“Don’t forget Jordyn Leigh,” Craig reminded him.
How could he forget? If this got out and the rumor mill spread it all over Rust Creek Falls, Dawn might think he’d told someone. She would never understand or forgive him. And that’s when he realized just how important she’d become to him.
“Jon?” Jordyn Leigh had a sweet, sympathetic expression on her face. “I want you to know that I won’t say anything to anyone about this.”
“Thanks.” What was it about women that they could read minds?
“Well,” Rob piped up, “I’m not making any promises.”
“If you breathe a word,” Jon vowed, “I’ll get even. You won’t know when, where or how but there will be retribution.”
“I’m scared,” his youngest brother taunted.
“Don’t worry.” Jordyn Leigh dried her hands on a dish towel, then folded it and calmly set it beside the stainless steel sink. Then she gave them all a warning look. “He won’t say anything.”
“How can you be so sure?” Jon asked.
“Because Cliftons were raised to be gentlemen and would never deliberately do anything to humiliate or embarrass a woman.” She met Rob’s gaze and he squirmed. “Would you?”
“Not now.” For a moment he looked properly chastised, and then he grinned. It was his patented smile, the one that charmed women and practically had them throwing their panties at him. “Don’t worry, Professor, she’s right. I would embarrass you in a hot minute, but never a lady.”
“All right, then.” Jon gave his sister-in-law a grateful look, and asked her, “Want to share the secret of how you got my little brother to surrender?”
“I work at Country Kids Day Care.” She glanced at each of them, one by one. “You all were acting like children so I treated you the same way I would squabbling three-year-olds. You’re a pediatrician, Jon. I should think you would know that.”
“It’s a different skill set.” He shrugged.
“Right.” She nodded, then raised one eyebrow, a look guaranteed to intimidate a roomful of unruly toddlers and grown men. “Now, I’m going to leave you guys alone to catch up. Behave yourselves.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Craig, Rob and Jon said together.
“Don’t worry about us, sweetheart.” But there was a twinkle in Will’s eyes to let her know when she left the room all bets were off.
“I love you.” She bent and kissed him. “Rob, Craig, I’ll see you in the morning. Jon, don’t let them get to you.”
“I think you took care of that. Good night, Jordyn Leigh. And thanks again for dinner.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Who wants another beer?” Will asked when they were alone. He got three affirmatives and pulled four longnecks out of the refrigerator, then sat down again. “So, do you want to talk about the pretty nurse?”
Since Jon was the only one of them with a passing acquaintance to a pretty nurse, he was fairly sure that question was directed to him. “If I say no?”
Craig twisted off the cap on his beer. “Seriously? Have you met us? We will hound you without mercy until you crack.”
“Because that’s how you roll.” Jon knew his brothers had his back always. They would do anything for family. Behind that joking around and the relentless ribbing was a deep and protective love. Not one of them would hurt him or stand by if someone else did.
Where Dawn was concerned, he had tried to prevent a situation and his rational plan hadn’t worked out so well. These three would go to the grave with whatever he told them and he really could use someone to talk to about this.
“I like Dawn.” Three pairs of identical blue eyes stared expectantly at him, waiting for more. “There’s a mutual attraction between us.”
“Come on, Professor.” Rob rested his forearms on the table and turned the beer bottle in his hands. “Why can’t you just say it like a normal guy? You’re hot for her and she’s hot for you.”
“That’s what I just said.” Jon took a sip of his beer.
“Not exactly, but let’s move on.” Craig used his I’m-the-oldest-so-I’ll-take-charge tone. “She spent the night with you and I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess that you didn’t play cards.”
“Not unless it was strip poker,” Rob chimed in.
“Like your sister-in-law said, raised to be a gentleman.” What happened with Dawn was personal and Jon intended to keep it that way. Besides, the point of talking to them was to figure out what was going on now. Each of them had more experience with women than him and he could use their perspective. “I neither confirm nor deny.”
“Okay, we’ll go with a yes on that,” Rob said. “And yet there’s still that weird look on your face. Why is that?”
Jon stared at his little brother. “Since when did you get so insightful?”
“I have my moments.”
“Not many,” Craig said, “so we should mark this day on the calendar and organize a parade in his honor.”
Jon knew the remark was meant to cut the tension, lighten the moment with humor. He appreciated the effort.
“Since she spent the night, shall we say, she’s been acting strangely. I thought we were on the same page as far as not getting serious, and everything was fine. But she’s—” He didn’t quite know how to phrase it.
“She’s got her scrubs in a twist?” Craig finished for him.
“Yes. But I don’t know what’s going on.” He looked at Rob. “Apparently you’re the insightful one. What should I do?”
“Stop trying.”
“Not possible. We work together,” Jon persisted.
“All the more reason.” Craig’s voice had a “duh” quality to it. “Back off. Be professional. She’ll work through it and everything will go back to normal.”
“He’s right.” Rob pretended to look surprised that those words had come out of his mouth. “Where Craig is concerned, I don’t believe I’ve ever said that before. Another parade.”
