by Deb Stover
Taylor could relate.
"He's mine."
Taylor's heart vaulted into her throat as she whirled around to confront the newcomer. A boy–pre-teen, she guessed–stood in the doorway staring at them with an insolent expression.
"Ryan, why aren't you in school?" Gordon straightened, ignoring the dog's whimper for continued attention.
"It's lunch. I came to see Patches." The boy's voice cracked, eliciting a surge of compassion from Taylor, though she had no idea why. "Is he gonna be all right?"
Gordon looked down for a moment, then faced Ryan. "He's doing better, but I'll know more when the tests come back from UNC. Does your mom know you're here?"
Mom? Taylor watched Gordon for a clue. A terrible suspicion slithered through her, making her want to run away. Sue's son?
"Well..." The boy lowered his eyes and shuffled his feet. "Nope."
"So Sue doesn't know you're playing hooky?"
"I'll get back before she sees me."
Sue and Gordon's son?
"Too late, I saw you." Sue's head appeared over the boy's and she ruffled his curly red hair. "Only for a minute, Ryan. You're going to be late getting back to school. English, right?"
"Yeah." Ryan grumbled and shifted his feet, then looked up at Gordon.
"Go ahead." Gordon smiled and inclined his head toward the dog. "This mutt's begging for attention. Give him some."
"Cool!"
Taylor stepped back as Ryan made a beeline for the pen and threw open the door. The boy's entire face lit up with love. Patches wagged his tail and jumped up and down, whimpering.
She caught sight of the look on Gordon's face and wondered again about his relationship to the boy. And to Sue. There was no physical resemblance to Gordon, but the child looked about the right age.
Her stomach burned and her cheeks felt hot. She was over that phase, and it was high time she took control of her emotions. Now, Taylor.
They all followed Ryan to Gordon's office. "So when can I take him home?" Ryan asked.
"I see no reason why you can't take him home today after school."
"All right!" Ryan absolutely beamed at Gordon and flashed his mother a broad smile. "Did you hear that, Mom?"
"Yes, I heard." Sue's expression as she looked over her son's head was solemn. "You'd better wash your hands and get back to school."
"I know." Ryan rolled his eyes. "I'll be back after school to pick up Patches."
Ryan paused to look at Taylor as if just now seeing her for the first time. "Who's she?"
"Well, how rude." Sue shook her head and looked down, avoiding Taylor's questioning glance.
Taylor stepped forward to extend her hand to the boy. "I'm Taylor Bowen." Are you Gordon's child?
The boy shook her hand, then walked to the corner sink to wash. Sue handed him a paper towel as he turned around.
"Taylor used to live here," Sue explained with only a slight catch in her voice. "She's the new doctor."
Ryan's eyes grew huge and his mouth fell open. The red hair and freckles gave him an impish, Little Rascals quality. "A girl?"
Gordon, Sue and Taylor all laughed, albeit somewhat nervously, but Ryan stood his ground. "I ain't taking my clothes off when I go to the doctor. No, sirree."
"Don't say ain't." Sue tousled his hair again.
Taylor summoned a serious expression, not difficult when she remembered Ryan's possible paternity. "I assure you, Ryan, that I won't ask you to remove all your clothes unless it's a matter of life and death."
Taylor met Gordon's eyes. Big mistake. His gaze locked with hers, transporting her back in time again. They'd been so young. So much in love.
So...passionate.
Heat crept up her neck to her ears and she snatched herself from Gordon's spell. When she glanced back at Ryan, she saw suspicion written clearly on his face. The boy looked from Taylor, to Gordon, then back to Taylor.
"You coming over for dinner this evening?" Ryan asked Gordon.
"I, uh, wasn't invited." Gordon flashed Sue a grin.
They aren't married. An irrational surge of relief eddied through Taylor. Divorced? There was no way the Gordon she knew would stand by and not claim his own child. Not a chance. She searched Sue's eyes for possible answers to her questions.
Sue's blush deepened and she drew a deep breath. Even from across the room, Taylor knew the woman was trembling. She met Taylor's gaze, her eyes wide and almost pleading.
