Karen Rose - Lullaby for Two / Child's Play

LULLABY FOR TWO

How could Vince promise Tessa more than “now”?

How could he consider being the husband she needed when he’d failed at it once before? When he’d never had a role model to see how it should be done? Maybe that’s what had kept him from staying twenty years ago. Maybe that’s what kept him from moving them forward now. Tessa deserved someone who would put her first, romance her, court her, be steadfast and committed. He didn’t know if he was capable of that.

For now he was committed to Sean, and that’s all he knew.

CHILD’S PLAY

“You have an interesting effect on me.”

“Oh?” Diana held her head up, refusing to give in to the trembling nervousness that had overtaken her with Jason’s words. “What effect is that?”

“When I’m with you, I forget all about anything else. You make me forget myself.”

“That’s interesting. When I’m with you, I’m even more aware of myself than usual.” Aware of the way her body responded to his, of the sensual, sexual woman underneath the maternity clothes and sensible shoes.

She was aware of him, too – of the subtle, woodsy

scent of his aftershave and of the tiny white scar in the left corner of his upper lip. She noticed the way his right eyebrow quirked upwards whenever he smiled and the way the soft white cotton of his cuffs contrasted with the golden tan of his skin.

She was very aware of being drawn to him, of her breath quickening as he stood so close to her, of leaning towards him, lips parted.

Their eyes met, and she saw her own desire reflected. He put a hand on her arm, though whether to steady himself or to draw her close, she couldn’t say. He inclined his head slightly and she waited, not daring to breathe.

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Karen Rose Smithhas seen more than sixty novels published since 1991. Living in Pennsylvania with her husband – who was her college sweetheart – and their two cats, she has been writing full-time since the start of her career. She enjoys researching and visiting the West and Southwest where this series of books is set. Readers can receive updates on Karen’s latest releases and write to her through her website at www.karenrosesmith.com, or at PO Box 1545, Hanover, PA 17331, USA.

To my mother, Romaine Arcuri Cacciola, my mother-in-law, Rita Smith, and my husband’s cousin DeSales Sterner – my baby experts. Mom and Reet – I miss you. Sis – my son’s godmother and my special friend – thanks for always being there.

Vince Rossi stood in shock in front of the receptionist’s sliding-glass window.

He’d known he’d probably have to deal with his past at some point. But reading the third name on the placard beside the window, he knew that karma was ready to bite him in the butt today.

He studied the letters of Dr. Tessa McGuire’s name as if somehow they’d change before his eyes. But they didn’t. She was one of the pediatricians in this practice and he’d have to deal with it. He had a two-out-of-three chance of Sean’s chart not landing in her stack. Those weren’t bad odds.

The seven-month-old baby nestled in Vince’s arm gurgled and stared up at him with sparkling blue eyes. Vince’s heart melted just as it had from the moment he’d first held the little boy. Was it possible he’d become Sean’s legal guardian only two and a half months ago? Only a week ago he’d returned to his hometown of Sagebrush, outside of Lubbock, Texas, in an attempt to find Sean the medical attention he needed, as well as put them both on the pathway to a new life. Vince had been impressed by the Family Tree Health Center where this pediatric practice as well as obstetrical, counseling, ophthalmological and a few other specialty practices were located.

The receptionist had finished her call and opened the glass window, staring at Vince expectantly.

“Sean Davidson’s the patient, but I’m his legal guardian—Vince Rossi. Our appointment is for eleven-thirty,” Vince said.

The woman checked off his name on the list in front of her. But before she could utter a word, the door to the waiting area opened.

Tessa McGuire appeared.

Her blond hair was still soft and wavy on her shoulders, her forget-me-not-blue eyes bright, her face mature in its beauty now. It had been twenty years since Vince had last seen her.

“Sean Davidson,” she called cheerily. Then her gaze fell on Vince, recognized him, and her whole body went perfectly still.

Vince knew there was no use pretending. No point skirting the issue. Too much was at stake for Sean.

He strode forward and stopped in front of her. “I didn’t know we’d be assigned to you. I’m Sean’s legal guardian. If you’ll have a problem treating him, I can find another doctor.”

Tessa had always been the perfect lady, the well-bred daughter of one of the richest ranchers in Sagebrush. She was pale now, as if the shock of seeing Vince had affected her physically. He knew the feeling. Acid burned in his gut.

Sean wriggled in his arms and cooed, reminding Vince of why he was here. He repositioned the baby in his arm, careful of Sean’s injured shoulder.

Tessa was watching, missing nothing. Finally she spoke. “Treating Sean won’t be a problem. Please follow me.”

So polite. So proper. So ready to do what she thought was right.

She’d thought going home to her father was right…divorcing Vince was right…forgetting they’d ever been married was right.

He followed her, almost curious what the privacy of an examination room might reveal. His body was already warning him that twenty years hadn’t made a difference in his attraction to her. Tessa McGuire had always turned him on more quickly than any other woman. Apparently, that hadn’t changed.

Awkward silence settled over the small room.

Tessa was studying him as he mentally ticked off the differences she’d see. At thirty-eight, there were strands of gray in his black hair. A scar from an arrest-gone-bad marred his left jaw. After he’d left Sagebrush, Air Force conditioning had put muscles on his lean body. After that, a workout regimen had kept him conditioned as a homicide detective.

He gave them both a few seconds to absorb the shock of seeing each other again. Finally he asked, “Do you want Sean on the table?”

In this examination room, colorful cartoon characters walked and danced and played on the walls in artistically drawn murals. Sean was looking all around, fascinated by them.

In answer to Vince’s question, Tessa took a few steps forward and stopped. “I’ll take him.” She reached for his son.

Vince thought of Sean as his son even though he hadn’t formally adopted him yet. He was waiting until they settled into a permanent place.