[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
Waving goodbye to those still at the desk, she made her
way to the stairwell. She hurried down them and found Adam
waiting at the door leading in. With a brow lifted, she waited
for him to speak.
"You always take the stairs," he said by way of greeting.
"I see. Walking me out?"
"Yes." He held the door for her. They trekked across the
white floor of the main level and out the sliding doors.
"What's on your mind, Adam?"
"A lot but I wanted to thank you for today. I know things
got a bit hectic, and I didn't have an opportunity to do so
before. So thank you."
"It was nothing. Glad I could help with her case."
They continued across the parking lot, and she thought
over the case. A young girl had come in needing surgery to
repair her spine if she would ever have the chance of walking
again. Unfortunately there'd been some unforeseen
complications making the risk greater yet. Adam had wanted
her opinion on what she would do had the case been hers.
"You free tonight?" Adam asked.
The question halted her, and she stared up at him in the
soft evening light. "Not tonight, sorry. I have plans."
He gave her an easy smile. "Another time then." Adam
reached out and squeezed her shoulder.
"Definitely. Good night, Adam."
She waved and moved to her car, unlocking it and getting
behind the wheel. Tiffie got her curbside takeout on her way
home. The nearer to her house the more powerful the
butterflies in her stomach grew. She parked her car and
230
Reignited
by Bridget Midway
slowly made her way to the front door. There, she hesitated
with one hand on the knob before she inhaled deeply and
pushed her way in.
"I'm back," she announced, closing the door behind her.
Her sister lifted her head and gave her a slight but strained
smile.
[Back to Table of Contents]
231
Reignited
by Bridget Midway
Chapter Three
* * * *
He just couldn't stay away. Jesse sat in his truck which
currently idled in Tiffie's drive. It had been four days four
long days since he'd seen her at the hospital. Where she'd
been talking so comfortably and closely with that other man.
Another doctor. He'd wanted to bust the man in the face for
the way he stared at Tiffie. His fingers flexed on the steering
wheel, and he debated leaving.
What am I doing here?
There was no explanation short of Tiffany Anne Carver was
the one woman put on this earth for him. Was he hurt by her
past refusal to marry him? Hell, yes. Did he love her any less
because of it? Not even close.
This woman was in his blood. There simply existed no
other way to explain it. He shut off the engine and climbed
out of his truck into the warm late afternoon. Hell, for all he
knew she wasn't even home. He'd called the hospital looking
for her and had been told she had the day off.
Raking his hair back, he settled his cowboy hat upon his
head and pocketed his keys before making his way up the
path to the porch. A fortifying breath and he knocked on the
door.
His mind flashed back to the first time he'd come to this
house to pick Tiffie up for their very first date. She'd
answered it wearing a soft peach halter dress and white
232
Reignited
by Bridget Midway
sandals. Simplicity and innocence, she'd taken his breath that
day. Still did to this day.
"Hello? Hey mister, you okay?"
Jesse blinked a few times and focused on the person who'd
opened the door. A young girl, around eight, he'd guess. She
had cafe au lait skin, thick black hair which had a slight wave
to it. The kicker was her eyes. He looked at them and
promptly lost his breath. They looked so much like Tiffie's.
"I'm fine," he said trying to come to terms with this new
information.
"That your truck?" she asked with wide-eyed innocence.
He followed her glance to where his Dooley sat. "Yes
ma'am." How can she be so unafraid of strangers? Surely
Tiffie taught her better than that.
"I like big trucks. Mommy says my daddy liked them."
Could it be? He swallowed his uncertainty. "Could I see
Tiffany please? If she's available."
"Sure. She's in the kitchen. I was in the living room
playing. You can come in." The door was swung wide, and
music poured out onto the porch.
He followed her in, closing the door behind him. The child
needed to learn a bit more about safety. Hat in hand, he
trailed behind her as she headed to the kitchen. As always his
body reacted when he saw Tiffie.
She wore dark rose lounge pants and a green tee shirt. On
her feet were gray socks. At the moment her back was to
them, and she jumped when he cleared his throat. Her eyes
widened then narrowed.
"Jesse? What are you doing here?"
233
Reignited
by Bridget Midway
"I let him in," his guide announced, drawing Tiffie's
attention from him to her.
"Oh, no, Jess, what did I tell you about opening the door?"
Jess. His heart plummeted. Tiffie wouldn't do that. Would
she?
The girl poked out her lower lip and scuffed her socked
feet. "Not to."
Tiffany crouched in front of Jess and held her tight. "Don't
ever do that again. We've talked about this. This is the city.
We have to be much more careful here."
"He knew your name, and he looks like a nice man."
Jesse watched Tiffie draw back and tuck some hair behind
Jess's ear. "In this case you are right. He is a nice man, but
that doesn't mean everyone would be. The door is not to be
answered unless I'm with you."
"Okay." Jess's head hung.
Tiffie stood up. "Good. Now let me introduce you to Jesse."
Those big brown eyes looked up at him, and he shook her
slender hand. "Nice to meet you, Jess."
She grinned showcasing a missing front tooth. "Our names
are really close."
Over Jess's head he watched Tiffie. Her eyes widened in
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]