Marrying the Playboy Doctor - By Laura Iding Page 0,57
And I’m not sure I could explain why half as eloquently as you just did.”
“Thank God,” he murmured, pulling her close into his arms. The gesture was somewhat awkward as they were seated side by side on the bench. He tugged her around until she was in his lap, her feet dangling off the end of the park bench.
She leaned forward and kissed him, needing—no, craving this physical connection. Secure in the strength of his arms, with his mouth slanted over hers, making her dizzy with desire, she wondered how she could have ever doubted him.
He loved her. Almost as much as she loved him.
It was a long time before Seth reluctantly lifted his head. “Kylie, this bench isn’t going to work for what I’d like to do with you.”
She laughed, disentangling herself from his embrace, shivering a bit as the wind kicked up, significantly dropping the temperature. She tried to keep her teeth from chattering. “Well, I don’t think Suzanne’s backseat is going to be much better.”
He lifted a brow and leered. “Wanna bet?”
The mischievous glint in his eye reminded her of the first day they’d met, when he’d made it clear he wanted her.
“Come on.” He grabbed her hand, and took another moment to snag the bag of food off the soft ground before dragging her toward the car.
Giggling, she crowded into the backseat with him, barely able to close the door against the buffeting wind. “See?” She shoved her tangled hair away from her face with a grimace. “I told you. We hardly have room to sit back here, much less do anything else.”
“Kylie, what happened to your spirit of adventure?” Seth chided softly.
He angled back so he was leaning against the door, and pulled her up so she was lying on top of him. She could feel his blunt arousal through the multiple layers of their clothes.
He kissed her again, slower, deeper, until her resistance melted away, transitioning into urgent need. There wasn’t nearly enough room—their elbows were bumping against the door and their knees hitting the back of the seat cushion—but suddenly she didn’t care. She wanted Seth—right here, right now.
It wasn’t until much later, when they’d finally straightened out their clothes and dug in the bag of food for something to eat, that she turned to him.
“So tell me the truth. Is sex in the backseat the real reason you traded Charlene in for Suzanne?”
He grinned, that sexy, lethal grin, and shook his head, leaning over to give her a hard kiss. “No. I traded Charlene in for Suzanne because somewhere deep down I knew I wanted a family with you. Sex in the backseat just happens to be an added side benefit—like having malted milk powder sprinkled on a hot fudge sundae.”
She’d never tried a sundae with malted milk powder sprinkled on top. “Except once we’re married we won’t have to squeeze back here like this,” she pointed out.
“I didn’t ask you to marry me yet.”
She froze, a horrible icy fear creeping over her. What? How could she have possibly misunderstood?
“Kylie, I think I need to talk to Ben first—to make sure he’s all right with me marrying you.” Seth glanced at her, his gaze completely serious. “Don’t you think?”
“Yes.” She managed to find her voice. “I think that asking Ben first would be perfect.”
“Well, then, hurry up and eat so we can get back before his bedtime.”
She laughed, and took another bite of her cold roast beef sandwich. There was absolutely no question in her mind as to how Ben would respond to Seth’s question.
She was the luckiest woman in the world to have not one but two wonderful men in her life.
Seth sat across from Ben at Kylie’s kitchen table, feeling unaccountably nervous. What in the world had he been thinking? How could he possibly have left the fate of his future in a six-year-old’s hands?
Kylie’s reassuring smile helped a little.
He cleared his throat. “Ben, what would you think if I asked your mom to marry me?”
Ben eyed him suspiciously over the rim of his glass of milk. “Why do you want to marry her?”
“Because I love her. And I love you. If I marry your mom the three of us can be a family.”
“So you’d live here with us forever?” The excited glint in Ben’s eyes made the tension ease out of his shoulders.
“Yes. I’d be your dad and live with you forever.”
“Cool. I’ve always wanted a dad.”
Seth glanced at Kylie, who blinked away tears, then back at Ben. His own voice was husky with emotion. “Good, because I always wanted a little boy like you, too.”
There was a long pause as Seth realized this was it. This was his new family. And he wasn’t afraid. In fact, he felt pretty darn good.
He planned on making Gregory Taylor proud of him.
“Well,” Kylie said brightly, “I guess that’s settled, then. Ben, finish your milk and then go brush your teeth.”
“Aw, can’t I stay up a little later? Please?” Ben pleaded, looking straight at Seth.
Oh, boy. He was in trouble. The kid was already trying to get his way by playing the old parent against the new parent.
“Listen to your mother,” he told Ben, as he stood and crossed over to Kylie. He drew her up and put his arm around her, adding, “And when I’m your dad, you’d better listen to me, too.”
“All right.” Ben sighed and walked toward the doorway.
Seth was glad Ben had listened—at least this time—although he was sure there’d be other challenges down the road. He pulled Kylie close, covering her mouth in a soft kiss.
“Hey, no kissing!” Ben called over his shoulder, his expression mirroring his disgust.
Seth raised his head and grinned. “Sorry, Ben, but there is absolutely going to be kissing. And you may as well be prepared for babies, too.”
Kylie choked on a laugh, hiding her face against his neck.
“Babies?” Ben grimaced, and then let out another heavy sigh. “Okay, but I only want boy babies. A little brother to play with could be fun.”
Seth shook his head, glancing down at Kylie—the woman who held his heart, life and soul in her tender yet capable hands. “Actually, I’m open to either. But I’d especially like a girl baby—just like your mom.”
ISBN: 978-1-4268-4159-0
MARRYING THE PLAYBOY DOCTOR
First North American Publication 2009
Copyright © 2009 by Laura Iding
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