Wedding at Willow Lake Read Online Free

lot, don’t you?”
    “Is that an official diagnosis?”
    “Preliminary.” A smile tickled the corner of her lips, causing them to tremble slightly. “I’ll need to take another look.”
    “I’m requesting a second opinion, then.” Brody tried hard not to think about how much he’d enjoyed kissing her, especially when her lips did that intriguing little dance, bringing out a cute little dimple at her cheek. Maybe she was done being mad. He could only hope.
    “You’ll have to drive into the next town over for that.”
    “I guess your opinion will have to do, then.” He motioned her into the office. “I’m too busy to spare the time. And I’m sorry about last night…and mowing into you. I was a little harsh.”
    “Yes, you were.”
    “Not exactly the way I envisioned our reunion would be.”
    “So, you expected a reunion?”
    “I didn’t expect it…but I guess, somewhere deep down, I sure hoped for it.” He crossed his arms. “What are you doing here? I heard you’re pretty booked over at the clinic.”
    “I am, but I try to make time for lunch.” Catherine handed him a white plastic bag filled with to-go containers. The aroma of roast beef wafted. “But if you’re too busy yourself, I can take this over to Hunter. I saw him working on the deck out back. I’m sure he’d find the time to devour it.”
    “You wouldn’t dare.”
    “You know me better than that.”
    “Do I?”
    “Yes.” Catherine sighed and took a single step into the room. “No one knows me better than you do. We spent eighteen years together, seventy-two seasons.”
    “You calculated that?”
    “I can’t help it.” She shrugged and tapped the side of her head. “Always working. It never shuts off. We’ve been through braces together and bad hair and Driver’s Ed and…fill in the blank. We can at least be friends, can’t we?”
    He wanted more than that…so much more. But pressuring her would get them nowhere fast. Best to tread lightly, take it slow and figure things out along the way. He was a patient man—to a point. “Is that what you want?”
    “That’s why I’m here. And I’m too tired to banter like this. I’ve been up most of the night on an emergency call and my bones feel like jelly. So, truce?”
    “For how long? A day, a week…a lifetime?”
    “Don’t push it.”
    “In that case…” Brody took the bag from her and peeked inside. Steam drifted, carrying the aroma of spicy roast beef covered in peppers and onions. “Mmm…is Dijon mustard slathered on this?”
    “Of course.”
    “You remembered.”
    “How could I forget?” Catherine rounded the desk and brushed a hand over the leather seat of a rolling chair before slipping into it. “Roast beef on rye is practically a food group for you.”
    “Paired with a Pepsi.”
    “Easy on the ice.” Catherine handed him a jumbo foam go-cup. “Allows for more room for the carbonation and caffeine.”
    “If roast beef is a food group, caffeine is a close second.”
    “Not the best idea for your heart.”
    “Are you worried about my heart?”
    “I suppose so…in a purely professional sense.”
    “That’s all?”
    “For now.”
    “Is there a door cracked open somewhere in the future?”
    “Not a door. Maybe a window, and that’s iffy at best.”
    “In that case…” Brody’s gaze rose to capture hers. “My heart’s been through the battle field. It’s strong as medieval chain mail. I can take it…whatever it may be.”
    “Is that so?”
    “Yep.” He shrugged and drew a swig of soda before tapping the cup and motioning. “Where’s yours?”
    “I drank my iced tea on the way over but my sandwich is at the bottom of the bag, along with yours.” She nodded toward the sputtering coffeemaker. “And I’ll take a cup of that, if you have some creamer.”
    “Powdered OK?”
    “Not my first choice.” Her nose scrunched into an endearing little scowl of disapproval. “But I suppose it will have to do.”
    “I can’t believe