Karen Smith - The Most Eligible Doctor

As he left the kitchen, Brianne called, “I’ll see you in the morning.” He lifted his hand in acknowledgment that he’d heard her. Then he headed for the door, deciding he should have stayed in Alaska.

As Brianne filed patient charts late Monday afternoon, she quickly glanced out the window. Snow had been falling heavily since midmorning. Everyone else had left, and she was waiting for Jed to finish with his last chart. He’d been distant today, and she wondered again what had gone through his mind yesterday afternoon at the party—and why he’d left so abruptly. The only personal conversation they’d had was “good morning.” Everything else had had to do with work.

Still…Brianne found the man intriguing, in spite of herself. Working around him minute by minute, hour by hour, she found thoughts taking shape in her head she’d never had before. Thoughts of a man and woman kissing, touching…

With a blast of mid-January wind, the door in the reception area burst open and a burly figure stomped in. Brianne was used to walk-ins by now, but she was also a bit worried about how long another appointment would take, and driving home in the deepening snow.

The elderly man tracked slush from his black galoshes through the waiting room as he came to the receptionist’s window. He wore an orange hunter’s cap, and he pushed it high on his brow now as he gazed at her from beneath bushy gray brows. His face was lined, his square jaw beard-stubbled. The loose, red-plaid wool jacket he was wearing made him look bigger and burlier than he actually was, she noted.

Closing the sliding metal door of the files, Brianne crossed to the glass window and opened it. “Can I help you?”

His green eyes passed over her appraisingly. “Just point me in the direction of Jed Sawyer.”

She would never let an unverified patient into the exam area. “Do you have an appointment with Dr. Sawyer?”

“I don’t need an appointment. I’m his father.”

Brianne smiled at once. She could see the resemblance now in the high cheekbones and the broad brow. “Dr. Sawyer is finishing patient notes. I’ll get him.”

But before Brianne could step back from the window, Jed entered the office and spotted his father. “Dad. What are you doing out in this?”

His father shrugged. “I needed rock salt for the sidewalk if this ices up. Since you walked here, I thought you might appreciate a ride. You’d better buy yourself a four-wheel-drive truck like I’ve got if you intend to stay here.”

Jed frowned at his father’s words. “I’m used to walking in the snow. I have a few more—”

The shrill tone of the phone ringing broke the tension between the two men. Relieved, Brianne answered it. “Beechwood Family Practice.”

“It’s Lily,” her friend said quickly. “Are you leaving soon?”

“I’d better if I don’t want to spend the night.”

“That’s why I’m calling. A report came over the radio that the power is out on our side of town. So Megan and I are going to stay with Mom tonight.”

Bea Brinkman, Lily’s mother, was also her child care provider. She watched Megan whenever Lily had to work.

“Will the power be out all night?” Brianne asked.

“They don’t know. Do you want to come here and stay with us? Mom says you’re more than welcome.”

“I don’t know if my car can make it to the farm. Are the roads plowed?”

“Not yet. I could try to come get you.”

“No! I don’t want you to take that chance. I can stay here.”

Jed’s father gruffly but adamantly broke into their conversation. “Young lady, that’s a bad idea. A young woman like you alone in a deserted building at night? Why don’t you come have supper with us, and then we’ll take you wherever you have to go. My truck can get through anything.”

“Who was that?” Lily asked, apparently hearing bits and pieces of the conversation.

“It’s Dr. Sawyer’s father. He, uh, suggested I have dinner with them and then he’ll bring me to the farm.” Brianne looked over at Jed.

He wasn’t exactly frowning, but he didn’t look happy about the turn of events, either. Not hesitating, though, he agreed with his father. “You can’t stay here alone. Come over to the house with us. We’ve got plenty of room. If the roads are too difficult, you can stay the night.”

“I don’t want to put you to any trouble.”

“It won’t be any trouble,” he said gruffly. “Dad’s right. If the power is out, we probably should be going before this gets any worse.”

Brianne certainly didn’t want Lily driving in this snowstorm, or for that matter, Jed’s dad taking a chance driving out to the farm. She knew she’d be perfectly safe with the two men. It was an instinctive knowing.

After only a few more seconds of hesitation, she said to Lily, “I’ll be at Dr. Sawyer’s if you need me. If the snow stops and the roads are plowed, I’ll join you later.”

“Are you sure that’s what you want to do?” Lily asked, concern in her voice.

Looking at Jed again, Brianne felt the stirring of excitement that always happened whenever she was around him. Reminding herself that going to the Sawyers’ house was a practical solution, she assured her friend, “Yes, that’s what I want to do. Tell your mom thanks for the offer. I’ll get back to you later.”

When she hung up the phone, she said brightly, “I guess that’s settled, then. But you have to let me help you with dinner.”

“We won’t turn down that offer.” Jed’s dad gave her a sly smile and extended his hand to her. “Al Sawyer. And you’re…”

“Brianne Barrington.”

“Edward Barrington’s daughter?” Al asked with a lift of his bushy brows.

“Yes. Did you know him?”

Nodding, he explained, “I went to see him once…for my heart. Some kind of rhythm problem. He gave me medicine that fixed it right up. I liked him. He wasn’t one of those docs who spend two minutes with you and they’re on their way.”

“Dad was a good listener.”

“I couldn’t believe it when I heard about the accident. It’s a shame you’re an only child. Brothers or sisters help at a time like that.”

Shifting from one booted foot to the other, Al suddenly looked uncomfortable, as if he didn’t know what to say next.

Jed stepped in. “Dad, why don’t you get the truck heated up? We’ll be right out.”

The older man seemed grateful that his son had cut off the conversation. “Sure thing. I’ll probably have to clean off the windshield again, so take your time.”

After Al went through the door, Brianne asked Jed, “Are you sure you want me to come?”

“You grew up in Sawyer Springs, didn’t you?” he asked, instead of answering.

“Yes, I did.”

“Then you know that neighbor helps neighbor here.”

“Yes, I know that, but…”

“It’s one of the reasons I came back here, Brianne. Dad was the main reason. But I lived in L.A. before I went to Alaska, and it’s much different out there. Families are mobile units. Neighbors come and go. It’s not at all like here.”

“You came back because you like Sawyer Springs?”

“I came back because it was time.” His gaze passed over her again, and it was as if he was studying every light freckle on her nose. “I don’t want you out in this storm any more than Dad does. And this building is no place for you to be on a night like this. I’ll warn you, though—Dad’s a little rough around the edges and pretty blunt sometimes.”

“Unlike you?” she asked with a smile.

He shook his head and chuckled. “You got me there. I guess what you’re saying is, if you can put up with me, you can put up with him.”