From Doctor...to Daddy / When the Cowboy Said ''I Do'': From Doctor...to Daddy

After clearing her throat, she straightened her shoulders and met his gaze. “I’m fine.”

The simmering heat in his eyes shook her all over again. He ran his hand through his hair and went to his desk, using it as a barrier between them. “You have an outside appointment this afternoon, don’t you?”

With effort, she pulled herself together and replied, “With Mayor Brookhurst. I’ll be leaving in a few minutes. I have to sort through my notes first.”

With an obvious effort to move the conversation away from the two of them, he remarked, “I suppose he’ll be Master of Ceremonies for Frontier Days?”

“Yes. I want to go over his schedule. Bo Clifton and Arthur Swinton will be giving campaign speeches on Saturday afternoon of that weekend and probably glad-handing everyone they can. I’m hoping Mayor Brookhurst will look on the whole thing as one big retirement party.”

Although they were discussing Frontier Days, Dillon was still standing there watching her. “What?” she asked.

“You’re really beautiful when you let your guard down.”

She wasn’t sure what to say to that until Dillon went on. “You’re beautiful all the time. But when you’re enthusiastic, your eyes light up, and your smile is something to see. I’m glad Zane’s concert will make you so happy.”

She wanted to find out more about how this had all come about and exactly why he had asked his friend for this favor. “Did you have to twist his arm?”

“No,” Dillon answered with a reminiscent smile. “I asked if he was free. He checked his schedule. I told him I’d be here this month and suggested we’d have time to reconnect. He seemed to like that idea.”

“I’m hoping he’ll enjoy himself here.”

“This will be good for you in other ways, too. The prestige of having him and his band staying here could bring in even more guests. Grant will be thrilled. I guess your biggest job now will be to publicize it as quickly as possible.”

If she kept looking at Dillon, kept thinking about his lips on hers, she’d end up in his arms again. So she concentrated on details. “There are so many things to think about—writing press releases, putting info on the resort Web site, taking out more ads across the area. I also need to know what Zane might need to be comfortable here. What does he like? What should I put in his room? Where can I get all of his CDs so we have enough to sell?”

“His manager won’t mind you asking him those questions. He’s a good guy.”

“But you probably know his likes and dislikes, favorite candy bars. Unless he’s into healthy snacks. If so, I need to know that,” she said, still in awe that the country singer was actually going to perform in Thunder Canyon.

Dillon shrugged. “He’s just a man, Erika, like any other. But if you need specifics, he likes corn chips and the hottest salsa you can find.”

“Still—this is so big for Thunder Canyon.”

“I’m getting a good idea of how big it is for you.”

“Will you introduce us?” she asked impulsively.

“Sure. If I’m around when Zane comes in, I’ll do that for you. You’ll like him, Erika. He really is a regular guy.”

“And you’re a terrific … friend for doing this.”

“I didn’t do it just for you. Thunder Canyon can use a real economic pump. Maybe if other country stars see that Zane performed here, they’ll follow.”

“Thank you for any part you played in convincing Zane to come here. I promise, his experience is going to be a spectacular one. I’ll make sure everything is exactly the way he wants it. We’ll treat him as the celebrity he is.”

“I think Zane will just want to have a beer and a rack of ribs from D.J.’s and act like a normal person. But that won’t be possible if we get crowds. You’ll have a chance to meet him outside the hoopla, then you can cross off one of your dreams come true.”

One of her dreams come true. Did the other have to do with Dillon? She was so tempted by the idea. But she knew dreams faded away like smoke at the tip of a candle. She had to keep Emilia and her job first and foremost in her mind.

And if she and Dillon were drawn together again?

Silence stretched between them and Dillon looked sober for a moment. “I want to say this again. I know I shouldn’t have kissed you here. I don’t want to embarrass you or compromise you. But something seems to happen when we get within ten feet of each other.”

He seemed as surprised by that as she was. She could pull back, wrap herself up in her professionalism, lift her chin and walk out without another word. But where would that get her? Dillon had said Zane was a real guy. Dillon was a real guy. He said what he meant. He did what he said. She wanted to be real, too.

“I learned in the past that an attraction can lead to pain I never want to experience again. Emilia deserves a family, not moments of happiness here and there. So I have to make a wise decision. Being attracted to you confuses me, I can’t deny it. But right now I don’t know what to do with it, either.”

“So for now you want to pretend we’re boss and employee and nothing else is going on.”

“Yes,” she admitted, relieved that he understood.

After all, she was a representative of Thunder Canyon Resort. She could not let desire for Dillon fog her better judgment.

And she couldn’t fall into a month-long affair that would surely leave her with a broken heart. She couldn’t.

“I have to go,” she murmured as she broke eye contact and stepped toward the door.

“Good luck with the mayor,” Dillon said, his voice wrapping around her as his arms had a few minutes before. She nodded and hurried out of his office, not knowing what to do about the tall, broad-shouldered Texan who had done her a huge favor.

Erika was walking through the main lobby of the resort when Erin Castro called to her from the front desk. Erin was still a mystery to many people in Thunder Canyon. She’d moved to town in July and found a job waitressing at the Hitching Post. Her long blond hair and very blue eyes, along with a figure straight out of Victoria’s Secret, attracted men to her, especially when she’d been a waitress. But now she’d been hired at Thunder Canyon Resort on a temporary basis—to fill in where she was needed—and she wore more subdued makeup, often tying back her hair. Erika thought now Erin seemed to want to blend in with the crowd.

But she was still too pretty to just blend in. When Erika stopped at the desk, Erin asked, “How would you like to have lunch next week? We could get away from here and go to the Tottering Teapot.”

“That would be nice.” The bistro in town was a woman’s haven.

Erika had made friends with Erin because she seemed so much less judgmental than other employees at the resort. Her other “lunch” friend, Holly Pritchett, was out of town for a few weeks. A relaxed lunch with Erin would help them to get to know each other better.

“The buzz around here is that you’re doing a good job at putting together Frontier Days,” she commented as if she was happy for Erika.

“Just wait until everyone knows,” Erika said with a mysterious smile.

“Knows what? You act like you have a secret you can’t wait to spill.”

“It won’t be a secret for long.” She crooked her finger at Erin and they leaned close to each other. “Zane Gunther’s going to be our entertainment.”

Erin almost let out a whoop but stopped herself. “You’re not kidding, are you?”

“Nope.”

“I thought you looked excited about something. How long do I have to keep it to myself?”

“I’ll be writing press releases tonight and sending them out to anyone I think can help publicize this. So by tomorrow evening, the news should be out.”

“You look so happy I thought you’d have something good to tell me.”

A guest, a woman who looked to be in her fifties, came in the front lobby door and wheeled her suitcase to the desk. Erin turned to her immediately.

Erika said in a low voice, “Call me to set up a lunch date.”