by Janice Lynn
“She’s being prepped for surgery as we speak.”
“You’re the surgeon?” Worry etched her face at the unexpected visit from him.
“Yes, I’m Dr Manning.”
Lacey’s already pale face blanched further. He hadn’t come out here to increase her stress. Quite the opposite.
“Your mother is doing great. I expect a good outcome from her surgery. She’s strong.”
Lacey nodded, not looking convinced.
“If you want to wait in your son’s hospital room, I’ll call the moment I’m finished replacing the valve.”
“You’re sure?”
“Positive. It’ll be several hours before I’ll finish, but I will call you the moment I leave the surgical suite. There’s no reason for you to sit here all day. Go wait in your son’s room. You’ll know something just as quickly there as you will if you wait here.”
Lacey nodded. “Okay. If you’re sure, I’d rather wait with Caden.” Still looking hesitant, she bit her lower lip. “Just don’t forget to call me the moment you know something.”
“I won’t.”
Lacey stood and headed toward the door. That was when Oz noticed Blair. His breath caught in his throat. Wearing navy scrubs, she spoke to Lacey, gave the girl a hug, then turned to him. And smiled.
If he’d thought he couldn’t breathe before, he was totally hypoxemic now.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, joining her.
“Apparently the same thing you are. Checking on Lacey.”
“I didn’t want her to sit here all day when she needs to be with her son.”
Blair nodded. “That’s exactly what I thought. I came to tell her I’d call the moment the surgery ended so she could come back to the cardiac unit then.”
“Great minds think alike.” Oz smiled.
“Apparently we do, too.”
Natural and unguarded, her smile literally stole his breath.
“Are you implying we don’t have great minds?” He placed his hand on her back to guide her toward the cardiac unit so they could scrub.
“You do, Dr Manning. There’s no doubt about that. As for me—” she shrugged “—well, I get by.”
Oz wanted to ask what she meant, but Kanesha stepped around the corner. A pencil-thin black brow arched high when she saw Oz’s hand on Blair’s back.
Not meeting the nursing director’s amused gaze, Oz let his hand fall away in the hope of protecting Blair’s reputation from gossip, and headed into surgery.
Georgia Donelson’s pulmonic valve repair had gone without a hitch. The woman was now in ICU recovering. Oz at her side, Blair went to the pediatric floor and told Lacey the good news.
Although relieved the day had gone so well, Blair was nonetheless grateful when her shift came to an end and she stood in the break room, gathering her things.
“I just don’t see how I can, Reesee,” she said into her cell phone, glancing at her watch as she clocked out. “I’m supposed to sit with Dr Talbot tomorrow night so Oz can go out with friends. This is the first time in weeks that he’s made any plans, so I hate to cancel on him.” She’d been surprised when he’d asked her about sitting with Dr Talbot, had wondered if he’d wanted her to know of his social plans. Was he going on a date? she’d wanted to ask, but had bitten her tongue. She had no right to ask about his personal life. “Plus, I have Addy.”
Reesee wasn’t giving up easily. Her sister never did.
Blair sighed. “I know that it’s not every day you come across second-row concert tickets, but it’s just too short notice. I want to go. You know I want to go. But I can’t.”
“Stephanie is planning to visit with Dr T tomorrow night, too,” Oz said from behind Blair, causing her to turn. “I’m sure she wouldn’t mind staying with him until I return.”
What was he doing in the break room? She’d figured he’d already left the hospital.
“I can watch Addy for you,” he added, surprising Blair.
Oz babysit Addy? Her heart skipped a beat. She was so particular about whom she left her daughter with. There was Reesee, the neighbor lady who helped watch Addy prior to her starting school, a lady from church and Stephanie on the rare occasion, and that was it. She’d never left her daughter with anyone else other than schoolteachers.
Addy adored Oz, so that wouldn’t be a problem. But to watch her late into the night? Why did the thought make Blair’s stomach twist into knots?
“That is, if you trust me,” he added, probably thinking of Addy’s cut knee.
