Sweet on Sophie ( (A Red Maple Falls Novel, #11)

by Theresa Paolo

  “I needed to get away, mostly because of my sister. There's only so many times you can try to help somebody before it starts to affect you. I was watching her spiral and I couldn't sit back and continue to watch. I tried everything. When I realized there was nothing left for me to do, I opted for a simpler life.”

  “And why a small-town doctor?”

  “I’ll tell you, but you have to promise not to laugh at me.”

  “I promise.”

  “Working as a trauma surgeon is stressful add in the things with my sister, and well, I was maxed out in the stress department. I remember when she was younger, she used to watch a show, Hart of Dixie.”

  “I love that show!”

  “Then you know the story. Of course, when I was younger, I thought the whole thing was ridiculous. What doctor would want to leave a great hospital for some backwoods town? But when everything became too much, it actually seemed like something I needed to do for my own sanity. So I put feelers out in the community to see if anybody knew of a practice that was hiring locally, and then I came across a small town in the White Mountains. The local doctor wanted to retire but couldn't find anyone to take over his practice, and I thought it was fate.”

  “Any regrets?”

  “Not a single one. I love my job. I don’t just fix people and send them on their way, never to see them again. I know my patients. I care about my patients and their health, and I can keep an eye on them.”

  “I know your sister passed away, but what happened to Charlotte's father?”

  “He overdosed and died over a year ago. He had no family other than a sister who I contacted when my sister passed, but she wanted nothing to do with Charlotte. She said anyone who had her brother's blood in them would be evil.”

  “Charlotte is anything but evil.”

  “I know that. And it's sad that she’ll never know that, but it's just as well. I don't want someone like her in Charlotte’s life. She’s been through enough. She deserves love and support, and that’s exactly what I’m going to give her. We’ve had a few bumps in the road, tonight’s homework for example, but we’re figuring it out as we go.”

  “She’s lucky to have you.”

  “You really think so? Because ever since I found out I was to be her guardian, I’ve wondered what the hell my sister was thinking. I know nothing about kids.” He never wanted them, or at least he never thought he did. Now that he had Charlotte in his life, he couldn’t imagine life without her. He was adjusting, and still figuring it out, but Charlotte gave him a new purpose in life.

  “You’re a family practitioner, of course you know about kids.”

  “I know how to get rid of their tummy aches and how to bandage them up. But parenting is so much more than that.”

  “The biggest part about being a parent is love and support, and you’re giving that to Charlotte in abundance. Everything else will fall into place.”

  “What about your parents?” Sophie asked.

  “Dad abandoned us when I was five and Mom died when I was twenty-five.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “It was a long time ago.”

  “It wasn’t that long ago. Besides, I think fifty years could pass and it still wouldn’t be a long time ago when it comes to losing a parent. I couldn’t even imagine. What was she like?”

  A smile curved at the edge of his mouth. “She was a no-nonsense kind of woman. Had to be. A single mom with two kids, she had no choice. She was tough. Tougher than any man I’ve ever met. But she was also loving and kind. She made the best peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and she was my biggest supporter. When I got accepted to medical school, it was like she got accepted too. She was ecstatic and called every person in her phone to tell them.”

  “She was clearly proud of you.”

  “She was, but I also think she was proud of herself for keeping me on the straight and narrow. We didn’t exactly live in the best of neighborhoods, and I could’ve easily fallen in with the wrong crowd.” He smiled. “I’m just happy she lived long enough to see me graduate and get my first job at the hospital.” He cut the end of the stitch. “And done. Good as new.”

  “I’ll take your word for it,” Sophie said.

  “Oh, come on, you can look now. It’s not that bad, really.”

  She peered over, her face wrinkled in disgust before she could even see anything. He laughed as her face smoothed out. “Oh.” She raised her hand and turned her finger back and forth. “You were right. It’s not that bad.”

  “I told you, you could trust me.”

  “Now.” He spun on his chair, reached into the top drawer, and pulled out a lollipop, handing it to Sophie.

