by Laura Scott
The line of friendship had been crossed, though, with their kisses. Her cheeks grew warm when she remembered how much she’d enjoyed his embrace. She hadn’t had any serious relationships with men over the last ten years, pretty much since David’s death. She’d been tempted a few times before, but not like this. Especially not with a resident who would only be around for a couple of months.
Still, the riotous emotions Ethan stirred in her were difficult to control. Would it be so bad, she wondered, to allow the relationship to stray down a different path? One where she didn’t have to keep him at arm’s length for the sake of her mission?
She shivered. This was uncharted territory for her, and she didn’t know how to proceed. Or what the consequences might be. What if things didn’t work out between them? What if Ethan regressed as a result and all of her work was for nothing?
So far, her plan was working beautifully. Ethan was less serious and willing to do the right thing for Carly, even to the point of buying her a dream catcher when he didn’t believe in them.
Why, then, was she willing to sacrifice what was already working so well? And soon Ethan would be well on his way to a happier life with his daughter, and neither of them would need her at all.
If she were strong, she would resist the temptation of Ethan’s mind-drugging kisses. A relationship wasn’t worth the potential loss of the ground in her ability to rescue Ethan Weber from himself.
The knowledge didn’t offer comfort. Instead, it swirled through the hollow, gaping hole in her gut.
Kate hung on to her resolve to do the right thing, even while working alongside Ethan. Lucille grew agitated shortly before they were due to land, and she had to grab the woman’s hand when she wiggled through the strap around her wrist.
“Hey, now, don’t try pulling a Houdini,” Kate said to their patient. Little old ladies tended to be the best at magically getting out of their safety straps. She glanced at Ethan. “Do you think she needs something for pain, or do you think this is a result of her hypoxia?”
“I’m not sure. Give her two milligrams of morphine and we’ll see how she reacts.” Ethan shook his head with a wry smile. “I don’t know what it is with you and agitated patients. You seem to draw them like a magnet.”
“Tell me about it.” Kate suspected in this particular case thinking about Ethan’s kisses was partly to blame. “Reese, how soon until we land?”
“ETA seven minutes,” Reese responded. “Are you all right back there?”
“We’re fine,” she assured him.
They were able to transfer the patient to Trinity Medical’s intensive care unit without any problem. She and Ethan made sure their patient was fine before they headed back to the helicopter.
Thankfully, the day continued to be busy, with one call after another. Kate was glad for the distraction from her wayward thoughts. Finally, toward the end of their shift, things slowed down.
She concentrated on completing her paperwork, telling herself she was not avoiding Ethan. He sought her out, though, as she finished the last of her reports.
“Kate. I, uh, need to ask you something.”
His serious expression made her stomach clench. She braced herself. “Yes?”
“I just called home. Apparently, Carly is in rare form again. She’s hiding behind the furniture and shooting sponge arrows at our newest nanny.” The corner of his mouth twitched as if he were tempted to smile, but somehow he managed to maintain his serious expression. “I need to go straight home, so I won’t have time to stop and buy the dream catcher you mentioned.” He cleared his throat and shifted awkwardly. “I hate to ask anything more of you, but would you mind picking one up? I can get it from you during our next shift—we both work on Monday.”
“Of course! I don’t mind,” Kate assured him. “Don’t give it a second thought.”
“Thank you.” His voice lowered, sending ripples of awareness down her spine. “I owe you one.”
“You don’t owe me a thing. You saved my life, remember?” Kate quickly turned away to file her report in the proper folder because every instinct she possessed made her long to throw her arms around Ethan and kiss him. She forced a carefree attitude. “Besides, I’m always happy to help out a friend.”
He frowned as if not liking that reference, but the arrival of the oncoming shift forestalled further conversation. Kate followed Ethan into the debriefing room, eager to report off and then leave.
Forty-five minutes later, she was holding a beautiful dream catcher in her hand, the light in the store glittering off the beads that dangled from the carefully woven circle. At the counter, she hesitated. If she waited until Monday to give Ethan the dream catcher, Carly wouldn’t have it for the next two nights. What if the little girl suffered another nightmare? Ethan would go another two nights without sleep.
