“That’s a bunch of things that might go wrong, but the stroke sounds the scariest.” Sam chewed her lip and made a mental checklist of all these warning signs of impending issues.
“But, Ethan recommended,” Jo continued, “that Nana might do best in a rehab facility for a few weeks until she’s back up to full strength, especially since you work all day.”
Sam rounded a bend in the road right as a car attempted to pass from the opposing traffic. She ducked onto the shoulder of the road as the passing car dove back into its own lane. She groaned.
“What’s the matter?”
“Some dude almost ran me off the road, but I’m fine.”
“It’s crazy out here. Even the freeway is bumper-to-bumper race day nuts all the time.”
Sam collected her wits as she made the final few turns to the grocery store.
“I’ve got to run in for some groceries, but I’ll keep you posted with any updates on Nana.”
“Sounds good. Love ya.”
“Me, too. I’m so glad you could take a few days off of work.”
“Anything for family, you know that,” Jo said.
“You’re the reliable one.”
“Don’t I know it! But you’re the sweetest of all of us.”
“Ha, I wish,” Sam said. “Anna’s twenty times nicer than me.”
“She’s perky and outgoing, but you’ve got the soft heart. We can all come to you to cry on your shoulder.”
“Aaaw. I love you, too.” Sam glowed with the compliment.
“That’s enough sap and lovey-dovey stuff from me. You go get your errands done.”
“I will.”
“Oh, and don’t go falling for the tempting doctor.” Jo’s voice held a teasing note.
“What? I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Sam prayed she sounded innocent of any naughty fantasizing.
“You mooned after him the whole time we were growing up. I know you, baby sister. You’re crushing on him.”
“Much you know.”
“Be careful.”
Sam stuck her tongue out, but added in honey sweet tone, “There’s nothing to worry about. That’s such yesterday’s news.”
She disconnected with an airy laugh, but a flutter in her belly told a different tale.
CHAPTER SIX
NINETY MINUTES LATER, Sam popped the pans into the oven and set the timer. Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. Ooey, gooey goodness.
As the rich scents of cocoa and sugar filled the air, Sam graded papers at the kitchen table and hummed along with the radio.
She couldn’t help but peek through the curtains every fifteen minutes to see if Ethan was home yet. The housekeeper left at six. The pizza delivery gal showed up thirty minutes later. Finally, a few minutes after seven, Ethan arrived.
The minutes ticked by. One moment, she’d start to rise to grab the cake to carry over, and then the next, she planted her tush firmly on the couch. She shouldn’t be pushy. He’d barely gotten home. The poor man needed a chance to rest.
A car started. She flew to the window to see Mateo slide into the passenger seat, and the pair drove off.
This was ridiculous. It was a stupid cake, and she was only trying to be nice and show him that she was appreciative. She let out an exasperated sigh, grabbed her soft-sided briefcase, and buried her nose in the lesson preps for the rest of the week.
The clock on the mantle chimed the bottom of the nine o’clock hour. Sam rubbed her neck and tucked her notes away. Crummers. Since the garbage truck swung by tomorrow, she’d better collect the sacks and tote it out. Nana normally gathered all the inside bags, and she lugged out the cans to the curb, but now she’d do all of it.
A blast of chilly air hit her as the garage door rolled up. She contemplated slipping on a coat, but figured she could dash to the curb and back without freezing to death.
She tugged on the giant plastic bin on wheels and trundled down the blacktop to the street. She stared at the empty driveway next door. She hadn’t heard Ethan and Mateo return, but they might be back. Ethan did usually park in the garage.
As if she’d conjured it, the creak and grind of a garage door opener sounded. Ethan emerged pulling the recycle barrel and the waste barrels at the same time.
“Hey, neighbor.”
“Don’t you have a teenager to do that for you? I thought all parents saved garbage duties for the kids.”
“Not to rat him out, but he’s still reading the book for your class tomorrow.”
Sam laughed. “Will he finish in time?”
“I expect so. He’s only got another fifty pages or so.”