  “A lollipop?”

  “All the good patients get one.”

  “And you think you know nothing about kids.”

  “Honestly, the adults appreciate the lollipop just as much if not more.” He took out a sample of an antibiotic ointment and handed it to Sophie. “We don’t want you getting an infection.”

  “All because I don’t know how to cut a few pieces of bread.” She hung her head, and he removed his gloves before pressing a finger to her chin and tilting her head up.

  “It happens to the best of us.”

  “Now you’re just trying to be nice.”

  “I’m always nice. I’m just being honest. I once took several layers of skin off washing a cheese grater.”

  “In your defense, those things are dangerous.”

  Amusement tugged at the corner of his mouth, and the desire to lean a few inches across the table and capture her lips with his was strong. He fought the urge. Right now, she was his patient and he would never kiss a patient. It was unprofessional. Then again, none of his patients looked like Sophie Reynolds. None of them stoked the flames inside him, he had thought were dormant.

  It had been like that the first time he’d laid eyes on her. It was why he had asked her out. Why he had high hopes for their date. It wasn’t until his sister called that life as he knew it was forever changed.

  Sophie’s blue eyes sparkled, her lips parted slightly, and he swallowed down the urge to taste that lip. But his urges were stronger than his control, and his body moved closer to her. She sucked in the slightest gasp, perfectly aware of what he planned. She didn’t smack him, or try to turn away, and he thanked the heavens above for small favors.

  Her eyes slipped shut, their lips a breath away.

  “Doc! Are you here?”

  Sophie startled, and Drake jumped up from his chair at the panicked voice out in the waiting room. He ran for the door and yanked it open. A loud gurgle of cries echoed in the small space. Caleb and Kate James stood in the waiting room. Wisps of Kate’s strawberry blonde hair fell from a ponytail, and she cradled their ten-month-old daughter in her arms. Worry lines creased Kate’s pretty face.

  “Oh, thank God!” Caleb exclaimed. He pointed south, his dark eyes following the motion. “We were on the way to the hospital when we saw your light on and since you’re much closer…”

  “What’s the matter?” Drake jumped into action, taking the baby from Kate’s arms and rushing toward an exam room. Kate and Caleb followed while Caleb filled him in.

  “She has a fever,” Caleb said, and she won’t eat.”

  Drake assumed it was nothing serious, but as Chloe was their first child, they rushed her to the office every time something wasn’t right. Their devotion to her safety was commendable if not a little zealous.

  Chloe’s chunky cheeks were flushed and wet with tears. Her bluish-green eyes, just like her mom’s, focused on him when he made a funny face and noise.

  He continued to distract her while he listened to her breathing, checked her heart rate, then both ears to rule out an ear infection.

  “She has a little congestion in her chest, but nothing to be overly concerned about. I’m going to give her a dose of Tylenol and see if that will help break the fever.”

  “That’s what my mom said to do, but I didn’t want to gi
ve her anything without a professional’s opinion.”

  Drake smiled. “Your mom might not be a doctor, but she raised six kids, and you all turned out just fine. It’s okay to take her advice. Or you can call me if you want to just make sure.”

  Caleb motioned his hand toward Drake. “That’s what I said.”

  “I didn’t want to bother you,” Kate said, holding onto Chloe’s hand and giving it a slight wiggle.

  “I wouldn’t have minded, honest.”

  “I’m just happy you were here. I did not want to spend my night in the emergency room.”

  “Why are you here?” Kate asked as he administered the dose of Tylenol to Chloe. Chloe’s face scrunched up, tongue dabbing the roof of her mouth before her mouth dropped open and a loud cry bellowed out from her lips.

  “Oh sweetie, it’s okay. Mommy’s here.” Kate took Chloe into her arms and bounced her up and down.

  Drake’s attention caught on Sophie peering in the door. “Is everything okay?”

  Kate and Caleb both looked toward the door.

  “Everything is fine,” Drake said.

