by Francis Ray
“You taste better each time I kiss you.”
Her stomach did a slow roll. So did his. What she wouldn’t give for another forbidden taste. “I-I was just leaving.”
“You never even took a break.”
“I’m used to working nonstop. My mother … I should go,” she said, trying to step away and finding it impossible.
“I’ll grab my keys.”
“For what?” she asked as he released her and moved toward his office. He couldn’t be thinking of following her home.
“I need to make a run,” he called as he went into his office, and almost immediately reappeared. “Let’s go.”
Outside, he walked her to her car, which was parked behind his truck. “See you tomorrow. Drive safely.” He kissed her on the cheek, then went to his truck.
Kara stared at him, then got into her car when his engine started. She wondered where he could be going, then shook her head and backed out of the driveway. He was young, handsome, rich. It was barely nine. She straightened and glanced into her rearview mirror, saw his headlights.
Dammit, she wasn’t jealous, but he’d kissed her as if she meant everything to him.
Kara took the ramp to the freeway and Tristan was still behind her. Her gaze flickered to the rearview mirror when she passed the exit for downtown where there were lots of places a man on the prowl might find what he was looking for. He stayed behind her when she took her exit.
He was following her home. He didn’t have to, but she knew somehow it was his way.
Fifteen minutes later she pulled into her driveway and activated the garage door. Lowering her window, she waved good night to Tristan and pulled inside, letting the garage door back down. A little smile on her lips, she went inside. Her mother met her.
“At last you’re learning some sense and came home at a decent time and alone.” With that her mother turned and went to her room.
Kara stared after her. “I certainly am, Mama. I certainly am.”
* * *
Thursday evening, her hands gripping the steering wheel, Kara pulled into Tristan’s driveway. It was 7:23 P.M. She slammed out of the car and hurried to the front door. It seemed as if everything had conspired against her efforts to stay on track and finish staining the molding. She hadn’t been able to leave work until 6:15. She’d run into a traffic jam, and then arrived home to her mother waiting like a baby bird to be fed. She’d fixed her a roast beef sandwich from leftovers, ignored her disapproving face, and left.
Tristan opened the door. “Sorry.” She brushed by him, already going over in her mind what she had to do. She entered the room and came to a complete stop, then closed her eyes.
“I had the time.”
Opening her eyes again she saw almost all of the moldings that she’d planned to stain tonight were already stained and varnished. She turned and he was there. She leaned into him, closing her arms around him.
“Bad day?” he asked, stroking her from her head to her hips.
“Horrible,” she said, fitting herself more comfortably against him.
“Maybe this will make it better.” Lifting her chin, he kissed her. Her lips and body softened, yielded to the mastery of his mouth, the comfort of his touch.
Lifting his head, his mouth hovered over hers. “Better?”
“Better.” Reluctantly, she pushed out of his arms. “Thanks for following me home and for this.” She picked up a pair of gloves. “I won’t be able to come over this weekend.”
“Why?”
“This is my weekend to clean the house.” She began to rub varnish into the wheat-stalked molding.
“I don’t suppose you’d consider hiring someone.” He picked up a length of molding.
“Not in the budget,” she said frankly, then continued. “I’m saving the money you paid me.” One way or another, she was getting a place of her own.
“What if I gave you an advance on the other paintings I know will sell?” he asked.
“Thank you, but I’d have to find someone, check them out.” And hear her mother gripe about the waste on something Kara could do, and then bring up her hot tub again. Kara placed the three-inch molding aside and picked up another piece. “I’ll stay a little longer tomorrow night to get more done. You’ve been a big help.”
“I wish I could do more.”
She glanced up and saw the sincerity in his face. “You’ve given me more than I ever dreamed.”
“Kara—”
She averted her head. She was feeling too vulnerable, too needy. If he kissed her, they’d probably end up hot and sweaty in his bed. And lose more time. “I need to finish.”
