Single Dad's Unexpected Reunion
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Traci Douglass
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CHAPTER ONE
“AND IN CONCLUSION, I believe the expedited use of our innovative virtual planning and three-dimensional printing METAMORPHOSIS technology will allow this process to improve treatment outcomes in acute facial trauma cases by bringing the entire team—surgeons, radiologists, biomedical engineers and designers—in at the initial point of care to revolutionize the field of craniomaxillofacial surgery. Thank you.”
Dr. Cassandra Murphy smiled politely at the room full of the country’s top plastic surgeons to whom she’d given her presentation at the Westin Copley Square Hotel in Boston. It was the first time she’d been back in her home state since leaving Massachusetts for her new job in California more than five years prior, and she was still sorting through her feelings on that matter. She gathered her notes and headed down the stairs amidst a flurry of handshakes and well-wishes from her esteemed colleagues.
She’d gone to San Diego to change her life all those years ago, and she’d done it. As the youngest partner in her practice, Cassie had the opportunity to stay on the cutting edge of her profession, which was what had brought her back here today to speak at the national annual conference on plastic and reconstructive surgery. This was the last day of the four-day event, and she’d planned to spend a little extra time in the area to see her father, an ex-commercial fisherman who’d recently moved into a retirement home. Also, the new administrator at the local hospital in her hometown, Wyckford General, had asked Cassie to consult on a patient there. A young woman who’d been in a car accident six months prior who might be a good candidate for the new technology Cassie had just given her presentation on.
As the MC announced the second speaker on the day’s roster, Cassie exited the ballroom and headed for the lobby to check out. An hour and a half later, exhausted, edgy and reconsidering the wisdom of her choice to drive home to Wyckford, Massachusetts after a long, hectic couple of days—Cassie slid into a back booth at the tiny Buzzy Bird diner and sagged against the red vinyl seat. It had been years since she’d been back, and yet it felt like yesterday.
“Cassie!” a female voice called. She turned to see her good friend Madison Scott. She’d kept in contact with several of her besties when she’d moved west, and they kept her up to date on all things Wyckford gossip and on her father, who tended to just tell Cassie everything was “fine.”
Madi was an ER nurse at Wyckford General Hospital and based on her wrinkled scrubs and the shadows under her eyes, she’d just pulled another all-night shift. She walked over and gave Cassie a big hug before scooting into the other side of the booth. “Wow. You look amazing, Cass. Life in California must agree with you.”
“Hey, stranger. Long time no see.” This came from the third member of their group, Luna Norton. She wore a black T-shirt, black pants and pink Chuck Taylors. A white apron emblazoned with a cartoon buzzard completed her look. In addition to working as a physical therapist, Luna also helped part-time at the diner her family owned. It was just like old times and reminded Cassie of how little things had changed in Wyckford. Well, most things, anyway. Luna also gave Cassie a hug then asked, “What do you guys want to drink before we catch up?”
“Hot tea, please. Green, if you have it,” Cassie said, fighting a yawn. With all the prep she’d done last night for her presentation this morning, plus teleconferencing with the other physicians in her practice about her patients back in San Diego, Cassie hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before. “And a scone, please.”
“Coffee for me,” Madi said. “The stronger, the better. And bring a whole plate of scones.”
Luna smiled. “Be right back.”
Minutes later, Luna reappeared with their order and set it all on the table before taking a seat in the booth beside Madi, across from Cassie. “Feels good to sit down. I’ve been on my feet since eight this morning.”
“Join the club,” Madi said. “Except add twelve hours onto that for me.”
“Seems like we’ve all had a busy day.” Cassie smiled, not missing the long hours and nonstop adrenaline rush of her resident days in Boston. She’d put her time and energy into graduating at the top of her class in medical school, then taken an opportunity on the West Coast to make a fresh start. A new beginning away from Wyckford and away from the man she’d had an impossible crush on who’d never even known she’d existed. Not romantically, anyway.
Dr. Brock Turner.
