A Surgeon To Heal Her Heart

“You look like it’s all you can do to keep steady. Quit being stubborn and let me help you, Carly,” Stone insisted, his voice sounding off a little.

He had a point. Plus, Carly’s fingers ached from gripping the box so hard and she was curious why his voice wavered. “Fine.”

He took the box from her with an ease indicating it weighed no more than a feather, then beamed as if he’d done something amazingly chivalrous. Whatever had caused the waver, he was all smiles now.

“Lead the way.”

As in to her car.

She didn’t want Stone to see her reliable, but old sedan. Whereas most people didn’t notice the little details in Carly’s life that hinted things might not be fairy tales and roses, that sharp mind of his would question things she didn’t want questioned.

She didn’t want him making her question things.

Pushing the hospital door open and holding it for him, she sighed. “Of all the people who offered to help, it would have to be you.”

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you didn’t like me.”

“I don’t know you well enough to like or dislike you,” she said as she made sure the hospital door completely closed. “I only know you from the hospital and what little interaction we’ve had here.”

“I keep trying to correct that.”

“You want me to know you well enough to dislike you?” She pretended to misunderstand in hopes of redirecting the conversation. Besides, he deserved a little taking down.

Rather than look offended, he laughed. “I’m hoping you’ll swing the other way and like me.”

Fighting a smile, she narrowed her gaze at him. “But you’re admitting there is a distinct possibility I won’t?”

“It’s not been a big problem, but you wouldn’t be the first.” He cut his eyes toward her. “For the record, I’d prefer you like me.”

“Noted,” she said, keeping a step ahead of him as they crossed the employee parking lot.

“Go to dinner with me, Carly.”

He was asking her again. How could something be so unbelievably dreamy and such a nightmare at the same time?

“I can’t.” Part of her wanted to. Part of her wanted to grab her box and run.

Despite how she’d hightailed it from him earlier, she didn’t run from her problems. She dealt with them head on and chin up.

Just as she had with Rosalyn and the nurse’s aide’s teasing questions about Stone.

“Because?” he prompted.

Because she had to relieve Joyce. The retired nurse was wonderful, never complained if Carly worked overtime, but, otherwise, Carly always came straight home.

“Are you involved with a married man?”

Almost tripping, eyes wide, Carly spun toward Stone. “What? Are you crazy? Of course not. What would make you think that?”

His gaze, not so twinkly at the moment, stared into her eyes. “No one knows anything about your private life, yet you say you’re busy.”

She glared for real. “Because I’m not interested in you that means I must be sneaking around with a married man?” She rolled her eyes. “Get over yourself, Dr. Parker.”

He winced. “That’s not what I meant.”

“It’s what you implied and I don’t appreciate it.” Was that what he’d taken away from the short bits of time they’d spent together? That she was a woman who would mess around with a man who’d vowed himself to another woman?

“I’m sorry. That’s not what I meant to imply.”

Hanging onto her anger proved difficult when his apology was full of sincerity. Frustrated with herself, she put her hands on her hips. “Then say what you mean.”

He shifted the box. “Regardless of what I say, I upset you.”

“You should take the hint and not say anything, then.”

“What’s the fun in that?”

“What’s the fun in upsetting me?” she tossed back and took off toward her car in a fast walk.

“You’re right,” Stone said from right behind her. “I take no pleasure in upsetting you. The truth is I want to do the opposite.”

“You want to take pleasure in upsetting me?” She pretended to misunderstand, again. She felt contrary and purposely misunderstanding gave her a little reprieve. Asking if she was seeing a married man! The nerve. “Thanks, but no, thanks.”

Okay, she might be latching onto that to throw a wall between them. She needed whatever shield she could find to protect her from the charm he exuded.

Digging her key out of her pocket, Carly unlocked her old economy sedan, then hit the button on the car-door panel to unlock the back doors. She opened the backseat door, tugging a little extra hard where the door often stuck, then stepped back for Stone to put the box onto the seat.

He made sure the box wasn’t going anywhere if she slammed on her brakes or took a curve a little fast, then faced her. “Is it me, then, or men in general?”

“Is your ego so big that you just can’t fathom I’m not interested?”

He closed the car door and moved to where he stood right in Carly’s personal space. “My ego isn’t that big and if it had been, you’d have corrected that.”

Ouch.

“What I’d like,” he continued, “is to know why you say you aren’t interested when I’d put money on the fact you are.”

Hands digging into her hips, she glared. “You’d lose your money.”

