floated, doing exactly what people expected of me. I was content or at least ignored my dissatisfaction until I saw a way out. The friends I made in college are all married. They have families and their lives are filled with children and love. All I have is a storage unit full of taped up boxes. I want more.”
And didn’t that sum up the way he had allowed his profession with Guardian to suck him into nonexistence? The parallel was uncanny on so many levels–too many to be comfortable with.
Putting another bite of the blueberry studded pancake in her mouth she closed her eyes and hummed, “Delicious!”
Hell yes, she was delicious and, damn, he may just have to sample a bite. “I agree.”
She opened her eyes and cast a glance at his stack of pancakes. “Joey, you haven’t even taken a bite.”
“I’m not hungry for food. I’m talking about you. I bet you’re absolutely…delicious.” See? Ember was a distraction. Trouble with a capital E.
Just like in high school, her blush built up from her chest and swept over her cheeks. She peeked through her long lashes at him.
He chuckled and pushed his food around his plate. Well, you started it King. Don’t stop now . “I’m betting the recipe may have gotten better with time. With age and maturity the flavor has had time to develop additional spice.”
Ember winked at him. Between bites, she teased, “Nice. Call a woman old and then complement her on her spices!” Her laughter peeled around him. He had to shake his head in disbelief. She hadn’t changed at all.
“So, mister-open-mouth-insert-foot, just how do you propose to savor said spices?”
He frowned at the food on his plate and put down his fork. “That depends. Is there a man who is going to try to kick my ass when I make love to you?”
Ember cocked her head and looked at him narrowing her eyes. He recognized that look. He’d seen it many times when they were younger. She pointed her fork at him.
“When you make love to me? Don’t you mean if you make love to me?”
He shook his head. His eyes devoured her luscious body. “If I’m completely honest? I’m not entirely sure. Still contemplating whether or not that would be a good move for either of us. Answer my question.”
She blushed vividly and suddenly found her pancakes very interesting. He struggled to hear her soft reply.
“There’s nobody and hasn’t been for a long time. Remember the work rant I just bored you with?” She threw a radiant smile his way. “Half the world doesn’t know I exist and the other half only values me for my medical skills.”
His foot knocked hers under the table like he used to do in high school when he wanted her full attention. “I happen to know you exist and at this second I don’t need a doctor.”
“Really? Have you had a routine need for a doctor in the past?” She ate another forkful of pancakes as he watched.
He shrugged and regretted it immediately when pain skipped across his shoulder and back. “More than I care to admit.”
Ember kicked his foot under the table. He glanced at her while taking a drink of coffee. Her eyes were bright with laughter.
She purred, “Hey, Joey, want to play doctor with me?” Coffee spray showered the table as he choked on the hot beverage. Her squeal of laughter ripped across the restaurant. Picking up her napkin, she wiped her arm and tossed it at him. “Damn, Joey, you lost all cool points on that one!”
He couldn’t help it. He laughed. It had been forever since anything had struck him as funny. Dropping cash on the table, he stood up offering her his hand. “Maybe, but that was one hell of a loaded question.”
She giggled, stood up and walked out the door with him, “That would be true. It was. So? Are you going to accept?”
He got in the car and waited until she had fastened her seatbelt before he put it into gear. As he pulled out, he answered. “Do I want to? Hell, yes. Am I going to? Look, I’m not politically correct and I
And didn’t that sum up the way he had allowed his profession with Guardian to suck him into nonexistence? The parallel was uncanny on so many levels–too many to be comfortable with.
Putting another bite of the blueberry studded pancake in her mouth she closed her eyes and hummed, “Delicious!”
Hell yes, she was delicious and, damn, he may just have to sample a bite. “I agree.”
She opened her eyes and cast a glance at his stack of pancakes. “Joey, you haven’t even taken a bite.”
“I’m not hungry for food. I’m talking about you. I bet you’re absolutely…delicious.” See? Ember was a distraction. Trouble with a capital E.
Just like in high school, her blush built up from her chest and swept over her cheeks. She peeked through her long lashes at him.
He chuckled and pushed his food around his plate. Well, you started it King. Don’t stop now . “I’m betting the recipe may have gotten better with time. With age and maturity the flavor has had time to develop additional spice.”
Ember winked at him. Between bites, she teased, “Nice. Call a woman old and then complement her on her spices!” Her laughter peeled around him. He had to shake his head in disbelief. She hadn’t changed at all.
“So, mister-open-mouth-insert-foot, just how do you propose to savor said spices?”
He frowned at the food on his plate and put down his fork. “That depends. Is there a man who is going to try to kick my ass when I make love to you?”
Ember cocked her head and looked at him narrowing her eyes. He recognized that look. He’d seen it many times when they were younger. She pointed her fork at him.
“When you make love to me? Don’t you mean if you make love to me?”
He shook his head. His eyes devoured her luscious body. “If I’m completely honest? I’m not entirely sure. Still contemplating whether or not that would be a good move for either of us. Answer my question.”
She blushed vividly and suddenly found her pancakes very interesting. He struggled to hear her soft reply.
“There’s nobody and hasn’t been for a long time. Remember the work rant I just bored you with?” She threw a radiant smile his way. “Half the world doesn’t know I exist and the other half only values me for my medical skills.”
His foot knocked hers under the table like he used to do in high school when he wanted her full attention. “I happen to know you exist and at this second I don’t need a doctor.”
“Really? Have you had a routine need for a doctor in the past?” She ate another forkful of pancakes as he watched.
He shrugged and regretted it immediately when pain skipped across his shoulder and back. “More than I care to admit.”
Ember kicked his foot under the table. He glanced at her while taking a drink of coffee. Her eyes were bright with laughter.
She purred, “Hey, Joey, want to play doctor with me?” Coffee spray showered the table as he choked on the hot beverage. Her squeal of laughter ripped across the restaurant. Picking up her napkin, she wiped her arm and tossed it at him. “Damn, Joey, you lost all cool points on that one!”
He couldn’t help it. He laughed. It had been forever since anything had struck him as funny. Dropping cash on the table, he stood up offering her his hand. “Maybe, but that was one hell of a loaded question.”
She giggled, stood up and walked out the door with him, “That would be true. It was. So? Are you going to accept?”
He got in the car and waited until she had fastened her seatbelt before he put it into gear. As he pulled out, he answered. “Do I want to? Hell, yes. Am I going to? Look, I’m not politically correct and I
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