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

There was clearly something about the question that had Emerson going completely silent. Even her skin had paled. Maybe she’d lost her best friend in an accident.

Cutler wasn’t always the best at reading these things, and I didn’t want him to push because she looked… wounded.

“Hey, as long as we have you here, can you check my heart? I told Cutler it only beats when he’s in the room,” I said, keeping my tone light as I attempted to change the subject.

“Pops always says his heart only started beating when I came into the world. My uncles say it’s true, too. Can you check his heart and make sure it’s working?”

She seemed to be pulled back into reality, and she chuckled. “Really? His heart doesn’t beat when you’re not around?”

“That’s what he says. Tell me if it’s beating right now.” He jumped down from the table and walked over to where I was standing on the opposite wall. “Check him, Dr. Emerson.”

She closed the small distance between us and stopped just in front of me. “I only listen to kids’ hearts, so I’m not used to patients that are this big.”

That had Cutler laughing harder. “That’s why I eat my veggies, so I can be big like my pops and my uncles. Can you hear his heart?”

She put the stethoscope to my chest and placed the two earpieces in her ears and listened intently before turning her attention to my son beside me. “What do you know? He’s got a beating heart. It must be because you’re in the room.”

“Pops! What’s going to happen when I’m not around?”

“I guess I’ll have to keep you around, buddy,” I said, and my eyes locked with her pretty jade gaze.

Something Cutler had said earlier had thrown her off-kilter, and she was trying hard not to show it.

“I think as long as your daddy knows you’re happy and healthy, his heart will keep beating,” she said.

“Can I listen to Pops’s heart?”

“Sure.” She motioned for me to sit in the chair, and she put the earpiece in Cutler’s ears and pressed the stethoscope to my chest. He listened intently, but it was Emerson I was staring at. The way she watched him with such fascination as her lips turned up in the corners. “Do you hear it?”

“Yeah. He’s got a good heart, doesn’t he?”

I barked out a laugh, and Emerson chuckled. “He does.”

“Can I listen to your heart, Dr. Emerson?”

Her eyes widened with surprise. “Um. Yeah. Sure.”

She bent down and got level with him and adjusted the stethoscope so it was on her heart. “Wow! You’ve got the best heart, Dr. Emerson. It’s a real good one.”

She chuckled and pushed to stand, taking her stethoscope back. “You’ve got a way with words, Beefcake. You just won over my pediatric heart.”

We spent the next few minutes with her telling me that Cutler was doing well with the asthma treatment plan and that I could try some over-the-counter allergy medication if needed, but hopefully, the cough wouldn’t last long.

We were at the door when my son turned back around. “Can Winnie come over and play with me after camp tonight for a little bit?”

She looked torn by the question but straightened quickly. “Sure. I’m working late, but I’ll take a look outside when I get home, and if you’re out there, I’ll let her come and say hello. She’s here now if you want to stop in the yard and see her before you head to camp.”

“Yes!” Cutler pumped his fist excitedly as we all walked out to the hallway. My son ran toward the backyard where he used to see Doc’s dog, Sadie May. And I walked toward the front desk with Emerson beside me.

“Sorry about all the questions. And I’m sorry you were forced to examine my heart, too. I guess I got a two for one today,” I said, my tone laced with humor.

“It’s all right. He’s sweet and inquisitive, and I love it.” She sighed. “And it’s good to know you’ve got a beating heart.”

“Yeah. I’m not lying when I tell him it beats for him. Because there’s been times that I wasn’t sure it was working, but then I look at him, and I forget everything else, you know?”

She smiled. “I get that more than you know.”

Cutler came running back inside. “Winnie said she for sure wants to play with me after camp.”

“All right, you’ve made your point. Stop pushing,” I said, reaching for his hand. “We’ll see you around, Chadwick.”

“We’ll see you tonight after camp, Dr. Emerson.”

I heard her chuckle as we walked out the door.

And for whatever reason, my mind was reeling from what she was hiding.

