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Not that she was looking for commitment.
She wasn’t looking at all.
Not for a relationship. Not for a fling.
So why couldn’t she drag her gaze away from Oz’s tempting smile?
CHAPTER FOUR
OZ ROCKED back on his heels, watching displeasure furrow Blair’s brow. What was she thinking? Feeling?
She was digesting what he’d said. He was sure of it. Had he crossed the line yet again? Hell, he didn’t seem capable of not crossing it where she was concerned.
“If she doesn’t learn diplomacy,” he ventured, drawing Blair’s gaze back to him, “she’s so cute no one will care.”
Her expression hardened. “That’s a lesson my daughter has learned all too well. If she bats her lashes and looks cute, adults tend to do her bidding. I do my best not to give in since I don’t want to encourage behaviors that are so reminiscent of—”
She stopped abruptly, but Oz could fill in the blanks. She’d been referring to Addy’s father, had implied that he’d used his looks to manipulate those around him to do his bidding. He’d never heard Blair mention him before.
The reminder that there had once been a man in her life who she had cared for, a man who had fathered her child, did strange things to Oz’s insides.
Like making him nauseated.
“She looks just like you.”
Her scowl deepened. “Yeah, right. She looks more like you than she does me.”
Her eyes widened. Her face paled. Interesting. Did that mean he looked like Addy’s father? Why did that thought make him want to grab a few antacids?
“Addy’s facial expressions are yours made over,” he insisted, wanting her to think about anything other than the other man. “The way she smiles, the way her eyebrow quirks when she thinks I’m trying to pull a fast one on her, the intelligence in her eyes. That’s pure you, Blair.”
True, but perhaps he’d said so to wipe away the memory that Blair hadn’t conceived Addy all on her lonesome. The thought of her with another man left him feeling as if someone had chopped him in the throat.
“Maybe.” She stared at him, as if trying to see inside his head.
Good thing she couldn’t because Oz didn’t know what she might see. Lately, he didn’t know what had come over him.
Just that he couldn’t stop thinking about the woman who was now frowning at him.
Giggles filled the house. Pure in spirit giggles that lightened Oz’s insides and made him smile.
“Come on. We’ll call a truce for now.” He held out his hand. “The old coot’s been waiting for you to get here since I got home.”
She didn’t take his hand. Instead, she walked past him into the den. Oz sighed.
The “old
coot” had Addy’s arms wrapped around his neck. Giggling, she placed sloppy kisses on his cheek while he told her something Oz couldn’t make out.
“I missed you, Dr Talbot.”
Anger sucker-punched Oz in the gut at the vision of the withered man Dr Talbot had become. A thin, frail skeleton had replaced the vibrant man Dr Ted Talbot had once been.
Still, his eyes shone brightly at Addy’s enthusiastic affection. Blair, Addy and Stephanie’s constant attention kept the older man going. It was what made him want to get out of bed each morning, what he most looked forward to each day.
“I missed you, too, darlin’.” Dr T gave Addy another hug. He glanced up, spotted Blair and smiled. “Addy was telling me she styled your hair with mousse.” He studied her for a moment. “Mousse becomes you.”
“Dr Oz says Mommy looks sexy,” Addy volunteered helpfully.
