Claiming the Doctor's Heart. Renee Ryan

in her heart. “Not to worry, sweetie. I’ll be back first thing in the morning.”

      “But you can’t go yet. It’s Wednesday.”

      “What’s so special about Wednesday?” She aimed the question at Connor.

      “Movie night,” he explained, heading toward the sink, his hands full of more dirty dishes.

      “It’s my turn to pick the movie,” Molly declared. “And Daddy’s turn to make the snacks. He always goes with microwave popcorn. It’s a tradition.”

      Tradition. What a lovely word, one that told Olivia a lot about the man stacking dishes in the sink. She knew the kind of hours he worked, knew the challenges of his schedule even on a “slow” day. Yet he managed a weekly movie night with his daughters.

      Could Connor Mitchell get any more likable?

      “Well?” Molly demanded. “Are you watching the movie with us or not?”

      Tempting. But Olivia didn’t want to interject herself into valuable family time. “Maybe next week.”

      “Olivia.” Connor came back to the table, gathered up a handful of silverware. “You’re welcome to stay.”

      She studied his face, noted the sincerity in his eyes. “I don’t want to intrude—”

      “Stay,” he repeated. “Watch the movie with us. Afterward we can discuss your job duties.”

      They could do that now, before he settled in with the girls, but Olivia didn’t point that out. She actually wanted to spend more time with this family, wanted to get to know them on a deeper level.

      Dangerous territory.

      Or was it? How could she know how best to serve the girls beyond the day-to-day basics if she didn’t spend quality time with them?

      “All right.” She laughed when the girls cheered. “But you have to let me help with the snacks.”

      “Not going to happen.” Connor pointed her toward the family room. “It’s my job tonight.”

      Molly chose a full-length cartoon about a Scottish warrior princess. The snack was, as predicted, microwave popcorn.

      Sharing a bowl with Connor, Olivia realized she missed the simply enjoyment of a movie night with people she cared about. She hadn’t had a relaxing evening like this since...the night before she broke things off with Warner.

      He’d accused her of not wanting a traditional lifestyle. Olivia hadn’t disagreed with his accusation. Not because he was right. On the contrary, she desperately wanted marriage and a family of her own. What she didn’t want was marriage to a man who considered her a perfect match for his rigid requirements of a wife.

      Warner hadn’t loved Olivia. He hadn’t even wanted her in his life, not really. He’d only wanted a woman who would take care of his daughter on his court-ordered visitation weekends, a woman who had a career worthy of his respect and who, according to him, also looked good on his arm.

      Olivia had measured up, supposedly, but she knew any number of women would have taken her place in a heartbeat.

      Never again would she be a convenient addition to a man’s life. If she married, it would be to a man who loved her for her, not because she exemplified his ideal of the perfect wife.

      Hence her desire to focus on her own future and to switch careers before it was too late. Before she woke up and found herself staring down forty instead of thirty, with nothing to show for her life but a VP position at some bank.

      And that was enough deep thinking for one night.

      “You know what would make this movie even better?” she whispered to Connor, popping a very plain, very bland piece of popcorn into her mouth.

      Angling closer, his eyes still on the screen, he lowered his voice to match hers. “What’s that?”

      “Chocolate.”

      Chuckling softly, he turned to look at her. His expression was relaxed, approachable, the man behind the successful doctor and stressed-out single dad. “I’ve always argued that the FDA missed two important food groups.”

      Smiling like that, almost playfully, made Olivia think of the days when he’d been more boy than man and the center of a few teenage dreams. He’d grown more attractive through the years. He was so good-looking now, so masculine, so close. “Wha—what did they miss?”

      “Chocolate and coffee. Both deserve their own category. For obvious reasons.”

      “I like the way you think, Dr. Mitchell.”

      He chuckled. “And I like—”

      “Shhhhhh,” Molly ordered. “Here comes the best part.”

      The best part consisted of an archery tournament where the female heroine outshone all the men. The kid had excellent taste.

      After the movie, Connor sent the girls off to brush their teeth and get ready for bed while Olivia gathered up the empty bowls.

      “Can you hang around until I get the twins in bed?”

      She lifted a questioning gaze. “Because?”

      “We need to discuss your hours, job duties and payment.”

      “Sure, I can stay a little longer. Why don’t I take the puppy for a walk and you can join us outside when you’re done getting the girls settled in for the night?”

      “It’s a plan.” With a final smile in her direction, he followed after his daughters.

      When Olivia snapped the leash on Samson’s collar, he only struggled a little. Vast improvement.

      Outside, she breathed in the fresh Colorado air. The scent of pine was heavy tonight. The light breeze lifting the hair off her face carried a slight chill. A refreshing change from the Florida heat and oppressive humidity.

      With the sound of clicking bugs and croaking frogs in her ears, she guided the puppy along a grassy pathway bordering a small pond. The sky overhead was dotted with sparkling diamonds against the inky fabric of the night. “Beautiful,” she whispered.

      The back door creaked on its hinges mere seconds before Connor came up behind her.