“Of course.” Jenny drove as fast as she dared on the winding road to town and pulled up to the clinic’s emergency entrance ten minutes later. “Do you want me to come in with you?”

For a second, he seemed torn with indecision. “No, you don’t have to. Thanks for the ride.”

“I hope she’s okay.”

“So do I.” He got out of the car to meet the ambulance as it turned into the parking lot.

Jenny moved her car out of the way but couldn’t seem to make herself leave. She parked and watched from a distance as Paul emerged from the back of the ambulance. He and Alex stood together to watch the paramedics remove the stretcher from the back. David Lawrence came out of the clinic to meet them, and Alex and Paul rushed inside with him.

She knew she ought to leave. His family crisis was none of her business. But that second of indecision she’d seen on his face had her shutting off the car. It had her reclining the seat ever so slightly. And it had her watching the clinic door for the rest of the night.

***

Alex emerged into the soft dawn light feeling like he’d been assaulted after the long night without sleep—and the sexual marathon that had proved he wasn’t as young as he used to be. The relentless heat smacked him in the face as he left the cool interior of the clinic. He did a double take when he saw Jenny’s car in the lot. Other than David’s car, it was the only one there, so it was hard to miss.

Approaching the car, he saw that she was asleep with all the windows open. Seeing her there, obviously waiting for him, hit him square in the chest, making him ache for much more from her than what they’d already shared. He knew it was stupid to feel that way. After all, what did he have to give her besides a family and business in disarray? But he couldn’t deny the ache in the vicinity of his heart as he touched her shoulder gently, trying not to scare her.

She came awake, blinking her eyes. “How is she?”

“She had a bad case of heartburn from something she ate at bridge night.”

“Oh thank goodness.”

“David is keeping her for observation for a few more hours. I’m going home to get my truck and coming back to get them.”

“I’ll give you a lift.”

“You didn’t have to wait for me, Jenny.”

“I know.”

He looked at her for a long time, drinking in the sight of big brown eyes, kiss-swollen pink lips and soft blonde hair and trying to decide what it was about her that had him so undone. She’d waited all night for him, even after he’d told her she didn’t have to. Why had she done that?