The Doctor's Valentine Dare. Cindy Kirk

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СКАЧАТЬ that existed between him and his sister brought him great pain. Josie steeled her heart at the tug it produced. “I make it a point not to get involved in family matters.”

      “All I’m asking is you vouch for me. I’m hoping if you plead my case that might make a difference.”

      Josie didn’t bother to hide her confusion. “I don’t even know you.”

      “Exactly.”

      Before she could ask for clarification, a young high school girl brought his coffee. Noah slipped the girl a twenty and told her to keep the change. The teen’s wide smile and effusive thanks made Josie give Noah the benefit of the doubt. Generosity wasn’t something that could be learned.

      Her heart softened, but not enough to reconsider. She began to rise. “Well, I need to—”

      Noah put a restraining hand on her arm. “I still have two minutes.”

      A quick glance at the phone’s screen confirmed that fact. Resigned, Josie sat back down.

      “Five dates.” Noah paused for a sip of coffee before continuing. “That should be enough time for you to get to know me. That way, when you plead my case with Daffy, you’ll feel confident I only have her best interests at heart.”

      Though Josie knew this man’s family problems were none of her concern, she liked Pauline and Daffodil. And she was sympathetic to anyone who wanted to mend broken family ties. After all, wasn’t that the reason she’d returned to Jackson Hole?

      “Why don’t you have your grandmother put in a good word for you?” Josie had seen firsthand how close the two women were and knew Daffodil respected her grandmother’s opinion.

      “Gram attempted to mediate but her efforts caused a slight rift between her and Daffy that’s only recently mended. I won’t put her in the middle again.” A muscle in his jaw jumped. “Daffy—well, let’s just say she needs Gram to be on her side.”

      “Even if that means Pauline can’t be on yours?”

      “Yes.”

      Her heart flip-flopped as she realized she and Noah had something in common. He was as much an outsider looking in as she was in her family.

      She brought the cup to her lips and took a thoughtful sip. “I’d be willing to mention to Daffodil that I ran into you and you seemed nice.”

      He shook his head.

      “I promise to leave off the part about you stealing Pauline’s drink.” A smile tugged at her lips as she strove to lighten the mood.

      His expression remained somber. “Daf would say you don’t know me. She’d be right. At this point, you and I are strangers.”

      The misery in his eyes pulled at Josie. She had to resist the urge to reach over and give his hand a squeeze. “I hope you and Daffy resolve your differences, I truly do.”

      “But you won’t help me.” His voice turned as flat as his eyes.

      Though she told herself he didn’t deserve an explanation for her refusal, she felt as if she owed him something.

      “It’s just I have enough family issues of my own.” Josie’s voice grew thick and she cleared her throat. “I simply can’t get in the middle of yours.”

      * * *

      Josie thought of Noah often over the next few days. She couldn’t stop thinking how he’d looked at her as if she was the only woman in the world.

      She’d spoken with Pauline about the encounter with her grandson and his unusual request. A sadness had filled the older woman’s eyes as she’d confirmed the estrangement between her two grandchildren.

      Pauline had surprised her by adding, “In her own way, Daffodil is as mule-headed as her brother.”

      When Josie informed her employer she turned down Noah’s odd request, Pauline had nodded and said that was her choice. Josie was left with the uneasy feeling her employer wished she’d agreed.

      They hadn’t spoken of the matter since that day. Pauline kept Josie busy with errands, correspondence and dress fittings. A prominent member of the hospital board, Pauline had been invited to attend a New Year’s Eve masquerade ball thrown by Dr. Travis Fisher and his wife, Mary Karen, and was eager to look her best.

      The couple’s parties were well known. According to Pauline, the Fishers normally preferred casual events but this year they’d decided to go formal. Pauline insisted Josie attend as her plus one.

      Josie felt a stir of excitement as the home in the mountains overlooking Jackson came into view. The large two-story house was lit up as bright as the sky on the Fourth of July. Silver glittery lanterns lined the walkway. The home’s front door had been festively decorated with black-and-white tulle and two silver masks.

      Though limited parking required most attendees to park a good distance away on the side of the mountain road, Travis had hired several town cars to ferry the elegantly dressed partygoers from their vehicles to the front door.

      As the sleek black vehicle approached the house, Josie saw men in tuxedoes and women in cocktail-length dresses and long gowns, all wearing masks, streaming through the front doors.

      Seated next to her in the toasty warm town car, Pauline cast an admiring glance at the royal blue cocktail-length satin dress visible beneath Josie’s fur coat. “I know I said it before, but you look very lovely this evening, my dear. Your mask is...incredible.”

      Her father, Dr. John Campbell, had given in to Josie’s pleas and bought her the mask on a family vacation in Venice. The trip had been a halcyon time before his—and her brothers’—expectations of her had become too much to bear.

      Josie raised her fingers and touched the papier-mâché edge. Multicolored in vivid shades with a gold leaf finish, the mask was anchored to her face with ribbons the same color as her dress.

      Pauline’s own mask was equally stunning. It had a silver leaf finish and was decorated with crackle glaze, macramé and Swarovski crystals. Her employer looked positively regal in a charcoal-colored gown that was the perfect foil for her silver hair pulled up in a stylish chignon.

      “We’re going to be the prettiest girls there,” Josie declared and made Pauline laugh.

      The two women entered the house arm-in-arm. After being greeted by their hostess, Pauline startled Josie by announcing she would meet her back in the foyer at twelve-thirty. According to her employer, mingling on their own would ensure they’d have much to talk about on their way home.

      It seemed odd to Josie that the woman had asked her to come as her plus one, only to separate the instant they entered the home. Thankfully, Josie was comfortable being on her own. She’d had plenty of experience. For the past seven years she’d had only herself to rely on.

      With head held high, she made her way through the spacious home, confiscating a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and a canapé from another. She gazed in open admiration at the black, white and silver balloons caught up in a shimmery net overhead, waiting to be dropped at midnight.

      The great room at the back of СКАЧАТЬ