stared at the receiver before returning it to its holder. Her hands smoothed her pink scrubs, the puppy pattern matching Sweet Pea’s therapy vest. This was not happening. If the name on the chart matched her suspicions, Joan was wrong. They were all in for a big surprise.
A minute later, she stopped outside Joan’s office, her worst fear confirmed. If she’d known Eli’s family waited behind that door, would she have said no? Despite her best intentions, he’d been on her mind all week, her thoughts replaying their conversation like a favorite song.
Her fingers tightened on his chart. She’d been careful all these years to guard herself from personal involvement in her clients’ lives. Her childhood heartbreak was enough to last her a lifetime. But Eli’s warmth, compassion and strength made her forget those rules and want something more. Something that could rip apart her patchwork heart. She sympathized with his situation, but that would have to be enough. Her shoulders squared. She’d be friendly and professional, the way she treated all of her patients.
She knocked and entered. “Hello, Tommy, Becca.” She swallowed and risked a look at their father. Her stomach executed a triple somersault with a half twist. “Eli. I’ll be filling in for Mrs. Osar today.”
His good looks struck her with an almost-physical force. When he stood to his impressive height, she admired the pull of his fitted white dress shirt across his broad shoulders and the navy tie that set off his incredible eyes. His dark eyebrows rose as he stepped forward and extended a hand.
“Looks like you can’t get away from us,” he said with a wry twist of his lips. Her heart tumbled to a halt. Breathe, she reminded herself. Too much time around this gorgeous man and she’d need the AED machine.
His warm palm pressed firmly against hers. When she peered up at him, her cheeks flushed under his intense gaze.
“Sweet Pea!” squealed Tommy, breaking her trance. Eli blinked down at the wriggling dog but didn’t let go.
She extricated herself with a small tug and stepped back, the sensation of his hand lingering. Why were her senses refusing to listen to reason? She needed to focus. Conduct herself properly. And hand holding with a patient was a huge step over the line.
Tommy launched himself at Sweet Pea. Her paws landed on either side of his neck, her pink tongue darting for his cheek. “She likes me!” Tommy laughed. He twisted his head, a token defense against the affectionate onslaught. Sweet Pea’s excited snorts filled the room.
“And how could she not?” Her gaze flitted from the beaming boy to his stunned-looking father. Did he feel the same spark she did? And was he as determined as she to ignore it? “It’s nice to see all of you again.”
She smiled at Becca, who wore olive, knee-length shorts and a white T-shirt embellished with a glittering pink rose. “That’s a lovely French braid. I wish I knew how to do that.”
The girl knelt beside Tommy and stroked the twisting tornado of canine love that was Sweet Pea. “I could teach you.”
“That’d be great, Becca, thanks. My hair’s always such a mess by the end of the workday.” She lifted the heavy length from her shoulders and arched her stiff neck. Her eyes flitted to Eli and froze at his rapt attention. His gaze traveled over her like a physical caress.
“You said we weren’t gonna see Christie.” Tommy’s fingers combed through Sweet Pea’s curls.
“I didn’t think we were.” Eli’s thumbs rubbed across his closed lids before meeting above his nose.
“I’m sorry about this,” she said quietly to Eli. “And I certainly understand if you’d like to reschedule. Joan tried to call you but—”
“I know,” he said shortly. “I ignored the call when I was in a meeting and then afterward...” He trailed off, distracted.
“This is the best thing that’s happened all day.” Becca gave Sweet Pea a belly rub then pointed to a jar of Hershey’s Kisses on Joan’s desk. “Can I have one? I’m—”
“Hungry,” Tommy piped up. “You’re always hungry.” He picked up Sweet Pea and cradled her in his arms. She squirmed a bit but settled down. “Becca got in biiiiiig trouble today and had to go to jail.”
“Did not,” Becca gasped. She rocked back on her heels as if slapped.
Christie’s gaze flew to Eli. He gave her a slight headshake, but his worried expression made her wonder.
Tommy jerked his chin. “Did too.”
“It was detention.” Becca stomped to the window and crossed her arms. A flock of pigeons winged by the glass like a storm cloud.
“Same thing. David said you’re a juvie.” Tommy turned big eyes Christie’s way. “What’s a juvie?”
She patted his round cheek and hid her dismay with a smile. “We don’t use those kinds of words.”
“Is it a bad one?” Tommy whispered in awed tones. He scrubbed a hand across his mouth.
“Mean enough. And if you can’t say nice things then best to say nothing at all.” She sent Eli a meaningful look. His mouth twitched, amusement softening his stern face. She felt as if she were glowing like a lightning bug on a Kansas summer night.
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