Single Daddy Doctor Dreamy (Everwood Romance)

1. Lucy

1

LUCY

The sign for Everwood looms over the road, faded but still charming. “Welcome to Everwood—A Place to Call Home.” It’s as quaint as I remember. The redwood trees lining the street feel like old friends, and the sea breeze, salty and cool, drifts through the cracked window of my little car. This town is practically frozen in time. After living in New York City for the last 4 years, I’m not sure whether I’ll find that comforting or suffocating.

As I navigate the streets, I pass landmarks from my childhood. The diner where Aiden and I used to get milkshakes, the library I practically lived in during high school, and the park where I scraped my knee a hundred times trying to keep up with Aiden and his best friend, Joel Anderson.

Everwood, nestled about 40 miles east of Eureka, is surrounded by towering redwoods and rolling hills that seem to stretch endlessly toward the horizon. It’s a place where time moves a little slower, where everyone knows everyone else’s business, and where the air always carries a hint of redwoods, pine trees and earth. The single main street is lined with small businesses, most of them family-owned and untouched by chain stores or big-city influence. A general store, a post office, a tiny coffee shop, a nice little bed-and-breakfast and a hardware store form the backbone of the town’s economy, while a scattering of dairy farms and pot farms as well as ranches dot the outskirts. Everwood sits in the western part of Humboldt County, California where growing pot is legal, with the proper licensing and is a large contributor to the local economy.

Growing up here was both idyllic and stifling. Without a high school in Everwood, I spent my teenage years riding the bus into Eureka every morning. The journey, nearly an hour each way, was both a blessing and a curse. I’d sit with my headphones on, staring out the window as the bus wound through the forest, the morning sun filtering through the trees like something out of a dream. I’d lose myself in music and daydreams, imagining a life far away from here. But by the time the bus pulled into Eureka High, the enchantment would fade, replaced by the humdrum reality of teenage life.

Still, there were moments of magic. The friends I made in Eureka gave me a glimpse of the world beyond Everwood, while the town itself held onto my heart with its quiet charm. I remember coming back from school on foggy afternoons, the bus headlights cutting through the mist as we approached the familiar curve in the road that meant I was close to home. Sometimes, if Aiden was home from college, he’d wait for me at the bus stop, and we’d walk together up the road to home.

This place is woven into me, a big part of who I am and of the dreams I’ve chased. Driving through its streets now, I’m reminded of all the reasons I left—and all the reasons I’ve come back.

Joel. The thought of him sends a flicker of warmth and nerves through me. Aiden’s childhood partner-in-crime turned brooding doctor. Back then, I had a stupid crush on him. He was the gorgeous jock in high school that all the girls liked, and I was the goofy 12-year-old with a huge crush. But now, he’s my new boss. My ridiculously hot, very single dad boss. And I’ll be living in his house as a nanny for his two kids. My stomach twists with nerves.

I pull up to Joel’s house, a Craftsman-style beauty perched on the edge of a cul-de-sac. It’s more polished than I expected, with a manicured lawn and freshly painted shutters. Clearly, Joel’s got it together, unlike me, the failed New York model turned babysitter.

Before I can dwell on my insecurities, the front door swings open. Joel steps out, tall and commanding, his dark hair slightly tousled like he’s been running his hands through it. He’s wearing a tight-fitting black T-shirt and jeans that show off his incredible physique. I believe me when I say, it’s not a dad bod! I swear the air gets heavier.

“Lucy,” he calls out, his deep voice carrying across the driveway. “You made it.”

I hop out of the car, attempting to shake off my nerves. “Hey, Joel.” My voice is breezy, but my heart is pounding. His green eyes lock on mine, and for a moment, I forget how to breathe. At that moment, my thoughts are so NOT professional.

He strides over, his steps confident but not rushed. He’s got the same serious, quiet energy he always had, but there’s something else now. A weight, maybe. Fatherhood. Life.

He reaches for me, and we exchange an uncomfortable hug. “Let me help you with your bags,” he says, grabbing my suitcase before I can protest.

