Release Day and Giveaway! A VALENTINE FOR CHRISTMAS by Reese Ryan (Valentine Vineyards #1)

“Isn’t there some rule about doctors and their patients—”

“Having lunch?” Julian shrugged, barely able to hold back a grin. “None that I recall.”

“You know what I mean, Doogie Howser.” Chandra pointed a finger. “You must be all of…what? Twenty-five?”

“Et tu, Chandra?” He’d been in town a few days and had heard his fair share of references to the fictional child doctor. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have known who Doogie Howser was. “I’m thirty. Thirty-one on my birthday in a few months. Besides, I’ve dated women older than you.” He shrugged. “The age difference doesn’t bother me. As for your question about the doctor-patient relationship… If we’d met in my exam room, I wouldn’t be sitting here. But our relationship clearly predates any doctor-patient connection.”

“I wasn’t aware we had a relationship.” Chandra leaned forward, her elbow on the table and her chin propped on the fist of her uninjured hand. Her rich brown eyes studied him.

“Well, you did hold my hand on the plane,” he reminded her. “In some cultures, that’s practically a marriage proposal.”

“True. But neither of us is from such a culture.” Her full lips curved in a reluctant smile.

Julian had the sudden urge to glide his fingers into the nape of Chandra’s neck and tug her forward, so he could sample the berry-tinted gloss on her lips.

“Then there’s that hug you gave me,” he continued.

“That was a show of gratitude. You saved my life.”

“I’m just saying…after the thirty-second mark, I’m pretty sure the hug went from gratitude to something…more.” Julian chuckled when she huffed indignantly. “What? Is it so terrible to admit you’re attracted to me?”

“No. I mean…yes.” Chandra looked adorably flustered. “Maybe I was attracted to you. But—”

“Great. Because the attraction is mutual.” Julian leaned in slightly and lowered his voice. “The Universe keeps throwing us together, Chandra. Seems like a glaring sign it’s best not to ignore.” “So now our meeting was destiny or something?” Chandra furrowed her brows.

“Or something.” He grinned.