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“I appreciate you saying that, but it doesn’t make the ugliness they started out with go away.”
“No, but you’re slowly replacing those ugly memories with good ones. Not all children are given a second chance like yours have had.” She headed into the house before he had a chance to ask about that wistful note in her voice.
The girls were waiting for them in the kitchen. “It’s time for a bath and bed,” Cody told them.
Not surprisingly, Lizzy whined, “Do we have to? I wanted Stacey to stay and play a game.”
Stacey shook her head. “I can’t tonight. I need to be going home. Bye, Jean.”
“Bye.” There was no warmth in Jean’s response.
It didn’t matter. She wouldn’t be around long enough that Jean should care. But would she treat every woman Cody brought around the same way? Would Jean always yearn for something she didn’t have, like she had?
“Now head on up,” he ordered. “I’ll be along to check on you in a few minutes.”
“That’s my cue to find the door.” Stacey put the pot in the sink then walked down the hall to the front of the house. Cody followed her. At the door, she turned to him. “Thanks for the lobster experience. It was fun. I’ll have a nice memory too.”
“You’re welcome. I’m glad you joined us.” He meant that. Without thinking, his hands went to rest lightly on her waist. It felt really good to touch her. Their gazes locked.
She inhaled sharply and went stock still.
Did it really surprise her that he would want to kiss her? Was she honestly unaware of how appealing she was? “I know this is a bad idea on so many levels,” he murmured, his head moving closer. “You are a colleague. I promised myself I wouldn’t bring anyone into my girls’ lives who wasn’t staying for the long haul. Yet along came you.”
His lips met hers. So delicious. Tender, yielding. Perfect. He wanted more.
Stacey pushed him away. “Don’t,” she commanded. “We can’t do this.” She opened the door and hurried out.
He watched her blend into the evening shadows. Their kiss had been too short, only leaving him longing for more. A feeling, heavy like a cold wet blanket, hung over him. He wanted Stacey but he’d learned the hard way that there were other considerations in his life that frequently overrode his own wishes.
CHAPTER FOUR
ON WEDNESDAY MORNING, Stacey took a deep breath and knocked on Cody’s office door. It was time for rounds. She hadn’t seen him for the last two days. He’d been in Boston both mornings, doing small repair surgeries on the senator’s son. He’d said she wasn’t needed there, but he wanted her to see the patients at the clinic for him.
After her rejection of his parting kiss, she wasn’t sure what her reception would be. She shouldn’t have gone with him to the beach. Shouldn’t have put either one of them in that position. More than once she’d tried to say no but had given in anyway. Now things would be strained between them. She didn’t need that, even if she was only around for two and a half more weeks.
The time she had spent with Cody and the girls had been the best she’d experienced in a long time. For just a little while she’d been a part of a family. And she’d liked it too well. It wasn’t a good idea for her or for Cody and his girls to get too involved with each other. Still, she couldn’t help herself. Growing up in a family had been all she’d wanted, to really belong somewhere.
Trepidation filled her. Would Cody want to talk about their kiss? She was likely making too big a deal out of it. After all his lips had barely touched hers. So why couldn’t she get it out of her mind? She briefly brushed her bottom lip with a finger. She remembered every second of his touch, the press of his firm mouth against hers. It probably hadn’t been as memorable for Cody. In spite of herself, she wanted a chance at trying it again. She’d bet he could really curl her toes if she gave him half a chance. But she wouldn’t let that happen. Couldn’t.
At the sound of his “Come in,” she stuck her head around the door. Cody sat behind a large oak desk that looked as if it was an antique.
“I’m ready to do rounds when you are.” She couldn’t step any further into his space for fear her resolve would slip.
He glanced up. “Okay. Give me another sec here.” Cody looked down again. “Come in and sit down. We need to talk anyway.”
Great. That wasn’t what she wanted to do. But she had no choice. How foolish would she look if she refused to talk to the man she worked for? She was trying to forget their kiss and them hashing it out wasn’t going to help that happen.
