The Doctor and the Single Mom

by Teresa Southwick

  “He left?” Surprise mixed with fury in his voice.

  “When I needed him most,” she confirmed.

  “Son of a bitch—”

  “My sentiments exactly.” She met his gaze and willed him to understand. “C.J. never knew his father but I remember mine. I know what it’s like to blame yourself when someone you love, someone you believe with all your heart cares about you, walks away. That’s why I don’t want him to get attached.”

  “I see.” Adam rubbed a hand across the back of his neck, then nodded. “Thanks for telling me.”

  “Thanks for listening.”

  She would never have believed that explaining everything would lift a weight from her heart, but it actually did. Maybe confession was good for the soul.

  “For the last time,” he said, “I’m not leaving.”

  She smiled. “Okay.”

  He put his hand on the doorknob and the intensity in his eyes said loud and clear that he would stay if she asked. “If there’s anything else you want to talk about—”

  There was something she wanted, but it had nothing to do with talking. She remembered what Maggie had said about living in the moment so life wouldn’t pass her by. Adam was simply too tempting to resist.

  Jill moved close and put her hand on his chest, then stood on tiptoe and touched her mouth to his. Simmering desire exploded into flame and he wrapped his arms around her, then kissed her as if he’d been starving for this and could devour her. She felt the same way. Breathing hard, she broke off the kiss and took his hand in hers, leading him toward her bedroom.

  Adam stopped and looked down at her, his eyes intense. “Are you sure about this? We talked about ‘you know.’”

  “I remember.” She smiled because all the rational arguments in the world didn’t seem to matter in this moment. “We both said it couldn’t happen again.”

  “We both have our reasons.” He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Are they still a problem for you?”

  “No.” She was tired of fighting what she felt. Tomorrow regrets might come, but tonight she wanted him. And sometimes wasn’t it okay to be selfish? “Is it a problem for you?”

  “No.”

  She gave him a flirty look and said, “Then quit stalling, Doctor.”

  Without another word he tugged her into the bedroom and locked the door behind them. In what had to be a world record they undressed each other and crawled into her bed, under the quilt. The sheets were cold against her back, but Adam was there to warm her.

  He brushed his hand up and down the bare skin of her side, barely touching her breast. She moaned, a sound of need that couldn’t be held back. It was like pouring gas on a fire, making the flames burn higher and hotter. His hands were everywhere and he never stopped kissing her. When he slid inside, she was ready, wanting and willing. She lifted her hips and wrapped her legs around his waist, drawing him in deeper.

  They moved together in a frantic, sensual rhythm that pushed her to the edge, where she gladly stepped off. His breathing was a rough rasp in her ear and she gloried in the sound and feel of his hard chest pressed to her soft curves. In what felt like a heartbeat she came apart as pleasure exploded through her body. Seconds later Adam followed her over and they held on to each other through the aftershocks, too spent to move.

  Finally he lifted his weight to his forearms and grinned down at her. “That was pretty good.”

  “Is that your expert diagnosis, Doctor?”

  “You think I’m an expert?”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  “Okay, then.”

  He went into the bathroom and she missed his warmth in the bed. Moments later he was back and pulled her against him. She settled her cheek on his chest, content and sleepy and happy.

  * * *

  The next morning Adam woke up with Jill curled against him. It was a little past six-thirty and the house was quiet. Obviously C.J. was still asleep, just like his mom, he thought. Her red hair was a mass of curls against the pink flowered pillowcase and he ached to run his fingers through it again because he wanted her again. But he kept his hands to himself and let her sleep. Anyone who worked as hard as she did needed the rest.

  He needed to get out of here before her son woke up and started asking questions more complicated than where babies come from. Still, he couldn’t resist just a few more seconds of watching while her guard was down. She looked so young and innocent, too young and too innocent to be the mother of an almost seven-year-old and carrying a whole lot of emotional baggage from getting dumped on and abandoned.

  Adam had taken an oath to do no harm, but five minutes alone and no questions asked with the jerk who’d left her alone and pregnant was really tempting. How could any guy do that, especially to Jill? It wasn’t just looking so vulnerable while she slept that made him want to protect her. He felt the same way when she was wide-awake and arguing with him until hell wouldn’t have it.

  He knew his decision to relocate to Blackwater Lake was a good one. He loved it here and wasn’t pulling up stakes, but she’d pointed out that there were lots of ways to leave that had nothing to do with geography. He didn’t know where things were going with Jill, didn’t know if he had it in him to commit to someone again and risk another mistake. It seemed unfair to pursue anything and chance hurting her when his track record was less than stellar.

  Glancing at the clock on her side of the bed nudged him into action since the digital display was inching toward seven o’clock.

  “Gotta get out of here,” he whispered to himself.

  He eased out of bed and dressed quickly, leaving his shirt untucked. His cell phone was still clipped to his belt because he’d been in such a hurry to have her. With shoes in hand, he unlocked the bedroom door and tiptoed out. It bothered him to leave without saying goodbye, but a note? What would he say? Thanks for last night? See you later? Nothing seemed right.

