Page 34 of The Secret to a Southern Wedding

“I’m a city boy. I have no reason to go into the woods.”

“You’re missing out. Halle, Tracey and I know all the trails in Peachtree Cove. We’d ride our bikes from one side of town to the other and go exploring. It was always fun, and it gave us an escape from the real world.”

“If my dad is the reason you needed the escape, then I’ll talk to him.”

She bent her legs and wrapped her arms around them before settling her chin on her knees. “Your dad isn’t the only reason I needed an escape. Yesterday, too.”

Cyril pushed back his hat so he could see her better. “The thing with Mattie?”

She frowned before shaking her head. “Nah, I don’t care about her. I mean what you said yesterday. About me not taking advantage of being doctor of the year.”

He’d wondered if that was going to come back and bite him in the ass. “I pissed you off.”

“At first.”

“But...” He waited.

“But, when I vented to my friend Towanda last night, she said you had a point.”

“I don’t know Towanda, but I like her,” he said with a half smile.

Imani gave him the side-eye but there was no heat in her gaze. “We work together at Mid-State Health. She’s been telling me that being doctor of the year isn’t all bad. You’re both right, I could use my platform to raise awareness while I have it. I became a doctor to help people. Specifically, an obstetrician to try and prevent what happened to Halle’s mom from happening again. I can talk about that and use my platform to try and remind people that we’re here to help and save lives. Not preach our personal beliefs or be blinded by our biases. So, you were right.”

He tilted his head and stared up at her. “One phone call and you’re telling me I’m right? Can I get Towanda’s number to call her for future backup?” he teased.

“Not happening,” she said with a laugh. “I also thought about Kaden. He came into the flower shop the other day.”

Cyril frowned. “You mean about him having to go to Atlanta to see a doctor.”

“You know about that?”

“In a small town like this, everyone knows. And most are angry about it, too. Dr. Baker doesn’t care. He says he can run his practice how he feels. And, unfortunately, he’s got enough patients. Since he’s the only ob-gyn in town he doesn’t feel the need to change.”

“Ugh, this is why I left Peachtree Cove. Such small-town mentality. People here can’t see or understand that everyone isn’t going to fit their idea of perfection.”

“Hey, don’t be too harsh on the town. I said there were just enough, but not a majority. His other patients would go somewhere else if they had the ability. Everyone in town can’t drive to Augusta or Atlanta. But I do know that since we moved here most of the people we’ve dealt with have done nothing but make us feel welcome. It takes time to see the results of progress, but the town is progressing. As for Dr. Baker, if we get another ob-gyn here then he wouldn’t feel so high-and-mighty.”

“That’s what my friend Towanda said. Peachtree Cove needs its own doctor of the year.”

“Maybe you should move back.”

She scoffed then stared out at the lake. “Not hardly. I left for a reason, and I am not moving back.”

Her quick answer sent disappointment through him. He wasn’t sure why. Imani never gave any indication that she planned to move back. Her disdain for Peachtree Cove was clear in almost every conversation she had with him. Still, he hadn’t thrown out the comment as just something to say. Imani was a doctor that cared and wanted to help. As the town continued to grow, they’d need someone like her practicing in Peachtree Cove.

He glanced at his watch and cringed. Joshua would be calling him in a few minutes to ask where he was. He’d left him to prep by himself yesterday because of the cake tasting and promised to be there on time today. “How long are you staying out here? I need to get to the bar.” And even though the spot was a part of the trail system, there was no one out here and he wouldn’t leave her alone.

“Oh, we can go back. I wanted to make sure the trail was still here.”

“I can take you back home?”

She shook her head. “No need. I can take the bike back.”

“You barely made it here. Let me give you a ride.” He lifted a hand. “Come on down. It won’t take long.”

“Well, if you insist,” she said with a grin.

Cyril’s lips twitched with his own laughter. He doubted she really wanted to bike all the way back to her mom’s place. Imani took tentative steps down from the boulder until she could reach his hand. He expected her to continue to step down, but instead she jumped at the last second. He reached out to catch her, but the momentum made her bump hard into his chest. The air rushed out of his lungs. Her hands landed on his chest and his arm automatically wrapped around her waist to steady her.

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