toweled off his thick black hair. “It’s at the same hospital.”
“Less money?”
“More, actually.”
“Stupid job offer.” I frowned playfully. “I assume this terrible thing also comes with more responsibility?”
He nodded. “Director of the ER.”
“Director? Derek, that’s so great!” I flew into his arms and hugged him tight. “I’m so damn proud of you, babe. Congratulations.” Which only made his reaction seem odder. “Why aren’t you happy about this?”
“I am. But I haven’t accepted it.”
“Why the hell not? This is your dream job. Your dream job, Derek.” I shook my head, trying to figure out if maybe I didn’t understand words anymore, because none of this made sense. “It’s here in town, so we don’t have to move. What am I missing?”
“Nothing. This is me thinking like a husband and a father—talking to my wife about something that will take more time away from the family before we make a decision.”
It was hard not to love a man who was just so damn good. How had I ever thought he was nothing but a callous playboy? “I love you, Derek. But seriously, accept the job. Right away.” I kissed him long and hard just to make sure he got the message.
“You sure?”
“Positive.” Our gazes locked for a long moment, filled with unspoken words of assurance, and I gave one last sharp nod. “I’m so damn proud of you.”
His shoulders relaxed as if that was exactly what he needed to hear, and the smile he sent my way was blinding and unstoppable. “It will mean time away from us, sometimes.”
“We’ll find a way to make it work. Right?”
“Damn straight, we will.” His smile was so happy and wide that warmth zipped through my body, making my nipples throb, and when Derek pulled me closer and put his mouth to mine, I sighed.
I let go.
I don’t know how long we stood there with our arms wrapped around each other, kissing like hormonal teenagers. We just kissed. Sure, hands roamed and squeezed and kneaded, but mostly we just kissed. There was no hurry, no need to rush on to something else, something better.
It was the best damn kiss I’d had in a long time, as memorable as my very first kiss. “Derek,” I moaned against his lips.
“Maxine. I love you.”
“Right back atcha, Doc.” We fell asleep as we always did, with Derek’s arms wrapped around me, his warm soothing breaths lulling me into a peaceful sleep.
I woke up the next morning to the sound of excited whispers and the smell of roasted coffee beans and sugar, likely waffles. Stretching my stiff muscles with a smile on my face was exactly how I wanted to wake up every day.
I washed my face and tossed on a pair of jeans and an old T-shirt, since I would spend the next few days in the kitchen, before heading downstairs.
“Does that mean you’re in charge of the whole ER now?” The excitement in Callie’s voice was palpable.
The smile in Derek’s was just as clear to me from my spot on the other side of the kitchen entrance. Like a creeper. “Yes. Scheduling and inventory and all that boring stuff.”
“But also like surgeries?” The child was obsessed. “Maybe now I can see one?”
Derek’s long pause gave me worry, and the look of relief that crossed his face when his gaze landed on mine told me I was right. “Probably not yet, kiddo. I think it’ll give you nightmares.”
“Smart man,” I mouthed at him as I crept up on Callie, totally unaware. “Good morning, my sweet girl.”
“Morning, Mama.” She turned back to Derek, a determined look on her face that usually spelled trouble. “A new job means more money, right? That means I can have that sister now, right? Missy Templeton’s mom says that’s how it works.”
The words out of my daughter’s mouth stole the breath from my lungs. Little sister? “Callie, what are you talking about?”
She sighed and rolled her eyes. “The moms at school were talking about how you and Derek would be having babies soon, and Derek said not yet.” She sucked in another breath and kept on going, because her batteries rarely ran out. “I said when you do have a baby, I want a sister. But I guess it would be okay if it turned out to be a boy, instead.”
What in the hell? Had everybody in town gone baby crazy? I let out several deep breaths, keeping them slow and steady so I wouldn’t freak out in front of Callie and Derek. “We don’t get