Read the book: «White Wedding For A Southern Belle»

CHAPTER ONE

ASHLEY MARSH PUSHED through the crowded ballroom filled with St. Patrick’s Day revelers dressed in costumes and lit by nothing but small green lights. As an alderman on the Savannah City Council, part of her job was to attend these types of events. Still, a fund-raiser hosted by Maggie Bradford wasn’t an invitation she could ignore.

Savannah, Georgia, with its large Irish history and a disposition toward a good party did St. Paddy’s Day right, even to the point of turning the river green. She’d always enjoyed the festivities but costume parties were a little over the top for her. Recognizing who she was speaking to tonight probably wasn’t going to happen. It made her a little nervous knowing that when people were behind a mask they tended to do things they wouldn’t otherwise. Experience told her that she wasn’t always a good judge of character anyway.

The crowd around her wore anything from big green shamrock glasses to Irish kilts. She’d chosen a green tunic and tights, and a leprechaun hat. With a glittery gold mask over her eyes, she had some anonymity yet she didn’t look as foolish as many of those in the room. She smiled to herself. More than once someone had told her to lighten up. Maybe tonight she would...a little. After all, few in the room could identify her.

“Ms. Marsh.”

Maybe she was wrong.

She knew that voice. It was Alderman Henderson, a thorn in her side most of the time. He was dressed as if he were the mayor of an Irish village in a green suit with yellow plaid vest and buckled top hat.

“Ralph, how’re you doing? Having a good time?” She already knew he wasn’t.

He shrugged. “I guess so. The wife is really into these things. Anyway, I want to let you know that the hospital has agreed to partner with us on your clinic idea. I just spoke to the administrator a few minutes ago. I’m going to agree to support it for the trial period of six months. Be aware, if there’s just one issue I’m going to withdraw that support.” His tone was firm, indicating he wouldn’t be changing his mind if all didn’t go well with the clinic.

Excitement filled her. She’d been working for this opportunity since she’d been elected. “Thanks, Ralph. You’re doing the right thing here.”

“I’m not sure about that yet, so we’ll see.” He wandered off into the crowd and Ashley wasn’t disappointed.

Suddenly feeling like celebrating, she looked around the room and spied a tall man with brown hair standing by himself. He was near a door to the outside as if he was preparing to run at any moment. He wore a dark suit with a green tie. Over his eyes was a mask of small yellow plaid. He was certainly understated for the occasion. Surely he would be safe enough for a dance or two?

Ashley made her way in his direction. Stopping in front of him, she said, “Happy St. Patrick’s Day. How about giving a leprechaun a bit of luck by dancing with her?”

Dark green eyes looked at her for a long moment. He nodded then set the drink he held down on a nearby table. Following her, they moved out onto the dance floor. A fast song was playing and she turned to face him. The man was a good dancer. They shared two more songs.

When a slow number started she said, “Thank you for the dances.”

He inclined his head. “You’re welcome.” The sexy timbre in his deep, rich voice was something she wouldn’t soon forget.

Ashley walked away. She wasn’t into being held by strange men, so she was both surprised and relieved that he hadn’t insisted she dance the slower song. If she was less cautious she might have enjoyed being in this stranger’s arms, but she knew too well what could happen when you weren’t careful...

* * *

Dr. Kiefer Bradford watched the tiny leprechaun cross the room and speak to a few people as she left him on the dance floor. He might have pursued her but his mother wouldn’t appreciate him picking up a one-night stand at her event and he’d no interest in anything longer. After what his ex-wife had done to him he had no intention of stepping into a serious relationship again. She’d seen to it that he didn’t believe anything a woman said.

The only reason he was at his mother’s costume ball was because he’d been in town for a job interview. When his former best friend, Josh—now his ex-wife’s husband—had been made director of the ER at the Atlanta hospital where Kiefer worked, it had been time for him to get out of town.

