Olivia crossed the schoolyard to pick up George. It was the last day before summer vacation began. Olivia spotted her on the playground. With her enthusiastic, pint-sized audience cheering her on from below, George, in her lemon-yellow shorts set, traversed the top of the monkey bars with the grace and ease of an experienced tightrope walker. Still, the sight of her up there caused Olivia’s heart to double bump against her ribs. Which, she had to admit, was an improvement over what her reaction would have been two weeks before. Thank goodness for self-help books.
George spotted her. “Livy, watch!” She did a backflip off the bars, landing perfectly in the sand on her two feet, red lights flashing on her sneakers. Her friends cheered while Olivia worked on breathing again.
Ms. Ryan, George’s teacher, turned as Olivia approached. “I swear, I don’t know how you don’t have gray hair.”
“I do. You just can’t see it amongst the blond.” Olivia smiled. She liked George’s teacher. The thirtysomething redhead was passionate about her job and genuinely liked kids. She’d been a big help to Olivia and George over the past few weeks. As they’d discovered, George hadn’t gone to school and was behind the other children.
When George had first started at Harmony Harbor Elementary, there had been talk about holding her back next year. If Ms. Ryan and the principal felt it was in George’s best interest to do so, then they’d have to make the best of it. But she and George had been spending time after school and on weekends working on her numbers and letters, so Olivia was hopeful she’d pass. Mostly because there’d been so much change in George’s life, and she’d started to bond with the kids in her class.
Ms. Ryan laughed. “Good thing you weren’t here five minutes ago. She was walking up there on her hands. Have you thought about putting her in gymnastics?”
“She’s registered for the fall, but there’s a couple of summer camps I’m looking into.” That was the nice thing about working as an events planner for the manor; George could come with Olivia to Greystone or she could work from home. But until she found someone to replace Sherry and Kerry, she was working nine to five at the clinic. Olivia thought she’d have to bring George with her tomorrow, but last night a teenager who lived on Primrose Lane had arrived at her door to offer to babysit courtesy of Julia.
Olivia glanced at Ms. Ryan. “Are you going to make me wait until I open her report card?”
“You passed. Good job, Mom.” Ms. Ryan’s laughter trailed off. “Olivia, did I say something wrong?”
“No, not all.” She surreptitiously wiped at the corner of her eye. “Don’t mind me. It’s just that I didn’t expect to be someone’s mom again. Until now, I didn’t realize I was. But I guess I am,” she said with a watery smile as she looked at George chasing after her friends, her face glowing with laughter and good health.
Somehow, despite all odds, George had worked her way into Olivia’s heart. Death—her son’s and husband’s—had changed Olivia. She wasn’t the same woman she’d been before the loss. But slowly, thanks to her friends, George, and even Finn, she was realizing that was neither good or bad, it just was. Despite the pain that would lessen but never fully go away, she could still have a good life.
“You’re doing a great job, Olivia. She’s adjusting nicely. I’ve noticed a big difference since you moved into the house on Primrose Lane. And it doesn’t hurt that Mia’s so popular and has taken George under her wing. By the way, I hear congratulations are in order.”
“Do you mean about the Michaelson wedding? It was quite the coup to—”
“No, silly, your wedding.” Ms. Ryan grimaced at what was probably Olivia’s stunned expression. “Sorry, was it supposed to be a secret? Mia and George have been telling everyone they’re going to be cousins.”
The only way they’d be cousins was if Olivia married Finn. Moving next door had been bad enough, but working with Finn—or how he liked to put it, for him—was bad on a whole other level of bad. And not just because it put ideas in George’s head. Olivia had had a few of her own this past week.
She’d suspected Finn would have a wonderful bedside manner, be warm and genial with his patients, and now she had firsthand proof he was that and more. The man was an exceptional doctor. He had a gift, a sixth sense. He’d accurately diagnosed every patient before the results of their tests had even come in to prove him right. But for all the man had going for him, Finn Gallagher was surprisingly humble.
The direction of her thoughts annoyed her. He was not perfect. For one, he was the most disorganized man she had ever met. He was messy too. And he…was gorgeous and sweet and looked so good in his button-down shirts with the sleeves rolled up to show his muscular forearms and the glasses that made him…Fig Newton, she needed to find him a nurse and receptionist ASAP.
“Olivia, is everything okay?”
“Yes, yes, sorry. When you mentioned the wedding, I started to think about the one at the manor next weekend. Hazard of the job, I guess. George, sweetheart, it’s time to leave.” She waved her over.
“So congratulations aren’t in order then?”
“No, Finn and I are just good friends. You know what kids are like.”
“Oh, but I thought I heard you were dating.”
