Marrying the Playboy Doctor - By Laura Iding Page 0,39

to the car. Seth walked beside her, seemingly oblivious to her pique.

“You didn’t have to do that,” she said half under her breath, mad enough to risk Ben overhearing.

“Do what?” Seth feigned innocence.

Suddenly she understood exactly what had happened to make Seth act like an idiot. “You overheard us talking that day in Ben’s room, didn’t you?” she accused.

Seth opened the back passenger door and gestured to the child safety seat. “In you go, Ben.” While she watched, he took the time to make sure her son was securely strapped in.

When he closed the car door, she grabbed his arm. “Didn’t you?” she asked again.

“You’d have to be blind not to see how he wants to be far more than Ben’s eye doctor. He wants to go out with you, Kylie. I needed to tell him to back off.”

“You needed to tell him? Why? You don’t have any claim on me, Seth.” For all her protests, she couldn’t ignore the warmth creeping through her insides at his fierce protectiveness. The idea of two men wanting her was an anomaly. But all she really cared about was Seth.

“Oh, really? Did something change? Are you interested in seeing him on a personal level?” Seth asked in a dangerously low voice.

She swallowed hard at the fierce intensity in his eyes, but couldn’t lie. “No.”

He stared down at her for a long minute. The tension sizzling between them was so thick she thought it might choke her. But then he simply asked, “Do you want to drive?”

“Yes.” She let out her breath in a huff. Annoyed with him—with all men—she stomped around to the driver’s seat.

They didn’t talk the entire ride back to her house. She parked in the driveway, avoiding his gaze. They all got out of the car, and once Ben had dashed into the house Seth turned to her.

“I’ll pick you up tomorrow at six-thirty.”

This was her chance to tell him to forget it, to explain how she’d changed her mind about going out to dinner—but her mouth didn’t follow her brain’s command.

“Fine,” she heard herself say. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” She spun away, following Ben inside before she broke down and invited Seth in.

But she couldn’t help watching through her front window as Seth climbed into his car, revving Charlene’s engine a bit before driving away.

She closed her eyes and shook her head. Men. God must have put them on the planet solely to drive women crazy. This was exactly why she’d avoided them for the past few years.

So why couldn’t she imagine going out with any other man? A guy like Geoff?

And, worse, why was she so looking forward to seeing Seth again Friday night?

Seth stared blankly at the ceiling above his head, although it was too dark to see anything clearly.

He was wired. Tense. Couldn’t relax enough to fall asleep, no matter how many deep breathing exercises he did.

It was all Kylie’s fault.

He hadn’t wanted to leave her house after Ben’s doctor’s appointment, but considering she hadn’t invited him in he hadn’t had too much of a choice.

Besides, he’d sensed she was still irked with him.

Hopefully she’d get over it. Seeing the expression of adoration on Greenley’s face the moment Kylie had walked in, he’d figured his timing had been perfect. At least now the guy knew she was seeing someone.

Maybe he’d avoided relationships in the past, but not anymore. Not now. Whether Kylie realized it or not, she was involved with him. A fact he intended to bring to her attention tomorrow night at dinner. No more of these meetings with Greenley. He wanted Kylie to admit she was involved with him, Seth Taylor, and no one else.

At midnight, he gave up and climbed out of bed. Wearing only his boxers, he padded to the living room and flicked on a single lamp before throwing himself onto the sofa.

Now what? He wasn’t in the mood to watch mindless television. Wasn’t sure he could lose himself in a murder mystery, either.

He wanted Kylie.

His body tightened painfully as he remembered their kisses. The way her curves had felt pressed against him. He stifled a groan. Don’t go there, he warned himself. Thinking about Kylie and their physical attraction wasn’t going to help him relax—not in the least.

He let out a heavy sigh, his gaze landing on the box of family photos he’d split into three piles, for himself, Tess and Caleb.

Drawn to the box, he sat up and pulled it closer. He lifted the photos out, placing them carefully