He was tired of dodging Josh. The whispers of the staff. The pitying faces of his friends. And, worse, the anger he continued to feel. Savannah was his home. He still owned a place here. He’d come back and leave all the ugliness behind.

Kiefer saw the leprechaun a few more times around the room but never on the dance floor. Twice they were almost close enough to speak but then she was gone. Anyway, he’d done his duty and he was ready to go. Enough green for him today. He’d watch and hear the rest of the fun from the balcony of his apartment.

As he was on his way out to the lobby, the leprechaun was coming out of a door to the right. Just as he was about to pass her Kiefer saw his ex-wife, Brittney, and Josh coming toward him among a group of people. Despite the festive dress, he recognized them.

Apprehension and anger rushed through him. Even here they still interrupted his life. They must have come to town for St. Patrick’s Day. Brittney was from Savannah as well. Regardless of their history, his mother’s party was the go-to event in town, so of course they wouldn’t miss it.

Kiefer didn’t want to speak with Brittney and Josh or want them to see him leaving alone. Without thinking, he grabbed the leprechaun as she passed.

Her small yelp of surprise made him pause for a second before his mouth found hers and he backed her against the wall. Her lips were soft and sweet beneath his. Her hands braced against his chest, pushed and then relaxed against him. Seconds later they slid to his waist. He shifted his mouth to gain a better advantage. One of his hands moved to cup her cheek.

Through the fog of desire welling up Kiefer heard the group pass. He forced himself to back away, letting his lips slowly leave the leprechaun’s. The longing to find them again filled him but he’d already stepped over the line.

“Just what do you think you’re doing?” she hissed, standing between him and the wall, his hand still cupping her face.

“Saying thank you for those dances.”

The leprechaun huffed. “By accosting me?”

He shrugged and removed his hand. As he did so the button on the sleeve of his coat caught in the necklace around her neck.

“Stop. Be careful. Don’t break it.” Her voice rose.

Why was she overreacting about a simple necklace with a funny-looking stone on it?

He held his arm motionless while she worked to release the chain. The shamrock on top of her hat bobbed against his nose. She smelled like baking cookies.

“Got it.” She looked up.

This leprechaun had the most beautiful doe-brown eyes he’d ever seen. Kiefer leaned in. She pushed against his chest. He stumbled backward and she hurried past him, disappearing into the crowded ballroom.

That leprechaun had certainly made this St. Patrick’s Day memorable.

Three months later

Kiefer was back in Savannah and driving through Southriver. He wasn’t having his first reservation or second but third about being in this part of town at this time of day. During his teen and college years Southriver had been the area where everyone had gone to find or buy a good time. Apparently that hadn’t changed.

When the medical director of Savannah Medical Center had questioned him about working at the Southriver clinic during the interview, Kiefer had thought of it as more of a what-if sort of question instead of a sure thing. He liked the adrenaline rush a large ER offered but he needed to get out of Atlanta. Seeing Josh regularly after what he and Brittney had done to him wasn’t working. The staff was too aware of the tension between them.

Being the clinic physician wasn’t his first choice but at least it would prove his leadership and organizational skills for an opportunity down the road. Three to six months at the clinic and maybe he could transfer to the ER or apply for a departmental spot at the hospital.

As he continued down the street the number of people sitting on the steps of houses increased. It was already hot and steamy for the early days of summer and this evening was no different. These people were doing anything they could to catch a breeze. In front of a few homes children played. Maybe the revitalization of the area was starting to work.

The appearance of the neighborhood improved the farther he drove. The blocks behind him had empty buildings with grass growing in the cracks of the sidewalk and trash blown against the curb. All signs of inner-city apathy. In contrast, the closer he came to the address he was looking for, the better kept the houses and businesses looked. Many were newly painted, with fresh signs above storefronts and flowering plants hung from light posts. This went on for one block but the next started showing the neglected look of the earlier ones.

What the...?

