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to his face. He reddened and let go of her.
    â€œI realize we haven’t been formally introduced, but did you just call me a monkey?” Her lips curved into a smile. “Or should I assume that term of endearment was directed at Izzie?”
    He decided the turtle lady had a nice smile. Nice sense of humor, too.
    Weston’s hand tingled from the touch of her skin on his. If this was his reaction to the less-than-sociable lady vet, he needed to get out more.
    Izzie laughed. “Silly Daddy calls me his monkey all the time.”
    His Adam’s apple bobbed. He nodded like an idiot. And flushed again.
    Maybe the church ladies were right. Way past time for some female companionship. Nothing wrong with a friend from the opposite gender.
    Izzie scooped a handful of water. “What’s going to happen to Turtle Mama?” She allowed it to trickle through her fingers onto the turtle.
    The turtle lady gave Izzie what he guessed to be a highly redacted version of the surgical procedure.
    â€œCan I watch?”
    â€œI’m afraid not.” Caroline’s brow puckered. “We try, like at the people hospital, to keep everything as sterile—I mean germ free—as possible. Have you ever visited a people hospital before?”
    His daughter squeezed Caroline’s fingers and hopped from the bed of the truck. “Last fall when Max’s baby was born. Babies are so sweet.” Izzie sighed.
    Weston tweaked the end of Izzie’s nose. “Babies are also smelly and loud and take your favorite toys.”
    â€œYou know Max Scott?” Caroline’s mouth pulled downward. “Of course you know the Duers, if you know Sawyer Kole. Everybody knows everybody in good ol’ Kiptohanock.”
    Her lips twisted. “You can’t flush a toilet at one end without the other end knowing.”
    Izzie snuggled under her father’s arm. “Max and I are sorta friends.”
    Weston grabbed Izzie into a headlock. “Sort of doesn’t quite capture it.”
    He ruffled Izzie’s red mane. “Try compadre in mischief. Best buddy in mayhem. Bonnie to Max’s Clyde. When they’re not aggravating the tar out of each other, that is.”
    Izzie laughed and broke free.
    Caroline reached toward Izzie’s tousled hair. “You messed up her—” She dropped her hand. “Not my business.”
    No, it wasn’t. Izzie’s hair and his parenting style—which he was all too aware lacked a feminine touch—was none of the lady vet’s business.
    She shoved the turtle pool farther into the truck and slammed the tailgate with a bang.
    Izzie plucked at Caroline’s shirt. “But how will I know if Turtle Mama is okay?”
    As if she couldn’t help herself, Caroline brushed a stray ringlet out of Izzie’s face. “I’ll give you a call later and let you know how Turtle Mama—I mean the turtle—is doing. Okay?”
    Her words were directed at Izzie, but she glanced at him. “I’ll get your cell number from Roland.”
    â€œRoland?”
    â€œDr. Teague at VIMS.”
    Weston shifted. “I’m assuming you’re a doctor, too.”
    She dropped her gaze and stared at her coral-painted toes. “I don’t use the title much. Most people just call me Caroline.”
    Why did this feel like he was pulling line on a hammerhead shark? “Caroline... What?”
    Her gaze skipped to the top of the lighthouse before returning to him. “It’s Duer. Caroline Duer.”
    Weston rocked on his heels. “Seth Duer’s absentee daughter?” His heart raced. “The daughter who abandoned her family for her career.”
    Could he pick ’em or what? He scowled. Yet another instance of epic misjudgment on his part. Good thing he’d found out before it was too late. Too late for Izzie. And for him?
    Tensing, he pulled Izzie closer and put distance between them and Caroline. The