Harlequin Special Edition November 2014 - Box Set 2 of 2: The Maverick's Thanksgiving BabyA Celebration ChristmasDr. Daddy's Perfect Christmas

by Brenda Harlen

  “The girls could help you bake, and if you’re looking for something to keep them occupied, they could actually help out at the Celebrations Inc. booth.”

  At face value, it sounded like a wonderful, fun idea, but when you factored children into the mix, it changed the equation.

  “It might be fun,” she said. “I’ll have to talk to Cullen and see how he feels about it.”

  The reality was that the girls were enamored with baking right now, but there was no telling when they would get tired of it and want to move on to something else. Lily would hate to promise something she couldn’t deliver.

  “How long will the holiday market be open?” she asked.

  “It runs for a week, starting next week,” said A.J. “I really do think your bread would be a hit. We’d sell out in a heartbeat.”

  “And there’s nothing like scarcity to bolster an item’s popularity,” said Sydney, sounding very businesslike. “I would say, make what you can and if there is a greater demand, all the better.”

  “I’ll bet the kids would be excited about it if they knew they were going to be on television,” said Pepper. “I know our producers would love to feature them on the show.”

  Ordinarily Lily would’ve been excited for the kids. However, she remembered her own brush with near fame when she was supposed to be featured on the show as the winner of the Celebration’s Bride contest. Her experience had been less than stellar. In fact, it had almost been the biggest nightmare of her life.

  The only thing worse than being left at the altar was being dumped on national television.

  While she knew her friends would only have the kids’ best interest at heart, the memory of Lily’s own experience still burned.

  “Don’t worry,” said Sydney. “We’ll pay you for the bread that is sold. If the kids want to work the booth, I’m sure we can pay them for their help, too.”

  Sydney was eyeing Lily as if she was trying to gauge her agreement. Pepper and A.J. nodded.

  “Think about it and talk to Dr. Studly,” Sydney said. “And let us know.”

  “Dr. Studly?” Lily asked, her girl parts loving the moniker.

  “Yes! Don’t you think that’s an apt name for him?” Pepper asked as she reached for the lone package left in the center of the table. “He’s gorgeous.”

  Just like that, Pepper steered the conversation in a different direction. Lily’s heart sank. Her opening to talk about Dr. Studly had come and gone before she could seize the moment.

  “I’ll take this to Kate,” Pepper said, putting the unopened package next to her purse. “Speaking of... Kate called the office this morning asking Becca to help you. Did you have car trouble this morning, Lily?”

  Lily felt her cheeks heat. “Oh, that. I did. But it all worked out. It was very sweet of Kate to offer to help.”

  “Is that what your call to me was about?” Sydney asked. “But then you texted back that all was fine, that I didn’t need to call you back. Was everything okay?”

  Lily waved her off. “Everything was fine. I was a little concerned at first because I was out with the kids and it was so much colder this morning than it had been. But everything worked out. We’re all safe and sound.”

  After Cullen had shown up, Lily had texted both Sydney and Becca, telling them not to worry, that the crisis was over and they didn’t need to call her back.

  She’d felt as if she’d been a big enough pain in the neck sending out the SOS in the first place; she wanted to minimize it as much as possible once she and the kids were safe and back on the road.

  “So, what happened?” Sydney asked. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to pick up when you called. I was in a meeting for the holiday market.”

  “No worries,” she said. “Cullen rented an SUV for me to drive the kids. We had such a crazy morning that I forgot to check the gas gauge and I ran out of gas. I feel so stupid. I mean, how irresponsible is that?”

  For a split second she wondered if this would be a good segue into the kiss and the promise.

  No. Maybe not.

  Since Pepper and Kate were sisters-in-law and Kate was married to Liam Thayer, who worked with Cullen at the hospital, she didn’t want to take the chance that Pepper, who was famous for being a good friend but not being able to keep a secret, might say something to Kate, who might say something to Liam, who in turn might tell Cullen.

  She picked up the menu and pretended to study the appetizers.

  This crush suddenly felt very schoolgirlish.

  Still, she couldn’t take the chance of embarrassing herself and making things any more awkward than they already were.

  “So, who brought you the gas?” Sydney asked.

  “Cullen did,” Lily said. “I think the baked Brie and the margarita salad sound like good choices for appetizers. What do you think?”

  She didn’t even have to look up from the menu to know that three pairs of eyes were locked on her.

  Oh, boy, she’d taken a wrong turn trying to play it off so nonchalantly.

  “So, Dr. Studly, the renowned workaholic, took precious time out of his day to bring you some gas?” Pepper asked.

  “He did.”

  There was expectation in the silence before A.J. finally said, “I’m happily married, but can we take a moment to acknowledge the indisputable fact that Cullen Dunlevy is hot? I’m just saying.”

  Yes! And he kissed me. And he wants to kiss me again.

  All three women murmured and nodded appreciatively, as if A.J. had presented solid evidence for why Cullen should be named the eighth wonder of the world.

  Lily would support that cause.

  This was one of the reasons why she had become such fast friends with these women. They knew a good thing when they saw it.