“It’s not that.” She put her hand over the phone’s mouthpiece. “You don’t have to watch her.”
“I know, but like you said, it’s not every day your sister gets offered second row tickets to see the concert of the year!” He grinned. “You should go. Addy will be fine.”
Blair was torn. She wanted to say yes, but could she? Oz wouldn’t ever intentionally hurt Addy, but what did he know about taking care of rambunctious five-year-olds? Plus, he’d asked her to sit with Dr T so he could have a rare free evening.
“I can’t impose on your plans like that.”
“My plans are nothing that Addy couldn’t go to with me. Just an evening out with some friends.”
So he wasn’t going on a date. Why did that relieve the dull ache that had settled in her chest when he’d mentioned his plans?
“Blair, I can hear what he’s saying,” Reesee pointed out. “You have to go. Tell him yes right now,” she demanded through the phone. “It’s been forever since we had a night out together, just you and me. You love music. For once, just let loose and have some fun just for you. Say yes because I’m not taking no for an answer.”
Her sister was right. She worked, cared for Dr T, worked on the fund-raiser and rarely did anything for the fun of it. Usually, when she did, that fun centered around Addy. How long had it been since she’d done something just for her? Just because it was what she wanted to do?
Blair eyed Oz, wishing her heart didn’t jump so. “You’re sure you don’t mind watching her?”
A mischievous look twinkled in his eyes. “If you don’t say yes, I’m going to ask your sister if I can go with her. For her personal virtue, you’d best tell her yes.”
Having heard him, Reesee laughed. “I’d take him, too. Addy told me he’s hot.”
Blair’s face heated. Addy had said that? Dear heavens, where had her daughter heard that expression? At school? Or from her aunt Reesee?
“Gee, you’d best count me in. I can’t have Oz sullying your virtue.”
But the way he was looking at her made Blair wonder if she wished he’d sully hers.
The smile on Blair’s face made Oz’s head spin. When she pressed the end button on her phone and slid it back into her scrub top pocket, she glowed.
“You enjoy the music that much?” he asked, unable to stop smiling in return.
Her green gaze widened. “Don’t you?”
“As much as the next guy, I suppose.” Oz leaned against the break room wall. God, she was beautiful. Sexy. Amazing. Intelligent. Totally off-limits. “I like his early stuff best.”
“Anything he sings is phenomenal. He just has that raspy voice that pulls me right in.” Blair grabbed her personal items. “Are you going to be at Dr Talbot’s tonight?”
“Yep. Stephanie’s coming by later, but it’ll just be me and him for dinner. Unless you and Addy plan to stop by.”
Why did he hope she’d say they would?
For that matter, why had he just agreed to babysit Blair’s daughter? True that the little girl had him wrapped around her little finger, but offering to babysit crossed a line Oz didn’t cross.
Ordinarily.
So why had he?
Hadn’t he asked Stephanie to sit with Dr T and Addy so he could ask Blair to go out with him and his friends? So why had he offered to take Addy with him? Why had he changed his plans like that? To babysit? Him? Mr Playboy Confirmed Bachelor and happily so. Babysitting.
Why did
he suspect he’d babysit a dozen nights just to see that smile on Blair’s face?
“Of course we’ll be by. I want to spend as much time with Dr Talbot as possible.”
He understood. Dr T looked weaker and weaker each day. Oz suspected the older man wouldn’t be with them much longer if something didn’t give soon. He just hoped his friend lived long enough to attend the fund-raiser, to see how many people turned out to show their love and support.
“Addy and I made a banana pudding last night.” Dr T’s favorite dessert. “Do you need me to bring anything else?”
“Nope. Where are you parked?” Oz followed Blair from the break room.
Blair’s face pinched. “Actually, Reesee has my car today. Hers wouldn’t start this morning and I let her take mine to Birmingham. I caught a taxi.”
She’d taken a cab?
“You should have called me.” He pushed the elevator down button. “I’d have picked you up this morning.”
“It wasn’t that big a deal.”
“I’ll drive you home.”
He could tell she wanted to argue, but then she smiled. “Thanks. That’s a friendly thing to do.”
