Shay raised her hand like a TV game hostess. “This is the capitol building of Mississippi. It was built in 1903. If we were here on a weekday, we could go inside, but today we just have to appreciate it from out here. Let’s go this way.”
“You really do like history, don’t you?”
She stopped and looked at him. “Am I boring you? Please tell me if I am.”
“No, I’m enjoying this.” More than that he enjoyed spending time with her.
“If you’ll look right over there—” she pointed across the street “—you’ll see that we have our own clock tower and gargoyles just like Notre Dame. My favorite is the one on that corner.”
“Have you ever been to Paris and seen the real Notre Dame?” Matt looked at the angry-looking animal squatting on the corner of the building.
“No. But I’d love to go sometime. Right now, all my focus is on the clinic. Maybe one day.” Her sigh lingered in the air.
“I’ve never been either. I always thought I’d like to see the city.”
“Now, over in this direction is my favorite building in town. The old capitol building. It was built in 1846.”
The box-shaped building with a green dome did have a simple authority to it that appealed. “It’s nice.”
“We can go in here. You need to see the rotunda. It’s gorgeous.”
Shay’s eyes lit up. He couldn’t imagine the rotunda being more beautiful than her at that moment. She had started to put a spell on him.
They walked up the wide steps and through massive doors. Inside, round columns created a rotunda with the dome allowing light in from above.
Matt watched as Shay walked around the area enthralled.
“Can you imagine what it was like to come here in your finest dress and be waltzed around this beautiful room?”
Matt chuckled. “I had no idea you were such a romantic.”
Shay looked at him. “I haven’t thought about it, but I guess I am. Kind of sappy, isn’t it?”
“Charming is what I was thinking.”
She looked at him as if she saw something she hadn’t before. “Thanks for not making fun of me.”
Did people question the softer side of her often? “And thanks for sharing something special with me. I’m honored.”
She smiled. “Come, we have a little way to walk to our next stop.”
When they had to cross a busy road, Matt took her hand. She glanced at him, but didn’t pull away. Back on a sidewalk he kept her hand firmly clasped in his. Soon her hand relaxed in his.
They walked in silence for a while. As they came up to a grand house Shay announced, “This is the governor’s mansion. It was built in 1842 in the Greek Revival style. And you have the sum total of my knowledge. I went in it when I was in the fifth grade on a field trip, but I don’t remember much about it other than it was big.”
“You never wanted to dance here?”
She thought for a minute. “Nope. It’s always been at the old capitol building. Now I think it’s time for the tour guide to give the tourist a rest and treat him to an ice cream.”
“That sounds good.”
“On the way to LeFleur’s Bluff park we’ll pass Eudora Welty’s house—she was one of Mississippi’s great literary authors.”
He knew that name. “I had to read one of her stories when I was an undergrad. I liked it better than most.”
Shay’s chin came up proudly. “I’ve read everything she wrote.”
Matt shook his head. “Why am I not surprised.”
She tugged on his hand. “Let’s go get that ice cream.” At the cart outside the park, she bought them each a cone. Handing one to Matt she said, “Only a small one this time. We have to save room for dinner. There’s a bench over there that’s empty. Let’s go get it.”
Matt licked the cream before it ran down the cone as they sat down. “You sounded just like a mother a minute ago.”
“I hope to be one someday.”
“I’m surprised you aren’t already.” He had stepped into an area that wasn’t any of his business.
“I wanted to be. John said we needed to wait until he was out of the service.” Her voice turned bitter. “But apparently with the right woman that didn’t matter. It turns out the woman he was having an affair with was pregnant.”
Matt put his arm around her shoulder and gave her a gentle hug. There were no words to fix the hurt in her voice. When he eased his hold she slid away from him.
They watched families and couples go by on the walking path along with a few individuals out for a hot afternoon run.
Finally, she said, her tone having returned to normal, “Can you name a superfamous singer who’s from Mississippi?”
He thought for a moment. “No.”
She laughed. “Elvis.”
“I thought he was from Memphis, Tennessee.”
She sat straighter. “I’ll have you know he was born in Tupelo, Mississippi.”
“My stepfather used to dance my mother around the kitchen to Elvis’s love songs.” He would give credit to his stepfather for one thing—he did obviously love Matt’s mom. “Do you like Elvis?”
“Yeah. Of course, I do. I’ve even seen his movies.”
The sky rumbled. It had darkened while they had been sitting there.
“I think we should be heading back. If we don’t, we might get wet.” Shay stood.
On their way out of the park they threw their garbage in a can. He took her hand again. At the next roll of thunder big drops of rain started to fall.
“We better find some cover,” Shay squealed.
At the next storefront with an indented entrance Matt pulled her into the space. The building was dark. It was just the two of them when the sky opened up and the rain fell full force.
As the wind picked up, he tugged her closer to the door, gaining more protection.
“This shouldn’t last long.” Shay shivered.