“Good for him. I bet half of the class won’t even be a third of the way through it. Can you keep a secret?”
“Probably.”
“The pop quiz will be a nasty surprise.”
“You English teachers are pure evil.”
“Naturally. I spend all my time magicking up ways to torture my students.”
“I knew it.”
They smiled as they snugged the cans next to the curb.
“I have a little something sweet for you and Mateo. I baked it up fresh this afternoon.”
“You didn’t have to go to any trouble.”
“You saved Nana’s life. The least I can do is bake you a cake.”
“It’s simply my job.” The corner of Ethan’s eyes crinkled as he smiled. “But, I won’t turn down homemade cake.”
“Who would? It’s a triple chocolate decadence cake.” She batted her eyelashes with a playful toss of her chin. “It even has dark chocolate chunks in the cake.”
“I’m drooling already.” Ethan stepped closer, and Sam’s heartbeat amped up by about ten percent. “Why don’t you bring it over. We can have some now before Mat goes to bed.” Ethan threw a glance back at his house right as an upstairs light flicked out. “Or not. I think Mat gave up and went to bed.”
“That’s all right. Come on over, and you can take it home.”
“You’ll have to join us tomorrow for a slice.”
“I can do that.”
As they made their way to Nana’s kitchen, Sam vibrated with pent-up energy. She stole a look at his profile, and heat spread through her core. She prayed the lining in her bra would conceal her suddenly pert tips.
As she washed her hands at the sink, she invited Ethan to sit at the low table at the far end of the galley-style kitchen. Copper sidled up to Ethan and demanded his share of head and ear scratches.
“Are you sure you don’t want a piece right now?”
“You’re tempting me, Miss Barrett.”
“That’s me, a siren with a slice of decadent heaven.” The cake knife trembled in her hand.
“I’m in.” Ethan rubbed his flat abs. “I’m going for a long run tomorrow, so carb loading is a good thing.”
“It’s a must. I’m glad I could help.”
With a quick pat on Copper’s head, she handed the canine a chewy treat, and he settled under the kitchen table. She poured generous glasses of milk and pushed a thick chunk of chocolate goodness in front of Ethan. They dug in.
Ethan groaned and rolled his eyes.
“I take that as a compliment.”
“I don’t know how you knew that this is my favorite. I’m not a big dessert fan, but this is just what this doctor ordered.”
“You’re welcome.” Sam nibbled at the frosting and chased away the sudden dryness in her throat with a swig of milk. She had unfinished business with Ethan. “You know I actually owe you two thank-yous.”
“Two?”
“Of course, one for Nana.”
“And the other?”
“For when you rescued me from those guys. After the bonfire, right before I started my senior year. When you were here for your mother’s funeral.” Sam held Ethan’s gaze and studied the play of emotions across his face. A glint of heat quickly morphed into old sadness. It sucked losing a mother to breast cancer. She knew it all too well.
“
That was a long time ago,” Ethan said. “It was nothing.”
“It may not have seemed like a big deal for you, but it made all the difference to me.” Sam rose and gathered the dirty dishes.
“I did what any good guy would have.”
“That may be, but it was you who helped.”
“You’re my best friend’s baby sister. Of course, I was going to step in and chase off those idiots.” Ethan stood and moved to lean against the counter near the back door.
Sam blinked and glanced down at her shoes. Indeed. That was the heart of the problem. Ethan still saw her as Austin’s little sister. And she still saw him as her heroic savior. Her brother’s best friend. Superstud. Extra brilliant. Surgeon. Sexy as hell. Dang it. How could she still be crushing on him all these years later?
“You made a huge difference.”
“I didn’t do much.”
“I got myself into a fix with those guys, and if you hadn’t intervened, I’m afraid something terrible would have happened. Thank you.” Sam hugged her arms around her core.
One blink and the memories shot back at her. The acrid wood smoke from the burning pallets on the bonfire still smoldering. The grating scratch of the cord around her neck as one teen yanked her to his chest by her necklace. The sour taste of fear scalding her lips. A hot hand clutching at her breast, grabbing between her legs. A stench of fetid whiskey filling her nostrils. A blazing red shirt.
