“If only we as parents knew what all the blobs they draw mean,” I tell him. “It happens to me on a daily basis.”
“I get that.” Derek shifts awkwardly, shoving one hand through his thick, brown hair. “I did have an ulterior motive for wanting to drop by.”
“Oh yeah?” I cross my arms, careful not to crinkle the sheet in my hand. I have enough papers like this from my own daughter to last me a lifetime, but something about the sweet drawing from Troy makes me want to hang it up in my locker.
“I was hoping to ask you out.”
“I think that may be against doctor/patient confidentiality,” I sputter out, grasping for some reason to turn him down.
“Does that apply to nurses too?” Now he looks confused.
“I don’t think it does. But I don’t know if it’s a good time for me.”
I want it to be. God, how I wish it could be, but what precious time I do have, I spend with my daughter. She’s the most important thing in my life.
“I have Lydia.”
Derek shakes his head, a smile flirting on his lips.
God, why does he have such good lips?I shake the thought away.
“Sorry, I wasn’t clear. I was thinking you both could come over. She could play with Troy. Make it a playdate of sorts.”
“A playdate for all of us?”
“I do make a mean grilled cheese.” He laughs. “About all I can make, it seems.”
“Break’s over, Sutton. Need you in room three,” Linda calls out.
“Sorry, I have to go.”
“What do you say? Playdate on Saturday?”
I grab a piece of paper from the desk behind me and scrawl down my number on it and pass it over. I’m not missing this second chance with the sexy man in front of me.
“It’s a good thing I like grilled cheese.”
Chapter Five
DEREK
“Am I going to have to share my toys?” Troy asks, putting away his most prized fire truck.
“You’re good at sharing your toys.” I hand him the last set of building blocks to put in his toy chest. “Why wouldn’t you share with Lydia?”
It’s the first free day that Sutton had off from the hospital and she’s spending it here with us. I made sure the entire house was spotless. Not an easy feat with a preschooler. It’s hard for him to do much with his arm, but he can put away his toys with one hand.
“What if she doesn’t like them? Girls are weird.” He screws up his face like it’s the worst offense in the entire world.
Laughter rumbles out of me. It shouldn’t surprise me that’s his biggest concern.
“Maybe you can draw pictures if she doesn’t like your toys.”
“I guess.” Troy shrugs his shoulders and runs to get his coloring books out.
I even let him choose what he is wearing. As much as I wanted to put him in his best outfit, I wanted him to be comfortable today.
He picked out his favorite blue shorts and an orange T-shirt with a hockey player on it. Not even close to matching, but not something I’m going to worry about now.
