Free Marrying the Playboy Doctor by Laura Iding

They’d been actually trying to even out the teams, but the nurses didn’t seem to mind. Every year they continued to issue the challenge. “Yeah, but that Rachel packs a powerful punch. I mean pitch.”
    Kylie finally turned to look at him, frowning when her gaze landed on his bruised jaw. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
    Damn, the caring concern in her eyes made him want to kiss her again. And now Ben was far enough away that he could speak his mind. “Yes. And you should know—your kiss completely healed my pain.”
    Her eyes widened and she quickly turned away. “I don’t know why you’re so anxious to come and eat frozen pizza,” she said abruptly, changing the subject. “Di Vinci’s Pizza is much better.”
    “I don’t care about the pizza.” He decided he’d had enough of her light and fluffy conversation. They’d come abreast of her house anyway—he recognized it from the other day, when he’d given her a ride home. He caught her hand to stop her. “Kylie, there’s a sizzling attraction between us. Why are you pretending it doesn’t exist?”
    She sucked in a harsh breath and tugged against his hand. “Don’t,” she said softly. “Don’t do this.”
    “Do what?”
    “Make me fall for you.”
    The seriousness of her tone made him drop her arm and take a step back. “Okay, that’s fine. Neither one of us is looking for a long-term relationship. Does that mean we can’t have any fun?”
    Her gaze narrowed. “Fun? That kiss was a mistake. I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression. Now, if you really want pizza you’re welcome to join us, but only as friends.”
    Disappointment burned as she yanked out of his grip and hurried up the driveway after her son. “Ben, why don’t you talk to Dr. Seth while I put the pizza in the oven?”
    He sighed and tried to smile. Clearly this wasn’t going to work. But at the same time he couldn’t just leave. At least not without hurting Ben. And, besides, he didn’t mind spending time with the boy. Ben was eager to talk sports—one of his favorite subjects.
    So instead of making a polite excuse to leave hestayed, and entertained Ben while enjoying every bite of the pizza and garlic bread she’d made.
    When the meal was over, he insisted on doing cleanup duty, while Kylie and Ben went into the living room to relax.
    At least he assumed Ben was relaxing. Kylie had seemed tense throughout dinner. He suspected she’d remain tense until he went home.
    Alone.
    Dammit.
    Kylie surprised him by returning to the kitchen a few minutes later. “Seth, really. You don’t have to do this.”
    “Where’s Ben?” he asked, continuing to wash the dishes. Her modest home didn’t have the luxury of a dishwasher.
    “He’s watching some football game on television.” She wrinkled her nose. “Someday I’m going to have to learn the finer points of that game.”
    “I’d be happy to teach you,” he offered, before he could stop himself. “Ben’s probably watching a college game—they’re generally on Saturdays. The professionals play every Sunday.”
    “Hmm.” She picked up a towel and began drying the dishes he’d stacked in the sink. “I should take you up on that.”
    “Football was always a big game at our house,” he explained. “My dad used to coach our high school team. My oldest brother Caleb was a better player than I was, and my sister Tess was a cheerleader. We always spent every single Sunday watching the game on television, no exceptions.”
    Kylie smiled. “Your mother must have been a saint to put up with all of you watching football.”
    “Nah, she didn’t mind so much. Honestly, I think she learned to love the game, too. Maybe just because my dad did.” Seth finished washing and rinsing the dishes and took the towel from her hands to dry his own. Instead of giving it back, he took over the task of drying dishes. “When my dad died, the summer before my junior year of high school, we were pretty shocked. Caleb had already