing to my feet and pacing around the room. “I don’t know that I’ve ever really seduced a man.”

“That’s your tip? You just happen to be gorgeous, so you don’t have to try?” She threw her hands in the air.

“No. That’s not what I’m saying.” I leaned against the counter and placed my hands on my hips. “It seems like you’re having an awful lot of sex, but I guess if you want more, you should just ask for it.”

“Ask for it? I thought you were going to tell me to wear something sexy or do some sort of dance for the man.”

“I mean, if that’s your thing, go for it,” I said over my laughter. “But as a modern-day woman, I think you should just ask for what you want.”

Maybe I should take my own advice. I want Nash, and I am done waiting.

“Is that what you do? Ask for what you want?”

I chewed on my thumbnail as I looked at her. Her gray hair was tied back in a knot at the nape of her neck. “It’s a new thing for me, and I’m working on it.”

“Fine. I’m going to go home and demand that man make mad, passionate love to me again tonight.”

I closed my eyes and sighed, because sex talk with Midge Longhorn was not what I’d expected when I arrived at work today.

“I never said demand. I said that you should ask for what you want.” I walked to the door, and she followed me down the hall.

“Got it. Should I call you tomorrow and get on your schedule so we can follow up?” She smirked.

“Sure. Make it during lunchtime and bring me a grilled cheese and tomato soup.”

“I can do that. Have a good night.” She waved as she pushed through the door, and I locked it behind her.

I grabbed my purse and slipped out the back door, walking the short distance to Whiskey Falls bar. I loved Magnolia Falls, as it reminded me a lot of home back in Rosewood River. Hell, this whole town was growing on me. Ruby’s father, Lionel, owned the bar, and I’d met the girls there one other time over the last few weeks.

“There she is!” Peyton shouted when I walked in.

The place was fairly busy for a weeknight, and this was definitely the most popular hangout for locals.

“Hi,” I said, making my way around the table and hugging each one of them. “Sorry, I’m late.”

“Your text said that Midge was there? Why in the world would she be coming to a pediatric office?” Demi asked as she reached for her water. I noticed everyone else had wine, and she normally did, as well, so maybe she just wasn’t drinking tonight.

“Well, I feel like there is doctor-patient confidentiality, but seeing as Midge isn’t technically my patient, and I didn’t really give her any medical advice, I can tell you. But it has to be in the absolute vault.”

“Vault. I love that,” Peyton said.

“She’s specifically speaking to you, because we all know how chatty you are,” Ruby said, as she sipped her wine and tried to hide her smile behind her glass as she directed the comment to Peyton.

“It’s a small town. Everyone knows everyone’s business. I’m not responsible for that.” Peyton chuckled. “Tell us.”

“Well, she wanted advice on how to spice up her sex life. They already have a lot of sex. Like five nights a week. But Midge wants more,” I said, as I leaned into the table and whispered it to them.

Demi spewed water across the table.

Saylor’s mouth gaped open.

Ruby’s head fell back in a fit of laughter.

And Peyton’s eyes danced with excitement.

“Stop it right now,” Demi said after she cleaned herself up. “She went to the pediatrician for sex advice?”

“You cannot make this shit up. Magnolia Falls is a town full of quirky-ass people. The woman married Doug Callan, then divorced him and married his brother, Dennis. Then she divorced Dennis and proceeded to steal a few local dogs, only to wind up back with Doug and Johnny Cash, and now she’s looking for sex advice.”

“I thought Johnny Cash was dead.” Peyton sipped her wine.

More laughter erupted around the table.

“He is. Johnny Cash is what Midge named her dog. Apparently, she had a thing for the man back in the day.”

“Okay, we all know Midge’s story. I want to know what the good doctor told her to do,” Demi asked, just as a bunch of appetizers arrived and were set in the center of the table.

“I told her to ask for what she wants. What was I supposed to say?”

“I think that’s perfect advice,” Saylor said.

Ruby nodded, reaching for some chicken fingers and tater tots and placing them on her plate. “Agreed. I always ask for what I want.”

Peyton raised a brow and looked at me. “Do you ask for what you want, Dr. Chadwick?”

“You made that sound so freaking creepy,” Demi said over her laughter as she mimicked her words in a raspy whisper. “Do you ask for what you want, Dr. Chadwick?”

Now it was my turn to laugh because they were all funny as hell, and I loved being around them.

They were staring at me and waiting for an answer.

“It’s something I’m working on. I clearly didn’t focus on what I wanted in the past. I’ve told you my relationship with Collin was perfect on paper, but in hindsight, it was lacking. Like we were going through the motions. I think I was so focused on school and work, and I own my part in that. It was more of a friendship, and there was no passion.”

“But you and Nash seem awfully passionate,” Peyton said, as she waggled her brows. “Come on, something is going on there. You guys appear to hang out all the time, but are you doing the dirty deed?”

