The Cop. Jan Hudson

time, oohing when the newlyweds cut the cake and aahing when J.J. took Mary Beth onto the floor for their first dance. Kelly had done a fair amount of dancing herself—with every man in the Outlaw family, except Cole, and with several of her patients.

      “Looks as if you found another eligible Outlaw,” her friend Carrie said when they met at the champagne fountain.

      “Sam’s too young for me, so you must mean Cole,” Kelly said. “I don’t imagine a romance between us. He’s like a bird with a broken wing right now, but when he’s healed, he’ll fly away.”

      “Maybe not. It would be nice having you as a sister-in-law. Free medical care and all that.”

      Kelly laughed. “I think a good insurance policy would be a better bet. I don’t see Cole as the marrying kind—and certainly not to someone like me.”

      “What do you mean ‘someone like’ you?”

      “As my former fiancé put it—someone who smells like a hospital and can’t sit through an entire movie without an emergency. He said marrying me would be like committing bigamy, since I’m already married to my job.”

      “What a turkey.”

      “Luckily I realized that in time to cancel the wedding invitations. But I think he was right. Not many men can handle the demands of a doctor’s life—except maybe another doctor.”

      “Or a cop,” Carrie said.

      “I can’t believe we’re having this conversation,” Kelly said. “Trust me, there is absolutely no chance of a relationship between Cole and me. None. Zip. Nada.”

      Carrie grinned. “But you will have to admit he’s a hunk.”

      “Really? I hadn’t noticed.”

      “Li-ar,” Carrie singsonged.

      Kelly only smiled, and they parted company.

      Oh, she’d noticed Cole Younger was a hunk. Every female hormone in her body was on red alert. She glanced toward him and found him watching her.

      He winked.

      Good Lord, could he read her mind?

      She quickly turned back to the champagne fountain, grabbed a glass, and held it under a spigot. Her hand shook.

      What was the matter with her? She chugalugged the wine and hurried to the ladies’ room.

      WHEN SHE CAME OUT of the ladies’ room, Kelly saw that the party was still going strong, but Cole wasn’t. He looked tired. She slipped out to her car and got his wheelchair.

      Once back at the table she tapped him on the shoulder. “How about I waltz you out of here, big guy?”

      “Are you going to insist on leading?” Cole asked.

      “Naturally. And get a move on. My coach is about to turn into a pumpkin.”

      “Need any help?” Sam asked.

      “Not a bit,” Cole replied, standing and slipping into the chair.

      “You can bring the walker,” Kelly said.

      “I’ll take it,” Belle said. “You go dance with Sally Easy again,” she told her youngest brother.

      “Easly. Sally Easly.”

      “Could have fooled me,” Belle said. “She’s been drooling all over you for an hour or more.”

      “Get off his case, Ding,” Cole said. “Can the kid help it if he’s irresistible?”

      Belle looked Sam up and down. “Irresistible? Him? I don’t get it.” She hooked the folded walker over her arm and led the way around the edge of the crowd.

      Kelly helped Cole into her car, then she and Belle stowed the chair and walker in the back.

      “Is he going to be okay, Dr. Kelly?” Belle asked quietly.

      “Cole? He’s going to be fine. It’s just going to take some time and a lot of work.”

      Before they left, Belle stuck her head in the window and gave Cole a peck on the cheek. “I want to spend some time with you before I leave, Big Buzzer.”

      “Come by for breakfast in the morning,” he told her. “I’ll make the coffee. You bring the breakfast.”

      “You’re on.”

      As they drove away, Cole ripped off his tie, unbuttoned his shirt collar and leaned back against the headrest. “Thanks for rescuing me. I was ready to get out of there. I feel like I’ve been chewed up, spit out and stepped on.”

      “I noticed you were looking a little tired. And my feet are killing me. I haven’t danced so much in years.”

      “Are you bragging or complaining?”

      “My feet are complaining. I don’t spend much time in high heels.”

      “Me, either.”

      Kelly chuckled. “I doubt if you could find any in your size. Aren’t you glad now that you went to the wedding and the reception?”

      Cole smiled. “Yeah. Yeah, I am. But I’m worn out.”

      They arrived at the Twilight Inn a few moments later, and she wheeled him inside to his apartment.

      When he stood to move to his recliner, Kelly helped him off with his coat. She started to unbutton his shirt, and when Cole put his hands on her hips to steady himself, something strange happened to her breathing. A woozy feeling washed over her, her heartbeat accelerated and her fingers fumbled the buttons. She caught herself, palms against his chest. “Sorry, I must visited that fountain once too often.”

      “How much champagne did you have?”

      “Only a couple of glasses.” Kelly knew it wasn’t the wine causing her reactions; it was the intimate contact. She was doing fine until he touched her.

      Cole’s fingers tightened on her hips, and she glanced up. He didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to. His eyes were almost black, and she could feel the pounding of his heart against her fingers.

      Trying to ignore the sexual awareness that steamed like an overheated radiator, she quickly disposed of the shirt and unbuckled his belt. When she reached for his fly zipper, his hand covered hers. “I’ll do that later.”

      “Don’t be silly. You’re exhausted, and I don’t mind helping.”

      “Darlin’, I may too tuckered to pucker, but some parts of me don’t seem to have gotten the message.”

      Automatically she glanced down and didn’t know whether to laugh or blush. “Well, at least you know everything is in working order.”

      “Yeah, there’s that. But the timing is lousy.”

      “I could come back later.” Had she really said that? She couldn’t believe she’d said that. What had gotten into her?

      She didn’t have time to bemoan her gaffe any longer because Cole seemed to have gotten a second wind. His arms went around her, and he pulled her into a kiss that blew her away, stole her breath and set her reeling. His mouth was greedy, and her response was just as hungry. She plastered herself against him and savored every sensual moment.

      Her pulse raced and her belly vibrated—

      Kelly went still. Her belly vibrated again.

      “Sorry,” she said, pushing away. “My pager.”

      “Ignore it.” He reached for her mouth.

      “Can’t. I’m not on call. It must be an emergency. I have to go. And you need to rest.”

      He cocked one dark eyebrow. “Darlin’, right now rest is the last thing on my mind.” He sighed and loosened his arms. “Call me later.”