Practice Makes Perfect (20 page)

“Yes. Now, Ian.”

His entry was strong, sure and powerful. Yet once he was inside her, the groan of satisfaction, the undiluted joy of his possession, turned everything tender again. “This is it, Paige. This is the feast.” He kissed her tenderly. “This is exactly what I wanted.”

“I want it, too.” She did. Though somewhere inside her, she was devastated by what the joining of their bodies meant to her. It left her totally disarmed and exposed, and gave him a control over her that no man had ever had.

Then he began to move.

“Ah...” he groaned.

Thrust.

“Damn it...” he said.

And when he plunged deeper, pushed harder, with unrelenting force and alarming tenderness, she didn’t think, didn’t hear and couldn’t speak for the emotion—and exquisite sensations—that overtook her.

IAN HAD TO GET a grip. His hold on reality, his professionalism, his sanity, for God’s sake, had been slowly eroding all week. And all because of the woman who now entered the hospital room with the brisk efficiency of an OR nurse. “Good morning, Mary Ellen.” Paige glanced at Ian without a whit of reaction. “Dr. Chandler.”

He nodded. “Dr. Kendrick.”

She turned to Mary Ellen, who packed the last of her bag. The girl’s shoulders slumped in her denim maternity jumper. As she folded the clothes, her hands were unsteady. She and Suzy were being discharged today. Sammy would have to stay in the hospital a while longer because of his breathing problems.

Ian watched as Paige gave some instructions about the babies. She was Dr. Straitlaced today, wrapped up in her white coat, out of which peeked a summer skirt and matching top the color of daffodils. He knew she wore yellow undies beneath...

Mmm, beautiful
, he’d said when he slipped the silk panties on her this morning.

Ian, I can dress myself

He picked up the bra. Why
would you want to when you have me to do it?

Later, when she was fully clothed, she went into the bathroom to tie her hair in a knot at her neck.
Aw, that ought to be illegal
.

She’d looked up.
Spare me
. But there was no sting in her words. And her eyes had glimmered with pleasure.

I’m just going to take it down again tonight
.

She’d given him that smile, and he was almost unable to resist telling her he loved her.

He
did
love her, he thought as he watched her gently instruct Mary Ellen on how to care for Suzy’s navel. But Ian was afraid to tell Paige how he felt, afraid it was too much, too soon, and he’d scare her with any declaration.

She was facing him. “Any last-minute instructions, Dr. Chandler?” she asked, giving him a where-
are
-you look.

“Already gave them,” he said, snapping shut the chart. He eyed Mary Ellen carefully. “Nervous about taking Suzy home?”

Mary Ellen nodded. “A little. I feel worse about leaving Sammy here.” Her eyes clouded. Uh-oh. Postpartum hormones were marching front and center.

“We’ll take good care of him.” Paige sounded confident. “Look at the bright side. You can concentrate on one baby at a time for a few days.” Still the girl looked unconvinced. “You’ll be visiting Sammy here.”

“I guess.”

He and Paige exchanged a worried glance.

“Will your mother watch Suzy while you come to the hospital to see Sammy?” Ian asked.

“I...I think so.”

“Well,” Ian put in smoothly, “give Nora a call if she can’t.”

“No, she’s getting ready for her wedding next week.”

“Nora would love to watch Suzy for a bit, Mary Ellen,” Paige said. “And it’s important that you get to bond with Sammy. You can—”

The door burst open and a woman bustled in. Dressed in spandex black pants, a tight red top and stiletto sandals, the woman had flame-red hair that fell in waves down her back.

“Hi, Ma.”

Ma? Oh, great
. Was Mary Ellen’s mother even over thirty?

“Hi, kid. Listen, Johnny’s double-parked outside, so let’s get the lead out.”

“Ma, don’t you want to see Suzy?”

Ian couldn’t help himself. “You haven’t seen your grandchildren, Mrs. Barone?”

The woman turned frosty eyes on him. Until she got a good look at him. Then her gaze warmed considerably. “Well, hello.”

“Hello. I’m Ian Chandler, your daughter’s doctor.”

Painted lips parted. “You’re her gyno?”

“Yes.” He crossed to the crib. “And this is Suzanne.”

The woman spared the baby a glance. “Only one of ‘em’s comin’ home, right?”

