Free Full Circle by Avery Beck Page A

too. Because in a matter of weeks, it will be like none of that ever happened. Took long enough, don’t you think?”
    She stood, clearly done talking. He followed suit, uneasy about her plans. He understood why she wanted a new life—he’d played that card himself, leaving the city after his mother died so his memories of her wouldn’t be so prominent everywhere he looked.
    But the memories were still there, and always would be. Elisa seemed to believe that the moment she stepped foot in Nashville, settled into a job and a city so far from what she’d intended when she went to school and experienced so much pain, she would forget about Brett and her lost child. That wasn’t going to happen.
    She returned the beagle to its cage and locked the door then checked to make sure all the animals had enough food and water. They went back to the waiting room and Elisa skimmed the appointment database on her computer.
    “Looks like you’re done for the week, Dr. Barton. I assume you’ll be at the Fourth of July picnic tomorrow?”
    “Definitely. Justin and I signed up for the sand volleyball tournament.”
    She groaned. “Oh brother. Does this town need to see you guys having a testosterone contest?”
    “Actually, we’ll be on the same team, representing the clinic. Businesses from all over town are competing, and the winner gets a year of free advertising in the local paper.”
    “Whoopee. Like the two of you shirtless in front of every woman in Windy Flats won’t be enough publicity.”
    “Who said we were going without shirts?”
    “It’s going to be a hundred degrees tomorrow. Maybe even hotter.”
    “We’ll wear muscle shirts. Tight ones. The kind that will stick to our sweaty bodies and—”
    “Shut up.” Elisa smiled and gathered her things to leave.
    “I certainly hope you’ll be there, but if you want to look at me shirtless, all you have to do is ask.”
    She stopped and looked at him with an expression of feigned boredom, her hand across her chest. “Be still my heart.”
    He was getting to her, and he liked that. Though he wanted so much more, if the stone-faced girl he’d seen during his first day on the job was comfortable flirting with him, they had made progress. With time, maybe their relationship would move beyond old acquaintances and she’d trust him again.
    Except she can’t wait to get out of this town, a nagging voice reminded him. And if he wanted a wife and children in the near future, he needed to start looking for a woman who was happy right where she was.

Chapter Six
    Elisa tugged at her tank top and resisted the urge to wipe the sweat forming on her chest. The picnic had started only an hour ago and already crowds huddled beneath the misting systems mounted around the park, and bottled water vendors couldn’t restock fast enough. Many of the women in attendance didn’t hesitate to strut around town in their bikini tops, and Elisa couldn’t help but think that Liam would have no problem finding a “nice lady” before the end of the day.
    Next to her, Laura wheezed and began sucking in gulps of air. Elisa stopped walking and put a hand on her friend’s arm. “Hey, are you all right?”
    She nodded but bent her head down without responding. After a moment, she straightened and swiped the back of her hand across her forehead. “It’s really hot out here.”
    Laura had dressed for the weather as best as she could in a loose cotton T-shirt and shorts, comfortable shoes and a wide-brimmed hat. But Elisa remembered her pregnant summer days and how easily the heat could make a woman faint.
    “Do you want to sit down? Look, there’s an empty bench.”
    They claimed the seat and Elisa offered Laura her bottle of water, but she refused. “No, thanks, sweetie. I’ve had two already and I’ll be in the bathroom all day at this rate.”
    Elisa laughed. Laura turned to her and smiled. “You seem to be in high spirits today. Having a good time with Liam?”
    The teasing tone of