About whoever had hurt her and made her feel this way.

She wasn’t here because she wanted to be.

She was here because she needed to be.

She was running from something or someone, and I was determined to find out who.

She was helping my boy, so the least I could do was try to help her while she was here.

When we got to summer camp, I talked to the director to make sure the counselors working with Cutler were aware of his asthma and that there was an inhaler in his backpack, as well as one that we kept with the nurse on staff. They assured me that everyone was aware, and I made it over to the restaurant to get moving on the renovation.

Our team was working hard, and the new addition was being framed now. Kingston was inside helping a few guys with the layout for the kitchen.

“How’s it going in here?” I asked, as I glanced down at the blueprint the architect had drawn up.

“It’s going. The appliances have been ordered, and I’m going to start building the large prep island today,” Kingston said, pausing to take a sip of his coffee. “How’d it go with Cutler?”

“Good. The cough is just allergies, and the new inhaler seems to be doing the trick. I just dropped him off at camp.”

He turned to face me while the guys got to work. He studied me for a long moment and then smirked. “You don’t seem to hate the city doctor anymore.”

“Nah. That was just me being an asshole. It’s not her fault that Doc retired.” I shoved my hands into my pockets.

“Saylor said she’s stopped by the bookstore a few times, and she really likes her. I guess she’s going to ride with them this weekend.”

“Yeah. She mentioned that. Good for her.” I shrugged, not sure where he was going with this.

“Just saying… she lives next door. She likes your kid. He talks about her incessantly. She’s a doctor, which could come in handy. Don’t rule it out.”

“Don’t rule it out?” I barked out a laugh. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“You know… be a good neighbor. Maybe entice her with the goods.” He waggled his brows, and I groaned.

“Get to work, asshole. No one is enticing anyone with their goods, although I do have an impressive package.” I chuckled. “We’re barely neighborly. And she’s only here for a little while, so there’s no point going there.”

“See, that’s what I’m talking about.” He raised a brow. “You say you’re barely neighborly, but in your next breath, you’re listing the reasons why you can’t go there. She’s only here for a little while. So the fuck what? Have a fling. Get out there and have some fun. You’ve gotten too serious. You don’t want to die alone.”

“King,” I said, giving him a knowing look.

“Nash.”

“Dude, you’re talking out of your ass. Now I’m dying alone? I think you do this to distract me from work. Let’s get busy.”

“I just know what it’s like to wake up with a beautiful woman in my bed every day, and I think you might like it, too.”

I groaned and started walking backward toward the door. “I’ve got a little boy to raise and a company to run. I don’t need anyone in my bed because I can’t keep my eyes open when I finally lay my head down at night. But thanks for the therapy session, dicknugget.”

“I’m here to help. I’ll send you my bill.”

I laughed and held my hand over my head and pointed in the direction I was moving. “I’ll be working on the addition.”

“I’ll be here!” he yelled out. “I’m ordering sandwiches for lunch today. You want the usual?”

“Sounds good.”

I spent the next few hours framing walls and cutting drywall. This was a large project, but it would be nice to have a steakhouse in Magnolia Falls, so I was glad to see more businesses going up in town.

I picked Cutler up from camp and took him home. He seemed a little off and didn’t even ask to play outside with Winnie like I’d expected. He just lay on the couch while I made dinner.

“Did you get too much sun today?” I asked.

“No. I’m just tired, Pops.”

“All right. Well, I’m making your favorite spaghetti,” I said, as I plated the food and set it on the table inside. We ate outside most nights, but with him feeling like this, I figured he needed a quiet night.

He came to the table, and I noticed his face looked a little pale, and I placed the back of my hand on his forehead.

“You feel a little warm, buddy.”

He shrugged and started shoveling food into his mouth before setting his fork down. “I think my tummy hurts.”

“Yeah? Maybe you’re eating too fast.”

