One Night with the Doctor

by Cindy Kirk

  His mother sighed and Poppy’s heart swelled with an emotion she didn’t care to closely examine.

  “That party was last fall.” John’s brows pulled together in puzzlement. “If you were so enamored with each other, why were you still dating other people until recently?”

  Ben stiffened. He opened his mouth. Shut it.

  “Becoming involved with anyone wasn’t high on my priority list.” Poppy broke off another bite of cookie.

  Dori met Poppy’s gaze. “You didn’t date anyone else.”

  Though it was a statement, not a question, it required a response.

  Poppy chewed, swallowed. “I didn’t want to date. But Ben is almost as stubborn as I am...and extremely persuasive.”

  “More stubborn.” Ben shot her a wink. “I may have gone out on a few dates with other women, but you were the only woman I wanted.”

  Personally Poppy thought Ben was laying it on a little thick. But then his father seemed like a tough nut, difficult to convince. Even now John continued to study her and Ben as if they were puzzle pieces that didn’t quite fit.

  “It was like that for me once I met your father.” Dori shifted her gaze to her husband. “I didn’t want anyone else.”

  Not sure how to respond to that, Poppy took a sip of the tea Dori handed her. “This is delicious. Tangerine?”

  “Mango,” Dori announced.

  Both men grimaced.

  His mother lowered herself to the wide arm of her husband’s chair. “Ben mentioned you grew up in Jackson Hole but only recently returned.”

  “I did.” Poppy lifted the cut-glass tumbler to her lips. “I attended college and graduate school out of state then lived and worked in New York City for a number of years.”

  Dori tilted her head, interest flickering in her blue eyes. “What made you come back?”

  Poppy had loved the city where she’d spent so many years. Yet, long before her marriage had crumbled, she’d found herself longing for the clear blue skies of Wyoming and the more intimate lifestyle of Jackson Hole. “This has always been home.”

  Dori took a sip of tea while one hand affectionately stroked her husband’s arm. “Are your parents here?”

  “They live in California now, close to my sister and her family.” Poppy had briefly considered moving near them. But Jackson Hole was home, not Sacramento.

  “What do they think about you being pregnant?” John asked.

  Heat rose in Poppy’s cheeks, but she kept her tone conversational. “I haven’t told them.”

  “What are you waiting for?”

  “John,” Dori chided.

  The man ignored his wife’s censuring look. “Are you hoping my son will do the right thing and propose?”

  Ben let out an indignant hiss and started to rise. Poppy grabbed his arm and pulled him back down on the sofa.

  “I was married once. The experience isn’t something I care to repeat.” Poppy met his father’s gaze, hoping he’d see in her eyes she spoke the truth. “I’m more than capable of raising a child by myself.”

  “You’re not in this alone.” Steel ran through Ben’s words. “You won’t be raising this child by yourself.”

  “We’d like to be involved, too.” Dori spoke slowly, carefully, as if treading on unstable soil that could give way any second. “I believe a child can’t have too much love.”

  The sincerity in the woman’s words touched Poppy’s heart. “I want you to be a part of this child’s life.” Poppy glanced at John. “Both of you.”

  His mother’s bright smile and shiny eyes brought an answering lump to Poppy’s throat. After quietly clearing her throat, she put down her glass of tea and made a show of glancing at her watch. “Wow. Look at the time. I really need to get back.”

  Ben pulled to his feet. “Thanks again for watching Groucho.”

  “He’s a sweet boy,” Dori told him then shifted her gaze to Poppy. “I’m so happy you came with Ben today.”

  A few minutes later, as Ben opened the car door and she slipped inside, Poppy realized she was glad she’d come, too. She waited until they were on the highway and headed back toward Jackson before speaking.

  “I enjoyed meeting your parents. Your dad...” Poppy paused, smiled. “He’s direct.”

  “He’s a good guy but I admit he can be intense. And blunt,” Ben added.