  “Sophie, funny to see you here.” Kate’s gaze swung between him and Sophie. He could already hear the Red Maple Falls rumor mill churning.

  Sophie held up her finger up. “Mishap with a knife. Drake was nice enough to stitch me up.”

  “We’re lucky to have such a talented man in our lives, no?” Kate said, and Drake caught the wink she gave Sophie.

  “Excuse me,” Caleb announced. “I’m talented, too.”

  Kate patted his shoulder. “Yes, dear.”

  Caleb rolled his eyes and held his hands out to his daughter. Tears streamed down Chloe’s cheeks, but she reached out to Caleb. “Come on, kid. Let’s leave Mommy to start trouble.” Caleb held his hand out to Drake. “Thank you as always.” Caleb shook his keys in front of Chloe, and she grabbed them, shaking them herself.

  “Her fever should start to go down within an hour. If it doesn’t by tomorrow, call me and we’ll go from there, but I think she just has a little cold.”

  “That’s what I figured. Thanks again, man. Who would have thought, having a kid would make me crazy?”

  Drake laughed. “I am slowly finding that out myself.”

  “Yes, your niece,” Kate said. “How is she doing? Did you get my mom’s lasagna? I would have made you something, but I figured everyone and their mother already did.”

  That was an understatement. “I did as well as your grandmother’s sausage and peppers. It was very generous.”

  “You know they love you, especially my grandmother. I think she’s upset none of her granddaughters snagged you.”

  “I’m standing right here,” Caleb said, and Drake heard a snicker come from Sophie.

  “I wasn’t talking about me,” Kate said. “I snagged an ex-model. I say I won the husband game.”

  “Darn right you did. Now let’s leave these two so they can get on with their night, and we can try to get this one to sleep, so we can have some mommy and daddy time.”

  Kate’s lips curved upward. “Now wouldn’t that be a miracle. Doc, as always, thank you. And Sophie, so good to see you.”

  Caleb and Kate headed out, and Sophie leaned against the wall. “And you said you’re no good with kids. You got Chloe to stop crying.”

  “All I did was distract her.” He tore the paper off the table and fixed a new sheet in place. “I need to call Kristen and let her know we’re running later than I expected.”

  “I already did. She said Charlotte is fine. She and Travis seemed to have hit it off. Well, according to Kristen, Travis just keeps talking and talking, but Charlotte hasn’t tried to stop him. They are back at the house and Kristen put a movie on for them. She said we can take our time.”

  He nodded.

  “What are you thinking?”

  “I’m thinking that I’m starving, and if Charlotte’s watching a movie, I don’t want to take her away just yet.”

  “You want to go eat that casserole we never got around too? Unfortunately, I don’t think we’ll be able to have any Italian bread with it, but I don’t mind.”

  “You wouldn’t prefer to go out somewhere?” he asked, thinking maybe this was his chance to give Sophie the date she had deserved.

  “Kate and Caleb already know we were together tonight. Let’s not add more fuel to the gossip train.”

  “You were here so I could stitch you up. What can they possibly say about that?”

  “It was after hours. Way after hours, and the only car in the parking lot is yours. Kate would notice. Trust me.”

  “I never pictured Kate as a gossip.”

  “She’s not, but she says something to her sister, Daisy who says something to Brooke Marshall, who says something to her boyfriend, Tyler Carrington, or her sister, Layla who says something to her boyfriend, Declan and the train just picks up speed from there. It’d only be a matter of time before the whole town was talking about us.”

  He didn’t think there was anything wrong with the town discussing them. If anything, he’d hoped to take Sophie on a real date and really get to know her just like he should have had all that time ago, but clearly, she wasn’t interested. If she was, she wouldn’t care about the town gossip. He had to accept that he lost his chance. He let something really special slip through his fingers, and there was nothing he could do now except accept what Sophie was offering to give him.

  “Casserole it is, then.”

  Chapter 10

  The drive back to Drake’s was quiet. Sophie honestly believed that he would have kissed her if Kate and Caleb hadn’t shown up. The thought shot a fresh stream of desire through her veins. She shifted in her seat and focused her attention on the darkness passing by.

