Healing Dr. Fortune (9 page)

When Jeremy and Max came back into the house in the late afternoon, grinning from ear to ear and clearly having enjoyed their time outdoors, Lily insisted that they stay for dinner, as well.

“It's up to Kirsten,” Jeremy said. “I'm game if she is.”

Feeling as if she'd somehow become a part of the Fortune family and basking in the acceptance, Kirsten had agreed.

So they'd had an early dinner of grilled chicken with a red sauce, Spanish rice and a zucchini and corn dish that Kirsten thought was especially tasty.

To top it off, Lily had brought out a lemon pound cake and servings of mango sherbet.

All in all, it had been a lovely day. And now they were saying their goodbyes.

“It's been nice having company,” Lily said, as she
walked them out to Jeremy's car. “I'm afraid that, since William's disappearance… Well, as much as I believe that he'll come back to me, it's not always easy to stay positive. And having company today helped.”

“I had a great time,” Kirsten told the older woman, as Max took the baby from her to secure him in his car seat.

Jeremy gave Lily a hug. “Thanks for being such a great hostess—as always. I'll be back after I take Kirsten and Max home.”

Moments later, they were on their way to Kirsten's house. As the car sped along the highway that would take them to nearby Red Rock, Max couldn't seem to thank Jeremy enough for the day he'd spent on the ranch. Every sentence seemed to start with “Ruben said…”

“I'm glad you're going to like working there,” Jeremy said.

“I love that kind of work. I can't wait to start.”

They rode along in silence for a while, then Max said, “Thanks for hanging out all day with me. I know you had other things you could have done.”

“Actually, it gave me an opportunity to relive all the summers my brothers and I used to stay on the ranch with Lily and Ryan. I probably had a better day than you had.”

“I doubt it,” Max said.

Kirsten couldn't help smiling at her brother's good fortune. The job was sure to be a godsend for both her and Max, yet she kept quiet, listening to the men talk.

After all, the trip out to the Double Crown had
been for Max's benefit; Kirsten had only gone along for the ride.

But what a ride it had been.

She settled back in her seat, her heart overflowing with warmth and pride. The day had unfolded nicely, leaving her pleased, content and…happy.

Her brother had a job he was excited about. And he was going to register for classes at the adult school on Monday morning, then drive out to the ranch to work for the rest of the day. She'd never seen him so enthusiastic about the future. In fact, he seemed like a whole new person.

And Kirsten had Jeremy to thank for that.

Her life, it seemed, had changed dramatically since meeting him—and in a wonderful way. Just his smile, his woodsy scent and his touch could set a thrill rushing through her.

She wasn't sure what to make of their romance, but she knew that she wanted it to grow into all that it could be.

The trip home was over before she knew it, and she found herself wishing the night would go on and on.

If Max and the baby weren't staying with her, she would have invited Jeremy in for a nightcap…and a whole lot more. But when the two of them made love, she wanted the mood and the atmosphere to be special, to be perfect.

So she'd have to settle for a good-night kiss. Though
settle
was hardly the right word, since Jeremy's kisses weakened her knees and turned her inside out.

After Jeremy parked the car at the curb, Max got out and removed Anthony from the car seat.

“Kirsten,” he said, “if you don't mind holding the baby for me, I'll switch his seat back to your car.”

“All right.” She took Anthony in her arms, glad to help. Yet she hoped Max would take the baby inside when he was finished and give them some alone time. She was eager for an opportunity to kiss Jeremy good-night. Maybe she'd even get an answer to the where-do-we-go-from-here question she'd been afraid to ask.

Fortunately, she didn't have to wait long. The seat had been transferred in no time at all. Then Max took Anthony into the house, leaving her and Jeremy outside.

As they lingered in the front yard, where the porch light cast a golden glow on them, she was again tempted to ask Jeremy to come inside—and to stay the night. But with Max in the house… Well, it just didn't feel right.

“Thanks for riding out to the ranch with us,” Jeremy said.

“I had a wonderful time. Lily is one of the nicest people I've ever met. She's a great decorator, hostess and cook.”

“I'm glad you liked her. She's always been special to me.”

They stood like that for a moment, caught up in the silence and the buzz of pheromones.

“I'd invite you in,” she said. “But…”

“I understand.”

“You do?”

“It's a little crowded in your house tonight.”

She wondered if he was as disappointed about that as she was.

“So how about dinner tomorrow night?” he asked. “I've got to attend a board meeting for the Fortune Foundation on behalf of the medical center on Monday, which is Valentine's Day. But we can celebrate on Sunday instead.”

Celebrate?
The day set aside for lovers?

That certainly sounded as though their relationship was progressing. And that her instincts had been right.

“It sounds great,” she said.