  “Direct, intense, blunt.” Poppy brought a finger to her lips. “Hmm, those words could describe another man I know.”

  At his questioning look, she smiled. “First name starts with B. Last name Campbell.”

  “Guilty,” Ben said with a laugh.

  “Yet, I like your dad.” At Ben’s disbelieving look, she chuckled. “I do. He’s just like my father.”

  “God help us all,” Ben muttered.

  “Your mother is a sweetheart.”

  “She’s the best.” He slanted a sideways glance in her direction. “It meant a lot to her that you’re open to her being involved.”

  “I’d like both of your parents to be a part of our child’s life.” Poppy stopped, realized with a start that she’d referred to the baby as their child instead of hers.

  Semantics, she told herself. Doesn’t mean a thing.

  She leaned back, rested her head against the seat and tried to control the fluttering in her stomach. “That story you told your parents was inspired.”

  “Story?”

  “Seeing me across the room at Mary Karen’s party.” Her lips curved. “Your mom loved the part where you said you’d orchestrated it so I’d kiss you under the mistletoe instead of Winn.”

  “All true.”

  “C’mon,” she began then stopped at his expression. “You’re serious?”

  “I am.” He spoke without apology. “You captivated me. From the first moment.”

  Poppy blinked. The fluttering in her stomach increased.

  As if sensing her unease, Ben glanced at the time displayed on the dash and changed the subject. “Do you want to stop somewhere? Or shall we eat at home?”

  She swallowed hard. Cleared her throat.

  “We don’t have to take meals together.” She could have cheered when her voice came out casual and offhand. During her marriage, she and Bill had come and gone as they pleased. Or rather, Bill had, leaving her to fend for herself most evenings.

  “Because of our schedules, it’s not always going to be possible but I’d like to try.” His gaze searched hers. “The reason we’re under the same roof is to get better acquainted, to forge a relationship.”

  Forge a relationship.

  Three simple, but terrifying words. She’d agreed to this arrangement for the sake of the baby. But today, she’d spent far more time thinking about the man sitting beside her than her unborn child.

  Her intense physical attraction to Ben worried her. Still, she reassured herself that it was likely the more she got to know him, the less she’d like him. “I guess we could try.”

  “At least in the evening,” Ben said. “Mornings are hectic. I try to be out the door by six.”

  Poppy wrinkled her nose. “I’ll probably be rolling out of bed when you leave.”

  “You’re pregnant. You need your sleep.”

  The understanding had tears stinging her lids. She didn’t expect this consideration from him. Didn’t want it. Didn’t know what to do with it.

  Rain had begun to fall by the time her apartment building came into view. On the sidewalk, a man and his cattle dog picked up the pace as they made their way to a 4x4 parked by the curb. Poppy smiled when the guy let the dog into the vehicle first, before he rounded the front and hopped inside.

  She thought of Groucho, remembered how forlorn he’d looked, standing on the porch while they drove away. “I’m sorry my place doesn’t take
dogs.”

  With studied nonchalance, Ben lifted one shoulder, as if leaving the animal he’d rescued wasn’t a big deal. Poppy knew differently.

  “You’ve given up a lot to move in with me,” she continued quietly when he eased the car into a parking space close to the building. “Not only Groucho, but your beautiful home.”

  No wonder his father had been confused. Ben agreeing to move in with her didn’t make sense to her, either.

  He flicked off the engine, released his seat belt and shifted to face her. “There’s nothing more important than us getting to know each other.”

  “Agreed.”

  The words had barely left her lips when Ben framed her face with his hands and kissed her.

  “As sweet as buttercream frosting,” he murmured.

  She should call foul. Make it clear that unless they were with others and playing a part, there would be no touching or kissing.

  Instead Poppy grabbed his arm and pulled him back to her. After all, she could be spontaneous, too.

  She kissed him longer, harder, deeper. By the time they broke apart, they were both breathing hard.

