Newborn Needs a Dad / His Motherless Little Twins by Dianne Drake Page B

particularly tight muscle in her neck. “Magic hands,” she murmured, not intending to say it out loud.
    “In that case, gratuities accepted.”
    His hands moved back to her shoulders and it was all Gabby could do to keep herself from going weak in theknees and collapsing right into his arms. “And what kind of gratuity would you like, Dr Ranard?”
    “Haven’t decided. But I’ll let you know when I think of it.”
    “Sounds fair. But I reserve the right to make conditions.”
    “I figured you would. In fact, being direct the way you are, I never thought you would have it any other way.”
    Gabby started to laugh, but at that moment Neil discovered a very sore spot between her shoulder blades, and what started as a laugh turned into a groan. “You know you could make money with those hands,” she said, her voice a little raspy. “Open a massage therapy clinic…”
    “You’d be my first patient?”
    His hands splayed out from shoulder to shoulder, and his fingers applied that perfect amount of pressure—pressure that verged on both pain and pleasure at the same time. The hurt that felt so good. It wouldn’t take much for her to become addicted to this…on a regular basis. “First in line.” Whole body treatment. His hands everywhere…Well, that was a thought a woman in her advanced condition shouldn’t be having. But she couldn’t help it. If the rest was as good as this…
    “I heard you and Neil had dinner together last night.” Laura Stewart sat down across from Gabby and plunked her coffee mug on the table, indicating she was going to stay awhile.
    “Small-town talk,” Gabby replied. She’d slept in late since she had no early morning appointments, had a leisurely breakfast, and was now enjoying a lazy view of the main street, watching all the people heading off to their various destinations. Some were in a hurry, some were not. Some drove cars, others walked, a few ran. And therewere a handful of brave souls on bicycles, pedaling against the chilly air, which gave Gabby the shivers, even sitting so close to the lodge’s large stone fireplace, with its morning fire all crackling and cozy.
    What she could see from her favorite table was an amazing snapshot of everyday life, but there was so much space in White Elk. Nothing was crammed in here. Not the buildings, not the people. And the street was not permeated with the sounds of impatient motorists honking, and passers-by shouting their anger and frustrations for anyone to hear, like she’d grown accustomed to in Chicago.
    Gabby felt good here. Maybe that was what she liked best about this little town. She didn’t fit in, didn’t know anybody. Didn’t even have any kind of a life here. But she felt good, maybe even more optimistic about her future than she had for quite a while. Truth was, she didn’t especially mind the small-town talk, even when it involved her.
    “Then it’s true? You did?”
    Gabby shrugged. “I had dinner, he had dinner. And, coincidentally, we sat at the same table. So I guess the answer is yes, but not to the things people might imply from it.”
    “Ah, but rumors still fly, no matter how you might want to defend yourself. And up here, at this elevation, where the air is clearer, they seem to fly a little faster.”
    “You mean the rumor about the pregnant stranger and the handsome town doctor?” She laughed. “It may sound like the title of a romance novel, but I’m afraid it was just dinner. He ate. I ate, and ate, and ate…”
    “We worry about Neil because he doesn’t take time for himself. Doesn’t have a lot of fun in life. And I’m not going to spread rumors here, or tell you anything Ishouldn’t, but everybody I know wants him to have…more. Good things. Happiness. He deserves it.”
    Laura sipped her coffee while Gabby pondered what she’d just said. So Neil was a bit of a recluse? Or maybe so dedicated to his work that he got lost in it? Honestly, she could relate to that. Her father had been