He’d been a fellow resident and all-around golden boy. His father had a successful GP practice in Wyckford. Brock had done a double specialty in medical school—GP and Trauma Surgery—and from what Madi and Luna had told her over the years, Brock had eventually taken over his father’s practice after his parents had been killed in a car accident a few years ago. Unfortunately, that hadn’t been the only loss that poor Brock had suffered. He’d also lost his beloved wife prior to his parents’ passing, also in a car accident, during a bad ice storm. She wondered how much grief had affected the man she’d once admired from afar. Back when she’d known him, Brock Turner was funny and smart and charming, winning friends and admirers with his movie-star looks and easy smile.
Cassie had been the opposite in medical school—shy and nerdy, doing her best to learn everything she could to make something of herself. Her mom had died of cancer when Cassie was only five, and her father, Ben Murphy, had worked hard to raise his daughter alone and saved all the money he made as a commercial fisherman to pay for Cassie’s college. She hadn’t wanted to let him down. Not after he’d devoted so much to her.
So she’d studied and worked and basically kept her head down and her eyes on the prize of graduation and being a doctor. And if she sometimes fantasized that Brock Turner would suddenly fall for her and profess his undying love, well, no harm done. Cassie hadn’t been silly enough to think he’d look twice her way back then. Not with his gorgeous, and equally sweet, girlfriend Kylie by his side. Talk about a blessed couple. Right before Cassie had decided to leave for California after medical school, Brock and Kylie had announced their engagement.
Cassie sipped her tea and glanced out the window at Buzzards Bay across the street from the diner. Her heart ached for Kylie, who’d drowned in the very same bay Cassie was looking at now. She still remembered hearing about it from Madi and Luna. There’d been wicked slick weather that night, and Kylie’s car had slid on the ice and crashed into the water. By the time rescuers had reached her, it’d been too late. Cassie still shuddered thinking about how awful that must’ve been for Brock. Losing his wife and having a newborn baby to take care of on his own.
Setting her tea down to grab a scone, Cassie took a bite of the still-warm-from-the-oven cinnamon chip goodness and couldn’t resist a groan of pleasure. “These are so amazing, Luna.”
“Thanks.” Luna took one herself from the plate and bit into it, never one to waste her break.
Madi, who carefully sliced her scone in half with her knife instead of using her hands like her heathen friends, looked over at Cassie. “So how long are you in town?”
Cassie stilled for a beat. “Not sure. Depends on the case I’m consulting on. Could be a couple of weeks, could be more. I’ll certainly be here long enough to see my dad and catch up with you guys though, then back to California.”
For the past five years, she’d worked her ass off, running on the hamster wheel of their busy practice, heading toward the future she’d planned for herself as a successful plastic surgeon. She wanted to make her dad proud, wanted to make a name for herself. Wanted to live up to her own high ideals of achievement, then achieve higher. Perhaps then she could get rid of that knot of emptiness inside her. The one that had existed since the day her mother died.
“How’d your presentation go?” Madi asked.
“Good, thanks.” She’d given her two-hour-long talk and had been honored to be part of something that would change patients’ lives and revolutionize her field. Now, if she could get her personal life in the same stellar shape as her professional one, she’d be all set. Not that she had much time to devote to relationships, but maybe this trip could change that. Teach her how to slow down a bit...
She glanced out the window at the trees, their leaves bright green in the late morning rays of June sunshine, and thought maybe it was time to find something more when it came to love, scary as that sounded. Until now, she’d been too busy with work to have more than fleeting romances. It wasn’t that she didn’t want kids...someday. But now it felt like someday was creeping closer than ever with each passing birthday. Or maybe that was just everyone around her settling down, and she didn’t want to get left behind. Not to mention her dad kept bugging her about when she’d give him grandkids.
She’d rented a small vacation home online, hoping to enjoy some quiet time while she was here and fly under the local gossip radar, since the town of Wyckford and secrets went together like toothpaste and peanut butter. Gossip was their number two industry, after tourism.
“Well, we’ll have to make the most of your visit then,” Madi said.
