She wanted to hug him. “I didn’t mean to burst your bubble. It’s really a big honor.”
“I know. I’ve heard that every year he invites a handful of employees to share the evening with him. It’s sort of his way of giving a pat on the back to his best-performing department heads.” Pride made his smile bright, and Carey quickly realized how rarely he grinned. If only she could put a smile like that on his face again. She had, that one special night.
“That’s fantastic, Joe.” Without thinking, she touched his arm, immediately being reminded of and missing the feel of his strength. “You’re a hard worker and it’s good that Dr. Rothsberg has noticed.”
He covered his pride with a humble shrug. She wanted to throw her arms around him, but he’d made it very clear that he was never going to let her near again. Yet she’d had a wonderful afternoon and evening with his family and really liked every single one of them, feeling closer to him because of them, and a secret dream to be a part of his life rose up, refusing to get brushed aside again. Stupid, stupid girl.
*
Joe knew better than to push things any further than they already had, after spending the entire afternoon with Carey and his family. But he’d had a great day. Carey had fit right in with everyone, and they all clearly liked her. It made him wonder if he’d made the right decision to never let anything further happen between them. In so many ways she was right for him. It was all the stuff from before that kept both of them hung up. He hated to admit how scared he was, because it seemed so damn wussy, but he was. And Carey had wounds and scars of her own, yet she seemed more willing to move beyond them than he was. Being here with her made him feel confused again. Needing to keep his distance but not wanting to completely let go.
And here she was, in his old backyard, smiling at him. The Tiki torches lining the patio emphasized the red in her beautiful auburn hair and made her eyes look as green as the lawn. He couldn’t seem to stop himself from making another big mistake where Carey was concerned. Knowing he really shouldn’t open the door for more, James had told him to bring Carey along when he’d mentioned where he was and who he was spending the holiday with. And right now he couldn’t think of a single reason not to.
Letting the moment take control, Joe made a snap decision. “Will you come with me?”
*
At a quarter to nine Joe pulled into the designated employee parking lot at The Hollywood Hills Clinic, the huge, lighted building as alive with activity as ever. Hospitals never got to take days off, but Carey was grateful she had this one Monday before she started her new job.
He directed Carey to a mostly hidden employees-only elevator by putting his hand at the small of her back. His touch made her tense with longing. Stop it! Don’t get your hopes up.
Soon they were on the top floor, walking down a long, marble-tiled hallway. Joe opened huge French doors at the end and they stepped onto a balcony. She immediately heard music and loud talking coming from above. In the corner of the small balcony was a spiral staircase leading to the roof. Joe took her hand to show the way. Again, touching him like this set off a million unwanted feelings and emotions with which she wasn’t ready to deal. Fortunately, the spectacle of a group of highly gorgeous people on the roof quickly took her mind off that.
Wow! The panoramic view of the entire city of Los Angeles was spectacular from up there, too.
Dr. Rothsberg, the tall and handsome, blue-eyed blond, golden boy of medicine, immediately came to greet Joe. “Hey, great, you could make it.” He turned to Carey. “I’m so glad you could come, too.”
“Thanks for having me.” Carey tried to hide her fascination with the incredible specimen of a man but was worried her dazed stare may have given her away.
Dr. Rothsberg kept smiling as though he was used to people looking at him like that. “Make yourselves at home. There are drinks over there.” He glanced at Carey. “No alcohol for you, young lady.”
She laughed, perhaps a little too easily, wondering if all women acted this way around the guy, then figuring, Hell, yeah.
Joe led her to the bar and got her a root beer, already knowing her weakness for that particular soda, while he grabbed an icy IPA because it wasn’t everyday he got a chance to enjoy an imported Indian pale ale.
“See that lady over there?” Joe pointed out a beautiful woman with hair a similar color to Carey’s. She nodded. “Her name is Dr. Mila Brightman and she runs a clinic in South Central L.A. It’s called Bright Hope. She used to be engaged to James.” He’d lowered his voice and moved closer to her ear so she’d better hear him say the last part.
