Marrying the Playboy Doctor - By Laura Iding Page 0,43
head. “That may be, but something else happened. Something that scared you.”
Was she that transparent? She took a sip of water, swallowing hard. “Drug busts and robberies were fairly commonplace in our neighborhood. I wanted to move, was saving a portion of each paycheck, but it seemed like things kept going wrong, putting me back financially. One night a man broke into our apartment.”
She hesitated, not wanting to remember how scared she’d been. The clichéd saying about your life passing before your eyes when you faced death was true. Very true. “He had a knife. I—I think he was on drugs of some sort. I heard him stumbling around in the kitchen and dialed 911 on my cell phone, but then I had to make sure Ben was safe.”
“Oh, man,” Seth whispered, momentarily closing his eyes. “Tell me you didn’t leave your bedroom.”
“I had to make sure Ben was safe,” she repeated. What happened that night was forever etched in her mind. “I came out of my bedroom—just as he stepped into the hallway. I had a fist full of money—to help appease him, I guess—so I threw it at him, hoping he’d take the time to pick it up so I could slip into Ben’s room. But he didn’t. Instead he laughed and came directly toward me.”
“Dear God.” Seth’s hand surrounded hers so tightly she nearly winced with pain. “Did he touch you? Hurt you?”
“I was lucky. The cut in my flank was small, only needed a few stitches. And the police arrived before he could carry out his intent to really hurt me.”
“Thank God.” Seth’s reverent whisper echoed her own sentiment. For a long moment neither of them spoke. Then Seth brushed a soft kiss along the back of her knuckles.
“So now you know why trust is a bit difficult for me,” she confided.
His gaze held hers. “Kylie, have I told you how glad I am that you chose to move to Cedar Bluff?”
His teasing tone made her smile, helping to put her dark past to rest. The intruder hadn’t hurt her—not really. She knew from her ambulance runs that the outcome could have been much worse. “No, I don’t think you have.”
“Well, I am glad. Very glad.”
As their dinner was served, Seth eased the discussion to lighter subjects. The food was scrumptious and the wine heady.
When they’d finished eating, she sat back with a contented sigh. “Delicious. The best meal I’ve ever tasted. Thank you, Seth.”
“The pleasure was all mine,” he said in a husky tone.
She didn’t see how that was possible, but somehow in the magic of the evening she found herself struggling to believe. Maybe it was a little selfish to take this time away from Ben for herself, but she’d enjoyed Seth’s company far more than she’d expected.
“Would you be willing to go back to my condo for another glass of wine?”
His condo? For wine? Or for something more?
His efforts at seduction were back in full force.
Seth held his breath, waiting for Kylie’s response. As much as he wanted her to say yes, he was mentally preparing himself for her refusal.
Kylie had been through some difficult times in her life—more so than he’d realized. She’d need time before she’d be comfortable taking their relationship further. He understood, knowing she had Ben to think about. She was no doubt anxious to go home to check on her son.
“I’d like that,” she said, so softly he thought he must have misunderstood.
“Really?” His hopeful response popped out of his mouth before he could stop it. Smooth. Real smooth, Taylor, he thought wryly. He pushed his chair back and stood. “Great.”
He placed his hand in the small of her back as they weaved between a few tables through the restaurant toward the door. He couldn’t conceive a coherent thought as they walked the short distance to his car.
“Do you know what I love best about Cedar Bluff?” Kylie asked, as he headed toward the highway.
“Besides me?” he asked.
She laughed, as he’d hoped she would. “I like the people. And, yes, that includes you. It’s so amazing to me how friendly everyone is. One day, about a week and a half ago, I was at the grocery store when a woman came running over, profusely thanking me for taking care of her husband, Chuck. Her name was Estelle, and her husband had forgotten to take his insulin, so he’d had mental status changes from having high blood sugar. I have no idea how she remembered I was the paramedic