LITMIR.BIZ

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      * * *

      Clare really, really wanted to see him tonight, and wrestled all day with what she should do. Should she be smart and reasonable, and take the time she needed to sort her feelings out, or be wildly irresponsible, say what the hell and jump him again? When Violet called later that afternoon to confirm their plans, Clare felt torn.

      After small talk about the ranch she and her brother Mac owned, Violet asked, “Are we still on for tonight?”

      An excuse was on the tip of her tongue, and Clare would have canceled, but the idea of seeing Parker socially four days in a row scared her a little.

      “I can’t wait,” she told Violet with more enthusiasm than she was feeling. But she also knew she was doing the right thing. She was sure when she got to Priceless she would have a good time. She’d always had an interest in making stained glass and she’d heard that Raina Patterson’s studio was impressive. In addition to teaching crafts, Raina sold antiques out of the space. Clare had shopped in Priceless, but never taken a class there.

      She remembered her car situation and asked Violet, “I know it’s a little out of your way, but could you give me a lift? I’m carless right now.”

      “Is that how you wound up at the Royal Diner with Dr. Reese the other night?” Violet asked, a teasing lilt in her tone.

      Ugh. Clare hated small towns sometimes. Violet was well aware of Parker’s shenanigans and how much they irritated Clare. She and everyone else Clare knew.

      She made a sound of disgust and said, “He basically kidnapped me. He offered to drive me home then took me to the diner instead. Short of walking, or calling a cab, I was stuck. But I was hungry and he paid the check, so it could have been worse, I guess.”

      “Why don’t you just go out with him?”

      “Because he’s a womanizing, insufferable, megalomaniac.”

      “Yeah, but he’s so hot.”

      “Then why don’t you go out with him?”

      There was a slight pause, then she said, “It’s not me he wants.”

      Touché.

      She heard footsteps behind her and turned to see Grace Haines, Janey’s caseworker, approaching. Madeline, she reminded herself. For a second she thought the worst, that something was wrong, but Grace was smiling.

      “I have to let you go, Violet. I’ll see you tonight.”

      They hung up and Clare greeted Grace with a smile and a hug. “What brings you here?”

      “I came to pick up some paperwork for Madeline’s transfer and I thought I would stop and say hello.”

      “How is she doing?”

      “She’s great. She may get to go home in a couple of weeks. She’ll have monitors, of course, but Hadley and Logan are taking a class at the center so they’ll know what to do in an emergency.”

      “No word on the father?” Clare asked.

      Grace shook her head somberly. “Either he can’t be reached, or doesn’t want to be. Logan doesn’t speak too highly of his brother. Thankfully if Seth doesn’t claim the twins, Logan and Hadley have already committed to adopting them. Honestly, I’m thinking that it would be for the best. I’m all for keeping children with their biological parents, but Seth is anything but reliable.”

      “After such a rotten start in life, those girls deserve a happy, stable family.”

      “They sure do,” Grace said. “I dated Seth in high school. Even then there was nothing stable about him.”

      “Grace!”

      Clare and Grace both turned to see Parker coming toward them, all smiles. “How’s my favorite caseworker?”

      Grace smiled. “Great, and how is my favorite pediatrician?”

      “Couldn’t be better,” he said, not even acknowledging that Clare was standing there. Then they hugged and though it was totally platonic Clare felt the slightest twinge of jealousy. Grace was tall and curvy with chestnut hair that tumbled down in soft natural curls. She was also beautiful, and so very nice, and Clare had never met a caseworker more dedicated to the kids in her care. Standing together she and Parker made an extremely attractive couple.

      “How’s our girl doing?” Parker asked her.

      “Still improving. I was just telling Clare that she might be able to go home in a couple of weeks.”

      “That makes my day,” he said.

      Grace looked at her watch. “I’d love to stay and chat but I have a home visit to get to. But I’m sure I’ll see you guys again soon.”

      “It was great to see you,” Parker said, then he turned to Clare and his smile disappeared. “When you get a minute I need to see you in my office.”

      Her heart plummeted and landed with a messy splat. He looked genuinely upset with her and she had no clue what she had done wrong.

      “Um, yeah, sure,” she said. “Now is good.”

      He nodded sternly, turned and all but marched down the hall. The two women watched him walk away in stunned silence.

      “What was that about?” Grace asked, looking as taken aback by his demeanor as Clare was.

      “I have no idea. I guess I’m about to find out.”

      “Well, good luck.”

      They headed in opposite directions down the hall. When Clare got to Parker’s office the door was partially closed so she knocked gingerly.

      “Enter.”

      She stepped inside expecting to see him at his desk. Then the door shut behind her and she spun around. Parker stood there grinning. “Hey there, sweet cheeks.”

      * * *

      “Hey,” Clare said, looking hopelessly confused.

      Parker took her hand and pulled her against him, then proceeded to kiss her socks off. When he finally let her go she gave him a playful shove. “You creep! I really thought you were mad at me.”

      “Pretty good, huh?” Parker said with a grin. He probably could have made his point without sounding angry, but the crushed look on Clare’s face had been worth it. If he’d snapped at her a week ago, she would have stood there stony faced and emotionless, as if she only had to listen because he was the boss. Not that he snapped at his staff all that often, but it did happen occasionally. But her reaction said something that up until now he could only hypothesize.

      She cared. A lot.

      She slid her arms up around his neck, pressed her body to his and pulled him down for an enthusiastic kiss. He got an instant hard-on. She was sexy as hell, and so completely unaware of it.

      “Did you really need to talk to me or did you just want to make out?” she asked him. “Because the longer I’m in here the more suspicious it will look.”

      “I saw the way you looked at us when I hugged Grace. I thought we should talk about it.”

      “How did I look?” she asked, even though she knew that he knew exactly what was going on.

      “A little green, actually.”

      She backed out of his arms, nose in the air. “That’s ridiculous.”

      “Is it?”

      She folded her arms stubbornly. “Yes, it is.”

      “Admit it, you were jealous.”

      “Why would I be jealous? We’re not in an exclusive relationship.”

      “Well then, maybe we should be.”

      Her eyes went wide and up went the

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