A mile or so of beach later, he slowed his pace in a cool down before reaching the flat. He stripped off his sandy running shoes in the foyer, then entered deeper into the flat.
Only to be met with those killer blues eyes.
With coffee in hand, Willow had been leaning against the balcony, admiring the view before she looked up at him brightly. Her welcome made it easy to relax. There was a way about her, a calming sensibility she tapped into, which came in handy for a pediatric ER nurse.
She was dressed in scrub pants, but still wore his shirt, the shirttails tied into a knot at the waist. How on earth did she make scrub pants and a simple white shirt look so good? Puzzling, to say the least.
"Is everything all right?" Willow tilted her head just so. A gentle breeze toyed with her sun-kissed hair. She was like sea and sky. Light, airy, and fluid in her every move.
He was more than all right just watching her.
"I'm fine," was all he could utter to keep his wits about him. He tried not to think about how he'd claimed her mouth last night.
"I freshened up the best I could. But my scrub top had blood on it so it's too far gone to put back on. I have a spare at work, along with toiletries. I hope you don't mind if I wear this a little while longer. I'll have it laundered." She fingered the collar of the shirt that was buttoned up more respectfully this morning. Her eyes became distant, wistful, as though she drifted back to a different time.
To last night perhaps?
Just as quickly, her faraway gaze vanished.
"You're up early," she said in haste, then took a sip of coffee. "I thought I'd be long gone before you woke."
"I went for a run. Helps clear my mind." But this morning's workout did nothing to get Willow out of his head.
"Yes, I saw you." Her eyes stole a quick peek to his legs before she turned her attention back toward his face in an attempt to cover her action. But he caught the glimpse nevertheless.
"Coffee?" she asked. "I took the liberty of making a pot."
"I'd love some."
More importantly, he'd love to apologize to Willow for how he'd stolen those kisses from her. What a gentleman he turned out to be.
Willow turned from the balcony and sauntered past him. Attraction thickened the air. He groaned. Heaven help him, but he'd have to keep his physical reaction to her cordoned off if he were to get through this morning.
"I found a broom in a closet and cleaned up my mess in the kitchen," she said.
"I'm sorry about that."
"Oh, don't be. I'm the one who broke the glass."
"No, I mean, our kiss..."
Willow faltered but then recovered, saying nothing about it and returning to her cheery disposition.
"I'll get you a mug," she said, "You stay put on the rug. You don't want to walk in here without shoes just in case I missed any slivers. I'd hate for you to get hurt over my mistake."
He, too, would hate for Willow to be hurt over his mistakes. But he saw no other outcome if they were to continue on the path they started last night.
While she poured the coffee in the kitchen, Shayne respected her wishes and stood on the other side of the granite counter. He rested his forearms on the cool stone.
"Willow, what I'm trying to say is, last night, I took advantage. I never should have—" he reached for the right words.
"How do you take it?"
"What?"
"How do you take your coffee?" She pointed to the mug.
"Black."
"Yes, of course. Straight and to the point."
She plunked the mug down in front of him. She made no move to come around to his side of the counter. And he didn't trust himself to come around to hers.
But he wanted to. Didn't care if his feet ripped to shreds by any stray shards. He'd be willing to walk on a mountain of glass if it meant a chance at kissing her again, despite what his head told him. Didn't matter; she'd ordered him not to get any closer. Let's face it, her demand had nothing to do with broken glass.
He scratched at the nape of his neck. How could he possibly explain everything he'd been through in London, which left him abandoning his home and licking his wounds?
He couldn't.
"Speaking of straight and to the point," Willow continued, but paused to sip her coffee again. Was she hesitant to say what she had on her mind? "I don't want you to beat yourself up over last night. It happened. We stopped it. We're both adults and we have to be professional at the hospital. Last night could have made things... thorny."
Shayne appreciated the way she handled herself. He nodded, grateful the emotional drama would be kept to a minimum, sparing them both of the awkward aftermath of what had occurred.
"Willow, you are amazing—"
"No, please, you don't have to—"
"I mean it. Any man would be lucky to have you, but sometimes you think you want something, and it turns out it isn't what you really need. Life hands you a sudden change and you have to make tough decisions. Whether you like it or not, sometimes a seemingly good decision eventually turns out to be a mistake."
"Yes, a mistake. I know a little something about that. My ex-husband called our marriage a mistake. He decided he didn't want the life we'd built after all, and so he bailed. At least you're honest and upfront." She punctuated her statement by lowering her mug into the sink with a thud before escaping the kitchen and walking out the door.
* * *
Willow had the good fortune to have a full schedule for the day, which would keep her from freaking out over last night's interlude with Shayne. She'd be lying if she said her thoughts didn't drift back to his tender hold and sultry kisses more than once already. Okay, several times. And working side-by-side with him all day was a challenge now that she shared a little intimate history with him.
She had the good sense to keep her focus on the upcoming procedure, her second one of the day, ensuring the best care for her surgical patient. She had no time to wallow in the memory of last night, languishing around like a lovesick puppy. How could she when Shayne did as they agreed? He remained ever the professional around her, both in and out of the ER.
Well, most of the time.