“The day is getting closer when I won’t let you run.”
“I know.” Her hands tightened. “I have to make this work.”
He picked up his cloth and began rubbing the wood. “So, what happened at work today?”
She breathed easier. He was giving her the time she needed, but one day he wouldn’t. She shivered. One day she wouldn’t want him to.
* * *
Sabrina decided after a restless Wednesday night that if she got hot and bothered seeing Cade, he might feel the same about her. With that thought in mind, she asked the charge nurse on the surgery floor to call her when he came up to make rounds. Sabrina had gone up Thursday afternoon to find Cade dictating on the computer.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw him stiffen when she spoke to everyone. She’d made it a point to speak and place a friendly hand on his shoulder. He’d jerked around. The heat and desire in his eyes scorched her, taking her breath away. Then it was gone. He whirled back to continue dictating.
The second time was by accident in the X-ray department later that afternoon. By Friday she decided it was time to put them both out of their misery. Seeing him sitting in the cafeteria, a place she’d seldom seen him, she decided he might have the same idea.
“Hi, mind if I join you?’ she asked, a soft drink in one hand.
“You know this can’t work,” he said.
Smiling, she took a seat. “A drink and conversation?”
“Is that all you want?” he asked.
Heat zipped though her body. “I might ask you the same thing.”
Desire burned hotly in his eyes. “Don’t push this,” he warned.
Sabrina took a sip of her Pepsi to ease her dry throat. There was nothing to be done about her accelerated heart rate. “Have you picked up a birthday gift for Clarissa?” Sabrina asked. Surely that was a safe topic.
Cade hadn’t. In fact, he had hoped he could escape going to the child’s birthday party. He should have known better. “I thought I could give you some money to pick up a gift.”
Sabrina folded her arms. “No can do.”
“Why not?”
Her arms came to her sides, a grin on her pretty face. “Clarissa and her parents want you.”
He knew, and that made him a bit restless. In the past, he had kept his relationship with patients strictly professional. He wasn’t sure how it had changed. Then he stared across the table at Sabrina looking up at him with her saucy smile that he was becoming all too used to, and knew the exact reason.
“Stop frowning unless you want to make an appointment with Dr. Snyder,” Sabrina teased, referring to the plastic surgeon.
She continued to amaze him. No one teased him or seemed to care about him if it wasn’t professionally related. No one but her. No matter what, nothing seemed to faze her. “I suppose you can’t wait.”
“That’s right. I might even take my turn at the bouncey house Mrs. Ward said they’re having. I had one at my birthday when I was a kid.”
A shadow flittered across his face. There had been no celebrations of his birthdays. He still didn’t celebrate the day. It had been a bad day for all concerned.
“After we leave the party, we can drop by Patrizio’s, an Italian restaurant in Uptown Village, grab a bite, and go to a movie.”
“I’ll drive.”
“All right. You can pi
ck me up at four.” Sabrina picked up her soft drink and walked away.
He’d meant he’d take his own car. He needed to stop her to explain, but as the seconds ticked by he sat there and did nothing.
* * *
Saturday afternoon Cade sat in Sabrina’s driveway, unsure of how he’d gotten to this point. Yes, he was. He enjoyed being with Sabrina. She intrigued him. She was smart, beautiful, had horrible scars that hadn’t made her bitter. If nothing else, he admired her for that reason alone.
He just had to make sure he didn’t cross over the line again. He could do this. Life had stuck it to him in the past; he wasn’t going to let it take the pleasure of Sabrina’s friendship away.
Getting out, he went up the steps. The door opened. Sabrina came out in a green leopard-print cardigan, a matching shell, and black pants. As always, she looked pretty and happy. No one could guess the pain she’d gone though as a child.
“Hi, Cade. You decide on a gift yet?” she asked, stopping beside him on the porch.
“An American Express gift card.”
She stuck her tongue in her cheek. Obviously she was amused.