“Would I?” His question was gentle rather than mocking. “I’m not sure what changed yesterday, Carly. I’m not blind. I’ve seen how you look at me. It’s the same way I look at you. With interest. If my delay in asking you out is the problem, know it wasn’t from lack of interest. On the days I haven’t worked, I’ve been traveling back and forth from Atlanta to settle up everything with my move.”

Any spunk Carly had left her like a deflating balloon.

Any woman would be flattered at Stone’s attention. If his ego had been huge, it would be with good reason.

And she was flattered by his attention.

But his attention was a distraction she didn’t need because she had to stay focused. Losing focus could mean everything falling apart and she couldn’t allow that to happen.

Plus, how could she in good conscience involve any man in her crazy life? Just look at how Tony had balked and her mother hadn’t been nearly as needful at that time.

She closed her eyes. “It would be simpler if you’d move on and forget whatever interest you have in me.”

“Do you remember when we first met?”

Stone’s question caught her off guard. Her eyes popped open and she stared at him.

“You were coming out of the medical supply room and bumped into me,” he continued, his gaze searching hers. “You almost fell over yourself apologizing.” A soft smile played on his lips. “I thought you were the prettiest thing I’d seen in a long time.”

Vanities were not something Carly had the time or money to indulge in. She kept her hair in a no-maintenance style of long and natural to where she could pull it up and not bother with highlights or salons. She hadn’t worn make-up since college. Money was too tight for such frivolities. His calling her the prettiest thing stirred up a thousand butterflies in her belly.

“I think that right now.”

His words set every butterfly into fluttery flight. Oh, my. Carly gulped.

“You must have had your eyes closed a long time, then.” She fought to keep from putting her hand over her stomach.

Studying her, he shook his head. “You were in these same blue scrubs, but had on different shoes. Your laces were bright orange rather than neon green.”

He remembered what she’d been wearing when they first met? That her shoe laces had been a different color?

“You are a lovely woman, Carly.”

To which she could only say, “Thank you.”

Embarrassed, feeling a little shaky at the knees, Carly glanced around the employee parking lot and caught sight of a co-worker curiously looking her way, the nurse’s aide who’d been with Rosalyn earlier.

The woman called out, “Goodnight.”

Carly waved and wished her a good evening as well, then frowned at the man still standing too close.

“She’s a wonderful person, but does tend to gossip. No doubt, everyone will know you were at my car with me.”

“Then we should give them something to talk about.” The eye-twinkle was back.

Horrified, Carly shook her head. “No, we shouldn’t.”

She needed her job, couldn’t risk anything creating waves at her place of employment. Not even the temptation in Stone’s eyes.

He sighed and raked his fingers through his hair. “You’re right. Sorry. I seem to have a one-track mind where you’re concerned. Give me your address. I’ll follow you home and carry the box inside.”

“Not going to happen.” No way would she be able to explain to Joyce why a handsome doctor had followed her home. Carrying a heavy box in wouldn’t begin to satisfy the protective older woman’s curiosity.

As for Stone’s one-track mind, why was her body heating up at the possibilities of what he’d meant?

“Are you capable of saying yes to anything I suggest?”

Yeah, she was being ornery. For her own safety and sanity. His, too.

“Probably not,” she admitted, giving a wry smile.

“I’m a pretty straightforward guy. I’d like to date you, Carly. I’ve been trying to get to know you and thought we were until yesterday. If my overhearing your conversation with Rosalyn upset you that much, I truly am sorry.” His tone was appropriately repentant. “I want to take you out, talk with you, dine with you away from the hospital, and eventually kiss those lips of yours that I find myself thinking about way too often.”

Insides shaking, heart pulled into a tug-of-war between need and want and guilt, Carly closed her eyes. “I can’t do this.”

“You can’t talk to me?”

“I can’t hear you say those things,” she clarified, not opening her eyes. In a tug-of-war of its own, her mind raced between logic and emotion and loyalty to her mother.

Stone wanted to date her. Stone wanted to kiss her. She’d not been kissed in so long. Not since Tony.

Suddenly the need to be kissed, to feel like a woman, to feel alive and wanted and young, burst free and filled every cell of her being to overflowing.

Which was what made Stone so very dangerous to all she held dear.

He could make a total disaster of her life.

“Because?”

Had his voice been closer? She thought so, but she didn’t open her eyes to check. She couldn’t look, couldn’t see whatever was in his magnificent green eyes.

Stone tempted. Tempted her to want things she shouldn’t want.