Occasionally, when outside the watchful eye of other staff, she'd feel him stealing a peak at her. When she'd catch him in the act, he'd respond with a devilish smile. And showed not an ounce of shame.
Okay, so when he smiled at her, giddy tingles skittered along her spine. And okay, she couldn't help but grin right back. This was not what she'd had in mind when agreeing to behave like mature adults in the hospital.
When they worked together on their first surgical case earlier, assisting a CVT surgeon, Shayne expertly demonstrated his brilliance. As for her, she'd quickly remembered how much she loved surgery. With that one case under her belt, her confidence rebounded in the OR and she looked forward to number two.
Her second case right now involved a teen needing his heart repaired. A little more complex, but she welcomed the challenge. She'd given the best pre-op care, reviewing the teen's requirements and confirming all vital statistics were at proper levels for surgery. From scrub-in to close, she wanted to leave nothing to chance to ensure a smooth procedure for both the patient and Dr. Edwards.
In the OR, the surgery on the teen was going well until the assisting resident punctured an artery.
The overconfident resident made the fateful error while inserting a chest tube—right in front of Dr. Edwards.
The young patient lay on the surgical bed, his vitals diminishing from the bleeding. The resident stepped back, a look of surprise on his face. Dr. Edwards stepped in to tackle the bleeding. With strong features set, Dr. Edwards concentrated on correcting the resident's near-fatal error. The resident remained frozen behind him.
"You were too anterior," Dr. Edwards snapped at the young man, "you obviously never did this before despite your boasts. You should have asked for help. We'll discuss this in the lounge after I talk to the family. You're dismissed."
The resident cowered from the surgeon and scurried out.
As the scene continued to unfold before her, Willow remained outwardly calm despite her quickening pulse. She could do nothing but stand at the ready for instructions to assist in controlling the bleeding. Dr. Edwards called out orders to attending staff. Organized chaos ensued. While he directed the surgical team, Willow followed instructions, doing exactly what was expected of her.
Although Willow's heart raced at the crisis, she didn't give into the fear that the teen's life was on the line. Not with this surgeon who didn't lose his cool with the procedure as it grew more complicated by the minute. Despite his unforgiving reputation, never once did Dr. Edwards lash out at the rest of them as he performed under pressure.
But as for the cocky resident, who knew what disciplinary action was in store for him? She had no time to think of it.
Dr. Edwards worked with unflappable concentration until he finally clamped the artery. Endless heart-pounding minutes afterward, the patient was stabilized, and then later sent to recovery. As for Willow, she hoped she'd recover from the ordeal soon, too. A crisis like this would shake even the best nurse to her very core.
Shortly after, Willow left the OR, only to run into Shayne outside the door of the Call Room.
"That was some pretty fancy footwork," she offered to release the tension.
"Surely a HEPA violation lingered in there somewhere," Shayne said. "That resident will never touch one of my patients again. His arrogance could have cost the patient his life."
"He definitely lied when he said he'd performed the procedure before with a cardiothoracic surgeon. The residents do it all the time. Anything to squeeze in more surgical experience."
"Not in my OR. I won't stand for it. He managed to turn a straightforward VSD repair into a life-threatening situation."
"I think he expected to be beaten like a dog but he didn't expect a dismissal."
"And I didn't expect to have to save a teen's life. A true beating would have been good for him," Shayne replied with a smirk, his tone more at ease now that the crisis had passed. "We have no more procedures today, but I still have a few appointments. I'd like to take a moment with you later this afternoon. We have some unfinished business to discuss, Willow." Shayne's voice had lowered to throaty concern, but also seductive, which only made her contemplate his lips. The lips that had kissed her. Amazing how an adrenaline rush from crisis can bring out a women's sensuality.
"About deciding on Baby Jack's surgery?" she asked.
He cocked his head just so. The gesture only made him more handsome. Then again, perhaps the perilous ordeal they'd just endured made him all the more appealing.
"Willow, we need to talk more about last night. But right now, I've got a resident to flail. I'll come find you later." In a smooth gesture, he rested his hand on her arm, electrifying her skin. Shayne's eyes crinkled in a polite smile before he flew down the hall.
In stunned silence, Willow once again found herself alone, trying to make sense of what just happened. She hadn't even been given a moment to decipher his words, read into his tone, or search his eyes for some telltale sign of what was to come. Did he want to discuss where they were headed? Of course not because they headed nowhere. She knew it. He knew it.
Perhaps he needed to tell her that he came to his senses. Saw things her way. Maybe he just wanted to let her down easy. After all, he did try to apologize for his actions and she'd refused the apology. Maybe she didn't get it through her thick head that he believed it never should have happened... and never would again.
Her head spun and her heart thudded more furiously than it had back in the OR during the medical emergency. When it came to Shayne, Willow never knew what to expect.
* * *
Shayne took a brief break in the doctor's lounge for the first time that day. The room served as a place for him to fly in, grab coffee, check email, and dash off. But today, in the quiet of the lounge, he took an extra moment to savor the solitude and collect his thoughts.
Thoughts about Willow.