“I'm glad to hear it.” He cupped her face and brushed his thumbs across her cheeks.

Their gazes met and locked. Passion simmered in his eyes, and her heart raced. The anticipation alone made her rethink her decision not to invite him in the house, no matter who was inside.

Had that been a mistake? One she ought to remedy?

She wanted so very badly to drag him into her bedroom, lock the door and turn up the radio so that anything they said and did would be their secret to keep. But she wanted so much more than that for their first time.

As his mouth lowered to hers, she closed her eyes and parted her lips. Her arms looped around his neck, and she slipped into his embrace.

He kissed her deeply, thoroughly. And as their tongues mated, as their breaths mingled, she held him tight, wanting him. Wanting more.

His hands slid along the curve of her hips, resting on her derriere and staking an intimate claim. So she leaned
forward and rubbed her hips against his, making a claim of her own.

She wasn't sure how long the kiss lasted—long enough to make it difficult to stand without holding on. Long enough to stir an empty ache in the most feminine part of her.

Her only complaint was that it ended before she was ready to let go.

But then again, she wasn't sure if she would ever be ready to pull away from Jeremy.

“Maybe we ought to have dinner at one of the nicer hotels in town,” he said. “We'd have the option of getting a room, which might make things a whole lot easier.”

A boyish grin implied that he was teasing, yet desire had darkened the blue of his eyes, which made her wonder if he was testing her response.

“I'll wear my favorite dress,” she said. “And I'll go wherever you want to take me.”

There. She'd said it. And she'd been telling the truth.

She wanted to go wherever their kisses took them, be cause that last one had whispered of forever.

“I'll talk to you tomorrow,” he said.

She nodded, even though tomorrow seemed like a very long time from now. Then she stood alone on the porch and watched him turn and stride toward his car.

She struggled with the urge to call him back and to ask him about the future. Instead, she bit her tongue. She would just have to bide her time until he brought up the subject.

But that didn't keep the questions from bombarding her like buckshot.

Would Jeremy ask her to leave town and join him in California?

If so, would she go?

As much as she'd like to remain living in her house in Red Rock—with him—she realized that wasn't likely.

Jeremy had a successful medical practice in Sacramento. And being away from his colleagues and his patients had to be tough on him.

Of course he did have family here. And he'd taken a leave of absence and had no immediate plans to return to California—as far as she knew. He'd also started working at the clinic and seemed to like it.

Would he decide to stay in Red Rock?

He might. But
then
what?

Would he and Kirsten remain lovers? Or would they marry and start a family?

The questions were legion. And she both longed for and feared the answers.

A
fter Jeremy drove away, Kirsten went into the house and softly closed the door. She could hear Max talking to someone down the hall, and while she couldn't make out his words, she also felt his upbeat tone.

Had he actually chuckled? She hoped so. He'd been miserable for way too long, and it was good to see him happy for a change.

She walked past his closed door, then entered her own room. After shutting herself inside, she blew out a sigh. What a day this had been. And
oh,
she sighed, what a man.

A grin splashed across her face as she realized that Max wasn't the only one in the house who was happy.

While undressing in her private bathroom, she relived that amazing kiss she and Jeremy had just shared, a kiss
that had been more of a kickoff to foreplay than a way in which to end the day.

As she climbed into the shower and let the warm water sluice over her, thoughts of Jeremy sent her imagination soaring.

Soft music and candlelight.

Heated kisses.

Blood-stirring caresses.

Clothing falling by the wayside, bodies tumbling onto the bed in a fevered rush.

Making love all night long.

By the time she'd finished showering, she was sorry she'd let him go back to the ranch.

But she had, so she was stuck sleeping alone and dreaming of what might have been.

After putting on her most comfortable flannel night gown, she turned down the covers and climbed into bed.

The sheets were freshly laundered, the house was quiet and her heart was strumming with contentment. Still, it took forever to fall asleep. Her mind was too caught up thinking about what tomorrow night might bring.

She couldn't help wishing that he
would
take her to a hotel and that they'd end their date by making love.

Should she pack an overnight bag just in case? Should she tell Max that he'd be handling the baby care duties on his own since she might not come home at all?

Oh, good grief. Jeremy had been smiling when he implied that they could check into a room.

She'd sure be embarrassed if she walked out with her
makeup bag and toothbrush, only to find that Jeremy
had
been joking about the hotel.

Squeezing her eyes tight, she did her best to shut out the thoughts and try to sleep. But each time she started to drift off, she would imagine them in nearby San Antonio, walking hand in hand along the River Walk at midnight.

Or slow dancing at a trendy downtown jazz club to the sensual sounds made by a guy playing the sax.

She wasn't sure what time it was when she finally fell asleep, but it was well after midnight. She slept well, but certainly not long enough.