  He put his shoes by the front door and went to the kitchen. The least he could do was get the coffee ready to go for her. That was a statement, although what it said or why he was making it were less clear. Something to do with being happy and wanting to do a nice thing for her. How sappy was that?

  After filling the water reservoir in the coffeemaker, he measured grounds into a filter and closed the lid.

  “Good morning.”

  His heart stuttered at the sleepy, sexy female voice, but that was nothing compared to what he felt when he turned around. Her hair was tousled in that way a woman’s hair should be the morning after making love the night before. Her eyes had the heavy-lidded, well-pleasured look of a satisfied female and made him want to satisfy her again.

  “I was trying not to wake you,” he said when finally able to form words.

  “You didn’t.” She smiled and her expression was more contented than he’d ever seen. “I actually overslept. I’m usually up earlier than this.”

  “Good. I’m glad.” That came out wrong. He was usually more articulate than this. “I mean that I’m glad I didn’t disturb you.”

  She sure disturbed him—sound asleep or wide-awake. Right this minute he was disturbed because she was wearing a robe and he really wanted to know if she was naked underneath. The fuzzy, peach-colored, floor-length thing had a zipper up the front and it would be so easy to...

  “Why don’t you turn on the coffeemaker and stay for a cup?” she suggested.

  He knew it wasn’t the best idea, but was too grateful for the invitation to say no. “Don’t mind if I do.”

  Almost instantly after he flipped the switch, the machine started to sizzle and drip. Jill moved beside him and opened the cupboard above to pull down two mugs. The scent of her filled his head just like last night when he’d held her and loved her. It wasn’t just sex, but for the life of him he couldn’t define what “it” was. />
  She set cream and sugar, spoons and napkins on the table. “Are you hungry?”

  Loaded question, and he hoped the knot of need inside him didn’t show on his face. “Maybe.”

  Color crept into her cheeks and the pulse in her neck fluttered, telling him she knew exactly what he was thinking. When the coffee was ready, she picked up the pot, her hand unsteady as she poured the rich, steaming liquid into the mugs. Then they sat down at the table and stared at each other without saying a word.

  She picked up her mug and blew on the steaming coffee before taking a sip. “It’s good.”

  “A skill acquired out of necessity during my medical training.”

  “When your wife left.” It wasn’t a question.

  “Yeah. Right around then.”

  “Did you miss her?”

  “I didn’t have time to think about her.” That wasn’t really an answer but it was partly true.

  He thought about it now, his wife walking out because the specialty he wanted so badly wasn’t flashy, prestigious or high profile enough for her. He remembered coming home to an empty apartment and realized that he hadn’t missed her or been especially hurt. Moving on with his life had been easy, which made him merely stupid for choosing her in the first place. The problem was that he hated feeling stupid.

  “Mom?” C.J. stood in the kitchen doorway rubbing his eyes. When he stopped and looked, his face lit up and all traces of sleepiness disappeared. “Dr. Adam! Are you havin’ coffee?”

  “Yes.” Adam was grateful that the question was simple and he merely had to confirm the obvious.

  “Did you come over for breakfast?”

  That one was harder to answer truthfully since he’d actually never left.

  Fortunately Jill bailed him out, but her brown eyes sparkled with the mischief of their secret. “I’m going to make scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast for Dr. Adam.”

  “Awesome.” That seemed to be the kid’s new favorite word.

  “I’ll be right back.” As she walked out of the room, Jill said over her shoulder, “Just talk amongst yourselves.”

  C.J. climbed up on the chair. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  “How come, champ?”

  “’Cuz I like eggs and Mommy doesn’t make them very much.”

  “Why?” Adam figured it was a time issue.

  “I don’t know.” The boy shrugged his small shoulders. “But I guess this is a special occasion.”

  Definitely special, Adam thought, and not just for the food. “I’m looking forward to it. Your mom’s a good cook.”

  C.J. nodded slowly. “I got a really good idea.”

  “What?” Adam sipped his coffee.

  “You should come to my birthday party. Mommy’s makin’ lasagna. Brew and Hildie are comin’. And Maggie.” He wrinkled his freckled nose. “She’s bringin’ the baby, though.”

  Adam struggled not to smile at that. “Is the baby a problem?”

  “Boy, is she!” The kid sighed dramatically. “Tyler said she cries all the time. And poops. It’s pretty stinky.”

  Apparently Cabot and Maggie were friends if they’d gone to visit the new mom and baby. “I can deal with noisy and smelly.”

  “Really?” C.J.’s eyes widened. “You mean you’ll come to my party?”

  “I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”

  “Awesome!”

  “Thanks for inviting me.”

  C.J. was giving him a rundown on what he wanted for his birthday when Jill walked back into the kitchen wearing jeans and a sweater. He missed the sensual mystery of what was or was not underneath the robe, but the way she filled out the denim was a pretty good trade-off.

  She got to work cooking while he and C.J. set the table. The smell of frying bacon filled the kitchen, and his stomach growled, telling him he was hungry for food, too. And something else that was less basic and easy to identify. Something more elusive. He just knew that hanging out with Jill and her son filled him up in places he hadn’t known were empty.

