“The clinic looks different than I remember.” Piper opened the door to one of the consulting rooms and peeked inside where she saw a chair, a stainless steel examination table and a shelf with an assortment of instruments.
“You’ve been here before?”
“It was quite a few years ago.” Piper withdrew from the examination room and bumped into him. “Sorry!” A shiver of sensation danced across her nerve endings when his arms instinctively came around her in what was nothing more than a protective gesture.
“No problem.” Kyle quickly released her. “The waiting room and reception desk are through here.”
“When did your receptionist leave?” Piper asked as she followed him through the doorway.
“A month ago,” he replied. “She left a message on the answering machine saying she was leaving town. No reason, no explanation.” He shrugged his shoulders.
“You weren’t joking when you said you’d fallen behind with your paperwork,” Piper commented, nodding at the growing pile of mail and files on the desk.
“You got that right.” Kyle flashed her a grin that sent her pulse skittering. “I started going through it. Paid a few bills, but I didn’t get very far, what with the interruptions. I haven’t had time to tackle it again.”
“I’d better get started,” Piper said, picking up a handful of unopened mail.
“Thanks, I really appreciate this.”
“No problem,” Piper replied, warmed by the sincerity she could hear in his voice.
“Keep track of your hours,” he told her. “And put yourself on the payroll.”
Piper opened her mouth to tell him she neither wanted nor needed his money but closed it again when she saw the glint of determination in the depths of his eyes.
“Fine,” she said.
“Daddy!” The sudden cry startled Piper, and she turned to see a golden-haired little girl dressed in bright-red pants and a white shirt, followed by the two dogs, come running toward them.
Kyle bent to scoop his daughter into his arms, and Piper felt her heart jolt against her rib cage as a look of adoration and love softened his handsome features.
“Hello, squirt…what are you doing down here? Where’s Nana?”
“Upstairs, on the phone,” his daughter replied with a grin. “Who’s that?” The child twisted in her father’s arms and pointed to Piper who was once again fending off the two dogs.
“It’s rude to point,” Kyle scolded his daughter as he captured her hand. “This lady’s name is Piper.”
“That’s a funny name.”
Piper laughed softly, charmed by the smiling cherub-faced child. “What’s your name?”
“My name’s April Franshish,” the little girl replied.
“April…ah…Francis,” Piper repeated in sudden understanding. “That’s a lovely name.”
“That’s Mutt,” April said, pointing to the Doberman. “And he’s Jeff.”
“We’ve already met. Hi, Mutt. Hello, Jeff.” Piper scratched Mutt’s ear while Jeff sat at her feet wagging his tail frantically.
“You’re going to have a baby, aren’t you?” April asked and at her question, Piper almost burst out laughing.
“April!” Kyle spoke a little sharply.
“That’s okay,” Piper said, thinking Kyle must indeed have his hands full with such a precocious child. “Yes, I am going to have a baby.”
“Kyle. Something’s happened and I—”
They turned to the newcomer, a woman in her midsixties Piper recognized as Kyle’s aunt. Vera looked anxious and upset.
“What’s happened?” Kyle asked, as he lowered April to the floor.
Vera hesitated, her glance shifting from Kyle to Piper and back. “Mary Bellows just called from Frank’s office.”
“And?” Kyle prompted.
“She thinks he might have had a heart attack. The ambulance is there now. They’re taking him to the hospital.” Her hand came up to cover her mouth, and Piper saw tears gathering in her eyes.
Kyle led his aunt to a nearby chair. Frank was obviously a close friend of his aunt.
“Do you want me to drive you over to the hospital?” he offered.
“Would you?” Her relief was obvious.
“Of course,” he assured her.
“Can I come, too?” April asked.
Kyle turned to his daughter. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, sweetie. You better stay here.”
“Who’s going to look after me?” the child asked.
Kyle’s gaze shifted to where Piper stood by the desk. She’d watched the entire exchange, unaccountably touched by Kyle’s concern for his aunt.
“Piper’s here. She’ll look after you till I get back. Won’t you, Piper?”
“Well…yes, I—” Piper began, but the rest of her reply was drowned out by the wail of the siren as an ambulance, lights flashing, drove past the window and down the street.
Kyle turned to his aunt. “Get your things. I’ll meet you outside at the truck.”
Vera rose from the chair and hurried from the room.
“Can’t I come with you?” April asked her father again.
Kyle lifted his daughter into his arms. “I’ll be back before you know it. You stay with Piper and show her around the clinic. Put the dogs out back in their run. Okay?”
“Okay,” April reluctantly agreed.
“Atta girl.” He kissed her forehead before setting her down.
He glanced at his watch and turned to Piper. “I have a few appointments this morning, they’re marked down in the blue book,” he told her. “I shouldn’t be more than half an hour, but if anyone wants to reschedule that’s fine. And thanks, I really appreciate this.”
“I’m ready,” Vera said as she reappeared in the doorway. With a reassuring smile, Kyle ruffled April’s hair then joined his aunt.
Piper tried to quell the butterflies fluttering madly inside her. She’d never been left to look after a four-year-old child before. What if something happened?
Suddenly she felt a hand slip into hers and glanced down to see April staring up at her.
“Is Uncle Frank going to be all right?” April asked with a slight hitch in her voice.
Piper drew a steadying breath and managed to smile. “They’re taking him to the hospital where the doctors will take care of him,” she said, sounding more confident than she felt.
April frowned. “I was in the hospital once.”
“Really?” Piper commented, finding the conversation both interesting and distracting. April didn’t appear to be upset at having been left with her, and the fact that the child had confidence in her somehow dispelled her initial anxiety.
“Daddy told me. He said I was born too early, and I had to stay in a cubator for a little while, until I got bigger, then he took me home,” she explained solemnly.
Piper smiled. “Well, I’d say they must have taken good care of you.”
April nodded. “And they’ll take care of Uncle