Taylor blinked and looked again. Was Sue afraid Taylor would tell Ryan what had happened ten years ago? Though she had every reason to be upset–and she had been–she wasn't a vindictive person. Surely Sue remembered that about Taylor. She gave a slight shake of her head, hoping to dispel the woman's concern. The last thing in the world Taylor wanted was to shatter a young boy's image of his own mother.
No matter who she was...or what she'd done.
Sue gave Taylor an unsteady smile. "I think you should both come to dinner."
Gordon shifted uneasily and Taylor's blush went from hot to molten. Searching for an excuse, she said, "Oh, I really couldn't–"
"Nonsense." Sue took her son's arm and started out the door. "We have to get it through this kid's head that women are every bit as smart as men."
"Ah, Mom."
Sue paused to look over her shoulder, ignoring her son's protests. The look she flashed Taylor was filled with gratitude...and something more. Regret?
"Have her there at six, Gordon. I have work to do and this young man has to get back to school. I think lunch is over. Hmm?"
The door closed, leaving Taylor and Gordon alone again.
Gordon glanced sideways at her. "Sue's..."
"Trying too hard?" Taylor finished, leaning against the edge of his desk and determined to maintain her composure. She'd be gracious and sophisticated about all this.
No matter what.
"Looks like we're stuck with each other this evening," she finally said, hating the way her voice sounded.
Something flared in his eyes, fleeting but powerful.
"I'm really sorry for getting you into this," she said when he remained silent. Why am I apologizing to him? She was the one who'd been betrayed all those years ago.
Gordon walked around his desk and opened a drawer. "Nothing for you to be sorry about." After a few seconds of shuffling around, he pulled out a key and passed it to her, his fingers brushing against hers with a jolt-and-a-half. "Fits the front and back doors."
"Thanks." Taylor closed her hand around the key. "This must be...uncomfortable for you."
He met her gaze and held it–possessed it, really. "Taylor, I..." Sighing, he shrugged and looked away. "I suppose it's fate."
Fate. She didn't know exactly what he meant by that, but for some inane reason her breath quickened and liquid warmth settled low in her middle. This stuff wasn't meant for her–for them. Not anymore.
"Fate?" she echoed, hating the throaty tone her voice had suddenly acquired. "This morning by the stream, my medical bag, the clinic, and now you have to take me to dinner at Sue's house? That's way above and beyond the call of duty, even for fate."
Gordon chuckled and his expression warmed. "This would probably make a good movie."
"Yeah, black comedy."
They both laughed and Taylor welcomed the respite from the tension. It was good to hear his laughter, even though more unanswered questions continued to plague her. One in particular.
Hiding her sense of loss, she stood and turned toward the door. "Well, I'd better find a place to unpack my supplies." She smiled, hoping he didn't see through her facade. "Can you point me to an examining room I might borrow for a while?"
Gordon looked nervous as he stood and followed her into the hall. "Actually, there are two connecting rooms at the end of the hall we hardly ever use."
"Perfect–an office and an examining room." Taylor let him lead, admiring his long, jean-clad legs and beautiful hair. "Since this is only temporary, there won't be time to have a second phone li
ne run, or for me to hire someone to answer it, so I want to pay Sue something for the extra work."
"That sounds fair."
So far, so good. "And I'll...try not to bother you any more than absolutely necessary."
Gordon stopped suddenly and turned to her. "Taylor, that isn't possible...and you know it."
He brought his hands to the level of her shoulders and froze. A deluge of conflicting emotions showed plainly in his eyes. It both frightened and delighted her at the same time.
His probing scrutiny searched, bore into her and tugged at feelings she'd wanted so desperately to keep buried. Safe. Unscathed.
"I'll still try," she said quietly, severing the invisible thread which had momentarily connected them.
Visibly shaking himself, he dropped his hands and opened the nearest door. "You can use this as an office–there's no desk, but there's a table and chair."
