Josie cringed at the word “little.”
Houston’s head snapped up.
What was in those pale eyes besides surprise? Pleasure, impatience, curiosity? She couldn’t tell. He was unreadable again, his face revealing nothing more than if he’d been wearing a surgical mask.
“Dr. Adkins,” he said. “What a surprise.”
His tone infuriated her, anger ripping through her without warning. They weren’t at the hospital. She had slept with him two feet from where he was sitting, right by that very coffee table only four days earlier and she’d sewn his chewed up leg back together. He could call her Josie.
The retort on her lips was swallowed, mindful of his mother standing there watching them both.
“I wanted to see how you’re doing.” She smiled brightly. “I thought maybe you could use some help from a friend.”
Before Houston could even respond, his mother touched her arm. “That’s wonderful, what a sweet offer! Are you busy right now,cara?I want to run to the store, since Houston doesn’t have a thing without mold in his refrigerator. But I don’t want to leave him alone, you know. Would you mind staying with him for an hour?”
Houston looked belligerent, revealing his feelings on being left alone with her. “Mom, I don’t need a babysitter. You can go to the store whenever you want.”
Said the man who couldn’t even pick up the remote. She’d love to see him trying to fix something to eat, or walk to the bathroom without falling on his face.
“Or just order stuff,” he added.
“And let some stranger pick out my produce? God forbid.”
“I’d love to stay, Mrs. Hayes. Take your time.” Josie went around the coffee table and picked up the remote. She set it by Houston’s left hand, brushing her arm against his, pausing to smile at him.
Eyes narrowed, he watched her. “Thank you.”
His mother was already heading for the door, scooping up her purse. “Oh, thank you so much, Josie. I’m sure Houston will appreciate having someone to talk to besides his old mother.”
“My pleasure,” she said, as the front door opened and shut. Josie couldn’t help but quirk her lips a little as she perched carefully on the coffee table. “Your mom seems nice.”
His expression softened just a little. “She’s a hell of a lady.” Then he rolled his eyes. “But she’s driving me nuts.”
Like Josie imagined she was right now. “So, can I get you anything? A drink? Coffee? Tea?”Me.
If it had been anyone else, she would have questioned him about his injury, inquired how he was feeling, expressed her sympathy. Instinctively, she felt all of those would irritate Houston. So she strove to be cheerful and matter-of-fact.
Normally impeccable, his black hair looked like he’d struggled to comb it with his left hand and given up, and his right hand was resting protectively on his waist.
He groaned. “Oh, God, don’t you start mothering me too.”
Josie glanced again at him, only lower this time, running her eyes across his rigid thighs as she licked her lips. “Mothering you wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.”
He caught the innuendo, as she’d known he would. The sound of his breathing changed. “Oh, really? What did you have in mind?”
She didn’t answer him directly, but leaned back a little, resting her arms on the table. “You know, you’re going to be on medical leave for at least a week or two.”
His jaw twitched. “I’m well aware of that.”
“So there’s no one to notice any tension between us.”
Just a lift of his eyebrow. “What are you suggesting?”
Here it came. She forced the words past her lips, heeding the need, the rolling, sliding, wet desire flowing between her thighs likerushing lava.
“That we don’t have to stop at one night. That we can have a string of one-nights together.” Josie swallowed hard. “Until one of us says enough.”
Chapter Twenty-Six