She paid for the gift, then headed out to her car, bending her head against the nippy wind. How would Ethan feel if she brought the gift over tonight?
Kate started her car and drove toward the interstate. She knew Ethan’s address, had seen it listed next to his phone number during the time she’d worked on the schedule for Jared. She’d noticed because Ethan’s house wasn’t very far from Lifeline. Stopping there on her way home wasn’t out of her way.
She drummed her fingers on the steering wheel and wrestled with her thoughts. No way did she want to barge in on Ethan at home, yet the thought of Carly facing another night filled with nightmares nagged at her. The child’s welfare was the most important thing here. Right? Right.
Before she could change her mind, Kate drove to Ethan’s house, battling a mixture of wary determination and thrilled anticipation.
Chapter Ten
Spring in Wisconsin could be brutal, Kate thought as she stood in icy wind and stared at Ethan’s front door. Finding his house hadn’t been too difficult, she’d recognized his car in the driveway. But now she doubted the wisdom of coming. How would he react to her spur of the moment visit?
Her concern over Carly having another nightmare was the only thing that gave her the courage to press the doorbell. Within moments she heard heavy footsteps, then the door opened.
“Kate!” Ethan wore a surprised expression, although he opened the door wide. “Come on in.”
He was dressed comfortably in a thin, long-sleeved green T-shirt, well-worn jeans, and moccasins. He looked great and smelled even better. An irresistible combination.
“I’m sorry to bother you, but I brought a gift for Carly.” She held up the pretty pink gift bag to show him. “I hope she isn’t asleep.”
“No such luck,” Ethan said wryly. He raised his voice, “Carly! Kate is here to see you.”
“Kate’s here?” Carly dashed in from where she must’ve been brushing her teeth in the bathroom, given the dab of neon blue toothpaste staining her pink Barbie flannel nightgown. Without warning, the little girl threw herself at Kate, clutching her tightly around the waist. “I’m so glad to see you.”
“I’m happy to see you, too.” Kate awkwardly bent to return the hug, smoothing her hand over Carly’s shiny blond hair. The silken strands were still slightly damp as if Carly had recently gotten out of the bathtub. She pictured Ethan painstakingly brushing his daughter’s hair and smiled. There was no sign of the pink Silly String, and she imagined he’d spent a long time getting the stuff out of Carly’s hair.
“Hey, give her a chance to breathe why don’t you?” Ethan’s teasing tone was the perfect way to lighten the mood. “Carly, why don’t you take Kate into the living room so she can sit down?” He turned to Kate. “What can I get you to drink?”
“Um, whatever you’re having is fine.” She could barely think when he looked at her like that, so intensely, as if her comfort was the most important concern on the planet. Carly relaxed her viselike grip but tugged on Kate’s hand, pulling her toward the sofa.
She sat down, then handed Carly the gift bag. “I have a special present for you, but it’s not a toy or anything to play wit
h,” she quickly cautioned, hoping the little girl wouldn’t be disappointed.
“I love presents,” Carly announced. She snuggled onto the sofa alongside Kate, then dug through the pink tissue paper. Carly gently pulled out the dream catcher, holding the woven eighteen-inch circle up by the loop on the top. The little girl’s wide gaze was full of appreciation. “Aww, it’s so pretty. Thanks, Kate.”
Kate smiled, secretly impressed at her polite tone. Ethan had done a great job raising his daughter. “Aren’t you going to ask me what it is?” Reaching out, she lightly touched one brightly colored feather hanging from the bottom of the circle.
“It’s a hangy thing, right?” Carly pointed to the woman painted in the center of the circle. “She looks like an Indian.”
“Actually, she is a Native American,” she corrected. “This is a dream catcher, Carly. The Native Americans are smart; they know that sometimes kids like you have nightmares.” Kate took the braided circle from Carly’s hands. “See this woman in the picture here? She’ll be watching over you, and whenever a bad dream comes, she’ll catch it and hold on to it before the bad dream can reach your mind.”