Just ahead of him a group of males who wore their pants low on their hips and matching bandannas on their biceps stood aggressively facing a woman in front of a three-story brownstone. The woman was Ashley Marsh. Kiefer recognized her from a couple of TV interviews he’d seen since his return.

The best he could tell, she was a crusader of the highest order. As a child of someone who took on causes—sometimes to her own detriment—he was weary of what Ashley’s plans might be. In her interviews he’d found her articulate and intelligent, if not a little antagonistic for his taste.

Kiefer wasn’t particularly impressed. He believed in helping people—after all, that was why he’d become a doctor—but he also expected people to help themselves. Not everyone could be saved. Sometimes people were just not worth it.

What he knew of Ashley Marsh reminded Kiefer too much of his mother. That “help everyone, all people are good” view of life made Kiefer a little leery of Ashley Marsh. Advocates often saw the picture through rose-colored glasses. Ms. Marsh struck him as being that type of person. If he were ever interested in a woman again it wouldn’t be in someone who didn’t show more restraint where people were concerned.

As he drew closer he could see that Ashley was talking to the group, gesturing with her hands.

One of the young men made an aggressive move forward. To her credit, she didn’t back away.

Kiefer’s hands tightened on the wheel. All the ugly memories of a day so long ago, when his mother had been attacked, came flooding back. The man off the street, his mother begging him not to kill her, his mother falling to the floor, the man going through her purse and Kiefer watching it all helplessly through the slats of the pantry door. He’d sworn then he would never again stand idly by while someone was being threatened.

His tires squealed as he quickly pulled into a parking lot next to the building. The group turned toward him. At least their attention was drawn away from Alderman Marsh. Kiefer hopped out and circled the truck, putting himself between her and the gang.

“Hey, man, who’re you?” growled the man Kiefer had pegged as the leader of the group. His dark hair was long and pulled back in a band. He wore a hoop in his ear.

“Dr. Kiefer Bradford. I’m the new clinic doctor.”

“We don’t need no more outsiders here.”

Ashley sidestepped Kiefer. He put his arm out to stop her without taking his eyes off the men in front of him. He felt more than saw her move around him and he dropped his arm in frustration.

“I can handle this,” she announced in a firm tone, confronting the guy in front of Kiefer. “Look, Marko, the clinic is to help the people around here, not to spy on you. What if your mother or sister needed medical care? Don’t you want them to have a place to get it? This will be a no-questions-asked place.”

It would be? That was the first Kiefer had heard of that.

“We don’t need...” Marko lifted his chin toward Kiefer “...no outsiders coming into our neighborhood.”

“This is my home as much as it is yours,” Ashley stated. “I’ve known your family all your life. I used to change your diapers.”

A couple of Marko’s buddies snickered. He glanced at them. Their faces sobered. “All your do-gooding isn’t going to work,” Marko said to Ashley.

“I’m trying to make the community better. The clinic is the first step in doing that.”

“Yeah, right, it’s your way of trying to change everything.” He spit on the ground then scowled. “I run this ’hood, and if I don’t want you or your clinic, you’ll be gone.”

Kiefer took a step forward. “Don’t threaten the lady.”

Marko glowered at him. “Back off, mister, or you’ll regret it.”

A couple of Marko’s thugs moved toward him.

Ashley pulled at Kiefer’s arm, preventing him from going toward Marko. “He isn’t worth it.”

The horn of a police car had Marko’s gang scrambling, each running in a different direction and disappearing into the dwindling light.

“Is there a problem here?” the patrolman asked out the car window.

Ashley left Kiefer’s side and went to the car. “No, we’re fine, Carl.”

Carl looked at Kiefer and raised his chin. “Who’s this guy?”

“This is Dr. Bradford, the new director of the clinic.”

Kiefer nodded.

“Good to have you, Doc,” Carl said. “Never a dull moment in Southriver.”

“I’m finding that out.”

“Carl, don’t run him off before he even gets started,” Ashley said with a half laugh.

