Page 44 of Rocky Mountain Home

Jesse outright grinned as he stepped back then offered his hand to the doctor. “Jesse Coleman.”

“Leslie Martins. I take it you’re the father?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Dr. Martins turned to Dare, the older woman’s familiar smile completely nonjudgmental. This was the same doctor who’d treated all her childhood illnesses, and helped pull Dare out of the dark days that followed losing her family. Dare didn’t think she could have taken seeing judgment or disappointment on the woman’s face.

Dr. Martins pulled the rolling chair under her as she pointed Jesse back to the corner chair. “Dare, I think we have a typo on the date of your last period. As in blank-space typo.”

“Not sure when it was,” Dare admitted.

The doctor frowned. “But you have February eighth as a conception date. You sure?”

“Yes,” she and Jesse said at the same time, prompting a small laugh from Dr. Martins before she turned on them both with a lecturing tone.

“You conceived in February, and this is your first prenatal visit? You’re already in your second trimester, which means I’m not happy with either of you. Prenatal care is important, and I expect you both to take these visits more seriously in the future, is that clear?”

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll make sure of it from now on,” Jesse said firmly.

Dare avoided his eyes. “We’ll be here.”

Dr. Martins took a deep breath. “One other thing. I’m in the process of sending out letters to all my patients, but I need to let you know that while I’m happy to be your doctor right now, we’ll have to make alternative plans for down the road. I’m retiring the end of August.”

Disappointment rushed in.

“You can’t.” Dare snapped her mouth shut guiltily. “I’m sorry, that was rude. I’m excited for you, but really?”

“I know it’s a bit of a shock, but you can see one of the other doctors here in Heart Falls. You’ll have to go to Black Diamond for delivery, anyway.” The doctor laid a hand on her arm. “We’ll talk about it more over the next months. You’ll be fine.”

“I’m going to miss you,” Dare said honestly.

“I’ll miss you as well, but it’s good to see you moving on with life. New fiancé, baby on the way—life does go on.” She nodded approvingly at Jesse before turning back to all business. “I need to finish the last couple tests and measurements.” Dr. Martins flipped a few pages on her chart. “Is Jesse staying in the room or no?”

“I’m staying.”

The doctor twisted to glare at him. “I was asking Dare.”

“He can stay. I bet it’ll be his first time seeing someone in stirrups and no horse within a country mile.”

Jesse’s face twisted.

“Good practice for down the road,” Dr. Martins deadpanned. “I’ll give you a minute to slip out of your things from the waist down and put on the robe. Opening to the front this time.” She paused at the door. “Oh, and I will only be a minute, so don’t go getting distracted again, or anything,” she warned them.

Dare pulled on the robe before slipping off her jeans and panties, mind wandering to the news that Dr. Martins was leaving.

Jesse accepted her clothes like they were the crown jewels, folding them and placing them on the seat before turning back and distracting her from her memories. “Stirrups?”

She hopped back up on the examination table before patting his cheek and focusing on the matter at hand. “You poor, innocent soul.”

“As bad as that?”

“You ever had your prostate checked, Jesse?”

His eyes widened.

“There’s a reason women like lady doctors, and it’s not just that they’re female. Small hands. Enough said.”

Dr. Martins returned. The dreaded stirrups were employed, and Dare’s belly was measured in rapid order, and there was barely time for discussion. Jesse had worked his way to her side and somehow her fingers had slipped into his, linked together kind of over her head as she pretended she wasn’t being poked and prodded in a most inglorious manner in front of a man she barely knew.