"And a window. Thanks. It'll be fine." She rubbed the back of her neck and stretched, closing her eyes. "That long drive is catching up with me."
"You probably want to rest before this evening."
"Good idea." Was she really going to Sue's house for dinner–with Gordon? Be tough, Taylor. She forced a smile, then peeked into the adjoining room. "Ah, good. Cabinets for my supplies."
"Are they in your car? I'll help you bring them in now, then I have to get ready for my afternoon patients...if there are any."
"Thanks." Taylor edged past him, unable to avoid brushing against his arm. The urge to turn toward him and snuggle close nearly overtook her. Gordon had always been so cuddly and affectionate.
Squelching her raging hormones and volatile emotions, she walked down the hall and through the waiting room. Digging her car keys from the pocket of her jeans, she hurried to her Volkswagen. Infuriatingly, her hands trembled, making her drop the keys in the dirt near her feet.
"Here, I'll get them." Gordon bent to retrieve her keys, hesitating a moment before straightening. "Hmm. That's strange."
"What?" Taylor held her hand out for the keys.
"Promise not to freak out on me again?"
Frowning, she looked down. "Oh!" Bear tracks. Again. "In town?"
"No reason to panic."
But when she met his fixed look, she saw worry etched across his features. "I don't remember bears coming this far into town before," she said, trying not to remember her one and only close encounter with a bear. She'd overreacted this morning–now she was more rational. At least, she hoped so.
"Well, not as a rule." He smiled, obviously trying to hide his apprehension. "Let me get a closer look."
Walking around the car, he paused several times to stoop down to examine the tracks. "Interesting."
"What?" Taylor reminded herself not to panic.
Straightening again, he met her gaze over the roof of her car. "Nothing to worry about."
"Gordon." Her voice took on a warning tone.
"It's nothing. Really." He shrugged, and gave her a sheepish grin. "Trust me."
Trust you? Like a knife, the pain renewed itself, but she determined to bury it deep so he wouldn't see. Frowning, Taylor nodded. "Do I have a choice?"
"There's always a choice, Taylor."
The double entendre hit its mark, making her wince inwardly. Their eyes met and held, then he flashed her a weak smile that destroyed the moment.
"Let's get your stuff," he said.
She popped the trunk and watched Gordon remove her box of medical supplies. The muscles in his arms rippled through the white fabric of his lab coat.
Time had definitely been kind to Gordon Lane.
"Where should I pick you up this evening?" he asked, holding the heavy box. "You didn't say."
Flashing him a mischievous grin, she tried to ignore the pain-riddled thunder of her heart. "Same place you did last time."
* * *
Gordon brought his Jeep to a stop in front of the small Victorian house and stared. Talk about déjà vu.
Same house. Same Jeep. Same girl...
No, not a girl–a woman now. Very much so. Taylor the girl had haunted him all his adult life. Now the woman she'd become was turning his simple, well-ordered life into an adult-only version of Alice in Wonderland.
And he'd definitely followed that white rabbit.
Remembering warm summer nights long past, he allowed himself a more leisurely stroll down Memory Lane. A stroll where hormones ran amok, and young bodies explored each other in every sense of the word....
Gordon's blood supply redirected itself, pooling and throbbing until he had to shift uncomfortably to accommodate his responsive body. Angry with his inability to control his emotions or his physical reaction–just like a teenager–he climbed out of the Jeep and leaned against it.
"History's history," he muttered. No matter how sweet or painful the memories, they couldn't change the fact that Taylor hadn't trusted him. Besides, the future she'd chosen for herself didn't include him or Digby.
Tom Bradshaw's words returned to torment Gordon. "She says she's only staying for the term of the contract, but I'm hoping we can change her mind."
Scowling at himself and at the past, Gordon stepped onto the sidewalk and opened the gate. The scent of roses touched his nostrils, and he remembered Taylor's dress for their senior prom. Her mother had made it and Gordon thought it the most beautiful one he'd ever seen, not that he had ever been much of an authority on women's clothing. Of course, now he realized the beauty he'd seen had been in the wearer, not the dress.