“Yes, Ma. Sammy’s too little to leave the hospital.” Mrs. Barone darted a look at the clock and caught a glimpse of Paige.

“I’m Paige Kendrick, the babies’ doctor.”

“This one isn’t sick or nothin’, is she?”

Paige folded her arms over her chest. “Suzy’s perfect, though a little on the small side. Sammy’s got a ways to go. He’s having some breathing problems, but that’s common in premature babies.”

“Oh, sure. Good.” Lena Barone turned to her daughter, who peered up at Paige and Ian apologetically. “Let’s go, kid,” the woman said.

“Did you get the baby seats?”

“The what?”

“The baby seats from Serenity House. The ones the girls gave me. We need a car seat for Suzy, Ma.”

“Oh.” She glanced at Ian, then Paige. “We’ll get it on the way home. Now move. Johnny gets mad if he has to wait.”

Ian stepped forward. “I’m afraid you can’t do that. Hospital policy says you can’t leave without a car seat.”

At Mary Ellen’s stricken look, Paige said, “I’ll call the desk. They may have one you can borrow.” She went to the phone and dialed, then faced the Barones. Lena Barone tapped her foot impatiently. Mary Ellen blushed with embarrassment.

“All set,” Paige said a few seconds later. “Stop at the desk. It will be ready for you.”

After the three left, Ian said, “She forgot the baby seat.”

Staring at the door, Paige nodded. “Yeah. Some grandmother.” Her voice was raw.

“Paige?”

She didn’t move. Instead, she seemed transfixed by the door. He crossed the room and circled around her. Her eyes were wide. And her shoulders were rigid.

“Paige, what is it?”

“We can’t do much about this, can we?” she said.

“No. Just take good care of Sammy and keep an eye on the situation.”

“Could we call Social Services?”

“Not for a forgotten car seat, honey.”

She sighed and murmured, “I hope Mary Ellen knows what she’s doing, keeping her children.”

He knew he shouldn’t push. She’d made it clear several times this week that she resented his probing...

They’d been lying spoon-fashion in bed. “Tell me how you feel about giving up your child, Paige,” he’d asked, and felt her stiffen.

“I already did, Ian. Don’t press me on that. I made the right choice for both of us.”

“Do you ever wonder about her?”

“Ian, please. I won’t stand for your bullying in this area.”

He’d nuzzled her neck and wisely shut up. But not long after they’d fallen asleep, Paige stirred and mumbled something he couldn’t make out. “Paige, baby, what is it?”

“Ronny?” she asked.

“Oh, great. Three nights together, and you think I’m somebody else.”

She jerked awake and stared at him. “I was dreaming.”

“Tell me about it.”

She’d kissed him, instead. Hard. Her lovemaking had been frantic. It had taken his breath away...

“Ian, did you hear me?”

Wiggling his brows dramatically, he said, “I was thinking about the hot sex we had last night.”

She rolled her eyes. “You have a one-track mind.”

“I have a big appetite.”

“That I know.”

“And like?”

She gave him that smile again. “And like. However, this is neither the place nor the time to talk about it.”

“I’m done at one today.”

“I’m done at two.”

“Wanna go golfing? We can ask Jade.” He knew she felt bad about leaving Jade alone so much. “Jewel can ride in the cart.”

Her eyes softened. “You are so thoughtful, Ian.”

“Hey, that’s me. Dr. Warm and Fuzzy.”

They exited the room and agreed to meet at the country club at three.

He indicated the right hallway. “I’m headed this way.”

“I need to go to NICU.”

“All right. See you later.” He wanted to kiss her. Right now. He didn’t care how it looked. But he held himself in check, out of deference to her rather Victorian sense of propriety and headed down the hall.

“Ian?”

He turned back. “Mmm?”

“I...”

Love you. Say you love me.

“Thanks”

“For?”

“Being you.”

Well, maybe that was enough for now. He smiled and whistled his way down the hall.

o0o

HEAD DOWN, feet spread, shoulder angled in, Paige drew back the driver, swung it down and whacked the ball. It soared over the driving range, hitting the 160-yard marker. Not bad. She fished out another ball and set it on the tee. Looking behind her, she scanned the area for Jade, who’d said she’d meet Paige and Ian here after her own lunch with Darcy. Jewel had wanted to stay with Meli and Claire, so it would be just the three of them.

