Marrying the Playboy Doctor - By Laura Iding Page 0,18
basis. She had no reason to doubt Nanette’s claim that Seth was known for dating lots of women and committing to none. Hadn’t she sensed the same thing about him after their first meeting?
Better to know the truth now than to find out later, once she was emotionally involved. Seth was exactly the type of guy she needed to avoid.
She’d promised to go to the baseball game and she would—but only because Ben would enjoy the outing. She’d be polite to Seth. Friendly. She could certainly use friends as she built a new life for herself and for Ben here in Cedar Bluff.
Satisfied with her decision, Kylie used her downtime between patient runs to work on setting up a demonstration of the hypothermia machine.
Work helped to keep her focused on what was important.
The following Saturday, Kylie realized she’d underestimated the appeal of the annual hospital baseball game. Cedar Bluff Park was jam-packed with people. If she and Ben hadn’t walked the short distance from her house they would never have found a parking space.
As it was, the game was already underway as she and Ben found seats on the doctors’ side of the bench. She sat next to a woman named Marla—her daughter, Raelynn, and Ben were in the same day care center. After exchanging quick greetings, she turned her attention to the game. The nurses must have been first up at bat, because they were already winning two to nothing.
She’d never figure out how Seth had managed to pick her and Ben out of the crowd, but shortly after she and Ben got settled in their seats he jogged over to greet them.
He looked great. Better than great. Wonderful. Sexy.
Her heart stumbled in her chest, and she had to look away so he wouldn’t see the stark longing in her gaze.
Romeo, she reminded herself. Seth wasn’t interested in relationships. He wasn’t there to see her. He was just being nice.
Friendly.
“Hi, Kylie, Ben.” Seth wore a bright blue T-shirt that said “MD” on the back. The nurses were in matching red shirts with “RN” on the back. “Glad you could make it.”
“I said we would,” she responded, trying not to sound defensive. “And you told me the nurses always got more support.” She swept a skeptical glance over the packed sidelines. “I’d say the support is about even.”
“The crowd is larger than last year,” Seth admitted. He caught her gaze with his. “Will you and Ben wait for me after the game? There’s a whole group of us going out for pizza afterwards.”
“Yeah, Mom. Pizza!” Ben shouted with glee.
She silently damned him for asking in front of Ben. If she declined, she’d be the bad guy, left to explain to a six-year-old why they couldn’t go. The last thing she wanted to do right now was to spend more time with Seth. But at the same time she couldn’t remember the last time Ben had been so excited. A friendly gathering after the game would hardly be personal if everyone else was going, too.
She finally relented, unwilling to disappoint Ben. “Sure. I guess.”
“Great.” Seth’s gaze flared with pleasure, despite her less than enthusiastic tone, and warning bells went off in her mind, making her shift uncomfortably in her seat. Why did she suddenly feel as if she’d accepted an invitation to go out on a date with him? Marla’s quick smile didn’t help her feel any better. Cedar Bluff wasn’t exactly a big place. Surely the rumors would start buzzing if she was seen out with Seth? Just what she didn’t need.
Vowing to make sure she sat by someone else, she almost didn’t hear him say, “I’ll see you after the game, then.”
“Sure. Good luck.” She shadowed her eyes with her hand as Seth jogged back over to the dugout.
“He’s next up at bat, Mom,” Ben pointed out, as Seth picked up a bat and took several practice swings.
“I see him, Ben.” She wished she didn’t. Because watching Seth’s backside as he waited for the pitch was a little too intriguing.
The pitcher—one of the nurses who’d managed to strike out the first batter—took her time, as if attempting to psych Seth out. Finally she threw the ball and Seth swung at the first pitch, hitting the ball dead center with a loud crack, sending it sailing over the nurses’ heads. The nurses in the backfield took off running, but their efforts were in vain as the ball flew well out of their range.
Ben shouted at the top of his lungs