Cassie smiled and took another bite of scone. From what she’d seen on her drive in, Wyckford was still small and quirky, with a population of just around twenty-four thousand. The kind of place where everyone knew everyone else’s business. Another reason Cassie had been glad to leave after medical school. Hard to make a fresh start when the past haunted around every corner.
And make a fresh start, she had. Not just professionally, but physically. She’d always been slim and petite, but when she’d left her hometown, her hair had been mousy brown, and she’d worn thick glasses. Now, thanks to LASIK, she was glasses-free and, thanks to her fantastic stylist, her long hair rippled over her shoulders in shiny chestnut waves, highlighted with copper and gold. Her clothes were comfortable but expensive, tailored by the finest designer boutiques. And while she didn’t flaunt her wealth, Cassie did more than all right for herself financially. She didn’t need anyone to support her.
Not money-wise, anyway.
She finished her scone, then took another from the plate and bit into it. “Can’t wait to see all my old favorite things in town.”
Luna snorted. “Favorite things, huh? What about Brock Turner?”
Cassie frowned. “What about him?”
“Stop it.” Madi gave Luna a scowling side glance. “I’m sure Cassie’s forgotten all about him. Besides, he’s so busy these days. He’s got no time for anyone except himself and Adi and Riley. And she’s here to have fun, not dredge up the past.”
Cassie knew Riley was Brock’s younger sister, who’d also been involved in the accident that had killed Brock’s parents. Riley had survived, Cassie had heard, but with life-altering injuries. Adi must be Brock’s daughter then. Her heart squeezed once more for what poor Brock and his family had been through. “How’s he doing?”
Two hours later, they’d left the diner and Cassie was on her way to check in at her online rental when her phone buzzed. Her private cell number was the only thing that hadn’t changed from her old Wyckford life. Easier to keep it, because of her dad, than to get a new one when she’d moved to California. She hit a button on the dash to connect the call through her rental SUV’s Bluetooth and answered, not bothering to check the number, since the only people who ever called her on this phone were Madi and Luna or her father. Her colleagues from the practice used the phone the office gave her. But she wasn’t on call during her trip, so that phone was tucked safely away in her luggage for now. “Hello?”
“I’m calling about your flyer,” a man said. “I need a dog walker. Someone who’s on time, responsible and not a flake.”
Flyer? Cassie stopped for a red light, scowling at her dashboard display. “A dog walker?”
“Yes, and I need you to start immediately, if possible.”
Wrong number. Cassie was about to tell the man so when something about his voice struck her as familiar. Low and a little raspy, with a hint of impatience...
No. It couldn’t be.
She squinted at the number on the display but didn’t recognize it, yet from the chord vibrating deep inside her, it had to be him. Dr. Brock Turner. Her fantasy man from all those years ago. She’d never expected to see him during her time here—in fact, she’d actively planned to avoid it, if possible—but it seemed fate had intervened. Again. She needed to hang up, needed to get on with her visit and forget all about this man. She’d spent the last five years getting over her impossible crush on him and having anything to do with him now might undo all that hard work. No. Continuing with this call was a very bad idea.
Cassie was about to hang up when he continued, stopping her.
“Look, I had an early shift at the hospital this morning and won’t be home until late tonight. I have a puppy at home who probably needs to potty bad. I just need someone to take her for a short walk to do her business. I’ll pay twice the rate listed on your flyer for the last-minute inconvenience. Fifty dollars.”
Oh, boy.
Low and authoritative, that voice of his had always made Cassie want to snap to attention and salute him, in a sexy way. The fact the rest of him was gorgeous too—tall, dark and delicious, with bright blue eyes to boot—well, it was a combination she couldn’t resist.
Don’t do it. Don’t do it. Don’t do it.
