“You think he’s hot, too, don’t you?” Isabelle asked when Jaclyn didn’t give a response.
Jaclyn shrugged. “He looks all right.”
Isabelle frowned and leaned closer to whisper, “Just all right? Girl, you must be blind. Even wearing a lab coat I can tell he has a nice body.”
Jaclyn gnawed her bottom lip to keep from saying Isabelle didn’t know the half of it. Not only did Lucien have a nice body, but the man also certainly knew how to use it. It didn’t take much for her to recall just what that body had done to hers for the past two days.
She was grateful when Isabelle shifted her concentration from Lucien to the date she’d had the night before. From the sound of it, Thurston Reynolds, an attorney Isabelle had met at Cup O’Java Coffeehouse, a hangout for the hospital staff, was a real cutie.
It didn’t take long for the doctors to wrap up surgery, and when she stood to leave her gaze automatically went to Lucien. His gaze met hers and she felt a tingling sensation all the way to her toes. She quickly made her way to the door, but of course Isabelle had to make sure they were seen.
“Hello, Dr. De Winter,” Isabelle said.
He nodded in greeting. “Dr. Morales. Dr. Campbell.” The expression on his face was serious, more so than it had been the last two days. She searched his gaze for some indication of what was wrong. A part of her knew he was bothered by something because he didn’t even smile.
Her gaze lingered on him while Isabelle thanked him for recommending her for the pediatric surgery a few days ago. He didn’t even glance over at her. They’d said it was their secret and he was definitely doing his part in keeping things undercover.
As she stood there, the only thing she could think about was that her eyes hadn’t played tricks on her for the past two days. Lucien was as handsome as she remembered. And she could pick up his aroma even from where she stood.
Moments later Isabelle finally ended the conversation and they turned to leave. Like before, although she was tempted to do so, she didn’t look back.
Lucien stood watching as Jaclyn left the viewing gallery. It had taken all the control he could muster not to say “career be damned” and reach out and pull her into his arms.
He had felt her gaze on him the entire time he’d been engaged in conversation with Dr. Morales. More than once he’d been tempted to glance over at her, but doing so would have been unwise. Perhaps even fatal.
“Hey, you okay?”
He glanced up to see his friend, Dr. Thomas Bradshaw, had entered the room from the other side. “Yeah, I’m fine. What about you? I understand you had a pretty complicated surgery this morning.”
“Yes, one of the accident victims took a turn for the worse, and he had to be rushed to surgery before eight this morning. One of your interns assisted and she did a real good job.”
Lucien lifted a brow. “Who?”
“Dr. Campbell.”
He nodded approvingly. “She’s good and catches on easily.”
“You’re right about that.” Dr. Bradshaw checked his watch. “I think I’m going to go and grab lunch. You want me join me?”
“No, they served breakfast at that meeting I attended this morning. I’m good. Besides, I need to make rounds and check on my patients.”
“All right, I’ll see you later.”
Lucien breathed in deeply as he made his way out of the viewing room and down the hospital corridor. He needed to check on the patients still under his care from the multicar pileup. The surgery he’d just seen involved one of them—a married father of two who was still fighting for his life. The surgery had been a success, but the road to recovery for the man would be a grueling one.
As Lucien continued walking, his thoughts shifted to Jaclyn. He hadn’t been able to concentrate on the surgery like he should have because he was thinking about her. In his mind he could imagine his nostrils picking up the scent of sex mingled with the most luscious perfume, namely hers.
Today, even with her hair tied back in a ponytail and wearing very little makeup she looked beautiful. Then there had been those few rebellious curls protesting confinement that had fallen in her face. He had been tempted to take his hand and brush them back like he’d done several times these past two days, but doing such a thing would have been a dead giveaway to anyone watching, especially someone as observant as Dr. Morales.
