The Doctor's Redemption by Susan Carlisle Page B

lips found hers. She didn’t react at first, which gave him time to taste her lips. Soft, warm and slightly parted. Then for the briefest of seconds she returned his kiss. His heart thumped against his ribs at the possibilities before her hands spread wide against his chest. She shoved him away, hard.
    His hands fell to his sides.
    “You had no right to do that,” she hissed.
    “I can’t say that I’m sorry.”
    She slid behind the steering wheel and beforeshe could close the door he said, “Goodnight, Laura Jo.”
    “It’s more like goodbye.” She slammed the door.
    Not a chance. Mark watched her taillights disappear up his drive. They’d be seeing each other again if he had anything to say about it. She was the first woman he’d met who had him thinking about the possibilities of tomorrow, even when he shouldn’t.
    It intrigued him that she put up such a fight not to have anything to do with him. That was except for the moments she’d melted in his arms. Could he get her to linger there long enough to forget whatever stood between them? Long enough to make her appreciate something they might both enjoy?
    * * *
    Laura Jo couldn’t remember the last time a man had kissed her, but it sure hadn’t been anything near as powerful as the brief one Mark had just given her. Her hands shook on the steering wheel. Why had he done it? Hadn’t she made it clear to him that she didn’t want to become involved with him? Had she been giving off a different signal?
    It didn’t matter why. It couldn’t, wouldn’t happen again. There couldn’t be anything real between them anyway. When she did open upagain to a man she would know him well. She wanted someone settled, who wouldn’t leave town at any moment. Someone who cared nothing for being involved in Mobile society. From what she knew about Mark so far, he had none of those qualities.
    The lights of the cars flickered across the water as she traveled over the low bay causeway back to Mobile.
    Thinking about and fretting over Mark was a waste of time. Laura Jo fingered the check he had given her. It was literally a raindrop in a pond to what she needed. She had to find some way to raise the money needed to buy the house. There was also Allie to see about and her job to keep. Mark Clayborn hadn’t been hers years ago and he wasn’t hers now.
    Mark, she’d already learned, was a man with a strong sense of who he was. If she let him into her life he might try to control it, like her father and Phil had. She needed a partner, a father for Allie, someone sturdy and dependable. Until that happened it was her job to make decisions about her life and Allie’s. She would never again depend on a man or let him dictate to her.
    Marsha was there to greet her when she pulled into the parking area of the apartment complex. She had to have been watching for them. Knowing Marsha, she’d want details ofthe afternoon and evening. When Laura Jo had called her earlier to inform her that they would be staying a little longer at Mark’s for supper, her speculative tone had made Laura Jo feel like she needed to justify her decision.
    She’d told Marsha, “Don’t get any ideas. There’s nothing going on here.”
    “Okay, if you say so.” Marsha hadn’t sounded convinced before she’d hung up.
    Allie and Jeremy woke when she parked. They got out of the car, talking a mile a minute about the parade and Gus. Marsha grinned over their heads at Laura Jo. “Come in and tell me all about your visit to Dr. Clayborn’s,” Marsha said, as if to the children but Laura Jo had no doubt she meant her.
    “There’s not much to tell and the kids have school tomorrow.” Laura Jo locked her car.
    “I know they have school tomorrow but you can come in for a few minutes.”
    Laura Jo straightened. Marsha wouldn’t let it go until she’d heard every detail but Laura Jo wouldn’t be telling her about the kiss. The one that had shaken something awake in her. It wouldn’t happen again, even