When she shook again, he took her into his arms putting himself between the worst of the weather and her. She accepted his help and snuggled into him. It felt right to protect her, to have her in his arms.
Shay’s shoulders shook.
“Are you laughing?”
Her gaze met his, her eyes shining with humor. “This reminds me of those 1940s movies where the couple runs in out of the rain and the guy...”
“Kisses the girl?”
For a moment, they simply stared at each other. Shay’s fingers curled into his shirt as he lowered his head, as his lips found her warm damp ones. A soft sigh floated from her. Her arms tightened, bringing her snugly against him. His tongue traveled the seam of her mouth and to his great satisfaction she opened for him. He took her invitation and found heaven.
The honking of a car horn made them jerk apart.
He looked into Shay’s eyes. Uncertainty filled them. It wasn’t what he wanted to see.
She looked beyond him. “Uh... I think the worst is over now. We can start walking again.”
Shay started down the street, giving him no choice but to follow. He wanted things to go back to the way they had been between them. The easy friendship. Had he ruined that by kissing her? Shay had been enjoying it. He certainly had.
“Thanks for showing me around this afternoon. I have to say, it’s been nice to gather my thoughts and rest.”
“That’s good to hear, but once you get to Chicago are you planning to pick up where you left off?”
He shrugged a shoulder. “I’ll have to pick up my pace compared to here if I plan to get back to the same position I held in LA and eventually to the head of the program.”
Shay looked at him. “Why’s that so important?”
That was a good question.
* * *
Shay wasn’t sure why she had been peppering Matt with questions. Maybe
it was to cover up the effect his kiss had on her. Her knees still felt like jelly. She shouldn’t have kissed him. Where could something between them go?
What she needed to do was get over it and move on. It wouldn’t happen again. Why did the thought of that being true make her sad?
When Matt would have kept walking, she grabbed his arm, but quickly let it go. “Hold up. This is where we’re going to get supper.”
She pulled the diner door open. “This place is famous for its tacos and tapas. I love to have a chance to eat here.” She smiled at him. “And you’ve given me that opportunity.”
Shay spoke to the hostess about needing a table.
“Why don’t we eat outside under the awning?” Matt suggested. “That way you won’t get cold in here in the air-conditioning.”
“That’s a good idea.” Had John ever been that considerate of her? Not that she could remember. They followed the waitress out to the patio. The rain had only made the air more sauna-like than cool.
They were shown to a wood-and-chrome table off to themselves. The restaurant had started filling up for the evening. They ordered their drinks.
“Thanks for thinking about this,” Shay said. “It’s much nicer out here.”
They both looked at the menus the waitress had left. She soon returned with their drinks and they placed their order.
Shay crossed her arms and leaned on the table. “Why did you leave LA? From all I can tell you were successful there. I did look you up.”
Matt leaned back in the curl-backed chrome chair that matched the table and watched her for a moment. Was he deciding if he should tell her? Trust her? “I had a disagreement with a senior surgeon.”
“Disagreement, huh?”
“It was a little more than that. We were in the middle of a procedure and he was making an incision that would endanger the patient and I said so.”
She winced. “I bet that didn’t go well.”
“It didn’t. I had to report him to the medical board.”
She hissed in a breath.
“Yeah. Before the hearing he used his clout with those he could, and his word stood over mine. The board sided with him. I was the new kid questioning the senior surgeon. I knew my time there was limited even if I was right. I’d been approached about a position in Chicago last year so I called to see if they might still be interested in me.”
“That must’ve been tough.” Wow. This wasn’t the average man.
“Yeah, but the patient always has to come first.” He picked up his drink and took a swallow.
“I agree, but I still admire you for standing up for what was right when it couldn’t have been easy. To disrupt your entire life and career to stand by your convictions is asking a lot. I know many who wouldn’t. It takes a special man.”
He fingered the moisture on the side of the glass. “I don’t know that I did anything special. I felt I didn’t have a choice. It’s what I was taught to do.”
A man with principles, and humble too. If his kiss hadn’t gotten her, what she’d just learned about him would’ve. The more she knew about Matt the better she liked him. Not a good thing. Her heart could get in trouble. “Your parents did a good job with teaching integrity.”
He said nothing for a moment as if he was deep in thought. “I guess they did. My mother is a good woman who has integrity, but it was my stepfather who insisted I admit when I had done something wrong. When there was a kid in the neighborhood being bullied he said it was important to take up for those who couldn’t take up for themselves. I’ve not thought about that for a long time.
“The problem was that I had basically called my boss out. In the three seconds it took to say something my career went into a tailspin.” Sadness filled his voice.
“I’m sorry that happened to you. Still, I’m impressed you did the right thing. Others might not have in that situation.”
His gaze met hers. “I bet you would have. My mom has been begging me for years to move closer. She’ll be pleased to have me in Chicago.”
“You never say anything about your father.”
“He died when I was three. Mom remarried when I was eight.” His words were flat.