“It’s practical,” he defended.
She looped her arm through his. “Cade, my birthday is in November and if you decide to get me a gift, I just want you to know that I’m not a practical kind of girl.”
“I’d already figured that out.”
“Good. Let’s go have fun.”
* * *
Sabrina thought Cade might loosen up once he was around the other people, but he never did. He kept himself apart. It was almost as if he expected them to reject him. She thought more and more of his childhood. He wasn’t on an ego trip, he cared about his patients, but who cared about him? She was determined that she’d show him that she cared.
When Mr. Ward herded everyone back into the house for ice cream and cake and opening the presents, she held Cade back.
“Have you ever been in a bouncey house?” Sabrina nodded toward the inflatable contraption in the shape of a clown.
“No.” He glanced at his watch. “I think we can leave now.”
“I’d say you were long overdue. Let’s go give it a try.”
Cade pulled back. “You can’t be serious?”
She smiled into his horrified face. “I most definitely am. It will be fun.”
“Not if you break something,” he said.
“Then it’s a good thing I have a doctor with me.” Tugging his hand, she moved closer. When they were within five feet, she released him, placed her handbag on a table, pulled off her shoes, and crawled though the opening flap of the clown’s mouth. Inside, she beckoned him to follow. “Come on, Cade. It’s more fun if someone is with you.”
He folded his arms. “No.”
She lowered her head briefly then lifted it. “Please. I really want to do this, and it’s more fun with someone like I said.”
Unfolding his arms, he toed off his loafers, and he slowly and carefully crawled inside as if he were going to his doom.
“Now stand up and jump.” Sabrina demonstrated as she hopped around. “You’re gonna land on your butt if you don’t.”
Cade went down and stared up at her, his eyes promising retribution.
Sabrina smiled. “Told you. Let’s see who can jump the farthest.”
“You really want that broken arm, don’t you?”
“Come on, Cade, help me out with a little competition. The loser buys dinner. I won’t tell anyone, including Kara, that you lost.”
Slowly he pushed to his feet. “We’ll see who loses.”
She might have known he was competitive. “I’ll let you warm up a bit.”
He was awkward at fist, as if testing his balance, then he became more self-assured.
“Here goes,” Sabrina said, then bounced a good six feet. “Beat that if you can.”
Wordlessly, Cade sprang up and came down inches ahead of her. She fell against him, taking both of them down with her on top. Laughing, Sabrina stared down at him, then she sobered. She felt the hard impression of his body, but most of all the heat of his searing gaze. Desire swirled through her. His mouth was so close, so tempting. She leaned toward him.
Taking her arms, he quickly came to his feet. “I believe you owe me dinner.”
She swallowed her disappointment and tried to control her longing. “I’ll even spring for the movie tickets,” she said, glad her voice sounded almost normal as she moved to the exit to put on her shoes and grab her handbag. “We’ll go watch Clarissa open her gifts and say good-bye.”
Cade slipped on his shoes. “I bet you also like birthday cake and tearing into presents.”
“You know it.” She slipped her arm through his and headed back into the house. She felt his reluctance and continued. Opening the back door she was greeted by the high-pitched sounds of children’s laughter.
In the center of the den, Clarissa was surrounded by mounds of presents, torn wrapping paper, children, and adults. Several adults were taking pictures. Her beaming mother sat in a chair beside her. Her happy father, who had been on the floor handing Clarissa gifts, saw Cade and came to him.
“Dr. Mathis, thanks doesn’t say enough. You gave me my family back.” Mr. Ward swallowed, scrubbed his hand over his face, and stuck out his hand. “Thank you.”
Cade was stunned by the effusive thanks and even more by the applause in the room, the tears in Mrs. Ward’s eyes. He’d received accolades before from many prestigious organizations, but none affected him as much. Sabrina smiled proudly up at him. With her beside him he didn’t feel like an outsider or alone. “You’re welcome,” Cade said and shook the other man’s hand.