After one last bonfire the weekend before school began, her so-called friends had pulled a prank and driven off, leaving her at the back lot line between the MacLean farm and the Cordero’s fifty-acre spread. No one had known that a pair of guys from another high school lurked nearby. A blond with a bloodred t-shirt and a brown-haired man with a ponytail. They seemed her age. They’d grasped at her. Pushed her from one to the other. Until Ethan arrived.
He’d horse-collared Red Shirt and cold-cocked ponytail as she’d been thrown to the dusty, hard-packed earth. She’d scrambled to her feet, rubbing grit from her mouth, as Red Shirt swung a flaming board past Ethan’s stomach. Ethan stumbled back and then charged forward. He kicked the torch out of Red Shirt’s hand and then flew at him in a full body tackle. They landed. Rolled once. Ethan slammed his fist into Red Shirt’s nose. He’d howled, cursed, and begged for Ethan to let him go.
He’d limped off with the now semi-alert ponytail man. With a small cry, Sam had hurtled into Ethan’s arm. Ethan cradled her close while she sobbed. Her senses remembered that he’d kissed her hair and stroked her back, but it blurred in her memory. He’d helped her back to his four-wheeler that was parked a hundred yards from the bonfire, and they’d ridden back to the cabin.
Ethan worked to persuade her to let his father tend her wounds and go to the police, but Sam wouldn’t have any part of that. If word got out, her father would go ballistic. Teddy Barrett was a hothead. She’d never be allowed out of the house again, and he wouldn’t stop hunting those boys until they lay dead at his feet. No. Silence had been the only possible thing.
“It was a long time ago,” Ethan said as he tapped an index finger on the table.
“Not so long that I’ve forgotten that I owe you many thanks.”
“I hope it’s only a dim, bad memory for you.”
She shivered as she studied Ethan across the table from her. He now had creases at the corners of his eyes, and his gaze was even steelier than it had been those nine years earlier. His shoulders were broader, more able to bear the burdens of life. He’d been through a lot if she’d heard the rumors right. Now that she thought of it, Ethan had been a married man when he’d saved her from the assault.
Jo was right. She’d been idolizing him even before when he and Austin had been high school football and baseball studs. Strutting around town like they owned the world. Ethan had saved her cat from a rampaging dachshund who’d chased the feline into a storm drain. He’d brought her treats from the ice cream truck in the summers. Okay. He’d bought them for both her and Kyle that summer that her mother had died. Ethan was a good guy.
And he was so not interested in her that way. She tried to remember a time where she hadn’t been secretly, totally in lust with him.
“What else was I going to do for Austin’s sister?” Ethan’s tone was matter-of-fact.
So much for hero worship. He’d have saved any damsel in distress. She was nothing special to him. She lifted her head and met his gaze. “You would have saved any woman from being assaulted.”
“I guess.”
“Of course you would. Look at what you do for a living. You save people every day.”
“Not every day.”
Sam waved her hand dismissively at him. “You know what I mean. You’re rescuing and saving patients every day. And you just call it another day at work. I think you’re a hero.”
She studied his profile, from his straight nose to the luscious, full lower lip. Every inch of him screamed stern, unyielding. Her heart pounded. It was time to let go of her silly school-girl fantasies. Ethan was never going to be hers. She scooted closer, clasped his hand into her palm, and stood on tippy-toe to plant a kiss on his cheek. Just a quick kiss good-bye.
Ethan turned in surprise. She missed the stubbly contour of his cheek and found his mouth. His lips tightened but then melted. His fingers gripped hers. Her lips parted as he leaned closer. She trembled as heat spiraled down to the pit of her belly and shimmered through her limbs in a cascade of fiery electricity.
She wrapped the tips of her fingers through the fabric of his shirt. Ethan slipped a hand behind her head and pulled her closer. His hip grazed her in a shower of sparks. The tips of her breasts puckered to tight peaks. She itched to twine a leg around his.
