Page 29 of After You

“Very likely,” he agreed, shoving a hand through his hair. His gaze ran over her again, head totoe.

And her stupid nipples not only responded, but now with the wet, clinging dress, Kyle definitely noticed.

He lifted a brow, then met her eyes. But he didn’t say anything. At least not about the nipple thing.

“Now stomp inside like you’re pissedoff.”

She pulled in a breath and pushed away from the car. “Well, this time I am.” She started for thedoor.

His chuckle floated after her. “Yeah, you’re definitely going to have to work on your acting.”

* * *

“Um, Dr. Ames?”

Kyle looked up from the file he was reviewing at his desk. He’d been having a hell of a time concentrating since getting into the office. He’d run home to shower and change clothes, but the shower had done nothing for his ability to push Hannah to the back of his mind. In fact, she’d been very much in the forefront of his thoughts—and actions—in that shower. Reminding her of the last time they’d been together had been stupid. Because it reminded himtoo.

“Yeah?” he asked his receptionist and lab tech, Bailey. In a small clinic like his, even with the whole on-call-constantly thing he had going on, he could only keep so many healthcare professionals busy, so Bailey, and his nurse, Lila, both took on extra jobs that kept the clinic running and, when put together, worked out to full-time hours. Bailey ran the lab, was going to school to be a radiology tech, and answered the phones. Lila helped with the insurance paperwork and filing, along with Donna, the part-time coding specialist who worked from home while she babysat her grandkids.

“Albert is here,” Bailey told him. “Early, as usual.”

“Okay, great.” Kyle pushed back from his desk, grateful for the older man’s tendency to show up thirty to forty-five minutes ahead of time for his appointments.

Bailey turned out the door. Kyle started around his desk as his phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced at the screen and saw Alice was calling.

“Hey,” he greeted, just as Bailey stopped on the third stepdown.

“I forgot to tell you,” Bailey began. As Alice said, “I saw that kiss. Welldone.”

He frowned, hating that he was getting Alice’s hopes up on purpose. It was going to be up to Hannah to be sure that those hopes did not stay up. And Hannah didn’t know thatyet.

“Thank you,” he said to Alice. As Bailey continued, “Hannah McIntire ishere.”

He grinned. That hadn’t takenlong.

Then Alice said, “Well, she’s very happy to be home. So thankyou.”

His grin died. He sincerely doubted that Hannah had told her grandmother that she was happy to be home because of Kyle or his kiss. But Hannah was here. Already. He’d told her to come and find him later. She’d taken about an hour and ahalf.

Hmmm. Maybe she was happy about that kiss. It had been an especially good one. He’d lost his mind for a little bit there, in fact. He’d actually expected her to push him away immediately. Or at least after a couple of seconds. He hadn’t expected her to let the kiss go on and on. And on. And he definitely hadn’t been prepared for her to melt in his arms, open her mouth, and make that little moaning sound she’dmade.

He cleared his throat as his body responded to that memory.

“You shouldn’t thank me for that,” he finally said to Alice.

“Should I tell her to wait or leave or what?” Bailey asked.

“How’s my day?” he asked Bailey. Just as Alice said, “I knew that I could count on you to help, but I didn’t think you would jump right in likethat.”

Right. He hadn’t meant to jump right in. He hadn’t meant to kiss her, and he definitely hadn’t intended to push her up against the side of her grandmother’s car. That had not been the plan. And that was a huge red flag. More than ever, he needed to stick with the plan where Hannah was concerned. Not that he’d been the one to fuck it up before…

“She’ll never be able to resist you,” Alice said in his ear. As Bailey confirmed, “You’re pretty busy today.”

Kyle pulled in a breath. Okay, the plan. The plan to make Alice happy while getting a little revenge on his ex while getting to kiss her again while not getting his heart broken. It was a solid plan. It was an important plan. It would work. If he just kept his focus. And didn’t mind being a vengeful asshole for a few weeks.

And he didn’t think he did, as a matter offact.

He’d worry about what that said about his character after Hannah left again.

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