The M.D.'s Unexpected Family. Cindy Kirk

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СКАЧАТЬ him didn’t date girls like her.

      The pizza caught for a moment in her throat before she determinedly swallowed it down. Only one thing mattered. Tonight, he was hers and they would have fun. She’d make sure of it.

      “Cassidy.”

      Startled, she blinked away thoughts of her past and looked up to find him staring. At her. More specifically, at her bright pink lips.

      Her heart played hopscotch in her chest as Tim leaned forward, reaching out to her, carefully avoiding the pizza that sat between them.

      Cassidy held her breath.

      “You have a piece of—” the side of his finger brushed her mouth and sent heat shooting through her blood “—cheese.”

      She gave a shaky laugh. “Guess you can’t take me anywhere.”

      He smiled, but there was a strange heat in his eyes. Or perhaps she’d simply imagined it, because a second later it had vanished. “You look lovely tonight.”

      “Thank you. I wanted to do something in honor of Old West Days.” Though Cassidy loved flashy dresses and short skirts, for today’s festivities she’d chosen a pair of jeggings that hugged her long, slender legs like a second skin. She’d topped the tight pants with a bandanna tee in lime green. A bright blue belt cinched the shirt tight around her waist. Cowboy boots completed the ensemble.

      Though she’d momentarily considered pulling her hair up in a stylish tail, at the last second she’d decided to let it tumble loose around her shoulders, better to show off several thin streaks of lime near the front.

      Cassidy knew she looked her best. She’d made sure of it. But she wasn’t the only hottie in the room. “Allow me to say, Dr. Duggan, that you look übersexy this evening.”

      Her gaze lingered on his white polo and sun-bronzed, muscular arms.

      Tim laughed a bit self-consciously.

      “No lie. Jeans, white shirt and buff bod do it for me every time.”

      He laughed. “Now it’s my turn to thank you. I can’t remember the last time anyone told me I was sexy.”

      “You’ve obviously been hanging around the wrong women.”

      He only grinned and moved the conversation to her business, something Cassidy could talk about for hours. In addition to her hair salon, Clippety Do Dah—that happened to be doing a rockin’ business—last year she’d expanded into hair, makeup and nails for special events.

      “Is Hailey still helping you out?” Tim asked.

      Speech therapist Hailey Ferris was a genius with makeup. For the past couple of years she’d been helping Cassidy with special events.

      “Not anymore. Too much on her plate. Wife to Winn, mother to Cameron and now being pregnant...” Cassidy lifted her hands and let them drop. “That’s not even taking into account her speech therapy clients.”

      “I forgot that she’s part of that multi-therapy clinic Meg Lassiter started,” he said, referring to another of their friends.

      “Her plate totally runneth over.” Cassidy took another bite of pizza. She was happy for Hailey, truly she was, but Cassidy really needed the help. “She told me she’ll fill in when I’m desperate, but knowing her situation I won’t ask.”

      “Do you have a replacement in mind?”

      She shook her head. “I’ve been beating the bushes and coming up empty. If you know anyone—”

      “I may.”

      Cassidy vowed if he said Jayne Connors, she was going to slug him. Or throw up. Or maybe both.

      “Jewel Lucas.”

      The slice of pizza hovered an inch from Cassidy’s lips as an image of the dark-haired woman with the vivid green eyes came into focus. “I thought she worked for the paper?”

      “She does special features, but it’s not anywhere near full-time.” Tim relaxed against the back of the wooden booth. “I ran into her at the grocery store last week and she mentioned she was looking for another part-time job. Kids are expensive. And she’s a single parent.”

      Jewel had given birth shortly after high school graduation. Supposedly the father could have been any one of a number of guys. The pretty brunette had always marched to the beat of her own drummer. Something she and Cassidy had in common. “What makes you think she’s qualified?”

      “Caro used to say Jewel had a way with makeup.” He looked sheepish. “Forget I said anything.”

      “No. No. Thank you.” Cassidy paused. “How old is her son now?”

      “I believe Cullen is in middle school.”

      Another positive, Cassidy thought. “I’ll definitely keep her in mind.”

      The subject switched again and Tim found himself telling Cassidy little anecdotes about his daughters. To his surprise, her eyes didn’t glaze over and she seemed genuinely interested, especially when he got to the part about their fascination with the kittens.

      “I always wanted a pet when I was growing up.” A shadow passed across Cassidy’s pretty face. “There were some feral strays around the neighborhood. I’d feed them when I could. Still, they rarely got tame enough to pet. It’s hard to trust when you’ve been burned.”

      Silence hung between them for several moments.

      “My mother still has an available kitten.”

      “You should take it,” she urged, which wasn’t at all the point he’d been trying to make.

      He shook his head. “Pets are a lot of work.”

      Tim couldn’t help recalling Caro’s long-ago response when he’d once mentioned the possibility of getting a dog or a cat.

      “And messy,” he added. “I know my mother is always sweeping up hair.”

      “A little hair on the floor isn’t such a big thing.” She flashed a smile. “Speaking of hair, you’re due for a trim.”

      “I’ll give you a call next week and set something up.” Tim hesitated, realizing he wanted to see her again and not just for a haircut.

      He wanted to chat with her over dinner about her job and his practice, about kids and pets and mutual friends. He felt comfortable with her. And, as he’d discovered this evening, if he didn’t want to talk, she was more than willing to take the conversational ball and run with it.

      Should he ask her out for real? The moment the thought crossed his mind he remembered his daughters and the responsibility he carried. There was no way he could toss dating into the mix when his free time was already so limited.

      For now, he would enjoy this evening.

      Tomorrow was soon enough to return to the real world.

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