Falling For The Single Dad. Lisa Carter

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      Caroline squeezed Izzie’s hand. “We’re going to need to put stakes around the nest and markers. Because Kemp’s ridleys are so endangered, it’s important that we monitor the nest for the next few months of incubation to ensure that the hatchlings have the best chance of survival.”

      She moistened her lips. “I’m afraid I may wear out my welcome on your beach before it’s over.”

      He broadened his shoulders. “You won’t wear out your welcome with us, I promise.”

      “It’s so exciting, isn’t it?” Izzie threw her arms around Caroline’s waist.

      Caroline staggered, but hugged Izzie back. The turtle lady, he decided, was good with children. Or at least, with his child.

      “I can’t wait to tell Max.”

      Caroline’s smile faltered. She let go of Izzie. “The fewer people trampling the beach, the better chance the eggs have for hatching. We’ll need to erect a wire cage to fend off raccoons and foxes.”

      “By we, you mean me?”

      The smile returned to her lips.

      His breath stutter-stepped. It could become addictive bringing a smile to the turtle lady’s face. He also decided maybe his initial impression of Caroline had been off base. Perhaps she was more bark than bite.

      “If you wouldn’t mind...”

      Mind? He blinked. It took him a second to refocus. Oh, right. She was talking about the cage.

      “What about me, Caroline? What can I do?”

      She smoothed Izzie’s hair. “I’ll need your dad’s help in loading the turtle into the kiddy pool in my car. But then it’s going to take a gazillion gallons of water to fill the pool enough to transport the turtle. And that’s where you come in.”

      Izzie quivered from her sand-encrusted toes to the top of her unruly red hair. “I can do that. I’m good at filling buckets. Will Turtle Mama be okay?”

      Caroline made eye contact with his daughter. “I’m going to have to do surgery to remove the hook and repair her flipper, but there are no guarantees, Izz.”

      “Like in life,” he interjected.

      Caroline’s lips thinned. “Exactly.”

      She moved her car as close as she could to the beach without damaging the fragile dune biosphere. With a great deal of effort—mostly his and Caroline’s—they managed to shift the turtle from the beach and into the SUV. Izzie darted ahead of them and returned, looping them as they shouldered the hundred-pound turtle over the dune.

      Teeth gritted, he muscled the primeval creature into the kiddy pool in the back of the vet’s vehicle. “You do this on a regular basis by yourself?” he grunted.

      “Usually the grad students help. Good thing Kemp’s ridleys are the smaller sized among sea turtles or we couldn’t have managed on our own.”

      After parking the SUV once again near the cottage, the lithe Caroline handed several empty plastic buckets to Izzie. “Would you be so kind as to fill these for me, Izz?”

      He folded his arms across his T-shirt. “And you’re welcome.”

      She tilted her head. “For what?”

      He propped his hip against the open tailgate and nudged his chin at the turtle in the pool.

      “Oh...” She shrugged. “I’m sure I would’ve somehow managed without you, but—”

      “Is that your idea of a thank you?” He grinned. “Not really a people person, are you?”

      She blushed a lovely shade of rose. “I’m better with animals. I spend most of my time with them. People are too...”

      “Complicated?”

      Her gaze shot to his. “More entangling than a fisherman’s net.”

      Message sent and received. Like a warning shot fired across the bow. This woman wasn’t looking for relationships.

      Good thing he wasn’t either. In his case, the burned child dreaded the fire. He found himself—against his better judgment—curious about what lay behind the beautiful vet’s aversion to relationships, though.

      Not any of my business.

      Izzie hurried from the house. One bucket clasped in both hands, she sloshed water over the rim and onto her bare toes.

      The turtle lady might not be his business, but Izzie was. He’d never seen Izzie attach herself to anyone like this female veterinarian. And frankly, the idea of Izzie forming an attachment to the prickly vet disturbed Weston.

      On a profound level, to a degree, Weston wasn’t sure he wanted to explore. He had Izzie’s well-being to consider. It was her fragile heart he was thinking about.

      Wasn’t it?

      Proud as if she’d single-handedly saved the free world, Izzie transferred the now half-empty bucket to the vet.

      She smiled at his daughter. “Thank you, Izzie. You’re such a big help.”

      Izzie took off at a run. “I’ll bring the other bucket, Caroline,” she called over her shoulder.

      He straightened. “Let me—”

      “I got it, Daddy. I’m not a baby.” His daughter never broke her stride.

      Caroline poured the contents over the turtle’s carapace and into the pool.

      “Will you take the turtle to the aquarium across the bay to Virginia Beach or up to Ocean City in Maryland?”

      “Neither.” Caroline gave the turtle’s shell a small pat. “Fortunately for this injured lady, we’re headed to the new aquatic rehab center I’m establishing in Wachapreague for the summer.”

      Izzie sloshed forward in time to hear Caroline’s last remarks. “Yay! You’ll be here the whole summer?” Bucket clutched at chest level, she bounced on her toes.

      He and Caroline stepped back. But not soon enough. Water doused the tailgate and puddled at his and Caroline’s feet.

      Weston seized the bucket before further damage ensued. “Izzie... Be careful.”

      Izzie’s lower lip quivered. “I’m sorry. I was trying to help.”

      “You are the best helper I’ve had in ages.” Caroline placed her palm on Izzie’s head for a millisecond before taking the bucket from him. “A little water never hurt anyone. Kind of refreshing in this early heat wave.”

      Izzie danced on the tips of her toes again. “So you’ll be here the whole summer?”

      Caroline concentrated on filling the kiddy pool. “Most of it.”

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