A Wedding on Lilac Lane by Hope Ramsay (best book clubs .txt) 📕

all human. And having two doctors to collaborate is a good thing for our patients. Along those lines, I think we need to get on the ball and hire that nurse practitioner. Maybe while I’m on my honeymoon, you could take the lead on that.”

“You want me to handle a staffing issue?” What the hell? Was Dad worried about being able to manage the practice? Was there something wrong with him?

“You can shut your mouth before you swallow a fly,” Dad said, his blue eyes as bright and as sharp as ever. “I’m not losing my mind. I just want to back off a little. I’ve been busting my butt for years building this practice and keeping the free clinic going, and I’d like to take some time to enjoy life a little before it’s my time.”

“You’re only fifty-one. Good grief, stop talking like you’re going to die tomorrow.” Dylan’s voice rose with his concern.

Dad cocked his head. “I don’t intend to die tomorrow. But I do intend to retire someday. Maybe sooner rather than later now that you’re here and are proving yourself with every passing day. I’ve earned the chance to kick back and enjoy.”

“With Brenda.”

“Of course.”

Dylan stood up, his emotions suddenly adrift in a raging sea. “I need to get going.”

“You have a hot date tonight?” Dad asked.

He whirled around. “No.” It was a lie. When he’d left Ella this morning, they’d known they would find a way to hook up later.

“Oh. Too bad. You need to find yourself a nice wife and settle down.”

“Dad. Come on.”

“What? You’re almost thirty-two. Time’s a-wasting. Besides, you might come on in. The water’s nice.”

He sighed and rolled his eyes. “You’re ridiculous. I’m going now.”

He turned, but Dad called to his back, just as he reached the door.

“Dylan. Come on. I know you and Brenda haven’t warmed up to each other much. But I have every confidence that one day we’ll look back on this time and laugh about it. Brenda’s very stressed right at the moment. You know, about the wedding and Ella and all that. It would be nice if you gave her a chance.”

He turned to face his father. “She’s stressed about Ella?”

“Of course she is. Even more today than she was yesterday, I’m afraid.”

“Why?”

“Well, you know she lost meaningful contact with Ella for more than a decade when Ella ran off to perform with a country music band. Brenda has been worried since last December that Ella is going to find another band and leave again. She isn’t living up to her best potential here in Magnolia Harbor.

“And then I just heard this afternoon that her ex-boyfriend is going to be here on tour in early May.”

“Ella’s ex is coming to town?”

“Yeah. And Brenda is terrified that he’s going to convince Ella to go on the road with him. And she’s sure that, if that happens, she’ll lose contact with her again for years. That would break Brenda’s heart, Dylan. God, I can’t imagine being out of touch with you for more than a day or so. So I’m asking you to be nice to Ella. Please. Don’t become the reason she decides to move away. Understand?”

“Yeah, I do,” he said.

Chapter Twenty-One

The Harley rumbled with a satisfying, deep-throated growl as Dylan rode it up the long hill to Howland House. The roar of the bike was like a soundtrack to his emotions. Another day of sneaking around, which was kind of thrilling. And yet fraught with so many risks.

Was it the danger that had him coming back night after night? Or was it Ella, messing with his brain? Dylan didn’t know, but it hardly mattered.

All day on Friday, he’d been anticipating this evening’s tasting at A Night to Remember, the caterer that Jude St. Pierre had recommended. He was waiting to see what Ella thought about her ride this evening.

He was hoping the caterer’s name was prophetic. He planned a night to remember. Like their date on the mainland had been last night. And the night before. Funny how he was dragging around from lack of sleep during the day, but when quitting time rolled around, he was ready and raring to go again.

He killed the bike’s engine and set the kickstand. He was about to go knock on the door when Ella came strolling out wearing a pair of blue jeans and a tight-fitting T-shirt with the words NEVER UNDERESTIMATE A GIRL WITH A FIDDLE across her breasts. She wore her Doc Martens and carried a jean jacket over her arm. Like always, her red hair was piled on top of her head in a messy bun, tendrils escaping to fall around her ears, neck, and eyes.

He’d been explicit about how he wanted her to dress tonight because they were riding the bike. She’d complied with his request that she wear long pants and a jacket for safety reasons.

She strode up to him, taking in his riding leathers and the Harley as if she might be seeing him in an entirely new light. “So you’re going to take me for a ride?”

“I am,” he said, grinning. Really, when you boiled life down to the essentials, nothing could beat a Harley and a redheaded girl.

He reached behind him and unhooked the second riding helmet. “This is for you. Have you ever ridden on a motorcycle?”

She gave him that sultry smile and shook her head. “I probably shouldn’t admit that out loud. I mean, I was a member of an outlaw country music band for years. We regularly played at biker bars.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. But honestly, you don’t look like a common, run-of-the-mill biker. You don’t have a beer belly and a beard down to there.” Her smile widened. “But you know, that’s a stereotype.”

“Good for me. So. We need to get going. We have an appointment at six.”

She mounted the bike, her warm body snuggling up against him. His riding leathers were designed to protect his skin from pavement burn, but right now he wished he was riding