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  “I’m sure I will.”

  After they’d both picked up forks, he said, “I want you to know that I didn’t plan on kissing you in the rose garden today.”

  She certainly hadn’t planned it, either. Nor had she expected him to launch right into the subject before she’d gotten a bite into her mouth. But that’s why he’d invited her and why she’d agreed to come.

  “I’m not in a position to jump into a romantic relationship with anyone right now,” he added. “I’ve got to focus on my rehab.”

  That was good, wasn’t it? She ought to be pleased to hear it, but an unwelcome stab of disappointment struck hard.

  Was he giving her a breakup line before they’d even discussed dating?

  “But when I’m ready for one,” he added, “I’d like it to be with you.”

  Leah’s heart leapt as a thrill shot through her. Was he indicating that if and when the time came he’d choose her exclusively? That the women who’d come by to visit him in the hospital, called on the phone and sent all those get-well cards would be history? That his days of playing the field would be over?

  Aunt Connie had bought that line once, when she’d believed a happy bachelor had found her special and unlike the other women he’d been dating. And that false belief had only led to heartbreak.

  Or was Leah reading too much into his simple comment? He’d only mentioned that he wanted to have a relationship in the future. Not now.

  “You’re not saying anything,” he said.

  Goodness. She’d been fighting her feelings for him for so long, convincing herself that her emotions couldn’t be trusted, that she didn’t know quite how to respond.

  What if transference had nothing to do with any of this? What if her feelings for him were real?

  “I’m…” She set her fork down on her plate. “I’m not sure what to say, Javier.”

  “There’s something going on between us,” he said. “Something too big to ignore. I’ve known it for some time, and I think you have, too. That kiss we shared this afternoon, along with your response to it, are proof enough for me that whatever we’re feeling is mutual.”

  He had a point. The physical attraction—at least on her part—was nearly blinding with intensity. But was it also blinding her from reality? Was she seeing Javier clearly? Could she trust him when he said he was feeling it, too?

  “That kiss was amazing,” she finally said. “I’ll grant you that. And I’m attracted to you. But you’re right. Jumping into something at this point in time isn’t going to do either of us any good.”

  “Then we’re in agreement there.”

  Were they?

  Then why was she tempted to ask when she’d see him again, when they’d have another opportunity to kiss?

  And why did she fear that he only wanted a friendship or a relationship with her to help see him through rehab, when he’d be back to the old Javier?

  And who was the old Javier? Her instincts told her he was a lot like the man Aunt Connie had fallen for, a lot like the intern Leah had once dated—a dyed-in-the-wool bachelor who moved from one woman to the next with the ease of changing his socks.

  A man she’d be wise to avoid.

  Instead, she opted to change the subject. “This chicken is out of this world. You’ll have to give my compliments to the chef. It tastes even better than it looks.”

  “I’m glad you like it,” Javier said. “I’ll tell Marcos. He’s thinking about adding it to the menu.”

  “Speaking of Marcos, how are things going with him? Are Wendy and the baby doing well?”

  “Yes, they’re all great. Apparently, Mary Anne is thriving and gaining weight. I haven’t seen her yet, so I’m looking forward to visiting them soon.”

  “Mary Anne’s a cutie,” Leah said. “I went to the NICU a couple of times and saw her through the window. I know your family was worried about her for a while, so it’s nice that she’s home now and doing well.”

  “I hadn’t realized you checked on her, but I’m glad you did.”

  Leah smiled. “I don’t always get that close to a patient’s family, but in your case, it was easy to do. Your dad is a great guy. And your brothers and sister are nice, too. In fact after hearing so much about Wendy and their concern for her, I went to the maternity ward a few times to visit with her and to give her a report on your progress. Then, after the baby was born, I stopped by the NICU to take a peek at her.”

  Javier seemed to ponder that for a while, then said, “Wendy and Marcos are hosting an open house on Friday. Why don’t you come with me? You’d get a chance to see my family again. The baby, too.”

  Leah hadn’t mentioned that she’d visited the neonatal unit nearly every day after Mary Anne’s birth, just for a chance to look at the tiny babies, to watch the mommies and daddies peering into isolettes, reaching in and stroking a tiny foot or hand.

  She’d like to see Mary Anne, now that she was healthy and at home. She’d been so tiny, so fragile at birth. Yet so precious, too.

  But more than that, attending the party meant that Leah would see Javier again.

  Afraid to tip her hand, to reveal her yearning, she said, “I don’t know. I’m not a family member, so I’d hate to intrude on a special celebration.”

  “My family knows how helpful and supportive you’ve been to me, as well as to them during my hospitalization. And they think of you as a friend. I know they’d be happy to see you there.”

  What about Javier? Would he be happy to have her there with him? Was that why he was including her?

  “I’ll think about it.” Yet even as the vague, noncommittal words rolled off her tongue, she realized that, deep inside, she actually wanted to go.

  She’d always enjoyed being around loving families since she really hadn’t had one of her own. In fact, sometimes she wondered if getting married and having children was even in her future. Her own experience as a child, as well as her two attempts at having a romantic relationship as an adult, had resulted in one disillusion after another.

