In Love with John Doe. Cindy Kirk

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ away from his family? Dissed his friends? Was he a jerk? Is that why no one had been with him? Why no one had come forward?

      Jack stared out the window at the falling flakes, adding and discarding possibilities until his head began to ache. He massaged the back of his neck trying to ease the tightness. All he had were questions. Not a single answer.

      He wasn’t sure how long he stood there. It took the loud growling of his stomach to pull him from his reverie. When it continued to rumble, Jack remembered Coraline’s invitation.

      His lips tipped upward. Finally, a problem with an easy solution. Grinning, Jack headed to the kitchen.

      “That was excellent.” Jack sat back from the oval wooden table and heaved a contented sigh. “I can’t remember a better meal.”

      Lexi exchanged a glance with Coraline. She tried but couldn’t keep her lips from twitching.

      “Go ahead and laugh. I’m well aware this is my first meal outside of the hospital.” Jack’s brown eyes danced with good humor. “Yet, even without anything to compare against, I know good food when I taste it.”

      “Thank you, Jack. I’m happy you enjoyed it.” Coraline rose to her feet. “Believe it or not, it’s time for me to start getting ready for dinner.”

      “I’ll help.” Lexi started to rise but Coraline put a hand on her shoulder and pushed her back down.

      “Absolutely not.” Coraline’s smile softened her words. “This is your opportunity to relax and spend time with your little girl.”

      “But I want to play checkers with Sarah.” Addie tugged her mother’s sleeve. “You promised if I was better today, we could play. You promised. You—”

      “Addison, cut the whine,” Lexi said firmly before turning her gaze to a clearly curious Jack. “Sarah is Addie’s age. Her father is in Jackson on business and she and her mother came with him on this trip.” Lexi settled her gaze on her daughter. “You may play with Sarah until dinnertime. After that you’re stuck with me.”

      Addie popped up from the table like a jack-in-the-box. “Can I go now?”

      The child danced from one foot to the other, her voice quivering with excitement.

      Lexi’s heart overflowed with love for her exuberant child. It was hard to believe she’d once prayed that the positive pregnancy test was a mistake. Now she couldn’t imagine her life without Addie in it. “What do you tell Coraline?”

      The child stopped hopping. Her smile disappeared. Confusion blanketed her face.

      “Thank you.” Jack spoke behind his hand in an elaborate stage whisper.

      Addie’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree.

      “Thank you, Coraline.” Addie flung her arms around the woman. “Lunch was fabulicious.”

      “A compliment doesn’t get much better than that,” Coraline said with a smile.

      Addie turned back to her mother. “Can I go now?”

      “May I go now,” Lexi gently corrected. “And yes, you may.”

      “Yippee.” Addie raced from the kitchen without a backward glance.

      “Slow down,” Lexi called out.

      Before the child had even disappeared from sight, Coraline started clearing the table.

      Though Coraline had insisted she didn’t want help, Lexi wasn’t about to sit around and let her do all the work. She’d barely started to rise when Jack appeared behind her, pulling back her chair.

      “Allow me,” he said smoothly.

      Lexi smiled, impressed by the chivalrous gesture. “You’re quite the gentleman.”

      “I guess I am,” he said after a long moment. “I hope so, anyway.”

      Lexi’s heart went out to him. She couldn’t imagine what it’d be like to be a stranger in your own body.

      Ignoring Coraline’s protests, Lexi gathered up the glasses and Jack scooped up the silverware. While they finished clearing the table, Coraline began loading the dishwasher.

      Lexi had just started teasing Jack that if he wasn’t careful Coraline would be putting him to work fulltime, when the older woman cleared her throat.

      “I don’t mean to kick you out.” She glanced down at her watch. “But—”

      “You need to start dinner,” Lexi said with a grin. She knew better than to offer assistance again. The older woman had already made it clear that Lexi was off-duty tonight. “Jack and I will find something to keep us busy.”

      Once they were in the hall, Jack stopped her. “You don’t have to babysit me. I’m sure you have your own stuff to do.”

      Even though less than an hour before she’d been hoping for an out, her heart gave a little ping. “If you’ve had enough together time, I understand.” Lexi met his gaze. “But if you’re worried about imposing, don’t be. If I had something to do, or somewhere else to be, I’d tell you.”

      “You’re as spunky as your daughter.” The admiration took any sting from his words.

      “I guess Addie comes by it honestly.” Lexi twisted her lips in a wry smile. “But if I start twirling around, stop me, please.”

      He laughed. “What do you propose we do now that twirling is off the table?”

      His gaze locked with hers and suddenly, without warning, the world stood still. The chatter from the housebound guests in the great hall faded and Lexi found herself drowning in the dark depths of his eyes. And when his gaze settled on her lips, they began to tingle.

      What would it be like to kiss him, she wondered? To have those perfectly sculpted lips pressed against hers …

      He took a step closer and when his hand touched her hair, desire rose inside her.

       Married.

      The word slammed like a snow shovel against the side of her head.

      He could be married.

      Lexi took a step back.

      His hand dropped to his side.

      “We’ve got a couple hours,” Lexi said when she finally found her voice. “What would you like to do?”

      “I’m game for anything that will help me remember.”

      Though his tone was joking, Lexi knew he was serious. She pondered the possibilities as they continued down the hall into the Great Room. Because of the weather, their options were limited. “I’ve an idea. You know those getting-to-know-you playing cards that were all the rage a couple years ago?”

      He tilted his head. A smile played at the corners of his lips. “Do you really think I’d remember something СКАЧАТЬ