Claiming Colleen (Home to Harbor Town 3) - Page 57

“Dinner last night didn’t count?” she murmured.

He shook his head with mock sadness before he kissed her nose. “Nope. I have some karma to make up in the dating department. Give me fifteen minutes to get ready. Afterward, I’ll make up for my callousness by giving you a day you’ll never forget. I’ll do my best, anyway.”

“Your best is pretty damn amazing so far.”

His eyes widened and then smoldered at her honesty. “Are you sure you don’t want to—”

She laughed and gave him a gentle shove. “No. Get going. I can’t wait to see what you come up with to balance your dating karma. Not that I’m putting any pressure on you or anything.”

He grinned and backed out of the foyer, keeping his eyes on her the whole time. “I’m a surgeon, remember? I thrive on pressure.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Fifteen minutes,” he promised.

“I’m timing you.”

He charged for the stairs.

Colleen caught a glimpse of herself in the armoire mirror. She blinked. Her cheeks were flushed and she was grinning like an idiot. It took her a moment to recognize her own face transformed by pure happiness.

Oh, no. Something squirmed in her stomach.

Surely it was a mistake for her to allow herself to be this happy.

Don’t think about that. Just try and live in the moment for once. Don’t you deserve a nice, carefree weekend?

Colleen waited, wondering if the anxiety monster in her belly would rear to life again. When it remained silent, she sighed with relief. Her anticipation for spending time with Eric was free to build. Nervousness segued to pure excitement.

Chapter Eleven

After Eric took her to her house for a quick shower and change of clothing, they went to refuel at the Tap and Grill. The Tap was known for selling breakfast at all hours, so they filled up on omelets, wheat toast, coffee and orange juice, both of them unabashedly ravenous after their night of lovemaking. They talked almost nonstop. Eric kept her in stitches, telling her about several funny odd jobs he’d held in college and medical school, including a job in a toothpaste factory and another dusting dinosaur bones at the Detroit Science Center. At one point, he noticed her distracted expression.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

Colleen shook her head and took a sip of coffee. “All those jobs you worked…” She faded off hesitantly. She studied the remains of her toast, suddenly unable to meet his gaze. “Wasn’t there sufficient money from the lawsuit? I mean…it was quite a lot, wasn’t it? I…I would have thought—”

He silenced her increasingly nervous ramblings by placing his hand on top of hers. She met his stare.

“You know how expensive college and medical school are, let alone food, board and other living expenses. Natalie was only eleven when the crash happened. I needed to be careful with finances. I had her to support. I didn’t want to screw up and find out she didn’t have all the resources she needed to go to college. So I supplemented with odd jobs.”

“I’m sorry you had to grow up so young, Eric.”

“I thought you said last night that you realized you can’t apologize for your dad’s actions.”

“I did,” she said quietly. “I’m not apologizing for Dad. I’m just sorry things were so rough for you.”

He squeezed her hand, and she looked up. “I turned out okay.”

“Yeah. You did,” she whispered feelingly.

Eric wouldn’t tell her where he planned to take her after they ate, so Colleen was a little taken aback when he pulled his car into Sutter Park’s outdoor ice rink.

“Ice-skating?” she asked incredulously. “But I can’t skate.”

“Come on,” he encouraged. “It’ll be fun. Look, they have all the Christmas decorations up.”

Colleen was extremely doubtful about the venture. The Kavanaughs were water lovers, one and all, but she didn’t care for the frozen variety. Even she had to admit the atmosphere at the outdoor rink was festive, though. The big Christmas tree they always put up in the park twinkled in the distance. Red and green lights had been strung around the low brick wall enclosing the rink. Kids shouted and zoomed around the ice. Christmas carols played over the loudspeaker. Even the weather cooperated with the holiday atmosphere. Fat snowflakes began to fall as they headed for the ice.

Tags: Beth Kery Home to Harbor Town Billionaire Romance
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