Just One Kiss (Whisper Lake #4) - Barbara Freethy Page 0,70
together again."
"You should make the right decision for yourself, not for Mom or for Dad."
Paul smiled. "I will. I'm not a kid anymore, Jake. I can see the benefit of getting broader experience before I come back here, but eventually I would like to settle in Whisper Lake. I got great care from this hospital, and I want to make sure that level of care continues for everyone who lives in this community."
He could hear the passion in his brother's voice and knew that Paul's career path came more out of his personal experience than just a desire to follow in his father's footsteps. Paul knew firsthand the healing power of medicine. And with his sharp mind as well as his kind, unselfish nature, Paul was going to make a great physician. "That makes sense," he said. "I would love to have you back here, but I just want what's best for you."
"I want the same for you, big brother. So, why are you really here? Does it have anything to do with one very pretty but stubborn redheaded nurse?"
"You think you know me so well."
"I do know you that well," Paul said with a laugh. "And Hannah just arrived with her mom and a little kid. We walked in at the same time."
His body tightened at that information, and he couldn't stop himself from looking around the room. When he saw her putting cookies on the buffet table, excitement rushed through his veins. She looked beautiful and holiday appropriate in tight black jeans and a bright-red sweater.
"You have it bad," Paul commented, his gaze not missing a thing. "So, what's the latest with you two?"
He forced himself to look back at his brother. "I don't know. It feels like two steps forward and one step back with Hannah."
"At least there's some forward progress."
"Some. I just want more, and I want it faster."
"That doesn't surprise me. You always want more, and you usually get it. I guess the question is—what does Hannah want?"
"She's fighting what she wants. But I'm working on her."
"Which is why you're here. Do you want to come with me to say hello to Mom and Dad?"
"I'll catch up to them later."
"All right. Good luck."
As his brother left, Jake looked back at Hannah. They'd gotten close last night, and he wanted to get closer. For that, he might need an ally, someone who could watch Brett, someone who could give him a little more alone time with Hannah.
As his gaze moved to Hannah's mom, he wondered if he might find one in Katherine. He was probably crazy to think that, but there was only one way to find out.
Hannah wished she could stop being so aware of Jake. She'd seen him the second she'd walked into the party, and even though she'd been mingling for the past thirty minutes with her friends and coworkers, she couldn't stop her gaze from moving back to him.
He'd also been mingling, but now he was talking to her mother, and they seemed to be getting along quite well. Her mom was actually smiling at him. What was that all about?
Maybe they were just talking about Brett. But Brett had reconnected with Hailey, and they had joined the kids watching the puppet show. Her mom and Jake were on their own. She couldn't believe they had that much to talk about.
"Hannah, there you are."
At Davis's voice, she turned her head, giving him a happy smile. Dr. McKenna was dressed in a dark suit with a bold-red tie, his brown hair starting to pepper with gray at the sideburns. While Jake couldn't stand his father, she liked Davis a great deal. He'd been a mentor to her before and after she'd become a nurse and watching him at work every day had made her respect him even more. He certainly wasn't perfect. He occasionally had an arrogance that was off-putting, but he did care deeply about his patients and the hospital and what more could you ask for from the chief of staff?
"Merry Christmas, " she said. "I like the tie.”
He tipped his head. "I bring it out every Christmas. I've been thinking about you, Hannah. I've been hearing some rumors about your sister. She disappeared after dropping her son off with you?"
"Yes. I think she's in some kind of trouble. The police are looking for her." She didn't even bother to ask how he'd heard. Gossip spread fast in Whisper Lake.