Her. She really wasn’t the jealous type.
She winced. She had no claims to Ty. None whatsoever. Yet …
She was jealous of the slender young woman Ty grinned at as if she were his long-lost best friend.
“Layla is the daughter of Swallow Creek’s longtime mayor, Rick Woods. She was one of my closest friends from school.”
Okay, so maybe she was his long-lost best friend. Or did he mean closest as in former girlfriend? Hating the way she was reacting, Eleanor pulled in her little green monster and accepted the smiling woman’s outstretched hand.
“I have Ty to thank for encouraging me to go into medicine,” Layla said, shaking Eleanor’s hand with enthusiasm. “I owe him big-time.”
“Hmm.” Ty scratched his chin. “Then maybe you should consider moving up North so you can pay your debt.”
Eleanor’s gaze jerked to him, but she couldn’t read anything beyond the friendly grin on his relaxed face. Was he flirting with the woman? What was she thinking? Of course Ty was flirting. It was what he did with every woman.
Layla gave him a confused look. “What would I do up North?”
“More good than you’d believe possible. You should come and work at Angel’s.”
Layla gave him a thoughtful look. “Why do you say that?”
“Although nothing’s official, the current head of Pediatrics is going to make a career change. Soon. You’d be the perfect person to take his place.”
Interest flickered on the blonde’s face, but she still looked hesitant.
“You’d like working at Angel’s, Layla. Those kids reach in, grab your heart and don’t let go. The entire hospital is about serving others, giving to those in need. If ever I question my life choices, all I have to do is step into that hospital to know I’m exactly where I’m meant to be, helping those who can’t help themselves.”
Eleanor bit her lower lip. Ty was right, of course. There was no place like Angel’s. While she stood, feeling more and more out of place, they chatted about Angel’s awhile longer, about Ty’s family, about a couple of mutual friends.
“Have you seen Luke since you’ve been home?”
Her smile fading and her expression growing guarded at Ty’s question, Layla shook her head. “I’m just here for a few days to visit with Mom and Dad.”
“That going okay?”
A smile that Eleanor could only describe as sad slid onto the woman’s face. “Probably about as well as your visit. How’s your father?”
“Right.” Ty laughed, put his arm around Eleanor’s waist, instantly making her feel a little better. What was wrong with her? She shouldn’t be jealous of his easy camaraderie with the woman. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t seen him talk to hundreds of women at Angel’s. Then again, perhaps she’d never really liked that either.
His thumb rubbing across the indent at Eleanor’s lower back, toying with the waistband of her jeans, Ty’s gaze remained on Layla. “Why don’t you come grab a seat with Ellie and me? We’ll tell you more about the Angel Mendez Children’s Hospital and why you should think about joining our team.”
Ellie. He’d called her Ellie. Instantly, the tension that had been gripping her shoulders eased and she let out the breath she hadn’t even realized she’d been holding. Who would have ever thought that the nickname would make her feel better instead of worse?
“You’re sure I wouldn’t be intruding?” Layla looked back and forth between Ty and Eleanor.
Reining in the remainder of her green monster, Eleanor shook her head. “No, please do. I want to hear all about Ty’s youth. Maybe you could tell me some good stories for me to tease him about.”
Layla smiled back, hooked her arm through Eleanor’s and began to do just that.
Later, Eleanor admitted that she liked the beautiful young doctor from Ty’s past. It hadn’t hurt that he’d kept Eleanor close, holding her hand while they talked, asking for her input regarding Angel’s. That Layla had been sweet, friendly and not once had she looked at Ty in any way that made Eleanor feel uncomfortable. Once she’d gotten over her initial jealousy, she’d realized that nothing more than friendship had ever existed between the two.
The three of them had eaten barbecue and laughed at some of the children’s antics during the kids’ events. They’d laughed at some of the animals’ antics, too.
With a heartfelt sigh Layla excused herself when her mother motioned to her. Eleanor and Ty continued to check out exhibits, talk to his old friends and generally enjoy the chaos that was apparently the rodeo. They remained all smiles until a giant of a man stepped up beside them and slapped Ty on the back
Without really looking at the man’s features, Eleanor knew who he was.
Ty’s body language did a one-eighty from relaxed and happy to tight and agitated. All without the man saying a single word.
Just a touch and his father sent him into an obvious tailspin.
“You ready to pack up and come home from that big city to be a real man?”
Had his father’s first words to Ty in years really been those? Next to her, Ty’s spine straightened and she felt the tension bristling within him.
She wasn’t exactly sure what she should do, but she knew she needed to do something to defuse the situation before sparks flew. She stuck out her hand and politely introduced herself. “Hi, I’m Eleanor Aston. You must be Ty’s father.”
The older man turned astute golden-brown eyes toward her. Definitely, she’d have recognized him as Harry and Ty’s father. The likeness was strong with the man’s handsome but more weathered face and tall-body build. But that was where the similarities ended because, whereas Ty was always smiling and oozing charm, this man’s face bore a scowl that appeared permanently etched into his features.
“You are?” he asked.
Ty’s jaw clenched and she could feel him counting forward, backward, asking for patience to keep from reacting to his father.
“Ty’s big-city guest from New York. Born and raised and absolutely love it there.” Had that confident, almost sassy reply really been her? Without a single stutter? Wow. Generally, she was all about keeping the peace but this man obviously had no real appreciation for the wonderful son he had. Any man who was too blind to see Ty for his true self didn’t register too highly in her opinion.
His father’s expression remained unreadable, but before he could respond Ty spoke. “Great to see you, too, Dad. Layla’s home for the rodeo, too.”
Ignoring the first part of Ty’s comment, his father shook his head as if in disgust. “A shame that you two were raised right and both took off for parts unknown to take care of babies. Her I can understand. She’s a woman.” His expression slipped into one of true confusion. “But you? My son? Babies?”
Apparently Ty’s dad lived in another century. Eleanor