“Sorry, Alderman, that wasn’t my intention. Y’all have a good evening.” Carl’s partner drove the car on down the street.

After all the excitement Kiefer took a really good look at the woman beside him. Beneath the streetlight she wasn’t at all like the person on TV, more like a college coed and less like a hard-nosed politician. Of average height, with midnight-black hair she wore pulled back in a ponytail. Her jeans had holes in them; not as a fashion statement but from actual use would be his guess.

His attention went to her tight T-shirt, which did nothing to hide the generous breasts but, in fact, drew attention to them with “not here you don’t” written across them. What captured his attention was the necklace lying between her breasts. It was the same one that the woman he’d kissed on St. Patrick’s Day had been wearing.

He looked into her dark eyes. Yes, those were the ones. He’d thought of that kiss and these very eyes many times since then.

“You!”

Ashley gave him a quizzical look. “Yes. Me.”

She didn’t recognize him. But why should she? He’d worn a mask.

* * *

Ashley put her hands on her hips and glared at the man before her. “What were you thinking?”

He blinked a couple of times as if he’d forgotten where he was. “What do you mean?”

Dr. Bradford looked truly perplexed. As if he couldn’t imagine creating a situation that both she and he couldn’t get out of. Marko wasn’t someone to mess with. “Jumping in between Marko and me. I had things under control.”

“Yeah, I could see that. Six against one is always a fair number. I was only trying to help.”

What was it about his voice? Had she heard it before? That rich tone sounded so familiar. “You weren’t. If anything, you were making matters worse.”

Ashley clenched her jaw. She’d fought most of her life against being overprotected. To fight her own fights. After her childhood friend had been abducted it had seemed like her father hadn’t wanted to let her out of his sight. For years she’d had to beg to walk the two blocks to school. Even when he’d let her she’d caught him or her brother following her. It had taken going off to college to break away. She loved her father dearly but she would never return to that way of life. Having this doctor ride to the rescue wasn’t what she needed or wanted. She could take care of Marko and herself.

Dr. Bradford said sarcastically, “So, if I understand correctly, I should have just stood by while they scared you into doing whatever they wanted you to do, which, by the way, was what?”

“Marko doesn’t want the clinic to open. He believes it’s only here to keep tabs on him and his gang. You know, big brother watching and all that. What it amounts to is he’s afraid that if the people in Southriver have something positive, they’ll want more and stop letting him intimidate them. Push thugs like him out.”

“That’s what you want too, isn’t it?”

“Yes. I want to make this a good place to live.”

“Admirable. But if you’re not careful you won’t be around to see it happen.”

That might be true, but she’d spent so many years feeling cloistered and controlled, as if she couldn’t take care of herself, that as an adult she fought against it whenever it happened to her now. She wasn’t that brave in her personal life, always questioning her ability to judge if she was seeing the real person. Fighting to truly trust. Her being fooled before had destroyed someone’s life. She couldn’t let that happen again to her or anyone she cared about.

“Look around you.” She reached out an arm and directed it toward the buildings across the street. “Those were all businesses when I was growing up. Criminals like Marko slowly drove them away. I won’t be driven out. This clinic is the first step in bringing people back.”

“You have grand plans, Ms. Marsh.”

“I believe in dreaming big.”

“You have your work cut out for you.”

“Maybe so, but when I ran for the city council I promised that I’d help make this area a better place to live and I intend to keep that promise.”

“Even if it kills you?”

She shrugged. “It won’t come to that. Let’s go in and I’ll show you around. Then we’ll get to work.” She turned toward the building. “By the way, don’t ever step between me and anyone again.”

* * *

Kiefer blinked. He’d just been put in his place by a woman who had been wearing a leprechaun outfit when he’d first met her. She didn’t recognize him. He was a bit disappointed. Then again, why would she? Their kiss had got to him but that didn’t mean she had felt anything.

