One Night Before Christmas

He couldn’t imagine that happening either. “Why is Mr. Overtree called The Rocket?”

She glanced at him and chuckled lightly. “You apparently have never seen him play. He’s fast. Very fast.”

“I’ve never seen a professional football game.”

Melanie looked at him. The car swerved for a second before she corrected it.

“You might want to watch the road.”

She focused on the road again. “You’ve never seen one in person? Or on TV?”

“Neither. No interest. I have a busy practice.”

“You have to be kidding! Football is America’s game.” She sounded as if she was going to get overly excited about the subject.

“I think it’s baseball that’s supposed to be the ‘all-American game.’”

“It might have been at one time but no longer.” The words were said as if she dared anyone to contradict her.

He couldn’t help but raise a brow. “I think there are a lot of people who love baseball that might disagree with you.”

“Maybe but I bet most of them watch the Super Bowl.”

Dr. Reynolds gave a loud humph. “I understand that most watch for the halftime show and the commercials.” He didn’t miss the death grip she had on the stirring wheel. She really took football seriously. It was time to move on to a new subject or ask to drive. “The general manager’s name is Hyde. Any relation?”

“My father.”

“Isn’t that a conflict of interest?”

She glanced at him again. “Normally, no. We’re so close to going to the playoffs that everyone on the team, including my father, is wound up tight. Anyway, most of my work is directly with the coach.”

Based on the way her father spoke to her, she’d agree with him if Dalton declared Rocket shouldn’t play. His being asked to consult seemed necessary just to make the team look as if they were truly interested in the player’s health. So far, all he could tell they were concerned about was winning the next game.

“What made you decide to be a team doctor?”

“With brothers playing in the NFL and a father who coached, it’s the family business. I always wanted to be a doctor and being a team doctor gave me a chance to be a part of football,” she said in a flat tone.

Was there more going on behind that statement?

The concept of family, much less a family business, was foreign to him. His family’s occupation had been selling drugs and he’d wanted to get as far away from it as he could. He’d been a loner and alone for as long as he could remember.

Thankfully she turned into a curving road lined with large trees and had to concentrate on her driving. A few minutes later, they approached a three-story split-cedar building. She pulled under a portico with small lights hanging from it. Two large trees dressed in the same lights with red bows flanked the double wood-framed doors.

“This is Poospatuck Lodge. I think you’ll be comfortable here. The team keeps a suite.”

“Poospatuck?” When had he become such an inquisitive person? Usually on these trips he did what was required without any interest in the area he was visiting.

“It’s an Indian tribe native to New York.”

As she opened the door Dalton said, “It’s not necessary for you to get out.”

“I don’t mind. I need to speak to the management and I can show you up to your suite.”

Dalton grabbed his two bags from the backseat and followed her through the door into the welcome heat of the lobby. Large beams supported the two-story ceiling. Glass filled the wall above the door. The twinkle of lights from outside filtered in through the high windows. Flames burned bright in a gray rock fireplace taking up half of one wall. Above it was a large wreath. Along the mantel lay greenery interspersed with red candles. A grand stairway with an iron handrail led to the second floor.

Christmas had never been a big holiday for him. As a small child, it had just been another day for his parents to shoot up and pass out. In fact, the last time he was taken from his mother had been the day before Christmas. It hadn’t been much fun spending Christmas Day at a stranger’s house. Being a foster child on that day just sent the signal more strongly that he wasn’t a real member of the family. Some of his foster parents had really tried to make him feel a part of the unit but it had never really worked. Now it was just another day and he spent it on the beach or with friends.

Dr. Hyde walked toward the registration desk located to the right of the front door.

The clerk wore a friendly smile. “Hello, Dr. Hyde. Nice to see you again.”

“Hi, Mark. It’s good to see you also. How’s your family doing?”

“Very well, thank you.”

“Good.” She glanced back. “This is Dr. Reynolds. He’ll be staying in our suite. I’ll show him up.”

“Very good. It’s all ready for you.”