  “There,” she said triumphantly, her breath coming in short puffs. “We’re even.”

  His gray eyes glittered. “For now.”

  Chapter Twelve

  On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the best day ever, Poppy concluded Monday was destined not to rise above a two. She had a mountain of paperwork to wade through and, to top off the morning, she’d had to testify on an abuse situation involving a sixteen-month-old. By lunchtime, she was already on overload.

  It didn’t help she hadn’t slept well the night before. His kiss. Her kiss. As they enjoyed a meal of chicken stir-fry, all she could think was how his mouth had felt on hers. They might have ended the night even but by the time she’d closed her bedroom door, her body had been so revved up, all she’d been able to do was lie there and think about getting naked with him.

  Spontaneity, she decided, had its downside.

  Although Ben had tried to be quiet this morning, she’d heard him get up before the sun rose. He was out the door before she tossed back the covers and swung her feet to the floor.

  Poppy told herself she was happy he’d already left. But simply smelling the scent of his soap in the shower brought the longing flooding back. As well as a slight ache in her chest. An ache she didn’t understand and didn’t want to examine too closely.

  She figured all these tangled emotions and feelings had to be the result of surging pregnancy hormones. She could only hope a walk in the fresh air over lunch would clear all thoughts of Ben—and this preoccupation with sex—from her head.

  * * *

  Once outside, her feet clad in sensible canvas shoes, Poppy began to walk briskly. She was making good time on her lunch break when she ran into Hailey Randall on the sidewalk outside Hill of Beans, a popular coffee shop and bistro owned by her high school classmate, Cole Lassiter.

  “Poppy.” Tripp’s younger sister greeted her like a long lost friend. “Are you as desperate for a latte as I am?”

  Poppy grinned. Something about the perky blonde with the wide smile always lifted her spirits. “I love a good latte.”

  “Let’s get one then. Unless you have other plans?”

  Poppy saw the look of hope on Hailey’s face and recalled that like her, the young woman had only recently returned to Jackson Hole. After checking the time, Poppy gestured toward the door. “Lead the way.”

  They ordered then took the drinks and the salad Poppy hadn’t been able to resist to a table by the window.

  Poppy stabbed a piece of endive with her fork. “How do you like being back in Jackson Hole?”

  Hailey sipped her latte and heaved an appreciative sigh before responding. “I enjoyed going away to school and the year after graduation I spent working as a speech therapist in Denver. But when my dad got so sick and it looked, well, bad for him, I needed to be close.”

  “How’s he doing?”

  “Much better.” There was no mistaking the relief in Hailey’s voice. “A new chemo regimen ended up being an answer to our prayers.”

  “Now that his health has improved, will you be returning to Denver?”

  Hailey appeared to give the question some thought then shook her head. “I didn’t realize just how much I missed my family until I came back. I like having dinner with my parents and hanging out with Tripp and Anna. I always wanted a sister. I now have one in Anna.”

  “The move worked out.”

  “It did.” Hailey took another sip. “Other than I don’t have a job. Unless you count being a part-time server at Wally’s Place. But I’m a speech pathologist. I want to work in my field.”

  “Something will turn up.”

  “I’ve applied everywhere.” A shadow passed over Hailey’s pretty face. “I’ve come close, but they ended up hiring someone with more experience.”

  “That’s tough,” Poppy said.

  “My mom says everything happens in God’s time.” Hailey’s lips twisted in a wry smile. “I only wish God and I could synchronize our watches.”

  Poppy understood the frustration in Hailey’s voice. “When I moved back, not having a job drove me crazy. You and I are alike in that way.”

  Hailey nodded and peered over the top of her cup. “There’s another way we’re alike.”

  Poppy cocked her head.

  “We’ve both dated Ben Campbell.”

  Poppy nearly choked on a leaf of lettuce. She took a gulp of the water she’d gotten in addition to the latte. “That’s true.”