Paige had been gone most of the week, working at her office or the Center during the day, then spending the nights at Ian’s. She hadn’t been able to resist Ian’s coaxing to stay with him…

What do you mean, you’re going home?

I stayed last night, Ian.

He’d nibbled her neck, then turned her to face him.
I want to sleep with you
.

We just had sex.

We just had an orgy. I meant sleep, literally.

Why?

That’s what lovers do, honey.

All right, I’ll call Jade.

Her sister hadn’t seemed bothered by Paige’s absence. Jade had been kept busy with her daughter and seemed to be forming a close friendship with Darcy. She’d also mentioned meeting up with an old English teacher, one of the few on staff who’d liked her.

In any case, the process of staying overnight with Ian had been repeated every night this week. It scared Paige, thinking how much power he had over her.

She turned back to the tee. Hitting the next ball—it went a few yards farther—she tried to squelch her worry.

He’d asked her four times to talk about the adoption. She’d counted. Three times she told him gently it wasn’t an issue for her now and she didn’t want to talk about it. The fourth time, she’d gotten piqued. They’d been walking Scalpel by the water...

“You had another nightmare last night.”

“I don’t remember.”

“You called for her.”

“Her? Did I say who?”

“A baby.”

“Oh, it was probably Jewel. I miss seeing her. I talked to her on the phone last night.”

He’d stopped in his tracks. “It wasn’t Jewel, honey.”

Automatically Paige had closed down. “Ian, don’t start. I’m beginning to wish I hadn’t told you about the whole thing. You’re making too much of it.”

His face hardened. Gone was the teasing lover. “I didn’t make up the nightmares, Paige. Do you have them often?”

“No, actually, just since I started sleeping with you.”

“Which happens to coincide with the birth of Mary Ellen’s twins. That should tell you something.”

Exasperated, she threw the ball for Scalpel. Then she turned on Ian. Literally. “Maybe it tells me that I should be sleeping alone.”

“Is that how you’re going to deal with all this? By striking out at me? By shutting me out?”

She swallowed hard. He’d stood before her, looking like some Greek god in white shorts and white shirt. She’d actually thought about telling him yes, she wanted to shut him out. That she didn’t want to work at the Center anymore because it was stirring up all sorts of things inside her.

But the truth was she didn’t want to shut him out in any way. She wanted to throw herself into his arms and let him make everything all right.

That thought had frightened her even more. Long ago she stopped believing a man could make her life complete. But still, she couldn’t let Ian go. So she said reasonably, “I’m sorry if I struck out at you. I don’t want to shut you out. But you make it hard not to. You’ve got to stop pushing me to look at things like you do.”

He’d recognized her concession. He’d approached her and picked up her hand. “All right. I’m a bulldozer. I don’t want to drive you away. I’m sorry...”

Paige hit another ball and reached two hundred yards.

“Hey, lady, you could give Nancy Lopez competition.” She turned to find Ian striding up to her. He’d changed into tan shorts and a striped tan-and-white shirt. On his head he wore a baseball cap. He looked fit and healthy and very male. She was hit by a sudden jolt of desire. When he neared her, he stopped and cocked his head. “Don’t look at me like that, Paige.”

“Like what?”

“You know damn well what, Little Ms. Flirt.” He eyed her short white skirt and red spandex top. “Bad enough I have to look and not touch the rest of the day.”

“Not touch?” she said, enjoying the byplay. “I don’t think so.” She turned and faced the range. “I’m having trouble with my swing I think my stance needs adjusting, but I can’t get it right.”

He was behind her in a second. Big solid hands gripped her hips. “Well, let me help.”

She looked over her shoulder. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

“Always here to lend a hand,” he said, positioning her hips and not letting go. “This ought to take care of that slice.” She’d swung perfectly straight.

“Oh, good.”

He ran his palms up and down her hips. “Mmm. Very good.”

o0o

THEY’D JUST FINISHED dinner, and dusk had fallen. At a table for three, Jade laughed throatily, drawing the attention of the golfers next to them on the deck of Hyde Point Country Club. Ian acknowledged their attention with a smile. Though he only had eyes for one of the Kendrick women, he could appreciate the other’s attractiveness. “She’s a pistol,” Jade finished. “The preschool teacher was never the same after that. I think she was relieved we moved from the city.”

“Why did you move?” Ian asked, stretching his legs out in front of him.