The M.D. Courts His Nurse by Meagan McKinney Page B

single long—the first eligible woman who’s high enough in the social registry will snap him up. God knows plenty of them are finding excuses to come to the office.”
    After the slightest pause Hazel said, “From what I heard today at Selmer’s Bakery, that may already have happened. A rich woman snapping him up, I mean.”
    Rebecca was surprised, then dismayed, at the keen sting of disappointment these words caused her.
    â€œWith whom?” she inquired, hoping her tone was casual.
    â€œLouise Wallant, of course.”
    Louise Wallant …just hearing her name sent a bile taste into Rebecca’s throat.
    â€œCould be the same saloon gossip you heard, is all. But Edna Beck claims Louise is the reason he chose Mystery to practice medicine.”
    Rebecca recalled his angry words: I didn’t just stick a pin in the map. I picked this town.
    â€œEdna says John came to this area for a rock-climbing vacation while he was still in medical school. Claims he and Louise had a summer fling. But then, Edna’s not one to worry how reliable her sources are. It could be a bunch of bull.”
    â€œIf it is true, as I said before, they’re the perfect match,” Rebecca pronounced dismissively.
    Louise was rich, pretty and spoiled rotten. All through high school she had tried to steal away any guy who showed interest in Rebecca, mainly to punish her for not joining the Louise Adoring Fan Club. But she was more than welcome to Dr. Dry-As-Dust, Rebecca tried to convince herself.
    â€œNonsense,” Hazel scoffed at her. “I can believe the summer fling story, of course, considering Louise’s looks and body. She’s what my cowhands call ‘a target of opportunity.’ But John would never in a million years fall in love with her type. He has more sense than that.”
    â€œFall in love? What, John Saville? Hazel, a golden boy does not succumb to passions. Mating is an investment strategy like—like—opening an IRA.”
    â€œDear,” Hazel’s tone scolded, “you’re way too young to be so bitter. You’re turning into a grizzled old cynic.”
    â€œDon’t forget I just barely survived a date tonight.”
    â€œI’ll run my traps, dear, find out which good catches are out there. You’ll see, we’ll do better next time.”
    â€œForget it. No more dating surprises for me, thanks. The next guy I date will submit a résumé and psychological profile tests.”
    Rebecca hung up feeling irritated and vaguely suspicious. Hazel bragged about being a Cupid, but tonight’s dating disaster proved even Cupid could blow it in a big way. She owed Hazel a lot, but she would not be the lab rat for another experiment in wretched blind dates.
    Soon, however, her irritation at Hazel gave way to unwelcome thoughts about Louise Wallant. The successful young entrepreneur maintained one house in Mystery, another in Deer Lodge, a tourist mecca nestled amidst beautiful national forests in some of the state’s most pristine country. Her success in the bed-and-breakfast business, however, was not due so much to merit as to wealthy parents who constantly covered her financial butt.
    Rebecca was sick to death of constantly hearing everyone around town talk about Louise this and Louise that as if she were a celebrity. All because she had a “perky” manner and one of those fake smiles as big as Texas—a smile that showed too many teeth, in Rebecca’s opinion.
    She ate a few bites of her by now lukewarm quiche, thenlost her appetite. She cleaned up in the kitchen before selecting a good novel and curling up on the sofa with a crocheted afghan draped over her shoulders.
    However, it was no use. The words on the page kept squiggling out of focus as her thoughts were diverted.
    She recalled one of the last things John Saville did today at the office. He changed the message on the answering machine, which usually gave