Читать книгу Dr. Desirable - KRISTI GOLD - Страница 10

“Brooke Lewis Granger, I may never forgive you for this,” Michelle muttered as she peeked through her sister’s living room curtain.

Striding up Brooke and Jared’s walkway was none other than Nick Kempner, dressed in black tie and accompanied by his daughter, obviously Michelle’s charge for the evening. She adored Kelsey and didn’t mind one bit baby-sitting the little girl. However, she did mind the fact that she would have to face the girl’s father, especially since he looked like a young version of James Bond with his tanned face contrasting the white tuxedo shirt, his dark hair primed to perfection. At the moment the doctor was definitely shaking and stirring her belly.

Kelsey stood by his side, jerking his arm up and down like an old-fashioned well pump handle. Without regard for his neatly combed hair and perfectly pressed tuxedo, he grabbed her up and hoisted her onto his shoulders. She patted his head as if to say, Good boy.

Michelle backed away from the window and paced the room, letting go a string of mild curses aimed at her sister’s continued secrecy.

When the doorbell rang, Michelle simply stared at the entrance. It rang once again but before she spurred herself into action, Brooke appeared wearing a robe.

“Are you going to get it, Shelly?”

“Are you going to explain why you didn’t tell me I was sitting for Nick Kempner’s daughter?”

Brooke had the gall to play innocent. “You didn’t ask.”

“Where are the rest of the kids?”

Brooke’s gaze slid away. “Uh, actually, everyone else has sitters, so it’s just Kelsey. Nick was the only one in a bind.”

Nick wasn’t the only one, Michelle thought. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. And she got the distinct feeling this was another one of Brooke’s subtle attempts at more matchmaking.

Without further comment Brooke opened the door to allow Nick entry while Michelle hung back right behind the opening to the den. She moved inside the room to where she could still see Nick, but Nick couldn’t see her. Enough distance to allow her the opportunity to get a good look at him without him knowing it. And what a view it was.

Whomever he’d decided to escort tonight, she was one lucky girl. Michelle battled the sudden jealousy, knowing she had no right to feel that way. After all, she had turned Nick down.

Kelsey rushed in like a tempest and grabbed Brooke around the knees.

“Whoa, Cisco,” Nick said. “Be careful with Aunt Brooke. She’s going to have a baby, remember?”

Kelsey looked up at her dad and stuck out a defiant chin. “I’m Kelsey not Cisco.”

Nick reached down and ruffled her curls. “I don’t care if your name is mud, you still need to be careful.”

With an awe-filled expression, Kelsey stood on tiptoes and patted Brooke’s belly. “Hi, baby!”

Smiling, Brooke said, “Baby says hi to you, too.”

“I don’t hear baby,” Kelsey stated with a four-year-old’s certainty.

Nick grabbed Kelsey back up into his arms. “Only mommies can hear babies when they’re still in their tummies.”

“And daddies, too,” Michelle added, deciding she might as well join in and get it over with.

Nick glanced from Kelsey to Michelle, shock splashed all over his gorgeous face. “Michelle? What are you doing here?” He slowly lowered Kelsey to her feet. “Did you change your mind about the gala?”

She looked down at her ragged cutoffs and sloppy T-shirt. “Yeah, right. This is the latest in evening wear. Chic grunge. Do you like it?”

He gave her a lingering once-over and a slow-burn smile. “Works for me.”

She should have known better than to ask his opinion. “Actually, I have a date with your daughter this evening.”

Brooke took the opportunity to announce, “I’ll go see if Jared’s ready. And they say women take too long in the bathroom.” She scurried around the corner in record time to make her escape.

“You’re the baby-sitter?” The shock had returned to Nick’s face and resounded in his tone.

Obviously, Michelle wasn’t the only one left in the dark. “Yes, I’m the sitter. And if you’re worried about that, I can give you references.”

“I don’t need any references. I trust you. I just thought you had work to do.”

“I do, but it can wait until after Kelsey goes to bed, in case you’re worried I’ll neglect her for my layouts.” She knelt at Kelsey’s level and pointed to her left toward the sofa table sitting in the middle of the den. “There’s some fresh-baked cookies over there, Kelsey. You can have one if Daddy says it’s okay.”

Kelsey stared up at Nick. “’Kay, Daddy?”

“Sure. But save some for me.”

“’Kay.” Kelsey headed toward the treat, leaving Nick and Michelle alone to face off.

“Maybe I should change my plans,” he said after a few moments of silence.

“Then you don’t trust me.”

“I’m not saying that. I just thought it might be nice to have a visit. Me, you and Kelsey.” He heavily emphasized the “me” and “you” part.

“Why? And waste a good tuxedo rental?”

“I own it.”

He would. “Oh. But I’m sure your presence will be greatly missed,” she added, trying to discourage him from making good on his suggestion. She didn’t trust herself to be alone with him, even with his child present. Children eventually went to sleep. Unfortunately, her unwelcome attraction to him might not.