She turned to Dalton. “The elevator is over this way but we’re only going to the second floor if you don’t mind carrying your bags.”

“I believe I can manage to go up the stairs.”

She gave him an apologetic look. “I didn’t mean to imply...”

“Please just show me my room.” Dalton picked up his bags off the floor where he’d placed them earlier. He didn’t miss her small sound of disgust as she turned and walked toward the stairs. He followed three or four steps behind as they climbed the stairs. He enjoyed the nice sway of her hips.

At the top of the stairs she turned left and continued down a wide, well lit hallway to the end.

A brass plaque on the door read Niagara Currents. She pulled a plastic door key out of her handbag. With a quick swipe through the slot, she opened the door. Entering, she held the door for him.

He stepped into the seating area. The space had a rustic feel to it that matched the rest of the building. The two sofas and couple of chairs looked comfortable and inviting.

“Your bedroom is through here.” She pushed two French windows wide to reveal a large bed. “This is my favorite part of the suite.”

He didn’t say anything. She turned and looked at him. Dalton raised a brow. A blush crept up her neck.

“Um, I like the view from here is what I meant to say. The falls are incredible.”

Dalton moved to stand in the doorway. A large window filled the entire wall. He could just make out the snow falling from the light coming from below.

“There’s an amazing view of the falls from here. Now you can say you saw the falls.”

“So do you stay here often?”

She glared at him. “What’re you implying, Dr. Reynolds?”

“I was implying nothing, Dr. Hyde. I just thought you must have stayed overnight if you were that well acquainted with the view.”

“This suite is sometimes used for meetings. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to be getting home. I’ll be here at eight-thirty in the morning to pick you up.”

“Why not earlier?”

“Because the X-rays won’t be ready until nine. So just enjoy your evening. If you need anything, ask for Mark.”

“I shouldn’t call you?” he said in a suggestive tone, just to see how she would react. Dr. Hyde pursed her lips. Was she on the verge of saying something?

After a moment, she looked through her handbag and pulled out a card. She handed it to him. “If you need me, you may. Good night.”

The door closed with a soft click behind her.

Why had he needled her? It was so unlike him. Maybe it was because she’d questioned his clothing decisions. She’d been polite about it but there was still an undercurrent of humor. Could he possibly want her to feel a little out of sorts too? He had to admit it had been interesting to make her uncomfortable.

CHAPTER TWO

MELANIE PULLED IN front of the Lodge at eight-thirty the next morning. The snow had stopped during the night but the sky was overcast as if it would start again soon. She’d left last night uncomfortable about Dr. Reynolds’ suggestive manner. She wasn’t feeling any better about being his hostess this morning.

When his dark shapely brow had risen as if she were proposing she might be staying the night with him, she’d been insulted for a second. Then a tinge of self-satisfaction had shot through her that a male had noticed her. She’d had her share of boyfriends when she’d been young but recently the men attracted to her had become fewer. They seemed frightened by her position or were only interested so they could meet either one of her famous brothers or one of the Currents players. The one that she had loved hadn’t truly cared for her. She’d known rejection and wanted no part of it.

There had been one special man. He was a lawyer for a player. She couldn’t have asked for someone who fit into her family better. He lived and breathed football. They had even talked of marriage. It wasn’t until he started hinting, then asking her to put a good word in with her father when an assistant manager’s job came open that she realized he was using her. When she refused to do so, he dumped her. It had taken her months after that to even accept a friendly date. After that experience she judged every man that showed any attention to her with a sharp eye. She wouldn’t go through something like that again. Dr. Reynolds might flirt with her but she would see to it that was all that would happen. A fly in, fly out guy was someone she had no interest in.

She entered the lobby to find Dr. Reynolds waiting in one of the many large armchairs near the fireplace. Was he fortifying himself for the weather outside? She smiled. He had looked rather pitiful the night before in his effort to stay warm.