Carey’s eyes went wide. It was hard enough being around Joe after only spending one incredibly beautiful night with him, so what must it be like to be on the same rooftop as an ex-fiancé? “What happened?”
“I don’t like to spread gossip, but I heard from Stephanie the receptionist that he stood her up at the altar.”
Holy moly! Why would she come close to the man if that was true?
“She’s best friends with Freya, James’s sister,” Joe continued.
“Oh, I met Freya one day in the recruiter’s office. She’s our PR lady, right?”
Joe nodded.
“That should make for some heavy family tension. Wow.”
“You’ve got that right.”
He’d moved closer to bring Carey up to date without sharing the info with anyone else, and she’d moved in because of the music and talking, and now they huddled together, sipping their drinks and taking in the incredibly romantic skyline of L.A., and it suddenly overwhelmed her. They’d gotten too close. She couldn’t handle it.
“I’m going to get one of those delicious-looking cookies I saw over there.” She pointed to a dessert table in a secluded corner that promised to be both a delight and a nightmare for a woman monitoring her baby weight. “Can I bring you one?”
Joe shook his head, a look she couldn’t quite make out covering his face. Was he sorry she’d stepped away? Or was he shutting down again? After such a great day, she hoped not.
She crossed to the spread of goodies and wound up having a harder time than she’d thought, making a decision. There was so much to choose from!
On the walk over she’d noticed Dr. Rothsberg surreptitiously watching Mila, who was across the roof, talking to Freya. Then Mila wandered over to the dessert table and stood next to Carey, and though she gave a friendly enough greeting, the woman seemed totally preoccupied with the group where James stood. As Carey continued to decide which two goodies to choose—she’d increased her limit upon seeing all the choices—Dr. Rothsberg also headed for the table.
Not having anything to do with the couple but now knowing their history thanks to Joe via Stephanie, Carey got nervous for both of them as well as for herself. Yikes. What would happen when they faced each other? She kept her eyes down, studying the huge display of desserts, unable to make a choice or move her feet, willing herself to become invisible.
“Mila,” James said, all business, “I’m sure Freya has told you I’ll be coming to your clinic for a personal tour in early September.”
Carey had wound up being between the two of them but on the other side of the table, and didn’t dare move. They didn’t seem to notice her anyway, as their eyes had locked onto each other. She chanced a glance upward to see for herself. Yowza, she could feel the tension arcing between them, so she distracted herself by first choosing a huge lemon frosted sugar cookie.
“Yes, Freya mentioned it. So thoughtful of you to tear yourself away from your girlfriend to make the trip.”
Could the woman have sounded more sarcastic? But who could blame her? She’d been stood up on her wedding day. He was lucky she didn’t pull a dagger on him! Carey worked to keep her eyes from bugging out and began to slice a large piece of strawberry pie in half so as not to feel too guilty about gobbling it all down. It had whipped cream topping with fresh blueberries sprinkled over it, so it was definitely a patriotic pie. Really, she should
eat it. For the holiday’s sake.
James moved dangerously close to Mila, a woman who looked like she’d claw out his eyes if he got even an inch nearer, and yet he leaned down with total confidence, his mouth right next to her ear. “In case you’re interested, I’ve broken up with her.”
Carey couldn’t help looking up, but only moved her eyes so they wouldn’t see body movement, still praying she was invisible, but the couple didn’t seem to see her or care that she could hear their entire conversation. Mila was clearly flustered by his comment. She obviously hadn’t known he’d broken up with the other woman. Wow…oh, wow.
Practically impaling Mila with his piercing blue eyes, now that he’d noticed her surprised reaction, he went still. “In the future, why don’t you ask me personally how things are going in my life, instead of relying on the gossip pages as your source of information?” The sarcasm was sprinkled over every single word, yet Carey got the distinct impression that a pinch of hurt had been mixed in. She wanted to gasp over their hostile encounter but kept her mouth shut rather than draw attention to herself.
