LITMIR.BIZ

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After a moment, Wes said, “Where’d you learn that?”

      “My coach in high school. He was a stickler for things like standing up and saying yes, ma’am.”

      “Mom’s never made me say ma’am. She’s never made me stand up for her, either.”

      With a wink in her direction, Ty said, “You don’t stand up because a lady asks you to. You stand up because it’s the right thing to do.” As he scooted back in his chair, he added, “Don’t worry, Wes. You’ll get the hang of it all and, if you don’t, more people will step in to tell you what to do. My wrestling coaches in college spent hours giving me advice about how to get along in life.”

      Wes’s eyes widened with a new respect. “You wrestled in college? I didn’t know that.”

      Claire hadn’t known that, either.

      “Yep. I went to school on a wrestling scholarship. No one set up any college fund for me growing up.”

      There was more than a trace of bitterness in Ty’s voice. Wes must have caught it, too, because he said, “Was college wrestling hard?”

      “Yep. But, that was okay. Working hard has never been an issue for me. I had big dreams and I found a way to pay for them. That was lucky.”

      Claire liked Ty’s spin on life. That he was lucky to be hardworking and goal-oriented. How many people looked at things from the complete opposite view point? Like they deserved more than they had?

      Wes shifted in his seat, a sure sign that he was interested. “So that’s why you go to so many wrestling meets. Because you used to wrestle.”

      “Partly,” Ty replied, sending a shuttered look her way.

      Claire received that look with some trepidation. What was he really saying? That he came to the meets to see her?

      That made her uncomfortable.

      Oh, not because he found her attractive. No, what made her uncomfortable was that she liked his interest. She swallowed hard, hoping to calm the knot in her stomach.

      She needed to get a grip on herself, pronto! There was nothing romantic between them. And there couldn’t be, ever.

      After ordering sodas, cheese Coneys and 5-way spaghetti dinners all around, Wes saw a buddy of his. He bummed two dollars off Claire then joined his friend at the video arcade until the food arrived.

      “Are you ever going to take off that coat?” Ty asked.

      Quickly, she shrugged it off. “Sorry. I don’t know where my mind is tonight.” But she did. It was revolving around Ty, her attraction to him and the multitude of warning signals that were going off…reminding her that he was Mr. Unsuitable. Correction—Dr. Unsuitable. He was too young, too polished and too rich.

      But he still had a great demeanor. He smiled, warming her insides. “Don’t apologize for a thing, Claire. I just hoped you’d get comfortable around me. That’s all.”

      Their sodas came. Claire sipped her root beer gratefully as she tried to think of something to say. Finally, she settled on their jobs. “How does your schedule work? Are you in the hospital all week?”

      “I’m with a private physician one day a week, then spend the rest of the time in the emergency room at the hospital.”

      “And then you’ll be up at the high school, working with the kids?”

      “When I can.” He shrugged off his crazy schedule like it was no big deal. “What about you?”

      “Oh, I have pretty much the same schedule every day. On most days I work from eight to three. On Wednesdays I go in early and leave around noon.”

      “Then you’re off to your other job, huh?”

      He’d lost her. “What do you mean?”

      “Being a mom?”

      Glancing in her son’s direction, Claire couldn’t help but smile. “Yes. Lately, that’s been just as challenging.”

      “If you handle motherhood like Deanna, I’d say you’re doing all right. I had a chance to visit with her after I got Taylor patched up. She’s a nice lady who really cares about her kids.”

      “I agree.” Remembering Deanna and the tumble of emotions that the woman brought forth, Claire shook her head. “I hope they’ll be okay. I gave her the name of a shelter.”

      “She mentioned that. If I had to guess, I’d say her luck was about to change.”

      “Why do you say that?”

      “I don’t know. Something tells me there’s more to her than meets the eye. Some people are kind of like my house, a little rundown, but inside, they’re in pretty good shape.”

      Claire laughed at the analogy. “Your place is like that, doctor? And here I thought you’d have a manicured lawn and organized cupboards.”

      “That’s not me at all. I have very little in my cupboards, which is a good thing, because Maisy would probably find a way to get into them and chew everything in sight.”

      Wes joined them right at that minute. “Who’s Maisy?”

      “My dog. She’s an old golden retriever.”

      “I love dogs,” Wes said. Over his head, Claire shared a smile with Ty. Wes’s dream had always been to have a dog of his own.

      “Maybe one day you’ll get a chance to meet her,” Ty said offhandedly. “If you two do get the chance to meet, I’m sure the feeling will be mutual. Maisy loves everyone.”

      Their chili came. Claire picked at hers. She’d never been one to totally love the chili-spaghetti-cheese-and-onion combo that everyone else in the city seemed to crave. Of course, it didn’t really matter what was on her plate, anyway. The reason she was at Skyline was to make Wes happy.

      With a lump in her throat, Claire realized Wes was having the time of his life. He really liked being around Ty. And Ty, for his part, seemed to know all the right things to say to her son.

      She couldn’t help but notice how skillfully Ty guided the conversation with Wes, discussing dogs and wrestling and video games with an ease she never had.

      After a half hour of conversation, the check came. She’d just pulled out a twenty when Ty stood up to go pay at the counter. “Put that away. This is my treat.”

      “I can pay our way.”

      “It’s just chili. You can pay next time.”

      Claire was just about to fumble her way through—not being sure there was going to be a next time—when Wes spoke up. “Mom likes to cook.”

      Ty’s blue eyes issued a challenge. “How about you invite me over for dinner someday?”

      Claire didn’t trust herself to reply. She was afraid if she opened her mouth, she’d do something stupid, like actually offer an invitation. The next thing she knew, she’d be thinking about a real date with Ty. And that would be a huge mistake.

      Unfortunately, her son had no such reservations. “How about next Saturday night?”

      Claire’s stomach rolled as Ty grinned. “How about next Saturday night, Claire? Would you like to have dinner together then?”

      She glanced at Wes. Once again, she saw hope in his eyes. He liked Ty—he liked him a lot. And, well, she couldn’t buy him iPods or new furniture, but she could cook Ty dinner, right?

      True desperation engulfed her, making her feel anxious and…excited? “Sure. Why not? Next Saturday night would be fine.”

      Chapter Five

      “Girl, you’ve got a date with a doc-tor,” Lynette sang to Claire when the waiting room was empty for the

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