The Doctor's Secret Son

Tugging her hand free from his, Chrissie stepped back to the side of a tent.

“Absolutely. CCPO fund-raisers are always the best fun,” another chimed in.

“The first day and we’re already sneaking around in the shadows.”

“Which should tell you something.”

She sighed. “That I’m crazy?”

“That there’s something between us.”

More than he knew.

“That doesn’t mean we should act on that something,” she tried to reason, reminding herself that she had to think of Joss, not her crazy body’s reaction to him.

“Should I apologize that I want you still, Chrissie? Do you want me to pretend I don’t find you attractive?”

Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. “If I said yes, would you?”

He studied her a moment, then took on a slight look of remorse. “If you said yes.”

Say no. Say no. Say no.

Chrissie wasn’t sure where the inner voice was coming from, but the phrase beat in perfect rhythm with her racing heart.

“I know you’re struggling with this, Chrissie. I see it in your eyes when you look at me. I felt it in your kiss. You wanted to let go and just feel, but wouldn’t allow yourself.”

He certainly had her pegged.

“My question is why?”

“Been there, done that,” she reminded him.

“Was our time together so bad?”

“No, but I’d like to think I’ve learned a thing or two over the last four years.”

“Such as?”

“Such as I shouldn’t get mixed up with sexy strangers.”

“I’m not a stranger.”

“Sure, you are.”

His brow inched upward. “You believe that?”

“Yes.”

“Then we should get to know each other this weekend.”

She narrowed her gaze suspiciously. “To what purpose?”

“To know each other. There doesn’t have to be a purpose beyond that.”

In the flickering light of the shadows, Chrissie stared at him. Get to know Trace? Why?

What about when Joss asked about his father years down the road?

Simple things like what was his favorite color and had he played sports or had any major childhood illnesses? Shouldn’t she know how to answer her son? Wouldn’t it be horrible to have to say she didn’t know anything beyond the fact that Trace had seemed a likable, good person, and had made her laugh and feel as if she was sexy?

He still made her feel sexy.

Every time his eyes lit on her, they shifted as if molten gold had been poured in their depths. Trace wanted her. Whatever the attraction between them was, it was powerful. The way he looked at her made her feel beautiful, desirable. It was a heady sensation.

“You’re talking get to know each other as in not biblically know each other, right?” she clarified.

He chuckled. “Make no mistake, my ultimate goal is to physically ‘know you’ again. But for the moment, I am talking get to know each other as in not biblically.”

She wanted to say yes, but knew she’d be toying with dynamite. “I’m not sure.”

“It’s obvious you’re attracted to me,” he pointed out.

“Okay, fine, you’re an attractive man and I’m not blind.” If not for Joss, would she even be hesitating?

“You’re saying any attractive man would do?”

“That’s not what I’m saying.”

“Then that makes me special?”

More so than he knew.

His look of triumph made her nervous. “Are you fishing for compliments, Trace? Because, if so, you grabbed the wrong woman from the medical tent. Dr. Gianakos would be more than happy to be your fluffer.”

At her comment, he grinned and shook his head. “I got the right girl and want her complimenting me. Come on, no more serious talk. Let’s go have fun for a few minutes then we’ll get back to work.”

“Okay.” This time she met his hand halfway when he reached for hers and tried not to overanalyze how amazing it felt to simply hold his hand.

* * *

Chrissie had never seen such a huge area of bubbles before.

Agnes had set up a special non-slip floor and then had machines create mountains of bubbles. Currently, hundreds, maybe thousands, of children and adults alike danced and played in the bubbles to the directions of the emcee in a bubble-a-thon fund-raiser.

“Put your right hand in. Put your right hand out,” he instructed.

“You have extra clothes?”