The Doctor's Not-So-Little Secret (Rx for Love, 6, Band 2184) - Softcover

Über die Autorinnen und Autoren

Cindy Kirk has loved to read for as long as she can remember.  In first grade she received an award for reading one hundred books! Since selling her first story to Harlequin Books in 1999, Cindy has been forced to juggle her love of reading with her passion for creating stories of her own. But it's worth it.  Writing for Harlequin Special Edition is a dream come true.Website: www.cindykirk.com 

New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne finds inspiration in the beautiful northern Utah mountains where she lives with her family. Her books have won numerous honors, including six RITA Award nominations from Romance Writers of America and Career Achievement and Romance Pioneer awards from RT Book Reviews. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website.

A New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author, Christine Rimmer has written more than a hundred contemporary romances for Harlequin Books. She consistently writes love stories that are sweet, sexy, humorous and heartfelt. She lives in Oregon with her family. Visit Christine at www.christinerimmer.com.

Susan Crosby is a bestselling USA TODAY author of more than 35 romances and women's fiction novels for Harlequin. She was won the BOOKreviews Reviewers Choice Award twice as Best Silhouette Desire and many other major awards. She lives in Northern California but not too close to earthquake country. You can check out her website at www.susancrosby.com.

USA TODAY bestselling author Christyne Butler fell in love with romance novels while serving in the U.S. Navy. She started writing her own stories in 2002 and writes contemporary romances full of life, love and a hint of laughter. And there has to be a "happily ever after" or she’s just not satisfied. She lives in central Massachusetts with her family and loves to hear from her readers at chris@christynebutler.com.

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Dr. Kate McNeal sat back in her seat by the front window of Jackson Hole's newest coffee shop, enjoying her cappuccino. It was Saturday and, thanks to a very generous on-call rotation schedule at the pediatrics clinic, she had the whole weekend off.

All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go could be her motto. Kate sighed and took another sip. Although she'd been in Jackson Hole for almost two years, she had no close friends. Oh, she had tons of social buddies, men and women who invited her to their parties and other events. But no one she felt comfortable calling up on a Saturday morning and asking, "Hey, do you want to grab a scone and then do some shopping?"

Part of the problem was that most of the women she knew had husbands and children. Once she'd reached her early thirties, Kate had discovered there weren't many women left in the single, never-married category. But she couldn't blame her current loneliness all on her marital status.

As a child, Kate had been painfully shy. While in her professional life she did fine, shyness was still a struggle in social settings. Worse yet, her reticence often led to her being labeled "aloof" or "standoffish" by those who didn't know her well.

She smoothed the skirt of the buttercup-yellow dress she'd purchased last week. Even though most of the coffee shop patrons were wearing jeans or shorts with a casual shirt, Kate liked to dress up. Wearing pretty things made her feel pretty, a feeling that had been in short supply during her growing-up years. Unlike her sister, Andrea, who everyone still raved over, it had taken years for Kate's lanky body to develop a few curves and for her teeth to not look too large for her face.

Back in her early twenties, when she was finally reaching out and becoming the woman she was meant to be, her world had fallen apart. Her grandmother had died. Her boyfriend had deserted her. And she'd had to make a decision no woman should ever have to make…alone. A decision she now lived with every day of her life.

Kate choked down the last bite of lemon-curd scone and gazed out the window, wondering if some shopping therapy would help get her out of this funk.

She was ready to give it a try when she saw Joel Dennes heading toward Hill of Beans, his nine-year-old daughter, Chloe, in tow. Even though she told herself to look away, Kate couldn't take her eyes off them.

Thankfully Joel didn't see her staring. Dressed in jeans and a striped cotton shirt that brought out the green in his hazel eyes, the handsome contractor's entire focus was on his young daughter. Joel was tall—at least six foot two—with a rugged outdoorsy build. His child was petite and slender as a reed with delicate features. From the bag Chloe held, it appeared they'd just come from the dance studio down the street.