And what was this about working? He’d been told this was a meet and greet. He’d made plans for dinner tonight. Something about Ashley’s demeanor warned him that wouldn’t be a good enough excuse for leaving early.

She walked toward the redbrick structure with large window frames painted white. It had a heavy-looking natural wood door that had obviously been refinished with care. On either side of it were pots full of bright yellow flowers. She looked back as if she expected him to follow her. When he did she pushed the door wider. After he entered she closed and locked it. Despite what he believed was her earlier recklessness, at least she was showing some caution.

“The building used to be a hardware store,” she informed him. “This large area will be used as the waiting room.” All makes and models of wooden chairs were stationed around the room. “I have someone, Maria, coming in tomorrow morning to act as receptionist. She’s a good girl. Let’s go back here and I’ll show you what I have planned.”

Kiefer didn’t say anything, just trailed after her down a long hallway that had obviously had new walls built to create smaller rooms on one side.

“These are the examination rooms. I couldn’t make too many permanent changes because I had this building declared a historical one so it wouldn’t be torn down.”

Was she a crusader about everything? Even buildings? He’d seen sound bites of her talking about revitalizing the area but he hadn’t known that included defending old buildings. In his mind, constructing more modern ones would have been more effective and energy efficient.

“This is the supply room, where we’ll need to concentrate our efforts tonight.”

Kiefer stepped into the room. It was piled high with boxes. More than a night’s worth of work faced them.

“What’s all of this?”

“Donated supplies. You’ll find they aren’t hard to come by. Manpower is. People are more than happy to give as long as it doesn’t require any real investment of time.” She stepped forward and opened a box.

“Ms. Marsh, I’m sorry but I have another appointment at eight. I’ll get started on this first thing in the morning.” He had to stop looking at her mouth. Thinking of their kiss.

She made a disgusted sound. “I don’t think you’ll have time for that tomorrow and I have scheduled meetings so I’ll be in and out.”

“I doubt there’ll be so many patients that I can’t see to it over the next few days.”

“You might be surprised. Were you told that this job would require long hours?”

“I understand those. I am an ER doctor. The issue is that I wasn’t prepared to work tonight. I understood I was to come and see the clinic. Not set it up.”

“Dr. Bradford, around here we all do what has to be done. Were you told you would have only one nurse?”

“No. I was just asked to start work here the day after tomorrow.”

“You have the date wrong. Tomorrow is opening day.”

He’d be there ready to go in the morning. She seemed to set high expectations for herself and others. Kiefer didn’t need her reporting back that he’d not given his all to this project. He had to ensure this clinic ran smoothly.

Shrugging out of his lightweight jacket, he conceded, “I can stay for a couple of hours now. We won’t get it all done tonight but maybe we can have at least one exam room operational. But first I have to make a quick phone call.”

“Sounds like a plan, Dr. Bradford.”

“Please call me Kiefer. After all, we have met before.”

She tilted her head in question. “I don’t remember that.”

“Now my feelings are hurt. It was at a St. Patrick’s Day party.”

A look of concern came over her face. She studied him for a moment. “Really?”

“You invited me to dance.”

Ashley sucked in a breath. Her eyes widened. “You grabbed me in the hall.”

“I’m sorry about that. Heat of the moment and all that.” Kiefer wasn’t going into why he’d kissed her. He also wasn’t going to let on how much he’d enjoyed doing so.

“I should have slapped your face.”

He shrugged. “Probably.”

Ashley’s hands shook as she opened the first box. She glanced at Kiefer. He had been the one. The man whose kiss had turned her inside out. She’d pushed him away and had gone down the hall back to the party on wobbly knees. No kiss had ever lingered and stayed with her like his had. Even months later she could remember every detail. But could she trust him? Someone who just grabbed a stranger and kissed them?

Kiefer looked at her. She turned away. Was he thinking of their kiss? Worse, laughing at her? She had to get past the moment and concentrate on the job at hand. What they had shared had been two adults being silly during a party.