  Maybe that’s why it was so easy to remain dedicated to her patients. Nursing provided her with an opportunity to nurture others almost daily without risking disappointment and heartbreak.

  She stole a glance at Javier, watched him cut into his chicken and take a bite. She’d better focus on the meal in front of her, rather than on dreams that might never come true.

  When they finished eating, Javier pushed aside his plate and tossed her a smile. “How about some ice cream? I’ve got chocolate and strawberry to choose from. And even some raspberry sherbet.”

  She hadn’t left much room for dessert, but she wasn’t in any hurry to leave just yet. So she said, “A little sherbet sounds good. Why don’t you stay seated? I’ll get it. Just tell me which flavor you want.”

  “Thanks. I’ll have the chocolate.”

  When Leah returned and placed his bowl in front of him, he thanked her again, then added, “I don’t usually expect people to wait on me.”

  “Don’t give it another thought. I don’t mind at all.” Leah took her seat and dug into her sherbet, relishing the sweet, tangy raspberry taste.

  As she dipped her spoon in for a second bite, she asked, “What’s the first thing you want to do when you’re discharged completely?”

  “Besides taking you out on the town?”

  She smiled, wondering if he really planned to ask her out. Sure, he’d said that he wanted to. But what if he turned out to be as insincere as the lawyer who dumped Aunt Connie and broke her heart?

  Leah had nearly fallen for a man like that once, and she’d been determined to avoid playboy bachelors ever since.

  Would Javier prove to be different from the man she suspected he’d been before the accident?

  Sh
e hoped so, because a failed romance with Javier would be a lot harder to bounce back from than either of the two relationships she’d had in the past.

  Of course, she hadn’t invested all that much emotion in them, and she found herself caring for Javier a little more each day.

  While finishing their dessert, they made small talk for a while. Then, when both bowls were empty, Leah stood to clear the table.

  “Don’t bother doing the dishes. Margarita’s coming again tomorrow, and I want her to have plenty to keep her busy.”

  He’d told her the same thing last time, but just like before, Leah refused to let his housekeeper clean up after her—no matter how badly Javier wanted to provide the older woman with work.

  Fortunately, they’d had takeout, so there weren’t any pots and pans to wash or countertops to be wiped down. She merely had to fill the sink with soapy water, then she compromised again by leaving the dishes to soak.

  When she returned to the dining room, Javier was just getting to his feet. A grimace on his face let her know that it had been a long day and probably a painful one.

  “Don’t get up,” she said. “I can see myself out.”

  He seemed to rally and lobbed a boyish grin her way. “Just like making sure I saved room for dessert, I managed to save enough energy to walk you to the door.”

  She returned his smile, wondering if he had plans to kiss her again. While it probably wasn’t a good idea, she decided not to put up a fight if he made a move in that direction.

  As they walked through the living room, she stopped to pick up her purse. Then they headed to the door.

  “Thanks again for dinner,” she said. “It was a nice treat.”

  “I’ll have to grill for you someday.”

  There he went again with the “someday” talk. Why did he seem to put everything off to the future? Why not give her an actual date to look forward to—like next Saturday or even three weeks from whenever?

  She had no idea, other than to think he wanted to take things slowly, and that was probably for the best.

  As she opened the front door and stepped out on the stoop, he stopped her with a question.

  “Are you working on Friday?”

  “No, I’ve got the weekend off. Why?”

  “Because I won’t have to wait until seven to pick you up. I’ll come for you around six.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “To Marcos and Wendy’s house.”

  She was about to remind him that she’d said she would think about going, but maybe he could read her a lot better than she’d thought he could. Either way, she wasn’t going to fight him on the party.

  “All right,” she said. “I’ll be ready.”

  She gave him her address although he didn’t write it down.

  He nodded and his eyes glimmered. “I’ll see you then.”

  Apparently so.

  But before she could turn to go, he slipped his free arm around her waist and drew her toward him.

  Her heart rate spiked as anticipation soared.

  Only a fool would turn down a kiss from Javier Mendoza. So she wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned toward him.

  As his lips touched hers, she was lost in a burst of fireworks, this time even better than the last.

  Chapter Nine

  Four long days had passed since Javier kissed Leah on the porch and set the stars spinning, yet not an hour went by without her thinking about his lips pressed on hers, his tongue sweeping the inside of her mouth, seeking hers for a lovers’ tryst.

  She’d tried to attribute her mindless arousal to the fact that she’d been suppressing her physical needs and desires. After all, it had been ages since she’d felt a man’s embrace. But the truth was, until she’d met Javier, she hadn’t obsessed about sex at all. So there was only one explanation that made sense. Now that she’d had a taste of what was to come, what she would experience in his slow, expert hands, she hungered for more.

  She hadn’t talked to him since that night at his house, and when Friday finally rolled around, she’d spent the afternoon fixing her hair—putting it up, then leaving it down. After getting dressed and applying her makeup, she settled on wearing a soft and feminine look.

