Page 28 of Switching Places

He groaned and turned for bed, this unexpected sexual attraction playing havoc on his senses. He wanted her. Nothing had changed from that morning. He should have pushed the issue. She was no shy miss. She’d been involved with several men. Tomorrow, if he felt the same, he’d push a bit more. If she was willing, then why not?

Chapter Nine

Emma took a sip of coffee and gazed out the big kitchen window. The sky was a cloudless blue, the deeper tone of the Pacific sparkled beneath the sun. Another perfect day in paradise, she thought, drinking in the view as she savored her coffee.

Glancing at the clock, she saw it was almost nine o’clock. At noon, Virginia time, she planned to call David to refuse his proposal as gently as she could from three thousand miles away.

Nervous, she sipped again. It would be awkward, and a bit sad. They’d been friends for so long. He took her to poetry readings at the university. She’d gone with him to parties the Masons put on. They’d shared meals, gone to the movies, played tennis at the local country club. Been a couple since she returned from college. It had been a nice, quiet relationship.

A bit predictable.

A bit dull.

She sighed. It wasn’t his fault she yearned for more. Why wasn’t she content with what she had? What if there were no knight in shining armor for her? What if David ended up being the only man to ask her to marry him?

Flicking another glance at the clock, Emma wished she could delay, but putting it off wouldn’t change her feelings.

“Even if he is the only man to ever propose to me, I don’t want marriage with David,” she said aloud. “It wouldn’t be fair to him or me.”

The clock reached nine.

She put down her cup and reached for the phone, dialing the familiar number.

“Dr. Hargrove’s office.”

“Is David around? This is Emma Carter,” she said, gripping the receiver tightly.

There was a noticeable pause. Then, “Hold on, please.”

Puzzled, Emma wondered who answered the phone. It hadn’t been Mattie Tomlinson, his receptionist. Emma knew her voice.

“Hi, Emma. How are you?” David’s warm, friendly voice came across the line.

“David, I’m fine. I...”

Now that the time arrived, she wasn’t sure what to say.

“Having fun?” he asked.

He hadn’t understood her wish to visit her sister, especially before giving him an answer to his proposal.

“Yes. Yes, I am. David...I hope this isn’t a bad time to call you.”

“No, it’s the lunch break. I don’t have another patient until one-thirty. Stacey and I were getting ready to eat.”

“Stacey?” The hygienist? “Where’s Mattie?”

“Gone for lunch, did you want to speak to her?”

“No, David. Actually, I called to talk to you.” Emma cleared her throat. “I’ve thought about your proposal. But I can’t marry you,” she blurted.

Then closed her eyes in frustration. That wasn’t the way she wanted to approach the subject. So much for finesse, for finding a kind way to reject his offer.

“Found someone else in California already?” he asked slowly.

Logan’s image danced before her eyes. Rapidly Emma shook her head.

“No. No, there’s no one else. I’ve been thinking about us. I don’t think I’m ready for marriage, not yet.”

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