Then she accidentally dropped the knife. They both noticed. “Sorry,” she said as she grabbed the pie, put it on the plate with the cookie and rushed away, wondering why Freya hadn’t told Mila that James had broken up with his girlfriend, since they were best friends.
She arrived back where Joe stood, casually talking to another employee she’d seen around the clinic over the last couple of weeks. Frank, was it? They said hello and the man seemed friendly enough. Her hands shook as she took the first bite of the cookie. She glanced over her shoulder back to the dessert table but Mila and James had moved away to their respective groups. Even while trying to hide, she’d felt their sexual chemistry.
James may have stood Mila up, an unforgivable thing to do, but Carey could’ve sworn she’d glimpsed lingering love in his eyes. And though Mila had come off like a hurt and still angry woman toward him, Carey was pretty sure she’d seen relief on her face when James had told her he’d broken up with whoever that other woman was. Then again, Carey did have a huge imagination where love was concerned and may have seen what she’d wanted to see. She glanced at Joe, still chatting with Frank, remnants of her own lost before it ever started love driving home the point.
She promised to keep everything she’d just heard to herself. No way would she want that gossip Stephanie to get hold of this juicy information.
At exactly nine, as if some great force had waved a magic wand, fireworks started popping up all over the valley from the Hollywood Bowl, all the way out to Santa Monica beach. Someone shut off the outdoor lights as the magical display continued. Amazing and mesmerized, having never seen anything as spectacular in her life, Carey stood closer to Joe, and his arm soon circled her waist, and her arm wrapped around his. So natural. And right now there was no fighting her attraction to the man. The constant effort from living with him, plus spending all day long with him today, and especially now with a night filled with sparkles and shimmering colors dripping down the sky, had worn her down. She secretly savored his sturdy, steady build.
Carey gazed up at Joe, who beamed like a kid, nothing like that dutiful mock smile he’d given on the drive to his parents’ house earlier today. She offered a bite of the fabulous cookie and was surprised when he took it greedily. Knowing this moment would only complicate things further between them, she ignored caution and leaned into his strength. His fingers gripped her side the tiniest bit tighter and her own version of pyrotechnics exploded in her chest. Yes, this would definitely confuse things. Their eyes locked for an instant. Along with seeing the reflection of fireworks in his darkened gaze, she was pretty sure she saw some regret.
Oh, who was she kidding? She’d just read her own feelings into those wonderful brown eyes, just like she’d done with Mila and James. She really needed to stop projecting her thoughts and feelings onto everyone else. It would never get her anywhere, just make her feel disappointed. Because no matter how much she might want a second chance with Joe, it didn’t matter. He wasn’t open to it. But why did he keep glancing at her during the fireworks show? And now his fingertips lightly stroked her side. Funny how holidays could do that to people.
She went back to watching the dazzling and dizzying display of colors across the night sky and became aware of a strange sensation inside her. Had she eaten too much sugar? Or were the gunshot-like sounds of the rainbow-colored rockets popping and crackling through the night causing the reaction?
The feeling was very subtle, yet she couldn’t deny it. This had to be quickening. She’d learned in her class with Gabriella that primigravida mothers often didn’t realize it the first time their babies moved. Who knew? Maybe it had happened before and she’d missed it. But not this time! Oh. My. God. Her baby was alive and moving. Inside. Her.
“Joe.” She nearly had to yell for him to hear her.
Grinning from the bright chaos playing out before them, he glanced down at her. When she knew she had his full attention, she was so excited she could hardly get out the words. “I just felt the baby move for the first time.” Her throat tightened with emotion as she admitted it, and the unrelenting firework display went blurry in the background.
