Lisa Carter - Falling For The Single Dad

Finding Her Way Home

After fifteen years away, Dr. Caroline Duer is nervous about returning to her hometown. The veterinarian might be able to save stranded sea turtles, but she can’t convince her dad of her good intentions. And when Caroline meets darling Izzie Clark, she encounters similar suspicion from the young girl’s father. Former coast guard commander Weston Clark had his life upended by Izzie’s mother. He won’t go through the same pain again. But Izzie isn’t the only one tumbling head over heels for the enigmatic Caroline. And if she can release the pain of the past, she just might be the missing piece Weston and his daughter have been searching for.

“Caroline could take me shopping.”

He reddened. “Izzie, I’m sure the lady vet is busy. She probably has much more—”

“I’d love to take Izzie shopping.” Caroline gave him a defiant look. “Why don’t you bring her to the animal rescue center later this week—say Thursday—about four o’clock?”

Izzie bounced on the balls of her feet. “Yay!”

“You don’t need to—”

“And you’re welcome.” Caroline slipped behind the wheel.

His lips quirked. “Like you said yesterday, I’m sure I would’ve managed somehow, but...” He rolled his tongue in his cheek.

“Is that your idea of a thank-you?” She laughed. “Not much of a people person, are you?”

Weston leaned his elbows against the car window. “Will you allow me to fix dinner after you and Izzie return from your shopping expedition? I could give you a tour of our home-slash-work-in-progress.”

She smiled at him. “I’d like that. Till then?”

Till then. His mouth went dry. Had he lost what little mind he still possessed? What had he done?

LISA CARTER and her family make their home in North Carolina. In addition to her Love Inspired novels, she writes romantic suspense for Abingdon Press. When she isn’t writing, Lisa enjoys traveling to romantic locales, teaching writing workshops and researching her next exotic adventure. She has strong opinions on barbecue and ACC basketball. She loves to hear from readers. Connect with Lisa at lisacarterauthor.com.

Falling for the Single Dad

Lisa Carter

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Before you start reading, why not sign up?

Thank you for downloading this Mills & Boon book. If you want to hear about exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions, sign up to our email newsletter today!

SIGN ME UP!

Or simply visit

signup.millsandboon.co.uk

Mills & Boon emails are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email we send you.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

—Hebrews 10:23

Dedicated to David and Peggy Riley

You advised me long ago to read a psalm a day, and you were right. Thanks for your friendship and support. You two make a great team. Yours is a special gift, a noble legacy—to shine the Light. Your example of godly leadership has been a beacon of light and truth to me throughout the years.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Kathy Davis for her quick, on-the-scene guidance regarding the exact layout of the bridge, the tunnels and the pier at the Chesapeake Grill at the exact minute I was trying to write that scene. Any errors are, of course, my own.

The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) is real. Its three-part mission is “to conduct interdisciplinary research in coastal ocean and estuarine science, educate students and citizens, and provide advisory service to policy makers, industry, and the public.” I’ve taken a few liberties with the actual facility layout. And currently, no marine rescue/rehabilitation/conservation center exists on the Virginia portion of the Delmarva Peninsula. But wouldn’t it be fun if such a place did?

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

“Excuse me? Excuse...meeee...?”

Startled, Caroline Duer gazed to the left, then right, before coming to rest on the heart-shaped face of a little girl tugging on her sleeve. “Were you talking to me?”

The child’s shoulder-length tangle of red hair bobbed as she nodded. “Would you help me find a book?”

Her enormous blue eyes inspected Caroline for a second. And as if an afterthought, she added, “Please.”

Caroline’s eyes skittered around the Kiptohanock Library. “Um...”

Moments before, a librarian had been reading to a cluster of children on the big green rug. Obviously, one of her charges had wandered.

“I don’t see her right now, but...”

Where was a librarian when you needed one?

“Uh...” Caroline wasn’t good with children. Sea creatures, yes. Little girls, no.

This was what happened when you put off what needed to be done. You got roped into over-your-head situations.

“I’m not—”

“But I said the special word.” The little girl cocked her head and waited.

Special word? What in the name of fried flounder was a special word? A secret children’s language to which Caroline wasn’t privy? “I’m sorry, dear...”

The little girl scowled.

“Dear” must not be a special word. Where was the librarian? Caroline cut her eyes over to the child.

The little redhead planted her fist on her hip. And jutted it. “I need you.”

Just Caroline’s luck. A tyke with attitude.

The little girl needed her? A clear case of mistaken identity, but it had been a long time since anyone needed her. In fact, the last time she’d been needed, she’d failed everyone so completely.

She was perhaps the worst person on earth anyone needed to need. Caroline swallowed. Where was the librarian? Better yet, where was this child’s mother?

Even Caroline understood children required a lot of time. More time than she as a thirty-five-year-old marine veterinarian was willing to pencil into her schedule. If you couldn’t spare the time, don’t have ’em. She drummed her restless fingers on the wooden surface of the librarian’s desk.

“I want books like that.” The little girl pointed at the illustrated Eastern Shore bird-watcher’s field guide in Caroline’s hand. “Books about turtles and dolphins, too.”

Caroline glanced from the book to the little girl. “This is a book my sister, Amelia, illustrated. Illustrated means—”

“She drew the pictures.” The little girl fluttered her hand as if shooing sand fleas. “I know all about that.”

Caroline’s lips twitched. Okay, the redhead was a smart little girl.

“Are you going to check it out?”

“I don’t live around here.” Caroline’s gaze darted out the window overlooking the Kiptohanock square. “Not anymore. I don’t have a library card.”

The little girl dug a plastic card out of the pocket of her jeans. “I do.” She held up the card. “I’ve had my own library card since I learned to read when I was four. My daddy says I’m a reading machine.”