“Mama, hush,” Ann Marie hissed.
Sean had heard enough. He hated to leave the young girl to fend for herself but his and Cynthia’s presence wasn’t helping the situation. “Ann Marie, Cynthia and I will go now that your parents are here. We’ll call and check on you. Let me know if you have any problems. My buddy Dr. David Mills will be in here soon to look at your foot. He’s a nice guy. You’ll like him. Get him to show you a picture of his pet ferret.”
Ann Marie gave him a weak smile. “Thanks, Sean. Cynthia. Sorry I messed up the party.”
Cynthia stepped to the bed with shoulders squared and head high as if she were daring the girl’s parents to say anything. “You don’t worry about that. We’ll have plenty of ice cream and cake left. When you get home I’ll send Rick over with some.”
“That sounds great.”
Cynthia went out of the door ahead of him. They stopped at the nurses’ station, where he let them know he was leaving and that Ann Marie’s parents had arrived.
“What was that all about?” he asked as soon as they were out of earshot of everyone.
“I guess it’s about the fact that I am responsible for my two brothers and that Ann Marie’s parents don’t think I’m doing a good enough job. I appreciate your support back there. You’re a good guy, Dr. Sean Donavon.”
Was this feeling of pride in his chest the same one as a knight of old experienced when he saved a damsel in distress? He sure hoped so; he rather liked it. “I know it’s been an emotional few hours and you’re probably ready to get home but I need to run this report upstairs to my buddy’s office.”
Cynthia gave him a weary look. “It’s not a problem. I’ll just wait in the car.”
“You sure? You could ride up with me if you want.” Sean hated to leave her sitting in the car.
She took a second to answer. “Okay.”
“I’ll go out and get it.”
“I’ll go with you,” Cynthia said in a sad voice. He wished he could put that upbeat sound back into it. “I need to walk off this anger I’m feeling ever since Mrs. Lucas showed up. My parents would be so upset to know someone thought so poorly of our family.”
Hoping to make her feel better, Sean said, “I, for one, would consider the source or give her the benefit of the doubt because her child was hurt and forget it.”
“I wish it was that easy.”
His gaze didn’t leave her face. “I know it isn’t.”
They walked to the car, he got his file and they returned to the building. He led her to a staff elevator and they rode to the fifth floor. There they walked down the hall to where there were a group of nondescript doors.
Sean knocked on one of them. A voice called, “Come in.”
Sean glanced back at her and she said, “I’ll just wait out here.”
A few minutes later he joined her again. “All done. Let’s go.”
She nodded and they headed back down the hall toward the elevator. On it once again, Sean looked her as she took a spot on the opposite side of the car. Studying her as she watched the floor numbers light up, he noticed a small blob of yellow in her hair. “You have some paint just at your temple.”
Cynthia pushed at her hair but missed the spot.
He reached out and brushed his fingers against her skin. Sean didn’t miss the catch in her breathing as his hand continued into her hair. Removing the paint, he showed it to her on the end of his fingers. “See?”
She looked at him wide-eyed as if all her senses were on alert. His certainly were. Cynthia smelled of grass, sunshine and a hint of something that could only be hers alone. Her skin had been smooth as a flower petal. She looked wild and vulnerable in her sweatshirt and jeans with her hair slightly disheveled.
A whispered “Oh” escaped her lips.
The only sense he hadn’t experienced was her taste. He wanted to. Would it be as good as he’d imagined? He leaned forward, his mouth moving toward hers. The bell of the elevator announced they had reached the lobby.
Cynthia jerked back, and he straightened. He’d been so close to what he was searching for. A charmingly guilty look came over her face as three people stood on the outside of the elevator looking at them. She hurried out. He followed more slowly.
Sean was feeling anything but embarrassment. It was more like need, want, desire, lust...
* * *
Cynthia was still trembling from the almost kiss when they reached Sean’s car. Even in her fantasies she’d not gone that far. Had he really been going to kiss her? She would never have thought a man like Sean would ever be interested in her. With his looks and beautiful voice a tall, leggy blonde who wore tight dresses seemed more his style. Yet, he’d almost kissed her and she hoped he tried again. Soon.
Sean was ready to pull out of the parking lot when she said, “I live out in Bessemer.”
He nodded and turned into the traffic headed south. “I didn’t want to ask until we were alone but would you mind telling me about what happened to your parents?”
She didn’t want to go into her family dynamics but Sean deserved an explanation. She looked out of the window, but not really seeing anything. “My parents died a few years ago in a car accident. Since I was of age I assumed guardianship of my brothers. It hasn’t been easy all the time. Mark hasn’t always stayed within the lines but we’re still together.”
“Mark?”
“Yeah. My other brother. He is in college and has a part-time job. He had to work this evening. He should be at home when we get there.”
Sean glanced at her. “How old is he?”
“About to turn twenty,” she said in a flat tone.
“No wonder. He was about, what, seventeen when your parents died? Hard age to lose your parents.”
“Day after his eighteenth birthday. He took it hard. We all did.” She hadn’t talked about this in a long time. She had focused on living. Making each day the best she could for herself and her brothers. Now they were both adults but she still felt a responsibility to see they had a good start in life. Saw fun in life.
“So how old were you when you became their guardian?”
“Twenty-one.”
He let out a long whistle. “That had to be tough.”
“Not really. I was determined our family would stay together. I wouldn’
t have had it any other way.” It hadn’t been. She knew what she had to do and had done it.
“I’m impressed. Not everyone’s willing to sacrifice like that.”
She couldn’t imagine anyone not putting their family first. “I was taught that family was everything. I was not going to let us be split up. The boys needed to stay in the same school, have the same friends, stay in the only home they have known.”
“So you gave up nursing school to take care of them?”
She shrugged. “Not gave it up as much as postponed it. I did what had to be done at the time. Nursing school could wait.” She would do the same again.
“It seems that a lot would have to wait to devote your life to others for years.” He said it as if he’d never known someone who’d sacrificed for their family. Or couldn’t believe that anyone would.
Thankfully traffic was light and they were turning into her drive only a few minutes later. Her family home was a simple one-story brick on a tree-lined street in a rural neighborhood. Nothing special but it was theirs. She liked this time of day when lights shone through the windows of the other houses. It gave her a sense of security to know she was surrounded by others.
When he’d turned off the engine she turned to him. “I can’t say thanks enough for your help.”
He smiled. “I have to admit it was a different evening for me. Especially the paintball. It was fun.” Sean sounded surprised by that.
“Even the part where you had to take Ann Marie to the hospital?” Sean really was a gorgeous man. But she’d found other things to like about him besides his looks and voice. He’d been great with Ann Marie, even more amazing with her parents.
Sean shrugged and chuckled. “Every doctor loves a trip to the hospital.”
She laughed. “I guess they do. I’m glad you were there. Having a doctor along in an emergency is reassuring.” Add another positive. A good sport. She could fall for this guy. And that idea was crazy.
“It wasn’t like you needed me. You could have handled it.” He glanced at the house.
“I appreciate the vote of confidence. Would you like to come in for some cake and ice cream? It’s not much in the way of a thank-you but it’s the best I can do.”