“Really?” Carly’s wide eyes, so like Ethan’s, were full of hope.
“Yes, really.” Kate stroked the feathers dangling from the bottom of the circle. Ethan entered the living room and set a soft drink on the table beside her.
“But how do you know it works?” Carly’s lower lip trembled.
“Because I had one when I was a girl.” Kate met Carly’s gaze straight on and kept her tone matter-of-fact. “I used to have lots and lots of nightmares, just like you. Then one day, my granddad bought me a dream catcher. I thought he was crazy, but he hung it over my bed anyway. And you know what? It worked. I didn’t have any nightmares with the dream catcher hanging over my bed. The dream catcher caught each one.”
“Let’s go hang it up in my room right now!” Carly jumped to her feet and grabbed Kate’s hand, tugging urgently, clearly eager to test the theory. “Come on.”
Kate laughed. “All right, but I think we’re going to need your dad’s help, too.” She met Ethan’s gaze over Carly’s head, silently begging him not to scoff at the dream catcher idea.
“I think it’s a great idea to hang it up right now. I’ve got some tools in the kitchen.” He momentarily disappeared into the other room as Kate followed an impatient Carly into her bedroom.
Kate imagined Carly’s room might have been designed by her mother, but she could easily imagine Ethan painting the white fluffy clouds on the pastel pink walls and the dozens of yellow stars on the ceiling. The room was absolutely perfect for a little girl like Carly.
“See if your dad can put a nail or something up there.” Kate gestured to the area of the ceiling directly above the head of Carly’s bed. “Then the dream catcher will hang about here.” She indicated the space with her hand.
“Can you do that, Daddy?” Carly asked when Ethan entered the room.
“Here, let me step up on Carly’s bed.” Ethan stood on the mattress and touched the star on the ceiling. “Is this where you want it?”
“Perfect.” Kate nodded.
“All right, then.” He deftly screwed an I-hook into the ceiling, then threaded clear nylon through the loop. “Hand me the dream catcher.”
Kate held up the braided circle, and he put one end of the nylon rope string through the loop, then tied it to the other end so the dream catcher dangled about two feet above Carly’s pillow.
“Thanks, Daddy.” Carly clapped her hands excitedly.
“Thank Kate, this was her idea.” He gazed at the Native American woman painted on the inside of the circle for a long moment before turning back to his daughter. “Now, it’s really late, Carly. Time for bed.”
“I know.” Carly nodded as if she had planned all along to go to bed without a problem. “Can Kate help tuck me in?”
“Sure. Crawl in, and I’ll give you a hug and kiss good night.” Kate drew back the covers so Carly could get beneath them. Then she bent down to give the child a hug and kissed her cheek. “Good night, Carly. Sleep tight.”
“Good night, Kate.” Carly yawned widely. ”Thanks again for the dream catcher.”
“You’re very welcome.”
“Wait for me in the living room, would you?” Ethan murmured as Kate moved past him toward the door.
She nodded, then left him alone with his daughter. In the living room, she stood awkwardly. The room was comfortable, toys strewn about as if Carly had played with them recently. A very healthy sign, at least in her opinion. Houses where kids played shouldn’t always remain neat and clean.
She crossed the room and picked up the soft drink Ethan had provided for her. The root beer was sweet and tangy on her tongue. Her muscles tensed when Ethan walked down the hall and into the room.
“Thanks for waiting.” He grinned one of his killer smiles. “And thanks for bringing the dream catcher. I really hope it works.”
“I hope so, too. All it takes is a little willingness to believe.” She took another sip of her root beer.
Ethan gestured to the sofa. “Please, sit down.”
It was a bad idea. She already felt way out of her depth, being in his house with him. Oh, sure, Carly was right down the hall, but that didn’t make this feel any less intimate.
He must’ve sensed her hesitation. “Please? You have no idea how long it’s been since I had a non-work-related, adult conversation.”