Couldn’t want.

Couldn’t have.

Which didn’t seem to matter because she was a woman with normal urges and he made all those urges come on full force whether she wanted them to or not.

Probably the rest of her life she’d look back and wish circumstances had presented her with the option to throw caution to the wind with Stone Parker.

To forget the pain of Tony turning his back on her.

To embrace all the warmth and urges Stone stirred.

Because she’d like him to kiss her. Had not been able to stop the late-night thoughts about what it would feel like to be kissed by him.

Now, he’d said he wanted to kiss her.

How was she ever supposed to get him out of her head when he’d verbalized things she’d fantasized?

“Carly?”

His voice was so close, her name whispered against her cheek.

“Hmm?”

“Open your eyes.”

She bit the inside of her lower lip. “I can’t.”

“There’s a lot of things you say you can’t do, lady.”

“Exactly. You should run.”

“I don’t believe there’s anything you can’t do.”

He was definitely closer. She’d swear she just felt his breath tickle her ear.

“For the record,” he continued, “I’m not going anywhere.”

The brevity of his words dug in deep, breaking through barriers that were best left alone.

“Not unless you tell me to,” he clarified. “Then I will leave you alone, because I’m not some psycho stalker, just a man wanting to date a beautiful woman.”

Tell him to go away.

Tell him sticking around is futile.

Tell him...

Stone’s lips brushed against her hairline, near her ear. Soft, gentle, tentative. Not a sexual kiss, but one full of longing and question and space. Space that gave her control of what happened next.

Carly’s eyes shot open, stared into his eyes, and she wondered at what she saw there.

Desire, confusion, so much she couldn’t label.

“Tell me you aren’t curious, Carly. Tell me I’m crazy when I look in your eyes and see a kindred desire. Tell me to put you in your car, watch you drive away, never think of you again, and I’ll try to do just that.”

Tell him.

Not to do so would be selfish.

Self-destructive.

But her lips refused to cooperate so she said nothing.

“Tell me what you want, Carly.”

She didn’t know what she wanted.

Not true. She wanted him to do exactly what he’d said he wanted to do. She wanted him to kiss her.

Crazy.

She wasn’t free to have a relationship. To pull some unsuspecting man into her chaotic life wouldn’t be fair.

Plus, with two jobs and her mother, she barely slept as it was. Where would she fit in a relationship?

She opened her mouth, determined to tell him she only wanted a professional relationship, that he needed to forget about her and whatever it was he thought he’d seen when she looked at him.

So why did she hear her address spill from her lips?

She was crazy. She couldn’t let him into her house, couldn’t let Joyce or her mother hear his voice.

Surprise lit in his eyes, then, with a smile, he nodded. “I’ll follow you home and carry in the box.”

What had she done?

And why?

Because she wanted to know what it felt like to kiss Stone?

It wasn’t as if she were actually going to kiss him.

Only in her deepest darkest late-night fantasies and even then she barely gave her mind license to imagine Stone’s lips against hers.

She’d made a horrible mistake by giving him her address. Just what did he think it had meant? If he was thinking he was staying the night, he was going to be in for a rude awakening when he realized an invalid woman also lived at Carly’s address.

Carly got into her car, leaned forward, and rested her forehead against the steering wheel.

Clearly, she’d lost her mind.

Or maybe, because she hadn’t been able to verbalize the reasons why they could never be, her subconscious had taken control, and was going to confront Stone with the harsh reality of why he needed to forget her.

That harsh reality had certainly scared off the last man Carly had brought home.

* * *

Had Carly given Stone a bogus address?

If she had, Stone couldn’t say he’d be surprised.

He hoped she hadn’t, but had to wonder. She’d thrown it out at a point where the last thing he’d expected was an invitation to her home.

She hadn’t technically invited him to her house, but hadn’t that been what giving her address to him had essentially been?

As he’d only moved to Memphis a month before and was still learning the city, he programmed the details into his GPS and noted she only lived six minutes from the hospital and about fifteen from him as he lived over the bridge on Mud Island.

At least, he’d know pretty quickly if she’d told him the truth. And if she hadn’t?

Well, that should tell him that she wanted him to leave her alone.

Only she didn’t want that. He knew she didn’t.

She hadn’t even been able to say the words.

He’d flirted with her at the hospital on more than one occasion. She’d flirted back. Not overtly, but her smiles and sassy eye flashes and little laughs at his jokes had all been leading up to something. What had happened yesterday that had her scurrying back?