Before he could respond, his eyes widened, and he proceeded to projectile vomit across the table. I jumped to my feet as he burst into tears, and I hustled him into the bathroom. I got him down on his knees in front of the toilet and dropped down beside him, rubbing his back as he heaved over and over.

He’d had the stomach bug once or twice in the past, but nothing like this.

He was crying and puking, and I just did the best I could to comfort him.

I got a wet washcloth and placed it on the back of his neck, and he finally stopped heaving after a half hour of nonstop vomiting, before I sat back against the wall, pulling him with me as I did.

“You’re all right, buddy,” I said as he leaned against me, and I ran my hand over his head as his eyes fell closed.

“I’m never eating ‘sketti again, Pops.” His voice was barely a whisper.

“I know. It’ll take some time. Do you think a bath would be good? We can get you cleaned up and in bed.”

He nodded, and I propped him up against the wall and pushed to my feet to run the water. I got him up and started undressing him, when round two hit hard, and he was back at it. Emptying everything in his belly into the toilet again. There was nothing left by the time he finished, aside from stomach bile. I knew from experience how miserable it was. He looked up at me with his tear-streaked face, and my chest squeezed.

There is nothing worse than seeing my boy suffer.

I’d give this kid the moon if I could.

I’d heard people talk about the way they loved their kids, and I used to laugh about it. But living it—hell, I understood it. This kid owned me. He was good to his core. Smart and kind and funny as hell.

All I wanted at this point was to give him the best life I could.

I’d already failed him when it came to giving him the perfect family.

I couldn’t control what his mother did, but I sure as shit could control what I did. So I woke every day, determined to provide the best I could for him.

Most of the time, I didn’t have a clue what I was doing, but I was trying.

I got him into the tub, and we washed him up quickly before drying him off and helping him slip into his pajamas. We had his teeth brushed and hair brushed in record time, and he didn’t even fight me when I carried him to bed. He dozed off quickly, and I dropped to sit in the chair beside his bed as I sent a quick text to Doc Dolby asking what I should do. He said to keep an eye out for fever, but hopefully, it would pass. He told me to make sure Cutler stayed hydrated, and if he woke up during the night, to give him some Gatorade or ginger ale, which, of course, I didn’t have on hand. I said I had apple juice, and he said that would be fine until I could get to the store.

I made my way out to the kitchen and started cleaning up the vomit before sending a text in the group chat.

Cutler just vomited exorcist-style. We’re talking liquid exploding from his little body like aliens had invaded. I won’t be at work tomorrow, King.

Romeo

Oh shit. That’s the worst. Poor Beefcake. Do you need anything?

River

That sucks, dude. Let us know if you need anything. I can drop it off.

Hayes

I’m at the firehouse tonight, but I’m off tomorrow. I can swing by if you need me.

King

You know that vomit freaks me out. I have a very sensitive stomach. But for Beefcake, I can deal with it.

River

How are you ever going to have children with all of your sensitivities?

King

Are you kidding? I’m ready to put a dozen babies in my girl.

Hayes

Fuck you, King. What did I tell you about that shit on the group text?

I barked out a laugh. Kingston loved fucking with Hayes, and I had to admit, I found it very entertaining. There was a knock on the door, and I set my phone down and moved toward the door.

When I pulled it open, I was surprised to see my neighbor hurrying away from my porch. There was a six-pack of Gatorade and a box of Saltines sitting there.

“Hey, what are you doing?” I asked, and she turned around, eyes wide like she’d been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

“Oh. Hey. I was just dropping these on your porch for you.” She turned around to face me, but it wasn’t the drinks that I was staring at now.

It was the white tank top she was wearing and the little pajama shorts.

The light from the moon was shining down on her, making a silhouette around her pretty face.

Her tongue swiped out and ran along her plump bottom lip, and my dick sprung to life with no warning.

I didn’t miss the way her eyes traveled down my bare chest before snapping back up to meet my gaze.

“I heard you might need these.”

That wasn’t the only thing I needed.