  “Stand in line, honey,” said Pepper. “I hear there are a lot of women who appreciate Dr. Studly’s attributes.”

  “As I said, I’m very happily married,” A.J said. “Thank goodness I won’t be lining up for an appointment with the good doctor.”

  “With that husband of yours?” Pepper said. “Dr. Studly doesn’t hold a candle to him.”

  To each her own.

  A.J. smiled a knowing smile that hinted that she knew exactly how lucky she was.

  “I’ve heard he’s got quite a reputation of being a love-’em-and-leave-’em ladies’ man,” Sydney offered.

  “You’re right about that.” Pepper wrinkled her nose. “He’s kind of a man whore. Kate was telling me some of the stories that Liam has told her about the illustrious Dr. Studly.”

  Pepper leaned in conspiratorially and the others followed. “I wouldn’t trade Rob for anyone, especially not Cullen Dunlevy, but I must admit...” A mischievous smile curved up the corners of her mouth. “If you were single and not looking to settle down, wouldn’t you be curious to know what makes all those women line up? What would it be like to spend one night with the infamous doctor?”

  Her friends, who were so lucky to have found the men of their dreams, laughed and offered some I’m-not-saying-yes, I’m-not-saying-no shoulder rolls and eyebrow quirks.

  “How about you, Lily?” Pepper said. “You’re not married. Let us live vicariously through you. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to spend a night in Dr. Studly’s bed?”

  Yes.

  Lily was sure her face must be the same color as the ornaments in the centerpiece on their table. “There are too many kids around for me to think about anything other than being a nanny.”

  Liar.

  The corner of Pepper’s mouth quirked. “Oh, girl, you know what they say about all work and no play.”

  “Oh, I don’t know,” said A.J. “Really, would you want one night with the doctor if you knew someone else had been there the night before and would probably be ta
king your place right after you left?”

  Lily bristled inwardly. “You all are making him sound like a hound dog.”

  “If the breed fits,” A.J. offered. “I’m just saying, if the guy has a reputation, it had to come from somewhere. Who wants to be his number one if he has a number two? And it sounds like this guy might have them lined up into the double digits.”

  For some inane reason, Lily’s impulse was to defend Cullen. “I know I haven’t been there very long, but since I have, he’s been a perfect gentleman. I’ve witnessed nothing to support your man-whore accusations.”

  But then she thought of that graphic text from Giselle.

  Still, he hadn’t gone out with Giselle that night.

  He’d come home and they’d gone to get the Christmas tree. And he’d kissed her under the mistletoe.

  She gave herself a sharp mental shake. Was she ever going to learn? Had she heard nothing that her friends had said? The man had a reputation for being a first-class womanizer. She had seen the handwriting on the wall with her own eyes. Or at least she’d seen the words in Giselle’s text. It was a wonder she hadn’t been blinded.

  All the wishing and dreaming and imagining that Cullen was someone different than who he was wouldn’t change him.

  His admitting he wanted to kiss her again didn’t mean he wasn’t kissing others. And she certainly wasn’t going to stand in line.

  She wasn’t Giselle. She’d never be Giselle.

  So she might as well admit to herself that she and Cullen Dunlevy had nothing to offer each other and there was no sense in pretending otherwise.

  * * *

  Why had he told Lily he wanted to kiss her again? When had his libido decided to go rogue and take his filter with it?

  It was the truth.

  He’d love to taste her lips again. This time in a real kiss. A sensual joining of his mouth on hers, his hands on her body, exploring those curves that had driven him wild since the first day he’d opened the door and found her on his porch.

  Now all he could think about was getting her in his bed.

  He needed to get rid of that fixation. She was here for the kids, not for his pleasure. She wasn’t like any other women who understood he couldn’t give more than the short-term good time he was offering.

  The women he dated understood him and he understood them and gave them exactly what they wanted. Lily hadn’t asked for him to kiss her, although she’d kissed him back and hadn’t complained.

  She hadn’t even rebuffed him when he’d mentioned that he’d like to kiss her again. Actually she hadn’t said anything. She’d simply smiled and walked toward the van and gotten on with her day. He’d gotten on with his.

  And that brought him full circle: she was way too good for him; she deserved much more than he could offer. She’d confirmed his suspicions that she was the marrying type. Hell, she’d been engaged once. Why had the guy let her go? She was a rare find for anyone who wanted that kind of life.

  If he were smart, he’d stick to the Giselles and Evas and Candices of his world. The ones who knew and appreciated his no-strings-attached rules. He wouldn’t fall into the trap of wanting what he shouldn’t want, the way his father had.

  His old man’s lack of self-control had ruined a lot of lives, and Cullen wanted to be nothing like him. Still, he had his father’s DNA, didn’t he? He’d tried marriage and it hadn’t worked. Thank God he and Brenda had been too busy with their careers to make kids a casualty of their mistake.

  Lily wanted marriage and kids. She should have them. It would be a crime for her not to be a mother and wife. She’d be damn good at it.