This morning his outfit wasn’t much better. Wearing a dress shirt, jeans and loafers, he didn’t look any more prepared for the weather than he had yesterday. In reality, it was unrealistic to expect him to buy clothes just to fly to Niagara Falls to see Rocket but he would be cold. However, he was undoubtedly the most handsome man she’d ever met. His striking good looks drew the attention of a couple of women who walked by. He had an air of self-confidence about him.

His head turned and his midnight gaze found her. His eyes were his most striking attribute. The dark color was appealing but it was the intensity of his focus that held her. As if he saw beyond what was on the surface and in some way understood what was beneath.

His bags sat on the floor beside him. She didn’t have to ask if he had plans to return to the sun and fun as soon as possible. If Rocket needed surgery he would have to go to Miami to have it done. She hoped that wouldn’t be the case but feared otherwise.

“Dr. Reynolds, good morning,” she said as she approached.

He stood, picked up his shoulder bag and slipped it over his neck. Grabbing his other bag, he walked toward her.

Apparently he was eager to leave. She stepped closer. “Have you had breakfast?”

“I ate a couple of hours ago.”

So he was an early riser. “Then we can go.” Melanie turned and headed back the way she had come. By the time she settled behind the steering wheel, he’d placed his bag in the backseat and was buckling up.

As she pulled out onto the main road, he said, “Well, at least it isn’t snowing.”

“No, but the weatherman is calling for more. A lot more.”

“Then I need to see Mr. Overtree’s X-rays and get to the airport.”

“Only eight more days. You must be in a hurry to get home to your family for Christmas.”

“No family. I’ll be working.”

“Oh.” Despite her family’s year-round focus on football, they all managed to come together during the holidays. Sometimes it was around Christmas Day games, but they always found a time that worked for all of them. Her brothers had wives and children, and the crowd was rowdy and loud. She loved it. Melanie couldn’t imagine not having any family or someone to share the day with. Even though much of the work fell to her. The men in her life expected her to organize and take care of them. She’d never let them know that sometimes she resented them taking her for granted.

They rode in silence for a while. He broke it by asking, “How much longer?”

“It should be only another ten minutes or so.”

The sky had turned gray and a large snowflake hit the windshield. By the time she pulled into the team compound it had become a steady snow shower. Instead of parking in the front, this time she pulled through the gate to the back of the building and parked in the slot with her name painted on it. Thankfully, her spot was close to the door so they wouldn’t have far to walk.

Dr. Reynolds huddled in his coat on their way to the door. With his head down, he walked slowly as if in an effort not to slip on the ice and snow. Melanie stayed close behind him. She had no idea what her plan was if he started to go down. Inside, they both took off their jackets and shook them out.

“I’ll take that,” Melanie said. Dr. Reynolds handed her his overcoat. Their hands brushed as she reached for it. A tingle of awareness went up her spine. Shaking it off, she hung their coats up on pegs along the wall and headed down the hall. “This way.”

“I assume Mr. Overtree’s X-rays will have been sent to your computer in the exam room. The MRI as well.”

“Yes.”

She made a turn and went down another hallway until she reached the Athlete Performance Area and pushed open one of the swinging doors and held it. She let him have the door, then continued into the room. Rocket, Coach Rizzo and her father were already there.

Her father gave her a questioning look. She shrugged her shoulder. Surely her father wouldn’t push Dr. Reynolds to agree to let Rocket play if the test indicated that he shouldn’t. As team doctor, she had the final say anyway. She would refuse to be a team player if it came down to Rocket’s long-term health. Moving on to her desk, she flipped on the computer. She pulled up Rocket’s chart. “Dr. Reynolds, the X-rays from last week and his most recent ones are ready for your review.”

Giving her what she could only describe as an impressed look, Dr. Reynolds seemed to appreciate her being efficient and prepared. For some reason that made her feel good. The kind of respect she didn’t feel she received from her father. She stepped away from the desk to allow him room. When the other men moved to join them, she shook her head, indicating they should give Dr. Reynolds some space. Despite that, her father still took steps toward her desk.

“Thank you, Doctor. You’ve been very thorough,” Dr. Reynolds said to her.

