Small-Town Reunion
Helping children in her hometown is a dream fulfilled for single mother Brianna Benson. But being back in Hope, New Mexico, isnât easy for the medical clinicâs new child psychologist. Ten years ago, the night before her wedding, Brianna discovered that her fiancé, Zac Enders, betrayed herâand she left town in tears. Now a school administrator, Zac is asking for her help with kids at riskâsuch as her own troubled son. But how can she work with the man who broke her heart? As Christmas approaches, the gift of reunited love is waiting to be unwrapped.
âWhatâs your primary objection to working with me?â Zac asked.
âWe have a past,â she said bluntly. âYou must remember we seldom agreed on how things should be done.â
âI remember. And I remember we made it work anyway.â A crooked smile tipped his lips.
âYes, well.â She coughed, searching for composure. âIt simply wouldnât work, Zac. Iâm sorry.â
âYou could make it work, Brianna. The past is over. Thereâs nothing between us now, after all these years. What happened when we were kids isnât going to affect me now.â
His words stung, though they shouldnât have.
Nothing between us after all these years.
Her fingers automatically rose to touch the chain that held the engagement ring heâd given her one Christmas Eve, hidden beneath the fabric of her blouse.
âDonât say no, Brianna. Next weekend is Homecoming. It could be the kickoff for a new plan. Think about it until tomorrow. That would still leave us a week to plan something.â
âIâll think about it.â
Chapter One
âHello, Brianna.â
The past ten years had been kind to her former fiancé.
Though Brianna Benson scrutinized Zac Enderâs lean, tanned face, she found no sign of aging to mar his classic good looks. Even more surprising, his espresso eyes still glowed at her with warmth in spite of their past.
âGood to see you,â Zac continued, inclining his head to one side, a smile flirting with lips that once, long ago, sheâd kissed. He bent slightly to thrust out a hand, which she shook and quickly released.
âGood to see you, too,â Brianna replied.
Zac had always bemoaned his height because an incident in his childhood to his knee left him unable to play basketball. To extra tall Brianna, Zacâs height was an asset not often found among the boys sheâd known in high school.
That was only one of the things sheâd once loved about him.
âHow are you?â he asked.
âIâd be better if you hadnât called me out of a session with one of my clients,â Brianna grumbled. Sheâd been back home in Hope, New Mexico, for two months. Sheâd been the psychologist at Whispering Hope Clinic where the high school referred their students for counseling for almost that long. So why had Zac waited until today, at ten past eleven, to renew their acquaintance?
He leaned back on his heels, studying her. âYou look great.â
âThanks. Youâre director of education, huh?â Briannaâs nerves skittered at the way he studied her. Why was Zac back in Hope? More important, why was she reacting to him like some teen with a crush? âI didnât realize youâd given up teaching.â
âI havenât given up teaching. Just changed my focus to administration.â His unblinking stare rattled her. âItâs been a long time.â He said it as if theyâd parted the best of friends when actually sheâd run away from him on the morning of their wedding.
She raised one eyebrow. The only defense she could summon to battle the emotions he raised was disdain. âThatâs why Iâm here, Zac? To reminisce?â
âNo.â His head gave a quick negative shake. âOf course not.â
Frustrated that her traitorous pulse was doing double time, that her palms still tingled though sheâd released his hand, that yet again she couldnât control something in her messed up world, Brianna sighed.
âSo would you please tell me what is so important that I had to leave work on my busiest clinic day to come here?â she asked, except she really didnât need him to tell her because she knew with heart-sinking certainty that it was Cory. It had to be. Sheâd expected returning to Hope would give her troubled son the fresh start he needed to turn his world around.