“Nevertheless, I’m not going to turn into the kind of woman your parents would approve of,” Rachel warned. “I’ll always be blunt and I’ll probably embarrass you plenty in front of your friends.”
“I don’t want the sort of friends who find you embarrassing. Besides, my dad likes you,” Russ retorted. “Here’s the funny part. I moved to Villazon to take charge of my life. Part of the plan included meeting the right woman, some sweet, malleable type who yearned for a family and wouldn’t threaten my peace of mind. You were right about that earlier.”
“And who didn’t pack a gun,” Rachel observed wryly. This was exactly what she’d expected: that, given enough time, he’d talk himself out of the whole marriage business.
“Luckily, life didn’t send me that woman. It sent me my soul mate,” Russ said. “You.”
She longed to say yes so much it was tearing her apart. But what if…what if…
What if you were offered everything you’d ever dreamed of, and you got cold feet? “I’m not as a brave as I like to think,” Rachel admitted. “You might change your mind. I’m a real foul-up sometimes, and cops’ marriages are notoriously difficult.”
His arm slid around her. “The woman who dove from a bike into a swimming pool and faced down a gunman is afraid of taking the plunge?”
“Petrified.”
“Put on the ring,” Russ instructed.
She peered downward. “I have to remove this other one first.”
“Need help?” he asked. “I’ve got spray lubricant and pliers in the garage.”
“Naw.” Rachel yanked Connie’s band from her finger, scraping off a layer of skin cells over the knuckle. Ignoring the pain, she swapped it for the new one, which slid smoothly into place. “It’s a little loose.”
“We’ll get it sized.” Russ placed the old ring in the box for safekeeping. “You understand that putting it on constituted an acceptance of my proposal. Right?”
Rachel started to laugh. “Did you used to be a salesman?”
“During the summers in med school,” he confirmed. “How does June sound for a wedding?”
She brushed a kiss across his mouth. “I could go for that.”
Typical guy: he wasn’t satisfied with one kiss. And never mind his qualms about necking in public.
When they parted, Rachel said, “I just thought of another problem.”
“What is it this time?” he pretended to grumble.
“We can’t shout to the world that we’re engaged, because they think we already are! Well, most people do.” How frustrating! “That kills half the fun.”
“Then we’d better make the most of the fun that’s left,” Russ murmured. “Of course, we’d have to leave the shelter of this delightful blanket and remove our butts from this incredibly uncomfortable porch.”
Rachel feigned shock. “Dr. McKenzie, did you just use the word butt?”
“It’s a highly technical term. Mind moving yours?” As soon as she obeyed, he collected the wrap and reached for her hand.
As they crossed the threshold, she felt as if she’d become a different person in the span of the last few minutes, a woman worthy of being loved. Maybe she’d always been that, but Russ had convinced her of it.
Rachel belonged here with him and Lauren. For always.
So the part where they raced each other to the bedroom, and everything that followed, was simply a bonus. But a really, really good one.
Chapter Eighteen
The first crisis of their engagement—the real one—occurred in connection with Lauren’s birthday party. Lois insisted on an intimate gathering for her granddaughter and a couple of friends’ grandchildren at her home. Neither her husband nor her son could sway her, and Rachel hesitated to play the bad guy.
So she handed the phone to Lauren, who’d been whining in her ear to please hold the party right here. “Tell Grandma what you want,” she said. “Better speak up, kid. Assert yourself.”
Russ frowned at her across the kitchen table. She shared his distaste at forcing their daughter to take a stand, but Lois had to hear the truth from the source. Besides, kids who feared to speak for themselves eventually got steamrollered.
“Grandma…” Lauren paused, listening to the voice on the other end. Finally, she jumped in. “Grandma! Please come to my party. If you don’t, we’ll miss you.”
That ended the argument. Lois folded immediately.
And so, on a sunny Saturday in March, family and friends gathered at Russ and Rachel’s house. Admittedly, they’d invited far too many people for a children’s event, but the affair also served as an unofficial welcome to the family.
The entire Byers clan arrived early to help. In the living room, Lauren peppered Kathy with questions about her brace and crutch, then forgot the disability as they sang a silly song together. With her parents’ help, Rachel attached streamers that fit the theme Lauren had chosen: Heroes.
They’d started with police, until they discovered heroes-theme decorations that also included firefighters, doctors and nurses. The prospect of including both her parents’ occupations proved too appealing to resist, as did a child-size police costume Connie found.
Rachel enjoyed seeing how many little friends Lauren had made. Russ, too, clearly relished the good fellowship as he introduced his pal Mike to everyone.
Janine attended with her fiancé, who seemed ill at ease until he and Mary’s father launched into a lengthy discussion of new computer technologies. Janine brought not only a gift but the excellent news that the legal papers would be ready to sign the following week.
Vince attended with his daughter and grandkids. His broad smile reflected his relief at the D.A.’s decision not to file charges in the Flanders shooting.
By the time the elder McKenzies navigated the freeway system and arrived, a group of adults had gathered on the front porch to watch the children whack at a police-car piñata. As Lois emerged from their expensive sedan, candies tumbled down amid shrieks of delight.
