“Maybe I’ve finally realized what’s important.”
“You realized that when Toby was diagnosed.”
“I suppose I did. But when he died, my world fell apart. I hung on to medicine and not much else.”
“We could see that but we didn’t know what to do about it. When we talked last week, you seemed different.”
“I met someone.”
“Ah. Now I understand. She’s the one?”
“She’s the one. She has a little girl and that made me have doubts for a while. But I’m sure now. Only thing is I acted like a jerk before I left. She found out I was leaving that day and thought I didn’t care. When she doubted what I felt…”
“That dang Traub pride. Your mom has it, too,” Peter noted with some amusement. “When are you going to fix things?”
“Soon.”
“Don’t wait,” Peter ordered. “Life’s too short.”
“I’ll fly out after you go home.”
“Go now. Don’t take a chance on losing her.”
“I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
“I will be. You can always come back to visit and bring her with you.”
The more Dillon considered it, the more he thought it was a good idea. “Tell me one thing. How have you kept Mom happy all these years?”
Peter considered his question. “I guess the simplest answer is that I try to put her first every day. And I make sure to tell her how much I love her. You can’t go wrong if you do those two things.”
“Thank you,” Dillon said.
“For what?”
“For treating me like a son all these years even though I didn’t act like one.”
“I knew you’d come around,” Peter said with a grin.
Dillon was glad he had.
Erika hurried down the hall of the hospital in Midland where Peter Wexler was being treated. She still wasn’t sure whether she should be here or not. While driving her rental car here, her heart had raced and her pulse had pounded in her ears.
After Dillon had left, she’d sat at her desk and cried. Not because he’d left, but because she’d been too insecure to believe he’d leave without a good reason. She’d been sure she’d ruined everything. She’d picked up the locket he’d left on his desk, knowing now it meant the world to her even though it might mean nothing to him.
At the end of the day she’d gone home and talked to her mother. Everything had spilled out—
She could recall every word of that conversation now.
“Do you really love him?” her mother had asked.
“I do. I know I haven’t known him long, but I have such a strong connection to him.” Tears had come to her eyes again. “I had a strong connection.”
Her mom had sat next to her on the sofa and studied her. “At first, I wasn’t sure about your doctor. But watching him with you and Emilia and knowing what he’s gone through, I believe he’s a good, kind-hearted man. Going to his family like this in their time of need proves it. If you truly love him, you should go after him and not let your past come between you.”
She’d thought about going to his condo and sitting there and waiting for him, but she’d done something else that had taken a little more courage. She’d called Allaire. She’d told her what had happened and Allaire had been willing to help. She’d given Erika the information she needed and here she was.
Now she was just hoping—
Outside of the CCICU cubicles was a wide and long desk. Dillon was standing there, conversing with one of the nurses. He was dressed in jeans and a football jersey so she knew he wasn’t there in an official capacity. She approached him and stopped beside him. “Dillon.”
His expression was incredulous when he saw her. Then a mask slid over his face. “Erika.”
“How’s your stepfather?” she asked, really wanting to know.
“He’s being moved to the transition floor this afternoon. He did have a heart attack. A stent was put in place and he can have a full recovery…if he changes his lifestyle.”
“I know I don’t have any right to ask this, but can we go somewhere private to talk?”
He hesitated a moment, glanced around and motioned down the hall. The door to the waiting lounge was closed. He opened it, checked inside and then gestured for her to precede him in. Then he closed the door and stood in the middle of the room, waiting for whatever she had to say.
Swallowing hard, she approached him and stood before him. “I’m sorry,” she said.
His expression still didn’t change. She knew she was going to have to make herself totally vulnerable and that was so difficult for her. “I know this isn’t an excuse, but before I learned you were leaving, two of my coworkers implied I wanted to be with you because of what you could give me. They implied that I just wanted someone to take care of me and Emilia. I started doubting myself…what I felt for you…what you might feel for me. So when I learned you were leaving, I did jump to the wrong conclusions. I thought you’d used me like Scott had. I thought maybe Emilia scared you when she called you Daddy and you weren’t ready for that. I thought so many things that I regret now. Because I love you, Dillon. I would move anywhere to be with you. In these past few weeks I’ve seen who you really are. You’re passionate, kind and gentle, and you really care about everyone around you. Before you left, you said I doubt first and then I question. Now I’m asking a question first. Do you love me?”
His answer seemed forever in coming. But his mask began to fall away as he said, “I realize what a risk it was for you to come here and to tell me all this.”
Then he was smiling and wrapping his arms around her. “I was angry with you because you doubted us. But as soon as I was on the plane, I realized why. I hadn’t told you what I was feeling. What I had realized. I love you, Erika Rodriguez. And I love Emilia, too. It did shake me up when she called me Daddy, but it was a good shakeup. Because I figured out I am ready to be a dad again.”
