Renee Ryan - Claiming the Doctor's Heart

“Admit that I’ve been chasing the wrong dreams,” and the wrong man, “for all the wrong reasons? That I’m about to turn thirty with nothing to show for my life?”

No job. No family.

Nothing.

“Olivia, you’re the most capable woman I know.” Hands on her shoulders, he squeezed gently. “And the smartest of all us Scotts put together. It’s only a matter of time before you’re back in the workforce, killing it with all the other financial whizzes in whatever direction you choose to take.”

Needing a moment to process her brother’s unfailing support, she glanced out his office window. The view was spectacular on this side of the building, full of snowcapped mountain peaks, yellow-leafed aspens and thick Colorado pines. “I appreciate your confidence. But until I figure out what’s next for me, I’m free to watch Connor’s daughters. That’s what we financial whizzes call a win-win.”

He didn’t crack a smile at her joke. If anything, the worry in his gaze deepened. “Be sure this is what you want to do before you commit to watching the girls. It’ll be too hard for Connor to find another replacement if you change your mind.”

She wasn’t going to change her mind. Even if taking the position might be painful at first, a reminder of all she’d lost when she broke it off with Warner, two little girls needed her. “That’s excellent advice. Now, if we’re through, I need to find Connor and give him the good news.”

“Olivia—”

She shut the door on the rest of his words. Not running away, she told herself. She was merely walking away very quickly. At least she’d told Ethan the truth about her job loss and her desire to consider a different career path altogether.

Feeling marginally better, she wound her way back through the twisting corridors of the building.

Head down, her mind on all the things she and the girls would do together over the summer, she failed to pay attention to her surroundings. Which probably explained why she ran into an immovable wall of muscles wrapped inside a white lab coat.

She mumbled a quick apology, then promptly lost her balance.

Connor steadied her. “Easy, now.”

She clutched at his arms. “Sorry.”

“You already said that.” His voice sounded strained, much as hers had a moment before.

“Oh...right. Anyway.” Cheeks on fire, she took that much-needed step back and looked everywhere but at the man towering over her.

Maybe Ethan was right. Maybe she should take another day to consider the ramifications of working for Connor.

You won’t be working for him, she reminded herself. Not in the strictest sense of the word. She’d be taking care of his daughters while he was at the office. In her free time she would work on her business plan and test out new recipes, maybe even try a few on Connor’s family. As far as she was concerned, that was the real win-win.

“How did your talk with your brother go?”

“Really great.” She let out a soft sigh. “He couldn’t be more on board if it had been his idea.”

“It went that badly, huh?”

She bristled. “I didn’t say it went badly.”

“You didn’t have to. I’ll be right back.” He set out in the direction of Ethan’s office.

She stopped him with a touch to his arm. “Please don’t.”

“He’s my partner, Olivia. I won’t put a rift in our relationship simply to solve my current child-care problem.” He closed his hand over hers. “Nor will I jeopardize your relationship with him, either.”

How sweet. And really thoughtful. But completely unnecessary. “Ethan’s not opposed to me helping you out.” She tugged her hand free from beneath his. “He merely suggested I take a day to think it over.”

“That’s not a bad idea.”

He was taking Ethan’s side in this? “I appreciate your predicament, Connor, I really do, but my brother will come around eventually. He’s already halfway there.”

“I still want to discuss this with him.”

“I don’t see why it matters.”

“Because Connor understands the value of loyalty and friendship,” Ethan said, maneuvering around her to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with his longtime friend and partner.

Her brother’s creepy stealth was going to get him decked one day. Probably by her.

And there they stood. Two superior male specimens. Nearly the same height and build, Ethan’s dark to Connor’s light, the solidarity in their long-standing friendship evident in their similar stances.

She frowned at them both.

“Whatever this bro code is between you two—” she flicked her wrist from one to the other “—it doesn’t change the fact that Connor needs a temporary nanny for his daughters. And I’m available.”

Both men looked at her, then at each other. Something passed between them before Ethan lifted a shoulder. “It’s up to you, Con.”

Olivia breathed a sigh of relief, ready to celebrate the win-win, until she realized Con hadn’t given his answer.

“Well?” she asked him.

Another glance at her brother, then... “Let’s try it.”

Yes. “Well, then. If you have no objection, I could go over to your house this morning.” When he started to speak, she added, “It’ll be easier for the girls if I learn their routine while your sister is still around.”

He went silent again, his eyebrows drawing together.

Reminding herself she wasn’t in charge, yet, she took a deep breath and forced her words out more carefully than before. “I didn’t mean to overstep. I merely assumed you would want me to start as soon as possible.”

“I don’t have a problem with you heading over to my house this morning.” He slipped his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “Actually, it’s not a bad idea. I’ll call Avery and let her know to expect you.”

“Excellent.” Olivia hadn’t seen Avery in years. It’d be nice to catch up. “I’ll call you when I’m through and we can iron out the details of my job duties.”

“Good enough.”

She turned to go.

“Olivia?”

She looked over her shoulder, and nearly tripped. The impact of Connor’s golden eyes sliding over her face was like a physical blow. It didn’t help matters that Ethan had gone unnaturally silent, watching them interact with those all-seeing Ranger eyes. “Yes?”

Connor angled his head. “Do you know where I live?”

“Uh...no.”

Lips twitching, he rattled off his address. Why did that sound so familiar?

This time, when she turned to leave, neither man tried to stop her. They did, however, follow her into the parking lot, neither speaking, both watching her closely.

Refusing to be intimidated, she climbed into her car. Ethan’s earlier warning knocked around in her brain. Be sure this is what you want to do.

Oh, she was sure. Very sure.

Chapter Four

Standing beside Ethan in the parking lot, Connor watched Olivia zip away in a sporty red BMW. The car was a perfect fit for the woman she’d become—sophisticated, chic, with an unexpected kick under the hood. The cheery wave she tossed through the open sunroof made him smile.

Thinking of her with his girls felt good. It felt right.

For an alarming moment, he teetered between past and present, wondering if he’d made a mistake hiring Olivia.

Ethan clapped him on the back. “Your daughters will love my sister. She’s a natural with kids.”

Connor remembered the way she’d interacted with the girls in the park yesterday, how easy she’d been with them and how quickly she’d been able to tell them apart.

Olivia seemed the perfect solution to his childcare problems, and a good fit with his daughters. Still, Connor couldn’t rid himself of the notion that he’d just made his life more complicated rather than less. “Hard to think of your sister as a high-powered banker rescuing companies from financial ruin.”