The Doctor's Runaway Fiancée by Cindy Kirk Page A

lovely.”
    She still found it hard to swallow that someone would purchase a home in such a pricey area and not live in it year-round.
    A muscle in Andrew’s jaw jumped. “You agreed to spend time with me.”
    â€œI start baking at three a.m.,” she told him. “I don’t want to drive all that way in the middle of the night. Right now all I have to do is roll out of bed, open the door and I’m there.”
    As they strolled through the crowds, Sylvie could almost see his mind considering, weighing her words, considering his response.
    It was just too bad he hadn’t used the same restraint before jumping into a relationship with her.
    â€œI see your point.”
    Relief surged. “This immersion thing doesn’t have to include being in the same house while sleeping. In fact, my not being there at night might be for the best.”
    â€œI agree that having you drive into Jackson alone in the middle of the night isn’t smart.”
    In the process of rejoicing over the small victory, Sylvie nearly missed his next comment.
    â€œI’ll drive you.”
    Startled for a moment, Sylvie could only stare. “That’s too much to ask.”
    â€œI don’t agree.”
    They strolled back down Broadway in the direction of her shop.
    â€œThat was the issue back in Boston.” His voice was firm, resolute. “We didn’t spend enough quality time together.”
    Sylvie thought back to their whirlwind courtship and had to admit he was right. “We spent most of our time in bed.”
    He grinned suddenly. “Good times.”
    Unsmiling, she shook her head. “That intimacy gave us a skewed sense of closeness, of connection.”
    â€œI need to move on, Sylvie.” Those gray eyes were dead serious now. He extended his hand. “Do we have a deal?”
    She’d made many mistakes in her life, but Andrew had been her biggest. She hadn’t meant to hurt him. If spending time with her these next three weeks would help him, she’d do it.
    She shook his hand and gave it a firm shake. “Tomorrow, we’ll begin the immersion. Tonight, I have a party to attend.”

Chapter Six
    S ylvie smiled when Josie skidded to a stop and gave the painting of a wild-eyed buffalo hanging on the wall of the Museum of Wildlife Art a second look.
    She had to admit there was something creepy—yet compelling—about the bison’s intense stare.
    Josie’s gaze shifted back to Sylvie. “Let me see if I’ve got this straight. You were once engaged to the delectable Dr. Andrew O’Shea.”
    Keeping the animal in her peripheral vision, Sylvie nodded.
    â€œYou broke up with him. I don’t understand that, but, hey, that’s your business. Then you moved here. He’s making you spend the next three weeks with him so he can...” Josie’s voice trailed off. “This is where you lost me.”
    â€œAndrew is convinced that the more he’s around me, the more he’ll discover he doesn’t like me.” Sylvie tried not to show how much the thought hurt. “I think he’s secretly hoping he’ll grow to hate me.”
    â€œAh, the picture is coming into better focus.” Josie spoke in a melodramatic tone worthy of a world-class fortune-teller. All she needed to complete the picture was a crystal ball between her fingers. “The man still has the hots for you.”
    â€œNo, he...” Sylvie paused, then reluctantly admitted, “We always had chemistry.”
    â€œDo you still?”
    â€œUh, we can talk about that later.”
    â€œI want to talk about it now.”
    â€œLater.” Sylvie ignored the pleading look in her friend’s eyes. She didn’t want to get into all that. Not now. Not here. “We’re running low on the baked meringues.”
    Josie’s hands, which had been clasped together, dropped to her sides. She expelled a resigned sigh and glanced