If the Ring Fits. Cindy Kirk

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СКАЧАТЬ slanted a sideways glance as they reached the car. “You’ve met?”

      “No,” she said quickly. “Why would you think that?”

      “He has a daughter.” Travis shrugged. “I thought she might be one of your patients.”

      “She may be. I haven’t met all the patients in my new practice yet.” Her eyes remained focused ahead, her tone noncommittal. “I did meet someone who knows you at the hospital last week.”

      He opened the passenger side door and helped her into the car. “Who was that?”

      “Mary Karen Vaughn,” Kate said. “Did you know David Wahl is her brother? I wonder if she’ll be at the barbecue.”

      Somehow Travis managed a smile as he shut her door. “Undoubtedly.”

       Chapter Two

      Mary Karen’s brother, David, and his wife, July, had been blessed with a perfect night for their backyard barbecue. The sun shone bright in the blue Wyoming sky. Blooming patches of wildflowers rimmed the large yard. The linen-clad tables had each been adorned with bouquets of sunflowers. For an outdoor event, it felt surprisingly elegant.

      “I thought everyone would be dressed a little more casual.” Mary Karen glanced down at her blue chambray skirt and scoop-necked lace top, and then back at her friends.

      Her sister-in-law, July Wahl, wore a darling tropical-print dress while her friend Lexi Delacorte’s cherry-red one-shoulder maternity dress managed to look stylish and comfortable at the same time.

      “You look so cute,” July said. “I love what you did with your hair.”

      Mary Karen smiled wryly. “You mean … wash it?”

      “Shut up.” July gave her a little shove. “I’m talking about pulling it back from your face in those cute little clips.”

      “I love the look, too,” Lexi said. “And, just so you know, we’re super jealous of your flat stomach.”

      “It’s hard to be sexy with your belly out in front.” July glanced down. “Thankfully, David seems to still find me attractive.”

      “Nick tells me every day how beautiful I am. And he’s determined to be involved in every aspect of my pregnancy.” Lexi’s face took on a beautiful glow. “Every morning before he heads into his office, he places a hand on my belly and talks to our son. He read somewhere that listening to the voices of both parents helps the baby feel loved and secure even before he’s born.”

      The vivid image Lexi painted brought a lump to Mary Karen’s throat. How different the experience was from her pregnancies. When she was expecting the twins Steve had called her a whale and refused to touch her. Halfway through her pregnancy with Logan, he’d left. Now she’d have to do this alone again. Tears filled her eyes.

      She took a sip of iced tea and quickly blinked the moisture back, but apparently not fast enough.

      July placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Honey, what’s wrong?”

      “Tell us what has you upset.” Concern filled Lexi’s amber eyes. “Was it something I said?”

      “I’m just tired.” Mary Karen forced a smile, knowing at least this was the truth. No matter how much sleep she got at night, it wasn’t enough. “The thunderstorms woke Logan. Then the twins heard him, and they were up, too.”

      She saw no reason to add to the story. When she’d slipped into bed, she’d started thinking what her life was going to be like as a mother of four, and then sleep became impossible.

      “I don’t know how you do it,” July said. “You have three little boys who are bundles of energy. You work—”

      “Only part-time,” Mary Karen protested, uncomfortable with the admiration she heard in her sister-in-law’s tone. She knew many single mothers who had it much worse. At least her ex had a good job and paid his child support on time every month.

      Lexi sucked in a breath. “He brought a date.”

      Mary Karen didn’t need to ask who. She’d always had a sixth sense where Travis was concerned. Her heart picked up speed. She lifted her lips in a smile.

      But wait. What had Lexi said? A date? Travis had brought … a date?

      Her smile wobbled. Bewildered, Mary Karen turned. Her heart gave a leap at the sight of her … husband in khaki pants and a tan-and-blue camp shirt. With his sandy hair bleached a shade lighter than usual and his skin a honey-brown, he looked Tommy Bahama casual and the picture of health. Still, Mary Karen knew him. Perhaps better than he knew himself. She saw beyond the smile on his lips and realized the past four weeks had been tough on him.

      Just then a woman’s laugh rang out and Mary Karen’s gaze darted to Travis’s companion. Standing way too close to him, with her fingers resting on his arm in a proprietary gesture, was Kate McNeal. The woman’s salmon-and-white jersey dress was a perfect foil for her dark hair and creamy complexion.

      While she watched, Kate rose on her tiptoes and kissed Travis’s cheek. Mary Karen tightened her fingers around the stem of her glass. Intellectually she understood that she and Travis weren’t really a couple. Still, seeing him with Kate was like a knife to her heart. They hadn’t even signed the annulment papers and yet it appeared he’d already taken up with a career woman who’d probably never had baby spit-up in her hair.

      Lexi took a sip of her club soda and studied the female doctor over the top of her glass. “She’s attractive.”

      “I didn’t realize he was seeing anyone.” Mary Karen’s voice seemed to come from far away. Though only a few minutes earlier she’d felt almost too warm, a chill now settled over her.

      July tilted her head, and her gaze turned thoughtful. “David mentioned they’d gone out a couple times before Travis left for Cameroon.”

      “He must have called her as soon as he got back,” Lexi mused.

      Mary Karen thought about last night, how she’d kept her phone close, not wanting to miss his call. Thought about how she’d worried for his safety while he’d been in Africa. Thought about …

      Anger bubbled in her veins but she tamped it down, sternly reminding herself that Travis was under no obligation to call her the second he got into town. And it wasn’t any of her business if he’d brought a date.

      “I swear he’s looking for you,” July whispered.

      “Which is odd considering he’s with another woman,” Lexi said.

      Mary Karen forced her gaze back to the couple and realized her friends were right. When Travis’s gaze landed on her, his face brightened.

      Ignoring the warmth that rushed through her veins, Mary Karen lifted her hand in welcome, wiggling her fingers.

      Obviously taking the gesture as an invitation, he crossed the lawn in several long strides while the statuesque brunette beside him struggled to keep up.

      “Welcome СКАЧАТЬ