The logical part of her brain screamed that she should stick to her plan. Avoid Brock Turner at all costs and get on with her life. But the emotional part of Cassie, her neglected heart that she’d come back to Wyckford to nurture and rediscover, said why not help the guy out? Besides, she was over him. That’s what the past five years had been about. She was a different person now. Lord knew he was too, after all he’d been through. It was silly to avoid someone over something that had happened a long time ago. And Brock probably didn’t even remember her, let alone know she’d had a crush on him. Wyckford wasn’t that big anyway and walking his puppy wouldn’t take more than a few minutes at best. He wouldn’t even be there, since he’d said he was working late. She could confirm for herself how he was doing and then walk away clean.
Before she knew what had happened, Cassie had rationalized herself right into it.
“Fine. Where and when.”
At the appropriate time, she pulled up to the address Brock had given her and took a deep breath, still slightly amazed at herself for choosing to do this. It was a bit crazy, agreeing to walk Brock’s dog for him when he had no idea who was really on the other end of the line, but he needed help, and she needed the closure of knowing she was well and truly over the man. Hopefully, this would take care of both problems in one fell swoop.
His house was stunning. Two-story, with an exterior that reminded Cassie of old-world European architecture, on a wooded lot right on the bay. The houses were spread out in this expensive area of town, with rocky beaches that stretched for endless miles and dark green bluffs and rock formations for as far as the eye could see.
She parked her SUV under the front portico and walked up to the door. A handwritten note was stuck to the glass.
Door’s unlocked. Let yourself in then destroy this note. And don’t tell Brock. He’ll kill me if he knows I left his house open without the alarm set.
Riley
Cassie stared at the scrawled message from Brock’s younger sister, trying to decide if she should actually go through with this or leave. Because now that she was here, on the threshold, all her earlier rationalizations fled, and this seemed like a bad idea. Especially since walking into his house without a key was problematic, at best. If not illegal, at worst.
She glanced around again to see if any nosy neighbors were watching. Getting arrested tonight was not on her career achievement plan. Then she looked down at her outfit—not exactly dog-walking attire. She’d not changed after her presentation earlier, so she was still wearing her crisp black business suit—a blazer and knee-length skirt—and black pumps. Not great for prowling or pounding the pavement.
From inside the house came a happy, high-pitched bark. Then another.
Okay. Fine. She was probably blowing this out of proportion. It was a quick dog walk. Nothing more. And Brock had asked her to come here and do it. If the cops showed up, she had that to fall back on. Plus, from the sounds of those barks and whines, his puppy had to go quite badly.
Cassie opened the front door and peered inside.
The interior of the home was as stunning as the outside. Wide open spaces, done in dark tones and neutral colors. The furniture was oversized and sparse, and the floors were beautiful hardwood. An entire wall of windows faced the setting sun and Buzzards Bay.
As she stepped inside, the barking increased in volume. Cassie followed the sounds through a huge, state-of-the-art, open-style kitchen that made her wish she knew how to cook beyond the basics of soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. Then to a laundry room, where the doorway was blocked by a toddler gate.
On the other side of it sat a tiny, adorable French bulldog.
Tan, with bat ears, large dark eyes and a tongue lolling out of the side of its mouth, the puppy looked like an animated cartoon as it twirled in excited circles, dancing for her, trying to impress and charm its way out of lockup.
“Hi there.” Cassie crouched in front of the gate. The little dog—she hadn’t gotten its name—snuffled against her hand, snorting in joyous delirium, rolling over so Cassie could scratch its belly, then jumping to its feet and hopping around again. Too cute.
“Let’s get you out here so we can take a walk, huh?” Cassie grinned as she opened the gate, then fell back on her butt as the dog streaked past her like a bolt of lightning, racing through the kitchen and out of sight.
“Hey,” she called, clambering back to her feet. “Come back. Let’s go for a walk!”
But the puppy didn’t, and wow, for something so tiny, it moved fast. The bulldog snorted with sheer delight as it ran circles around the couch, barking with merry enthusiasm. Cassie gave chase, but then the dog changed direction, heading back into the kitchen.
Giving up, she returned to the laundry room and found a pink collar and leash hanging on a hook by the door. Embroidered on the collar was a name: Winnie.
