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

“Hi, sweetheart. Did you kayak this morning?” my mother asked as Winnie and I walked to town.

“Yep. It’s such a great way to start my day. I’m so happy I was able to find a house on the water. There aren’t a lot of boats in there, especially in the morning.”

“Did Winnie get in with you this time?”

“Nope. She dipped her big ole paws in and then ran and waited for me under the tree nearby.” I chuckled.

“This is good for you, baby girl. You needed to get away from everything and everyone. Fresh start, right?”

“Yep. It’s been very peaceful. I’ve been baking every night after work, swimming in the lake, watching the sun go down before bed. It’s been just what I needed.”

“I’m so glad. Everything works out for a reason,” she said.

I hated that saying. Because I wouldn’t necessarily say everything worked out, nor that there was a reason for the shit that happened most of the time. I’d lost two of the most important people in my life. And for what reason, exactly?

“Or sometimes, people are just assholes,” I said, and she laughed.

My mom and I were very close, and I’d always been able to talk to her about anything.

“That’s very true.” She paused. “How’s the job search going?”

“I started sending out my résumé to a few hospitals on the East Coast. Maybe I can get into a good program somewhere fresh. That’s the goal.” There hadn’t been time when my life blew up with no notice a few months ago. I’d scrambled, because I’d needed to get out of the city, and I’d found an opening here in Magnolia Falls. I knew that it would buy me some time to figure out my new plan.

“Oh, I just hate the idea of you being that far away from me.”

“I know, but I don’t want to go back to a place where everyone knows my story, you know?”

“I get it. But let’s just give it some time. Don’t commit to anything yet. Is Collin still using other phone numbers to reach out to you?” Her tone turned serious. She knew I didn’t want to talk about him.

“He is. But I just block him every time.”

“He’s got some nerve. I ran into Sylvie at the grocery store.” Collin’s mom, Sylvie Waterstone, was one of my favorite people, so it sucked that now we wouldn’t be able to have a relationship. But when you give birth to the devil’s spawn, you have to know it might bite you in the ass, right?

“How’d that go?” I asked, as I walked toward Magnolia Beans to get my daily boost of caffeine.

“She cried. I cried. You know, it’s never going to be the same. She wants to reach out to you.”

“Please tell her I’ll reach out after some more time passes. I can’t talk to her right now, Mom.”

“I know, sweetheart. I just love you so much. Easton said he’s going to come see you soon, and I tried to invite myself along with him, but he played the twin card. Said he needed some alone time with you.”

I chuckled. My brother knew me well. He knew I wanted to be alone. They all knew it, so they called and texted daily to check in, and we kept it casual. I didn’t want to talk about it. I didn’t want it to be the topic of conversation anymore. My mother had taken it as hard as I had, if not harder.

“Yeah, and I’ll come home soon, I promise. I just need some time to settle into my routine here, okay?” I pulled the door open to Magnolia Beans, the cutest coffee shop in town, and stepped inside.

“You got it, sweetheart. And I can sneak away and come there any time you want.”

“You’d love it here. It’s so charming. I’ll call you later. Love you.” She said the same back, and I ended the call.

“There’s my Winnie girl,” Demi said as she came around the corner and bent down to greet my dog before hugging me.

I’d been shocked when she’d said I could bring her into the coffee shop the last time I’d been here, and I’d tied her leash to the pole out front. So now, this was our routine on my way to work.

It was slower here, more peaceful than anything I’d experienced in a long time.

Turns out, it was exactly what I’d needed.

Maybe my mom was right about things happening for a reason. Magnolia Falls was the first thing that actually made me think that staying might be right.

“Are you having the usual today?”

“Yes, please.” I reached into my purse and pulled out the little bag with the cookies I’d baked last night. “I made you my latest. Shortbread with raspberry jam.”

“Ahhhh… I swear, I’m going to have to come over so you can teach me some of these recipes,” Demi said, as she started making my iced mocha latte, before wrapping up a blueberry muffin and handing it to me. We both shared an appreciation for tasty pastries. Baking had always been my outlet. Before I’d gone to college, I’d been torn between pursuing a career in medicine or owning a bakery. My brothers used to find it hilarious that I was so conflicted between two very different careers. But in the end, I realized that medicine was my passion, and baking was my happy place.

“These should be illegal; they’re so good,” I said.

“I heard that, and I’m hoping that means you brought me a treat, too,” Peyton said as she came hurrying out from the kitchen. “Am I getting praise for my blueberry muffins?”

I chuckled, and Demi gaped at her. “Your blueberry muffins?”

“What? I helped make those.”

“You pulled them out of the oven,” Demi said over her laughter.

“Hey, they would have burned if I hadn’t been there, and then you’d be eating a burnt muffin, right?” Peyton smiled at me as I handed her the little white bag with a few shortbread cookies inside.

“Well, it’s absolute perfection.” I broke off another piece of the muffin and popped it into my mouth. They were both gushing about my cookies after they took the first bite and groaned, and we all laughed at how invested we were in our baked goods.