She sat, mostly because her knees went weak. “We talked at the waterpark all day yesterday,” she protested.
“I know. And I enjoyed myself, at least up until the part where you hit your head and nearly drowned.” Ethan sat next her, his lean, denim-clad legs brushing lightly against hers. She inwardly groaned, regretting the fact that she was still wearing her flight suit. Couldn’t she have run home first and dressed a little more nicely? No, because that would put too much meaning into this little impromptu visit. Which was for Carly’s benefit, not hers. Or Ethan’s.
Pull it together, Lawrence. She forced a smile. “I’m glad. I wanted you to have fun.”
“Did your granddad really buy you a dream catcher when you were eighteen?” He eyed her doubtfully over the rim of his root beer.
“Yeah, he did. And before you ask, the dream catcher did work for the most part. The nightmares came far less frequently after he hung it up for me.”
“Maybe you subconsciously were over the worst of them anyway,” Ethan countered.
“Maybe. Does it matter? Isn’t the most important part that Carly believes?”
He sat back against the sofa cushions. “I suppose you’re right. I’d do anything, even standing on my head and singing the national anthem, if I thought I could chase her nightmares away.”
Kate giggled. “Please. I’d love to see that.”
A wry grin tugged at his mouth. “I’m glad you stopped over tonight, Kate.”
He was? She took a gulp of her root beer so fast she nearly choked. “I’m glad, too. You both could use a good night’s sleep. Maybe Carly won’t wake up tonight.”
“I hope she won’t, but that’s not why I’m glad to see you.” He reached out and tucked a strand of her blond hair behind her ear. “I like spending time with you.”
Oh boy, she was in deep trouble now. Her pulse raced, and her head felt distinctly wobbly. With an effort, she set down her root beer, careful not to spill any. “I like spending time with you, too, Ethan. But really, it’s late and you must be exhausted. I should go.” If she were smart, she’d run as fast as she could.
“I’m not that tired.” As if he sensed her inner struggle, he pulled her close, his voice husky. “Don’t go.”
She couldn’t have moved even if she’d tried. Ethan eased her into his arms, giving her all the time in the world to pull away.
She didn’t. The first brush of his mouth against hers was tentative, the soft caress wasn’t nearly enough. She wanted so much more.
“Ethan
.” She breathed his name, her hands splayed against his chest. There was nothing to interrupt them this time. No way to pretend this kiss wasn’t happening.
“You are so bright, so beautiful.” He cupped her cheek with his palm, holding her gently as he leaned forward to kiss her again. Being held by Ethan felt so right. She hadn’t ever gotten close to one of her projects before.
Not like this.
The kiss went on for several long moments. She felt a little like they were a couple of teenagers. Only instead of their parents coming in to find them, they had to worry about Ethan’s daughter looking for a glass of water. The thought made her laugh.
Ethan raised his head, his eyes dark with emotion. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing.” When his gaze narrowed, she hastily explained, “All right, if you must know, we’re funny. I don’t think I’ve ever spent time on the sofa kissing a boy since I was, well, eighteen.”
Uncertainty flashed in his eyes, and she immediately regretted her thoughtless comment. “I don’t have anything against it, mind you, except, well, I keep looking over my shoulder, expecting my granddad or my parents to find us.”
“Or my daughter.” Ethan dragged a weary hand through his hair, putting a little distance between them. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry.” She leaned forward and kissed him again. “But it’s probably better if we take things a little slow.”
He laughed without humor. “Slow. You’re killing me, you know that, right?”
Kate wanted to burst out laughing again, but she knew that Ethan wouldn’t appreciate why she thought this was funny. Instead, she tipped her head to the side and regarded him thoughtfully. “I’m sorry.”
He let his breath out in a rush. “No, don’t be silly. I’m the one who’s sorry. I’m being a jerk. You have every right to take things slow.”
“Ethan.” She hesitated, unsure what to say. She didn’t want to let on that this was new territory for her. That she’d never been in a romantic relationship with a man she’d taken on as a project before. Especially not with someone she worked with.