Friendly.
Yep, that was all he was feeling toward Blair.
Oz brought Blair to her apartment building, went with her to get Addy from her neighbor’s and hung out while they got ready to go to Dr T’s.
While Blair changed out of her uniform and took a quick shower, Addy showed him her schoolwork, read him a story and told him about her day.
Warning bells sounded in his head. Warning bells that said the scene was way too cozy, way too white picket fence and domestic for Oz Manning.
But Addy’s adoring eyes as she snuggled in his arms had him ignoring the warnings, had him breathing in the scent of her shampoo and listening to her jump from one subject to the next with lightning speed.
Of course, focusing on Addy allowed him to ignore the fact that Blair was just down the hallway. Showering. Because he definitely needed to ignore what knowing that did to him.
Oz tugged on his collar, mentally giving himself a cold shower, and took the book Addy had just run off to collect for them to read together. Reading about a patchwork elephant sounded like just the thing to keep his thoughts off Blair.
Or at least distract him enough that he could pretend to.
When they were ready, he drove them to Dr Talbot’s. Oz and Blair cooked dinner together while Addy entertained Dr T. While the pasta boiled, Oz chopped chicken breasts into strips. When done, he grilled the strips. Blair made a gallon of sweet tea, then spread garlic and butter on toast.
“Look out.” Oz threw a noodle against the side of the cabinet, purposely missing Blair by inches.
She jumped back, laughing. “What’s that for?”
“Don’t you watch the cooking networks?” Stirring the ladle in the boiling pasta, he grinned.
“Um…no,” Blair denied, eyeing him oddly. “Do you?”
“I’ve watched all kinds of television since moving in with Dr T. Whatever catches his eye, I watch.” Oz sighed melodramatically. “He likes the cooking network. Lucky me.”
“You learned to throw noodles at the cabinets from the cooking network?” Her brow arched suspiciously. “Sounds to me like something a little boy would make up to cover for being naughty.”
He raised his fingers in a scout’s salute and winked. “On my honor. See.” He pointed to where the noodle stuck to the cabinet. “When the noodle sticks, it’s done.”
“Heart surgeon. Babysitter. Noodle thrower,” Blair teased. Her eyes raked over him, then returned to his, searching, asking for answers to who he really was, looking as if she’d like to peel away the layers to see the man beneath. To see the man he never let anyone see. “What other secret talents are you hiding, Dr Manning?”
Oz got the strangest urge to show Blair. To demonstrate every talent he had to the fullest of his capabilities.
Which was crazy.
Wasn’t he just like his father? Didn’t he forever bore with women and move on to the next? He didn’t want commitment or to have a person’s happiness depend upon him. He would never do to a woman what his father had done to his mother. Especially not Blair. She deserved better than a man like him.
“Oz?” Lips parted, she smiled tentatively up at him, her gaze dropping to his mouth.
She wanted him to kiss her.
If only he could without her paying the price.
“Here.” He shoved the Alfredo sauce bowl at her. “Mix this.”
She looked at the bowl. Looking confused, she reached for the sauce. Her fingers collided with his.
Tension sizzled back and forth.
Damn it. He didn’t need this.
Oz pulled back, but only managed to slosh hot water, splattering his finger. He wasn’t sure if the burn was from the water or Blair’s touch. Regardless, he yelped in pain.
“You burned yourself.” She grabbed his hand and marched him the few steps to the sink to run cold water over his fingers.
Treating him like a child, she held his hand under the water for several silent minutes. Oz stared at the intent expression on her face, the concern in her eyes, absorbed the gentleness in her touch when she examined his fingers.
“It may sting for a bit, but it’s only a first-degree burn. You’ll be all right.” She lifted his finger to her mouth and placed a kiss on the burn.
He swallowed. Hard. From the moment he’d met Blair he hadn’t been all right. Not really. She’d always made him unsteady, a bit undeserving, perhaps even a tad rebellious. It was why he’d always brought a woman with him on his trips to visit Dr T. Because he’d been attracted to Blair, but had known that attraction was futile and wouldn’t end well if he acted on it.
