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“Stand in line, honey,” said Pepper. “I hear there are a lot of women who appreciate Dr. Studly’s attributes.”
“As I said, I’m very happily married,” A.J said. “Thank goodness I won’t be lining up for an appointment with the good doctor.”
“With that husband of yours?” Pepper said. “Dr. Studly doesn’t hold a candle to him.”
To each her own.
A.J. smiled a knowing smile that hinted that she knew exactly how lucky she was.
“I’ve heard he’s got quite a reputation of being a love-’em-and-leave-’em ladies’ man,” Sydney offered.
“You’re right about that.” Pepper wrinkled her nose. “He’s kind of a man whore. Kate was telling me some of the stories that Liam has told her about the illustrious Dr. Studly.”
Pepper leaned in conspiratorially and the others followed. “I wouldn’t trade Rob for anyone, especially not Cullen Dunlevy, but I must admit…” A mischievous smile curved up the corners of her mouth. “If you were single and not looking to settle down, wouldn’t you be curious to know what makes all those women line up? What would it be like to spend one night with the infamous doctor?”
Her friends, who were so lucky to have found the men of their dreams, laughed and offered some I’m-not-saying-yes, I’m-not-saying-no shoulder rolls and eyebrow quirks.
“How about you, Lily?” Pepper said. “You’re not married. Let us live vicariously through you. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to spend a night in Dr. Studly’s bed?”
Yes.
Lily was sure her face must be the same color as the ornaments in the centerpiece on their table. “There are too many kids around for me to think about anything other than being a nanny.”
Liar.
The corner of Pepper’s mouth quirked. “Oh, girl, you know what they say about all work and no play.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” said A.J. “Really, would you want one night with the doctor if you knew someone else had been there the night before and would probably be taking your place right after you left?”
Lily bristled inwardly. “You all are making him sound like a hound dog.”
“If the breed fits,” A.J. offered. “I’m just saying, if the guy has a reputation, it had to come from somewhere. Who wants to be his number one if he has a number two? And it sounds like this guy might have them lined up into the double digits.”
For some inane reason, Lily’s impulse was to defend Cullen. “I know I haven’t been there very long, but since I have, he’s been a perfect gentleman. I’ve witnessed nothing to support your man-whore accusations.”
But then she thought of that graphic text from Giselle.
Still, he hadn’t gone out with Giselle that night.
He’d come home and they’d gone to get the Christmas tree. And he’d kissed her under the mistletoe.
She gave herself a sharp mental shake. Was she ever going to learn? Had she heard nothing that her friends had said? The man had a reputation for being a first-class womanizer. She had seen the handwriting on the wall with her own eyes. Or at least she’d seen the words in Giselle’s text. It was a wonder she hadn’t been blinded.
All the wishing and dreaming and imagining that Cullen was someone different than who he was wouldn’t change him.
His admitting he wanted to kiss her again didn’t mean he wasn’t kissing others. And she certainly wasn’t going to stand in line.
She wasn’t Giselle. She’d never be Giselle.
So she might as well admit to herself that she and Cullen Dunlevy had nothing to offer each other and there was no sense in pretending otherwise.
* * *
Why had he told Lily he wanted to kiss her again? When had his libido decided to go rogue and take his filter with it?
It was the truth.
He’d love to taste her lips again. This time in a real kiss. A sensual joining of his mouth on hers, his hands on her body, exploring those curves that had driven him wild since the first day he’d opened the door and found her on his porch.
Now all he could think about was getting her in his bed.
He needed to get rid of that fixation. She was here for the kids, not for his pleasure. She wasn’t like any other women who understood he couldn’t give more than the short-term good time he was offering.
