Her eyes grew wide and flickered to the chair in the corner of her room. Green plaid peeked through a few other tossed items on the back.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t catch what you said. No CIs in yet. Breakfast.” And she scooted out of the room. Turning to make sure he was following her, she noticed his gaze on the chair. He threw a silly glare her way. Busted.
Before she got to the kitchen, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his chest. Warm lips pressed to her cheek, then he released her. Lingering had never been more wanted than now.
Mercedes lounged at the kitchen table with a coffee cup cradled between her hands. When they walked in, she looked up and signed,Sorry,again.
It’s fine.
I didn’t know he was there.Mercedes looked embarrassed.
Obviously.
Her friend glanced at Blake and smiled.I’m guessing things are okay now.
Yes.
Blake narrowed his eyes. “I got the answer was yes, but I’m not sure what the question was. My signing skills are still basic.”
Oh, they’d been rude, not including him. She knew how that felt.
“Sorry. Mercedes was making sure things were good between us.”
He looked at the amber-skinned beauty and asked, “Was she complaining all week about how I was avoiding her?”
“Um, maybe not complaining, but…”
“I know, I know. I have some groveling to do.” His attention on Carli, he asked, “What can I do to help with breakfast?”
She put him to work cracking eggs and whipping up pancake batter. It was fun but didn’t last long enough. Once he’d helped wash up, he pulled her in close and stroked her cheek.
“I have to go and check on my patient from last night.”
“It’s okay. I’m heading to my parents’.”
“Let me know if I need to strong-arm anyone in your department to get you Friday off.”
They kissed a few more times, then Blake got his coat and left. As Carli made herself another cup of coffee, Mercedes sat across from her, staring.
“What?” she asked, plopping into a chair.
“Just checking again that everything’s all right between you two. Looked pretty cozy when I walked in on you. So you straightened it all out?”
“Okay, maybe I overreacted a tiny bit. But you have to admit that canceling as many times as he has might make anyone a bit neurotic.”
Mercedes nodded, then grinned. “Where are you going Friday that you need the day off?”
Her own smile crept onto her face at the thought of a weekend away with Blake. “His friend is getting married up in Vermont, and he wants me to go with him.”
“Sounds great. Do you know this friend?”
“No, I don’t really know any of his friends. He works so much I’m not sure when he has time to see them.” She didn’t want to read further into the fact she hadn’t met any of his friends yet. Already she’d blundered, thinking he didn’t want to see her anymore because he’d been busy working.
After taking a long sip of her coffee, she signed, “What are you doing home from your parents so early? I figured you’d stay there most of the day and come home later.”
“Evan asked if I could help him with something. Some written stuff for work. He’s coming over in about an hour.”
“Right about the time I’d be heading to Mom and Dad’s. He didn’t say anything to me last night when he dropped by.”