She laughed like it was all a big misunderstanding. Given George and Mia’s schoolyard gossip, it was past time Olivia and Finn ended their fake relationship. It was confusing for George…and for Olivia. “You know what small towns are like. A hotbed of rumor and innuendo.”
“I have some girlfriends who will be very happy to hear that,” George’s teacher said, and then her smile turned upside down. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No, why? Did I make a face?” Of course, you did, she berated herself, and that jealous twinge you got in your chest is just more proof you need to stop spending so much time with the man. Ms. Ryan gave her an odd look. Olivia had to say something. “If I did, it’s because we’ve just gotten patient waiting times under control, and I’d hate to see us go back to standing room only. You know, Finn bikes every morning on the boardwalk. Maybe they could catch up with him there.”
“Thanks for the tip. I’ll let them know.” She turned to smile at George. “Thanks again for my cupcake flowerpot, George. I hope you have a wonderful summer. I look forward to seeing you in September.”
George swallowed hard and gave Ms. Ryan a wobbly smile. “’Kay. But if I practice my reading and numbers over the summer, can you maybe put me in my friend’s class later?”
Olivia crouched in front of her and adjusted the backpack straps on her shoulders. “You passed, George. All that hard work you did paid off.”
She blinked her big blue eyes and then threw her arms around Olivia and held on tight. It was the first time George had hugged her, and Olivia found herself blinking her eyes too. She’d forgotten how it felt to be held by a child. Olivia cleared her throat before she became undone in the middle of the playground. “Okay, now say goodbye to your friends.” It took a few minutes before they were able to get away. Other parents had arrived and numbers were exchanged and playdates arranged.
“What do you say we have a celebration?” Olivia asked, taking George’s hand as they crossed the road to where she’d parked the Range Rover.
“After we’ve finished work?”
George had been coming back to the clinic with her after school. Finn had set up a small table and chair for her in his office. Before speaking with Ms. Ryan, Olivia had every intention of going back to work. “No, today’s special. We can’t work on special days. We have to celebrate.”
The clinic closed at five, and Dr. Bishop was in today too. Surely between the two of them, they could handle things. Besides, it wasn’t as if she was on the payroll. She didn’t owe Finn an explanation if she decided to leave early. She pulled out her phone and texted him that she wouldn’t be back and then opened the rear door for George. “Where would you like to go?”
“Aren’t we going home to get Pete, Wolfie, and Finn?” George asked, because apparently, it wasn’t a party without the bunny, dog, and Olivia’s fake boyfriend. Another sign that she had to get a handle on this sooner rather than later.
“I thought we’d go to the manor. Maybe we’ll have a picnic on the beach.”
Finn had been in a bad mood since three o’clock yesterday afternoon. By six that evening, he was ticked the hell off, and his mood hadn’t improved. In fact, it had gotten worse. He’d been out for his early morning bike ride, enjoying the sun on his face, the sound of the waves hitting the rugged shoreline below him, and the birds flitting from the leafy branches overhanging the path when he was accosted by two women in two separate incidents.
Okay, so maybe accosted was too strong a word. Propositioned was more of an apt description. And why did the women think he was fair game and know where to find him? Because his girlfriend—his fake girlfriend, his erstwhile receptionist, his supposed friend, and sort-of neighbor—had ratted him out.
And she’d been the one to put him in a bad mood to begin with. A mood that had steadily grown into a giant-sized ticked-off ball in his chest since she’d blown off work as easily as she’d blown off his repeated texts. And then, to make matters worse, he’d discovered she and George had gone to the manor and celebrated George’s passing kindergarten without him.
He banged into the clinic, letting the door slam behind him. So much for his dramatic entrance. It didn’t faze Liv. She didn’t even look up from the computer screen. He saw the reason why as he crossed the empty waiting room. She had earbuds in. He stopped in front of the reception desk and stood there waiting for her to acknowledge him.
While he did, he kind of checked her out. It was a bad habit that had started last week, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t seem to shake it. Her don’t-mess-with-me vibe got to him every time.
She’d taken to wearing her hair pulled back in a sleek knot that went with the classy sleeveless tops she wore tucked into her straight-cut skirts that she paired with sexy heels. Today she wore siren red from head to toe.
She glanced up and gave him a raised-eyebrow look.
He gave her one of his own and crossed his arms. Mostly to stop himself from reaching over and shoving his hands into her hair and messing it up, and then maybe he’d take her face and kiss the red lipstick right off her mouth. Whoa, where the hell had that come from?
She took out her earbuds. “What’s up with you?” she asked in a snotty, Ivy League voice.
Oh, she did not just go there. “What’s up with me?” He parked his ass on the edge of her desk. “I think the better question would be, what’s up with you?”
She lifted a shoulder and returned her gaze to the computer screen. “If you’re cross because I didn’t come back to work yesterday, I’m sorry, but I had things to do. Besides, this isn’t a paid position. I’m doing this out of the goodness of my heart.”
