Falling Again for the Single Dad

by Juliette Hyland

  “But they’re tacos,” he said. “Promise.” Amara thanked the worker as the tacos were handed to her. The food did smell almost divine. She started to walk back toward the hospital but stopped. Eli had invited her to sit with him. Could she just walk over and sit down?

  Should she?

  Taking a deep breath, Amara stood in the warm sun, fighting her indecision. It was just a friendly lunch between colleagues. Except they weren’t just colleagues. They were exes, and she’d left Massachusetts Research after a breakup. Most hospital romances didn’t work out.

  Most romances anywhere.

  She knew that, but her feet seemed to move of their own accord.

  Eli grinned as she took the seat across from him. If he’d noticed her hesitation, he didn’t say so. Instead, he just handed her a few paper napkins. “I forgot to mention that the tacos get messy.”

  “Thanks for the warning.” His fingers brushed hers, and Amara forced herself to keep breathing as heat and desire raced along her body. She knew Eli had an effect on most women. The man was the definition of temptation. He was absolutely gorgeous, intelligent and charming. But Amara felt like their connection had been unique. Stronger, almost ordained by the universe. It was a ridiculous notion, but Amara had never been able to fully shake it. And she’d never felt it with anyone else.

  “How is Lizzy?” The little girl was a safe topic. Plus she loved seeing Eli talk about his niece. He glowed—it was adorable.

  “Ornery, but all the books I’ve read say that’s normal for toddlers.” Eli pulled up his phone and opened his camera. It was full of images of Lizzy, and Amara’s heart wanted to explode at the cuteness. “She was getting into everything last night. I think I waited too long to babyproof the place.”

  Amara laughed at a picture of her wearing a pot on her head. “Did you give Lizzy the pot to play with? Or did she pull it out of the cupboard?”

  Eli sighed and pulled up another picture. “It was a mutual decision that she would play with the pots while I ensured she was unable to get to the cleaning products or open the fridge.”

  His eyes softened as he showed her another photo. “She was still toddling around when she came to live with me eight months ago. I swear she learned to run overnight.”

  Amara laughed. “My mother always liked to say It was just yesterday that you were two. I hated it as a teenager and thought she was crazy. How could sixteen years just fly by? I get it now. Time seems to speed up the older we get.”

  Eli nodded. “I know. I blinked, and a decade went by.”

  Amara looked at him.

  Was he talking about them?

  Did it matter?

  Amara had spent more time thinking about Eli over the last week than her brain wanted to admit. Her heart wanted Amara to remember all the fun times they’d shared. And there had been so many good moments. She swallowed the last bite of her taco and pushed back from the table. “Thanks for the recommendation. I need to get back inside.”

  “If I’m free and the weather is nice, this is my standard break spot. You’re welcome anytime.”

  Amara nodded and started to get up. She wasn’t running...she wasn’t.

  “Oh, one more thing.” Eli tapped her shoulder.

  Her heart leaped.

  Was Eli going to ask her out?

  She’d say no. Of course, she’d say no. “What?” Amara was stunned by how level her voice was.

  “Their tacos are amazing.” Eli closed his own box and dumped them both in the trash. Leaning over, he whispered, “But their club sandwich is the worst. Seriously, you will regret spending six dollars on it—it’s terrible.”

  He was so close, if she turned her head at all, her lips would graze his cheek. That thought sent desire racing through her. “Good to know.” Amara breathed out.

  Then he winked and walked away.

  Amara’s heart skipped several beats as she watched Eli head into the hospital. He hadn’t even waited to walk in with her. She’d completely misread the situation.

  Which was good, she thought, trying to rationalize away the little bit of hurt she felt. That way, she didn’t have to tell him no. Because she would have.

  Shaking her head, Amara headed back into the hospital. She did not want to examine the discomfort in her stomach or the tightness in her chest. She was fine.

  She was.

