“Got it. What I could have told you if you had mentioned all this instead of running off, is that Caley is extremely sweet. She likes her privacy which is why I didn’t mention this before. But I know you wouldn’t tell anyone what her pen name is. You’ve seen how gossip works in Wishingbone.”
“Oh, I’d never say a word. Wait, she’s got two daddies, right? Doc and his brother? Wow.”
“That’s right. She does. And remember, you’ve already met her, you know how nice she is.”
She thunked the palm of her hand against her forehead. “I did CJ Bennett’s nails.” She spoke with wonder. He had to bite back another smile, because he wanted her to know that he was very serious about this next bit.
He set her on the floor so she was facing him and gently grasped hold of her chin. “I want you to listen to me now.”
“Yes?”
“You’re not to run from Daddy like that again, understand? Not when I don’t know where you’ve gone or why. I was worried when I couldn’t find you.”
“I’m sorry, Daddy. I didn’t mean to worry you.”
“I know it was just instinct. And given some more time, Daddy is hoping that you run to him rather than the closet for safety. But if you keep doing it, then Daddy might just have to buy you one of those baby leads.”
Her eyes went wide. “I won’t, Daddy.”
“All right, let’s go. We’re already late.”
Marisol studied Doc as Linc pulled up outside his cabin. It was larger than Linc’s place and it was clear that it had been added to.
“Doc has a clinic at JSI headquarters as well, but they just built this extension and he decided to add a clinic here too. I think he just doesn’t like leaving Caley for long. They all have their own office.”
That was a good set-up. She moved her gaze back to Doc, he didn’t look happy. In fact, if he’d been a cartoon character, steam would be coming from his ears.
She leaned back in her seat, waiting for Linc to come get her. He opened her door, and then undid her seat belt, lifting her down. In truth, it was a relief to get out of the hot truck. She was wearing so many clothes and Linc had had the heater blasting as they’d driven here. She was starting to overheat.
“You’re late,” the other man barked. He was handsome, with dark-blond hair, a neatly-trimmed beard and piercing blue eyes.
“Sorry,” Linc called out. “Bit of a delay. Mari panicked when I told her that Caley writes books as CJ Bennett.”
Doc’s eyes narrowed as he stared down at her. She huddled into Linc, her hand firmly wrapped in his.
“And why would that make you panic? Don’t you like Caley’s books?” he snapped.
“What? No!” Her eyes widened. “I love them. I love her. I can’t believe I met her and I didn’t even know.”
“Ah, you’re a fan?” Doc’s face softened and she swore he nearly smiled. Maybe.
“Her biggest fan. I’m so nervous now.”
“She’s writing at the moment. She’s having problems with a character, so if you hear someone occasionally yelling, just ignore it.”
“Ohh.”
“Come in. It’s cold out. Although I see you’re wrapped up for the arctic.” Doc sent Linc a look as they followed him into what had to be the waiting room. It held a sofa, two armchairs and a coffee table with some magazines on it. There was an open door to her left that she saw opened into an exam room. There was another closed door to her right. She wondered if that led to Archer’s office. And the wall directly ahead of her had another door that she thought must take you into the main part of the house.
Hot air assaulted her and she started to sweat. Gross. She tried to pull off her scarf. Linc helped her pull it off.
“Poor girl is sweating under all those layers,” Doc told him.
“Didn’t want her to catch a chill.”
Linc drew off her coat then his and she let out a sigh of relief. He left everything in the waiting room before grabbing her hand again, urging her after Doc. She listened in vain for any yelling. How cool would it be to hear her favorite author at work?
They walked into a bright office that held an examination table, a wooden desk and some cabinets.