One Summer in Santa Fe - By Molly Evans Page 0,8

a warning.”

“A warning? What did I do?” Piper stared transfixed at Emily, unable to think of any infraction so far.

Emily touched Piper’s arm in a friendly gesture and Piper relaxed somewhat. “No, not in your work. Sorry. But I happened to notice that you had lunch with Taylor.”

Still not sure of what to make of this conversation, she said, “Is that against the rules or something?”

“No. But just to give you a heads up, Taylor’s a player, got a reputation with the ladies, especially the nurses who come through here.”

“I see.”

“He’s got CDD.”

“You mean ADD? Attention Deficit Disorder?” Piper asked, puzzled at the mistake.

“No.” Emily shook her head. “I mean CDD. Commitment deficit disorder. He hasn’t stayed with one woman for more than a few weeks at a time.” She patted Piper’s arm. “He’s a wonderful man and a great doctor, but he acts as if he’s at a dating buffet. He keeps going back for more.” She waved a hand. “Anyway, you’re a grown woman, but before you proceeded any further with him, I wanted you to have that information. Take it or leave it, at least you have it.”

“Thanks.” Piper said, then tried to change the subject, certain she wasn’t going to have to worry about Taylor getting too interested in her. He was just grateful and had bought her a burger. But Emily’s warning was certainly something to consider.

CHAPTER THREE

“OKAY, so rock-climbing camp it is,” Taylor said as he clicked the “send” button on the computer and registered Alex for the camp with before- and after-care programs, starting tomorrow. No more bored days spent at the hospital.

Alex raced through the living room at full speed. “Yeah! I’m going climbing!” He raced back to the office and nearly flung himself at Taylor. “Thanks, Uncle T. I’ll never ever forget this.”

Taylor caught the boy to him before he knocked them out of the office chair and stood Alex in front of him. “Whoa, there. It’s okay, Alex.” He gave Alex a pat on the shoulder, surprised at the amount of enthusiasm sparking off the boy.

“I’m serious. You have no idea how totally cool this is.” He looked wide-eyed at Taylor. “Wait. You do know how cool this is, ’cause you already go rock climbing. Duh,” Alex said, and slapped himself on the forehead.

“It’s okay. I’m just lucky we got you in.” When Taylor had been Alex’s age, and living under the domineering thumb of his father, he had been lucky to get out of the house without an altercation of some sort. There had been no camps for Taylor. Climbing trees and rock formations had saved his sanity in his pre-teen years, challenging himself in ways that his father couldn’t understand. After that, progressing to bigger and more dangerous excursions had seemed natural. Honing his muscles and growing into his height, his father had no longer been able to control him. That’s when things had really changed between them, and they hadn’t spoken for years. Thankfully, he’d had an uncle help him figure out how to get what he wanted out of life. He hoped to pass that gift on to Alex. Perhaps not medical school, but whatever the kid wanted to pursue in life.

“Let’s finish this conversation another day. Time you’re off for a shower. You don’t want to smell like a polecat your first day at camp, do you?”

“No, I don’t wanna smell like a polecat,” he said, and frowned, staring up at Taylor. “I…I don’t even know what a polecat is.”

Taylor gave a laugh. “It’s a kind of skunk. Hit the shower, kiddo, just to make sure,” he said, and tousled Alex’s hair.

“Okay.”

Taylor laughed as Alex headed for the bathroom. Maybe this thing with Alex was going to turn out okay after all. Caroline was right. He didn’t really know his nephew, and he should. Even though his life was a little on the wild side, Taylor was the only stable male influence in the boy’s life. But now, spending so much time with Alex stirred up feelings that he thought he’d put to rest long ago. His relationship with his father was not much different than the one Alex had with his own father. More like they tolerated each other than liked each other’s company. Whatever. Over and done with for him. Rising from the chair, he changed into jogging pants and his running shoes. The last two days he’d been off his exercise schedule and desperately needed the release it gave him. Endorphins, here