Free The Doctor's Not-So-Little Secret by Cindy Kirk Page A

English accent. “I haven’t been privy to the guest list.”
    She held the dress up and studied it carefully.
    “But he’ll probably be there, right?”
    “I really like this dress,” Kate said.
    “He’ll be there,” Mitzi said, answering her own question. “You know it and you’re glad. Cuz you like him.”
    Kate groaned. She refused to revisit a subject that had already been beaten into the ground. Bottom line, becoming involved with Joel as anything more than a casual friend would be a mistake on too many levels to count. “Of course I like him. He’s a nice guy. But that doesn’t mean I want to date him.”
    “Would you mind if I did?”
    Kate jerked her head up from the belt she’d been inspecting. “Date Joel?” She narrowed her gaze. “Are you serious?”
    “What do you think?” Mitzi’s blue eyes were all wide-eyed and innocent.
    “You’re not interested.” Kate wasn’t sure whether to feel exasperated or relieved.
    “I may not want him…but you do.” Mitzi grinned. “That’s what makes teasing you so much fun.”
    “Read my lips. I’m only interested in Joel Dennes because he’s Chloe’s dad.”
    “And because he’s got a phenomenal ass.”
    “Never noticed.”
    “A ruggedly handsome face.”
    “He’s not ugly,” Kate grudgingly admitted, knowing that was an understatement.
    “Best of all he’s got big hands and feet.”
    Kate frowned. “What does the size of his hands and feet have to do with anything?”
    Mitzi wiggled her brows. “Supposedly men who have big hands and feet have a big—”
    “Old wives’ tale.”
    “You’re such a priss.” Mitzi’s saucy smile took any sting from the words. She pulled out a slinky-looking red dress with a slit up the side that would have done a hooker proud. “Does this mean you’re not going to spill when you find out if Joel’s, uh, size correlates with those big feet?”
    “If I did sleep with him—which is absolutely never going to happen—I certainly wouldn’t give you details.” Kate headed for the dressing room with long purposeful strides, ready to put an end to this ridiculous discussion.
    Mitzi hurried to catch up, obviously determined to have the last word. “One of these days you’re going to have to admit it, Kate.”
    “Admit what?”
    “You’re not just interested in Chloe.” Mitzi’s gaze met hers. “You’re interested in her dad, as well.”

Chapter Seven
    T he “summer solstice” party at Mary Karen and Travis’s new home ended up being as much a house-warming event as a celebration of summer’s arrival. Most of the guests brought a bottle of wine, a plant or some other small item.
    Kate came with a bottle of champagne in hand, knowing it was Mary Karen’s favorite beverage. Any woman who daily dealt with a doctor husband and five small children deserved to get something special just for her.
    Mary Karen squealed when she saw the gift, then gave both Kate and Mitzi a big hug. After an impromptu tour of the large home, Mary Karen got called to the kitchen. Kate and Mitzi stood around sampling a few of the delectable appetizers Lexi had made especially for the party.
    Even while she asked and answered questions, Kate surreptitiously scanned the room for people she knew. Her surveillance activity was briefly interrupted when a woman who was involved in working with Jackson Hole’s immigrant population stopped over to say hello. During the introductions that followed, Mitzi mentioned she was bilingual. The woman’s eyes had lit up and a discussion of the part Mitzi could play in the medical community was off and running. After a few minutes of polite listening, Kate wandered off.
    She found a spot by the floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace and resumed her people watching. Men in casual pants and cotton shirts. Women in colorful dresses and flouncy skirts. Everyone talking and laughing. People she knew and those she recognized. Normally the parties she attended were smaller and more intimate. At