His eyes widened and his childlike grin from the fireworks turned to an amazed smile, as if she’d just told him “their” baby had moved. There she went, projecting again. But, in her defense, they had just gone over the information at the last prenatal class. Joe had been there with her, like he’d promised.
He grabbed her full on, pulling her close, then squeezed. “That must feel amazing.”
Thankful for his goodness, and her good fortune of feeling her baby move for the first time on the Fourth of July, the blurriness turned to tears. “It did. Oh, my God. How strange and wonderful.” She sucked in a breath, feeling like she was floating on air, then pulled away from his shoulder.
His eyes had gone glassy and the dazzling lights sparkled off them as he turned serious. She could have sworn she’d seen a flash of pain, but he quickly covered it up. He shook his head as if amazed and unafraid to show it. Just like the day in the clinic when she’d come to and nearly the first thing she’d asked had been if her baby was all right, and the nurse had assured her it was. She’d cried with joy. So had Joe. The stranger who’d saved her.
He was anything but a stranger tonight. He was the greatest guy she’d ever met.
She hugged him again and promised herself she’d remember the priceless expression on Joe’s face for the rest of her life. Then she cried once more as a pang of longing for what she could never have set in deep and wide.
CHAPTER EIGHT
THEY DROVE HOME from the party in silence, still riding the high from the fireworks. Joe kept his confusion to himself. He’d held her in his arms again, and the longing had dug so deep he’d been unable to completely hide it. He was pretty sure she’d noticed his reaction, too. He couldn’t continue with Carey like this. She didn’t belong to him, her baby wasn’t his. She deserved some guy who could love her and give her more children. Not him.
Yet she’d fit in so well with his family, and it had been clear they’d all liked her. It’d made him wonder about possibilities, and he thought he’d given up on those ages ago. Could he actually get over being cheated on by his wife and best friend, or the fact he was sterile? Was he ready, maybe, to finally move on? In his usual rut, the answer came glaring back. No.
Holding her, watching the fireworks together had been a huge mistake. Hell, ever letting her into his life had been a mistake. He’d been the one to point out how much they both had going on personally, and how important it was not to confuse things between them any further. Yet he hadn’t had the heart to uninvite her for the Fourth of July celebration with his family. He’d resorted to using the lame excuse of protocol as the reason. Yeah, he was a guy of his word. Besides, his mother wouldn’t have let him, and if he hadn’t brought Carey, Mom would have spent the entire afternoon badgering him.
If he insisted on continuing to look after her, his job from now on would be making sure she became independent of him. Not to get swept away and continue to confuse and complicate things by grabbing her under the fireworks and holding her like she belonged to him. What the hell had he been thinking? From now on he had to act logically and realistically. It was his only defense for survival. And he really needed to stay out of her way.
Getting her the car from his father’s lot had been a start. She could have it as long as she needed it. Now that he knew she’d be working from seven a.m. to three p.m. at the clinic, he’d go in tomorrow and change his schedule to work the evening shift.
The less time he spent near Carey, the better. The alternative was too damn painful.
“Thanks for everything,” Carey said once they’d gotten home. She lingered in the living room, a dreamy smile clinging to her face.
He’d been so wrapped up in his thoughts he’d almost forgotten she was there. “Oh. Sure. You’re welcome. It was fun.” He shoved his hands in his back pockets and kept his distance.
“The best fireworks I’ve ever seen.”
His attempted smile came nowhere near his eyes. “Me too.” Empty words. He may as well be talking to a stranger, and she obviously felt his detachment because her expression turned businesslike.
“Well, I’d better get right to bed since tomorrow is my first day on the new job.”
He tried a little harder to be part of the human race. “I’m glad you had a good time.”
Her eyes brightened. “I loved your family.”
That’s what he’d been afraid of. “I could tell they really liked you, too.” It didn’t matter, he needed to step back and let her move on. Without him. “Oh, and good luck tomorrow.”
His Pregnant Sleeping Beauty (The Hollywood Hills Clinic) Page 12