“Thanks. Is Aiden here yet?” I ask, partly to fill the silence and partly to figure out how much time I have before my overprotective brother starts grilling Joel. He clearly was not happy when he found out that I was moving into Joel’s house to be a nanny for his boys.

“Not yet. He’ll swing by later. Come on inside.”

I follow him up the steps and into the house. The interior is warm and inviting, with a blend of cozy furniture and practical design. It smells faintly of coffee and vanilla. Joel sets my suitcase by the stairs just as two small whirlwinds barrel into the room.

“Dad! Dad! Did she bring a dog?” the older boy, Miles, I’m guessing, shouts, skidding to a stop in front of me. His brother, Finn, trails close behind, clutching a stuffed dinosaur.

“No dog,” Joel says, ruffling Miles’ dark hair. “This is Lucy. She’s going to help out around here.”

“Hi, Lucy!” Miles says, his grin wide and gap-toothed, his eyes sparking green, just like his dad. Finn peeks out from behind his dad’s leg, his blue eyes curious. “I’m Miles, and this is Finn. He’s shy.”

“Hi, Miles. Hi, Finn.” I crouch to their level. “I don’t have a dog, but I do have a bag of gummy bears in my purse. Think we could share?”

Finn’s eyes light up, and Miles whoops, “Yes!” He grabs Finn’s hand and drags him closer.

Joel sighs, but there’s a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “You don’t have to bribe them, you know.”

“It’s not a bribe; it’s an icebreaker,” I shoot back. Joel’s mouth twitches, and I feel a small surge of victory.

Just as I’m about to grab the gummy bears, Miles decides to show off. “Watch this!” he says, climbing onto the couch. He leaps off, attempting a dramatic somersault, but his landing is… less than graceful.

“Miles!” Joel snaps, rushing to check on him. Meanwhile, Finn giggles and tries to imitate his brother, only to topple over into a pile of cushions. I can’t help but laugh.

“Well, at least they’re enthusiastic,” I say, trying to keep a straight face as Joel assesses the chaos.

“Welcome to my life,” he mutters, lifting Finn onto his feet. Miles bounces back like a rubber ball, grinning as if nothing happened.

The sound of a car pulling into the driveway draws our attention. Joel’s expression hardens slightly. “That’ll be Aiden.”

Perfect timing. I brace myself as my brother’s voice booms through the house before he even reaches the door. “Lucy! Where are you?”

“In here!” I call out, meeting him halfway in the hallway. Aiden scoops me into a bear hug that only a big brother can pull off, lifting me off the ground.

“You made it,” he says, setting me down. His grin falters slightly when his gaze shifts to Joel. “So, this is happening.”

“Nice to see you too, Aiden,” Joel says dryly.

Aiden crosses his arms, his protective brother stance in full effect. “We need to talk,” he says to Joel, jerking his head toward the porch.

Joel’s jaw tightens, but he nods. “Sure. Lucy, why don’t you settle in upstairs? Miles and Finn can show you to your room.”

I’m torn between wanting to eavesdrop and avoiding whatever testosterone-fueled lecture Aiden’s about to deliver. Ultimately, curiosity wins out, and I linger in the hallway long enough to catch the opening line.

“She’s my sister, Joel. Keep it professional, or we’re going to have a problem.”

“I plan on it, Aiden,” Joel states in a firm but frustrated tone.

Great. This is going to be fun.

I wander upstairs to my room, which is far nicer than I expected. The walls are painted a soft fern green, and the bed is covered with a fluffy white duvet that looks impossibly comfortable. There’s even a vase of fresh flowers on the nightstand. Joel’s attention to detail is… surprising.

I sit back and take in the space. The house is warm, inviting. It feels like a home, the kind I always dreamed of having. Not that my childhood with Aiden was bad, but it was chaotic, especially after our parents’ divorce. Seeing Joel manage all this as a single dad is… impressive.