  Cullen brooded in his leather club chair in his home office. He knocked back the rest of his glass of Scotch on the rocks, listening to the faint din of the television show that the kids were watching in the family room. Thoughts of his father knocked around his brain, bringing back bad memories Cullen would prefer to let go.

  Having the kids and Lily here had excavated them.

  But this was the reality check he needed.

  Lily had been engaged once. It hadn’t worked out. He had no idea what she expected from future relationships. Their talk had been brief and he hadn’t had the time to learn what she liked, what turned her off, what she expected from the men she dated. Hell, for all he knew, he might not even be her type.

  But he had pretty good instincts, and his instincts told him that she was traditional and looking for a committed, white-picket-fence-kids-and-dog kind of life.

  He wasn’t the man who could offer her that.

  The phone rang, pulling him out of his brooding.

  His first thought was Lily?

  He’d thought of her first. Before the hospital. She was off the clock. Why would she be calling him when she hadn’t been able to bring herself to call him today when she and the kids had needed help?

  He got up and went to his desk to check the caller ID. It was a number he didn’t recognize, so he let it go to voice mail.

  As soon as the message flashed on the screen, he picked it up.

  “Hey, stranger,” came the familiar voice. “I’ll bet I’m the last person you thought would be calling tonight. But it’s me.”

  Brenda? He became instantly wide-awake.

  I’ll be damned.

  It was as if his thoughts about marriage had conjured her, the only woman in the world he’d ever allowed to tempt him into violating his no-commitments rule. Except for the wayward thoughts he’d been having about Lily. The nanny. God, a shrink would have a field day with that one. Textbook 101. Sexual fantasy: doing the nanny.

  He felt a pang of regret, ashamed of himself for even thinking of Lily in that context. She deserved better.

  And how ironic that his ex-wife, Brenda, had called to subliminally remind him of that.

  His marriage to Brenda had lasted a few months shy of two years before they’d called it quits.

  “Well, babe,” the message continued. “I’m going to be in town soon and I wanted to see you. Actually there’s a chance you may be seeing a whole lot more of me whether you want to or not. There’s a practice in Celebration looking to take on a partner. So give me a call. I want to get together for dinner.”

  She left her number, then sighed. It was an uncharacteristic sound for her, a lot more wistful and sentimental than Brenda had ever sounded when they were together.

  “Call me, okay?”

  She paused.

  “I’ve been thinking about you, Cul. I miss you.”

  Chapter Seven

  “Do you have a moment?” Lily asked Cullen.

  She was standing there in the kitchen, with her purse on her shoulder and her coat on her arm.

  For you, I have all night.

  It was true, but Cullen was sure that Lily wouldn’t appreciate the context in which he was thinking. “Of course. Is everything all right?”

  She set her purse on the counter. Cullen pulled out a chair for her and motioned for her to sit down.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  He sat down in the seat next to her, angling his chair so that he faced her. “What’s on your mind?”

  He forced his gaze not to stray to her lips. That full bottom lip. She was saying something, but he couldn’t really concentrate.

  “So, what do you think?” Lily asked. She paused a moment. He blinked at her. Busted.

  “You didn’t hear a word I just said, did you?”

  No, he hadn’t. Because he’d been too busy thinking about things he’d thought he had already dismissed. Last night, after he called Brenda back and agreed to have dinner with her when she got to town, he’d talked himself into enforcing strict boundaries for himself where Lily was concerned.

  When he started feeling odd about making plans with Brenda, he
realized those lines needed to be not only drawn but strictly observed.

  When was the last time he’d felt odd about doing anything? What was it about this woman that fogged his usually clear head and disconnected the circuits in his brain?

  Still, he flashed his most disarming smile at her, the one that usually got him out of hot water with other women. Somehow he knew this wouldn’t work with her. She was warm and smart and funny...and she had a heart the size of Texas when it came to those she cared for, and right now she was rolling her eyes at his obvious lack of focus.

  “Last night when I had dinner with my girlfriends,” she said, probably repeating herself. He listened this time. “They invited the kids and me to help them out at the holiday market. They’re even willing to pay the kids so they can earn a little spending money of their own. You know, this is the weeklong holiday bazaar that they have at the farmers’ market every year in December. Have you ever been? It’s so much fun.”

  He shook his head. “I know what you’re talking about, but I’ve never been. I guess I’ve always been working when it’s been going on. Do the kids want to do it?”

  “I haven’t said anything to them because I wanted to ask you first,” she said.

  He thought he glimpsed something that looked like hesitation in her eyes.

  “I appreciate that,” he said. “Since I’ve never been, do you think they’d enjoy it?”

  “Well, the girls have been crazy about all the baking we’ve been doing,” she said.

  “I know,” Cullen said. “Thanks to all that great baking, I’ve had to loosen my belt buckle a few notches. If it means that you’ll be selling the bread rather than having it around the house, by all means, sign them up. It’s just too hard to resist.”

  Just like you.

  He checked the wayward thoughts, especially when he saw the look on Lily’s face. “Don’t get me wrong, I love everything that you and the girls have made. I just like it a little too much for my own good.”

  He patted his stomach to keep his gaze from falling to those lips that were driving him to distraction.