Read Online Second Time Around by Carol Steward - Free Book Online Page A

hurry, I forgot to move them to my evening bag.”
    â€œWhere’s your extra key hidden?”
    She closed her eyes and rubbed the lump on her head. “I don’t know. I don’t think I have one.”
    â€œAny windows open?” he drilled impatiently.
    She shook her head. “Too cold out.”
    Before she could argue, he swooped her into his arms again and headed back to the truck, mumbling under his breath.
    â€œPut me down, Kevin. I’m not going anywhere with you.”
    â€œAre you going to play Casper the Ghost and go right through the door?” He stood by the truck and looked her in the eye. “You have three choices, Emily. I can leave you on the porch, I can call a locksmith, or you can come to my place for the night.”
    â€œI don’t think so!”
    He laughed cynically. “I thought you’d see it my way. Now listen here, lady. You have a lump on your head, a sprained ankle and a very cold porch.”
    â€œA sprained ankle? And what did you base your diagnosis on, Dr. MacIntyre?”
    He paused, and a twinkle of moonlight caught in his eyes as his gaze met hers. “I’ve had seventeen of them. And amazingly enough, I limped just like you. As much as I’d love to stand here holding you, it isn’t getting us anywhere. Open that truck door for me so you can sit inside, and we can take care of one problem at a time. I’ll use the phone in the truck, since I assume you don’t have your cell phone in that itty-bitty bag of yours.”
    Emily looked sheepishly at him and opened the door. Her mouth gaping open. It’s over between us, isn’t it? He abandoned me once, he’d do it again.
    He watched her struggling for words. “Must be my charm, huh?” He laughed, but she couldn’t. That was exactly what it was. She couldn’t think with him holding her, helping her, taking care of her.
    He set her down with care and closed the door lightly this time. She watched as he walked past thehood of his hunter-green truck, thinking she was the one who took care of people. No one took care of her. Even when they’d been engaged, he’d never taken care of her. Maybe you never gave him the chance, said a voice inside her.
    Emily realized Kevin was talking, and turned her attention to the arrangements he was making for the locksmith to come to her address. He started the truck and turned on the heater.
    â€œYou warm enough?” Kevin switched on the dome light, then lifted his arm to the back of the seat and reached for her hair clip. “May I?”
    An unwelcome chill went up her spine and she chastised herself. He only wanted to check her head. “I thought we agreed, you won’t play doctor, and I won’t play builder.”
    â€œYeah, well, maybe next time, Doc. It’s either me, or the hospital staff. Take your choice.” Emily hesitantly turned her head so he could look for any swelling. He unfastened the clip and slipped his fingers through her hair.
    She pressed her eyes closed, refusing to let herself think of the old days. He carefully touched the perimeter of the goose egg and let out a little whistle. “That’s one nasty bump. Let’s check your eyes.”
    She couldn’t bear the thought of him looking into her eyes. It was simply too much. “I’m fine.”
    â€œHmph,” he said, handing her the clip. “It’ll be a while ’til the locksmith can get here. Why don’t you recline the seat while I dig an ice pack from my first-aid kit. I’ll be right back.”
    She felt the truck bounce as he slammed the metal box behind the cab closed and climbed back in beside her. He broke the inner sack of the disposableice bag and mixed the contents, then placed it behind her head.
    Suddenly there was an uncomfortable silence between them. Their few attempts at a conversation went dry. A few minutes later, the locksmith pulled into the driveway behind