She'd worn tiny rosebuds in her hair. He drew another deep breath and closed his eyes against the continuing battle between past and present.
"Enough."
Shoving one hand into his pocket he marched up the walk and rapped on the door. He was finished dwelling on the past. Taylor was home now, but not for long.
The door opened and he tried to smile. Taylor stood staring at him through the screen, an expression of uncertainty making her look so much like the girl he'd last seen framed in this doorway.
"Good evening," he said, wishing the sun had already set. Darkness might help hide his turmoil and the pang of recollection.
"Evening," she returned, pushing open the screen. "Come in for a second while I grab my sweater."
Reluctantly, Gordon followed her into the all-too-familiar living room, then she rushed up the stairs, leaving him alone again with his memories. His throat felt full and his stomach gave a decisive lurch. Damn.
Looking around the room, he found the piano and was once again transported into the past.
"I'm ready."
Then he saw her standing at the bottom of the stairs. Dressed in a print skirt and green knit top, with a white sweater slung over her arm, she looked...
Incredible.
He swallowed hard and tried to deny himself the pleasure of allowing his hungry gaze to linger on the shape of her breasts beneath the clinging fabric. His impudent and infuriating memory provided his imagination with her hidden attributes.
In minute detail.
"I hope this is all right," she said quietly, prompting Gordon to look up at her lovely face.
"Uh, you look fine." The truth was, she looked a whole hell of a lot better than fine, but that was dangerous territory. "Sue's strictly the casual type."
"Yeah, I sort of remembered that."
She smiled in a sad way that tugged at something he knew was better off left buried deep in his subconscious. Unfortunately, today he seemed to have very little control over anything his mind decided to summon.
Maybe once the initial shock of having her home again wore off, he'd be able to control his thoughts a little better. Sure, that made sense. Drawing a deep breath, he squared his shoulders and smiled. "It's only across town, but we don't want to be late if we know what's good for us."
Crimson crept up her neck to her cheeks and Gordon couldn't help but wonder what he'd said to cause her to blush. Or maybe she'd noticed the direction of his gaze a few minutes ago. With super-human e
ffort, he resisted the urge to look again.
They stepped outside and he pulled the door to, then she inserted the key and sent the dead bolt home. Such extreme security measures seemed out of place in Digby, but whoever owned the house now obviously didn't agree.
"Oh, I don't believe this." Taylor stood on the porch and stared at his Jeep. "The same one?"
The expression of utter delight on her face would be his undoing. He was as good as nuked.
"Yep, same one." He followed her down the walk and through the gate. Without hesitation, she climbed into the passenger side, her smile triggering more memories.
Another dangerous thought struck him as he walked around the front of the Jeep and climbed into the driver's seat. Besides his mom, Taylor was the only living person in the world who shared his love for this old Jeep. She'd shared his love in this old Jeep. The memory was as vivid as it had been that summer.
"I can't believe it's the same one." Her laughter crawled right into him, igniting feelings of warmth and affection, contrary to his emotional Armageddon.
I'm in big trouble.
"Buckle up," he said, struggling against the urge to gather her into his arms. After fastening his own seat belt and hearing the reassuring click of hers, he started the engine and dropped the Jeep into gear.
He ventured a side glance at her before pulling away from the curb. Dammit, she was still smiling. Why couldn't she be rude and arrogant? Or ugly? That would've been even better. Safer.
But no. She was drop-dead gorgeous, with the same wholesome beauty she'd always had, plus the added enhancement of full-blown womanhood.
His groin tightened again and he knew with the utmost certainty that he could now pronounce himself fully recovered from this morning's ant attack. All systems go.
For a one way mission to Nowhere.
Silently cursing his own weaknesses, Gordon drove the few short blocks to Sue's house. On the edge of town nearest his cabin, the modest brick ranch sat back off the road in a pine grove.
"Here we are." He pulled into the drive and parked next to a strange car. Looking again as he cut the engine, Gordon groaned. Correction, the mid-size sedan wasn't strange at all.
