Free Tempted by Dr. Daisy by Catherine Anderson Page A

And it is about more than just sex, much more, but we can’t let it grow into anything dangerous. You just have to understand that this can never be anything other than what we had the other night, no matter how amazing it was. If you can accept that, then we can carry on.’
    â€˜As what? Lovers?’
    He shrugged. ‘If you like. Lovers, friends. It would give us someone to do things with—have dinner, go to the cinema, chill out in front of the telly—just ordinary stuff, but not alone. I’m sick of being alone, Daisy, of having no one to share things with, nobody to tell a joke to or unload on at the end of a rough day. And I would very, very much like to do that with you, but it’s your call. If you tell me to go to hell, I’ll quite understand, and you don’t need to be afraid that it’ll affect our relationship at work. I wouldn’t do that to you.’
    She held his eyes, saw the regret, the need, the sadness, and felt her eyes fill. She was lonely, too, and having someone to share the little things with would be wonderful.
    And even though she knew it was the stupidest thing in the world, the last thing she should be doing, she nodded.
    â€˜OK. But only so long as Florence is right out of the picture. I can’t lose my heart to another little girl, Ben. I’ve done it before, and I swore never again. Mike’s girls came to us every other weekend, and for holidays. And when he went back to his ex, I lost contact with them. And I vowed never again—not a man with children.’
    â€˜Oh, Daisy, I’m sorry,’ he said softly. He could see the hurt in her eyes, the wariness, the soul-deep pain the breakup had caused her. ‘I had no idea you were in so deep.’
    â€˜Oh, yeah,’ she said with a brittle laugh. ‘So if we’re going to do this, well, just keep her away from me, please.’
    â€˜I will. So—do we have a deal?’
    â€˜What—fun dates, hot sex and no complications?’
    He winced. ‘Daisy, don’t,’ he said softly, but she wasn’t in the mood to be toyed with.
    â€˜It’s the truth, Ben. If we can’t have anything else, then let’s for God’s sake have that.’
    â€˜OK,’ he said softly, after a silence that had stretched on altogether too long. ‘Fun dates, hot sex and no complications. And one more rule. No using the “L” word.’
    She swallowed, nodded, then tried to smile. ‘Done,’ she said. ‘So—is eating a complication, or a fun date? Because I’m starving and that casserole must be warmed through by now.’
    He started to laugh, then pulled her gently into his arms and hugged her close. ‘Oh, Daisy. I’m starving, too, and it smells fantastic. Actually, I’ve got an idea. Can we take it with us next door? I’ve got one or two things I have to do, and I’ve got a nice bottle of wine in the fridge and half an apple pie.’
    â€˜Home-made?’
    He winced. ‘Yes. By me and Florence, so it’s not amazingly elegant, but it’s tasty.’
    She smiled at him. ‘Tasty sounds good. Lead the way.’
    They ended up in his bed.
    Not then, not until they’d eaten the casserole on their knees in the sitting room—the only room apart from his bedroom that was in any way in order, if you didn’t count the dangling ceiling paper.
    He opened the wine he’d had chilling and poured it into champagne flutes, ‘All I seem to have left,’ he told her wryly, and they toasted his house, and the plumber’s health, which made her laugh.
    And then, when they’d eaten her casserole and the endearingly inelegant and tasty apple pie, he pulled her to her feet.
    â€˜Come to bed,’ he said softly, and her breath lodged in her throat as she followed him up the stairs and into his room. He undressed her slowly, his hands sure and gentle, but then she met his eyes and