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“I see that,” I said, practically out of breath. I spun around, unable to continue looking at him. “Why, is the better question,” I managed to say. It was then I remembered I wasn’t looking all that hot in yoga pants and an oversized T-shirt. You couldn’t tell I had finally lost the freshman fifteen. That’s what rotations and a residency will do to you. Some days there was hardly time to eat, plus I had taken up swimming as a stress reliever. Sure, Kane had seen my trimmer body during the holidays, not that he’d noticed, or that I wanted him to. But . . . since he was here, it wouldn’t have hurt to be wearing something more form fitting.
“I thought it would be nice, since you were coming home. You’re early, by the way. Augustus said six.”
I was thoroughly confused. “Um . . . Auggie invited you over to bake cookies in a towel?”
Kane’s deep laugh rumbled through the large kitchen. “Didn’t he tell you? I’m living here while my house is being renovated.”
I held on to the wall for support and closed my eyes. What! “He failed to mention that.”
“Scarlett,” he crooned. The way he said my name went through me like a bolt of lightning. “Why won’t you face me?”
Wasn’t that obvious? “You’re naked.”
He chuckled. “Not quite,” he drawled. “Besides, darlin’, I’m not showing off anything that you haven’t already seen.”
Please, don’t remind me. Nights in the pool with him flashed through my brain like a steamy movie montage. I was going to have to fan myself momentarily.
“Dr. Armstrong, don’t tell me you’ve gone shy again,” he teased.
I still wasn’t used to people calling me Dr. Armstrong, even though for the last few years I’d practically heard it on a daily basis. “I’m not shy.” Okay, I still kind of was, but he didn’t need to know that. “However, I don’t think it’s proper for me . . . I mean, for us, to . . . well, never mind. Where’s my father?” I was going to have some serious words with him. Had I known Kane was staying here, I would have stayed with Naomi. And why was Kane staying here? His mother still lived in town, and he had a girlfriend.
“He’s at the office.”
I wasn’t surprised, even though it was Sunday.
“He should be back for dinner, though. Like I said, you’re early.”
“Great. I’m going to go call him.” I started to walk toward the door that led to my old room, hoping there weren’t any more naked ex-boyfriends up there.
“Wait,” Kane said abruptly.
I kept my back turned to him, refusing to behold his beautiful body.
“How’s Ethan?” he asked out of the blue.
I clenched my fists. “Don’t pretend that you don’t know we split up.” I would have been sending out wedding invitations right about now. “How’s Katrina?” Katrina and Kane, unfortunately, had a ring to it.
“We broke up.”
Why did that make me happy? “Tragic. You have my condolences.” The sarcasm oozed out of me.
“We were never serious. I knew she wasn’t the right woman for me.”
“Better luck next time,” I quipped, ready to leave his presence. I almost felt sorry for Katrina. I knew what it was like to not be the right woman. It was devastating.
“Thank you, Scarlett. Believe me, I’m going to need it.”
What did that mean? I guess he already had the next supermodel lined up. “Um, all right. I’m going to go to my room.” I pointed in the direction of the stairs.
“Dinner will be done in forty-five minutes. Feel free to push any of my toiletries out of the way in the bathroom.”
“What bathroom?”
“Which bathroom do you think? The adjoining one between our rooms.”
I grabbed my chest. “You’re staying in the room next to m . . . mine?” I stuttered.
“I thought it would be more fun that way.” I could hear the smile in his voice.
Fun wasn’t the word I was thinking.
To Stay or to Go
“Naomi,” I whispered. “Can I please come stay with you?” I decided to call her instead of my father as I stared at all of Kane’s toiletries on my bathroom counter. I would almost think this was a practical joke, but I peeked into the room that connected to the Jack-and-Jill bathroom, and it looked well lived in. There was even a king-size bed in there now and a huge flat screen, not to mention his clothes strewn all over. I didn’t remember him being such a slob. It was almost as if he were a nervous teen girl trying on every outfit he owned before a date. Maybe he had a date tonight. The thought made me feel jealous and ill, which was ridiculous.
“Why are you whispering, honey? Is something wrong?”
I picked up the bottle of Kane’s intoxicating cologne that smelled like spicy ginger cookies. “Yes, something is very wrong.”
