Page 40 of Your Heart & Mine

The clinic's open house and dedication ceremony saw the whole town turn out to celebrate. Streamers bedecked the freshly painted walls and upbeat music filled the air.

The mayor and the town manager gave impassioned speeches about restoring vital resources to the struggling community. Listening residents cheered loudly, buoyed by Hummingbird cake, coffee, and lemonade.

From her place near the welcome table, Harper noticed Wyck slip quietly into the back of the room. Her pulse quickened at the sight of him, conflicting emotions welling up.

Before she could react, Elizabeth grabbed her arm. "What the hell is he doing here?" she hissed.

"It's fine, just leave it be," Harper whispered back.

Across the room, Wyck moved through the crowd greeting people warmly, a humble sincerity about him. Harper watched Cecilia usher him over to meet her new nurses and med techs.

Harper nervously swiped a piece of errant honey blonde hair behind her ear as she walked to the front of the room. She glanced around at the happy faces staring back at her and took a deep breath. She couldn't believe that it was actually happening. A few short months ago, this clinic hadn't even been in her thought processes and now here she was, about to make the health care center a reality.

"Thank you all so much for coming today," she said, her voice wavering slightly. "This clinic means so much to me and I'm deeply appreciative of all the hard work and dedication that went into making this happen."

She spoke about how grateful she was for the support and encouragement from local businesses, volunteers, members of the community, and especially her mother and sisters.

Tears brimmed in her eyes as everyone applauded warmly in response. Finally, Harper concluded by thanking them all again before introducing the new doctor, Cecilia Reynolds, and stepping back to allow the doctor to speak to the crowd.

As Dr. Reynolds gave an impassioned speech about her pride in being able to join the community and bring a new level of care to her new neighbors, Harper noticed Wyck slip quietly into the back of the room. Her pulse quickened at the sight of him, conflicting emotions welling up.

Before she could react, Elizabeth grabbed her arm and hissed in her ear. "What the hell is he doing here?"

"It's fine, I invited him," Harper whispered back, not letting the smile drop from her face. "Leave it be, Lizzy."

Applause rang out and Harper realized Dr. Reynolds had finished her speech. She stepped up quickly again. "Everyone, please enjoy the refreshments provided by Janelle's and Diane's bakery. Thank y'all so much for coming."

Meandering her way to the table covered in hors d'oeuvres and sweets, Harper exchanged pleasantries with people rotely, her eyes never straying long from Wyck's tall form and easy grace.

Across the room, he moved through the crowd with apparent ease, greeting people warmly, a humble sincerity about him. Harper watched as he met Dr. Reynolds, and she ushered him over to meet her new nurses and med techs. He seemed to know one of the nurses already and Harper realized it was Carly, a girl they had gone to school with. She had been dating a defensive tackle named Tug if she remembered correctly. Just then, an extremely large man came up and threw an arm around Carly's shoulders. Harper had no doubt this was Tug.

The huge man greeted Wyck warmly and a smile tugged at Harper's lips as she watched their interaction. "You're staring, love." A breath tickled her ear, and she sucked in a surprised breath as Cam came up behind her.

"I'm not," she protested. "I'm just happy everyone is enjoying themselves."

"Mmm, hmm," Cam chuckled, inhaling a bite of Hummingbird cake, obviously not believing a word she was saying.

His eyes twinkled mischievously. "Sure, Love. Everyone is happy." He glanced over at Carly and Tug, his voice laced with amusement. "Who's the mountain and the elf next to him?"

Harper rolled her eyes playfully. "That's Tug Hannigan. He was the star defensive tackle on the football team in high school. The elf, as you call her, is Carly. She was a cheerleader. They were inseparable back then."

Cam raised an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity in his voice. "High school sweethearts, huh?"

Harper nodded, a nostalgic smile playing on her lips. "Yep, they were apparently the real deal. Looks like they're still together."

"Didn't you tell me Wyck played football as well?"

Harper raised her eyebrows at him as he forked in another bite of cake, ignoring his question.

"What? It's good cake," Cam said, seeing her look.

Rolling her eyes again in amusement, Harper turned back to her study of Wyck. Her eyes suddenly pricked with tears. Perhaps he was the kind of man she needed him to be.

Cam followed Harper's gaze to where Wyck was now listening intently to the story of a wizened little man.

"Why are you crying? What did he do? Do I need to go kick his ass after all?" Elizabeth whispered harshly, coming up behind them suddenly.

"I don't believe that will be necessary," Cam answered with a small smile. "Your sister knows her own heart. We must trust her instincts, darling."

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