“What he’s trying to say,” Craig interrupted, “is keep it fun. Women shouldn’t have to be so much trouble.”
But that’s the thing. Jon didn’t think of Dawn as trouble. She was smart, funny, easy to be with. They’d had something special. And now they didn’t. And he missed her.
He looked at Will. “What do you think?”
“In my humble opinion you should disregard everything these two said. I used to think just like them. Then Jordyn Leigh and I got married.”
Jon remembered Dawn’s disapproval at the way he’d carelessly talked about his brother’s sudden marriage. How someone doesn’t do anything they don’t really want to. “Was it an accident?”
“At first we thought so, then we realized we were in love.” He glared at the mocking sounds his other brothers made and dared them to contradict him. “You two haven’t met the right women yet. We’ll talk when you do. Trust me, it’s pretty awesome.”
“Whatever.” Rob waved his hand dismissively. “I’m telling you Dawn will get over it.”
Will shook his head. “And I say leave yourself open to possibilities.”
“Okay. Good talk,” Jon said.
Honestly, he was more confused than ever. He and Dawn had determined there was no possibility for something serious between them and yet they couldn’t keep their hands off each other. But what if she got over it and moved on? It was amazing how much he hated the thought of that.
Chapter Fourteen
It was Saturday and Dawn should have been relieved at the prospect of a time-out from the awkwardness of seeing Jon. But the truth was that she missed him. Two days without a guaranteed sighting of the hunky doctor depressed her. He was like that guy in high school you had a crush on. The one who made you want to get out of bed and go to class. There was no hope that he’d notice you i
n a special way, but the adrenaline rush of seeing him filled your heart and was enough. The truth was she looked forward to even a passing glance, a hurried conversation. Being in the same room. Since that feeling showed no sign of waning any time soon, she hoped her sister was right and they would get past their differences again.
Not only was it Saturday, this was also designated grocery shopping day and she pulled into the parking lot at Crawford’s. After getting out of her compact she walked to the store’s automatic doors. They opened up and not because she’d triggered the censor. Jon came through them. Déjà vu all over again.
The two of them stared at each other for a moment, and then both started talking at once.
“You first,” Jon said, ever the gentleman.
“So, you’re grocery shopping.”
“I wish.” His face was drawn and full of tension.
“What’s wrong?” she asked. Then she noticed the stack of papers in his hands. “What’s going on?”
“Rerun is missing. These are flyers with information in case anyone spots him.”
“How did he get out?” She’d seen for herself that Jon was a conscientious pet parent and very protective of his dog.
“Will came by this morning and apparently didn’t shut the front door all the way when he left. My guess is the little scoundrel managed to nudge it open. I don’t even know when he got out or how long he’s been gone. I looked all over the ranch and couldn’t find him.” His mouth pulled tight for a moment, and then he held up the papers. “I’m going to distribute these around town. It was all I could think of to do.”
Dawn could see how worried he was. The normally cool-under-pressure doc was upset and her heart went out to him. She had to do something. “I’ll help you look.”
His face brightened for a second, but the expression disappeared and he shook his head. “You’re here for groceries. I can’t ask you to give up your Saturday for me.”
She would give up a lot more than that for him.
The thought was suddenly just there and worse, it was completely true. If she was baring her soul to a shrink she’d put money on the fact that her feelings were way more than she wanted them to be. But this wasn’t the time to analyze.
“Look, two pairs of eyes are better than one,” she said practically. “And even if I couldn’t help with the looking, you could use the moral support.”
“No question, but—”
“No buts. I may not have the same emotional investment in Rerun that you do, but I care about him, too.” She gave him a look that dared him to tell her no. “I’m going to look for him—with or without you.”
Gratitude brimmed in his eyes just before he impulsively pulled her into his arms. “Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Did that response come out as breathless as she thought? Didn’t much matter since she couldn’t take it back. And, darn it, his arms felt so good. Being held, even for a moment, was wonderful. And a moment was all it was because he seemed to come to his senses and remember that this was forbidden.
He stepped away and again they stared into each other’s eyes before he cleared his throat. “So, we need to get going.” He held up the flyers.
“Should I follow you in my car?”
“It’s probably better to go together.”
“Okay.”
Dawn fell into step beside him, then climbed into the passenger side of his truck. “Actually, having me along will save you time.”
“How do you figure?”
“We’ll do a drive-by and I can jump out and run a flyer into the building for you.”
“Actually I’d prefer to stop the truck long enough for you to safely step out and do that,” he said wryly.
“I thought that was implied. You’re very literal.”
“Yeah. It’s a flaw.”
“You could have worse,” she pointed out. “Like being a slob.”
“How do you know I’m not?”
“Are you?” She didn’t think so. Both times she’d unexpectedly been to his house the place had been neat as a pin.
“Does leaving my coffee cup in the sink count?” he asked.
“I think that’s a forgivable flaw.” At least they were talking and teasing. It felt good. Returning to a state of frigid politeness wasn’t an appealing thought. If friendship was all he could give, it would have to be enough. She’d rather have that than nothing.