Wearing a silk pants suit, she stared with dismay at the rowdy goings-on. Russ had gone into the house to fetch some sodas, and Rachel was helping the kids collect the candy in small bags. Before she could break away, Susan Byers had reached the curb and introduced herself.
Rachel watched Lois’s gaze sweep across the other woman’s portly shape, loose blouse and long skirt. For a moment, she feared Russ’s mother might spoil everyone’s spirits with her critical attitude. But Max, bless him, responded with a hug, and when the threesome approached the porch, the two women were cheerfully coordinating what to wear to Rachel and Russ’s wedding.
Amid greetings and introductions, the crowd filtered into the living room for refreshments. At Lauren’s request, they were having fresh-popped corn, a big hit with the kids, and—in keeping with the police theme—doughnuts instead of cake. Ice cream cones completed the menu.
“The most nonnutritious food you’d ever want to eat,” Rachel admitted to Lois.
“Well, it is a birthday party,” her future mother-in-law responded gamely.
Everyone managed to find a seat for the grand opening of the presents. While Russ supervised the proceedings, Lauren oohed and ahhed over each one, making as big a fuss over Denzel’s and Alicia’s homemade cookies as about the big dollhouse from the McKenzies.
“You’ve done a good job with her,” Janine said in a low voice. “She used to be kind of spoiled.” They were standing near the hall door, slightly apart from the others.
“We had a little discussion about how to make everyone feel good. I told her how I stopped going to parties because I couldn’t afford to buy expensive gifts,” Rachel explained. “She said she wants heaps of friends, even if all they bring is a stick of gum.”
“Russ knew what he was doing when he picked you.” Janine nodded in approval as her daughter raved about a couple of picture books.
“Thanks for giving her to us.”
“My parents couldn’t have asked for a better home for her.�
�
A short while later, a patrol car halted in front with dome light flashing. The driver was Bill Norton, who’d promised to drop by on his way back to the station at shift change. The winner of an informal draw for the right to rent Rachel’s condo, he claimed he needed to stay on good terms with his landlady.
“Yep, a real cruiser, special for Lauren’s party,” he announced to everyone who piled onto the front lawn. “Sorry I can’t give you kids rides, but remember to dial 911 if you need help.” He distributed safety stickers before waving farewell.
At last the kids started drooping, and their parents carted them off, clutching goody bags filled with piñata candy and a miniature police car or ambulance. Max and Lois were among the last to depart.
“That was fun.” Russ’s father clapped his son on the shoulder.
“There’s something to be said for allowing children to act like children.” His wife regarded the streamers, cups and other odds and ends littering the porch. “I never could tolerate mess, but kids do seem to thrive on it.”
“We’re hoping for a tornado,” joked Rachel.
Max burst out laughing. “That’s a healthy attitude.”
To Rachel, Lois said, “I’d like you and Lauren to join me for lunch one day soon. I’ll introduce both of you to a few of my friends, if you’re willing.”
“I’d love it!” Being included in the invitation meant a lot.
“I’ll give you a call.”
After they left, they discovered the Byers clan inside, stuffing paper into plastic trash bags. Rachel’s brothers cleaned the kitchen, and her dad ran the vacuum cleaner.
“You guys are amazing,” Russ told them. “Come back anytime. Especially after dinner.”
They nearly overwhelmed him with hugs. Kathy got in the last word to Rachel. “Keep this one,” she advised.
“Absolutely.”
The house seemed too quiet after everyone left. To restore their spirits, the three of them watched a charming DVD Lauren had received, The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, while eating ice cream and doughnuts. Rachel experienced a flicker of guilt at serving such an unhealthy dinner, but she vowed to make up for it the rest of the week.
Lauren went to bed without a squawk. Thank goodness she didn’t suffer a tummy ache from all the sweets.
Russ fixed decaf in the kitchen and sat opposite Rachel at the table. He grimaced as his chair rocked. “Darn thing. I forgot to fix the legs.”
“I can do it.” Rachel recalled that, in their previous conversation, he’d basically warned her to leave his stuff alone.
“I’d appreciate that. Apparently it’s one of those tasks I never get around to.” He let the subject go. Didn’t even bother to shift to another seat. “Today was special.”
“For me, too.” She inhaled the coffee aroma, and discovered she was almost too tired to drink it.
“I wish…” He hesitated, then pushed on. “I still worry about you, Rache. I want us to share a lifetime.”
“I want that, too.” Atop the table, she covered his hand with hers. On her finger, the ring sparkled. “Nobody gets a guarantee. Each day is a gift.”
“The day I met you was a gift.” Russ’s eyes filled with love.
“Handcuffs and all?”
“The handcuffs were the best part,” he teased, and leaned across the table to kiss her.
ISBN: 978-1-4603-7000-1
THE DOCTOR’S LITTLE SECRET
Copyright © 2007 by Jackie Hyman.
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario M3B 3K9, Canada.
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*Downhome Doctors
The Doctor's Little Secret Page 21