Cassie laughed. Well, the dog certainly had the roly-poly, cuddly part down, that was for sure. She found Winnie sitting by the front door, panting, apparently having worn off all her excess energy.
“Good girl,” Cassie cooed as she moved closer with the collar. “Want to go for a walk?”
Winnie gave her a goofy puppy grin.
Aw. See? She had made the right choice here. Cassie understood how exhausting being a busy physician was, having pulled many long shifts herself. Brock needed help, and she was glad to provide it. But before she could get the collar secured around Winnie’s neck, the dog escaped through the still-open front door, tearing toward Buzzards Bay at breakneck speed.
Blood pounding in her ears, Cassie straightened and shouted, “Wait, Winnie. Stop!”
But Winnie didn’t stop. The puppy hit the rocky beach and headed straight for the water.
“No!” Cassie yelled, in full panic mode now. “Stop!”
Tiny Winnie dived into the bay.
Cursing, Cassie ran after her, kicking off her fancy pumps along the way for better traction. She stopped at the water’s edge, cold water nipping at her bare toes as she frantically searched for a bobbing head. Nothing. It seemed that Brock’s puppy had vanished.
With the water inching closer to her ankles, Cassie staggered back, still searching.
Still nothing.
Her heart sank as she pulled her phone from her blazer pocket and hit redial for the number Brock had called from earlier. Pulse slamming against her temples and throat tight, she waited until he picked up.
“Dr. Turner,” came his low, deep voice.
And just like that, Cassie was back in residency and hopelessly, horribly, head over heels for the man, even though she knew how completely ridiculous it was.
She could still picture him after a long shift in his wrinkled scrubs, his dark hair tousled, and his blue eyes lined with exhaustion. A movie-star build and a mind for science. Their gazes had locked a few times as they’d worked on patients together during rotations and, for Cassie at least, the air had fizzed with chemistry.
And now she’d lost the guy’s puppy. The man who’d lost so much already.
“Um...hello,” she said, her explanation tumbling out on a river of nerves and regret. “This is Dr. Cassandra Murphy. We were in residency together. I was the one you called earlier about walking your dog tonight, and I know it was a mistake, and I should have told you then that you had the wrong number, but...” She swallowed hard as she scanned the still empty horizon. “I wanted to help. And now it seems I’ve lost Winnie. Your puppy’s gone.”
Silence followed from the other end of the line.
“And I’m so sorry,” Cassie added.
More silence.
Cassie huffed out a breath, leaned against a nearby boulder before her wobbly knees gave out, and ran a shaky hand through her hair. “Brock? Did you hear me?”
“Cassie Murphy?” he said quietly, as if still taking it in. “What the hell are you doing in Wyckford?”
She swallowed and gripped the phone tighter, still scanning the area for any sign of the dog. “I was in Boston for a medical conference and afterward I drove here to consult on a patient and spend some time relaxing and seeing family and friends.”
“And lose my puppy,” he added.
Cassie squeezed her eyes shut, shaking her head. “I’m so sorry. I thought I was helping—”
“And you’re sure Winnie’s gone?”
Cassie looked up and down the beach. The empty beach. “Yes.”
“Then I should thank you.”
Stunned at his heartless words, Cassie stared at her phone before putting it back to her ear, straightening once more as she scowled. “No. I don’t think you understand. I lost your puppy. In the bay.”
Brock muttered something Cassie didn’t catch.
“Sorry?” She wasn’t sure how long a dog could survive underwater, but chances were good that Winnie was in serious trouble. If she could just spot the puppy, she could pull it to shore. Cassie had never performed canine CPR, but it couldn’t be that different. Cover the muzzle and breathe, chest compressions until help arrived.
“Stay there. I’m two minutes away,” Brock said. “I had a break in the ER and decided to run home to make sure you showed up.”
“Well, of course I showed—” she said, but he’d already ended the call.
Uncharacteristically flustered, Cassie slid her phone back into her pocket and searched again. According to Brock, she had two minutes to find Winnie, and she wasn’t about to waste a second of it.
