their legendary arguments this morning. “I have something I need to run by you.”
“All right, fine.”
Once they were alone on the back stoop, he allowed himself a good long look at his neighbor. What he saw put him immediately on edge. She was especially beautiful in the morning light, her hair several warm shades of red, gold and copper.
She’d tamed the long strands in a sleek ponytail. The simple style highlighted her stunning features. Even with her face free of cosmetics, Ethan could easily picture her on the cover of a fashion magazine.
“What did you want to speak with me about?”
A muscle knotted in his chest at her wary tone. The progress they’d made last night was gone.
“First off,” he began as calmly as possible, “I didn’t come over to mooch breakfast, although I certainly enjoyed every bite. So, thanks.”
“Oh, uh...you’re welcome.”
Her faltering voice told him he’d caught her off guard, as if she didn’t expect a compliment from him, which made Ethan wonder why he didn’t do it more often. There were many things he liked about Keely. Her smile, her eyes, her quick wit, her smile, her...
What had he come over for again?
Thankfully, Keely filled the conversational void. “You were right, by the way.”
He felt his eyebrows travel toward his hairline. “Although I never tire of hearing that, especially from you, it’s so rare. But I’m one step behind. What was I right about?”
She made a face. “Felicity’s stomachache. It was definitely brought on by stress. Her recovery started almost immediately after I told her she didn’t have to start school today.”
The comment brought him to the other reason for his visit.
“I’d like you to bring her into the office for a complete exam.” Last night had been an emergency, but Ethan didn’t normally treat patients unless he knew their history. “I assume you have access to her medical records.”
She nodded. “The school required them for enrollment.”
“Bring them with you to her appointment.”
“Okay. Ethan, I...” She hesitated, clearly debating whether to argue the point.
He cut her off before she could begin. They were in his wheelhouse now. “Keely, the child needs a primary care physician.”
“You’re right, of course.” She gave him a firm nod. “I’ll call the office later today and make an appointment.”
“Good.” They were on the same page.
“But I think it would be best if I made it with one of the other doctors in your practice.”
“Why not me?”
“I... It’s hard to explain.”
“Try.”
She dropped her gaze and sighed again, softer this time. “I guess it’s because we’re neighbors. It could get awkward.”
Nearly everything about their relationship was awkward. But this wasn’t about them. Or was it?
“Is it because of what happened at the Young Professionals mixer last year?”
“Of course not.”
The response came too quickly. He lifted a single eyebrow.
“All right, yes,” she admitted. “It’s partly the reason.”
Something inside him went ice-cold. “You’re still holding that against me?”
Her gaze snapped with familiar annoyance. “You embarrassed me in front of Parker Thorpe and two of his associates.”
Of course he’d stepped in. For good reason. “The guy was married.”
“And that matters why?”
“Married,” he reiterated.
“Parker and I were just talking.” She huffed out the words in obvious frustration.
Ethan resisted the urge to hiss out his own frustration. He and Keely had done this dance too many times to count in the past year.
Yet, no matter how he explained his side of the argument, the woman refused to believe he’d actually been looking out for her. At the time of the mixer, she’d been new to town and had no idea what kind of guy Parker really was beneath the dentist-enhanced smile and hundred-dollar haircut.
“Look, I’m not saying the conversation wasn’t innocent, at least on your end.” He held her stare. “But it wasn’t on his.”
“You can’t possibly know that for certain.”
“Parker Thorpe is, was and always will be a player.”
“As I recall, you said the same thing about Kenny Noble.”
Ethan frowned at the reminder. “Kenny was eighteen. And you were twelve.”
“I was thirteen. And, besides, I was just talking to him.”
“You were still too young to be hanging out with a senior in high school. You were only twelve.”
“Thirteen,” she corrected again, this time with an exaggerated eye roll. “There was no need to tell him how old I was—”
“I beg to differ.”
“—in front of half your stupid football team.”
Okay, she had a point there. Ethan ran a hand over his jaw and went on the defense. “I was trying to protect you, not just from Kenny but from all the guys.”
“That’s your argument? You were protecting me? By humiliating me in front of your friends?”
That hadn’t been his intention. Several of the guys had made derogatory remarks about her curvy figure. Ethan still felt a simmering rage whenever he remembered some of the names they’d called her.
He started to explain himself, again, but she cut him off. “I have to get back inside. Felicity will be wondering where I am.”
She turned to go.
“Keely, wait.”
She spun back around. “What now?”
“Don’t forget to call and set up Flicka’s appointment. Make it with me or Connor, it doesn’t matter, as long as you—”
He was talking to her back.
“I mean it,” he called after her, raising his voice over the wind. “The kid should see a doctor for a complete exam.”
