Free Finding Dr. Right (Contemporary Medical Romance) by Lisa B. Kamps Page B

Nathan was beside him in a flash, one arm wrapped protectively around her son’s slim shoulders until the danger passed. They laughed again, harder this time. The clear ring of Matty’s joy echoed around her.
    Matty was skating. The implications of that simple act overwhelmed her. She would have denied it if someone had told her he would be doing something so physical so soon. But there he was, not only doing it, but doing it well. Catherine took a deep breath and reached up with one hand to rub the painful squeeze in her chest, not knowing if it was from anger, fear or happiness. Maybe all three.
    “Help me, Brian.” She turned to her friend and pleaded, not knowing exactly what she was asking for. He offered her a small smile and wrapped one arm around her, giving her a friendly hug.
    “Let him go, Catherine. He’s fine. Just look at him!”
    Catherine nodded and did exactly that, still not sure she should believe what she was seeing. Her throat tightened and she closed her eyes, opened them again and shook her head.
    Her son was skating.
    Her hand loosened its grip on the metal railing as she slowly relaxed and continued watching. Matty and Nathan continued their slow circles around the small rink, talking to each other and laughing. Catherine noticed how Nathan kept a casual distance, not crowding her son but staying close enough to offer a quick hand if it was needed. The expression on Matty’s face was a combination of joy and concentration.
    And pure hero worship.
    Catherine saw that look and her stomach clenched painfully. She hadn’t realized how attached Matty had become to him, but there was no denying it.
Too
attached if the look on his face was any indication. A dozen thoughts and worries swirled through her mind, begging for attention. Was it a healthy attachment? Did Nathan see it as clearly as she did? Most importantly, how hurt would Matty be when the attachment was severed? Because Catherine was sure it wouldn’t last. Either deliberately or by some careless act, she was certain the hockey player would fail her son. She didn’t want to imagine Matty’s pain when that happened.
    There was no time to decide what to do. Matty had spotted them and was skating over, waving and smiling. Catherine kept her eyes on her son, not trusting herself to look at Nathan but sensing his hesitation before he followed Matty.
    “Hey, Mom! Did you see that? Whadya think? Pretty cool, huh?” Matty slid to a stop and leaned against the rail, fumbling for balance before standing upright. Catherine blinked away the film covering her eyes and leaned over to kiss him on the cheek, mentally wincing when he pulled away in embarrassment. She sighed and reached out to ruffle his hair instead.
    “Yup, pretty cool. So when did you learn how to do that?”
    “Today! Nathan’s been teaching me.”
    “Oh, he has?” Catherine tried to keep her voice steady as she finally looked over and met Nathan’s stare. Her mouth suddenly dried and all coherent thought left her when he focused that eerily intense gaze on her. She shifted and looked away, pretending she was unaffected, trying to make her voice sound casual and relaxed. “Maybe next time it would be nice if somebody asked me first, okay?”
    “I kept a close eye on him. Nothing would have happened,” Nathan said, only the slightest bit defensive.
    “It would still be nice to be asked first.” Catherine’s voice was harsher than she intended. A sudden silence stretched over them and even Matty looked up at her in confusion. Brian quickly came to the rescue, offering to help Matty out of his skates. Catherine watched the two walk away then faced Nathan, an apology hovering on her lips.
    Nathan spoke first, his deep voice lowered so that she had to lean slightly forward to hear him. “That was uncalled-for.” The anger underlying the words surprised her, because she didn’t think he would care.
    “I’m sorry, I just don’t want Matty hurt. Physically or