Her Kind of Hero - Cindy Kirk Page 0,35

one. If you want someone to heat up your sheets in secret, Doctor Sanchez, look somewhere else.”

Without looking back, he called over his shoulder. “I’m going to work. Do me a favor and stay out of my way.”

On Sunday afternoon, Mitzi spilled just the basics of her story to Kate while they shopped. By her friend’s lack of response, she assumed she’d shocked her BFF silent.

But when Kate began to giggle, Mitzi raised an indignant brow. “What’s so funny?”

“The image of you feeding Keenan, then jumping him...” Kate dissolved into laughter.

“I don’t see what’s so funny,” Mitzi said, even as her own lips curved.

“Seduction over huevos rancheros,” Kate intoned, her eyes sparkling. “Wouldn’t that make a fabulous title? I’d love to read that one for book club. Especially the love scene.”

“Shut up, Kate,” Mitzi said mildly.

“It’s such a guy thing,” her friend drawled. “Ply a woman with good food then jump her bones.”

“I didn’t jump Keenan.” Mitzi’s voice had started to rise. When the clerk glanced her way, she lowered it and pretended to be studying the rack of clothes. “I kissed him. And I told you the reason. You weren’t listening.”

“I was listening all right.” Kate smothered a smile. “But c’mon, Mitzi. You can’t actually expect me to believe the only reason you jumped, er, kissed, Keenan was to test your sexual urges.”

This time it was Kate who spoke too loud. The last two words had not only the clerk but a bright-eyed customer glancing in their direction.

Mitzi grabbed her friend’s arm, smiled grimly as she hauled Kate from the store and into the sunshine. “If we’re going to talk sexual urges, we’re going to do it outside where we can’t be overheard.”

Amusement tugged at the corners of Kate’s lips. “I do believe you’re embarrassed, Dr. Sanchez.”

With more than a little exasperation, Mitzi pushed back her hair as the two women strode down the sidewalk, heels clicking smartly.

Mitzi glanced around to make sure no one was close enough to overhear. “You can’t tell anyone what I’m about to tell you, not even Joel.”

Just as Mitzi anticipated, Kate hesitated. She and her husband didn’t keep secrets. Not since a secret Kate had withheld had almost derailed their relationship.

“I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important, Kate,” Mitzi said, her voice earnest. “But Keenan works for Joel and this is...personal.”

Mitzi could see her friend looking back almost a dozen years, to when Kate had given birth over summer break and kept it a secret from her medical school classmates. Only Mitzi had known. She’d never breathed a word.

“Tell me.” Kate focused her hazel eyes on Mitzi. “I won’t say a word to anyone.”

Having the reassurance she sought, she took Kate’s arm and directed her into a small park enclosed in a gleaming black wrought iron fence tipped with gold.

“I come here sometimes during the week to eat my lunch,” Mitzi said in response to Kate’s raised eyebrow. “I try to time it when there aren’t a lot of kids here.”

“I bet that’s difficult,” Kate said with a wry smile. “Considering it’s a park.”

A park where, even now, toddlers and preschool-age children climbed brightly colored slides and swung high into the air emitting shrieks of laughter.

Mitzi kept walking until they reached a bench as far as possible from the children’s play area. Here, manicured bushes in the shape of animals stood tall on both sides of them, muting the noise.

Once Kate had taken a seat beside her, Mitzi swiveled to face her. “You know what it was like for me growing up.”

“I’ve always admired your determination to rise above such humble beginnings.”

“I got out, stayed out and succeeded in life because I’ve stuck to my plan.” Mitzi blew out a breath. “That’s why focusing on Winn made such sense.”

Kate smiled encouragingly.

“Keenan isn’t on my list. He isn’t settled. He’s still in that having-fun stage. Did I tell you he took me windsurfing at Lake Jackson?” Mitzi confessed with all the seriousness of saying he’d robbed a bank.

“Life isn’t all serious, Mitzi. Joel and I have lots of fun—” Kate stopped speaking when her friend abruptly stood and began to pace.

“I’ve already told you some of what happened that morning, but not all.” Mitzi flung out her hands, her emotions as muddied as her thoughts. Beneath the anger that flashed in Keenan’s eyes, she’d seen pain. Pain she’d caused. Her heart twisted. “He thinks I don’t want to be seen with him, Kate.”

Confusion furrowed Kate’s brow. “Why would he think that?”

For Kate to understand,