  His phone rang and he hoped it wasn’t a patient emergency, which was never good, but he was looking forward to a home-cooked breakfast that wasn’t oatmeal or toast. He pulled the phone from the case and looked at the caller ID, but the number was blocked.

  After pushing the talk button and putting the phone to his ear, he said, “Dr. Stone.”

  “Hello, Adam. This is your grandmother.”

  He hadn’t heard from Eugenia Stone since his move. “Is everything okay?”

  “No. But if that was an inquiry about my health you’ll be relieved to know that I’ve never been better.”

  “I’m glad to hear that.” Adam shrugged when Jill gave him a quizzical look. “So what’s up?”

  There was static on the other end of the line for several seconds, but he caught the last words. “...arriving around noon. Pick me up at the Blackwater Lake Lodge at one-thirty.”

  She was on her way?

  He had questions, so many questions, and started to ask, but the line cut out again, then dropped the call. Soon enough he’d find out why she was coming, although he had a pretty good idea.

  Jill turned a piece of bacon sizzling in the pan, then looked at him. “Is there a problem?”

  “That’s a very good question.”

  “Who was on the phone?”

  “My grandmother.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “She’s on her way to Blackwater Lake.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Jill knew the sound of Adam’s car. When she heard it pull into the drive, she waited for footsteps on the porch, then discreetly peeked out the front window. It was hard to see all the details she wanted while trying not to be seen herself, but she managed to form a general impression of Adam’s grandmother. Eugenia Stone was a tall, trim woman, probably in her seventies, and wearing a navy crepe pantsuit and matching low-heeled pumps. They moved out of sight and up the stairs to Adam’s place, so the woman must be in pretty good physical shape.

  “Show’s over,” she said to herself. “Time to get back to work.”

  She sat down at the computer to finish the statistics assignment due the following day. Unfortunately focus for the tedious task was hard to come by. She’d spent the most wonderful night of her life in Adam’s arms. That morning she’d awakened with the place beside her in bed still warm from his body and the spicy scent of his skin filling her head. He’d made her coffee, for goodness’ sake, and seemed eager to stay for breakfast. God help her, she’d actually allowed the thought into her head that it was what being a family would feel like.

  Then his grandmother showed up. He’d mentioned once that his family wasn’t pleased he’d moved to Blackwater Lake. They’d probably sent an emissary to bring him home.

  C.J. ran into the room and for once she was glad he’d interrupted her train of thought. “What’s up, kiddo?”

  “I’m bored. Can I go down to the marina and see Brew? Please, Mom?”

  “Sorry. He’s doing inventory and can’t keep an eye on you today. How about watching TV or reading a book?”

  “Do I hafta?” The expression on his face said he’d rather go to Mercy Medical Clinic for more stitches in his chin.

  “No. But I have computer work to do, so you’re going to have to entertain yourself for a while. Quietly.”

  “I can’t be quiet.” He flopped on the couch with a dramatic sigh.

  “We’ve talked about this, C.J. I have to—” A knock on the door interrupted the lecture she hated having to deliver again. She stood and walked over to answer it, saying over her shoulder, “That’s probably Brew. Maybe he’s finished with inventory and can hang out.”

  “Awesome.”

  But when she opened the door Brewster Smith wasn’t on the other
side. “Adam—”

  “Hi.” He reached out and ruffled C.J.’s hair. “I want you to meet my grandmother. Eugenia Stone, this is my landlady Jill Beck—”

  “And I’m C.J.”

  “Ms. Beck.” The older woman had silver hair and blue eyes the same shade as Adam’s. She took Jill’s measure, then looked down. “What do those initials stand for, young man?”

  “What are nishuls?”

  “His name is Christopher John, but everyone calls him C.J.,” Jill explained. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Stone.”

  “Thank you. May we come in?”

  “Of course. I’m sorry. Please.” She stepped back and opened the door wider. Adam walked in behind his grandmother and sent her a sympathetic glance.

  The older woman looked around the room, and the sharp gaze no doubt missed nothing. “My grandson told me a lot about you.”

  “Did he? I’m sure it was all good.” If you didn’t count the very beginning. Jill noticed the corners of his mouth curve up. At least one of them was amused.

  C.J.’s expression was filled with rampant curiosity. “I don’t remember my grandma. I only saw pictures ’cuz I was a baby when she died.”

  “That’s too bad, young man. Grandmother and grandson is a very special relationship.”

  Adam put his arm around the older woman’s shoulders. “I’m her favorite grandchild. Right, Grandmother?”

  “I love all my grandchildren equally.” But her grave expression softened when she looked at Adam. “You were and always shall be a rascal.”

  “Are you movin’ to Blackwater Lake?” C.J. asked her.

  “Goodness no.”

  “Then why are you here?” the child wanted to know, not the least bit intimidated.

  Jill couldn’t say the same. She considered herself a strong woman who could deal with raising a child by herself, running a business alone and not backing down from anyone. But Eugenia Stone scared the living daylights out of her and that could only mean one thing. This woman’s good opinion mattered, and that wouldn’t be the case if Jill didn’t have feelings for Adam.

  “May I sit down?”