He’d seen the questioning look in Jaclyn’s eyes before she had walked off. She had detected something was wrong with his attitude toward her, especially when he’d barely acknowledged her presence just now. He needed to contact her to let her know they were being watched and needed to remain as neutral toward each other as possible.
As he caught the elevator back up to his floor, he thought about Dr. Dudley. The chief of staff would make things hard on both of them if his suspicions were proven right. So right there and then Lucien vowed he’d do whatever he could to make sure that didn’t happen.
Jaclyn sighed and rubbed the back of her neck as she looked at the older woman lying in the hospital bed who was trying to be difficult. Even with the shortage of rooms, Nora Allen had insisted on a private one with the view of the Potomac. She had told anyone and everyone who wanted to hear that the famous country singer Jay Allen was her nephew, using that connection to throw her weight around. And it seemed everyone was jumping to her commands in hope they would at least get a glimpse of the singing legend when he flew in to visit his aunt.
Jaclyn glanced down at the woman’s chart again. “Ms. Allen, you are scheduled for surgery in the morning. Therefore, your nurse was instructed to remove the polish from your fingernails.”
The older woman, whose features showed signs that she was a Botox recipient many times over, gave her a mutinous look. “There’s not that much surgery in the world for which I would deliberately take away any armor of beauty I wear.”
“Not even when the intent of the surgery is to save your life?” Jaclyn couldn’t help but ask.
The woman’s glare deepened. “First of all, I can’t see anything life threatening about removing a tiny little mass from my stomach. In fact, I’m sure there’s another way it can be removed without surgery. Can’t one of those doctors give me something to drink to shrink it and dissolve it away?”
Jaclyn bit back the response she wanted to give the arrogant woman, whom she’d heard had caused nothing but grief to the staff since being admitted two days ago. That tiny little mass she was referring to had the woman looking nine months pregnant. And from the lab reports, chances were the tumor was cancerous.
“Sorry, Ms. Allen, there’s no way around the surgery. It’s needed.”
“So you say. However, you’re nothing but one of those student doctors, so your opinion doesn’t mean a thing.”
Jaclyn took the insult well. “I understand Dr. Meadows met with you last night.”
The woman rolled her eyes. “And I’m supposed to believe that old man who looked like he had one foot in the grave and should have retired from practicing medicine at anyone’s hospital ages ago? I think not.”
“Is there a problem, Dr. Campbell?”
Jaclyn didn’t have to turn around to see to whom the ultra-sexy voice belonged. But she did so anyway because he’d asked her a question. “No, Dr. De Winter, there’s no problem. However, Ms. Allen has decided she doesn’t want her nail polish removed for her surgery in the morning.”
She glanced back over at the woman. To Jaclyn’s surprise, the glare that had covered Nora Allen’s face all day had disappeared. In its place was a smile filled with blatant feminine interest. Lucien was probably young enough to be the woman’s son, yet she was lying there and all but licking her lips.
“You’re a doctor?” the woman asked Lucien as if surprised.
He chuckled and walked farther into the room. Jaclyn felt heat emitting from him when he came to stand beside her. “Yes, I am. I’m Dr. De Winter.”
“Well, Dr. De Winter, I must say that you’re a cutie. Where have you been hid
ing the past couple of days?” Nora asked, still licking her lips.
Lucien smiled. “I had two days off.”
“Did you enjoy yourself?” the woman then asked.
“Yes, very much so.”
Jaclyn felt an immediate rush of sensations when his response reminded her of what he’d done those two days. Desire thudded through her with a force that nearly knocked her off balance.
He moved closer to Nora Allen’s hospital bed, took the woman’s hand in his and gazed down at her fingers. “Nice color of polish, but you do understand why it needs to come off, don’t you?”
Jaclyn stood there thinking that even if the woman did know she would make sure Lucien told her again anyway just to hold his attention. She was proven right when the woman said, “I think so, but I want to hear it directly from you, Doctor.”
