Marrying the Playboy Doctor - By Laura Iding Page 0,20

sat on the bench. Her face was tipped up toward his, and he thought the touch of her slender hand felt much better than any ice pack. Her eyes were full of concern. “You scared me to death when you went down.”

“I’m sorry.” He couldn’t seem to tear his gaze away from her luscious mouth. One taste. All he wanted was one taste of her lips.

Whoever had taken his turn at bat must have hit a good one, because suddenly the dugout emptied as the MD players jumped to their feet, loudly cheering.

He ignored them. So did Kylie. She stared up at him, and suddenly he couldn’t help himself. He leaned forward and captured her mouth in a sweet, intoxicating kiss.

The moment her mouth parted for his he knew he’d lied. Because one taste of Kylie would never be enough.

CHAPTER SIX

KYLIE dropped the cold pack and clutched Seth’s shoulders, surprised and then enthralled by his kiss. His mouth was firm, yet gentle, sensual, but very masculine, as he deepened the kiss. Every nerve in her body yearned for his touch, and helplessly she leaned in, exploring his mouth with a keen intensity.

Everything faded away except the two of them.

Dear heaven, she wanted him. Wanted more. Wanted everything he had to offer. There was a reason she’d tried to avoid this, but at the moment she couldn’t think of it.

And then it hit her. Ben. Cripes, what was wrong with her? She’d run off to see if Seth was all right, and had completely forgotten her son.

She broke the kiss, yanked out of Seth’s embrace, and scrambled awkwardly to her feet. What kind of mother was she that she forgot her own son?

The baseball game was over. She climbed from the dugout, catching a glimpse of the large scoreboard to see the MDs had taken the lead with that last run. Spectators streamed down from the bleachers and Kylie frantically pushed against them, searching wildly for the spot where she’d left her son.

“Ben? Where are you? Ben!”

Surprisingly, Seth had followed her, his deep voice booming above hers, helping her to call her son. “Ben. Ben!”

“Mom?”

Miraculously she spotted him, holding on to his playmate Raelynn’s hand. She in turn was hanging on to her mother’s. Relief swept over her as she rushed forward, making her way as quickly as she could against the mob of people vying to go in the opposite direction.

“Ben!” She enveloped him in a bone-crushing hug. Her apologetic gaze caught Marla’s. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left you like that. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Marla responded, surprisingly calm and not the least bit annoyed. “I knew we’d find you eventually. Besides, I was waiting for Eric to find us. He’s one of the OB doctors on the MD team.”

She closed her eyes, realizing that she’d overreacted and willing her rioting fear to settle down. Ben was safe. Cedar Bluff wasn’t Chicago. Cedar Bluff was safe.

She didn’t have to relive the fear of the past anymore.

“Dr. Seth!” Ben exclaimed, looking past her to where Seth stood. “Did you get hurt?”

“I’m fine, Ben,” he reassured him. “I wasn’t hurt nearly as bad as you were the day that car hit you.”

Kylie was glad Ben didn’t seem to be upset by her disappearance. And she was grateful her son hadn’t witnessed the kiss. She forced herself to relax and take Ben’s hand, even though she knew there was no way she could now go to the post-game party with Seth.

Not after the way she’d practically drowned in his kiss.

Not after the way she’d almost lost her son.

She turned toward Seth. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think we’re up for that post-game pizza after all.” She was babbling, but somehow couldn’t make herself stop. When her son’s face fell, she added, “Ben, we’ll make frozen pizza at home, all right?”

“Aw, Mom,” Ben protested. “I wanna go to the party.”

His dejected expression almost made her change her mind.

Almost.

“I’m not in the mood for a party, either,” Seth admitted, fingering the bruise that was just starting to darken the skin along his jaw. “Do you mind if I come with you instead? Pizza at home sounds like heaven at the moment.”

“Cool,” Ben piped up.

“Yes. No. I mean—sure.” Flustered, she agreed, not wanting to sound rude, and unable to think of a graceful way out. Helplessly she shrugged. “If you really want to.”

“I do.” His gaze bored into hers, as if he knew full well she’d been trying to get away from him. “Thanks.”

So Seth