The Doctor's Secret Son

Truth was, every second with Trace was an adventure. Had been every second she’d ever been in his presence.

When he led her to a gas-powered, four-wheel-drive all-terrain vehicle, reached into his cargo-shorts pocket and pulled out a key, Chrissie couldn’t hide her surprise.

“What are you doing?”

He grinned. “What does it look like I’m doing?”

“Where are we going?”

“I told you. On an adventure.” He opened the backpack the food-station woman had given him and dropped the bottled waters into it. “You mind wearing that? I would, but I’d rather have you pressed against me without a bag with our lunch in between us. Plus, I don’t think you’d be nearly as comfortable.”

“Not a problem.” She slid the straps over her shoulders, letting the bag hang against her back. It wasn’t super heavy, despite being stuffed full.

He handed her a helmet that had been hanging from one of the handle bars. “I know it’s hot, but I want to make sure I keep you safe while we’re on our adventure. Helmet on. Can’t have us being the ones needing use of the medical station.”

Staring at the machine nervously, she took the helmet. “I’ve never ridden on one of these. I’m not sure I’m going to like it.”

If her nerves at the mere thought of just climbing onto the four-wheeled machine were any indication, she was pretty sure she wouldn’t.

“Sure you will. You’re an adventurous kind of girl.”

Ha, that was a joke and a half. Unless working and spending every other spare moment with her son qualified as adventurous. Although she loved the unknowns of her nursing job and Joss was full of life and kept her hopping, she didn’t think many would qualify work and motherhood as making her an “adventurous’ kind of girl.

“Not that adventurous.”

In reality, she supposed many would consider her boring, but she didn’t feel that way with Trace, nor was he looking at her as if he found her boring.

“Except with you,” she added. “You bring out my adventurous spirit.”

Putting on his helmet, he grinned. “Works for me.”

“What?” she asked, sliding the helmet on and fiddling with the strap until she had it snapped into place and snug beneath her chin.

T

oo bad they didn’t make full-body helmets. She’d feel safer.

“You only being adventurous with me.” He checked her helmet, then climbed onto the ATV and patted the seat behind him. “Hop aboard my chariot.”

She snickered, not budging from where she stood, staring at the machine. “Some chariot.”

“Don’t judge a chariot by its ugly green color. It’ll get us where we’re going.”

“Which is?”

He just grinned and patted the seat again. “I’m more of a show kind of guy than a tell kind of guy.”

“Yeah, I remember that about you, but it’s a vague memory. I may need a reminder soon.”

He laughed, but didn’t even try to steal a kiss, which he easily could have. Although there were vehicles and several motor homes around the area, she didn’t see a single person. Maybe she should steal a kiss. Maybe that would distract him from wanting to go anywhere on the four-wheeler.

But part of her wanted to know what he had planned.

A strong enough part that she took a deep breath and steeled herself for whatever the “adventure” brought her way.

Hoping she didn’t make a fool of herself by being terrified of riding on the four-wheeler, because, seriously, she wasn’t feeling brave at all, Chrissie climbed on behind him.

“Wrap your arms around me and hang on,” he advised when she settled onto the vehicle.