It was nice to be valued as a fellow medical professional who was more interested in the health of the player than whether or not the team won. She and Dr. Reynolds were at least in the same playbook where that was concerned.

In her mind no game was worth a man losing mobility for the rest of his life. A player’s heath came first in that regard. She was sure her father and the coach didn’t feel the same. More than once she’d been afraid that there might be repercussions from them if she placed a player on the disabled list. Even the players gave her a hard time about her being overly cautious. As their doctor, the players’ health took precedence over winning a game. Rocket had his sights set on being the most valuable player. He might agree to anything to get it. Even playing when he was injured. Sometimes she felt as if she had the most rational mind in the group.

Dr. Reynolds took her chair. He gave that same concentrated consideration to the screen as he seemed to give everything. With a movement of one long finger, he clicked through the black-and-white screens of different X-ray angles of Rocket’s knee. He studied them all but made no comment.

He turned to her. “Did you have a MRI done?”

She nodded.

“Good. I’d like to see it.”

She moved to the desk and he pushed back enough to allow her to get to the keyboard. As she punched keys she was far too aware of him close behind her. Her fingers fumbled on the keys but seconds later she had the red-and-blue images on the screen.

Minutes went by as Dr. Reynolds moved through the different shots.

“Well?” her father snapped.

“Let him have time to look,” Melanie said in an effort to placate him. Her father shot her a sharp look.

Dr. Reynolds continued to spend time on the side views of the knee. The entire room seemed to hold their collective breath as he spun in the chair. His gaze went to Rocket. “It looks like you have a one-degree patellar-tendon tear.”

That was what she had been afraid of. “That was my diagnosis.”

Dr. Reynolds nodded in her direction.

“We still needed a second opinion,” her father said as he stepped back.

For once it would be nice for her father to appreciate her knowledge and ability.

“Can he play?” Coach Rizzo asked.

“The question is—should he play?” Then, to Rocket, Dr. Reynolds said, “Do you want to take the chance on ruining your knee altogether? I wouldn’t recommend it. Let it rest, heal. You’ll be ready to go next year.”

The other men let go simultaneous groans.

Rocket moaned. “This is our year. Who’s to know what’ll happen next year?”

Her father looked at Rocket. “What do you want to do? Think about the bonus and the ring.”

How like her father to apply pressure.

Dr. Reynolds looked at him. “Mr. Hyde, this is a decision that Rocket needs to make without any force.”

Her father didn’t look happy but he also didn’t say anything more.

Rocket seemed not to know what the right answer was or, if he did, he didn’t want to say it.

“Hey, Doc, what’re the chances of it getting worse?” Rocket asked.

“If you take a hard hit, that’ll be it. Your tendon is like a rope with a few of the strands frayed and ragged. You take a solid shot and the rope may break. What I know is that it won’t get any better if you play. One good twist during a run could possibly mean the end of your career.”

Her father huffed. “Roger Morton with the Wildcats had surgery and returned better than ever.”

“I’m not saying it isn’t possible. However, not everyone does that well.”

Coach Rizzo walked over to Rocket and put his hand on his shoulder, “I think ‘The Rocket’ has what it takes to play for us on Sunday.”

Dr. Reynolds stood. “That’ll be for Mr. Overtree to decide.”

“You can’t do anything more?” Rocket asked Dr. Reynolds.

He looked as if he wanted to say no but instead said, “I’d like to see you use the knee. See what kind of mobility you have.”

Before Rocket had time to respond, Coach Rizzo spoke up. “Practice starts in about ten minutes.”

“Mel, why don’t you show Dr. Reynolds to the practice field?” her father suggested.

“Okay.” Once again, she wasn’t sure how being tour guide to the visiting doctor fell under her job description but she was a team player. She would do what she was asked. As she headed out the door she said over her shoulder, “Rocket, be sure and wear your knee brace.”

She looked at Dr. Reynolds. “The practice field is out this way.”

