of good cooking drifted through the open doorway. Spence held out his arm to lead her into the dining room, and she hesitated for only a moment—probably not long enough for him to notice, she hoped. She was a guest in his home, and there was no need for her to be rude.
“You two sit here,” Martin said as Sage entered on Spence’s arm.
Sage looked around with suspicion when everyone was seated. This all seemed to be set up a bit too conveniently. What were the old folks doing?
“Do you think your dad and my grandma are up to something?” she asked Spence. She should be irritated, because this seemed almost like a date, but the eggnog was doing its job—she’d already gulped down enough of it—giving her a touch of I-don’t-care attitude.
“What do you mean?”
“Never mind, Spence.” He seemed to suspect nothing, so she let it go. Almost by surprise, she found herself enjoying a nice meal at the Whitman table, with great food and boisterous laughter.
When the night was over, she couldn’t find Grace anywhere. She was just gone, and what was even more suspicious was that Camden was absent as well. Hmm.
“I’ll give you a ride home,” Spence said.
Sage had drunk a little too much of the eggnog and she was grateful she hadn’t driven over, but she didn’t need a ride. “I’ll just go with my grandma and Eileen.”
“I think Dad has plans with them. They’re going to be busy for a while,” he said with a laugh.
“Oh. Well then, I’d best get home,” she said, suddenly feeling nervous.
“There’s no hurry. I was just telling you that I’ll give you a ride when you’re ready.” He moved slowly toward her.
“I’m ready now. I have to work tomorrow, you know,” she said, turning and moving away from him.
“Not until the afternoon. I don’t think you have to be in bed by midnight or risk turning into a pumpkin.”
“Are you implying that I act like a princess?”
“You are a princess, Sage, and I think I have just the right slipper to place on your foot.”
“Now that’s an impressive line, Spence.” She let out a giggle, but it dried up instantly when she found Spence cornering her, his warm breath just inches away.
“Then it deserves a kiss. I’ve been wanting to do this since the moment you walked through the front door.”
He leaned down, and all her thoughts of escape vanished when their mouths connected. Spence Whitman really knew how to kiss. Even the foreign exchange student she’d been so fond of was forgotten.
When he pulled back and she looked into his deep green eyes, her stomach dropped. She knew she was in serious trouble. She was beginning to fall for this man again, and he was all wrong for her. She couldn’t let this happen. He was her boss, one of the main people who determined if she became a full-fledged doctor. And she didn’t have time for an affair. She barely had time for herself, her grandmother, and her best friend.
“I’m ready to go home,” she said, and when she noticed he was about to protest, she added, “Please, Spence.” He opened his mouth as if to speak, and then she saw when he knew it was useless.
“Of course,” he said, and then found her coat.
The day hadn’t been bad at all, but the night would most likely prove to be quite lonely. That was okay, though. She had a career to think about, and she had her family—her grandmother and Grace. When she was finished with her residency, then there would be plenty of time for romance, but it certainly wouldn’t be with a man like Spence, with whom she would never feel on an equal par.
Thanksgiving was over. It was back to the real world for her.
Sage wore a big smile as she slipped outside to the ambulance bay. She’d be off work in an hour, and, rarity of rarities, the sun would still be shining. Sure, it was winter and the ground was covered in snow, but at least it was bright out and she could soak up some vitamin D.
Though Sage really didn’t have time for a relationship, Spence had been wearing down her defenses. She wouldn’t admit that, but it was the only reason she’d accepted a date with another man to the hospital’s annual Christmas party.
She didn’t like Dr. Ted Lipencolt—could barely stand him, actually—but she felt it was a much safer move than going alone. Spence would surely be there.
“Dr.