Diagnosis: Daddy (Doctors in Training 1)

“We can’t go on like this indefinitely. This roommate/nanny thing, I mean.”

“We never intended for it to be permanent. It’s just until you’re past the first two years of med school and I’m ready to start my doctoral training. Until Alexis feels settled and secure with you and we can make other arrangements for her out-of-school care.”

“So we pretend this never happened.”

She lifted a shoulder. “I’m not sure that’s possible. We’ll consider it a pleasant interlude that’s better if not repeated. For many reasons. For all our sakes.”

He smiled, but there was no humor in his eyes. “Very wise. Logical and sensible.”

Was he mocking her? She eyed him hesitantly, unable to read this new mood. “Connor—”

Backing away, he held up his hands, palms outward. “You’re right, of course. As always. Thanks for sharing the movie and dinner with me tonight, Mia. I needed the break. And now, I’d better get back to studying. I’ll be in my room with my books if you need anything.”

He was gone before she had a chance to respond. She heard his bedroom door close with a firm snap that was just short of a slam.

Testosterone, she reminded herself unsteadily. It wasn’t easy for a guy to go from revved up to idle in a few short minutes. Wasn’t easy for her either, for that matter, she thought as another deep shudder coursed through her.

But they were doing the right thing. She was sure that once he’d had time to regroup a little, Connor would agree with her. He’d probably even be grateful that she’d spared them any future regrets if they’d let things get out of hand between them tonight. As for any other type of regrets…

Shaking her head, she moved toward the kitchen, hoping a cup of herbal tea would help her relax enough to even consider sleeping.

A pleasant interlude.

Mia’s prim words echoed in Connor’s head long after midnight as he sat at the battered little desk in his bedroom, glowering at the barely touched stack of books and notes in front of him.

Was that really all it had been to her? The explosive kiss had damned near knocked him on his butt, leaving him hard and aching and almost incoherent, and that was how she described it? A pleasant interlude?

Either he wasn’t nearly as good a kisser as he’d believed…or she had been downplaying like crazy.

Whatever the reason, she’d made it clear enough that she wasn’t interested in taking full advantage of the remainder of their night of privacy.

She was probably right about the reasons why they shouldn’t cross any more lines between them, he conceded grudgingly. All of her arguments were logical and credible. He was in no position to start anything with her or anyone else. He had to put consideration of his daughter before any desire of his own. And he did have a lousy track record with women—although he couldn’t say he appreciated Mia pointing that out at that particular moment.

Yet he was still sulking. Was it because she’d been the one to effectively call a halt and not him? Or because he hadn’t wanted to stop at all? Maybe he secretly believed it might have been worth the fallout had they taken those powerful kisses to their logical conclusion.

Growling beneath his breath, he threw himself on his bed and stared up at the ceiling, doubting he’d manage much sleep, if any, that night. Aware that Mia lay just down the hall—was she sleeping? Or lying awake thinking about him? And of what might have been between them that night?

Maybe tomorrow he would be relieved that they’d reined themselves in. But tonight, his body aching and his thoughts chaotic, gratitude was the last thing on his mind.

Mia, Connor and Alexis joined her family in Hot Springs for a big Thanksgiving dinner. Connor’s dad was out of town on one of his many sales trips, so Connor would have been on his own for the holiday had Mia not invited him to her family’s gathering. It had taken a little arm-twisting to convince him to accept, but he’d given in when Alexis had added her pleas.

Watching him talking and laughing with her father and brother as they followed a ball game on her dad’s big-screen TV, Mia thought he was probably glad he’d let himself be persuaded. He’d certainly enjoyed the meal, putting away impressive amounts of the food she and her mother and sister-in-law had prepared, and he seemed to be having a good time now.

“Guys and their ball games.” Carla shook her head in bemusement as she and Mia wiped down the kitchen counters while Mia’s mom watched the kids play in the backyard on this pleasantly mild afternoon. “Your Connor certainly fits in well with those sports nuts.”

Although she tried to smile, Mia felt the need to point out, “He’s not my Connor.”

“Figure of speech,” Carla assured her airily, filling the kettle for tea.

Mia still wasn’t convinced that her family didn’t secretly believe there was something more between her and Connor than friendship. She’d been aware that they’d watched them all afternoon with varying degrees of subtlety. If Connor had been conscious of the scrutiny, he’d done a good job of masking it. He’d been quite charming during the meal, answering questions about his medical studies, talking sports with her dad and brother, teasing the children, looking perfectly at home.

She liked seeing him here among them. Liked it a bit too much, probably, but that was her problem, and one she would keep to herself.

Things weren’t exactly back to normal between her and Connor since that lapse of judgment last week, but they’d both made every effort to pretend nothing had changed. Connor had immersed himself in his studies again, and Mia had busied herself with work and Alexis. Mia and Connor hadn’t been alone together since Alexis had returned from her sleepover, bubbling with excitement and stories about all the fun she’d had with McKenzie and Kayla.

Just as well, she assured herself. She and Connor didn’t need to put themselves into any more potentially precarious situations.

She just wished she could make herself stop thinking about those kisses. Dreaming about what might have been…