Lucien smiled, and the way his lips curved would have taken any female’s breath away, so Jaclyn could understand why Nora Allen was lying there with her gaze glued to Lucien’s lips. They were lips that had kissed Jaclyn more times than she could count over the past two days. Lips belonging to a mouth that had given her earth-shattering orgasms when it had licked her feminine core. A day later and aftershocks were still flitting through her system on occasion.
Like now.
Jaclyn shifted her stance to tighten her legs together when she felt a tingling sensation between them. And she breathed in deeply trying to get her heart rate under control. She knew now was not the time or place to recall such thoughts, but when the object of your desire was standing less than five feet away from you, there was no help for it.
Jaclyn saw Lucien try releasing the woman’s hand, but she held tight. A part of her couldn’t blame the woman too much for wanting to share his touch. Jaclyn could only sigh in appreciation that she’d been able to share a lot more than that.
“The reason the nail polish has to be removed,” Lucien was saying as Ms. Allen seemed to hang on his every word, “is because during surgery your surgeon will need to check your fingertips from time to time to determine your blood flow. We don’t want to take any chances where you’re concerned. I want you to get the best of care.”
The woman beamed. “And I appreciate that, Dr. De Winter. I have no problem with the polish coming off now that it has been explained to me.”
Jaclyn shook her head. Things had been explained to the woman before, although the deliverer probably hadn’t looked as yummy as Lucien. Her gaze moved from Nora Allen to see that Lucien had turned to look at her. Had he said something? “Yes, Dr. De Winter?”
“You can call Nurse Sampson back in to remove the polish from Ms. Allen’s fingernails.”
He then moved to leave the room. She waited, hoping that he would say something—some parting remark—or at least glance over her way. And when he kept walking out the door without looking back, her heart dropped in disappointment.
A few hours later Jaclyn was at her locker to get her things to leave work for the day. She pulled out her phone to see if she’d gotten a call from her parents or brother. She saw she’d received a text message…from Lucien.
Her heart began beating rapidly as she read his brief but meaningful text:
Meet me at our park at five.
Our park. She glanced down at her watch. That would give her just enough time to go home and change clothes before meeting him at their park. Grabbing the items she needed from her locker she closed it back and then quickly headed toward the elevator to leave the building.
Chapter 11
Lucien glanced down at his watch for the umpteenth time. Never had he been so anxious to see someone. Jaclyn’s car was not parked in her usual spot when he’d left the hospital to come directly here, so he hoped she was on her way.
He adjusted his car seat to further accommodate his long legs and leaned back to enjoy the view of the Potomac from his vehicle. His day had started off badly and it didn’t help matters when he’d walked into his office and found Dr. Dudley sitting there.
The man’s accusations had definitely struck a nerve, not because they were true but because they reminded him of his wrongdoing. By right he should be meeting with Jaclyn to advise her they shouldn’t see each other again because the stakes were too high. But that was the last thing he wanted. However, she deserved to know this new development. It would be her decision if she wanted them to end things.
He turned his head and saw Jaclyn arriving, pulling into the parking lot and claiming the spot directly in front of him. She killed the engine and then got out of the car, one leg at a time.
Immediately his body went into arousal mode as his gaze roamed over her when she closed her car door. She had taken the time to go home to change. She was wearing a printed skirt and matching blouse with a cute pair of sandals on her feet. He couldn’t help his appreciative perusal of her entire outfit. There was something outright charming about it. His gaze then returned to her face. Against skin the color of rich creamy cocoa, her hazel eyes seemed to sparkle when she saw him. Her hair was down and flowing around her shoulders and she was wearing a touch of makeup. He especially liked the clear gloss she’d added to her lips.
He thought she looked absolutely radiant. And seeing her someplace other than Hopewell made an abundance of sensations roll along his nerve endings. When she reached his car, he unlocked the door on the passenger side and he watched her slide in. He drew in a deep breath when she unintentionally flashed a creamy brown thigh.
