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She smiles as I brush her hair out of her eyes. “You promise?”
“Yes,” I say, hoping Duke will keep his word. I press a kiss on her forehead, and she closes her eyes. “Goodnight, baby. Sweet dreams.”
“Night-night, Mommy,” she yawns.
Nerves bubble up inside my chest when I see Duke sprawled out on the couch in the living room. He’s watching sports highlights on ESPN with the sound so low I can barely hear the announcer. I slip past him and head into the kitchen. I keep a cold case of beer in the fridge for when Ted shows up to see Max.
Duke startles when I plop down on the couch next to him. But when our eyes meet, and I hand him a beer, a smile stretches across his lips.
“I had fun tonight,” he says, clinking his bottle against mine.
“Me, too. You made Max’s year. All of the signed stuff, and the game, and just you being here… It means a lot to me. To both of us. Thank you.”
He moves his beer into his left hand, taking a sip as he slides his right arm behind me on the couch. I suck in a deep breath, too aware of our closeness. His mouth is inches from mine. Duke’s lips part and I get the urge to reach out and touch them. I want to feel every inch of him. It’s been far too long since I’ve been with a man. Why do I want the one man I’m not allowed to have?
Duke inches closer, testing the waters to see if I’ll make him stop. I don’t want
him to. Every nerve ending in my body is on fire, ready to explode if he doesn’t kiss me. I want this. No, I need this.
His lips lightly brush against mine. A groan rips from his mouth as if he’s in physical pain. My heart slams into my chest, beating so fast it feels like it’s about to escape. Duke is waiting for me to say yes, for me to give in to my every desire. He needs my approval. Because of our relationship, he’s grown to respect me.
So, I make a move and kiss him.
When our tongues collide, sparks shoot down my arms. My body feels like it’s on fire, suddenly awakened by the deep need inside me. I’ve put my own needs aside for a long time. And tonight, I need this. I need to feel close to someone. I get lost in Duke and his hands that roam over my arms. He’s careful not to take things too far. I can sense his hesitation. He doesn’t want to ruin this by assuming we can have more.
Reality finally sets in. What kind of doctor makes out with their patient? I peel my lips from Duke’s, out of breath, and unable to meet his gaze. What am I doing? I could lose my license for my lapse in judgment. There’s something about Duke, something I can’t resist. It’s not just his sex appeal. He has that in spades. It’s what’s hidden beneath the surface that interests me most. The more layers I peel back, the more I want to know the real Duke Baldwin.
Duke rubs the pad of his thumb along my cheek. “Something wrong?”
“You’re my patient, Duke.”
“Not for much longer.”
“I don’t know what I was thinking.”
His face hardens. “C’mon, Lila. No one will ever know.”
“This isn’t right.” I look down at my hands and sigh. “And now, Max is involved. Our doctor-patient relationship is far from complicated.”
“Then, let me uncomplicate it,” he says. “I like you, Lila. I like hanging out with you and Max.”
“I have to be even more careful because of Max. If this ends badly, we’ll both get hurt. Ted has already caused both of us enough pain.”
“You asked me why I don’t date,” he says. “But with you, it’s different.”
“Duke, I’m your doctor. It’s not uncommon for patients to develop a strong bond with their therapist.”
“You’re helping me,” he admits. “I’m not angry when I’m with you.”
“And when you’re around other people?”
He shrugs. “Depends on the day.”
“I can’t be your cure, Duke.”
“I can’t lose you,” he whispers. “That much, I do know.”
“It’s getting late,” I say. “We should talk about this at your next appointment.”