“Even volunteers honor their commitment, Liv.”
“That’s not fair.”
“Neither was not responding to my texts. I was worried about you, and then I found out you were celebrating George passing kindergarten without me.” He realized then he wasn’t just ticked off; he was hurt. Liv wasn’t the only one invested in the kid. He’d been helping George with her homework too.
“Who told you?”
“You were at the manor. Did you really think I wouldn’t find out?”
She trapped her bottom lip between her teeth, releasing it to say, “I’m sorry. If it makes you feel better, George was disappointed you weren’t there.”
“But you weren’t. You didn’t want me there.” Dammit, he sounded like a ten-year-old who’d just been told Santa wasn’t real.
“No, and trust me, when I tell you why, you’ll be glad I didn’t. George and Mia have been telling people we’re getting married.” She gave him a look. “See, I knew exactly how you’d react. But don’t worry, I took care of it.”
She read him right. Just the mention of his name and marriage in the same sentence caused him to break out in a cold sweat.
“Let me guess, you were the one who told everyone we broke up. And then you decided to share my morning routine, on what, Instagram? Is there anything else you shared? You’re not giving out my cell number, are you?”
“No, and all I did was mention your morning ride to George’s teacher. For your benefit, I might add. I did it so you wouldn’t be inundated at the clinic. And I’m pretty sure I found you a receptionist and nurse.”
“When you make up your mind, you don’t fool around, do you?” He was disappointed. He wouldn’t share that with Liv, but he was. He’d gotten used to seeing her every day. He liked having her around. He might tell himself it was because the woman had scary-good organizational skills and had organized not only the clinic, but him too. It was more than that, and he knew it.
He’d been fooling himself. He was developing feelings for Liv that went way beyond friendship. But Liv had George and a crapload of baggage. He wasn’t ready for any of it. He might want Liv in his bed, but he didn’t want everything else that went along with having her there. She’d want more from him. Way more than he was able or wanted to give.
“I have my job at the manor and George. Add in the time I spend here, and it’s a lot to juggle.”
He stood up. “You’re right, and both Doc Bishop and I appreciated you filling in, Liv. You’ve been a big help. Is George in my office?”
“No, she’s with Emma at the beach. Her new babysitter,” she said when he cocked his head at the unfamiliar name, and then added, “Emma’s a certified lifeguard trainer.”
He didn’t know if she told him that to reassure herself or him. Surprisingly, it did make him feel better. Liv wasn’t the only one who had become important to him; so had George. Liv was right. The sooner they put a stop to this, the better. For all of them. Someone was going to get hurt.
“Okay, you should go join them or take a couple of hours to yourself. You’ve earned it, Liv.” He held out his hand. “Thanks again for everything.”
“You want me to leave?” She looked around the reception area. “But I have Ava and Dorothy coming for an interview at ten.”
“Our Ava? To work here? But I thought she loved being head chef at the manor. And who’s Dorothy?”
“Dorothy’s a retired nurse. She’s dating Ava’s dad and was best friends with her mother. They’re very close and would work well together. And while Ava loves working at the manor, she used to love nursing. She’s been doing a couple of classes online.” Liv shrugged self-consciously. “I thought working here would be a good opportunity for her to decide what she wants to do.”
“It’s a great idea. Doc Bishop’s coming in shortly, so he can handle the interviews. Looks like we’re all set thanks to you.” He stuck out his hand again, practically forcing the words through his clenched teeth. He was even more irritated than when he woke up this morning. “I guess I’ll see you around.”
“Oh, I…So this is it? This is goodbye?” she said, slowly coming to her feet. His fingers closed around hers. She looked up at him, her whiskey-colored eyes shiny.
“Yeah, it’s probably for the best.” Jesus, what was going on with him? His throat was so tight it was a struggle just to get the words out. Who was he kidding? He didn’t want to end this now. He didn’t want to picture what his days would be like without Liv in them. And that was it, the reason he had to say goodbye before he did something he’d regret like fall in love with her. “I’m only here for a couple more months, Liv. It’s not fair to George, and—”
She blinked and then nodded, tugging on her hand to get him to let go. He hadn’t realized he was holding on so tightly. “Of course, you’re right. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me and George. You’ve been a good friend, a truly lovely friend,” she said, and stretched up on her toes to kiss his cheek.
He swore in his head, fighting the urge to take her in his arms and say to hell with it. To hell with— The door to the clinic opened. Finn frowned. It was Stanley.
Liv slowly lowered on her heels and turned to face the older man. “Stanley, what are you doing here? What’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry, Livy. I tried to talk them out of it.”
“Who? You tried to talk who out of what?”
“Celeste and Walter are suing for custody of George.”