Then she flashed him a smile. “Hi.”
Instead of responding to her greeting, he leaned over and captured her lips. Something he’d wanted to do each and every time he’d seen her earlier today. His pulse accelerated when she began playing hide and seek with his tongue, and then quickly tired of the game and began sucking on his.
They shouldn’t be kissing like this. They were in a parked car in a public place, for heaven’s sakes. Thanks to him, they were yet again taking chances. Pulling his mouth away, he drew in a deep breath and leaned back in his seat and momentarily closed his eyes. How could a woman be so tempting?
“That was some greeting, Lucien.”
He chuckled. “Did you like it?”
“Most definitely.”
“I’m glad.” He kept smiling as he started the engine and looked over his shoulder and backed out of the parking spot.
“Where are we going?”
He glanced over at her. “Someplace where we can talk.”
Earlier he had dismissed the idea of taking her to his place, especially with Dudley’s suspicions and Ms. Tsang being the nosy person that she was. He wouldn’t put it past the woman to find out where he lived and do a drive-by. But suddenly a part of him was willing to risk it. He wanted her in his home. Besides, even if Tsang did a drive-by, Jaclyn’s car wouldn’t be there. “Sounds serious.”
He glanced over at her when he brought the car to a stop at a traffic light. He hesitated a moment and then said, “Thanks to Ms. Tsang, Dr. Dudley suspects something.”
She frowned. “Did she tell him she saw us leave together that morning?”
He nodded slowly. “Yes, and he was in my office first thing this morning to ask me about it.”
He turned his attention back to the road. However, he didn’t miss the nervous gnawing of her bottom lip. “We need to make decisions.” He was sure he didn’t need to tell her what about.
Because they were already in Georgetown, it didn’t take them long to reach his home. When he parked out front, he couldn’t miss the smile that touched Jaclyn’s face. “You live here?”
“Yes.”
“Your house is beautiful. But then I shouldn’t be surprised. This is one of oldest sections of D.C. and my favorite.”
Lucien was pleased because this was his favorite section of town as well. He loved the tree-lined streets and the row homes that had been renovated in such a way as to retain their historical significance. “Thanks. Hold tight. I’ll get the door for you.”
He got out and jog
ged to the other side to open her door. He glanced around. Because of his hours at the hospital he didn’t know a lot of his neighbors and vice versa. In a way he liked the privacy. However, every once in a while he would get an invitation to join the neighborhood potluck night at someone’s home. He had yet to show up for one of those.
Lucien opened the door for her and she brushed against him when she adjusted the straps of her purse on her shoulder. The fragrance that drifted from her was arousing, reminding him of the scent of her that he’d carried with him since the time they’d spent together.
They walked side by side up his walkway and inside his house. Luckily for him, today had been one of his neat days. The last thing he’d want was for her to think he was a slob.
“Your home is beautiful, Lucien.”
A lazy smile touched his lips. “Thanks, but you’ve told me that already.”
She smiled as she turned around to face him. “Yes, but at the time I was talking about the outside. I like the inside as well. Nice furniture.”
“Thanks, but I won’t take credit for it. When my sister sold me the place, she left everything behind. She had a new job and wanted a new beginning.” There was no need to tell her that Lori’s heart had gotten broken here and that she needed to leave and start fresh elsewhere, or that even after three years she hadn’t returned once.
“Would you like something to drink?” he asked her.
“No, I’m fine. But you’re right. We need to talk, although I’m pretty sure you’ve made up your mind about things.”
He lifted a brow. “You think so?”
“Yes.”
He absently picked up a large seashell off an end table. He could remember the very day he’d found it on the beach in Jamaica. He’d been fishing when he’d stumbled across it. Later that day he’d received word he’d been accepted to attend college in America on a full scholarship. After that he’d considered the seashell his lucky charm and it had been with him ever since.
In the Doctor's Bed Page 12