  * * *

  Amara waved as she stepped up to the food truck, and Eli felt his insides dance. He still hadn’t managed to work up the courage to ask her out. In fact, he’d practically run away the first time they’d eaten together. Afraid his question would bubble out before he was ready. But he looked forward to meeting her at the truck. She’d joined him each day for lunch. That had to mean something, right?

  That she wants to be friends? his mind ruthlessly asked. Even though his brain raced with thoughts of what if, that didn’t mean hers did. Eli forced those thoughts away.

  “They were out of tacos!” Amara complained as she opened her container displaying, a sad-looking sandwich.

  “Tell me you didn’t order the club sandwich after I warned you.” Eli gripped her hand and then immediately let it go. It was so easy to be around Amara, and yet so hard. Reaching for her had been unintentional, but he wanted to do it again. Pull her close and just hold her.

  Amara’s eyes shifted to his hand, and Eli swallowed the nervousness crawling through him. He forced himself to look at the sorry bread lying in Amara’s container. “It’s the club, isn’t it?”

  “No!” Amara’s hand tapped his arm, and then she placed both her hands on the table. Was she afraid touching him would lead to wanting more too?

  “It’s a BLT. It does look rather sad, doesn’t it?” She sighed.

  “Switch with me.” Eli offered his tacos. “I only took one bite. They’re still perfectly good.”

  “I can’t take your tacos.” Amara stared at them, eyeing the unopened tinfoil. “At least not the one you already took a bite of.”

  He laughed as she traded him half her sandwich.

  How had he ever let her walk away?

  “Want to get dinner somewhere better than this?” The question hovered between them, and Eli’s insides tossed as she looked away. He wanted her to say yes, needed it.

  “I—I—I’m not sure,” Amara stuttered.

  Eli held up his hand. “No problem, Amara. I can wait.”

  “You can?” Her brown eyes glittered as she looked at him. “I don’t know if...” Amara broke off and shook her head. “I’m not the same person.”

  “I’m not either.” Eli shrugged. “Maybe that means...” He blew out a breath. “I like spending time with you.” That was the truth, all of it. For the last week, he’d gone to bed each night thinking of her, woken each morning thinking of her. She’d wormed her way into his heart years ago, and he’d never gotten over her.

  Never even tried...

  Eli pushed the thought away and held up the awful looking sandwich. It looked remarkably unappetizing. Leaning forward, he whispered, “If they’re out of tacos, order the chicken salad.”

  Amara rolled her eyes. “Now you tell me.”

  * * *

  Amara pulled at the edge of her skirt and tried to work up the courage to open her car door. Or turn the ignition back on and head home. She wasn’t even sure why she’d decided to come to Eli’s mother’s art show. Sitting at home alone watching television hadn’t held much appeal, even though it was her standard Friday evening routine.

  So she’d come here... Eli had said Susan usually came, and the head nurse had told Amara she might stop by. It was just an art show, and she wanted to support Martha. That was all.

  Sucking in a deep breath, Amara counted to three and then forced herself to open the door. She’d driven all the way here, and Martha had been kind to her in the past. Amara could do this. />
  Besides, Eli would be busy with his mother and Lizzy. He wouldn’t have time to spend with her. She was just here to see the watercolors. The argument sounded so weak her heart laughed at her.

  “Amara?”

  Eli’s voice caught her off guard, and she gripped the side of the car to keep from tumbling over.

  “I didn’t mean to startle you,” Eli stated as he stepped closer. “I was just leaving and—”

  “Is the show over?” Amara interrupted. She’d thought the flyer said it went until nine, and she hadn’t been in her car that long.

  Eli smiled and shook his head. “No, it’s just getting going. But Mom isn’t feeling well. I came to let her instructor know she wouldn’t be able to make it.”

  “Oh.” What was she supposed to say? “Well...” Amara brain fumbled for something to say as she stared at Eli. He was dressed in dark gray pants and a light blue button-up that accented his dark eyes. He looked delectable and dangerous and like all the things she wanted.

  Why had she thought coming here was a good idea?

