Page 18 of Burned By the Broken Doctor

“I'll keep it in mind, Mom,” I say noncommittally. The truth is, I doubt I ever will.

“Alright, then,” she sighs. “How about you come visit us soon? Richard and the kids would love to see you. We have a pool now, you know.”

The image of myself lounging by a pool with my perfectly groomed step-siblings makes me cringe.

“Maybe,” I hedge. “I'll call you when I know for sure.”

“You better,” she says, a playful edge creeping back into her voice. “We miss you, honey. Don't forget your own mother.”

“I won't,” I assure her, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips. Despite our differences, there's still a thread of love that connects us.

“Alright, then,” she says. “Love you, honey. Bye!”

“Love you too, Mom,” I reply and hang up.

Leaning back in my chair, I take a deep breath. Conversations with Mom always leave me drained. But beneath the frustration, there's a flicker of…something else. Maybe a longing for the family I never quite had.

Pushing those thoughts aside, I grab my stethoscope and head out to see my next patient. There's work to be done.

The late afternoon sun casts long shadows as I step out of the hospital, a pleasant fatigue settling in my muscles. A beat-up Ford truck rumbles to a stop in front of me, and Damon's familiar freckled face beams from the driver's seat.

“Hey, stranger,” he calls out, rolling down the window. “Waiting for a royal carriage?”

I chuckle and swing open the passenger door. “More like a rusty pickup, apparently.” I glance down at my outfit—a worn flannel shirt over a white t-shirt paired with faded blue jeans and trusty Chelsea boots. Standard New York fare, a world away from the pressed khakis and polo shirts favored by most doctors here.

“Looking right at home,” Damon says, giving me a once-over. “Harmony Creek seems to agree with you.”

“Thank God something does,” I reply with a grin.

Damon lets out a hearty laugh. “Is this about my sister? You haven't even seen her yet.”

My heart skips a beat. “No,” I mumble, a touch too quickly. “She's…annoying. Proud.”

Damon's laughter fills the truck cab. “First time I've heard anyone describe Emma as 'proud and annoying.' Town sweetheart, that was her title in high school.”

I raise an eyebrow. “No way. No one's gotten under my skin quite like your sister.”

Damon chuckles, the sound rumbling in his chest. “Oh, there's definitely something going on there, Miller. I'll be here for the front-row seat to see who wins this war.”

“Bigger problems, man,” I grumble, trying to steer the conversation away from Emma. “My dad's hellbent on finding me a match.”

“Not exactly a hardship, is it?” Damon teases.

I punch him playfully on the arm. “Easy for you to say. You're not the one dodging matchmaking tactics from a doctor with a savior complex.”

Damon laughs again. “So, first day at the hospital? How was it?”

“Let's just say the female-to-male patient ratio might be a little skewed,” I reply with a wry smile. “Every other nurse seems to find a reason to brush my arm or wink excessively.”

Damon roars with laughter. “Sounds like you're enjoying the attention, Doc.”

“Not exactly a problem in New York,” I admit. “Here, though? It's a landmine. One wrong glance, and Dad's planning my wedding reception.”

Damon nods, a knowing glint in his eyes. “Welcome to Harmony Creek, Liam. Brace yourself for the matchmaking grandmothers and the well-meaning townsfolk. Just pray Mrs. Henderson doesn't catch wind of your situation.”

A shiver runs down my spine. Mrs. Henderson, the town gossip extraordinaire, is a force to be reckoned with. “Don't even joke about that.”

“Just sayin',” Damon chuckles. “Endure the hospital matchmaking, Liam. It's a small price to pay. Trust me.”

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