Just before seven, she woke to the hearty aroma of fresh coffee brewing. Deciding she could use a little caffeine, she threw off the covers and wrapped herself in a robe. Then she went into the kitchen, where Max was standing near the toaster, waiting for his bread to pop out.

He was smiling to himself, and she suspected it had something to do with his new job.

“It's nice to see you in a good mood,” she said, as she reached for a cup and poured herself some coffee.

“I can't believe it myself. Just last week, I felt like a loser. I didn't think I'd ever climb out of the rut I was in.

But with a couple good breaks, it seems like things are finally turning around.”

“You mean the new job at the Double Crown?”

“That, too. But I just got a call from Kelly Thompson last night, after I took Anthony into the house and put him to bed. And we talked for hours.”

Kirsten hadn't heard the name before. “Who's Kelly?”

“She's a girl I met while I worked at the feed store. You'd really like her. She's a lot like you.”

In what way?
Kirsten wondered.

Instead, she asked, “How long have you two been dating?”

“Well, that's just it. We went out for a couple months, but then I was laid off and couldn't afford to take her out anymore, which really sucked. I was so embarrassed about being unemployed, that I just backed off and quit calling her. Know what I mean?”

Kirsten nodded. That was what Max always did with her, too. He just withdrew.

“But seeing you and Jeremy coming together made me realize how much I missed having someone in my life, too. So I called Kelly on Friday and left a message on her answering machine.”

“And she called you back last night?”

“Yeah. Apparently, she wasn't going to at first. But then she gave in. We talked for a long time, and I leveled with her. She seemed to understand, so I asked her out to dinner. But I told her I was waiting on a paycheck, so it wouldn't be a fancy place.”

“I'm sure she was okay with that.”

“She was better than okay. She told me not to worry about anything. She had a new recipe she wanted to try out, and that I should go to her house for dinner instead.”

“That's great.”

“I think so, too.”

“Did you tell her about Anthony?”

Max's smile drooped. “No, not yet. I… Well, before I do that, I'd like to see how things go tonight.”

Kirsten could understand that. She still found herself tiptoeing around Jeremy, too.

“Anthony is precious,” she told her brother. “And if Kelly's the kind of woman you think she is, a baby won't scare her off.”

“I'm sure you're right. But having Anthony in my life also means that Kelly might end up having to deal with Courtney, too. And I hate to have that dumped on her.”

Kirsten had the same apprehension about letting Jeremy in on too much of that kind of drama. “Maybe we'll both luck out, and Courtney will be history.”

“I sure hope so. But she's kind of like a bad penny and keeps calling or showing up when I least expect it.”

“Just take it slow and easy,” Kirsten said.

“That's what I plan to do.”

When the toast popped up, her brother turned around and reached for the butter.

Kirsten took a sip of her coffee. She sure hoped Max's romance worked out for him, just as it seemed to be doing for her and Jeremy.

But speaking of romance, she really ought to tell Max that she had plans tonight, that she wouldn't be able to watch Anthony for him, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.

For the longest time, she'd feared her brother would
never be happy again. That he'd do something stupid and get into trouble. That he'd be a failure.

Having a nice girl in his life might make all the difference in the world. So how could Kirsten not look after Anthony for him?

She would just have to sacrifice her plans for his—which was what she usually ended up doing.

But wasn't that what love was all about?

Moments later, the telephone rang. She answered and found Jeremy on the line.

“What are you up to?” he asked.

“Just having coffee. Why?”

“No reason. I just called to say good morning.”

How sweet, she thought. The only thing nicer would have been to wake up in his arms and hear him say it to her.

“I also wanted to tell you that I made dinner reservations at the San Antonio Monarch Hotel,” he added. “Are you still willing to go anywhere with me?”

Boy, was she. But how did she let him know that their Valentine's Day celebration wasn't going to work out the way they wanted it to?

Come right out and tell him, she supposed. “There's nothing I'd like to do more than go with you tonight, but Max already has plans for this evening. And I've got to watch Anthony.”

“Can you get a sitter?” he asked.

“I don't know who I'd ask.” She blew out a sigh, realizing that she was even more disappointed than she'd thought she'd be. “But why don't you come over around
four? We'll have the house to ourselves. I can fix an early dinner, then we can…”

She didn't continue, but apparently, she didn't have to. “Sounds like a plan. I'll see you then.”

An hour later, while she was holding Anthony and trying to finish making a grocery list for the dinner she had planned, the doorbell rang.

“I'll get it,” she called out to Max, who was in the back of the house.

When she swung open the door, she spotted Cassie Rodriguez, the neighbor's daughter, on the porch.