  He had all but asked her out… at least so she thought. She had been disappointed by Drake before, and she was afraid to get her hopes up again. If he was interested in her, he would have shown that interest to her on their date. He wouldn’t have been so rude and incorrigible.

  She didn’t know what to think, but she was starving, and she didn’t have anything at home to eat, and it was too late to start cooking. She had to go back to Drake’s to get her car anyway, so it made sense to just eat at his place like she was planning all along. Though, without Charlotte there as a buffer, she was worried she’d let her guard down like she had in the exam room.

  But how could she not want to kiss him? The man wasn’t only gorgeous, but charming, funny, and gentle when it came to taking care of not only her, but Charlotte as well. If only she could pretend that date never happened. But it did happen, and it was always in the back of her mind, popping up to remind her how easily he’d dismissed her.

  Maybe he changed…

  No. She wasn’t about to fall down that rabbit hole. Drake was her student’s guardian, and possibly even a friend, and she had to stop hoping for more, before she wound up eating a pint of Ben and Jerry’s while curled up on her couch, whining to Ellie.

  Ellie. Crap. Ellie had texted while Drake was sewing her up. She slid her phone out of her bag with her good hand and attempted to type with that hand.

  Sophie: Sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner. Would you believe that I sliced my finger open while cutting bread at Drake’s house and we just left his office where he had to give me three stitches…

  Sophie didn’t even think a second passed before her phone chimed. Ellie’s name flashed on the screen and she tapped into it.

  Ellie: I always said you were dangerous with a knife. And why exactly were you cutting bread at Drake’s house?

  Sophie: I dropped off Charlotte’s doll, and he invited me to stay for dinner.

  Ellie: Did he now?

  Sophie: Goodbye El. I’ll call you tomorrow.

  Ellie: Are you still with him?”

  Sophie: Maybe. Talk later.

  Ellie: You bitch. You’re going to leave me hanging.

  Sophie: Love you.

  Ellie: Yeah, yeah. Be careful. No m
ore sharp objects for you.

  “Everything okay?” Drake asked.

  “Yup, just my sister.” Sophie dropped her phone back into her bag.

  “Did you fill her in on all the excitement?”

  “Enough of it. She’ll call me first thing tomorrow to get all the details, I’m sure.”

  “You two are close?”

  “We are. We’re not just twins, she’s my best friend. I don’t know what I would do without her.”

  “Hopefully you’ll never have to find out.” Sadness filled his tone and Sophie rested a hand on his as he pulled into his driveway and put the car in park. His eyes met hers, but neither said anything. Sophie hoped that her gesture said everything that words couldn’t.

  She didn’t understand his pain and hoped she never would, but she knew it was deep. She knew there was nothing she could say that could change the depth of his sorrow.

  With a half-hearted smile, he brought his hand back to him and got out of the car. For a moment Sophie wondered if she overstepped but decided she didn’t. She offered him the only thing she could.

  She got out of the car and followed him to the door. He turned the key and pushed the door open. Smoke billowed out, the acrid scent burning her nose.

  “What the?” Drake ran into the house, and Sophie never expected to run into a burning building, but she couldn’t let him go alone.

  “Drake!” she called out to him.

  Smoke hung heavy in the air and Sophie fumbled to pull out her phone “I’ll call 911,” she called out. Her freshly stitched finger hit her phone, and she let out a squeak. Pain radiated up her hand and into her elbow. “Son of a…”

  Drake met her back in the hallway. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded, wincing back the pain. “We need to get out before it’s too late.”

  “The house isn’t on fire,” he said.

  “It’s not?”

  “No. I left the casserole in the oven under the broiler… looks like we won’t be eating Mrs. Wilkinson’s four cheese macaroni casserole after all.” He walked into the living room and opened the two windows, then opened the door and propped into position. “This could have been so much worse,” he said, coming back to her.