Second Chances: A Romance Writers of America Collection (Stark World 2.50)

Therese, thank goodness, seemed less annoyed. Though puzzlement drew tiny lines across her brow, her luscious lips twitched in what looked like suspicious amusement. He took a deep breath and tried again.

"What I meant to say is that I saved a carton of eggs for you. Just in case you made it in. I was starting to worry."

"Really?" she asked, showing a dimple he'd never seen before.

His mouth and brain went dry again. "Yeah."

The dimple deepened. "Well, I did cut it pretty close to the wire." She glanced over her shoulder at the huge wall clock. "Wow. Really close to the wire. Sorry about that."

"No problem," he replied, drawing on every ounce of self-possession he had and pulling the eggs from the fridge. He slipped the carton into the turquoise market basket on her arm and smiled. "What else do you need today?"

The flare in her eyes nearly knocked him loopy again, but he managed to keep it together and help her choose green peppers, tomatoes, and an assortment of fresh herbs. Then they came to the squash, and he very nearly bolted across the table when she picked up a large, ripe zucchini, met his eye, and licked her lips. But before he could throw her to the floor and ravish her next to the checkin desk, she dropped the vegetable on the pile and started laughing as though she'd heard her first joke. A moment later, she wiped her eyes.

"I'm sorry," she said, merriment still dancing through her words, "I've no idea what's come over me today."

He knew, or thought he did. Remembered the euphoria as though it were only yesterday. "Last appointment?" he asked. "All clear?"

She nodded gleefully. "Just this week. Yesterday in fact. And I feel ..."

"Like you ju

st woke up from a very strange dream?"

"Kinda, yeah."

"Like you could fly?"

"Exactly."

"Like you never knew what it meant to be alive before?"

"Yes!" Her eyes glowed so brightly he thought they might zoom off to settle somewhere more appropriate, like maybe the night sky. Then she cocked her head, and her gaze turned penetrating. "Wait, how do you know?"

"Been there," he said, trying for a lightness of tone to offset the gravity of his confession.

She stared at him as though she'd never seen him before. Which, he supposed, she hadn't, not really. Sure, they'd met at the market nearly every week for months and the few words they'd exchanged at first had gradually grown to actual conversations. He'd emailed her a few recipes. She'd emailed him a few questions. He'd seen what he hoped were the seeds of interest in her eyes before, but he'd understood her preoccupation and been willing to wait until ... now, apparently. He was half afraid it was too soon, too early. But with the opening in front of him, he might as well take it. He'd learned not to take later for granted.

"Listen," he said, "would you want to get some coffee? The cafeteria here isn't bad, you know."

She peered at him so long he thought she'd refuse, then smiled. "I'd like that," she said. "But ..."

His heart sank. Well, hell.

"But can we go across the street to the coffee shop? I want to be normal today."

Oh hell yes they could. He'd go pretty much anywhere she asked him to at the moment. Instead, he nodded, took her money, and then slipped the zucchini into her basket. "I don't think I could sell this to anyone else," he said, hoping the innuendo wasn't too much. "Consider it a congratulatory gift."

AS THEY CLAIMED THE coveted comfy chairs, hot drinks in hand, she realized she'd been thoughtless.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't even ask if you needed to be somewhere else or if your produce would be okay. The hospital cafeteria would have been faster." But she hadn't wanted quick, she'd wanted time--time to ogle his work-hardened body while she explored the story behind the man. She only hoped he was as interested.

"I'm right where I want to be," he said, a low thrum of intensity underscoring the words.

Her toes curled, and relief crept across her shoulders. She was on a da-ate! Well, sorta. Close enough. Okay, so they were probably going to talk about it, but that was fine. She did want to get to know him better. When she'd left the house that morning, she'd been elated, flying high. She hadn't thought much past seeing him again and flirting a little. In fact, she'd worried a bit that he'd only been nice because he felt sorry for her, that she'd mistaken kindness for budding attraction. But the excitement in his face when she'd entered the center had pretty well wiped those fears away, and the way her heart skipped when she laid eyes on him told her she'd moved beyond physical attraction. Finding out about their shared experience added a depth to the possibilities between them that she hadn't anticipated, and she wanted to see where it could go. Always assuming they were on the same page. Why did she keep thinking that? Gary, of course. She'd have to talk to her therapist about that one next time. Just to reassure herself, she crossed her legs, letting the hem of her skirt inch up her thigh a bit. The gleam in his eye put her uncertainty to rest, and she settled more comfortably into her chair, anticipation and curiosity humming beneath her skin.

"I'm interested," he said, his tone half-teasing.

Oops, busted. A flush crept across her cheeks. "Ahem, yeah, well, you know."