“Normally, I would call you out for being inappropriate, but I’m actually dying to know what the story is there. You, Nash, and Cutler seem awfully cozy when I see you together. There’s definitely passion there, because of the way he looks at you,” Demi said, before fanning her face. “It’s hot.”

My teeth sank into my bottom lip as Ruby jumped in. “You don’t have to tell us anything. We’re just happy to see you having fun.”

“I don’t mind talking about it. I used to tell Farah everything, and it feels weird now, because I don’t have my confidant, you know?”

“Because your confidant was banging your fiancé,” Ruby said, not making any effort to hide her annoyance. “She doesn’t deserve your friendship, Emerson.”

I nodded. “I know. But it’s weird because we’ve shared our secrets since we were little girls. And I’m dying to talk to someone about this,” I said, as the server brought over the glass of wine that I’d ordered.

“You can trust us. Our lips are sealed. We already know Midge’s dirty little secret,” Peyton said, reaching for a few onion rings.

“Obviously, Nash is focused on Cutler. He doesn’t do relationships, and I’m just getting out of a disaster of a relationship. The only one I’ve ever even had. So we’re just having fun, I guess.” I sipped my wine and felt my cheeks heat at the thought of him.

“By having fun, do you mean he’s rocking your world? That man is one hard-bodied hotty. All tan and golden and sexy.” Peyton shrugged, and we all gaped at her. “What? You know it’s true. And he clearly likes you because you spend so much time together. It’s always just been him and Cutler and the guys. He’s different with you.”

“She’s right,” Demi, Saylor, and Ruby all said at the same time, which made me laugh.

“We just make out like teenagers every night, and I think he’s afraid to take things further because I’ve been honest about Collin being the only man I’ve ever been with. So he probably feels like it’ll be too much for me.” I wasn’t about to admit that the man gave me daily orgasms just by touching me. We’d never had sex, but we’d done everything else. And it was all I could think about most days.

“Would it be too much for you? To have sex without knowing where it’s going to lead? Is that an issue for you?” Ruby asked.

“Always the therapist.” Peyton flicked her thumb at Ruby.

“It’s a fair question,” I said. “And no. I don’t know what the future holds for me for the first time in my life. I have an interview with Boston Children’s in a few weeks, and hopefully, I’ll figure out where I’m going when my contract is up here. Nash and I have both been honest about what we have to offer, but we aren’t spending time with other people, so it’s not like it’s a one-night hookup type of thing.”

“Those are my favorite,” Peyton said, bumping me with her shoulder and waggling her brows at me.

“So, why not go for it? Have some fun. He’s a good man. You clearly really enjoy being around one another,” Saylor said.

I nodded. “Let’s just say that he’s usually the one to stop things. And I’ve been sort of waiting for him to make the next move, but it just hasn’t happened yet. Maybe he doesn’t want to go there.”

Ruby rolled her eyes before tossing a tot into her mouth. “Please. That man looks at you like he’s ready to strip you naked in front of all of us. We’ve all noticed. Knowing Nash, he’s trying to be respectful. Why not take your own advice and ask for what you want?”

“Yes. I think you should definitely do that.” Demi rubbed her hands together.

“Yeah. It’s not a bad idea.” I took a bite of my chicken finger and thought it over.

“I think you should go for it.” Saylor took a sip of her wine.

“Just tell the man that you want him, and then get on your knees and crawl to him and beg for it,” Peyton said, and we all turned and gaped at her. “What? That would be so hot.”

“Maybe for some. I think I’d prefer to tell River to get on his knees and crawl to me and beg for it. In fact, I think I’ll give that a shot tonight.” A wicked grin spread across Ruby’s face.

“Oh, I guess that’s what happens when you’ve got two alphas under one roof. So what do you think, Emerson? Are you going to crawl to him and beg for it, or make him crawl to you?” Peyton raised a brow.

I reached for an onion ring and took a bite as I thought it over. “I think I’m going to just tell him how I feel and see what happens.”

“That’s a brilliant idea,” Demi said, and she smirked. “Not that I have anything against anyone getting down on their knees.”

“King would love if I demanded that he get on his knees,” Saylor said over a fit of laughter, and we all joined in.

We paused and ordered another round of drinks, and Demi just asked for a refill of her water.

“What is going on with you?” Peyton asked. “It’s a girls’ night.”

“Well, there’s something I wanted to tell you, and I was waiting for us to all be together.”

Peyton fell forward, resting her head in her hands. “Oh, my gosh. This is it, isn’t it?”

Demi smiled, and her eyes watered. “It is. I’m preggers. My sexy boxer husband put a baby in me.”

High-pitched squeals left everyone’s mouths, and we each took turns hugging her.

And in that moment, it hit me.

Life was full of ups and downs.

I’d been down for a while, but it felt like things were turning around.

And I was ready to ask for what I wanted.

I may not know what the future holds, but I know what I want in this moment.

And he happened to live right next door to me.