While he had stayed focused on his patients, Willow was never far from his mind, nor from his side. In the quieter times during the morning, her constant nearness triggered sweeping memories from the evening before. Her skin. Her scent. Her lips. Willow should have been an imposition in his home last night, but he had been the one to welcome her in the form of tender kisses.
From the moment Willow left his flat early this morning, Shayne couldn't help but think about her unexpected revelation of an ex-husband. He'd been talking about changes in life and making decisions about those changes when she divulged the truth about her previous marriage. Her comment revealed an underlying pain, which left him concerned. But Willow had remained silent on the subject today so he kept his concern to himself. For now. Not that they had time to talk about it with the back-to-back procedures. But he'd rectify that later today.
He poured himself a coffee and mentally prepared for the remaining tasks ahead, including ironing out the details for a plan for Baby Jack. Surgery was inevitable. He'd also have to fill Willow in on the details of the case.
Throughout the day, he had enjoyed Willow by his side. Ever the trooper, she'd kept her cool in surgery, despite the complications thrown their way. And they'd had their share. Not the best scenario for someone like Willow returning to the OR after a long absence.
Even in these few, quiet moments alone, his thoughts settled hotly on one vision in white; the nurse named Willow. The one he hadn't been able to keep his hands off of. The one he'd kept kissing last night.
His obsessive thoughts over her confounded him. While he never gave anything less than one hundred percent to his patients, his lack of control over his escalating feelings for Willow left him on edge. The edginess kept his tone extra sharp when snapping orders. He even feared he'd bared his teeth when he snarled at the cocky resident in surgery. His ire rose at learning he'd been lied to in the middle of a procedure.
But afterward, the memory of Willow's kiss eclipsed everything and he was appeased. The very thought of her subdued his agitation, even if only for a while.
He had to convince his mind to stop contemplating every little nuance about her. He had to release all thoughts of her. Starting right now—
An errand boy holding up a plastic garment bag entered the lounge.
"Excuse me, Dr. Edwards?"
"Yes?"
"I have a dry cleaning delivery for you." The young man held up the clear bag with an order slip attached.
Confused, Shayne looked at the order. "I didn't send out laundry."
"Well, someone did. And prepaid for the speedy, same-day service. Tip and everything." The young man handed over the garment bag, spun around, and bowed out.
Shayne lifted the hanger high to get a better look at what it could possibly be.
His collared white shirt.
The one unbuttoned just so last night, torturing him with a curve of Willow's breast. And a teasing of her slender thigh. The sensual memory once again haunted him.
She didn't need to do it. Didn't need to get the shirt laundered to be rid of it so fast. To be rid of him so fast. If she thought it would wash away the memory of her in it, then she'd thought wrong. Her efforts were useless. With a low growl, he slung the garment on the back of a chair, and then left the lounge in search of her.
Chapter 7
Willow plopped the file down on the reception desk, not caring how her behavior looked to the staff bustling around her. She couldn't help the frustration lapping through her over Shayne. She'd be facing him soon for a so-called chat but didn't know what to expect. Throughout the day, she'd done everything in her power not to dwell on last night, but nothing worked. How could she have lost control so easily? And with the irredeemable Shayne Edwards, of all people?
To think, she blurted out to him she had an ex-husband.
She didn't care if he knew she'd been married. It was no secret. But the tone to her flippant comm
ent gave a little too much insight; the marriage had been a disaster. When it came to the failed relationship, she wanted to keep the details to herself. But before her internal filter could censor what flew from her lips, the words had catapulted out of her mouth. She cringed.
"Stupid, utterly stupid," she murmured. She didn't need Shayne to know any more about her past than necessary. She'd done a fine job keeping her personal life to herself as she was still coming to terms with her past. She didn't need to drag Shayne into it.
Emmy sidled up beside her, and then nudged her with her hip. "What's utterly stupid?"
Willow pasted on a furtive smile. "Nothing. Just blubbering to myself."
"I've never seen you like this. Did Dr. Edwards do something to you to get you riled up?"
"It wasn't his fault," she said.
"Whoa. What, exactly, wasn't his fault?"
Willow brought her fingers to her temples. "Gosh, Emmy, things just got, well, confusing, last night at his place."
"Double whoa. His place?" Emmy kept her shocked expression on her friend.
"I stayed there last night, with him, at his place. I'm flooded out of my bungalow and you didn't answer your phone, so technically it's all your fault."
The remark got her a laugh. "Nice try, but you can't blame this on me. I was volunteering at a shelter last night. So what exactly is my fault? What happened?"
"We accidentally—I mean—it was on purpose I think, but we didn't mean to..."
"You didn't mean to what?" Emmy pressed.
"Kiss?" Willow eeked out.
"Are you asking me or telling me?"
Willow buried her face in her hands. "Telling you, okay? Yes. We kissed. But don't worry, it will never happen again. Never."
"Why not?"
"Other than because he's my boss?" Willow drew her worrisome face back up to Emmy.
"Besides being your boss. I mean, did he get out of hand? Do something terrible?"
"Isn't a kiss terrible enough?" she asked.
"So you kissed a gorgeous surgeon. What's so terrible about that?"
Playboy Doctor (Heartthrob Heroes, Book 2) Page 6