As I unpack, Miles and Finn dart in and out of the room, peppering me with questions. “Do you like pizza?” “Can you play video games?” “Why did you come here?”

The last question catches me off guard. I glance at Miles, who is perched on the edge of the bed, his expression earnest. “Because your dad needed some help with you two wild things,” I say, keeping my tone light. “And I needed a change.”

“Our mom died a long time ago and dad has trouble with us,” Miles states in a matter-of-fact way. He has clearly heard this from another adult because it’s not something an eight-year-old would say.

“Will you miss your friends?” Finn asks softly, his dinosaur clutched to his chest.

“I will,” I admit. “But I’m happy to be here with you guys. And I can always make new friends. Plus, I lived in Everwood as a kid, so I still have a few old friends living in town.”

Miles grins. “Good. We like you.”

“Yeah,” Finn echoes, his shyness melting away.

Their simple approval warms me more than I expected. Maybe this will work out better than I thought.

Downstairs, I hear the murmur of voices, followed by the sound of the front door closing. Aiden must have left. Joel’s voice calls up the stairs, “Dinner’s ready!”

I follow the boys down, finding Joel in the kitchen, setting plates of lasagne on the table. He glances up as I enter, his expression unreadable. “Everything okay?”

“Fine,” I say, though I’m not entirely sure. “Aiden didn’t scare you off, did he?”

“Not yet,” Joel says, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. “But he made his point.”

As Miles and Finn scamper off to wash their hands, Joel turns to me, his green eyes serious. “Aiden’s just… looking out for you. But I want you to know I’ll keep things professional.”

“Good to know,” I manage, my voice steadier than I feel.

The tension between us is subtle but undeniable, like a string pulled taut. As we sit down to eat, I can’t help but wonder how long we can keep this professional facade intact. And honestly, I’m not sure I want to.

The next afternoon, a knock at the door interrupts my thoughts.

“I’ll get it,” I call out, heading for the door. When I open it, I’m met with the curious eyes of a woman holding a pie. She’s in her fifties, with perfectly curled hair and a nosy air about her.

“Hello there,” she says, her eyes narrowing slightly. “You must be the new nanny.”

“Uh, yes. That’s me. Lucy Harper.” I hold out my hand, but she’s already peering past me into the house.

“I’m Mrs. Clarkson, your neighbor. Welcome to Everwood.” She thrusts the pie into my hands. “Apple. Homemade.”

“Thank you,” I say, trying to keep my tone polite.

“So, how long have you known Dr. Anderson?” she asks, leaning in conspiratorially. “The whole neighborhood’s been buzzing about him hiring another nanny. Such a handsome man, isn’t he?”

I feel my cheeks heat. “We’ve known each other for a while. Family friends.”

“Interesting,” she says, her eyes glittering with intrigue. Without waiting for an invitation, she brushes past me into the house. “My, what a charming place. You will need to be a miracle worker if you expect to keep it tidy with those boys running around.”

“Oh, um, well…” I trail off, unsure how to respond as she pokes her head into the living room and clicks her tongue at the sight of a pile of toys in the corner.

“I see they’ve made a mess. Typical boys.” She turns back to me with a tight smile. “I imagine it must be quite a challenge. Miles and Finn can be… spirited, can’t they?”

Before I can reply, a shriek echoes from upstairs. Mrs. Clarkson’s eyes widen as Miles comes barreling down the stairs, a superhero cape trailing behind him. Finn follows, giggling madly, clutching his stuffed dinosaur.

“Boys!” I call out, trying to inject some authority into my voice. “Don’t run on the stairs. Someone is going to get hurt.”

Miles skids to a stop in front of Mrs. Clarkson, his grin faltering when he sees her. “Oh. It’s you.”

“Charming,” Mrs. Clarkson mutters, adjusting her pearl necklace. “Hello, Miles. And Finn.”

Finn ducks behind me, peeking out cautiously. Miles, ever the bold one, crosses his arms and says, “We don’t like you. You yelled at us when our ball hit your rose bush.”

