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CHAPTER FOUR
SEAN HADN’T BEEN planning to get out of the car. He’d had every intention of dropping Cynthia off and heading for his office as soon as possible. But for some reason he didn’t want to leave her company yet. Wanted to know more about her.
He checked his watch. There was time. Staying here and having dessert with Cynthia was much more appealing than wading through paperwork but it wasn’t like him to take time away from a project. He shook his head. He couldn’t believe he was even considering it. Grinning, he said, “Sure. I’m always up for cake and ice cream.”
Before he could get out and close the door Cynthia was on her way up the walk. “I want to make sure you can get into the house. The boys aren’t always good about tidying up.”
A short time later he joined her in the living room. There was nothing special about the area. The chairs, sofa and TV were what he expected, yet there was an air of being lived in that he’d not experienced in a room since he’d left home. A family lived here. Why had he thought of his own family now?
“Come back this way to the kitchen.” Cynthia headed down a small hallway into a yellow room with the lights already on. On the wooden table sitting in a bay window was a cake box and a couple of plastic grocery bags.
“Hey, Cyn, that you?” a voice called from somewhere in the house.
“Yeah,” she said over her shoulder.
Seconds later Rick came to stand in the doorway. Nodding to him, Rick said to Cynthia, “How’s Ann Marie?”
“She should be fine. Her parents showed up and we left.” Cynthia looked into the cake box.
“They’re a piece of work, aren’t they?” Rick stepped further into the room.
“They’re just concerned about their daughter.” Cynthia opened the bags and searched inside.
Sean twisted up his mouth. She was being generous toward them in his opinion. He’d seen people upset in his profession but those two had lashed out undeservingly at Cynthia.
She turned to Rick. “I’m sorry I had to miss part of the party.”
“I understand. It was still a great one. Best I’ve had since Mom and Dad died.”
Cynthia gave him a smile that Sean couldn’t quite put a name to. One that contained both happiness and grief. Maybe the money she’d spent hadn’t been so wasteful. It had certainly made her brother happy.
That was an odd thought for him. He’d spent most of his adult life being thrifty and practical about money. Before today you could have never persuaded him that playing paintball was a good use of hard-earned money.
“I’m glad. I wanted it to be a good one. I think we owe Sean some cake and ice cream for helping us out.” Cynthia looked back at the cake.
Rick nodded. “Yeah, sure. Thanks, Sean.”
“You’re welcome, Rick. Again, happy birthday.”
“You want to join us?” Cynthia asked her brother.
“Naw,” he said. “I’ll wait to have some with Mark when he gets home. He called to say he had to work overtime. He said I’m really going to like his birthday gift. I’m going to call and see if Ann Marie is home yet.” The boy disappeared down the hall.
Sean chuckled. “I think he might be interested in more than her ankle.”
Cynthia grinned. “I believe you might be right.”
She had a nice smile. One that when directed at him he liked too much. Thoughts of their almost-kiss surfaced. Would her mouth be as warm and inviting as it looked?
“How about that ice cream and cake?” Cynthia pulled a paper plate with balloons on it out of one of the bags.
“Sure. But I can’t stay long. I still have work to do.”
“My guess is that you don’t take time off much.” Cynthia served him a large piece of cake.
“I have a busy medical practice. It requires my attention.” He took the plate she handed him and sat on a chair at the table.
She cut a much smaller piece and placed it in front of the empty chair next to him. “I know that but having down time, fun, is important too.”
“I have fun.” Sean watched as she went to the freezer and pulled out a round tub of ice cream.
“Doing what? You’ve never played paintball until today.” She opened a cabinet drawer, took out a large spoon and two smaller ones, then closed it.
“A lot of people have never played paintball.” Sean failed to understand how that equated to not ever having fun. He’d not played those types of things as a kid because there hadn’t been money to do them with. When he’d got older he’d had to go to work. Then there had been medical school. Games weren’t something he’d had time for or extra money to waste on.
“That’s true. So, what do you like to do for fun?”
Sean was ashamed to admit he had to really think long and too hard for an answer. He didn’t have a hobby. His job was his life. It was what would provide him security. Fun wasn’t even on his list of needs. “I like to fix noses.”
She scoffed. “That’s your job. What do you do outside of being a doctor?”
“I like to read.”
“Okay, that can be fun. Anything else?” Cynthia looked at him expectantly. As if his having fun was of super importance to her.
“I own a bike.” Which he hadn’t ridden in weeks.
Her face lit up. “I’m impressed. Riding around here with the mountains and all must be a real workout.”
He took another bite of cake. The few times he’d taken the time to ride he had found it invigorating. “It can be. I like to bike in Mountain Brook. It’s a nice area.”
Cynthia looked dreamy-eyed. “Yeah, I bet it is. I’ve always thought it would be the perfect place to live.”
“It is pretty. My house is in the village.” He spent little time there so he hadn’t given his surroundings much thought. When he’d moved to town, one of the other doctors had told him that he should consider living in the area so he had.
“Really? Nice.”
Apparently he’d impressed her. He certainly hadn’t with the amount of fun he had. What was her deal with fun anyway? “See, I live in Mountain Brook and ride a bike so I can have fun.”
“I didn’t mean to imply that you couldn’t.”
He gave her his best hurt look. “I think that’s exactly what you intended to do.”
“I did not!” Cynthia looked indignant.
“You were making fun of me for not having fun.” He laughed when she stuck out her tongue at him. “That’s the best you have for a comeback? Second-grade gestures? I’ll always win our arguments if you can’t do any better than that.”
* * *
Cynthia loved his full-bodied laugh almost as much as she did listening to him speak. The man could be charming and frustrating. But she had to admit she was enjoying their conversation immensely. What would it be like to have him at her kitchen table like this all the time? She shouldn’t think that way. It wasn’t going to happen.
Digging the spoon into the ice cream, she scooped a large amount and placed it on his plate.
“You’re being very free with that,” Sean said, observing his plate.
“I don’t know any male who doesn’t like his ice cream. It was my father’s favorite. Said you could never have too much.”
“Well, he might have been right about that but it’s easy to get fat on.” Sean picked up a smaller spoon she’d laid nearby.
Cynthia took a moment to let her look roam over his trim, muscular physique. “Oh, I think you’ll be all right.”
“Why, Ms. Marcum, I think you just checked me out.” He gave her a teasing grin.
“Dr. Donavon, don’t let it go to your head.” His eyes widened at her remark and a slow wolfish grin formed on his lips.
Only then did she comprehend the double meaning. With a gulp, she realiz
ed what she’d said. Heat rushed to her cheeks. She snatched the top of the ice cream off the table, replaced it and headed for the refrigerator.
“You don’t want any ice cream?” he asked with a soft chuckle.
