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      “I’m familiar with Dr. Rodriguez, he refers lots of patients to me.” She held out her hand, hiding a smile as Alex stared at her, obviously trying to place her name.

      “Of course!” he finally exclaimed. “Molly Shriver, the physical therapist. It’s great to meet you. You have an outstanding reputation.”

      “Thank you,” she murmured, embarrassed at how much he was gushing over her. It was great to know she had recognition, even though no one apparently knew what she looked like. She was starting to feel a bit like a ghost.

      “Did you hear the news?” Alex said in a low voice. “Layla Woods has been named the new Chief of General Pediatrics.”

      “Yeah, I heard,” Dan said with a wry nod. “I was a little surprised but, then again, she has a decent reputation.”

      “I’m still not over the shock,” Alex muttered, tossing back the rest of his champagne as if it were straight whiskey.

      “You’ll be fine,” Dan said, clapping Alex on the shoulder. “Excuse us, we’re just leaving.”

      They finally made it out of the ballroom without being stopped by any more of Dan’s colleagues, and when they stepped outside, she shivered. “It’s cold out here!”

      Dan cuddled her close as he waited for his car to be brought out by the valet parking attendant. “Where’s your coat, woman?” he asked, rubbing his hands up and down her arms in an effort to keep her warm.

      “I wasn’t going to buy a long coat for one evening,” she said, half under her breath. Her waist-length jacket would have looked out of place with the emerald-green dress.

      “Take mine,” he said, shrugging out of his jacket and draping it around her shoulders.

      Dan’s sleek black BMW arrived less than five minutes later, and she slid into the passenger seat gratefully. Dan tipped the parking attendant and then climbed in beside her. He immediately cranked up the heat.

      Now that they were alone in his car, nerves set in. What if he didn’t want to come up to her apartment? What if he thought she lived in a dump? What if she’d misunderstood how he felt toward her? What if he wasn’t as attracted to her as she was to him?

      She’d initiated the kiss. Granted, he didn’t pull away. In fact, he’d kissed her like he wasn’t planning on stopping any time soon.

      The memory was enough to make her heart race. She tried to take a deep breath to calm herself, but Dan must have noticed as he reached over to take her hand.

      “Relax,” he murmured. “Did I mention that Josh’s nanny was spending the night at my place?”

      For a moment she gaped at him. He tells her to relax and then he springs that on her? “She is, huh?”

      “Yes, she is.” A smile played around the corners of his mouth and that hint of humor was enough to make her relax.

      Because she hadn’t imagined his response to their kiss. “Sounds like it’s your lucky night,” she teased.

      He tightened his fingers around hers. “You have no idea,” he said in a husky tone.

      “Oh, I think I do.”

      Thankfully, the drive to her apartment didn’t take long. Finding parking, though, was another thing altogether. She was appalled at the fee he was forced to pay but, short of taking his car back to his place and taking the subway back, they didn’t have a choice.

      She unlocked the door and led the way inside. They didn’t get very far when Dan caught her hand and pulled her close.

      “Kiss me,” he murmured.

      She was happy to oblige. This time she slipped her hands beneath the jacket of his tux, causing him to groan low in his throat.

      “Molly,” he said between kisses. “Which way is your bedroom?”

      “This way,” she said breathlessly. Tearing herself away from him wasn’t easy. As soon as they crossed the threshold of her bedroom, while she was thanking her lucky stars that she’d had the foresight to make her bed and clean up, his cell phone rang.

      Dan froze, and looked down at her. “I’m sorry, Molly, but I need to make sure it’s not about Josh,” he said as he reached into his pocket for the phone.

      “I understand.” She made sure her disappointment wasn’t reflected in her expression.

      He glanced at the screen, sighed and pushed the button to answer the phone. “Gemma? Is everything all right?”

      Molly could hear Gemma’s reply. “Josh is having a nightmare. He keeps calling for you.”

      “I’ll be home in fifteen minutes.” Dan snapped his phone shut and let out a heavy sigh. “Molly, I’m sorry, but Josh is calling for me and I really need to be there for him. I know the timing is terrible but for once he’s not calling out for his mother.”

      “Don’t be sorry. I totally understand.” And she did understand—if Josh had been her son she’d leave in a heartbeat. “I’m okay, really.”

      Dan muttered what sounded like a curse as he ran his hand over his close-cropped hair. “Will you let me make it up to you? Say, with dinner tomorrow night?”

      “That’s not necessary—” she started to say, but he stopped her with a kiss.

      “Yes, it is necessary,” he said in a low, strained voice. “Very necessary. Please?”

      How could she say no? “All right, call me tomorrow.”

      “Count on it.” He kissed her again, and then turned to leave. She followed him to the door, making sure she locked it after he left.

      She leaned against the door, wondering if she’d truly lost her mind. She couldn’t sleep with Dan. He was a big-shot open-heart surgeon at Angel’s!

      Not to mention the father of her patient. But that argument didn’t hold much weight as she wouldn’t be Josh’s therapist forever.

      Still, what did she have to offer someone like Dan? Nothing that he couldn’t get with any other woman and, heaven knew, New York was full of single women, any of whom would be thrilled to be with someone like Dan.

      She couldn’t bear it if he abandoned her the same way James had.

      If she was smart, she’d find an excuse to avoid seeing him again.

      If she was smart, she’d stop the madness before she got hurt.

      Dan was grateful Josh’s nightmare had pretty much faded by the time he’d gotten home from Molly’s, but he stayed up for a while longer, making sure his son was resting quietly before he crawled into his own bed.

      Falling asleep wasn’t easy, though, as he still ached for Molly. He almost considered heading back over there, but knew that wasn’t fair. She’d be asleep by now, and even if she wasn’t, Josh might wake up again. No, he couldn’t take the risk. Besides, she’d already agreed to go to dinner with him on Saturday night. Tonight, as it was already past midnight.

      He wasted a good hour staring up at his ceiling, thinking about where to take her. He wanted her to feel comfortable, yet he also wanted the evening to be special. He thought of the perfect place and finally fell asleep.

      Thankfully, Gemma let him sleep in, taking care of Josh until he crawled out of bed. After he finished in the bathroom, Josh came to greet him. “Hi, Daddy.”

      “Hi, Josh.” He was thrilled to realize his relationship with his son had gotten so much better and was deeply touched that Josh had called out for him in the night and not his mother. He swept the boy into his arms for a hug.

      “Gemma’s in the kitchen,” Josh said importantly.

      “Have you already eaten breakfast?” he asked.

      Josh

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