Mrs. Clarkson gasps, her hand flying to her chest as if he’d just accused her of a heinous crime. “Well, young man, perhaps you should be more careful where you throw things!”

“It was an accident,” Miles retorts, his lower lip jutting out. “And your roses were ugly anyway.”

“Okay!” I interject, desperate to diffuse the tension. “Let’s all calm down. Mrs. Clarkson was just bringing us a pie.” I lift the dessert as if it’s a peace offering.

“Yes, a homemade apple pie,” Mrs. Clarkson says, her tone frosty. “Though I must say, it seems wasted on such… unruly hooligans.”

Miles glares at her, and I can practically see the gears turning in his mischievous little mind. Before he can say something else, I jump in. “Thank you so much for the pie, Mrs. Clarkson. I’m sure it’s delicious. Would you like a slice before you go?”

“Oh, no, I couldn’t possibly,” she says, waving a hand. But instead of leaving, she perches on the edge of the couch, her sharp eyes scanning the room. “You know, I always wondered how Dr. Anderson manages. Such a busy career and two boys to raise. It’s a wonder he hasn’t completely lost control.”

I force a smile. “Joel does an excellent job. The boys are wonderful.”

Mrs. Clarkson sniffs, clearly unconvinced. “Well, let’s hope you can keep them in line. Previous nannies haven’t had much luck with that.”

Another shriek rings out, this time from the kitchen. Finn has apparently decided to climb onto the counter in pursuit of a bag of cookies, and Miles is egging him on. “Go higher, Finn! You can reach it!”

“Excuse me,” I say to Mrs. Clarkson, rushing into the kitchen. I manage to catch Finn just as he loses his balance, pulling him safely into my arms. “What are you doing?”

“I wanted cookies,” Finn says, his voice small but unapologetic.

“They’re for after dinner,” I say firmly, setting him down. Miles snickers, but his laughter dies when I give him a pointed look. “And you, no more encouraging your brother to do dangerous things.”

Mrs. Clarkson appears in the doorway, her arms crossed. “See what I mean? Spirited.”

“They’re just being kids,” I say, trying to keep my tone light. “It’s all part of the fun.”

“Fun,” she repeats, her eyebrows rising. “Well, I suppose you’ll learn soon enough. Good luck, dear. You’ll need it.”

With that, she finally takes her leave, but not before giving me one last scrutinizing look. As soon as the door closes behind her, I let out a long breath.

“Is she gone?” Miles asks, peeking around the corner.

“Yes, she’s gone,” I say, collapsing onto the couch. “But I think she might come back to haunt us.”

“She’s like a witch,” Miles says, his eyes wide. “An apple pie witch.”

I burst out laughing, the tension from the encounter melting away. Finn climbs onto my lap, and Miles sits beside me, both of them looking unusually innocent. “You two are trouble,” I say, ruffling their hair.

“We like you,” Finn says, snuggling into my side.

I smile, feeling a warmth I didn’t expect. Maybe this job won’t be so bad after all.

The sound of the front door opening draws my attention. Joel walks in, his expression unreadable. “Everything okay here?”

“Fine,” I say, though I’m sure my frazzled appearance tells a different story. “We had a visit from Mrs. Clarkson.”

Joel groans, running a hand through his hair. “Let me guess. She invited herself in, insulted the boys, and left you questioning your life choices?”

“Pretty much,” I admit with a laugh.

He shakes his head. “Sorry about that. She means well… sort of.”

“It’s fine. I can handle her.”

Joel’s eyes meet mine, and for a moment, the air between us feels heavier. “I’m sure you can,” he says softly. Then, as if snapping out of it, he turns to the boys. “I brought home stuff to make dinner. It will be ready in an hour. Go wash up.”

As Miles and Finn race upstairs, I can’t help but feel a flicker of unease. The way Joel looked at me just now… it was nothing, right? Just a moment of connection. Professional connection.

But as he heads into the kitchen, I can’t shake the feeling that things are about to get a lot more complicated.