No matter how many times he replayed the conversation, he couldn’t fathom what had put her on the defensive.

Not quite liking the looks of the run-down neighborhood and having been warned not to go wandering around parts of Memphis he was unfamiliar with, Stone questioned again if Carly had given him a made-up address. He turned onto her street, and, best as he could tell, the houses on the street were small, older, but decently cared for.

His GPS told him he’d arrived at his destination and he pulled up his SUV outside a small once-white frame house that even in the dark he could tell needed some major TLC. Much more so than the surrounding homes.

That surprised him.

Carly was meticulous in her care of patients and all that she did at her job. To ignore upkeep on her home didn’t fit what he believed about her. He could be wrong, but he struggled to wrap his mind around the neglect that registered.

He wouldn’t have guessed her to live in the house of obvious worst repair on her street.

Then again, maybe she rented the place and her landlord was the slacker.

As a nurse, she made a decent salary to where she could afford to move if she was renting and things weren’t up to par. If she had some long-term lease that had her trapped in the run-down house, maybe he could call on a lawyer friend to get her into something better maintained.

He would help her find another place.

A place closer to his on Mud Island.

There was another car, a much newer sedan, parked in the drive beside hers. Did she have a roommate?

She must have just pulled into the short gravel driveway right before him as when he turned off the SUV’s engine and opened his door, Carly got out of her car.

“You really didn’t need to do this,” she said immediately, before he could ask about the other car. “Yes, it’s bulky, but I would have gotten the box inside without any problems. I was doing just fine before you came to my rescue.”

“No need to risk hurting your back when you have me.”

Whether she wanted him or not, he planned to help Carly because he suspected more was going on than met the eye with the woman who’d captured his imagination.

CHAPTER FOUR

STONE WAS AT Carly’s house.

Now that he was there, what was Carly supposed to do with him?

Let him carry the box to her porch and send him away?

It was what she wanted to do, what she was tempted to do.

Somehow she didn’t think he would agree to it though. He had that “let me be your knight in shining armor” look that she’d seen in the movies her mother enjoyed watching, but that Carly had never seen in real life.

Until now.

If Stone went inside, it was quite possible her mother would be asleep and Carly could avoid that explanation. But Joyce would be there and ready to head to her home to spend the evening with her husband.

Joyce seeing Stone would raise questions. From Joyce, but perhaps more so from Stone.

Maybe she could have him set the box just inside the doorway and get him back outside prior to Joyce realizing they were there. Before Stone realized there was someone else in the house.

Unlikely, but she could try.

Or she could just tell Stone everything.

Which made her stomach hurt.

She didn’t want him to feel sorry for her or feel obligated to offer help. The past had taught her people might think they wanted to help, but most only offered idle words.

She had this. She could take care of her mother.

She could, she was, and she would.

Or was it that she was afraid he’d pull a Tony?

Wasn’t that what she actually needed him to do? What would be best for her and Stone?

So, why was she hesitating?

“It’s no problem,” Stone assured her, pulling Carly back to their conversation as he lifted the box out of her backseat.

“Thank you.” She shut the car door then moved ahead of him to unlock her front door.

She turned, wondering if Stone would be agreeable to drop the box in the foyer and leave.

Maybe she was a runner after all, because if she could escape this moment, her tennis shoes would be getting a desperately needed workout.

Stone carried the box, stopped just inside the doorway and asked, “Where would you like me to put this?”

She pointed to a small wooden bench that had once upon a time belonged to her long-gone grandparents. “Right there is fine.”

He set the box down. “What’s in this thing, anyway?”

“Stolen goods from the hospital.”

His eyes narrowed.

Nerves still shaking up her insides, Carly grinned. “Gotcha.”

His lips twitched. “Maybe a little.”

“It’s expired hospital supplies that were going to be tossed,” she admitted, wondering if she was strong enough to toss him out the front door before Joyce saw him. The nurse must have been tied up with Audrey or she’d have already greeted Carly.

Stone glanced toward the box. “What do you do with the supplies?”

She shrugged. Best to stick with the truth. “Use what I can and donate the rest. Let’s go back outside.” Please. “I think I left something in the car.”

“Oh.” He turned toward the front door, but they were too late.

“I thought I heard voices in here,” Joyce said, entering the room, then stopping when she spotted Stone.

Carly’s stomach dropped.

Startled, Stone glanced toward Carly, then back at the woman who was gawking at him as if she didn’t believe her eyes. She must not have because she was adjusting her glasses as if they’d stopped working.

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