So far, on this sunny June morning, Kate had seen at least six little girls walk by with their mothers. All carried the same type of "dancer" bag she'd once owned.

The normally reserved Chloe let out a peal of laughter at something her father said, and his eyes crinkled with good humor as he settled his hand on her shoulder.

From everything she'd heard and seen, Joel had been doing his best to be both mother and father to Chloe since the death of her mom two years ago.

As far as Kate was concerned, such actions spoke volumes about a man's character. She admired him for stepping up to the plate, admired him a lot.

She shifted in her seat so that her back was to the window, ensuring if they looked her way, she'd simply be a dark-haired woman in a yellow dress.

"Is Joel why you told Ryan you didn't want to see him anymore?"

Kate shifted her gaze to find Lexi Delacourt standing beside her table, latte in hand, wearing a stylish green-and-brown dress with a short green sweater. Lexi's dark hair hung loose to her shoulders in a sleek bob. The social worker's amber-colored eyes held a knowing look as her gaze shifted from Kate to the front door. If the bells jingling were any indication, Joel and his daughter had just entered the coffee shop.

"C'mon, Kate, spill." Without waiting for an invitation, Lexi took a seat at Kate's tiny table. "Did you break it off with Ryan because you've got a thing for Joel?"

Lexi and her husband were part of the large ensemble of young professionals that Kate considered "social" friends. They held frequent parties and embraced any opportunity to get together.

Kate's ex-boyfriend, Ryan Harcourt, was part of this group. A former championship bull rider, he had gone on to law school, then returned to his hometown of Jackson to practice. He and Kate had dated until recently when she'd told him she thought it best if they didn't see each other anymore.

In truth, she'd have been content to continue dating him. He was smart, fun and helped fill those lonely hours when she wasn't working. But Ryan had begun to push for a physical and emotional closeness that was more than Kate could give.

Because of her past, she found it difficult to be open even with guys she dated. No, especially with guys she dated.

Ryan had given their relationship his all. She'd given it as much as she could, but refused to pretend to have feelings that weren't there.

"Be honest with me," Lexi pressed. "Do you like Joel better than Ryan?"

"It's not that." Kate took a sip of her cappuccino, stalling for time, considering how much to divulge. She hated discussing her personal life. "Ryan and I were—are— simply friends."

That much was true.

"His feelings go deeper than friendship." Lexi's eyes never left Kate's face. "I know he really likes you."

Kate fought a surge of irritation. Coming from Pittsburgh and then doing her residency in Los Angeles, she still hadn't completely acclimated to living in a small community. Even though Jackson Hole was a thriving tourist destination, it sometimes felt as if everyone knew everyone's business.

"I realize you and Nick consider Ryan a good friend." Kate chose her words carefully, not wanting to offend. While she might travel in their social circle, she hung on to the fringe by a fingernail while Ryan was firmly woven into the fabric of the group.

"We consider you a friend, too, Kate." As if she'd read her mind, the attractive brunette reached over and briefly covered Kate's hand with hers. "As well as Joel."

The sincerity in Lexi's voice touched Kate's heart. Perhaps she should come clean with the beautiful brunette. After all, it wasn't as if there was any big secret underlying her relationship and breakup with Ryan.

Not like there would be if I dated Joel.

Kate inhaled sharply. Date Joel? Where had that thought even come from? Joel Dennes was the last person she'd ever consider dating. The…very…last…person.

"I'm sorry," Lexi said unexpectedly when the silence lengthened, her cheeks now a bright pink. "It's none of my concern."

"Ryan is a great guy," Kate said honestly. "But you're right. He was looking for something more than I wanted out of our relationship."

Ryan had made it clear he was ready to settle down. He'd been convinced he was in love with her. But how could he be? There was so much about her he didn't know.

Lexi gave a little laugh. "That simply tells me he wasn't 'The One' for you."

"The problem wasn't with Ryan." Kate rose to his defense. "It was me. I'm not ready to settle down."

Kate conveniently pushed aside the promise she'd made to herself that when she turned thirty, she'd put her past to rest and move on. That...