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It was actually quite a bit of information in a brief summary, but it wasn’t nearly all he wanted to know about her. Dozens of questions swirled through
his mind, with one taking priority. “Have you applied for a fellowship here in Dallas? There’s an excellent child psych program here, from what I’ve heard.”
“Yes, I applied last month. I combined interviews with fittings for my bridesmaid’s dress,” she added with a laugh.
“Very efficient. So, um, how did the interview go? Did you like the program?” he asked, trying to sound only casually interested.
“I liked what I saw very much. And I think they liked me. I still have several interviews scheduled at other places before I rank my choices. I’m flying to Massachusetts and Oregon next week, so it’ll be pretty hectic when I get back from the wedding. I’ve already interviewed in Indianapolis, Atlanta and Nashville.”
Massachusetts. Oregon. Both a very long way from Dallas. “So you’re not interested in staying closer to home?”
“I haven’t decided yet. As close as I am to my family, it’s tempting to consider living somewhere completely different for at least that one year.”
Did she consider Dallas completely different than Little Rock?
“Somewhere more than a day’s drive from home, maybe,” she added. “The farthest I’ve lived from the house I grew up in was the seven-hour drive to Baton Rouge.”
It wasn’t even that far between Little Rock and Dallas. It was beginning to sound less likely that she would choose to pursue her fellowship here. He certainly didn’t expect her to be influenced by a guy she’d known only a couple of days, and likely viewed as no more than a somewhat clandestine fling during a weekend away from her daily grind.
A “secret weekend adventure,” she’d called it. At this point in her life, she didn’t seem to be looking for more. Which meant he shouldn’t waste one minute of the brief time he would have with her.
Sliding his hand from her hip to her bottom, he shifted closer to her, leaning over to brush her mouth with his. “Just how tired are you?” he asked in a murmur.
He was gratified when she moved her hand up his arm to his shoulder, her fingers curling to tug him even closer. “I’m wide-awake now,” she assured him with a soft, somewhat breathless laugh.
“Good.” He nipped at her lower lip, then started to settle onto her.
The buzz of a cell phone interrupted them just as she lifted her knees to welcome him.
Both of them grumbled in response to the ill-timed interruption, but their years of medical training made it impossible for either to simply ignore the summons. They reached simultaneously for their cell phones before Madison realized it wasn’t her ring tone. Jason leaned over the side of the bed to scoop up his pants and dig his phone out of the pocket. He groaned when he checked the call screen.
“It’s my youngest sister. Katie.”
Madison glanced at the clock. It was almost midnight. “You’d better take it,” she said, not even trying to hide her reluctance. “At this hour, something could be wrong.”
He grimaced. “Katie’s idea of a suitable time for phone calls is somewhat different than most people’s. Not to mention her definition of a crisis.”
Still, he lifted the phone to his ear, rolling to sit on the side of the bed as he answered. “What’s up, Katie?”
It was impossible not to overhear his end of the conversation with him sitting inches away from her. Still, she didn’t try to pay attention, merely closing her eyes and letting herself drift in a sensual haze, her limbs pleasantly heavy, her mouth curved in a soft smile.
She heard little snatches of his words.
“Can’t you talk to Mom about…?”
“I’m sure Carly didn’t mean…”
“If the two of you would just…”
He sighed heavily. “Okay, fine. I’ll talk to Carly. Maybe I’ll have a chance to call her sometime tomorrow between all this wedding stuff.”
His voice sharpened only marginally when he spoke again. “I said I’ll talk to her, Katie. Now I really have to go, okay? Good night.”
Madison heard the buzz of an agitated feminine voice still coming through the phone when he disconnected the call. She opened her eyes. Jason pushed his free hand through his hair when he turned his head to look at her. “Sorry about that.”
“Not a problem.”
Perhaps he thought he should explain what he knew she’d overheard. “My sisters are squabbling. Again.”