His fingers traced a line along the side of her neck. With a faint moan, she deepened the kiss.
Ethan relaxed his hold and opened his eyes. She searched for his reaction. For an instant, she detected a hunger and a flaring passion, but then, his expression clouded.
He eased away. “That wasn’t a good idea.”
“No? I rather liked it.” Her voice sounded dreamy, even to her own ears. She was clearly in la-la land.
“I’m not saying that I disliked it, but we can’t do it again.”
Sam pulled back. Mortification sprouted out of every pore of her skin. She’d thrown herself at him, and it was rejection time. But, he’d said he liked it.
“I’m completely confused, but I’ll take the hint.” She stepped toward the door, ready to show him the exit. “Enjoy the cake.”
“Wait. Let me explain.”
“I get it. I’m not your type.”
Ethan grabbed her hand. “Don’t be that way. I don’t want to hurt your feelings.”
“Not at all.” By which of course, she meant, I’m dying of shame, but don’t worry about it. Sam stepped back. “I only tried to kiss your cheek as a quick thanks. The rest was an accident.”
“It was a lovely accident.” Ethan’s voice hinted at regret. “I kissed you back, but you need to know that I’m not doing the relationship thing.”
“It was only a kiss.”
“I’m being upfront. It won’t happen again.”
“I understand. At least I think I do. Are you still grieving for your wife?” Sam flushed. She was being ridiculously pushy. “I’m sorry. Don’t answer that. It’s none of my business.”
“It’s okay. Felicia and I were waiting for the judge to sign the divorce decree when she died. We’d fallen out of love many years ago, but I won’t kid you, it was a disaster.”
Sam digested the information. “I think most all divorces are gut-wrenching.”
“Mateo and I moved here to get away from all the distractions of Los Angeles and my nonstop work schedule.”
“Time to come home to safety and security.” Sam understood. When all else seemed out of control, it was time to hunker down and go home. Back to a simpler life.
Ethan nodded. “All I can do is pour every last ounce of my love and attention into Ma
teo. He deserves my best.”
All her anger and embarrassment dissolved. She couldn’t be angry or hurt. Her heart melted. He loved his son and would do anything for him. Drat it. She liked him even more now.
“Go home,” Sam said. “Take the cake for you and Mateo. We’ll just forget that little indiscretion.”
“It never happened.”
“I don’t recall.” Sam laughed, and she hoped Ethan didn’t hear the disappointment that pecked at her heart.
Ethan scooped up the cake carrier, dipped his head, and strolled down the front steps. Sam peeked through the six panes of glass at the top of the wooden door as he followed the stone walkway to the sidewalk and then proceeded left back to his house.
She leaned against the wood-paneled door as a cool draft wafted across her ankles from the leaky seals. That was that. A whole relationship rolled into a single kiss. One and done. It was over before it even got started.
CHAPTER SEVEN
ETHAN CLOSED HIS laptop and tucked the stack of paid bills into a file folder. Nothing like a lively Saturday afternoon.
He automatically listened for sounds of Mateo in the house, but silence greeted him. Mateo and Pipo were having a sleepover at the ranch. Doubtless, Mateo was riding a tractor and learning to run the log splitter.
He should have gone with Mateo rather than sit around the house all day. Ethan pushed off the chair and aimed toward the kitchen and a cold beer. He’d finished a ten-mile run, so he could imbibe guilt free.
From the comfort of the kitchen, he contemplated his options for entertainment. He could alphabetize the spice rack. He could binge watch a season of something from Starz or Netflix. Or he could schlep on down to a bar. All by himself? That didn’t sound appealing.
He wondered what Sam was up to. He’d caught glimpses of her as she’d been in and out of the house with errands and shopping all day long. At least based on the assortment of bags that she’d been toting in and out.
Wrong. He needed to avoid that Barrett. Maybe he should call Dillon. That would be safe.
Tempting Doctor Forever (Barrett Ridge Book 2) Page 4