He still knew that.
That didn’t keep his body from responding to her tender touch.
She dropped his hand, her gaze meeting his in embarrassment at what she’d done. “Sorry, I—”
Oz didn’t plan his next move, would have denied that he was going to kiss her if someone had asked. But staring into Blair’s eyes, seeing such vivid emotions flash in the green depths, seeing passion—for him—he couldn’t resist, forgot all the reasons he was wrong for Blair. He lowered his head and kissed her full on the mouth, pressing her against the sink.
Damn, she tasted good.
Much better than pasta. Much better than the delicious banana pudding he’d snuck a bite of earlier.
He kissed her until he was breathless. Until she clung to him, kissing him with matching desperation. Until he knew he had to quit or he was going to lift her onto the counter and have her. Right then, right there.
Kissing Blair was one thing. Making love to her was something else altogether.
She brushed her finger over her swollen bottom lip. “A simple thank-you would have sufficed.”
Oz didn’t answer, just went back to their dinner.
Looked like they were having blackened chicken Alfredo.
Late the following night, Addy’s little arms reached for Oz. “Night, Dr Oz.” She stifled a yawn. “I love you.”
With only the slightest hesitation, Oz bent and hugged Addy, accepting her kiss. “Night, Pipsqueak.” He tucked the quilt in around her. “Sweet dreams.”
Addy fell asleep almost immediately. No wonder. They’d had a great time out on his friend’s sailboat. Addy had loved the sea, loved pretending they were pirates in search of treasure. She’d chattered nonstop from the time they’d gone out to the time she’d slipped on her pink pajamas from her overnight bag.
Sitting down on the edge of the bed, he stared at the sleeping little girl, battling another moment of nostalgia.
Not that he recalled ever being tucked into bed or having stories read to him. But spending the evening with Addy, feeling her genuine hug, was nice.
He’d taken her out to eat with friends, a few of whom had ribbed him about robbing the cradle. Oz hadn’t cared. He’d enjoyed his time with
the little girl much more than if he’d taken a date.
Unless, perhaps, that date had been Addy’s mother.
But he couldn’t date Blair, he reminded himself for what seemed like the millionth time.
Not when he couldn’t give her what she’d ultimately want.
He didn’t do commitment.
Hadn’t his father offered commitment to his mother? Just look at how pitifully that had turned out. They’d hurt each other over and over. They’d hated each other. When Oz’s father had died, his mother hadn’t even attended Oswald Manning’s funeral.
Nor was she able to see her son without reminding him how like his father he was. In looks and personality.
Was that how he wanted Blair to view him? As an incurable playboy? Hell, she probably already thought of him in that way. In the name of friendship she’d opened up to him, treated him differently, and he liked her trust. Was he willing to compromise their relationship by pushing for more when he knew more would ultimately destroy everything?
Could he ignore their kiss?
He liked Blair, was attracted to her, and would like to pursue a relationship with her. Only, he wasn’t sure how to define relationship.
In the past, his relationships consisted of his being totally upfront with the women he dated, telling them he wasn’t interested in commitment or long-term. That they’d have fun for however long the attraction lasted and then they’d go their separate ways. No fuss, no mess. Crass, perhaps, but his honesty had worked and his conscience had never bothered him.
The thought of delivering Blair that same sex-without-strings spiel pricked his conscience.
She deserved better than a man only willing to have a good time today and leave her tomorrow.
His gaze dropped to Addy’s innocent face.
Blair had already had a man do that to her once.
He reached out, pushed a lock of Addy’s golden curls away from her cheek. She could be an angel dropped straight from heaven. No wonder Blair fought so hard to protect her from the world. With the fierce protectiveness that filled him, he could only imagine the lengths Blair would go to protect Addy.
He admired the great job she’d done raising the little girl, for providing a stable home for her sister, for being a friend a dying man could count on till his last breath. Blair Pendergrass was a woman who committed to those she cared about, no questions asked, no whining about what might have been.