  As it grew close to six o’clock, the time Javier was supposed to arrive, she reminded herself that attending the open house wouldn’t be a date. It was only a chance for her to see the Mendoza family again and to wish Wendy, Marcos and the baby her best.

  But she wasn’t so sure about that. Not when she was looking forward to seeing Javier again, to being with him.

  When the doorbell rang, she took one last look in the mirror, then went to answer the door.

  “Wow,” Javier said, his eyes lighting up with appreciation. “You look great, Leah. I’ve been waiting to see your hair down and loose.”

  “Thanks. You look nice, too.”

  His hair, which was still growing out, had been trimmed and styled. He’d also shaved and splashed on some woodsy cologne that set her senses reeling. She didn’t recognize the brand or the scent, but it was no doubt as expensive as it was alluring.

  He wore a light blue button-down shirt, open at the collar, and a pair of black slacks with a matching jacket. He seemed so strong, so vital, so whole, that anyone who was unaware of what he’d suffered, what he’d been through, would think the cane was only a prop.

  “Are you ready to go?” he asked.

  “Yes.” She locked the door, then walked with him to his SUV.

  Less than ten minutes later, Javier pulled along the curb and parked in front of Marcos and Wendy’s modest three-bedroom house.

  “It doesn’t look like anyone’s here yet,” he said, scanning the street and the driveway. “But that’s bound to change soon.”

  “Are they expecting a lot of people?” Leah asked.

  “If you’d ever attended a Mendoza get-together, you’d realize what a big family I have. And when you add the Fortunes from Red Rock, as well as those from Atlanta, well…” He grinned. “There will probably be a slew of them, but with it being an open house, people will be coming and going all evening.”

  Leah and Javier climbed from the car, then made their way to the front door, where Marcos welcomed them.

  “Are we the first ones here?” Javier asked.

  “Yes, unless you count Emily, Wendy’s sister.”

  From what Leah had heard, Emily Fortune had flown in from Atlanta to help care for the baby. It must be nice to have a sister, she thought, especially at times like this.

  At that moment, the new mommy entered the living room wearing a brightly colored gypsy skirt and a matching red top, as well as a full apron to protect the fabric from kitchen spills and splatters.

  Wendy welcomed Javier with a hug, then turned and embraced Leah as well. “I’m so glad y’all are here.”

  “Thanks for inviting me to tag along,” Leah said.

  “I would have been disappointed if you hadn’t. You have no idea how much I appreciated your visits while I was in the hospital. You not only kept me in the loop, letting me know about Javier’s condition, you also helped me feel better about my own situation.”

  “It was my pleasure,” Leah said. “How’s the baby? It must be wonderful to finally have her home.”

  “She’s doing great. I’ll take you to see her in the nursery. Emily’s changing her diaper.”

  Wendy led Leah through the living room, which was an eclectic mix of a contemporary style with a bit of cozy chic added here and there. From what she’d been told, Wendy was a fashionista, and it showed both in her clothing and her house.

  “I like your decor,” Leah said.

  “Thanks.” Wendy chuckled. “I did what I could with wha
t Marcos had. This place used to be a bachelor pad, with lots of leather and chrome that centered around a big-screen TV. But I added my own little touches here and there, and this is what we ended up with.”

  “Well, I’m impressed. You certainly did an amazing job.”

  “Thanks.” Wendy led Leah down the hall, stopping near an open doorway. “Here it is.”

  Leah peered into the nursery, where Emily Fortune stood at the changing table with the tiny baby who was still the size of a small newborn.

  “Have you met my sister?” Wendy asked.

  “Yes, several times.” Leah smiled at Emily. “It’s nice to see you again.”

  Emily laughed. “I’d shake your hand, but I’m a little tied up at the moment.”

  “I can see that.” Leah eased into the room.

  “Well, if you two don’t mind,” Wendy said, nodding toward the hallway, “I have something in the oven and need to check on it.”

  After Wendy took off down the hall, Leah scanned the nursery, with its white walls and furniture. The curtains, a tropical fabric with fuchsia, orange and lemon-yellow flowers on a bright aqua background, as well as a hand-painted border with the same floral print, added a blast of color to the room.

  And so did a white glider and ottoman upholstered in a matching bright aqua.

  “The nursery is darling,” Leah said. “Your sister has a real talent with decor.”

  “Yes, she does. She’s becoming a real domestic goddess.” Emily Fortune, the oldest of the Atlanta Fortune daughters, was the director of advertising for FortuneSouth Enterprises.

  At five foot seven, with long blond hair and green eyes, Emily had a sophisticated air about her—maybe due in part to the glasses she often wore.

  Leah had thought of her as a career woman, but standing here in the nursery, changing a newborn’s diaper, gave her a whole different look.

  “I’m just about done here,” Emily said as she put a second little foot into the pink sleeper. “And once this last snap is done, I’ll let you hold her if you’d like.”

  “I’d love to,” Leah said.

  After taking the baby, Leah sat in the rocker and began to glide back and forth while Emily looked on with a loving smile.