There might not be a thing she could use. But Carly would go through the box, pull out what she could use, and take the rest to a free health clinic for the uninsured that could hopefully make use of the items.
“You look like it’s all you can do to keep steady. Quit being stubborn and let me help you, Carly,” Stone insisted, his voice sounding off a little.
He had a point. Plus, Carly’s fingers ached from gripping the box so hard and she was curious why his voice wavered. “Fine.”
He took the box from her with an ease indicating it weighed no more than a feather, then beamed as if he’d done something amazingly chivalrous. Whatever had caused the waver, he was all smiles now.
“Lead the way.”
As in to her car.
She didn’t want Stone to see her reliable, but old sedan. Whereas most people didn’t notice the little details in Carly’s life that hinted things might not be fairy tales and roses, that sharp mind of his would question things she didn’t want questioned.
She didn’t want him making her question things.
Pushing the hospital door open and holding it for him, she sighed. “Of all the people who offered to help, it would have to be you.”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you didn’t like me.”
“I don’t know you well enough to like or dislike you,” she said as she made sure the hospital door completely closed. “I only know you from the hospital and what little interaction we’ve had here.”
“I keep trying to correct that.”
“You want me to know you well enough to dislike you?” She pretended to misunderstand in hopes of redirecting the conversation. Besides, he deserved a little taking down.
Rather than look offended, he laughed. “I’m hoping you’ll swing the other way and like me.”
Fighting a smile, she narrowed her gaze at him. “But you’re admitting there is a distinct possibility I won’t?”
“It’s not been a big problem, but you wouldn’t be the first.” He cut his eyes toward her. “For the record, I’d prefer you like me.”
“Noted,” she said, keeping a step ahead of him as they crossed the employee parking lot.
“Go to dinner with me, Carly.”
He was asking her again. How could something be so unbelievably dreamy and such a nightmare at the same time?
“I can’t.” Part of her wanted to. Part of her wanted to grab her box and run.
Despite how she’d hightailed it from him earlier, she didn’t run from her problems. She dealt with them head on and chin up.
Just as she had with Rosalyn and the nurse’s aide’s teasing questions about Stone.
“Because?” he prompted.
Because she had to relieve Joyce. The retired nurse was wonderful, never complained if Carly worked overtime, but, otherwise, Carly always came straight home.
“Are you involved with a married man?”
Almost tripping, eyes wide, Carly spun toward Stone. “What? Are you crazy? Of course not. What would make you think that?”
His gaze, not so twinkly at the moment, stared into her eyes. “No one knows anything about your private life, yet you say you’re busy.”
She glared for real. “Because I’m not interested in you that means I must be sneaking around with a married man?” She rolled her eyes. “Get over yourself, Dr. Parker.”
He winced. “That’s not what I meant.”
“It’s what you implied and I don’t appreciate it.” Was that what he’d taken away from the short bits of time they’d spent together? That she was a woman who would mess around with a man who’d vowed himself to another woman?
“I’m sorry. That’s not what I meant to imply.”
Hanging onto her anger proved difficult when his apology was full of sincerity. Frustrated with herself, she put her hands on her hips. “Then say what you mean.”
He shifted the box. “Regardless of what I say, I upset you.”
“You should take the hint and not say anything, then.”
“What’s the fun in that?”
“What’s the fun in upsetting me?” she tossed back and took off toward her car in a fast walk.
“You’re right,” Stone said from right behind her. “I take no pleasure in upsetting you. The truth is I want to do the opposite.”
“You want to take pleasure in upsetting me?” She pretended to misunderstand, again. She felt contrary and purposely misunderstanding gave her a little reprieve. Asking if she was seeing a married man! The nerve. “Thanks, but no, thanks.”
Okay, she might be latching onto that to throw a wall between them. She needed whatever shield she could find to protect her from the charm he exuded.
Digging her key out of her pocket, Carly unlocked her old economy sedan, then hit the button on the car-door panel to unlock the back doors. She opened the backseat door, tugging a little extra hard where the door often stuck, then stepped back for Stone to put the box onto the seat.
He made sure the box wasn’t going anywhere if she slammed on her brakes or took a curve a little fast, then faced her. “Is it me, then, or men in general?”
“Is your ego so big that you just can’t fathom I’m not interested?”
He closed the car door and moved to where he stood right in Carly’s personal space. “My ego isn’t that big and if it had been, you’d have corrected that.”
Ouch.
“What I’d like,” he continued, “is to know why you say you aren’t interested when I’d put money on the fact you are.”
Hands digging into her hips, she glared. “You’d lose your money.”
“Would I?” His question was gentle rather than mocking. “I’m not sure what changed yesterday, Carly. I’m not blind. I’ve seen how you look at me. It’s the same way I look at you. With interest. If my delay in asking you out is the problem, know it wasn’t from lack of interest. On the days I haven’t worked, I’ve been traveling back and forth from Atlanta to settle up everything with my move.”
Any spunk Carly had left her like a deflating balloon.
Any woman would be flattered at Stone’s attention. If his ego had been huge, it would be with good reason.
And she was flattered by his attention.
But his attention was a distraction she didn’t need because she had to stay focused. Losing focus could mean everything falling apart and she couldn’t allow that to happen.
Plus, how could she in good conscience involve any man in her crazy life? Just look at how Tony had balked and her mother hadn’t been nearly as needful at that time.
She closed her eyes. “It would be simpler if you’d move on and forget whatever interest you have in me.”
“Do you remember when we first met?”
Stone’s question caught her off guard. Her eyes popped open and she stared at him.
“You were coming out of the medical supply room and bumped into me,” he continued, his gaze searching hers. “You almost fell over yourself apologizing.” A soft smile played on his lips. “I thought you were the prettiest thing I’d seen in a long time.”
Vanities were not something Carly