“Don’t forget you’re invited to Clarissa’s wedding,” Mr. Ward said to Sabrina. “You too, Dr. Mathis.”
“We’ll be there,” Sabrina said as Clarissa’s father went back to helping his daughter open gifts. His mother served them cake while they watched Clarissa work through her presents.
A short while later her father handed his daughter an envelope. “This is from Dr. Mathis.”
“Thank you, Dr. Mathis.” Clarissa tore open the envelope and frowned at the gift card. “How do I play with this?”
“I’ll happily show you,” her mother said, and laughed as the adults joined in. Cade was surprised to feel a smile on his own face.
* * *
The birthday party hadn’t been bad, Cade thought as he and Sabrina left thirty minutes later, perhaps because the Wards seemed so happy. In a small way he had helped that happen. It felt good. “You’re paying for dinner.”
“Don’t worry, I know it’s not a pretend date like Kara’s,” Sabrina said from beside him on the sidewalk.
“What’s a pretend date?” Cade asked.
Sabrina tucked her head. “Inside joke between friends.”
Cade wasn’t used to a shy Sabrina, then guessed she must have inadvertently mentioned something she was supposed to keep secret. He didn’t want to put her on the spot.
“Ms. Simmons is a good social worker. I enjoy working with her,” Cade said, opening the door of his car.
“Unlike working with me?” He was glad to see the smile back on her face. “One day I hope you can say the same thing about me.”
“I already can,” he said without thinking. “You care. You’re a little exuberant, but that can be a good thing.”
Pleasure spread across her beautiful face. “Thank you, Cade. That means a lot coming from you.”
He didn’t like the way she was looking at him, or the way his body hardened with need. They were just friends, nothing more, although he had almost forgotten when she was on top of him in the bouncey house. He’d never known wanting could be so fierce.
Thankfully, she got inside the car. “Cade, why don’t you come over to the neighborhood block party next Saturday?”
“They still have block parties?” he asked, getting in the car and pulling out.
“In my neighborhood they do.” Sabrina twiste
d in her seat toward him. “We’re going to have food galore. This is my first, but I hear from Kara that it’s fantastic. The city even blocks off the street. I’m cooking.”
He lifted a dark brow. “I’m not sure that’s wise.”
She playfully swatted him on the arm and chuckled. “You might have a point,” she went on to say. “I seldom cook. I should buy stock in the restaurants near the house, I eat at them so much. Kara takes pity on me more often than not. How about you?”
“Me?”
His face had closed off. Sabrina forged ahead. “Do you cook?”
“No. Navarone Place has a chef. I simply order what I want,” he told her as he parked the car near the restaurant.
“That must be nice. You don’t even have to stop or get in line.”
“I suppose,” he said, but he didn’t sound convinced as he got out of the car.
“What movie do you want to see?” she asked, holding her breath, afraid he’d refuse.
“So long as it’s not silly, I don’t care.”
Sabrina wanted to do a happy dance. She hoped her facial expression didn’t give her away. He still wanted to be with her. “I think that can be arranged.”
Thirteen
Late Saturday night Sabrina opened the front door of her house and went inside, silently inviting Cade to follow. After the briefest hesitation he did. “Thank you for a wonderful evening.”
“There is something that needs to be repeated and made clear.”
“Yes?”
“I don’t date people I work with.”
“So you said, but we’ve already figured that out.”
“We?” he asked sharply.
She wanted to kick herself.
“Sabrina, I’d like an answer.”
“You’re not going to like it.”
“I already figured as much, but I still want an answer.”
She sighed loudly. “Actually it was my best friend.”
“Do I know this best friend?”
She could see him retreating and wanted to cry. “Kara Simmons.”
His eyes chilled. He actually took a step away from her. “You discussed me with someone who works at the hospital?”
She reached for him. “It wasn’t like you think.”
