by Laura Iding
Please don’t worry about me. I love flying, and I’m safe high above the action. I miss you very much, but I’m also proud to know I’m serving our country.
Write to me often and tell me everything about how you’re feeling. I want to know everything the doctor is telling you, too.
Love, Shane.
Seth stared at the words his biological father had written over thirty years ago. Who was this man who’d stolen his mother’s heart? It was interesting to realize he must get his love of speed from his dad. When he was younger he’d even once toyed with the idea of being a pilot.
All the letters seemed to carry the same theme, of love and longing. Missing each other and living for the few days they’d get to share together every few months. The last one was from his mother, right after he himself had been born.
Dear Shane
We have another son! Seth Patrick Andre was born at three-fifteen in the morning, the biggest baby yet, at nine pounds and two ounces. He’s so long—over twenty-two inches. I think he’s going to be tall, like his daddy.
I wish you were here to see him. He’s so beautiful. Caleb and Tess are too young to appreciate the newest addition to the family. Having three children is going to keep me insanely busy, but I still miss you.
Please come home again soon. Your children barely remember you, although I show them your picture every night so they can mention you in their prayers.
Please come home, Shane. Your new son wants to meet his father.
Your loving wife, Jan.
Seth stared at the last letter for a long moment. So that was it. His father had never gotten a chance to respond. The fact that his mother had actually had his father’s letters meant he’d kept them safe, and that they’d been returned to her along with his other personal effects after his death.
Even Caleb and Tess hadn’t really known their biological father. Clearly his mother had tried to bridge the gap with little success. His mother must have thought that since they didn’t remember their father there was no sense in talking about him. Especially after she’d remarried.
The last bit of his resentment faded. Kylie was right. His mother had loved them. No doubt she’d done what she’d thought was best for them.
He put the letters away. Gregory Taylor had been a great father. When he’d died, Seth, Caleb and Tess had missed him terribly. Looking back, he could understand how that probably hadn’t been the time for their mother to tell them the truth about their real father. The man they’d spent so very little time with over the short years of their parents’ marriage.
The man who’d never even seen his third child.
Kylie dressed with care for her dinner with Seth, choosing a long-sleeved amethyst V-necked sweater dress that clung to her curves, hoping the cashmere blend would keep her warm in the cool September evening.
The fact that the fabric accented her curves only helped to give her some badly needed self-confidence.
She couldn’t help staring at her reflection in the mirror, wondering why Seth was attracted to her. She wasn’t beautiful by anyone’s standards. Her mouth was too wide, her nose a little too big. He could have any woman he wanted—had in fact dated many of the pretty doctors and nurses at Cedar Bluff Hospital.
So why her? Why now?
She didn’t have any answers. In fact, the more she thought about it the more she grew convinced that this intense attraction they shared couldn’t possibly last. Not for the duration needed for a true relationship. What she felt when Seth touched her was probably similar to the heat and flash of a comet that quickly burned out.
She bit her lip, trying to quell a sense of panic. Was it the worst thing in the world if it didn’t last? As long as Ben wasn’t hurt, what difference did it make? She hadn’t felt this longing for a man in a very long time. Maybe she owed it to herself to try and trust again? To trust Seth.
Putting a hand over her jumping stomach, she took a deep breath. She must be crazy to even contemplate such a drastic step.
The doorbell rang at precisely six-thirty, causing her pulse to spike with anticipation. Swallowing hard, she left her bedroom, closing the door behind her. Down the hall, she could hear Ben and Elise, the young babysitter, talking to Seth.
When she stepped into the living room, Seth’s gaze cut to hers. The frank approval in his eyes as he stared at her made her feel special. Sexy. Desirable in a way she hadn’t felt in years.
“You look beautiful, Kylie. Are you ready to go?”
For a crazy moment she knew she’d never be ready. Not for Seth. Not for the way he made her feel. But the knowledge didn’t stop her from responding.
“Yes. I’m ready.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
KYLIE tried to relax as much as she could, considering she was seated next to Seth in his plush sports car. The interior of the vehicle exuded his sexy, masculine scent, making her feel light-headed. And she was hyperaware of him—from the way his strong hands held the steering wheel and shifted the gearstick, to the way his broad shoulders brushed ever so slightly against her.
After weeks of chatting with him about football, her son’s accident and hypothermia protocols, she suddenly couldn’t think of a single thing to say.
“I made reservations at the Blue Diamond Resort, overlooking Lake Michigan,” he told her. “I hope you don’t mind.”
Since she’d never even heard of the place, it was difficult to mind. Her exposure to restaurants centered around child-friendly places. Haute cuisine wasn’t something she indulged in on a regular basis.
She offered a weak smile. “Sounds good.”
“Seems Ben is doing much better without the eye patch,” he commented.
“Yes, he is. Although I don’t think he’ll be happy until he gets that cast off his arm.” Ben might be a safe topic of discussion, but Kylie couldn’t imagine Seth had ever talked about kids during any of his other dates.
“Kylie, relax,” he murmured, far too clued in to her discomfort. “You’re supposed to be having fun tonight.”
