Page 78 of Just One Kiss

"I don't know what's between you, but I wish you could talk it out. It feels like you both have something to say, but neither one of you wants to be the first to say it."

"Don't worry about it, Hannah."

"I can't help it. I care about both of you."

"You care about Jake? I thought he broke your heart."

"He did, but that was a long time ago, and he's not that kid anymore."

His gaze sharpened as it swept across her face. "Are you and Jake getting back together?"

"Oh, I don’t know about that," she said hastily. "But we have called a truce."

"How did that happen?"

"I'm not entirely sure, but it happened. Maybe you and Jake need to do the same thing. You're living in the same town."

"I don't see him any more now than I did when he was traveling the world. I think his mother sees him, but he usually manages to avoid me."

"Why does he do that?" It wasn't her business, but she couldn't stop the question from sliding through her lips.

"He never told you?" Davis asked.

"No."

His jaw tightened. "Well, it's between Jake and me. Excuse me, Hannah, I need to speak to Alan."

She had a feeling he had less of a need to speak to the head of orthopedics than to get away from the conversation they were having, but she simply nodded.

As Davis headed across the room, her gaze reconnected with Jake's. He'd left her mother and was walking straight toward her, and the look in his eyes made her heart jump into her throat. The instantaneous reaction reminded her of high school, of how fast her pulse had raced when Jake gave her his trademark smile—boyish charm mixed with smoking-hot sexuality.

She drew in a breath, wishing she could make a run for it, but he was already too close.

"Hi," he said, exchanging a look with her that was filled with intimate memories from the night before. "You look beautiful."

"Thank you," she said, swiping her lips with her tongue as her mouth went dry. "I didn't think you'd be here. It's your father's turf."

"It's yours, too. And I wanted to see you."

"I should find my mom and Brett," she said, eager to get away from all the unsettled feelings running through her.

"They're getting ready to hear the Christmas story," he said, tipping his head toward the far end of the room. The kids were settling into a circle, getting ready to hear Dr. McKenna's traditional reading ofA Christmas Story.

"Maybe I'll join them."

"Or," he said, moving in front of her. "We could have some fun."

"I don't think so. I have Brett."

"Your mom offered to babysit."

Her gaze narrowed. "Is that what you were speaking to her about?"

"Among other things."

"Well, the two of you don't get to decide who is going to watch Brett. That's my decision."

"Hannah," he said. "We weren't planning anything nefarious. I told her that I'd like to take you ice-skating after this. She said you haven't been skating in years."

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