Page 143 of Sloane

I half-expected Jeff to chime in with an admonishment, too. After all, he was my doctor. But he remained silent.

I felt her hand on my back, and she said quietly, “Do you need help? Why don’t I find you a wheelchair?”

“I got it,” I said with a grimace as I shifted my weight onto the cane and my good leg. “This serves me right for going off half-cocked and thinking I know best.”

“To be fair, patients usually do know what’s best for themselves.” She looked directly at me with pursed lips. “It’s when they push past their limits that it becomes a problem.”

“Well, I have a feeling this lesson is going to bite me in the ass for a few days, so…”

“You need to get in the hydrotherapy tub when you get home.”

“We have a hydrotherapy tub?”

“On the back deck. But make sure Ryan or Craig help you in and out. I hope you’ve learned your lesson about being a hero.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“We’ll talk tomorrow.”

I was still hoping we’d talk later tonight but decided not to push my luck.

“Okay. Enjoy the rest of the carnival.”

****

Ashley

That damn, stubborn Marine.

I wasn’t stupid. I knew exactly what he was doing at the carnival with his friends—he was reconning my date with Jeff.

And the dang jerk was using a cane. I wanted to wring his neck.

Then he made sure to drop the fact Millie was his daughter in front of Jeff. There was no doubt that was intentional. I knew I was going to have some explaining to do when Jeff and I were alone.

And don’t get me started on that completely inappropriate kiss earlier. The sheer audacity of the man!

So what that I’d kissed him back? It’d only been for a second until I came to my senses. It wasn’t like I’d been replaying it in my mind on repeat about how soft his lips were and how good they felt against mine.

Or how sexy he smelled.

Jeff’s cologne smelled nice, too. And I’m sure his lips were just as soft.

But I had to admit to myself that as I looked over and saw him holding Millie, it didn’t make my insides do flip flops. Not like it had when Sloane had held her.

Not for the first time, I found myself cursing the Marine captain’s name. But this time it was for giving me hope when before it’d been for taking it away.

Chapter Fifty-Two

Sloane

I waited in my room until I heard the camera’s alert that someone was in the drive, then double-checked it was her before going out into the garage where she was taking a sleeping Millie out of the car seat.

She was incredible. She made everything she did look so effortless. With a diaper bag slung over one shoulder, she carefully transitioned our daughter to the other, and shut the car door with her hip.

“Do you need any help?” I asked from the doorway leading to the main house.

She uttered a little squeak that made Millie wake up and let out a soft whimper before turning her head and falling back to sleep.

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