tempted to get on a plane and return to Malibu.” Trembling fingers pushed her hair from her face. “How am I supposed to direct a staff, make decisions on patient care and run the facility? That’s a lot of responsibility.”
He laughed, then stroked his chin with a finger. “Yes, it is. Let me think a minute. Didn’t you tell me that you were part of a Doctors Without Boundaries program in El Salvador and Africa?”
“Yes.”
“And if I remember correctly, you handled everything from mosquito bites to surgery. Correct?”
“Yes.”
“If you can handle those situations then I’m sure you have enough experience to run a small, inner-city clinic.” His fingers caressed the skin of her hand, sending her pulse into a gallop. “Here’s my suggestion. Take a mental step away from your uncertainties and let the day happen. I’m positive things will gel just the way you want them to.”
Taking J.D.’s advice, Shae shut her eyes, inhaled through her nose and exhaled out her mouth. After several minutes she felt calm and a sense of peace settle over her. “Thank you.” She smiled at her driver. J.D. soothed her. He instinctively understood her unease and knew the right thing to say to alleviate her fears.
“It’s part of the Daniels full-service treatment, provided exclusively to you. First days are always difficult. You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t feel the pressure.” He took his eyes off the road for a moment to gaze at her. Something special sizzled between them, causing her heart to flutter in her chest. “I know you can rise to the occasion. Make things work. Right?”
“Correct.”
“Good. That’s what I want to hear.”
“I’m nervous,” she admitted, then added, “I want to do the best job I can. What if I’m not ready? Or I don’t know enough to help my patients?”
He turned to her with a frown on his handsome features. “Where is all of this coming from? You know your job and it won’t take long for you to become familiar with the people in the area.”
“I know,” Shae admitted, patting his arm. “I’ve wanted to do this for so long that it doesn’t seem right that everything is falling into place without some major drama. Ignore me, I’ll be fine.”
J.D. gave her an “Are you sure?” glance.
“Honest. Thanks for tolerating me through this little panic attack.”
“No problem.” His voice dropped an octave. “I want to help in any way that you’ll let me.”
Warmed by his gentle but moving declaration, Shae reached over and stroked his cheek. “Thank you. You are wonderful.”
“And don’t you forget it.”
“Yes, sir.” Shae saluted him.
They both laughed.
Shae concentrated on the scenery and recognized several landmarks. As they moved deeper into the city there was a distinct shift in the condition of the buildings and houses. Most of the properties were well maintained, some older, some not. Some needed repair. Within minutes, J.D. pulled in front of a white three-story brick building. “Urban Health Center” was printed above the front door in black letters.
“Your door-to-door limo service has delivered you safely to your destination,” he declared, pushing the transmission gear into Park, but letting the engine run.
She glanced at the round clock on the dashboard. “And in good time, too. I have time to grab an extra cup of coffee.”
“Before I forget, my mother wants you to come to Sunday dinner.”
Butterflies danced in her stomach. “Dinner?” she echoed softly. His mother knew about her?
“Yeah. We do this family dinner thing most Sundays. My brothers and sisters and their families always show up.”
Shae shifted in her bucket seat to face him. “J.D., we’ve only known each other a few days. How does your mother know about me?”
J.D. blushed a delicate shade of red and intently studied the dashboard as his hands tightened around the steering wheel. “I happened to mention you a couple of times while we were talking this week.”
“Did you now?” she asked with a significant lifting of her brows.
He shrugged. “I talk about you because I like you. You are becoming an important part of my life.”
Her heart danced with excitement. What could she say to that? Tell him the truth. “You’re important to me, too.”
Embarrassed, J.D. gazed out the window. “I talked to my mom last night because she was checking to see how my trip worked out. Mom wanted to know if I was coming to dinner. When I hesitated she shifted from mom to sleuth mode and kept digging until I confessed that I was seeing you and didn’t want to leave you alone on the weekend. That’s all it took. Mom insisted that you join us.”
“I don’t know.” Shae nervously twisted a lock of hair around her finger. Was she ready to be introduced to the Daniels family? “We just met. Don’t you think it’s a bit early in our relationship for me to meet your family?”
J.D. grinned broadly at her.
The effect dazzled her and she found it nearly impossible to concentrate. “What?”
“I like the sound of that word. Relationship.”
Relaxing, she grinned back at him and admitted softly, “Me, too.”
“Getting back to your question, Shae, my family is pretty laid back. It’s dinner. No strings attached. I’d like you to come.” His hand settled on top of hers and squeezed. “Please.”
Shae grinned, shaking her head at the look on J.D.’s face. How could she resist that puppy-dog expression and endearing words? She had misgivings about meeting his family at such an early stage in their relationship, but she refused to let her concerns weigh down the time she spent with J.D. “Okay. I’ll come.”
“Thank you. You will love them,” he declared. “Trust me.”
Trust him. Of course she did. J.D. didn’t know how much trust she’d placed in him. Worried for her safety and welfare of their only child, the Weitherspoons had cautioned Shae against letting people get to close to her. After years of watching every step, she had thrown caution to the wind and allowed J.D. into her life. It felt wonderful to enjoy this relationship and see it develop without her parents’ watchful eyes and possible interference.
He glanced at his watch. “Ready to go to work?”
“I think so.”
“Good luck,” he whispered, leaning across to softly kiss her lips. He pulled one of her curls and stretched the lock straight before letting go. It snapped back into its original spiral shape.
“Thank you.”
Caressing her cheek, J.D. added, “Go in there and save the world. I know you can do it.”
“Will do, sir.”
“You have my cell phone number, right?” he asked.
“Yes, it’s programmed into the memory,” Shae answered, touching the phone clipped to the waistband of her mauve skirt. “And you have mine.”
J.D. watched a young man with his head wrapped in a do-rag and baggy wide-legged denims hung across his butt saunter past the clinic. “Watch yourself. I’ll be here at five to pick you up.”
“Are you sure you can do this? You have your clients to consider, and I don’t want to interfere with your business. If you have things that you need to do, I can always get a cab home and rent a car tomorrow.”
“Yes, you can. But I don’t want you to. Don’t worry about me, Shae. I make my