By his facial expression and tone of voice she’d save any discussion about that for later. “At least your moving closer to home is something good coming out of bad.”
Matt sat straighter and looked directly at her. “Has something good come out of bad for you?”
How like him to turn her words on her. “Yeah. Because of what John did and the gossip and sad looks, I throw myself into building the clinic.”
“You’ve done a great job with that, but what have you done for yourself?”
“I don’t know. I’d like to travel. See the gargoyles on Notre Dame, the Swiss Alps. One day have a family.”
Matt leaned back again and watched her for a moment. The waitress bringing their food changed the atmosphere between them. As they ate, their conversation turned to movies they had seen, and TV shows they watched.
Later, Shay pulled into his driveway. It had just turned dark enough for the streetlight to come on.
“Would you like to come in? Watch some TV for a while?” Matt watched her.
Shay hesitated a moment before saying, “No, I better be getting home. It’s getting late anyway.”
“I really enjoyed my afternoon and dinner. Thanks for showing me around. If you ever want to give up medicine, you’d make a great tour guide.” He grinned.
Matt really did have the best smile. “I enjoyed it too. It has been too long since I visited those places.”
“Shay, about that kiss—”
“Don’t worry about it. We both know it wasn’t a good idea.”
The back of his hand brushed her cheek. “Why?”
“I don’t... I don’t think we need to start something that neither one of us can finish. You’re only gonna be here for a few more weeks and the last thing I need is another heartbreak.”
His eyes held an earnest look. “I don’t plan to break your heart.”
“I’m sure you don’t, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen.” Shay knew herself. She could so easily fall for him.
Matt leaned closer. His warm, musky scent filled her nose. “You like me that much?”
Shay closed her eyes and swallowed, hard. All she had to do was lean forward just a little and her lips would touch his. “Yeah.”
“Will you look at me, Shay?”
Shay shook her head. If she did, she’d disappear into his eyes.
“Please.”
At his pleading tone, she opened her eyelids. “I like you too, Shay. I can’t offer you more than here and now but that doesn’t mean I don’t care about you.”
A lovely warmth washed through her.
“Think about it.” He kissed her forehead. “See you Monday at work. Good night.”
Shay drove away with hands shaking and a flutter like a hummingbird flying in her middle. How would she survive being around Matt for the next few weeks? Did she really want to resist him?
CHAPTER SIX
MATT HADN’T RESTRAINED himself this much since he’d been a teenager and wanted to yell at his stepfather. He’d wanted to take Shay into the house and show her what it could be like between them. Just from their short kiss he had no doubt it would be powerful.
Sunday he’d resisted calling or texting her to give her room to think. It had made for a long day. On Monday she’d acted as if nothing had happened between them and he followed her lead, yet he caught her watching him more than once. She wasn’t as immune to him as she seemed. He could be patient—for a while.
Tuesday at lunch Shay said to the table in general, “I have a couple of doctors coming in for interviews this afternoon.”
“Anyone we know?” Sheree asked.
“I don’t t
hink so.” Shay picked up her sandwich. “A Dr. Stevie Brown and a Dr. Kurt Willis.”
“I know Dr. Willis. He’s a nice guy. Really good,” one of the nurses said. “Really cute too.”
Shay grinned and said flippantly, “Which is always important for patient care.”
“It’s nice to know what’s considered important to you ladies. Not all the years of training,” Matt groused before he finished his leftover casserole.
“Hey, what’re you complaining about,” Sheree said. “You certainly qualify in the looks department.” She stood. As she did, she placed a hand on his shoulder. “We just need to find one as fine as you.”
“Thanks. But I’m not sure I feel any better.”
Shay grinned at him as if she were enjoying his discomfort. “Seriously, your skills will be hard to replace.”
Why should it matter to him that Shay was trying to find a replacement for him? That had been the agreement all along. He shoved his lunch bowls into his bag. What he didn’t want was some guy coming in and gaining Shay’s interest as well. Why not? He had no hold on her. She would move on when he was gone. The idea left a bad taste in his mouth.
Between patients he saw Shay showing around a woman. So, Stevie was female. Later he saw her with a tall blond man that even Matt had to admit had better than average looks.
Sheree walked up beside him wearing a teasing smile. “He looks like he might fit in here perfectly.”
Matt snarled and walked off with the sound of Sheree’s laughter following him. Jealousy wasn’t something he was familiar with. He’d never felt one ounce of it with Jenna. He wasn’t in any real relationship with Shay and jealousy was running wild in his blood. Would this blond doctor be the man that opened the world up again for Shay?
Matt hated the idea but what could he say or do? Soon he would be leaving. They would be living hundreds of miles away from each other. He’d be spending countless hours trying to build his career. Matt glanced at Shay and the doctor. Maybe it was just as well. Anyone would be a better choice for Shay than Matt. Most of all he wanted her happiness.
Taming the Hot-Shot Doc Page 7
