me?”
“Do you remember when that autistic boy came into the hospital?” he asked, studying her intently. “The one I rescued during the dead of winter?”
She couldn’t have forgotten that case if she’d tried. “His dad died of hypothermia. The son’s survival was a miracle.”
He squeezed her hand, and a shot of energy coursed up her arm to her heart. “I spotted you outside the boy’s room, crying. You were trying to hold it in, but the second you saw me, you let it all out. I asked why you were taking it so hard. The boy was fine. Do you remember what you told me?”
“I was upset because the boy needed his father. Bonds are difficult for autistic children.”
“You were mourning the dad’s death. I only mourn for the children, the ones who should’ve been protected, but their parents or guardians failed them. The father failed that boy and almost killed him. Even though he was dead, I was furious with him. You cried for him. You have the part of my heart I’m missing.”
Mandy stared at him, utterly flabbergasted. Was this man for real? At the moment, he seemed straight out of a fairytale.
Justin brought her hand to his cheek and brushed her palm over his lips. “You’ve got one minute to convince me you aren’t getting back with Ty. Otherwise, I’m going to find that fucker and encourage him to stay away from you, even if I have to chuck him into shark-infested waters.” His warm breath sent a shock of energy through her core.
Her heart accelerated uncontrollably. “I hope you’re kidding.”
He kissed her palm. “Do you really want to find out?”
A delicious tingle coursed up her spine. “I can’t think when you’re doing that.”
He laid her hand down, palm first on the table, and raised both hands as if he were being held up at gunpoint. “I’m waiting.”
“I asked Ty one time why he wanted to marry me. He told me it was because of my big ass. I think you’ve got him beat.”
The twinkle in his eyes finally returned. “Oh, your big ass is at the top of my list, too. In fact, we need to order dessert because some of the jiggle’s disappeared in the last year.”
She pursed her lips. “You men are all the same.” But she knew without a doubt that Justin wasn’t like any man she’d ever met, and even though she was scared to let him in, she wasn’t about to miss her opportunity to open the door.
Chapter 7
Mandy ran a fine-toothed comb through her hair before teasing the roots for body. She brushed it back, leaving a stray, sultry strand grazing her forehead. Just because her locks were short, didn’t mean they couldn’t be sexy. She thought of Marilyn Monroe in Niagara —sultry, but tastefully coifed.
Satisfied with her hair, she glanced at her watch. Justin was due at her apartment any minute. When she raised her gaze to the mirror to give herself a last once-over, she couldn’t help but stare in awe. The woman looking back was hardly recognizable, with rosy cheeks and a smile as wide as the Gulf of Mexico. Dear Lord, what had happened to the solemn girl who refused to date? She giggled, watching her chest shake from the laugh. That girl had been chucked off a cliff and replaced with a much happier woman.
“Good riddance,” she whispered.
Hearing the faint ringing of her cell, she hurried out of the bathroom to answer. It was probably Kirsten reminding her to stuff a few condoms in her purse, which was just silly. She’d only been dating Justin a little over a week, so the horizontal mambo was definitely not in the cards tonight.
But what if Justin thought it was?
Her body tensed, and she absently pressed her hand to her reconstructed breast, remembering the scar she so carefully hid. If she refused to get naked, maybe sex wasn’t in the cards at all. Blah! No depressing thoughts tonight . With a shake of her head, she flung the negativity aside and picked up the phone. “Hello?”
“I have to cancel,” Justin said.
So much for stifling
“Do you remember when that autistic boy came into the hospital?” he asked, studying her intently. “The one I rescued during the dead of winter?”
She couldn’t have forgotten that case if she’d tried. “His dad died of hypothermia. The son’s survival was a miracle.”
He squeezed her hand, and a shot of energy coursed up her arm to her heart. “I spotted you outside the boy’s room, crying. You were trying to hold it in, but the second you saw me, you let it all out. I asked why you were taking it so hard. The boy was fine. Do you remember what you told me?”
“I was upset because the boy needed his father. Bonds are difficult for autistic children.”
“You were mourning the dad’s death. I only mourn for the children, the ones who should’ve been protected, but their parents or guardians failed them. The father failed that boy and almost killed him. Even though he was dead, I was furious with him. You cried for him. You have the part of my heart I’m missing.”
Mandy stared at him, utterly flabbergasted. Was this man for real? At the moment, he seemed straight out of a fairytale.
Justin brought her hand to his cheek and brushed her palm over his lips. “You’ve got one minute to convince me you aren’t getting back with Ty. Otherwise, I’m going to find that fucker and encourage him to stay away from you, even if I have to chuck him into shark-infested waters.” His warm breath sent a shock of energy through her core.
Her heart accelerated uncontrollably. “I hope you’re kidding.”
He kissed her palm. “Do you really want to find out?”
A delicious tingle coursed up her spine. “I can’t think when you’re doing that.”
He laid her hand down, palm first on the table, and raised both hands as if he were being held up at gunpoint. “I’m waiting.”
“I asked Ty one time why he wanted to marry me. He told me it was because of my big ass. I think you’ve got him beat.”
The twinkle in his eyes finally returned. “Oh, your big ass is at the top of my list, too. In fact, we need to order dessert because some of the jiggle’s disappeared in the last year.”
She pursed her lips. “You men are all the same.” But she knew without a doubt that Justin wasn’t like any man she’d ever met, and even though she was scared to let him in, she wasn’t about to miss her opportunity to open the door.
Chapter 7
Mandy ran a fine-toothed comb through her hair before teasing the roots for body. She brushed it back, leaving a stray, sultry strand grazing her forehead. Just because her locks were short, didn’t mean they couldn’t be sexy. She thought of Marilyn Monroe in Niagara —sultry, but tastefully coifed.
Satisfied with her hair, she glanced at her watch. Justin was due at her apartment any minute. When she raised her gaze to the mirror to give herself a last once-over, she couldn’t help but stare in awe. The woman looking back was hardly recognizable, with rosy cheeks and a smile as wide as the Gulf of Mexico. Dear Lord, what had happened to the solemn girl who refused to date? She giggled, watching her chest shake from the laugh. That girl had been chucked off a cliff and replaced with a much happier woman.
“Good riddance,” she whispered.
Hearing the faint ringing of her cell, she hurried out of the bathroom to answer. It was probably Kirsten reminding her to stuff a few condoms in her purse, which was just silly. She’d only been dating Justin a little over a week, so the horizontal mambo was definitely not in the cards tonight.
But what if Justin thought it was?
Her body tensed, and she absently pressed her hand to her reconstructed breast, remembering the scar she so carefully hid. If she refused to get naked, maybe sex wasn’t in the cards at all. Blah! No depressing thoughts tonight . With a shake of her head, she flung the negativity aside and picked up the phone. “Hello?”
“I have to cancel,” Justin said.
So much for stifling
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