Breaking the Rules by Melinda Dozier Page B

notch.
    He leaned his arm over her chair, touching her shoulders lightly. “Well, besides that, a good surgery always sends me into a high. Nothing like knowing what I do can make or break a person, literally.” He thought some more. “Also, seeing Jason up on the first place block, like this morning. That’s pretty awesome.”
    â€œThose two things I could’ve guessed. How about a secret?” She smiled sweetly at him, leaning in to him. Even though she had been clear about them being only friends, now that she had some beer in her and an exhilarating experience behind her, boldness overcame her. For a fleeting moment, she didn’t care anymore.
    â€œWe’re still playing that game?” He rubbed her shoulder with one hand. “Okay. Since we’re sharing secrets.” He sipped his beer and stared at her through the corners of his eyes. “Don’t tell anyone, but I love to surf. I don’t even do it with Tim or other guys. Sometimes my brother, Scott, surfs with me and of course Jason. Beth used to hate it, saying if I had time to surf, I had time to be home and work on the toilet or something.” He softly laughed, but it didn’t sound like a happy laugh. More like a bothered laugh. “Surfing’s like my meditation.”
    She loved the thoughtfulness of his answer. The way he talked without hesitation, and about his ex-wife, something he obviously didn’t like to do, opened up a new side to her. A vision of someone who needed more than a friend. Someone who could be a confidant, a companion — a lover. Being a doctor and having a preteen son must add up to a busy life. Yet here he sat talking to her about “secrets” and what he loved to do.
    The funny thing was she could see him surfing. Imagine him in close-fitting board shorts, his tight abs glistening in the sunlight. Anyone who looked like Colin had tight abs, of course. His hair wet and his dimpled smile directed at her. Even better was the image of them together on a surfboard, him holding her tight against his chest, the water sloshing through their toes.
Whoa, wait a minute!
She shook her head, trying to get it in the right place. “I have another secret,” she blurted.
    He leaned in to her, his arm on her shoulders, pulling her closer to him. “I love this secret stuff. Tell me.”
    â€œI have a list at home — call it a bucket list — of all the things I want to do before I’m thirty, which is in March. Anyway, surfing is on it.” She tucked a hair behind her ear. She couldn’t believe she told him this fantasy. It was a big one. No one knew about her silly list.
    â€œI can teach you to surf.” He held out his hand. “Let’s go.”
    She laughed. “Isn’t it kind of late for surfing?”
    He looked up at the ceiling and back to her. “Yeah, you’re right. Not best learning conditions, and I don’t have my board. I’d be happy to show you sometime, though.”
    â€œI’d love it.” She held up her beer and sipped again, getting froth on her upper lip.
    Colin raised his pointing finger to her lip and wiped it clean. He flinched as if he just realized what he did and took a drink, swallowing, his Adam’s apple bobbing. For some reason, she found it incredibly sexy.
    He cleared his throat and asked, “So, what else do you have on that list?”
    She stretched out her fingers and wiggled them. “We can knock off playing the piano in front of others again. I have to thank you.”
    Scooting in closer, Colin touched his knee against hers. For a moment, their eyes locked again, and an unspoken permission passed between them. He reached out and stroked her lips. “I know how you can thank me.”
    The teasing tone excited her despite her silent protestations. She curled her toes and moved her lips into his fingers. Was she kissing his fingers? Damn it! She had no self-control.