Surgeon Boss, Surprise Dad

How dared he?

If she could have managed to get down the steps, she would have gone to give him a piece of her mind. She didn’t want him doing her yard work.

Or pulling weeds out of her rose garden.

Kelly’s warning flashed through her mind.

No, she was not being stubborn. Was not just reacting out of fear or hurt. She’d given her heart to Adam on a silver platter and he’d trampled it. There was no going back for them. They’d had their shot and blown it.

Emotion spurred her on and, keeping her weight balanced on her good foot and one head gripping her walker, Liz pushed the front door open. “Get out of my grandfather’s roses.”

Adam pulled more grass from the mulched ground, before glancing at her. “You shouldn’t be up.”

“Dr Bell told me to get up and move around as much as I felt like, just so long as I kept my weight off my bad leg.” She swung her cast around in a little spin.

Adam brushed the dirt from his fingers and straightened from his crouched position.

She angled her walker out the door, supported herself with her arms, and took a step onto the porch.

Adam practically leapt beside her. “You’re going to fall. If you want to come outside, let me help you.”

“I don’t need your help.”

“Quit being so stubborn, Liz.”

“Why does everyone keep accusing me of being stubborn?” she asked in exasperation.

“You’re kidding, right?” he asked with a sheepish grin.

Liz didn’t take the bait. He couldn’t charm her with that devastating grin. “F

ine. Help me. After being in the hospital so long, I want some fresh air. Help me to the swing?”

Without another word, Adam swooped her into his arms and carried her to the wooden swing. Paint peeled from the edges of each slat, revealing the multiple coats of paint that had been applied over the years.

“I didn’t mean this kind of help,” she protested, wondering why he still hadn’t put her down in the swing. She didn’t like being in his arms. Didn’t want to be in his arms. Much.

But he did smell wonderfully male, felt wonderfully male.

“Then you should be more specific, Liz,” he warned. “Because I’m going to take you into my arms every chance I get.”

“Don’t say that.”

“Why not? It’s true.”

“You are absolutely the most confusing man I’ve ever met,” she complained.

“Which is why you love me so much.”

Adam knew he’d pushed his luck by the sour look that came over Liz’s face. Actually, she’d already had a fairly sour expression, but she wrinkled her nose and glared.

But she didn’t deny his claim. Which gave him hope.

He sat down in the swing, keeping Liz in his lap with her feet on the opposite side of the swing.

“Put me down.”

“Can’t.”