“And this is for Winnie,” Demi said, coming around the counter. She’d had my dog try some pup treats this week, as she thought Winnie would be a perfect guinea pig.

“You won’t get any argument there. This girl loves a treat.” I watched as she gently took it from Demi and devoured it as we all laughed.

Demi made her way around the counter to wash her hands before turning around and handing me my iced coffee. “So, you’re seeing Cutler today, right?”

I chuckled. I knew from what she’d shared that they were all really close, but they definitely seemed to be very involved in Cutler’s life. I was happy for him. He was a sweet kid, and I was thrilled to see how much love surrounded him.

“Yes. It’s just a follow-up to see how the new inhaler is working and how he’s feeling. He told you he was coming to see me?”

“Yes. We ride together on Saturdays. He loves it.”

“Ride?”

“Oh, horses,” she said with a laugh.

“My girl is a horse girl through and through. She’s got a barn full of them.” Peyton shrugged.

“I have two horses, not a barn full.” Demi chuckled, and it was easy to see how close these two were. “How about you? Do you ride?”

I sighed. It had been a while since I’d been on a horse. “Yes. I grew up riding. We have a ranch back in Rosewood River, and I used to ride all the time when I was younger.”

“You have to come ride with us next weekend. I’ve even got this one riding now,” she said, flicking her thumb at Peyton.

“Yes. But that’s only because I have major FOMO.”

“FOMO?” I asked, my gaze moving between them.

“Fear of missing out,” they said at the exact same time over a fit of laughter.

“Yes. I hate to miss a good time, and Demi, Ruby, and Saylor ride with Cutler on the weekends, so I had no choice but to join in. Demi’s parents and grandparents have a bunch of horses, so there’s plenty for everyone.”

“That sounds like a lot of fun.” I took a sip of my coffee.

“So, you’ll ride with us next weekend?” Demi placed her hands together like she was praying, and I chuckled. I was only going to be here for a short time, and making friends was not the plan, but it was almost impossible not to be drawn to these two.

“Sure. It’s been a while. But I’ll give it a try.”

“You’ll have to come to Whiskey Falls with us, too,” Peyton said as she clapped her hands together. “We’re going on Friday night. Come meet us for some beers and country music night.”

I hadn’t been out in so long. I wasn’t sure I was up for that much socializing.

“I’m working late on Friday, so I’m not sure I’ll be up for it. But I’ll keep it in mind.” I held up my coffee. “I need to get to work. I’ll see you both tomorrow.”

They both shouted their goodbyes, and I heard Peyton saying something about getting my phone number and Demi telling her to back off and stop being pushy.

I sucked in a long breath once Winnie and I were outside, and I made my way to work.

“You look nice today, not that you don’t every day, but I don’t know… something’s a little different today,” Lana said as she waggled her brows.

“What?” I said, looking down at my dark, dressy jeans and blouse, which weren’t that out of the ordinary for me. I usually shifted between dresses and pants and skirts, but it didn’t really matter once the lab coat was on. “I look the same as I always do.”

“Nope. Your cheeks are kind of flushed, and your hair looks a little bouncier.” She eyed my shoes. “Those have those red soles, don’t they? You brought out the fancy shoes!”

I was laughing hard. “I just thought they’d be fun with this outfit.”

So maybe I took a little more time getting ready today, knowing I’d be seeing Nash. Not for any particular reason. He was just a good-looking man, and I didn’t mind the way his eyes raked over me that night I’d had a beer with him. So yeah, a girl needs a boost every now and then, and he had a way of making me feel… boosted.

When he wasn’t growling or annoyed with me, that is.

“Your first patient is Cutler ‘Beefcake’ Heart. You know all the single women in town are obsessed with his father,” Lana said, stretching out the Beefcake part and handing me Cutler’s file. The kid was definitely going to be a heartbreaker when he grew up. He had all the women under his spell already.

“Really? Is he that good-looking? I hadn’t noticed.” I smirked, and her head fell back in laughter.

“Sure, you didn’t. You haven’t told me, even though I’ve tried like hell to pry it out of you… do you have a special someone back home?”

I shook my head. “Nope. I’m single. And the only relationship I want at the moment is one with myself.”

She raised a brow. “Ohhhh… do tell. Those are words of a woman scorned.”

“Nothing to tell. Just dated the wrong guy and am happy to be single and on my own right now.”

“I get it. Before I met Carver, I dated this absolute jerk. I don’t know what I was thinking back then. But once I kicked his ass to the curb, I met my sweet husband. It can happen when you aren’t even looking for it.”

“Well, then, it would have to bite me in the ass because not only am I not looking, I’m making a conscious effort to stay the hell away from all men for a while.”

“I guess he really did a number on you.” Her gaze softened, and all the humor was gone. I hated that. When I showed how hurt I was. It made me feel weak. I was already dealing with being blindsided, but I sure as hell was not weak.

My head was held high. My heart was still beating. And I’d proven I could survive just about anything.

“Well, I would say he surprised me with who he was. But I would be lying if I didn’t admit that being on my own has been really nice, and I feel like I can breathe for the first time in a long time. So maybe I was settling all along, you know?”

