The Cowgirl and the Country M.D. by Catherine Mann

Author:Catherine Mann
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-07-14T16:31:00+00:00

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Two days later, Nolan palmed the base of Eliza’s spine as they left the restaurant, stepping into the starry night onto freshly salted pavement that crunched beneath their boots. The touch was born of instinct after their easy conversation over supper. Nothing deep. Just simple and enjoyable in a life that had been far too complicated for a long time.

She was charming and smart. Witty and, yes, beautiful.

They’d lingered over the meal longer than he’d expected. They’d enjoyed dinner on an enclosed back patio with a scenic view of the town’s half-frozen river. While the outdoor patio had strategically placed outdoor heaters to ward off the winter chill, he’d insisted on a table by the window instead so she wouldn’t risk a relapse of her sore throat.

They’d talked about simple things, like how they’d spent their day—she’d updated records on horses; he’d ice-skated with the kids. Things that made them laugh—she’d played with Loki in the snow; he’d washed marker off Mavis’s arms. Books they were reading—she’d devoured a historical romance novel; he’d slowly waded through a medical publication.

Now they settled into an amicable silence, walking side by side. If things had been different, he would have taken her hand or put his arm around her. But he was done wasting time on thinking of what could have been. He was focused on making the most of this moment with this lovely, exciting woman.

Lights illuminated the sidewalk along the main street in the quaint town of Moonlight Ridge. The storefronts were a mixture of Swiss chalet and rustic cabin, with clapboards and A-frame peaks. Window displays showed an assortment of merchandise from gift shops, clothing stores and a couple of cafés—all small scale and quaint. It didn’t feel like a kitschy vacation spot but like a cozy, old-fashioned community.

The only nod to the scenic locale? A ski lift for sightseeing over the valley along with transport to a snowboarding hill. The chairlift seemed the perfect way to end the evening.

Main Street was lightly populated, given it was a weeknight during the school year. A half dozen ladies stepped out of a café, each clutching a hardback book and chatting about their book club. Couples and families hurried to their cars, holding shopping bags and doggie bags. People with connections—homes and families and places to go. And for a moment, Nolan felt like life was normal.

Finally, they reached the ski lift launch at the end of Main Street, a small wooden booth at the gate.

He passed his debit card to the teenage girl in the maple booth. Icicles on the overhang glinted. “Two tickets, please.”

Smiling wide with a mouth full of braces, the teen handed the tickets over the counter, waving them through. “Enjoy the ride.”

“Thank you,” Nolan said, his hand on Eliza’s back again, the wool of her jacket rasping against his leather gloves.

Twinkling lights along the chairs looked like shooting stars moving toward snow-drenched mountains. Eliza stuffed her hands into her coat jacket as she shivered slightly, making their shoulders brush.

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