Marrying the Playboy Doctor - By Laura Iding Page 0,54
hadn’t realized just how close.
“No, I’m sorry. I don’t know where he went.” Damn. Jadon must not have told Alyssa, either, the jerk. And here she was sobbing as if her heart was crushed. “What happened? Did you guys have a fight? Is that why he left?”
“No fight. Not really.” She sighed again, and he was relieved to see her crying jag was over. “I really don’t know why he left. But never mind. It’s my problem, not yours.”
Maybe, but seeing Alyssa so obviously distressed bothered him. She looked just like his mother had after his father had died—purely miserable.
He went back to work, finishing off his shift, but he couldn’t ignore the sick feeling in his stomach.
Love had the power to hurt. Badly. He put a hand to the center of his chest, rubbing the imaginary ache building there. Was he crazy to think about a future with Kylie? To think about being a surrogate father to Ben? What if something happened to either of them? How would he survive?
His mother had tried to hide the extent of her deep sorrow after his father’s death, but he’d always known it was there. The light had vanished from her eyes, and though she’d never said anything about it he’d known she was lonely. And then, after she was gone, he’d discovered she’d lost not just one man in her life but two.
Twice married and twice widowed.
Was the risk of falling in love with someone worth the eventual pain of losing them? Suddenly he wasn’t so sure he wanted to find out.
The best thing might be to break things off with Kylie—before it was too late.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
SETH went home that night, intending to call Kylie, but when his cell phone rang the moment he walked in the door he realized she’d managed to beat him to it.
“Hi, Kylie.” He greeted her cautiously.
“Hey, Seth. I arranged for a babysitter for tomorrow night, if that’s still okay with you?”
The sound of her husky voice brought back memories of the heated lovemaking they’d shared. Despite the tightening of his groin, the sick feeling in his stomach intensified at the realization she might be planning an intimate evening.
After all, he’d hinted at making love again, hadn’t he?
“Tomorrow night would be great.” He forced the words past his tight throat. “I’m looking forward to it.”
His tone must not have sounded totally convincing, since there was a brief pause before she asked, “About six?”
“Sure, I’ll pick you up then.” He flipped his phone shut and battled the urge to toss the stupid thing against the wall. He was angry and upset. But not with Kylie or Ben. They were the innocent victims here.
He was angry with himself, for ignoring his own rules. This was the reason he’d always kept his love life light and friendly. This pain. The deep, piercing agony that already tightened his chest and made his head ache.
He felt sick to his stomach.
The next day time moved at warp speed—probably because he was dreading the date he’d arranged with Kylie. The thought of sitting through a dinner at a restaurant held no appeal, and since he was running late anyway he decided to pick up some deli sandwiches to go. They could eat in Cedar Bluff Park, at the highest point overlooking Lake Michigan. That way they wouldn’t need to worry about being distracted by waiters or other diners possibly overhearing their conversation.
And sitting on the bluff for sure meant no lovemaking.
As if she’d sensed his intent to keep this date casual, Kylie arrived in form-fitting blue jeans and a soft V-necked sweater in deep purple. His mouth went dry and he purposely avoided looking at the enticing hint of cleavage her sweater displayed.
“Something smells good,” she commented as she slid into Suzanne’s passenger seat.
“I brought deli sandwiches. Thought it would be nice to go up to the picnic spot on the bluff overlooking Lake Michigan.”
“Great. I’ve heard the view is awesome, but I haven’t been up there.”
The way she avoided his gaze warned him she knew exactly what he planned to do. Overwhelming guilt gnawed on his insides, burning his stomach lining like acid.
He parked in the lot, and then reached into the backseat to grab the food before following Kylie up the path leading to the top of the bluff.
“Wow,” she whispered when they crested the top of the bluff. “Impressive.”
“Cedar Bluff, the town, was named after James Cedar—the guy who founded it,” he informed her. “These bluffs were formed when the