When Hearts Collide - By James, Kendra Page 0,47

equipment and services at, or above, the standard. A lot of families depend on us.”

His voice sounded almost wistful, and she wondered if he wanted a family, or if he already had one. “It would be lucky for all of us if you stayed in the area.”

“I guess only time will tell.”

The rest of the evening they spent in companionable repartee. When he drove her home, Molly didn’t object to the quick peck on the cheek he gave her. Doctor Graham was attractive, intelligent, a perfect gentleman. An excellent catch. Too bad he didn’t do a thing for her.

The whole evening, her pulse rate hadn’t changed one iota. Not like she knew it would as soon as she walked in the house and peeked in on Pearce. Then her heart would be doing all sort of erratic things. Even her breathing would get tight, like getting into a Scarlet O’Hara corset. And the heat. If she didn’t know better, she’d think she was having hot flashes.

Molly unlocked the front door and tiptoed across the foyer. She thought Pearce might be asleep, but saw the glimmer of light coming through the open door.

“Molly? Is that you?”

Suddenly, her heart thundered like a galloping filly and she had trouble getting a whole breath. Someone had pulled on that corset, and Molly was sure the furnace had been turned on.

“Coming, Pearce.”

Pearce had spent the evening either looking at the clock on the fireplace mantle or trying not to look at it. The hands didn’t seem to move. How long would she be out? Why did she have to pick today to go off and leave him? But would any other day be better?

He was being unreasonable, and he knew it. What’s wrong with you? He had gotten too used to her presence, too used to her smile, too used to her laugh, and definitely he had gotten too used to the way she made him feel. He had to stop it. He couldn’t afford to let himself fall in love again.

Where the hell was she?

When he heard the purr of the car’s engine, and then the lock turning in the front door, a wave of heat swept through his body. He couldn’t stop himself from calling her name. He needed to see her, and quickly. He stretched and poured the water in the jug into the plant near the bed.

He looked up and she was at the door, a vision in red, like the song she’d been humming for the past two days.

“Hello, Molly.” He kept his voice controlled and casual. “Did you have a nice evening?”

“Very nice. Did you need something?”

“My water jug is empty. Would you mind filling it?”

She leaned forward to refill the jug, and he inhaled the scent of her perfume. Another wave of heat surged through him and his pulse soared. Had she noticed the pool of water in the base of the plant two feet from the bed?

Chapter 12

The chirping of sparrows outside her window woke Molly and she glanced out the bedroom window. The sun beat down, evaporating the evidence of the past three days of rain. Fluffy white clouds floated like snails across a brilliant blue sky. It was going to be a wonderful day, especially if some of that sun infused Gracie and Pearce’s moods.

Gracie had started having temper tantrums again and Molly was at her wits end keeping her occupied. Pearce was no better. He seemed to have been in a snappy mood ever since she had returned from her dinner with Doctor Graham. It would be good for everyone to get out of the house.

She tiptoed down the hall and peaked in on Gracie. The child lay on her back, her breathing even, her face resembling a chubby cherub. No pouting lower lip, no whiny cry, no uncontrollable tears, no evidence of yesterday’s temper. Molly let her sleep.

What side of the bed would Pearce wake up on?

Should she check on him? He’d been off the intravenous antibiotics for two days now, yet she was still in the routine of staying up till midnight to give the dose and then waking at six to give the next one.

It seemed like something was missing—not having to administer the intravenous medication, and going into Pearce’s room in the middle of the night.

The thought of her nightly forays to his room set her imagination off and running. Like his daughter, he slept on his back. Molly couldn’t shake the vision of Pearce, his