Just Beginning
amazing it’d be to come home to this every day? It’d be the perfect place to write—so beautiful and quiet. How could you not be creative, surrounded by all that?” She paused. “We lived in San Diego for a while. I couldn’t wait to get back to Michigan.”
    “Missed the humidity and bugs, did you?” He took her hand and pulled her away from a swarm of gnats, then didn’t let go. Her small hand disappeared beneath his big paw, and he loved how it automatically curled into his. There was something intimate yet comforting about walking hand-in-hand. He’d missed this connection.
    “Hardly,” she said dryly. “I missed the huge green trees, the space, and seasons. I love the colors and smells in the fall, the biting winter, ice storms and all. And the spring—I can’t imagine a more beautiful place in the spring with all the trees flowering. The summer may be a little hot, but if I could live by the lake, it’d be worth it.”
    “I agree. A lot of people aren’t as blessed.”
    “Yeah, but we all have something to be thankful for.”
    “Tell that to the poor folks living in roach-infested dumps, struggling to eke out a living, trying to feed and clothe their kids while protecting them from gangs. I bet they have a little trouble finding blessings to count.”
    Jenny’s sideways, cautious look told him he’d been a little too emphatic.
    “Sorry. Guess I feel a little guilty. We’ve had a great meal and are enjoying this beautiful lake, while those poor people at that clinic have next to nothing. Comparatively.”
    “So why don’t you help? Give them some time at the clinic? They’re always looking for doctors to volunteer. One afternoon a week would be a huge help.”
    He pursed his lips in consideration. He could. “Maybe I will. It’d be good to feel useful again.”
    The pager on his hip sounded. No. Not now. Damn it.
    Gabe released her hand to check the number. His shoulders drooped. “ICU I’m sorry; I’ve got to answer this.”
    “It’s okay.” She smiled. “I don’t mind."
    His hand went to his belt and the empty phone case, and then he patted his pockets.
    “It’s in your car. Charging.”
    “Right.” Damn . “I hate to cut our walk short, but—”
    “You have to answer the page.” Jenny took his arm and turned them around. “If you weren’t having a good time you could’ve taken me straight home. No need to have your buddy page you with a fake emergency.”
    “Wha—?” He frowned and his pace slowed before halting completely as he got it. “Hey, no. This is for real. I—”
    Her lips spread in a wide grin. “I’m teasing you.” His pager sounded again. Jenny tugged on his arm. “Come on. Let’s go. You need to save a life.”
    She’d been kidding? “Have you done that often?”
    “Tease?”
    “Have a friend text you to get you out of an awful date?”
    She gave him an impish look. “Maybe a time or two. You haven’t?”
    “Nope. No need.” He lightly squeezed her hand. “I’m an excellent judge of character.”
    “And. It never occurred to you.”
    He grinned. No way he was going to admit that. They hurried back to the car, where Gabe could answer the page in relative privacy.
    Tuning out his conversation, Jenny settled back in the cloth seat and blew out a contented sigh. Nice dinner followed by a pleasant walk by the lake and not much first date awkwardness. Gabe was intelligent, interesting, and caring. So where was his fatal flaw?
    She peeked at Gabe out of the corner of her eye, admiring his handsome face, kind eyes, and the soothing timbre of his voice. He was polished, she’d give him that, and when he smiled he was irresistible. His smile literally made her heart flutter. This guy had definite potential. She pulled his jacket tighter around her. But his car definitely was weird. It really did remind her of a hearse—she hadn’t been teasing him about that.
    Gabe held out his phone to her. “Say hello to Betty.”
    “Wha—?” Jenny
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