* * *

Dalton followed Melanie out a different set of double doors and into a hallway. At the elevator they went down to the ground floor. Once again she was wearing a very efficient-looking business suit. With her shapely, slender body it would seem she’d want to show it off; instead, she acted as if she sought to play down being a woman.

Her father sure was a domineering man. She seemed to do his bidding without question. He was afraid that if he hadn’t been brought in for that second opinion, her father would have overridden any decision she made about Rocket. For a grown woman she seemed to still be trying to make daddy happy.

“We aren’t going outside, are we?” he asked.

She grinned. “No. We have an indoor practice field. A full stadium without the stands. You should be warm enough in there.”

“Good.”

Melanie led them down a hallway and through two extralarge doors into a covered walkway. Seconds later they entered a large building.

They walked down one of the sidelines until they were near the forty-yard line. A few of the players wandered out on the field and started stretching. They wore shoulder pads under practice jerseys and shorts.

“Hey, Doc,” a couple of the players yelled as they moved to the center of the field.

She called back to them by name. Dalton wasn’t used to this type of familiarity with his patients. As a surgeon he usually saw them only a couple of times and never again.

It was still cooler than he liked inside the building. Dalton crossed his arms over his chest, tucking his hands under his arms.

Dr. Hyde must have noticed because she said, “It’s not near as cold in here as outside but we can’t keep it too warm because the players would overheat.” Not surprisingly Melanie didn’t seem affected by the temperature.

Rocket loped on the field from the direction of the dressing room. Dalton studied the movement of his leg and so far couldn’t see anything significantly out of the norm.

Melanie leaned toward him. “They’ll go through their warm-up and then move into some skill work. I think that’ll be when you can tell more about his knee. In the past he seemed to show no indication there might be a problem until he was running post plays.”

“Post plays?”

“When they run up the field and then cut sharply one way or another.”

He nodded and went back to learning Rocket’s movements. Rocket. He shook his head. It seemed as if he was picking up the slang of the game.

Would Dr. Hyde agree with him if he said that Rocket didn’t need to play? As a medical doctor, how could she not?

They had been standing there twenty minutes or so, him watching Rocket while Melanie spoke with every one of the big men who passed by. The staff along the sidelines with them did the same. She was obviously well liked.

The next time a guy came by her, Dalton asked, “You have a good relationship with the team. Does anyone not like you?”

A broad smile came to her face. “We’re pretty much like family around here. We all have a job to do but most of us are really good friends. I work at having a positive relationship with the players. I try to have them see me as part of the team. I want them to feel comfortable coming to me with problems. Men tend to drag their feet about asking for help.” He must have made a face because she said, “Not all, but I want them to come to me or one of the trainers before a problem gets so bad they can’t play.”

Dalton had nothing to base that type of camaraderie on. Long ago he’d given up on that idea. Unable to think of anything to say, he muttered, “That makes sense.”

She touched his arm. Her small hand left a warm place behind when she removed it to point at Rocket. “Watch him when he makes this move.”

The hesitation was so minor that Dalton might have missed it if he hadn’t been looking as she instructed.

“Did you see it?”

“I did. It was almost as if he didn’t realize he did it.” He was impressed that she had caught it to begin with.

“Exactly. I noticed it during one practice. Called him in and did X-rays. Dad insisted I contact you. We can’t afford for Rocket to be out.”

He looked at her. “Afford?”

She continued to watch the action on the field. “Yeah. This is big business for the team as well as for all these guys’ careers.”

He looked at Rocket and made no effort to keep the skepticism out of his voice when he asked, “No life after football?”

She stepped back and gave him a sharp look. “Yes. That’s the point. A successful season means endorsements, which means money in their pockets. That doesn’t even include the franchise.”

“And all this hinges on Rocket?”

“No, but he’s an important part.” She looked around and leaned so close he could smell her shampoo. “The star—for now.”

He wasn’t convinced but he nodded and said, “I think I get it.”

Melanie’s expression implied she wasn’t sure he did.

They continued to watch practice from the edge of the sideline. The team was playing on the far end of the field.

“How long has Rocket...?” he began.