“I get that.”

“All right, I need to go reply to a few emails and get my doctor coat on.” I chuckled and knocked on the counter twice. “Let me know when they get here.”

I called for Winnie to follow me as I opened the back door, and she ran out to the yard, dropping down to lie beneath her favorite tree.

I spent the next thirty minutes responding to emails and reading about some new asthma treatments that were working well for kids. I jotted down some notes just as Petra knocked on the door to let me know that Cutler and Nash were in room one.

“Nash said Cutler has been coughing a bit this morning, and he was glad they had an appointment already scheduled today so that you could listen to his chest.”

I nodded. I was happy he hadn’t thrown a fit that Doc wasn’t here. He was here for a follow-up, and I was glad he wasn’t fighting me about doing it. Doc wanted to retire, and he’d earned it. But he felt guilty completely walking away, so he was doing this the only way he felt comfortable, and he still popped in twice a week.

“Okay, I’ll head in there now. Thank you, Petra.”

“Don’t tell anyone, but Cutler’s my favorite. I think he’s everyone’s favorite. And for good reason.” She winked and handed me his file, and I walked down to room one.

“Hey there,” I said when I stepped into the room and closed the door behind me.

“Dr. Emerson! We just stopped by to see my girl Demi, and she told me you’re going to ride horses with us on Saturday.”

I chuckled. Clearly, there were no secrets in this town. I patted the examination table for him to hop up where I could take a look. “Yes. I said I’d give it a try. It’s been a while.”

Nash was standing against the wall, and he moved beside me. The smell of pine and mint filled the air around us, and I was making every effort not to be distracted by him.

I hate men. Well, at least the ones I’m not directly related to. I have no interest in men romantically. Single men are the enemy.

There. The world was better now.

Cutler coughed, and I could feel the large man beside me stiffen. I turned to look at him. “Seasonal allergies can cause someone to cough. All coughs are not bad.”

He raised a brow, clearly surprised that I was picking up on his nervous energy, and he gave me the slightest nod.

“Pops worries a lot since what happened at my baseball game, so I try not to cough around him now.”

“What?” Nash said, sounding completely offended. “You better not be holding in a cough on my account.”

I tried to hide my smile and shook my head at him. “What if you take a seat over there so I can listen to Cutler’s chest without you hovering?”

“Hovering? What is this? Two against one?” Nash said with a laugh, his tone lighter now. He appeared more relaxed as he stepped back and leaned against the wall a few feet away. “I’ll move over here, but I’m not sitting.”

“Spoken like a very mature person.” I smirked before looking back at Cutler, who was laughing hysterically now.

“Sorry, Pops.”

“He’s fine,” I said, and heard him bark out a laugh from behind me. “I need to listen to your chest, so no more laughing for a minute, okay?”

“Okay.” Cutler straightened, and damn if this kid didn’t melt my heart. His hair was gelled straight back, and he wore a white tee and a pair of basketball shorts. His gold aviators were in his hand, and it looked like he was heading to a meeting with the head of the mob from the neck up, and from the neck down, he looked like a six-year-old kid going to camp.

I put the stethoscope on his chest, and the room was silent now. “Take a deep breath in for me.”

He did as I asked, and his chest was clear. I listened several more times and moved behind him and did the same, listening as he breathed, completely aware that his father was watching us intently.

“He’s all clear. There’s no wheeze or congestion in there. I’m guessing he has seasonal allergies that can often cause a little cough.” I had him lie back so I could check his stomach, and everything looked good.

We spent the next few minutes with them telling me all about the peak flow meter and how it’s part of their morning routine now, and adapting to the new medication had been a smooth transition.

“All of my uncles have done the meter thing with me. I taught them how to use it,” Cutler said proudly.

“How many uncles do you have?” I asked as I looked at his vitals in his file that Petra had taken.

“I have four uncles. Uncle River, Uncle Ro, Uncle King, and Uncle Hayes.”

“Wow. That’s a lot of uncles.” I set the file down.

“I don’t have any brothers or sisters, so my uncles are my family. And now I’ve got my girls, Demi and Ruby and Saylor and Peyton. And now you’re my girl, too.” Cutler shrugged, and I glanced over to see the way Nash was smiling at his son before Cutler asked me a question. “Do you have any brothers and sisters, Dr. Emerson?”

“Ohhhh,” I groaned dramatically, which made Nash laugh. “So many.”

“What are their names?” Cutler asked. He was so curious in the way he listened intently to everything people said around him.

“Well, I have a twin brother named Easton. And then I’ve got Rafe and Clark and Bridger.” I shook my head and laughed. “And my two cousins are more like brothers to me because they lived in the house next door when we were growing up. Their names are Axel and Archer.”

“Wow. That’s a lot of brothers. You’re the only girl?”

“Yep. I’m the only girl in the family.” I shrugged.

“Oh, man. Do you have a best friend, Dr. Emerson?”

My heart sank at his words.

I thought I did.

But I just stared blankly, as if I couldn’t answer the question.

Because the truth was too painful to say aloud.