Fun. Okay, sure. She could do fun.
“I guess I am nervous,” she admitted, feeling a desperate need to break the silence. “I haven’t gone out with a guy in a really long time.”
He swiveled his head to stare at her, before letting out a rueful laugh. “Which only means I’m one lucky son of a gun, doesn’t it?”
She wasn’t so sure, but didn’t answer as he pulled into the parking lot of a large building built right on the edge of the rocky lakeshore. Tiny lights were sprinkled in a random pattern on the roof of the building, the effect not Christmassy but reminding her instead of stars twinkling in the sky.
Seth took her hand to help her out of the car, and didn’t let go as they walked inside. The place was all black and chrome, with tall green plants and lots of glass windows. The minute he gave his name, the maître d’ whisked them to a small, private corner table overlooking the lake, giving her a sense of being totally isolated from the rest of the diners.
The seats were positioned side by side on the corner of the table, rather than directly across from each other. And it seemed as if Seth touched her constantly. The intimacy of their surroundings along with his heated glances warned her he might have seduction on his mind.
An idea that both scared her to death and thrilled her at the same time.
“What would you like to drink?” he asked.
Since drinking around a man you were head-over-heels attracted to was hardly smart, she figured she would stick with water for the moment. “I’m fine right now, thanks. Although a glass of wine with dinner might be nice.”
“I’ll bring a wine list,” the waiter said before he hurried off.
There were no prices on the menu, a fact that made her gulp nervously, but Seth didn’t seem to care as they placed their order. No wonder she’d never heard of the restaurant. Any place that didn’t list their prices on the menu was more than her pocketbook could handle.
Just more proof that Seth
was out of her league.
Her mouth went dry as he took her hand. But he surprised her with his topic of conversation. “I read my mother’s letters to my biological father last night.”
“You did?” She was stunned he’d confided in her.
He nodded. “You were right. The letters showed my mother loved Shane Andre, but at the same time I could tell by reading them how much she missed him and hated being forced to live apart from him. And the last letter she sent was about me, and how much she wanted him to come home to meet his new son.”
“Oh, Seth.” She squeezed his hand, hurting for him. “I’m sorry. That must have been hard.”
“Well, to be honest I suspected as much, considering he died just a few weeks after I was born. And besides, from what I read he hadn’t been home much to see my brother Caleb or my sister Tess, either.”
How difficult for his mother. From the article she’d found on the internet, Shane Andre had been missing in action for several weeks, too. Weeks in which Seth’s mother hadn’t known if Shane was alive or dead.
“Are you all right?” she asked softly.
He smiled. “Yeah. I think so. Anyway, I just thought you should know you were right. Reading the letters—well, they gave me some insight into my mother’s decision. I think in her mind Gregory Taylor really did become our dad. Far more than Shane Andre had been. I’m at peace with what she did.”
“I’m glad.”
“So what about you?” he asked, sliding his thumb over the back of her hand in a caress she felt all the way up her arm. “I’m curious to know everything about you.”
“Everything?” She couldn’t imagine why he’d be interested.
“Maybe not everything. How about if you start with what brought you to Cedar Bluff?”
“Well, I could say it was the warm and friendly atmosphere of the town, especially one with such a fantastic view.” She gestured to the window, displaying the white-tipped waves lapping rhythmically over the rocky shore. “But if you want to know the truth, my reasons for moving here were more pragmatic than that. I needed the job.”
“Pragmatic?” He looked confused. “Aren’t paramedics in high demand everywhere?”
She lifted her shoulder in a tiny shrug. “Sure, but not paramedic education coordinator positions. As a single mother, I really needed higher pay with less variable hours. But, even more, I needed to get out of the big city.” The memory of the close call she and Ben had faced made her shiver. She’d gone the past week without having the nightmare once—a new record. She forced a smile. “Cedar Bluff was an answer to my prayers.”
Seth didn’t smile, and his fingers tightened on hers. “Kylie, what happened in Chicago?”
His observation skills were too sharp. She hadn’t told anyone about what had happened in Chicago, mostly because there hadn’t been anyone to tell. She was an only child, and her parents had been gone for a long time—the year after she’d graduated from high school, in fact. “There was a lot of crime in our area,” she said, striving to keep her tone matter-of-fact. “I really didn’t like exposing Ben to that environment.”
He stared at her for a long moment, before slowly shaking his head. “That may be, but something else happened. Something that scared you.”
Was she that transparent? She took a sip of water, swallowing hard. “Drug busts and robberies were fairly commonplace in our neighborhood. I wanted to move, was saving a portion of each paycheck, but it seemed like things kept going wrong, putting me back financially. One night a man broke into our apartment.”
She hesitated, not wanting to remember how scared she’d been. The clichéd saying about your life passing before your eyes when you faced death was true. Very true. “He had a knife. I—I think he was on drugs of some sort. I heard him stumbling around in the kitchen and dialed 911 on my cell phone, but then I had to make sure Ben was safe.”
“Oh, man,” Seth whispered, momentarily closing his eyes. “Tell me you didn’t leave your bedroom.”