  “I didn’t get a chance to walk around, and I already hired a babysitter. Want to take a gander?” Eli’s eyes never left hers as he offered his arm. How was it fair for any man to look this good?

  She was already here. “Sure.” Her heart shuddered as she slipped her arm through his. This was a mistake; she knew it, but Amara suddenly didn’t care. It was one art show, one night, nothing more. “Make sure you point out which ones are your mom’s.”

  Eli opened the door to the community center. “Just try to stop me.”

  * * *

  If there had been a slow-motion camera on him when Eli saw Amara get out of her car, he knew it would have showed him picking his jaw up off the ground.

  He’d blinked a few times before he’d believed it was really her. The black skirt she wore hugged her hips perfectly, and the flowy pink top she had on made his mouth water. Amara’s dark hair was wrapped in an intricate bun, and Eli could barely keep his mind from wandering past the thoughts of what it might look like down, and remembering how it felt as he ran his fingers through it.

  “Isn’t this lovely?” Amara stared at the picture of a bowl of fruit sitting right in front of the door.

  “That’s the image many of the novice students worked from,” Eli whispered. “You’ll see it recreated a lot in here.” He had helped his mother hang her work last night and had already seen all the paintings currently on display. But if Amara was here, nothing was going to drag him away.

  “Oh.” Amara’s fingers brushed her lips. “So where are your mom’s paintings, then?”

  Amara had dropped her hold on Eli’s arm as soon as they stepped through the front door. His arm felt painfully bare without it.

  Gesturing toward the back, he guided her through the crowded facility. Eli was grateful for the small excuses to touch her. The moments were fleeting, but they were all he had.

  “This is Mom’s bowl of fruit.” Eli couldn’t stop himself from sounding proud. He knew his mother’s work was amateur, but she’d come so far over the last few years. “You can see that she uses light more, and her strokes are finer.”

  Amara smiled at him and shook her head. “Sorry, Eli. I have no idea what I’m looking at. I mean, I know it’s a bowl of fruit. A very nice bowl of fruit, and it looks so...” Amara’s eyes widened as she caught herself.

  She looked at the people passing them and leaned toward him. “Hers look better than the ones at the front, but I don’t see the brushstrokes.”

  Her lips were centimeters from his cheek, and he was thrilled she’d wanted to quietly mention how much better his mom’s paintings were. It was silly and kind and exactly the sort of thing Eli expected from Amara. The fact that it also meant she was so close to him was a delightful bonus.

  Closing the distance slightly, Eli whispered, “I’m happy to show you whatever you like.”

  Her smile sent a shiver of longing through him. Eli forced himself to turn toward the paintings before he gave in to the urge to kiss her. He’d promised her time, and Eli could be patient.

  He could.

  Eli’s throat felt dry, but he managed to outline what his mother had told him about the paintings. Somehow, forcing words past the desire clouding his mind.

  * * *

  It was lovely watching Eli gush over his mother’s paintings. They were good, not gallery quality, but his mother had skill. And Eli’s pride in her accomplishments sent such a wave of emotion through her that Amara didn’t think she’d stopped smiling since she got here. Thank goodness she’d gotten out of her car.

  “Thanks for staying with me, Eli.” Amara’s skin was hot despite stepping into the cool night air after the show. This hadn’t been a date, but she’d enjoyed spending time with him.

  “Thank you for coming. Mom will be so glad you made it.” His deep voice carried in the empty parking lot.

  Where had the time gone?

  “Tell Martha her paintings were beautiful.” Amara held her car door to keep from touching Eli, again. If she did, she’d kiss him. And he’d kiss her back. That knowledge made her grip the door even harder.

  “I will. She’ll be sorry to have missed you.” Eli’s gaze held hers, but he didn’t lean toward her.

  Her decision would be so much easier if he did. But Eli stood still, just staring at Amara. Making her want all the things she was trying to convince herself she didn’t need.

  “I should get going.” The words were breathless. Should she hug him? No, that would lead to kisses too. And Amara would lose the final bit of control she was clinging onto.

