Barbara Dunlop - His Temptation, Her Secret

She’d had enough. “Good night, TJ. Go back to your five-star hotel. Eat some twenty-dollar almonds from the minibar or something.”

“Come with me,” he said.

In exasperation, she dropped her purse on the bookshelf. “I’m sleeping in my own bed tonight. Just like I did last night and just like I’ll be doing tomorrow night.”

He opened his mouth.

“Stop,” she ordered. She pointed out the door. “Go. I’ll meet you at the hospital tomorrow.”

“I’ll pick you up.”

“No, you won’t. I already regret letting you drive me home.”

“No, you don’t.”

He was right. She didn’t. If he hadn’t driven her home, she’d still be standing at the downtown station.

“Why are you fighting me on this?” he asked.

It was a fair question. She wasn’t exactly sure. “I think mostly because you’re overbearing.”

“I’m logical and reasonable.”

His answer surprised a laugh out of her. “Is that how you see yourself?”

“I’m staying at the Bayside Hotel.”

“Are you bragging?”

He gave an exaggerated sigh. “I’m pointing out my geographic location. It’s downtown. It’s not even out of my way to pick you up tomorrow.” Before she could respond, he continued. “Logic and reason.”

“And a little bit overbearing.”

“Only a little bit. Eight?”

She didn’t want to give in. It felt too much like giving up. “TJ...”

“Eight it is.” He gave her shoulder an unexpected squeeze. “Lock the door behind me.”

And then he was gone. And her shoulder tingled from his touch. And she wanted to be annoyed with him. But her heart wasn’t in it.

* * *

Eli seemed to rally in the morning but then faded in the afternoon. The nurses assured them it was normal. TJ made himself scarce for a while to give Sage time alone with Eli, returning to his hotel to touch base with his executive assistant.

While he followed up with the most pressing phone calls, he couldn’t get Sage and Eli’s apartment off his mind. He understood that it was hard being a single mother. His own mother had struggled to raise him and his two brothers. There was no shame in financial hardship, especially when a woman was juggling both work and parenting.

But Sage didn’t need to struggle anymore. She didn’t need to worry about money anymore.

He wanted them out of that neighborhood. What was more, he wanted Eli in Whiskey Bay. He might not be feeling quite as hard-nosed about it after the past few days with Sage. But he was still determined to be part of Eli’s day-to-day life from here on in.

He didn’t know how he’d pull it off, but he knew it would go a lot smoother if he could convince Sage instead of fighting her. As quickly as the thought formed, it also crystallized. If he wanted to win over Sage, he had to show her the possibilities. To show her the possibilities, he had to show her Whiskey Bay.

Back in the hospital, Eli was still feeling low. He barely touched his dinner. And by six he was sound asleep.

“Tomorrow will be better,” TJ said to Sage as she kissed Eli’s forehead.

“He feels warm.” She drew back and cupped her hand on his head.

“The nurse just took his temperature.”

“We should ask her to recheck it.”

TJ put a hand on Sage’s slim shoulder. “They will. They’ll monitor it all night.”

“What if he gets a fever?”

“You’re borrowing trouble.” TJ hated to see her stressing herself out. It wasn’t going to change the outcome. “We should get something to eat.”

“I’d rather stay here.”

“There’s nothing you can do while he sleeps.”

Sage took Eli’s hand. “I know.”

“There are absolutely no warning signs.” TJ wanted to take Sage’s hand. “It’s simply going to be a long road to recovery.”

“I’m telling myself the same thing.”

He moved so he was looking at her. “The best thing, the very best thing you can do for Eli is stay strong and healthy yourself.”

She gave a ghost of a smile. “Stop being right.”

“I can’t help it.”

Her smile went wider.

He was encouraged. “Let’s go get a nice dinner. You’ve got the nurses’ station on speed dial.”

She arched a brow. “Are you mocking me?”

“No, I’m trying to cheer you up. He’s doing great. You can afford to think positively.”

She lifted Eli’s hand and gave it a light kiss. “I don’t want to jinx it.”

“You can’t jinx it. There is no jinx it. Your IQ is in the stratosphere. You know worrying yourself sick will have absolutely no beneficial effect on Eli’s health.”

She looked like she wanted to argue.

“You got straight As in science.”

She’d gotten straight As in everything.

“It’s true that I’m not superstitious,” she said. Her shoulders relaxed.

“I have a very nice restaurant in mind.” He had no intention of telling her the details, at least not until he had to.

“Okay. You’re right. Dinner would be nice.”

“Can you say that again?” he teased.

“Dinner would be nice.” She smirked at him.

“I do like being right.”

“You have an ego, TJ.” She rose from the edge of the bed and gathered her purse.

It was clear she was mocking him, but she could be right.

He definitely liked to accomplish things. It felt good to succeed. And he liked to be the best he could.

When he discovered he was falling behind in something, he took immediate steps to catch up. Take last year. He’d discovered he was getting out of shape, that both Matt and Caleb could outrun him.

He’d hit the gym, started rowing and biking. He could now beat both of them in a five-mile run. He hadn’t thought about why it mattered to him. But ego would definitely explain it.

“Seafood okay with you?” he asked as they made their way toward the parking lot.

“Anything’s okay with me. But I can’t let you keep paying.”

He almost laughed at that. “I’ve got a lot of paying to make up for.”

“With Eli, sure. But not with me. You don’t owe me anything.”

“Other than nine years of child support?”

“I’m not asking for that.” Her tone was genuinely horrified. “I’d never ask for that. None of this has anything to do with money.”

“I know it doesn’t.” How could he not know that?

The fact that he’d found out about Eli at all was a bizarre coincidence. His anger still simmered when he thought about her secrecy. But now wasn’t the time to rehash her past decisions. The last thing he wanted to do was fight.

“I won’t take your money,” she said.

“It’s dinner, Sage. I’m buying you dinner. People do that with their friends every day.”

“We’re not friends.”

“Well, I hope we’re going to be friends. Things are going to be a whole lot easier if we’re friendly.”

She didn’t seem to have a response for that, and they’d arrived at his car.

“Are you afraid of flying?” he asked as they got inside.

“No,” she said. “I mean, it’s not something I do. We’re hardly in a position to take sun vacations. But I’m not afraid of it.” Her tone turned suspicious. “Why? Why are you asking? Are you looking for genetic flaws?”

“Genetic... No.”

“I doubt irrational fears are inherited, anyway.”

“I’m not looking for genetic flaws. You have no genetic flaws.” He pulled onto the street.

“I have red hair and freckles.”

“The freckles have faded.” He’d always thought they were cute. “And your hair’s not red, it’s auburn. It’s a beautiful shade of auburn. Do you know how much women pay to get that color hair? And you’re absolutely brilliant. What is your IQ, anyway?”