LITMIR.BIZ

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left his suit jacket in the car and rolled up his shirtsleeves. His tie was pulled down a little and the top button of his shirt open. Could he possibly know how sexy he looked, standing there with the sunshine gleaming on the russet strands in his dark-brown hair?

      She returned her attention to the girls. “I think they’d enjoy a play set in the backyard.”

      Angling around the bench, he sat beside her.

      They were silent for a few moments; then he commented, “It’s been a long time since I’ve sat in the sun and watched them play. I think I’ve forgotten how to relax. I’m usually getting them dressed, feeding them, rushing off somewhere.”

      “You don’t have to rush off somewhere now?” she asked.

      “Not for a few hours. I have to return to the hospital later to check on patients. Can you stay through the evening?”

      The more she was around Jared, the more she wanted to be around Jared. “I can stay.”

      “Good, then why don’t I cook us an early dinner?”

      “You cook?”

      His eyebrows shot up. “You doubt me?”

      “No, but are we talking about more than hot dogs or scrambled eggs?”

      He laughed. “How about chicken Alfredo? We’ll stop off at the market on the way home and get what we need.”

      “You shop, too?” she teased.

      He shook his head. “I can see someone’s been giving you a mistaken impression of grown men.” She went quiet.

      “Your ex-husband didn’t shop?”

      “No, he relied on me for that.”

      After a few heartbeats, he asked, “How long were you married?”

      “Six years. I met Richard when I was working toward my nurse practitioner certification.”

      Jared stared straight ahead, his gaze on his twins as he asked casually, “Have you dated since your divorce?”

      Was he personally interested or just making conversation? “No, I haven’t dated. I’ve been trying to get my life back on track.” She waited a few moments, then took the opportunity to ask, “Have you dated?”

      “No, I’ve been too busy to think about it.”

      Now he turned to study her, his gaze steady on hers. She read the flicker of desire in his eyes, a hunger that told her he was telling her the truth. It had been so long since a man touched her intimately, since a man had kissed her like Jared had kissed her last night. On second thought, she’d never been kissed like that before.

      “There’s chemistry between us,” he said simply.

      “I know.”

      “It’s hard to ignore.”

      They both had agreed to do that. But with her just sitting here beside Jared, her attraction to him and his to her was palpable.

      She saw a shadow pass over his face. “What?” she asked softly.

      “I was thinking about how my marriage ended. Valerie couldn’t accept the time I spent away from home. She hated the phone ringing in the middle of the night. Our plans were disrupted lots of times by my work, and I can understand how that disappointed her. My profession was the reason why we divorced. It’s an obstacle to any relationship. ”

      Emily absorbed that, then suggested, “Unless the woman you’re dating understands.”

      There was a longing in Jared’s eyes now. Maybe it was the longing to believe her. Maybe it was the longing to have a mother for his children. Maybe it was a longing he didn’t believe he could ever satisfy.

      Maybe, she guessed, he was sorry he’d brought up the subject because suddenly he stood and called, “Amy! Courtney! Let’s go home. Too much sun and you’ll look like red beets.”

      Emily smiled as the girls giggled. The tension between her and Jared eased. Yet she couldn’t stop thinking about his kiss. Would a second kiss be even more potent than the first?

      She might never know.

       Chapter Three

      Emily felt odd walking beside Jared down the grocery store aisles. He was acting as if this were an everyday occurrence! Her heart raced every time he glanced at her.

      In the pasta aisle, he asked, “Angel-hair pasta or linguine?”

      How could that question be so sexy on a man’s lips? Their eyes locked for an interminable moment as the twins scampered around them.

      Her mouth suddenly dry, she replied, “I like linguine.”

      “Do you have Italian in your soul?” he drawled, his Texas upbringing obvious.

      Before she could answer, Emily’s cell phone rang. She checked the caller’s name. “It’s Francesca,” she murmured.

      Leaning close to her, close enough that she could breathe in the scent of his musky cologne, Jared said, “If you need privacy, we’ll keep shopping and meet you at checkout.”

      Emily was so tempted to touch the beard shadow on Jared’s jaw…to straighten the collar of his shirt. But that freedom wasn’t hers. Grateful that he understood her need for privacy, she stood still as he moved down the aisle and she answered her call.

      “Francesca? Is something wrong?”

      “No, nothing’s wrong. Tessa and I wondered whether anything was wrong with you. I’ve hardly seen you for two days. We were beginning to worry.”

      “I left you a note on the refrigerator that I’d be taking care of Dr. Madison’s twins,” she protested, feeling defensive.

      “I know. But it’s not like you to be out of touch. Are you having fun?” her friend asked, less concern in her voice now.

      “Actually, I am. They’re two adorable little girls. He’s done a good job raising them. He and his wife were divorced before she died, but he doesn’t seem to want to talk about it.”

      “So what are you doing now?”

      “We’re shopping at the grocery store. He’s going to cook for me and the girls tonight.”

      “Cook for you?” Francesca hesitated a few moments, then asked, “Is something happening between you and Jared?”

      “I don’t know,” Emily responded honestly. “But for now, we’re just being practical. He’s going to cook and I’ll probably end up with the cleanup.”

      “You’re staying the evening?”

      “Do you miss me so much?”

      Francesca was quiet and Emily knew something was on her mind.

      “What?” Emily asked.

      “It’s about Jared…”

      Emily knew Francesca was hesitating because she didn’t like gossip any more than Tessa or Emily.

      Emily waited.

      Finally Francesca said, “I’ve heard he has no time for anything serious…that his divorce really affected him and that the last thing he wants is to get involved with anyone long term.”

      “He has his daughters to think about,” Emily replied quietly.

      “Yes, he does,” Francesca agreed. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”

      “I haven’t taken many risks in my life,” Emily admitted.

      “And you want to now?”

      “It’s too soon to tell.”

      “You

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