“I had to make sure Ben was safe,” she repeated. What happened that night was forever etched in her mind. “I came out of my bedroom—just as he stepped into the hallway. I had a fist full of money—to help appease him, I guess—so I threw it at him, hoping he’d take the time to pick it up so I could slip into Ben’s room. But he didn’t. Instead he laughed and came directly toward me.”
“Dear God.” Seth’s hand surrounded hers so tightly she nearly winced with pain. “Did he touch you? Hurt you?”
“I was lucky. The cut in my flank was small, only needed a few stitches. And the police arrived before he could carry out his intent to really hurt me.”
“Thank God.” Seth’s reverent whisper echoed her own sentiment. For a long moment neither of them spoke. Then Seth brushed a soft kiss along the back of her knuckles.
“So now you know why trust is a bit difficult for me,” she confided.
His gaze held hers. “Kylie, have I told you how glad I am that you chose to move to Cedar Bluff?”
His teasing tone made her smile, helping to put her dark past to rest. The intruder hadn’t hurt her—not really. She knew from her ambulance runs that the outcome could have been much worse. “No, I don’t think you have.”
“Well, I am glad. Very glad.”
As their dinner was served, Seth eased the discussion to lighter subjects. The food was scrumptious and the wine heady.
When they’d finished eating, she sat back with a contented sigh. “Delicious. The best meal I’ve ever tasted. Thank you, Seth.”
“The pleasure was all mine,” he said in a husky tone.
She didn’t see how that was possible, but somehow in the magic of the evening she found herself struggling to believe. Maybe it was a little selfish to take this time away from Ben for herself, but she’d enjoyed Seth’s company far more than she’d expected.
“Would you be willing to go back to my condo for another glass of wine?”
His condo? For wine? Or for something more?
His efforts at seduction were back in full force.
Seth held his breath, waiting for Kylie’s response. As much as he wanted her to say yes, he was mentally preparing himself for her refusal.
Kylie had been through some difficult times in her life—more so than he’d realized. She’d need time before she’d be comfortable taking their relationship further. He understood, knowing she had Ben to think about. She was no doubt anxious to go home to check on her son.
“I’d like that,” she said, so softly he thought he must have misunderstood.
“Really?” His hopeful response popped out of his mouth before he could stop it. Smooth. Real smooth, Taylor, he thought wryly. He pushed his chair back and stood. “Great.”
He placed his hand in the small of her back as they weaved between a few tables through the restaurant toward the door. He couldn’t conceive a coherent thought as they walked the short distance to his car.
“Do you know what I love best about Cedar Bluff?” Kylie asked, as he headed toward the highway.
“Besides me?” he asked.
She laughed, as he’d hoped she would. “I like the people. And, yes, that includes you. It’s so amazing to me how friendly everyone is. One day, about a week and a half ago, I was at the grocery store when a woman came running over, profusely thanking me for taking care of her husband, Chuck. Her name was Estelle, and her husband had forgotten to take his insulin, so he’d had mental status changes from having high blood sugar. I have no idea how she remembered I was the paramedic who’d responded to the scene.”
“We’re a small community. The whole town probably knows you by now—at least by name.”
“Maybe, but still it’s nice to know people appreciate the help. Very different from Chicago, I must say.”
“I bet.” Many of the citizens of Cedar Bluff came in on a regular basis, when chronic health issues acted up. “I still get Christmas cards every year, delivered to the ED from some of my former patients’ fami
lies.”
“Wow. I don’t think that ever happens in Chicago. Or if it does, not very often.”
He reached over to take her hand. “Like I said, I’m very glad you chose to move here.”
“Me, too.” She didn’t pull her hand from his grasp, so he gently rubbed his thumb along the back of her hand.
Her skin was like silk. It made his mouth go dry to imagine her skin was just as soft everywhere else. All evening her subtle citrus scent had wreaked havoc with his concentration.
And now she was coming home with him, at least for a drink, maybe for a stolen kiss or two. He was glad he’d had the foresight to clean up his condo and buy wine. He didn’t have to be embarrassed to bring Kylie into his home.
He parked in the underground garage and followed behind her as they climbed the steps to his condo. Strange, but as he led her inside and looked at the place through Kylie’s eyes he didn’t see a home.
Not like the home she shared with Ben.
Not like the home he and his siblings had grown up in.
For a moment he found himself wondering if he could be a surrogate father to Ben, the same way Gregory Taylor had been to him.
“Do you have pictures of your family?” she asked, moving through the modern open kitchen into the living room.
“Yes, on the end table there’s a picture of my parents, and another one of me, Caleb and Tess on the day I graduated from medical school.” He pulled two wineglasses out of the cupboard and opened the bottle of wine he’d bought earlier that day. After filling the glasses halfway, he carried them into the living room.
She was sitting on the sofa, looking at the picture of his parents. “Your mother was beautiful. It’s easy to see the family resemblance between you three kids and your mom.”
“Yeah.” He handed her a wineglass and took the seat right next to her. “In hindsight, I guess we should have realized there wasn’t much resemblance to our father, though.”
“Maybe not physically, but I think there’s more to being a father than passing along your genes.”