Erika’s heart overflowed with love for this man she’d been afraid she’d lost. “Oh, Dillon. I was so afraid I’d wrecked everything.”
He bent his head and rubbed his cheek against hers. “You didn’t wreck everything. You just threw it off track for a little while. I wasn’t going to let you go. I was planning to fly back to Montana.”
His lips took hers then in a kiss that was burning hot, hungry, ready for escalation without much provocation. He was demanding and she loved the excitement of Dillon wanting her…Dillon loving her…Dillon needing her.
After he broke away, he shook his head. “I think we should get married soon, don’t you?”
“You want to marry me?”
He laughed. “Oh, yes, I want to marry you. And you don’t have to move. I’m going to set up a practice in Thunder Canyon and establish a free clinic. Maybe you didn’t quite hear me the first time, but I love you and I love Emilia. I want nothing more than to be a husband and a dad. You and your daughter have changed my life. Will you marry me?”
“Oh, yes, I’ll marry you.” Then she reached into the pocket of her slacks and pulled out the locket he’d given her. “Will you put this on for me? I promise I’ll never try to give it back to you again.”
He gently turned her around and fastened the necklace as she lifted her hair. When he’d finished, he bent and kissed her neck. She turned into his arms, lifting her face for another kiss, knowing she’d truly found her Prince Charming.
Epilogue
“We’re planning the wedding for November in Thunder Canyon,” Dillon told Corey, as he sat in Erika’s living room, watching her balance Emilia on the horse he’d given her.
“Mom’s thrilled she’s going to have another daughter,” Corey informed him. “How does Erika feel about joining such a big family? What did she think of us?”
Erika had met his family on her whirlwind visit to Midland. After two days they’d flown back to Thunder Canyon to be with her daughter…soon to be their daughter. “I think she’s going to like having brothers-
in-law and a sister-in-law. She seemed at home with them.”
Erika nodded and smiled at him, indicating she’d enjoyed the brief time she’d spent with the people he loved.
“So how does Erika’s mother feel about her daughter marrying you?” Corey asked.
“She liked the fact that I asked her permission. She’s more old-fashioned than Mom. But I think she likes me. She’s enthusiastic about the clinic and believes it’s just what Thunder Canyon needs in these tough economic times.”
“Did you find a space yet?”
“Erika’s helping me look. She’s been promoted to Guest Room Manager at the resort, but eventually she’s going to be my office manager. We’re going to stay here in her house until our family expands.”
“Oh, ho. Plans are in the works?”
“Possibly.”
Corey laughed.
“So…” Dillon drawled. “Since you’ll be in Thunder Canyon in November on business anyway, how would you like the job of my best man?”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
“I’d be honored. Does this mean I get to kiss the bride?”
“Only on the cheek,” Dillon warned.
“Okay. I get the picture. She’s yours and you intend to keep her forever, though I think the two of you just want to live in Thunder Canyon so you get out of our family Sunday dinners.”
“Actually, no. I miss them. And I think Erika and I will have to fly down every once in a while to join in. I want Emilia to know her grandparents and her uncles and aunt.”
“Her grandparents?” Corey inquired, surprised.
“Yes. Peter and I have found new common ground.”
“You’re at peace with yourself again.” Cory decided.
“I am, thanks to Erika and Emilia.”
“Do you think Zane will sing at your wedding?”
“He said he’d like to, if he can work it into his schedule. He feels instrumental in everything that happened.”
After the two men laughed at the pun, Dillon said goodbye to his brother. Going to his wife-to-be, he crouched down beside Emilia. He pushed the button that made the horse neigh and she giggled. Then she held her arms out to him and said, “Daddy.”
He lifted her into the air and held her in one arm while his other went around his wife-to-be. “I’m the happiest man in Thunder Canyon,” he told her.
“Just in Thunder Canyon?” Erika teased.
“In the whole, wide world.”
Erika stood on tiptoe and kissed him lightly on the lips.
Afterward he whispered in her ear, “Later.”
She whispered back, “Later.”
Yes, later he would make love to her. Later, he would tell her how much he loved her. Later, he would give her the diamond engagement ring he’d bought for her and they’d plan their wedding and begin to plan their future.
November couldn’t come fast enough for him.
Special thanks and acknowledgment to Karen Rose Smith for her contribution to the MONTANA MAVERICKS: THUNDER CANYON COWBOYS continuity.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-6590-9
FROM DOCTOR…TO DADDY
Copyright © 2010 by Harlequin Books S.A.
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†Montana Mavericks: Gold Rush Grooms
**Dads in Progress
§The Baby Experts
¤The Foleys and the McCords
*Baby Bonds
††Talk of the Neighborhood
‡Logan’s Legacy Revisited
°The Wilder Family
From Doctor...to Daddy Page 18