“I was wondering if you'd like to buy some magazines,” the teenager asked. “It's for a good cause. My church youth group is going on a mission trip to an orphanage in Mexico, so we're trying to earn money.”

Kirsten smiled. “I'd be happy to buy a couple magazines, Cassie. Come on inside.”

“Cool.” The dark-haired teen grinned, revealing a shiny set of braces, as she entered the house and handed over the catalog. “Want me to hold the baby for you?”

“If you don't mind. Thanks.” Kirsten passed the infant to the girl, then took a seat on the sofa and began thumbing through the pages. “I'd like to order
Parents
magazine. And also
Better Homes and Gardens.
”

“All right,” Cassie said, adding, “Your baby is really cute.”

“Isn't he? His name is Anthony, and he's my nephew. If you don't mind holding him a little longer, I'll go get my checkbook.”

“I don't mind at all. I love babies. In fact, I watch over my little cousins all the time.”

While Kirsten went for her purse, she had a light bulb moment. The Rodriguez family was really nice. And since Cassie was experienced with kids…

As she returned to the living room, she asked, “Would you like to watch Anthony for Max and me tonight?”

“Sure. That would be great.”

Wouldn't it be?

Now Kirsten could tell Max that he would have to relieve the sitter when he got home from Kelly's house. And then she would call Jeremy back and tell him that their night in San Antonio was still on.

 

Jeremy hoped he hadn't made any false assumptions by thinking that Kirsten wanted to spend the night with him in San Antonio, but he'd seen the agreement in her eyes. So he let Lily know that he probably wouldn't be home tonight, that there was no reason for her to worry.

When he rang the bell, Kirsten answered, looking like she'd just stepped out of a beauty ad in
Cosmopolitan
magazine wearing a simple but classic black dress and heels. Her hair had been swept into a chic twist, revealing diamond studs that sparkled in her ears. But the precious stones weren't any more dazzling than her smile.

“You look beautiful,” he said.

“So do you.” She flushed, then gave a little shrug. “Well, you know what I mean.”

With her on his arm, he actually
felt
dashing.

“Are you ready to go?” he asked.

She seemed hesitant, then bit down on her bottom lip.

“Is something wrong?”

“No, it's just that…” She blew out a little sigh, then crossed her arms. “Should I bring anything other than a purse?”

He laughed, glad that he'd called it right, that she wasn't having second thoughts. “A toothbrush might come in handy.”

“Good,” she said, her eyes brightening. “I packed my makeup bag just in case. I wasn't sure if you were serious about…” She looked up at him, flushed again.

Damn, she was cute when she was off stride.

He smiled. “I guess you could say that I was covering my ass. If you wouldn't have liked the idea, I would have insisted that I'd only been teasing.”

“Aren't you tricky,” she said, as she went to get her bag.

Before walking out the door, Kirsten gave Cassie, the sitter, some last-minute instructions. “Max said he would be home by eleven. I hope that's not too late.”

“Not at all,” the girl said.

“Good. I left his cell-phone number on the kitchen counter. He said to tell you to give him a call if you had any problems.”

“Okay, cool. But I'm sure everything will be fine.”

“I'm sure it will be.” Kirsten thanked her again, and then they left.

“I'm glad you found a babysitter,” Jeremy said, as they headed for his car.

“So am I. In fact, when I told Max that I'd lined up Cassie to watch Anthony this evening, he was relieved to know we had some child-care options from now on.”

An hour later, they'd checked into their suite at the Monarch, a new hotel overlooking the San Antonio River Walk.

Kirsten held her breath when she opened the glass sliding door and stepped out onto the balcony. “Look at this view.”

He was looking. But it wasn't the San Antonio sights that were impressing him. It was the stunning beauty who had kicked off her heels at the door and had crossed the room in her bare feet.

She turned, and with her back to the city, faced him and blessed him with a stunning smile. “I've never been in a room like this.”

He'd never been
anywhere
with a woman like her. And while he'd planned to take her to eat at the five-star restaurant on the top floor of the hotel, he wouldn't mind having room service and enjoying the privacy of their room.

“Do you want to go to dinner?” he asked. “Or, if you like the view, we can order in.”

“Honestly? I don't mind eating in. It might be nice.”

“I think so, too.”

After looking over the room service menu, Jeremy ordered a bottle of his favorite Napa Valley merlot and the chateaubriand for two. Then he turned on some
soft music on the CD player and joined Kirsten on the balcony.

As he slid up behind her, he caught the whiff of her shampoo—something with an appealing fragrance. “I like the scent of whatever you're wearing. What is it?”

She turned to him and smiled. “It's called Lilac Garden.”

As her gaze zeroed in on his, he suddenly wanted to take her in his arms, to kiss her senseless. But what was the rush?

It might be best to get dinner out of the way first, although he was no longer hungry.