  Eli placed his hands in his pockets and tipped his head. “Good night, Amara.” The bubble of tension between them burst as he walked away.

  She ran her fingers along her unkissed lips as her body trembled with emotion. She’d made the right choice. She had... Kisses would lead to her wanting more, and Amara already wanted more than was good for her.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  “HERBAL TEA.” ELI smiled as he handed it over.

  The deep dimple in his cheek sent a thrill through Amara as she took the cup from his hand. His thumb brushed her pinky, and she couldn’t ignore the butterflies that floated through her belly. Eli had delivered a cup of herbal tea to her during her last three shifts.

  “Thanks.” Amara put the warm cup between her fingers.

  Do you wish I’d kissed you the other night? She bit back the question.

  He hadn’t asked her out again, and there weren’t any more art shows that she could crash anytime soon. That should make her happy, but it didn’t.

  He was different now, her heart argued. Eli took off shifts for art shows, went home on time. He video-called Lizzy at bedtime if the hospital wasn’t swamped. And Amara could fall for him again. If she let herself...

  She looked for him when she was on shift. The last two days, she’d even arrived a few minutes early just to be able to catch him in the staff lounge before their work started. If she wanted to protect her heart, Amara needed to stop.

  But Eli made her laugh. Something she hadn’t done much after her mother died. And even less since Joe left her. Eli made her happy, and that felt dangerous. The walls she’d put around her heart a decade ago had protected her when other men walked away. But were they strong enough to protect her from Eli?

  Nick, a radiology tech, rushed to the desk and laid a few images on the counter. “Can you see to the woman in room 10? Broken scaphoid.” Then he was gone.

  “Shall we go plaster a wrist?” Eli asked as she stood up and followed him into room 10 where an older woman was on her phone.

  “Gotta go, Marie. A hot doctor and a smoking nurse just walked in to patch my busted hand. Should be able to make it to hang gliding next week.”

  “No, you won’t.” Eli shook his head. “You broke your wrist, ma’a
m.”

  “I know that, young man.” The patient was wearing a jumpsuit and looked to be in good spirits as she winked at Amara. “Is he always this serious?”

  “No.” Amara bent her head, trying to keep the giggles at bay as she stepped beside the woman who had to be at least seventy. “How did you injure yourself?” Amara asked as she prepped the plaster for the cast.

  “Call me, Dot, please.” Their patient leaned on her uninjured hand as she studied Amara. “I broke it after skydiving.”

  “After?” Eli raised an eyebrow as he began to splint Dot’s wrist.

  “Yes, after.” Pushing a wisp of white hair behind her ear, Dot sighed. “I tripped over the step on the way to the car and tried to catch myself. Gone my whole life and never broken a bone. Seems like a shame to break the streak at seventy-five.” Dot glared at the offending wrist. “It’s not going to slow me down, though!”

  Amara saw Eli look at her, but she didn’t meet his gaze. If she looked at him, she was going to laugh. And Dot didn’t need any encouragement!

  “I’m sorry, but a broken wrist is going to slow you—at least a bit. You can’t hang glide with a cast.” Eli kept his tone firm, but Amara saw his lip twitch. He was impressed by Dot’s spirit too.

  “You sweet man, they strap you in with a partner. He’ll be doing all the work—as he should.” Dot’s eyes twinkled as she smiled at Amara.

  Eli didn’t comment on Dot’s joke, but Amara knew it took all his control. No doubt, he’d spend the rest of their shift regaling people with the story. “I’m impressed you’re so active.”

  “Because I’m old?” Dot laughed as crimson stained Eli’s cheeks. “No shame in admitting the truth. I spent the first sixty years of my life being careful. Do you know what it got me?” Her bottom lip quivered just a bit as she looked over Eli’s shoulder.

  “Nothing.” Her large green eyes met Amara’s. “It got me nothing. I never risked my heart or did anything that would result in broken bones. I hit retirement and realized I was alone with little to show for my sixty-plus years on this planet.” Dot sighed.