cleared her throat, hoping to clear away the sensation too. “Since we’ve established that I’m the official whip cracker, will I be seeing more pages soon?”
Alex turned his face to the scenery. “Eventually.”
There was little enthusiasm to his answer. In fact, if she didn’t know better she’d say he actually sounded sad. Now she wanted to give him the reassuring touch.
Something inside made her refrain, settling instead for a smile and a change of subject. “Just planning my schedule. If I don’t have anything to type, the more time Puddin’ and I have to work on our tans.”
“Puddin’, huh?” There was a satisfying note of relief in his voice. “That mangy cat of yours still around?”
“Whoa, he’s not my cat. Puddin’ is strictly a free agent.”
“Says the woman who named him.”
“I told you, everyone deserves an identity. The world has enough faceless orphans.”
“Orphan?”
“Stray, orphan. Same thing, right?” Kelsey brushed her hair behind her ear. She could feel Alex studying her, wondering about the slip. He wouldn’t ask though. He’d leave it up to her to explain or not, respecting her right to privacy. It was one of the traits she loved—
Check that. Admired. It was one of the traits she admired about him.
Love was nowhere in the picture.
Kelsey thought forty-five minutes flipping through gossip and consumer magazines would clear the queer thoughts from her head, but no such luck. The second Alex appeared in the doctor’s reception area doorway, her pulse quickened. He was gorgeous no matter the setting, but the contrast between the institutional décor and his dark virility was awe-inspiring. She wasn’t the only one to notice either. The nurses and receptionist all perked up upon his appearance too. Kelsey wasn’t sure, but she swore one woman actually licked her lower lip.
Oblivious, Alex’s eyes sought her out. “Dr. Cohen got tied up with another patient so I had to wait,” he said in the flat, semi-annoyed voice she’d come to expect.
“No harm, no foul,” she replied. “Gave me time to catch upon the latest gossip. Oh, and how to evaluate flat-screen TVs,” she added quickly when she saw the disdain crop into his expression. “Are you ready to go?”
“Don’t forget your appointment card,” the receptionist called out.
Kelsey bit back her smile at Alex’s rolled eyes. The receptionist was painstakingly scheduling his appointment, leaning forward a little more than necessary in her opinion. The woman shot her a jealous glare when she joined Alex at the check-in desk. Again, she controlled her urge to grin. Did her hermit have any idea how many heads he was turning?
Whoa. Her hermit? Where did that come from?
“Did Dr. Cohen say when the cast would come off?” she asked, shaking off the thought.
“End of summer. Same answer he gave me last time. I’m beginning to think he’s incapable of giving an exact date.”
“Probably because you’d hold him to it.”
“That’s a bad thing?”
“It is if your arm hasn’t healed by then. Or maybe Dr. Cohen simply wants to string you along because he enjoys your company.”
Alex made a noise deep in his throat and took the appointment card. This time Kelsey not only smiled, she giggled. Lately she’d been finding Alex’s grumpy demeanor more amusing. Guess because he’d slipped enough times for her to know he actually had a heart underneath.
“While we’re out, are there any other errands you need to run?” she asked while they made their way through the parking lot. “Bank? Library? Groceries? We were low on coffee this morning.”
We? Again with the possessiveness. What was with her today?
Thankfully Alex either didn’t notice or care about the slip. “Coffee would be good. Milk too. And maybe,” he paused, as if unsure about his next words, “maybe some of those apricot turnovers.”
Was that pink coloring his cheeks? Kelsey couldn’t believe it. Dear Lord, he couldn’t look cuter if he tried. Insides fluttering, Kelsey grinned. “All right then, we’ll stop at Farley’s.”
CHAPTER SIX
SHE hadn’t given it much thought but being lunchtime, the Leafy Bean was filled with customers. To a person, heads turned the second the doorbell announced their arrival. Turning not, she was certain, because they recognized the famous author, but because Alex commanded attention.
“Would you rather come back another time?” she asked.
“I thought you said we needed coffee.”
“We do, but I forgot about the noontime crowd.”
“I like privacy, Kelsey, I’m not sociophobic.”
“I only meant …”
“I know what you meant, and,” the corner of his mouth quirked ever so slightly, “I appreciate the gesture.”
It felt like he’d verbally squeezed her hand. A blush warmed her cheeks. She gave him a half smile of her own. “You must really want those apricot turnovers.”
“Hey, never underestimate the lure of coffee and pastry. Where does Farley stock the beans?”
“There’s an entire display at the back of the store. You grab a couple bags and I’ll get your baked goods.”
He gave her a nod and headed off while she made her way to the crowded bakery counter, trying to shake off the weird domestic sensation surrounding the task.
“It’s only coffee and turnovers,” she reminded herself.
Farley was running around behind the counter, grumpy as ever as he accommodated orders and questions. When he saw Kelsey, he gave her a quick wave followed by a dramatic roll of his eyes when a customer asked if he used organic flour. Kelsey waved back. “Popular today,” she commented.
“Big fund-raiser’s kicking off at the Music Center this weekend. Everyone and his second cousin’s in for it. And every one of ‘em’s got special orders,” he added, slapping the cutting board with a loud, overly enthusiastic whack of his knife.
Kelsey shared a smile with the young girl at the counter. “I’ll take a half-dozen turnovers,” she said.
“Kelsey, is that you?”
She was taking her bag from the clerk when she spotted Tom Forbes coming towards her, charming smile firmly in place. “What a pleasant coincidence. I was going to call you this afternoon.”
“You were?”
“I’m here for the concert this weekend. I thought maybe you’d like to join me.” The smile got a little wider.
