Curtis peered through the small window to next to the door and watched as Simone moved through the apartment fluffing pillows and lighting candles. He was sure that was as domestic as she got, but it would be fun to see if she fessed up to her dinner preparation.

He stepped back and tapped on the door.

Simone opened the door. Her hair fell in like black satin over her shoulders and she looked nearly virginal in her white cotton shirt, belted at the waist over a pair of white pants. Her hair and the white of her outfit were fitting for the contrast going through him. Hot and cold. Good and bad. Love and hate.

"You look beautiful, " he finally said after realizing he 'd stood there long enough just staring at her.

"Thank you. " She stepped back. "Come in. "

Curtis stepped through the door and their bodies brushed. He felt her suck in a breath and he 'd quickly considered scooping her up and laying her down on the couch. Forget dinner, but that wasn 't what she wanted and he knew it.

He sniffed the fragrant air. "Chicken piccata? "

"I was told it was your favorite. "

He smiled. There was no keeping any secrets from her. "I saw Regan turn the corner when I pulled up. "

Simone 's shoulders dropped and a crease formed in her forehead. "I did not know what else to do. "

Curtis gathered her in his arms and gazed down into her blue eyes. "I think it was sweet you asked her to help you. "

"Help? She did it all. I was lost in the store and the kitchen. I am a wreck. "

He wanted to laugh at her, but he couldn 't. She was sincere and totally defenseless for the first time. "You 're wonderful. "

The crease eased between her brows and a smile formed on her lips. "I wanted to impress you. "

"You did that a long time ago. " He brushed his fingers through her hair. "But considering it is cooked and ready to eat, I suppose kissing you senseless will have to wait. "

"Well, " she inched up closer to him, "a few kisses wouldn 't hurt. "

That was all he needed to hear. He hoisted her to his hips and her legs wrapped around him. This was familiar. This was comfort when it came to Simone.

He pressed her back up against the wall and drove himself mad with the kiss he planted on her.

Her fingers tangled in his hair. Her legs tightened around him for support. And her breasts pressed against his chest and heaved from the breath she fought for.

When he couldn 't stand there any longer without carrying her away he set her down and eased back the kiss.

"I am glad we did not make appetizers. I think that was appetizer enough. "

"Yep. " It didn 't sound intelligent but it was all he could get out as he tried to will his body to ease.

Simone led him to the small kitchen where she 'd set a proper table with mismatched plates and silverware.

"I saw a beer in the refrigerator if you would like one. "

"Thanks, but I 'm on call. "

"Oh, " she said trying to hide the disappointment in her voice as she reached for the serving platter. "I did not realize that. "

"I forgot. I was too busy kissing you. " He reached for her and his fingers brushed down her arm.

Her chest fluttered knowing he was there with her, wanting to kiss her, talking sweetly to 1her. Perhaps it was the perfect opportunity to just tell him about the baby.

Gathering her courage, she took a deep cleansing breath. "I am glad you came tonight. I have dreamed about this for months. "

She took her seat as he began to serve them both from the platter she 'd set on the table. "You thought about cooking me dinner? "

Simone could feel the heat rise in her cheeks. "Curtis, " he looked up at her. "Since I left you I have thought of you every day. And after having spent the afternoon with your sister I realized that there were so many wonderful things you brought to my life, and not just physically. "

Curtis sat back in his chair. "I don 't think I understand. "

"This is very difficult for me. " She took her paper napkin out from beneath her fork and set it in her lap. "I see what you have with your siblings and I realize I missed out on that. "

He narrowed his eyes. "So you love me for my family? "

"And your charming smile. " She joked.

"I am very dashing. "

She laughed and he placed salad on her plate.

"What I am very badly trying to say, is I want to be part of your family. I want to have a family like yours. "

Curtis leaned back in his seat again, draping his arm over the back. He watched her for a moment. "This sounds like a marriage proposal, but I 'm not sure it is me you want to marry. I think you 'd rather marry my family. "

She swallowed hard. Why couldn 't she just get it out? "Oh, you would think I could say this without messing it up. After all I was trained my whole life to help sell big deals. "

"Now you 're selling me something? "

"Me, " she said simply.

He eased forward. "I am sold on you. "

She let out the breath that had stuck in her lungs. "Good. Then "

He1r thought was interrupted by his pager going off on his waist and only a moment later his cell phone rang from his pocket.

"Are you kidding me? " He silenced the pager and looked at the display on the phone before answering. "Dr. Keller -yes, how many? The clinic? The E.R.? " He let out loud breath. "Fifteen minutes away. "

Simone sat silent at the table as she listened to him ramble off miscellaneous words. Before he turned off his phone he was already standing, his truck keys pulled out of his pocket.

He looked down at her seated at the table. "Simone, I 'm so sorry. There was a carbon monoxide leak at some club. The hospital is flooded. I have to go. "

It was that very moment she understood what Cynthia had said about not wanting to marry Dr. Curtis Keller. He was already married to his job. If he were her husband, this would be the norm. He 'd jump up from dinner and race out the door. What would happen if their son was pitching baseball game or their daughter was in the middle of a dance recital?

"Simone, I 'm sorry. " He headed for the door and she quickly followed. "Listen, I have no idea what time I 'll get out of there. Or if I 'll get out of there. " He leaned in and kissed her cheek. "If I can, I 'll try to stop back by, but " He was already out the door and hurrying down the steps to his truck. Only a moment later he was gone.