He wasn’t who she’d expected, on more than one front. She’d thought an older, more established doctor would be assigned to the clinic. The council had only agreed to support the clinic if she could work out an affiliation with the Savannah Medical Center. Only when she’d managed to make the connection had the plan come together. The six-month time limit meant the clinic had to look good from the first day and there could be no issues, like with Marko.

Her next concern was that if the clinic did make a go of things, would Kiefer stay and run it after the six months were up? Or would he be like so many others? All her life she’d seen people wanting to help come and go in her community. Civic groups, church groups, private companies, all wanting to make a difference. The problem was that they never stayed long enough to make a real change. Slowly the strides forward would slide back to the way they had been. They came in and did their projects for the allotted time then left, never really committing to Southriver. Ashley needed people who would stay and be a part of the community. Someone who would have the same conviction about the community as she did.

When she’d been elected from the Southriver district to serve as alderman, the establishment of close affordable medical care had been one of her main platform points.

If there had been a clinic close by, Lizzy might have lived.

The clinic was the first of many improvements Ashley planned to implement. The beginning of making restitution for not having been there for Lizzy. But she had to show success with this project before she requested funds for the next.

* * *

They spent the following few hours opening boxes. Kiefer would tell her where the supplies were needed and she would put them there. He was a clean-cut guy in an all-American way. Dressed in a knit collared shirt and jeans, which seemed worn enough that they might be his favorite, and loafers. He was a striking man. As much so as he had been on St. Patrick’s Day. He oozed confidence, but she knew from experience that he would need to gain acceptance in this neighborhood. His eyes were his most arresting feature. They twinkled with merriment. She should have remembered them, but it had been his voice that had pulled at her. That timbre when he said certain words made it special.

Kiefer was a worker, she’d give him that. She had no idea what some of the items they were handling were or how they were used, but he seemed pleased to see each of them. On occasion she would catch him looking at her. It made her feel a little nervous. That kiss stood between them. Theirs was a business relationship and she was going to see that it stayed that way.

“I’ll need to make a list of other things we need when we get this all finished,” he said.

“Good luck with that. I had a hard enough time getting these donated.”

“I know someone I could ask.”

“Who’s that?” Ashley pushed another empty box out of the way.

“My mother. She’s always looking for a cause. I’ll put her on it. It may take a while for us to get what we need, but we will.”

“Your mother isn’t Maggie Bradford, is she?” She should have known. Last name Bradford. She’d been at Maggie Bradford’s party. Great. Another connection between them. Ashley knew his mother.

“That’s her.”

“She’s a smart woman. Very persuasive.”

“Yeah. That’s Mom.”

He didn’t sound that pleased. “She has a big heart.”

A shadowy look came over his face. “Sometimes to her own detriment. That’s a characteristic the two of you share.” He picked up another box and headed out the door.

What had he meant by that comment?

Sometime later he looked at the large, expensive watch on his wrist. “I’m sorry, but I’ve gotta go. I’ll finish the rest of this tomorrow.” Picking up his jacket from where he’d hung it, he pulled it on. “Walk to the door with me. I want to make sure you close up.”

“You don’t have to worry about me. I’ve lived in Southriver all my life and I’ll still be here when you’re gone. So please don’t start trying to play hero.”

“No hero here. Just put my concern down to having been there, done that, and humor me.” He stood at the door, waiting on her.

What was that all about? She stopped what she was doing and followed him down the hall. Kiefer opened the front door. “Lock up.”

“I will, but I’m going to wait here until you get into your truck. If any eyes are looking, they need to know you’re with me.”

He started toward his truck. On his way he called, “This lot needs a security light.”

“I’ll add it to the already long list.” She watched him climb into his late-model truck. It was a nice one and she was afraid it might not fare well in this neighborhood. Vandalism could be a problem. It also made him stand out as a visitor, and that could cause confidence issues with the locals.