LITMIR.BIZ

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really afford to buy another dress for her dinner tonight with Dan, but that didn’t stop her from looking. She found lots of cute dresses, but in the end she decided to wear her old standby black skirt with a nice teal-colored sweater.

      She was ready to leave well before seven, and tried to read, but ended up nervously pacing the tiny length of her apartment instead.

      When her buzzer rang at exactly seven-thirty, she grabbed her coat and purse before crossing over to the intercom. “I’ll be right down.”

      She took the elevator and caught her breath when she saw that Dan was dressed in a pair of charcoal-grey slacks and a black crew-neck sweater. Although she liked the way he filled out a tux, she was finding that she liked the way he looked no matter what he wore. “Hi,” she greeted him shyly.

      “Hi, Molly.” He gave her a hug, surrounding her with his musky scent mingled with a hint of aftershave. “You look fantastic.”

      “Thank you.” She didn’t bother telling him how he’d now seen the full extent of her dressy wardrobe.

      He opened the car door for her, and after sliding in she had to smile when she noticed that once again he’d cranked up the heat for her. Taking pity on him, she turned the knob down a few notches.

      “I want you to know that Josh’s leg muscles are getting stronger,” he said, as he swung into the traffic. “We played kick the ball and he did amazingly well.”

      “That’s great news,” she said with a smile. “See, I told you the games were worth it,” she teased.

      “Yes, you did.” She was surprised when Dan reached out to take her hand. “And you were right, I should have trusted in your judgment all along. I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to repay you.”

      “No payment necessary,” she murmured. “There’s nothing more rewarding than watching a patient’s progress toward his or her goals. It’s one of the reasons I love my job.”

      “And you’re damn good at it, too,” he said, still holding her hand.

      She smiled. “I told you so,” she teased as he put his hand back on the steering wheel. But she couldn’t help feeling a twinge of regret at knowing that her time with Josh and Dan would eventually come to an end.

      All too soon they wouldn’t need her anymore.

      “Hey, what’s wrong?” he asked, as if sensing her disquiet.

      “Nothing.” She pushed the melancholy away. “In fact, my sister called me today and apologized for her behavior at the Ritz.”

      Dan’s lips thinned. “She should apologize,” he muttered ungraciously. “She had no right to hurt you like that.”

      She was touched by his concern on her behalf. “She doesn’t mean to hurt me, it’s really my problem. I’ve never felt as if I was part of the family.”

      He glanced at her. “I’m sure they adopted you for a reason, Molly.”

      “Yes, but shortly after they brought me home they found out they were pregnant with Sally, and from then on things changed.” She lifted a shoulder in a careless shrug. “She became the center of their world, and I was more of an afterthought. Still, I know I should be grateful for what I have. I could have easily been sent from one foster home to another.”

      He was quiet for a long moment. “I’m sorry that you had that experience, Molly. But living with a blood relative, a mother who gave birth to you, doesn’t automatically bring unconditional love,” he said. “Unfortunately, some people just aren’t capable of feeling that deeply about anyone else.”

      His words stopped her cold, and she had the distinct impression he was talking from personal experience. About his own mother? Or just his ex who had married him and given birth to Josh yet hadn’t loved either one of them enough to stay?

      “I feel sorry for those people, Dan. They’ll never know what they’ve missed.” She reached over and took his hand, vowing to prove to him that his ex had been stupid and wrong.

      He and Josh were both special and very much deserved to be loved and cared for.

      CHAPTER TEN

      DAN WAS TOUCHED WHEN Molly reached for his hand, and he mentally cursed himself for allowing talk of their respective pasts to dampen the mood. He wanted tonight to be special. No sadness or regret allowed.

      He gave her fingers a gentle squeeze. “Hey, will you please do me a favor?” She glanced at him in surprise, nodding automatically. “Smile, Molly. I want tonight to be about us, two people having a nice time together. I want you to have fun tonight.”

      She smiled and just like that the shadow that hovered over his soul was gone. “All right. So tell me, where is this place you’re taking me?”

      “Valencia’s.” He grinned. “It’s one of the best-kept secrets. They have great seafood and they’re located in the West Village.”

      “Sounds perfect.”

      “Have you ever eaten there before?” He didn’t want to assume she hadn’t. For all he knew, that guy she’d been seeing had taken her there. The thought made him scowl.

      “No, although I’ve heard wonderful things about it.”

      Selfishly, he was glad she hadn’t been there before. He parked his car at a very expensive structure and they walked the rest of the way.

      “Oh, my gosh, this is a cobblestone street!” Molly said with a gasp of surprise.

      “Yeah, this is a colonial building that was once used as a carriage house.” He put his hand in the small of her back as she walked into the restaurant.

      “Wow, fancy,” she whispered, as they waited to be greeted by the maître d’.

      “We have an eight-o’clock reservation,” he said. “Dan Morris.”

      “Of course, Dr. Morris. Right this way, sir. You requested a table by the fireplace, correct?”

      “Yes. Thank you.” He smiled when Molly took the seat closest to the fire. “Would you like wine?” he asked. “Or maybe you’d prefer champagne?”

      Molly blushed, or maybe it was the heat from the fire. “Wine would be great. I think I should stay away from champagne for a while.”

      “Do you have a wine preference?” he asked, studying the wine list.

      “Anything you choose is fine with me.”

      He ordered a French red wine and watched Molly peruse the menu. Her eyes were as wide as saucers as she glanced over the options.

      “The prices are outrageous,” she whispered in horror.

      “Molly, relax. Splurge a little.” He hadn’t brought her here to intimidate her—he wanted her to enjoy herself. “What would you have if money was no object?”

      She worried her lower lip between her teeth, making him want to kiss her. “I have a secret love of lobster,” she confessed. “And I also love a good steak.”

      “Then have both,” he urged. “I promise you’ll love it.”

      They placed their order and he noticed Molly relax as she sipped her wine. “This is very nice, Dan. Thanks for bringing me.”

      “You’re more than welcome. Besides, you deserve special treatment. Do you have any idea what a great reputation you have at Angel’s?”

      She arched a brow. “Do you have any idea what a great reputation you have at Angel’s?” she countered. “Your patients love you.”

      “So do yours.” He reached across to take her hand in his. “Your bright, sunny attitude is amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who enjoyed their work as much as you do.”

      She

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