  “He’s a nice guy, don’t you think?”

  “Very nice.” Poppy paused, considered the best way to tell Hailey that Ben had moved in with her.

  “I think he likes you more than me,” Hailey said philosophically, “though it appears neither of us have the inside track.”

  Poppy took a sip of water.

  “If we did, we’d be the one he’d asked to lunch.” Hailey gestured her head toward the door. “Instead of her.”

  Poppy swiveled in her chair. Her heart rolled. Standing in line to order was the father of her baby and his one time girlfriend, Mitzi Sanchez.

  * * *

  Ben had never thought of himself as being particularly intuitive. While he had good instincts and a brain made for problem solving, the sixth sense that so many people seemed to have eluded him. Until this moment.

  The tiny hairs on the back of his neck tingled and he turned toward the dining area. He spotted Poppy immediately, seated by the window.

  He lifted his hand in greeting. Both Poppy and Hailey acknowledged his wave before turning back to each other.

  “Who is it?” Mitzi asked. “More importantly, do they have a table big enough for us to sit with them? This place is packed.”

  “Let’s order first.” Ben turned back to the counter where Cole Lassiter stood, waiting to take their order.

  Cole was a local boy who’d started from nothing to become a successful entrepreneur. His multistate Hill of Beans empire was run out of Jackson Hole. His wife, Meg, was also a successful business owner, having started a physical-therapy clinic several years earlier.

  “They trust you to take orders, Lassiter?” Ben joked with an easy smile.

  “Keep that up and your order could mysteriously end up in the circular file,” Cole said, a wicked gleam in his eyes. “You’re looking especially lovely today, Ms. Sanchez.”

  Ben shifted his gaze. His colleague wore a green dress with boots. She looked nice, he supposed.

  Mitzi smiled. “Kelvin tells me your wife is really cracking the whip.”

  “That’s why I suggested he see her for his physical therapy when he’s in Jackson,” Ben told Mitzi. “Meg gets excellent res
ults.”

  “I’ll pass along the compliment,” Cole said, then took their order.

  Once they received their food, Ben scanned the crowded dining area. There appeared to be room at Poppy and Hailey’s table but he decided to take his food back to the office.

  “It’s crowded,” Ben told Mitzi. “Let’s bag this stuff and eat at the clinic.”

  “Where’s your spirit of adventure?” Mitzi’s eyes narrowed then lit up. “Unless they’re meeting someone, Poppy and Hailey should be able to fit us in at their table.”

  Without waiting for a response, Mitzi began weaving through the tables.

  Ben saw no choice but to follow.

  “May we join you?” Mitzi asked, resting her tray on the table.

  “Of course,” Hailey answered immediately.

  “Please, join us,” Poppy echoed.

  She’d been in bed when he’d left this morning. He didn’t think he’d ever seen the red suit she had on with the silky white blouse underneath. It looked good on her. Sexy. Poppy was meant to wear red.

  “Mitzi and I were at a continuing education seminar at the hospital this morning and decided to grab something to eat before heading to the clinic.” Ben felt compelled to explain, yet not sure why. He and Mitzi were in the same medical practice. There was nothing odd about them having lunch together.

  Then why does being with her feel wrong? Ben thought.

  “Poppy and I ran into each other outside and decided to grab some lunch,” Hailey said.

  “I thought you made a sandwich last night.” The words were out of his mouth before he considered them.

  “I did.” Color rose high in Poppy’s cheeks. “But I forgot the sack in the refrigerator.”

  Hailey paid no attention. She was too busy complimenting Mitzi on the necklace with copper strands and brightly colored stones that hung around her neck.

  But his colleague never missed a beat. Mitzi was an expert at reading between the lines and delving into the nuances of any situation.

  “How did you know she made a sandwich for lunch last night?” Mitzi asked him. “Did she call you up and tell you?”

  Hailey gave a snort of laughter.