Jon turned right out of the store parking lot onto North Main, then left on Sawmill Street. He stopped in front of the Dalton Law Office. “Might be closed on Saturday, but—”
“I’ll check it out.”
She slid out of the truck and went to try the front door. It was open and the attached bell sounded, but there was no one at the reception desk.
Lindsay Dalton walked through the doorway leading to the back offices. A former classmate of Dawn’s, she was an attorney now, like her father, Ben. She was a pretty, blue-eyed brunette with her hair pulled into a sassy ponytail. The look suited her personality. In her jeans and T-shirt she looked more like a first-year college student than a high-powered legal eagle.
“Hi, Lindsay. Didn’t think anyone would be here on the weekend.”
“Work to catch up on.” She slid her fingertips into the pockets of her worn jeans. “Do you have a legal problem I can help with?”
“I have problems, but not legal, thank goodness.” She held out a flyer with Rerun’s picture on it and the number to call if he was spotted. “I’m helping Jon—Dr. Clifton—look for his dog.”
Lindsay took the paper and scanned it. “Aw, he has three legs.”
“Yeah. He’s spunky, sweet and adorable.”
“You’ve met him.” Lindsay wasn’t asking and her look was speculative. “That’s right. You work at the clinic. I’ve heard that your doctor is not hard on the eyes.”
“He’s not my doctor. But you’re right. Women would not recoil in horror if they saw him on Main Street.”
“So, for once, the rumor is true.” The other woman laughed. “I’ll put this in the front window. Anything else I can do for you?”
“Like you don’t already have enough to do.”
“Workaholic, I guess.” Lindsay shrugged.
“I don’t have anything now, but if I decide to sue someone, you’ll be my first phone call.” She smiled. “Gotta run. Jon’s waiting.”
“Good to see you, Dawn.”
“Same here.” She lifted her hand in a wave, then exited the office and hurried back to the truck idling at the curb. Climbing inside she said, “Lindsay Dalton is going to post it in the window.”
“Good.” He looked to make sure it was safe before pulling into the two-lane road. “I’ve been calculating our route. We’ll cut down Broomtail Road to the sheriff’s office and fire station. Then to Strickland’s Boarding House on Cedar Street. Up Buckskin to Rust Creek Garage and Gas Station, then down Sawmill to the Ace in the Hole.”
“That about covers it. Good plan.”
Jon drove to all the places he’d mentioned and Dawn delivered the flyers. Everyone promised to post the paper and keep an eye out for the dog. Their last stop was the Ace in the Hole and he pulled the truck into the parking lot.
This was where they’d gone to resolve their initial differences and pave the way for a smooth working relationship. It was where he’d first told her about Rerun, where she’d seen glimpses of the caring man he was and gave him the benefit of the doubt. Where she’d confessed that she’d sworn off men, if not officially, then in spirit. This place would always have memories of him and that wasn’t necessarily a good thing.
Side by side they walked into the place. It wasn’t quite lunchtime so there was no crowd yet. Rosey Traven was filling napkin dispensers in the booths around the room, c
learly getting ready for the Saturday rush.
When the squeaky screen door opened, then closed behind them she stopped, looked up and smiled. “Hey, if it isn’t Rust Creek Fall’s own medical A team.”
“Hi, Rosey.” Dawn hugged the older woman. “How are you?”
“Can’t complain.” She thought for a moment. “Well, I could, but no one wants to hear that.”
“I do,” Jon said. “It’s sort of in my job description.”
“I’m a little north of the age demographic you specialize in, Doc.” Her voice was wry.
“Even so, I’m happy to listen.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” She looked from one to the other. “You two here for lunch?”
“No,” he said, holding out a small stack of flyers. “My dog is missing.”
“Sorry to hear that.” She glanced at the information. “Poodle–Shih Tzu mix. Poor little thing is missing a leg.”
“Yeah. He doesn’t exactly blend into the pack.” Jon smiled grimly.
“He’s probably wandering around Will Clifton’s ranch where Jon is staying,” Dawn explained. “But just in case he gets this far and someone in town sees him...”
Rosey nodded. “I’ll put the word out.”
“Thanks,” Jon said.
“Glad to help.” The other woman looked from one of them to the other. “Can I get you something to eat? On the house?”
“Appreciate the offer,” he said. “But I think I’ll head back to the ranch and keep looking for him there.”
“Okay.” She nodded. “If I hear anything I’ll let you know. Good luck.”
“Thanks.”
Dawn really felt for him. She knew Jon and Rerun had a strong bond and if anything happened to the little guy he would be devastated. “I’ll go back to the ranch with you and help. If you want.”
He looked down at her and there was something in his face, a dark intensity that she sensed wasn’t entirely about his missing pet. “I’d like that very much.”
“Okay, then.”
As they reached the truck his cell phone rang. Maybe someone had seen Rerun, she thought hopefully.
Her Maverick M.D. Page 17