The Therapist's Neighbor: The Caregivers

By Rose Fresquez

She regrets turning down his proposal last year—but now, he's her neighbor. Is he there for revenge or reconciliation?

Growing up unloved, Jenny Robinson struggles to understand affection. Until she meets Ian.

If Psychiatrist Ian Langston's learned anything from overcoming childhood trauma and dealing with clients, it's patience—although patience alone can't mend his broken heart after Jenny turns down his proposal. When a new opportunity strikes, he's determined to win her heart back. What better way than to move in next door?

When Jenny gets the flu and Ian takes care of her, sparks that never fully died reignite, and chemistry sizzles. There's no denying the feelings they still harbor.

Can they give love a second chance before it's too late?

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Rose Fresquez
• Release date: Feb 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9798223361534

Rose Fresquez

Rose Fresquez is the author of First Site and two other family devotionals. She's married to her prince charming and a proud mother of four amazing kids. When she's not busy taking care of her family, she's writing. Follow her on facebook at https://facebook.com/rosefresquezbooks/

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Jenny Robinson watched her friend Destiny rock through hip-hop, reggaeton, and salsa before a dozen women and four men. Music blasted through the rear speakers where glass windows separated the studio from the gym. Jenny’s feet hurt from the free back-to-back dance sessions she’d given to the inner-city kids, an after-school program she offered on Monday and Thursday afternoons.

Afternoon light streaming through the big windows and radiating into the empty backspace illuminated the gym beyond the glass. No one was using the ellipticals, a good reminder that her workday was almost over since the evening workout crowds were winding down.

One of the perks of renting space from the gym was the free marketing it offered her studio. The gym sent her students of all shapes and sizes, young and old. Like any business, with each growth came new challenges. She needed more employees, which was a dreadful task—especially since she wanted to find someone as upbeat and cheerful as Destiny.

Speaking of hiring, she needed to check her emails in case new applicants responded to her post on Indeed. While in her office, she opened her computer and found one applicant. As she clicked to open the document and read another unqualified candidate’s application, her shoulders fell, and her whole body deflated.

Dance experience—None. (But I love to dance.)

Of course, anyone could dance. Teaching it was another thing. Instead of hiring someone unqualified, she might pick her best students from each session to help with the after-school program. After two weeks of this, she needed a new strategy.

Knock, knock.

She shifted from the computer as her friend strode in with a set of wireless speakers and placed them on the wall shelf.

You look frazzled. Destiny yanked a washcloth from the waistband of her yellow tights and dabbed it to her forehead. Everything okay?

Okay is an overstatement. Finding a steady studio employee had been hard since Destiny quit for a live-in nanny position four months ago. Even now that she wasn’t nannying, she had other dreams than dance.

Jenny and Destiny met a few summers ago when they did a Zumba camp at a Denver training facility. Jenny had learned Zumba just by watching Destiny’s natural talent during class and talked her into teaching it in her studio.

Uh-oh, someone needs a little boost. Destiny waggled her brows, reached for her phone, and tapped the screen. The strings of Better when I’m Dancing by Meghan Trainor blasted in the office.

Get up now, girl. Destiny’s blue-green eyes glowed as she sashayed and urged her to stand.

Jenny almost rolled her eyes. But Destiny’s movements and the upbeat song drew her to the pull of the music, and she shook her head. She stood and shuffled her feet, dancing around the table and joining Destiny.

The tension left Jenny’s shoulders as the song played the instrumental beat before resuming the lyrical chorus.

Yay! Destiny clicked her fingers, and Jenny did the same, swaying toward the door. Destiny’s cheerfulness was contagious—every bit of her vibrant and fun, from her fuzzy brown hair now dancing about her shoulders, to her feet that seldom kept still. Unlike her seemingly carefree friend, every bit of Jenny and her life was carefully controlled, from her hair that hung straight and long—unusually subdued into a ponytail—to her dark clothing and strictly ordered days. Jenny was going to miss Destiny and her ability to whip those around her up into her zest for living.

By the time the song ended, Jenny was thrumming with adrenaline. Laughing, she dropped onto the stool by her desk. That was fun.

Whew! Destiny fanned herself and swiped the perspiration from her amber-toned skin—a lighter color than Jenny’s. Seriously, you looked stressed. That’s not good on a Monday.

It’s all your fault that I can’t find someone to match up to you. Jenny panted, fanning herself as well.

Destiny pulled up to sit on Jenny’s desk, then tapped her chin. Could it be you’re looking for someone with a master’s in dance? Those green eyes peered at Jenny knowingly. I didn’t go to college, but I took classes.

She threw her head back at Destiny’s honest answer, then stared at the ballet dancers pirouetting within their frames on the wall. Although Jenny had gone to college, Destiny was naturally talented. Maybe I’m a bit picky.

We can also pray that God brings the right person.

Jenny cringed. Why did she always panic before thinking about praying? She wasn’t as diligent with her prayers as Destiny. Chances were, God may just ignore her. Maybe you can pray for me.

We can pray together, Destiny said. God’s brought you students. Now, they need more teachers.

Destiny always made sense when she reminded Jenny of God’s sovereignty. Destiny was the only friend Jenny had, and her personality helped keep the chatty students signing up for more classes.

Enough about herself. Jenny rested her arms on the desk to ask the question she’d missed asking on the phone two days ago. How did the outdoor movie go with the kids?

Destiny’s skin glowed a slight shade of pink, and fondness softened her wide smile. It was great to see the kids. She then hugged her arms around her. It was so hard to say goodbye to them. Ryan! She gasped out her former boss’s name. He still wants me to go and work for them.

Since Destiny had fallen for her former boss, she’d likely take her nannying job back instead of working for the law firm she’d interviewed for.

When does your big-time doctor realize that you’re crazy in love with him?

I think he knows, and I know he feels the same way about me.... For the next few minutes, Destiny gushed about the texts Ryan sent her over the week she’d not gone to nanny and the FaceTime he’d initiated, claiming the kids wanted to talk with her.

Hearing Destiny’s attraction to her boss and seeing her love for his kids made Jenny ache for a glimpse of Destiny’s fairy-tale dreams—dreams every normal girl should have, but not Jenny.

Although she hadn’t had a permanent home growing up, Destiny had a positive vibe for everything. Could be because she didn’t have Jenny’s rejection issues. Jenny was the reason her dad had abandoned Mom and never desired a relationship with Jenny.

A knock tapped on the door, and Diego eased it open and stepped inside. A black T-shirt encased his six-pack abs, the results of his daily workouts as the gym trainer. His broad frame blocked the doorway as he crossed tanned arms over his chest. Hello, Destiny.

Diego, what are you up to?

He shifted his gaze to Jenny, his eyes softening as he spoke in his Latino accent. Would you like me to drive us...?

Oh no. With her feet hurting and the hiring hanging over her head, she’d