Page 58 of Free to Fall

“Daddy, Laura put on sixty strokes of nail polish on me.”

“Whoa. That’s a lot. Do you think we should ask her to stay for dinner to make up for the fact I was late?” His bright green eyes probe mine.

I fake a yawn and jerk my head to the side. He frowns but nods acceptingly. I excuse myself to Bailey. “If I’m going to be back here first thing tomorrow, I need to get some sleep. This little one wore me out.”

Bailey giggles and then yawns herself. “But you’re going to miss toasted cheese sammies.”

I get to my feet and hold out my right pinky. If I’m promising with an amaryllis, it’s a promise I’m going to keep. “Next time?”

“Deal. Night, Laura.”

“Night, Bailey.” Liam follows me out of Bailey’s earshot before I clue him in on her mental and physical state. “As much as she doesn’t want to admit it, the little sweetheart is fading after such an active day.”

“I could tell from her face she had an amazing time.”

“We both did,” I agree as we approach the front door.

“Can I ask you a personal question?” He slides his hands into his dress slacks.

“Do I have the right to not answer it?”

“Of course.”

“Then fire away.”

“You’ve operated on patients, right?”

“In an emergency room capacity, yes. That’s my specialty.” If I ever get back to it, I add silently to myself.

His head twists until his eyes rest on his daughter. “Why on earth didn’t you go into pediatric medicine? You have an incredible way with children.”

“That’s easy.”

He tilts his head back in my direction, waiting for my answer.

“Love.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I simply love children too much to bear their suffering day after day.”

His eyes roam my face for a long moment. I can almost feel their brand as they score my flesh. “That might be the most beautiful reason for not taking a job I’ve ever heard in my life.”

My lips quirk. “Dr. Rosenthal thought it was bull.”

“Dr. Rosenthal isn’t always right.”

Silence fills the space between us with shocking intimacy. We don’t say anything, but the sparks between us could ignite something I’m not entirely certain I’m ready for.

Not yet.

Blindly, I reach for the doorknob and murmur, “Have a good night,” as I slip out into the warm night air.

“You too. And Laura?”

I turn to face Liam once I reach the flagstone path. “Yes?”

“Thank you for making Bailey feel so special today.”

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