The Doctor's Redemption by Susan Carlisle Page A

for mothers who are on their own.”
    “So how’s that going?”
    “The city has agreed to sell us a house at a good price that would be perfect but we’re running out of time to raise the money.”
    “Maybe I could be of some help. Atone for my car.”
    “A check for three hundred thousand would be great.” She grinned at him as if she was making a joke but he could see hope in her eyes.
    He winced. “That would be my car and at least one or two more.”
    “I’ve seen you ride a bike.” She grinned.
    He threw back his head and laughed. “You’d make me resort to that to get your house?’
    “I’d do almost anything. This chance might not come again.”
    She took a swallow of her drink as if her mouth had suddenly gone dry.
    Why did that thought of her in bed, beneath him, pop into his head? He raised a brow.
    Her eyes widened. A stricken look covered her face. “You know what I mean.”
    “I have an idea. We could go to the Krewe of Orion dance together. See some of our oldfriends. There should be plenty of people there willing to donate. All you’d have to do is get one to agree to support you and then the others would line up to help out.”
    “I don’t think so.”
    “To going with me or that others would help?”
    “To going.”
    “Do you mind if I ask why?” He caught her gaze.
    “That’s not my idea of a good time anymore.”
    What had brought on that remark? He pushed his plate away. “Well, this is a first. A woman who doesn’t want to get dressed up and go to a party.”
    “Not all women like that sort of stuff.”
    “It’s just one night. Attending with me isn’t like going to the gallows.” He chuckled. “I promise.”
    “It’s still no, thank you.” She pushed half of her leftover hot dog bun across the plate.
    “Well, I guess you have other plans for the way you’re going to get the money for the house. I’m sorry, I need my car. However, I’ll make a donation to the cause.”
    As if she was all of a sudden concerned about sounding rude, she said, “I do appreciate you trying to help. I’ll take you up on that.” She stood with plate in hand. “I guess I better getthe kids home to bed. They have school tomorrow.”
    Mark also gathered his plate and joined her as she walked into the house. They found Allie and Jeremy on the couch, Gus snoring between them.
    “I’ll write that check and help you get them loaded,” Mark said as he took her plate and walked into the kitchen. While there he wrote a check. When he returned, Laura Jo already had Allie in her arms. He scooped Jeremy up and followed her out of the house. They worked together to get each child in and secured.
    Digging in his front pocket, he pulled out the check and handed it to Laura Jo.
    Laura Jo read it. Her eyes widened. She looked at him. “Thank you. This is very generous.”
    “You’re welcome.”
    “Also thanks for giving Allie today. I don’t have much of a chance to do things like this for her.”
    “I didn’t just do it for Allie.” They walked around to the driver’s door and Laura Jo opened it.
    “I know Jeremy also had a good time.”
    “What about you?”
    “Me?’
    “Yeah. I was hoping you had a nice day, too.”
    “I did.”
    She acted as if it was a foreign idea that he might be interested in her having a good time. “Good. Maybe we could do it again sometime. Just you and me.”
    “I’ve already told you. We have nothing in common.”
    “Nonsense. We have a lot in common. Our childhoods, medicine, parades and laughter. That’s more than most people have.” When she’d been teasing him about Gus there had been an easiness between them. He wanted to see if she was putting up the front he believed she was. To make her act on her attraction to him. He was tired of being dismissed by her. “I bet if you tried, you could find something you like about me. Maybe this could help.”
    He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her to him. She only had time to gasp before his