“Dr. Cardiology isn’t into ‘cute.’ He likes the statuesque blonde who’s pretending not to notice him.”

“No way!” Beth laughed. “The blonde’s a foot taller!”

“But Dr. Cardiology likes the way she looks, and I’m pretty sure that she’s looking for a doctor to like.”

“A match made in heaven,” Beth said, giggling like the girl she used to be. Meg loved the happy sound. She nudged Beth’s shoulder, and Beth nudged her back, just like old times.

“You just watch,” Meg insisted. “They’ll get together before the night’s over.”

“Well, then, who gets the cute little nurse?”

“Sadly, I don’t have the pool to work with that I have on Dream Date. I’m afraid she’s unmatchable tonight.”

“Like me.” Beth shrugged with defeat.

“Actually, I have someone for you,” Meg said, happy that she had.

“Who?” Beth scanned the crowd.

“You’re missing him. Check out the Marine.”

“Captain Cutie-Pie?” Beth’s lip curled.

“But he’s perfect for you, Beth. Tall, a genuine hunk, a great sense of humor and he speaks in complete sentences. What more could you want?”

“How about a guy less impressed with himself? You know we don’t go for guys who think they’re all that.”

Meg frowned. “I didn’t catch that.”

“Why would a guy wear a uniform to a party like this if he didn’t want to show off that chestful of ribbons?”

“Wrong diagnosis, Dr. Brennan. If you’ll talk to the guy, you’ll discover that he didn’t want to wear the uniform. His mom, your dad’s nurse, asked him to wear it because she’s so proud of him.”

“Aww, that’s sweet.” Beth’s face softened.

“You know we go for guys who are good to their moms.”

“That’s true. But how come I get him and you don’t?”

“Because his eyes have followed you for the past hour.”

“Really?” Beth perked up, her brown eyes sparkling.

“But I ought to warn you. While he’s been watching you, the cute little nurse has been watching him. I think she’s about to make her move.”

“Then I’d better stake my claim!” Beth squared her shoulders and moved into action.

Meg laughed, glad that at least one of them would have someone younger than their parents to kiss at midnight.

“Wait!” Beth said, pivoting. “Who’s here for you?”

That was just like Beth. Generous, always thinking of others instead of herself.

“Nobody, but that’s okay,” Meg said, faking a smile. “I’m devoting myself to your uncle Charlie tonight.”

Beth’s eyes narrowed. “Okay, what’s wrong, Meg?”

“Nothing’s wrong,” she protested, laughing, hoping she would make it through Beth’s radar.

But Beth took her firmly by the arm and marched her through the French doors to the torch-lit deck where they were alone. “When are you going to learn you can’t keep things from me?”

“It’s cold out here,” Meg complained, wrapping her hands around her body to ward off the chill.

“It’s sixty degrees. We’ll survive. What’s going on?”

Confess or freeze—those were her options? “Maybe I’m just a little depressed,” she admitted reluctantly.

When they were kids, Beth would have joked with her until they were both laughing, but tonight, Dr. Beth gave Meg an assessing look. “How can I help? I can listen, or I can prescribe something. What do you need?”

She tucked her arm through Meg’s, maybe for warmth, but definitely because they were closer than sisters. The love behind the offer put a lump in Meg’s throat. She’d really missed Beth, but they would both miss the party if she spilled her guts now.

“Let me tell you later. We have all night to talk.”

“That’s true, but sum it up now,” Beth demanded.

“Sum it up?” If her pushy friend wanted a short answer, Meg could provide it, though Beth wouldn’t like it. “Fine. A year ago tonight, I made a deal with God.”

Beth rolled her eyes.

“I know you don’t believe in that, Beth, but I do. I promised God that I would stop obsessing about finding Mr. Right and trust Him to do the finding. I thought God would drop the guy right on my doorstep, but I must have prayed wrong or something. The year’s over, and there’s no Mr. Right.”

Beth held her watch up to the light and said, “Thirty minutes to midnight. It could happen yet.”

Lovely. Meg wished she’d kept her mouth shut. “Beth, I do believe God has the right guy for me.”

“Good for you, hon,” Beth said with an annoying edge of pity. “I know your faith is important to you.”

Behind them came a familiar voice. “Hey, you two are missing the party.”

They turned to see Beth’s brother Ry strolling toward them with a killer smile and such easygoing confidence that Meg caught her breath. Dressed in a black leather jacket, black pants and a sweater the color of his dark blond hair, Ry was better looking than ever, and that was saying a lot.

Surprising tingles zipped through Meg’s body, tingles that weren’t exactly the welcome-home variety for a guy she loved like a brother. Ry Brennan was a fun-loving womanizer who’d broken hearts for as long as Meg could remember. Flirting came as naturally to him as breathing. Pure rebel, he was a terrible choice to get all tingly about.

Unfortunately, sheer reflex made her gasp.

Beth looked at her sharply, then at Ry and back again. A slow grin spread across her face. “Well, there you go,” she said so softly that only Meg could hear. “Talk about an answer to prayer. My brother and my best friend. Now that’s got to be a match made in heaven.”

“You’ve got to be kidding,” Meg whispered. When she fell in love, it would be with a guy she could count on, not a risk-taker who lived for the moment and left when he liked.

Beth laughed softly and whispered back, “It’s almost enough to make me a believer. And you thought Mr. Right wasn’t going to show up this year.”

It felt exactly as Meg had imagined love at first sight would feel. Thrilling beyond words, it was lightning-bolt dramatic and heart-pounding real and heady. She could hardly believe it was happening to her. For an instant her soul sang.

It was a very short song.

All these years, she had been so sure that she would look into the eyes of Mr. Right, feel the welcoming sting of Cupid’s arrow and know her search was over. Never had it crossed her mind that the object of her attraction could be Mr. Totally Wrong.

Ry Brennan was lovable, good-looking, smart and fun to be with, but she wouldn’t wish Ry on her worst enemy. Beth and she had pitied the girls who’d fallen for him. Once they’d even formed a support group for the ones he’d left behind—girls who didn’t understand his idea of a long-term relationship was getting to know the girl’s last name.

She watched him take Beth in his arms for a sweet, brotherly hug and knew her turn would come next. He was just Ry, she told herself, no one to get all tingly about.

He turned to her, swept her up in his arms and murmured, “Hey, Li’l Sis,” close to her ear.

Li’l Sis. It had been so long since she’d heard him say that. Like ice cream under hot fudge, she melted and hugged his neck, just like a little sister would do.

“I’ve missed you,” he said, his mouth so close she could feel his breath. Goose bumps rose on her arms.

He lifted her up and spun her around. It was only a bear hug, just a brotherly bear hug like the one he’d given Beth, though Beth surely didn’t have to deal with tingles like this.

“Welcome back,” she said, barely able to say anything at all, busy as she was with the butterfly troop in her stomach, flitting as if this were their one chance to dance.

“It’s good to be back.”

He sounded so happy that she hugged him tighter, thrilled deep inside that he was home.

Releasing her, appreciation dawned on his face. “Look who’s become a babe! Li’l Sis, you’re all grown up.”

Well, of course. All three of them had grown up. For such a stupid statement, how could she take it as a compliment and let her heart race as if it were?