Page 45 of Doctor Holliday

“Keaton, Ruby’s only ten. She doesn’t want to share her dad with…”

“With whom?” he asked softly.

Lucy worked her mouth as if she was trying to conjure up words, but she said nothing for a moment. When she finally spoke, she sounded uncertain.

“With the woman you’ve been dating. That’s not fair?—”

“Really? That’s all you are?”

“I’m the woman you’ve been seeing for a couple of weeks. Hardly family, Keaton.”

“That’s not fair,” he repeated her words back to her.

“What?”

“You shared your family with me, Luce.” He shrugged. “Let me share mine with you.”

“Ruby deserves all of your attention tomorrow.”

“And she’ll get it. But maybe.” He kissed her forehead. “She would love to spend some time with you, too.”

“Don’t force me on your daughter,” she warned.

“Lucy, you heard Ruby ask me if you would be joining us. I’m not forcing anything.”

Keaton cupped her face in his hand and rested his forehead against hers. A pain ripped through his chest when she squeezed her eyes closed.

“Do you not want to spend time with her?” he asked quietly. “Am I forcingyouinto something you don’t want?” She blinked her eyes open.

“Of course not,” Lucy answered sincerely.

“I know you don’t want more kids.”

“Keaton, I don’t want to have another child of my own,” she corrected him. “I would love to get to know Ruby better. I’m just scared.”

“Of what?”

“This.” She shrugged.

“This? Ruby?”

“Falling,” she whispered. “Falling so fast and so out of control.”

“I’m not gonna hurt you.”

“I just don’t want your daughter to get hurt.”

“Then join us for dinner tomorrow.”

She laughed softly.

“Itwasa Christmas miracle, you know.”

“What?”

Keaton pulled her into his lap. The wine bottle and glasses stayed forgotten on the coffee table.

“You delivering that baby.”