LITMIR.BIZ

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him.

      Mitzi’s eyes widened with pure female appreciation. “If the men in Jackson Hole are all like him, it’s going to be an enjoyable six months.”

      Kate had to admit that even dressed simply in jeans, boots and a blue polo, Joel looked good. And Chloe looked adorable in a black-and-white-checkered dress with red piping.

      “Who is he?” Mitzi whispered in a low tone as the man and child approached. “More important, is he available?”

      “Look, Daddy.” Chloe hopped out of the truck and pointed. “It’s Dr. Kate.”

      Joel shut his door before turning, knowing his little girl had to be mistaken. They’d just driven past the area where she was pointing and he hadn’t seen anyone who remotely resembled Kate McNeal.

      But when he gazed back in that direction he realized Chloe was right. He lifted his hand in greeting, feeling a little awkward about yesterday but surprisingly happy to see the pretty doctor.

      As always, Kate looked stunning. Her dark, shoulder-length hair caught the sunlight and she moved with elegance. Under her lab coat she wore a white dress with yellow-and-black bands of color around the waistline. She looked as if she should be walking down a runway rather than tending to sick children.

      There weren’t many women in Jackson Hole as lovely and intelligent as Dr. Kate. Not that it mattered to him. Like he’d told himself last night, he was a busy contractor with a daughter to raise and a company to run. Even if he had been interested in dating, Amy would always be number one in his heart. Kate McNeal didn’t seem like a woman who’d be satisfied with second place.

      “Hi, Joel. Chloe.” Even though she couldn’t have walked more than ten feet across the parking lot, Kate seemed oddly out of breath. It was probably those spiky heels she wore. While they were very sexy-looking, they had to be hell to walk in.

      “This is a pleasant surprise.” Joel knew her office was just across the parking lot from Chloe’s orthodontist, but he hadn’t expected to see her today. He thought she’d be busy inside seeing patients.

      “I needed to get something out of my car.” Kate brushed a strand of hair back from her face, her cheeks bright pink from the exertion. “When I saw you and Chloe, I thought it would be a good opportunity to introduce you to my friend.”

      “Mitzi Sanchez.” The slender woman offered up a friendly smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

      “Joel Dennes.” He took the hand she’d extended and gave it a perfunctory shake. Although dressed casually in jeans and boots, there was something about this woman that reminded him of Kate. Perhaps it was the directness of her gaze or the firmness of her handshake. Whichever it was, he liked her instantly. He gestured with his head to the little girl at his side. “This is my daughter, Chloe.”

      “Joel and Chloe Dennes,” Mitzi repeated slowly, as if their names were familiar. But because that couldn’t be the case, it had to be her way of trying to remember them.

      “That’s right,” Joel said, flashing a smile.

      Mitzi shifted her attention to the child and studied her for several seconds, as if looking for a resemblance between him and Chloe. Obviously finding none, she simply smiled. “It’s very nice to make your acquaintance, Chloe.”

      His daughter’s gaze dropped to her feet and for a second Joel wasn’t sure she would answer. Normally Chloe hated it when a stranger talked directly to her. Just when he’d given up hope, she lifted her head. “It’s nice to meet you, too.”

      A surge of pride swept through Joel. He slipped an arm around his daughter’s shoulders and gave a squeeze. That’s my girl.

      He chatted with Kate and Mitzi for a few minutes about the weather, then the conversation began to lag. Joel resisted the urge to look at his phone to check the time. They were early for Chloe’s orthodontic evaluation, so there was no reason to rush. “What brings you to Jackson Hole, Mitzi?”

      “I’m an orthopedic surgeon. I’m going to be filling in for Dr. John Campbell.” She cast a sideways glance at her friend as if disturbed by her silence. “Kate’s going to let me crash on her sofa.”

      “Actually my guest room has your name on it.” The teasing smile Kate shot her friend, brightened her whole face.

      Even though the smile hadn’t been directed at him, Joel found himself basking in the warmth. He wondered why Kate didn’t smile more often. After a second he forced his attention back to her friend. “Will you be staying long?”

      “Through the end of the year at Spring Gulch and with Kate as long as she’ll put up with me.” Mitzi chuckled. “Right now I’m not sure how long that will be. I can be a real pain sometimes. Who knows? I could be gone tomorrow.”

      “Ah, Mitzi, you know that’s not true.” Kate reached an arm around her friend’s shoulders and gave her a quick hug. “You’re my best friend.”

      “I had a best friend once,” a small voice piped up. “When we lived in Billings.”

      It took Joel a second to realize that it was Chloe who’d spoken. “You have friends here, too.”

      Chloe shrugged.

      “I know how you feel.” Mitzi placed a hand on the girl’s shoulder. “Good friends—best friends—aren’t always that easy to find.”

      “Savannah and I used to play every day.” Chloe’s voice was so low that Joel had to strain to hear her. “I really miss her.”

      “Mitzi and I haven’t lived in the same town for five years.” Kate’s eyes softened as they settled on Chloe. “And I missed her so much, but we kept in touch. We sent each other funny cards and we talked on the phone.”

      Joel guessed that her not mentioning the internet was deliberate and he was grateful to Kate. He closely monitored his daughter’s time on the web.

      “I don’t remember Savannah’s address or her phone number,” Chloe said in the same small voice, pushing the toe of her shoe against the concrete.

      “I’m sure I have them.” Joel couldn’t believe his daughter hadn’t mentioned wanting to contact Savannah before now. Or had she? “How about we call her after your orthodontic evaluation?”

      “Thank you, Daddy.” Chloe flung her arms around him.

      Over his daughter’s head, his eyes met Kate’s. Something in her gaze pulled him right in. Time seemed to stretch and extend. Without his realizing quite how it had happened, their eye contact turned into something more, a tangible connection between the two of them.

      Then Kate blinked and looked away.

      Joel could feel heat rising up his neck. Dear God, what had gotten into him? You’d have thought he was a luststruck teenager.

      “There’s a lot to do in Jackson Hole,” Joel stammered, then stopped and took a deep, steadying breath. “I’m sure you’ll like it here.”

      “I have no doubt of that,” Mitzi said.

      Her smile was open and friendly while Kate’s shoulders were as stiff as any soldier’s. Of course, right now, his shoulders were feeling pretty tight, too.

      “When I was driving around earlier I noticed an indoor ice rink that I’d like to check out,” Mitzi added.

      “It’s very nice.” Joel cast a look in his daughter’s direction and she nodded her agreement. “We’ve been there many times.”

      “So you like to skate?” Mitzi asked.

      “Chloe does. She skates very well.” Joel hooked a thumb toward his chest. “Me, I spend more time getting up from falling than I do gliding across the ice.”

      “Oh, Daddy.” Chloe exhaled an exasperated breath. “You’re not that bad. You just need to practice more.”

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