Hot Single Docs: Meeting His Match. Susan Carlisle
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Название: Hot Single Docs: Meeting His Match
Автор: Susan Carlisle
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Контркультура
Серия: Mills & Boon M&B
isbn: 9781474083447
isbn:
“Yes, we do.”
“But for some reason you think I should tell all. Is that little family counselor who wants to make it all better working after hours tonight?” Goading her was starting to be fun. At least, if she was mad at him he’d be less temped to explore his fascination with her. She was so beautiful with her hair cascading around her shoulders. Her eyes glittering with anger only heightened that beauty.
“Oh, you...you... You’ve managed to make it personal!”
That did it. He’d heard that word one too many times. As they passed a small alcove he took her waist and pulled her in. “I’m going to show you personal.”
Combing his fingers into her hair, he brought his mouth down to hers. It wasn’t a gentle kiss. He wanted to consume her. Wanted to get her out of his system, out of his life. The world slowed to nothing but Lucy and the moment. He’d not felt so free in a long time.
She jerked away and he immediately regretted the loss of her lips. He wanted more. The evening had certainly turned out far more positively than he’d anticipated.
Lucy’s eyes were wide as she gazed at him blankly. She blinked and in that second she found reality again. With a quick look around, she checked to see if anyone had seen them. Relief flooded her features when no one was visible.
Her eyes flashed at him as she hissed, “You had no business doing that!”
“It wasn’t business, it was personal.”
She clenched her mouth shout, glared at him before she swung around and stalked away.
He caught up with her before she made it out of the main entrance. “The valet service is out the other door.”
“I’m getting a taxi.”
His fingers circled her arm. She stopped and looked pointedly at his hand. He released her. “Come on, Lucy. I apologize. It won’t happen again. I brought you and I’m going to see you home.”
* * *
Lucy said nothing as they rode back to her apartment. He glanced at her while they stopped in traffic. There was a pensive look on her face and her fingers touched her bottom lip. He grinned. So she wasn’t as unaffected by his kiss as she acted.
Good, then maybe he’d get to kiss her again. One taste hadn’t been enough.
When he entered her street she said, “Just pull up in front of the restaurant. It’s not necessary to park. I can get in on my own.” She raised a hand. “I know that goes against your raisin’ but I’ve had enough tonight.”
He hadn’t had enough and he didn’t think she had either but he wouldn’t argue the point. Stopping by the curb in front of her apartment, he let Lucy out as she’d requested. “See you tomorrow, Lucy.”
“Tomorrow,” she said, as if she was parroting him instead of really thinking about what she was saying. She bit her lower lip.
His male ego took flight. Yes, there would be more kisses.
LUCY STARED OFF into what little space there was in her office.
Ryan had kissed her. Had kissed her good. He’d kissed her like no one else ever had. Her lips tingled from the memory. She stuck the tip of her tongue out and licked the center of her bottom lip. Could she still taste him? With an effort she stopped herself from moaning.
“Lucy, you okay?”
“What?” She looked around.
“I’ve called your name twice. Something bothering you?” Nancy asked.
“Oh, no, I’m fine. Just thinking.”
“How’s it going with Ryan?”
Lucy’s heart revved up. Her body temperature rose. Beyond a shadow of a doubt her face had gone beet red. “We’re fine.”
Nancy looked at her longer than Lucy found comfortable. “You aren’t falling for the silver-tongued devil, are you?”
“No. We’re just co-workers.” Lucy tried to sound as convincing as possible, tried to convince herself that his kiss had meant nothing.
“I see,” Nancy said, but disbelief ricocheted around the room. She smiled knowingly at Lucy before she picked up papers off her desk. “Hey, it’s Saturday night. Why don’t you come to O’Malley’s Pub for a drink before you head home? Everyone will be there. I’ll introduce you around. Should have done it already.”
Lucy wavered only a second between going home to spend the evening alone or getting to know other staff members better. “I think I’d like that. Thanks.”
“Great. What time is Ryan usually through with rounds?”
“Today it should be about six.”
“Perfect. I’ll meet you here.”
“I’ll be ready.” Maybe going out with a group and having some fun would get her mind off Ryan O’Doherty. Still she couldn’t help but have a fluttery feeling in her middle at the thought of seeing him again.
* * *
“So, Alex, what can I help you with?” Ryan asked as he took a seat in one of the two chairs in front of Alex Rodriguez’s desk.
“Ryan, I thought I should speak to you privately about a couple of matters that came up during the patients’ review meeting yesterday,” Alex said, leaning back in his chair.
Ryan looked at him expectantly.
“I heard that you and Ms. Edwards had a public shouting match in the ER the other evening.” Alex’s voice made it clear he wasn’t pleased.
Ryan had let Lucy push him too far. His emotions had gotten away from him. Something he rarely, if ever, allowed to happen. Now he was being criticized because of it.
“Things like that reflect poorly on my department and you professionally,” Alex finished with a note of reprimand. In a very unsubtle way Alex was making it clear he wouldn’t tolerate it happening again.
“Ms. Edwards and I did have a heated discussion about a patient. We’ve worked out our differences.”
“Good. That’s what I wanted to hear. Do I need to speak with Ms. Edwards?”
Ryan shifted in his chair. He couldn’t have Lucy telling Alex what they’d been arguing about. “That won’t be necessary.”
Alex nodded. “Now for the other issue. I understand that the Rivera kid’s progress hasn’t gone as expected.”
The hair on the back of Ryan’s neck stood at attention СКАЧАТЬ