Have Bouquet, Need Boyfriend

“Isn’t he the cutest thing to ever set foot in Sugar Hill?” Darlene said.

Karina giggled. “You bet your boots. I fabricated cramps last month just so I could sneak in an extra visit.”

“Better watch out. I heard Trish Tieney is out to snag him. She told Elvira Baker that he’s number one on her husband list.”

“Drat. Trish does have those big boobs.”

“And she’s taking a French-cooking class.”

Karina wrinkled her nose and reached for a book on desserts. “I know just the thing to win Dr. Emerson’s heart—a double-chocolate layer fudge cake.” She fanned her face. “Maybe I’ll even dribble chocolate syrup on me and let him lick it off.”

Rebecca coughed and dropped the roll of quarters she’d been opening, sending them rolling across the floor.

Both girls turned to glare at her, and she quickly stooped to pick up the change, pretending she hadn’t heard their conversation. If beautiful Karina and Trish had their sights set on Thomas, she didn’t have a chance.

She gathered the loose quarters and dumped them in the drawer. Karina watched her like a hawk as she rang up the purchases. “Thanks, ladies,” Rebecca said.

Feigning nonchalance, she wove her way to the self-help section, replaying her grandmother’s words—Believe in yourself. Follow your dreams. But how could she do that when she acted like a simpering teenager at the mere thought of seeing Thomas?

She had to slay the dragon of self-doubt sitting on her shoulder.

Her eyes tracked the titles: How To Be a Success in Business. Surviving Summers with Kids. Surviving Your Crazy Teenager. How To Master Menopause. How To Turn Up the Temperature in the Bedroom. The Art of Love.

Unfortunately, she didn’t see a single book with advice on how to ask a man for a sperm donation without stuttering.

MIMI JIGGLED MAGGIE ROSE up and down, trying to calm her after her vaccination.

“I’m so sorry,” Hannah whispered, patting the baby’s back. “I didn’t mean to make you cry, sugar.”

“It’s all right,” Mimi cajoled. She cradled Maggie Rose to her.

“You’re a natural,” Hannah said. “Maggie Rose is lucky to have you for a mom.”

Mimi beamed. “She’s my little doll baby. When are you and Jake going to take the plunge into parenthood?”

Hannah laughed. “We’re working on it.”

Mimi hugged her. “I hope you have an announcement soon. Maggie needs some cousins to play with.”

“We’ll see.” Hannah tucked the blanket around Maggie Rose’s feet. “Can you meet with Alison, Suzanne and Rebecca to plan Grammy’s party?”

“Yep, Seth’s going to watch the baby.” Mimi grinned. “You know, Hannah, if my radar’s working properly, Rebecca has a crush on Dr. Emerson. I think that’s why she was so nervous and hit his car the other day.”

“No big surprise.” Hannah smiled. “Half the female population in town has a crush on Thomas.”

Mimi scrunched her nose in thought, the wheels of mischief turning. “True, but if he marries anyone, it should be one of the Hartwell girls.”

“He’s on the rebound from a Hartwell now,” Hannah pointed out.

Mimi shrugged. “But Rebecca is so sweet.”

“And shy,” Hannah said. “I wish we could do something to help her.”

“You could talk her up to Thomas.”

Hannah laughed. “I suppose I could.”

“We need to figure out a way to get them together.”

Hannah finished scribbling on Maggie’s chart and closed it. “What are you scheming, Mimi?”

“Nothing much.” Mimi grinned and surveyed the exam room. “Didn’t you say you planned to hire someone to remodel the exam rooms?”

Hannah nodded.

“Well, I have an idea.” Mimi wiggled her finger. “Let’s go find Doc Emerson.”

Hannah gave her a suspicious look. “I don’t think we should interfere.”

“Nonsense. Rebecca needs us.” Mimi winked. “Just follow my lead, and wedding bells will be ringing for our cousin in no time.”

“MY HUSBAND LEFT ME,” Dorothy Parker wailed. “And I don’t know what to do, Doc.”

Thomas placed a comforting hand on Dorothy’s back and slowly stroked, trying to calm her. She’d been crying for close to a half hour, which had sent her six-week-old infant into a fit, which had upset Dorothy even more. The two hysterical females had turned his routine follow-up exam into such a stressful ordeal he’d developed a raging headache.

At least now the high-strung woman was dressed and in his office.

Dorothy cradled the baby and leaned against him. “Harold left me for a waitress over at Crooked Neck Holler. Can you believe that? Just because I have a little baby fat left around my midriff.”

Thomas refrained from commenting. “It takes time to lose weight after giving birth,” he said softly.

“That’s what I told him,” Dorothy said, sniffing loudly. “But he said I’m not attractive anymore. Do you think he’s right?”

A loaded question from a woman. Thomas pressed a finger to his temple. “New mothers are always beautiful, Dorothy, but stressed. I’m sure Harold will realize his mistake and come home soon. He’ll be begging you to take him back.”

Her eyebrows lifted. “Maybe I won’t take him back this time.”

He stifled a comment; she and her husband split at least once a month. Harold had almost missed the delivery, because they’d had a whopping fight and he’d taken off to Ted’s Tavern and gotten drunk. Cabs took a while to get from Atlanta to Sugar Hill.

“Maybe I’ll just find someone else.” Her tears dried, her eyes glinting with what he knew could be trouble. He moved aside to escape her clutches when a knock sounded at the door. Thankfully Hannah poked her head in and he slid from Dorothy’s desperate grip.

“I…I was just leaving, Dr. Hartwell.” Dorothy pulled herself together as Hannah and Mimi appeared in the doorway.

“Take care of that little one. I’ll see you next year.” At least, he hoped she wouldn’t be back before her yearly exam. By then he would be gone.

Hannah raised a curious eyebrow, and Mimi giggled. “Got your hands full?” Hannah asked.

“You could say that. Did someone spray pheromones in the air?”

Mimi laughed. “Now, there’s a thought.”

“Do you have a minute?” Hannah asked.

He nodded, although he’d planned to spend the next few minutes racking his brain on some way to approach Rebecca about her father.

“When I moved into the practice,” Hannah said, “I didn’t have time to finish all the renovations. The exam rooms really need painting.”

“I can’t argue with you there.”

“Mimi and I were talking, and she had a wonderful idea.”

He glanced at Mimi and the sleeping baby in her arms and smiled. Motherhood hadn’t tamed the feisty redhead at all. In fact, she still wore gutsy clothes and kept the town talking, but Mimi was impossible not to like. “I’m all ears.”

“I think you should have some pretty murals painted on the walls. Something calming to help patients relax.”

He nodded. “You know someone who does that kind of work?”

“Yes, I do. She painted the sweetest mural of dancing teddy bears on the playroom wall for Maggie Rose.”

“She would be perfect,” Hannah said.

“All right, you sold me. I hope she’s local.”

“As a matter of fact she is,” Mimi said excitedly. “It’s our cousin Rebecca.”

Thomas coughed. “Rebecca’s an artist?”

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