Tropical Tryst: 25 All New and Exclusive Sexy Reads

by Nicole Morgan

  “Any radiation down your legs or numbness and tingling?”

  Liam shook his head. “No.”

  “Does the pain ever wake you at night?”

  He made a face. “Can’t say so.”

  “Any problems with your bladder or bowel control?”

  “No.”

  “Any other symptoms, like fever or weight loss?”

  He laughed and rubbed the gut hanging over his belt. “I’d have to say no. I work at the hardware store, and it aches after an eight-hour shift when I’m standing all day, or if I spend too much in my workshop. I just wondered if you had anything stronger than the over-the-counter painkillers.”

  Brianna suppressed a sigh. Drug seeker. Now now, she chided herself. Show some empathy. “Let me examine you, and then we can discuss that.”

  When she was satisfied it was a muscular problem with no neurologic involvement, she sat down and explained the diagnosis.

  “It’s like any pulled muscle – the best treatment is ice and exercise. Ice helps to settle the inflammation but wrap it in a small towel so it’s not directly against the skin. Fifteen minutes on and at least half an hour off. Exercise is key. You want to strengthen your core muscles and stretch the muscles of your back.”

  “Oh, I’ve been lying in bed when it gets bad.”

  “No, don’t do that. There’s a lot of good evidence to show that it’s better to keep moving.” She demonstrated a series of exercises that he could do and gave him written instructions.

  “What about painkillers or heat? I found a hot shower feels good.”

  “Applying heat is fine, especially as it heals. Muscle relaxants may help, but if the pain isn’t interfering with your daily activities or sleep, you’re better off not using anything. The pain is a guide. You shouldn’t mask it and then overdo it.”

  He patted his belly. “Guess the beer gut has got to go.”

  She smiled sympathetically. “You’ll feel better. And the excess weight can put you at risk for diabetes and high blood pressure.”

  “Don’t want that.”

  “No. So less soda.” She eyed him with a look. “And beer.”

  “My two vices.” Liam smiled wryly. “I kinda knew you’d say something like that, which is why I waited two years.”

  She laughed. “Maybe we should check your blood pressure while you’re here.”

  “Ah, that’s all right. I won’t wait so long until my next visit.”

  She nodded. “If you’d like help with weight loss or want to talk to a dietician, come back and we’ll set something up for you.”

  “Will do. Thanks, doc.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Brianna reviewed the patient with her supervisor and made a note in the chart. She checked the schedule. Done. Thank goodness.

  Now on to part two of her wildly exciting day – a fun evening reviewing the management of stress incontinence with Ben and Jerry for company.

  CHAPTER 15

  Brianna leaned against the counter in her kitchen and peered at the ice cream container in her hand. She had burrowed a hole down the center chasing the bits of caramel. Her work was done. And she had the nausea to prove it. It was really too bad that ice cream didn’t help that empty feeling in her chest where her heart used to be.

  The sugar rush gave her a temporary boost, but she really needed to eat something somewhat nutritious. She put the carton in the freezer and set the spoon in the sink to wash later.

  She picked up the backpack that she’d dumped on the floor when she’d walked in the door and set it beside her desk. Flipping through the mail, she sorted out the bills. It was a lot less stressful getting bills in the mail with a healthy balance in her checking account. As long as she didn’t blow it all on ice cream, she’d be fine.

  In her bedroom she changed into leggings and a T-shirt and pulled her hair into a ponytail. A quick bite to eat, and then it was time to hit the books. And dream of the first of June, when she wouldn’t have to study every night.

  A knock on her door made her jump. She looked through the peephole and then jerked back to turn the bolt with unsteady hands.

  “Hi.” Matt smiled crookedly and held up a bag of food. “Wondering if you’d like to share dinner with me.”

  Brianna’s heart pounded, and she jumped into his arms. Matt dropped the bag and wrapped his arms around her.

  “Oh Matt, I’ve missed you so much,” she whispered.

  “Me too, Brie, me too.”

  She ran her hands through his hair as they kissed. The ache in her heart eased, and she held on tightly. In that moment, she could stop pretending she didn’t care. She could stop trying to convince herself that leaving had been the right decision, and instead, let the love she felt, the absolute joy that came with it, spill out. She let out a shaky breath when it started to overwhelm her.

  Matt nudged the bag of food into the apartment with his foot and carried her inside. Brianna reached out and closed the door behind them.

  “Bedroom’s on the left.” She showered kisses on his face. “My left. My left.”

  Matt chuckled and went the other way.

  He smelled of fresh soap and his woodsy shampoo. She’d really missed that. “In here.”

  He carried her into the room and set her on the bed. She pulled the band from her hair and lifted her shirt over her head. Matt unbuttoned his shirt, pulled it out of his jeans, and lay down beside her. As their lips met, she pushed the shirt off his shoulders, ran her hands over the smooth skin of his back, and hugged him close. It felt good to have his weight on her, his skin against hers. The strong muscles of his arms, the contour of his chest, were familiar. And she wanted more. She pulled down his zipper and pushed away his clothes as he tasted the sensitive skin of her neck.

  “You’re still wearing it,” he murmured, following the chain in a trail with his tongue.

  “I’ve kept you close to my heart,” she whispered. He looked her in the eye, and Brianna’s heart ached. “It was hard leaving.”

  “It was hard staying, without you.” He teased her lips apart and deepened the kiss. She was breathless when he shifted, taking her breast in his mouth, teasing and laving the taut nipple. He removed her leggings, stroking the skin with his hands, sending shivers down her spine. He made his way back up to her thighs, with feather light kisses, and parted her legs. A sweep of his tongue across the sensitive folds had her bucking and catching her breath. Soft and moist, pressure and release had her spiraling out of control.

  “Matt.” She pulled him up and clung to him tightly until the tremors left her languid and spent. “Did you bring a condom? I don’t have any.”

  “In my pocket.” He found his pants on the floor and threw the packet on the nightstand. She curled up against him when he joined her again. “You’re beautiful, Brianna. I’ll never get tired of watching you, being with you.”

  “I feel the same way about you, Matt. I knew it would be hard to be apart, but it was awful.” She stroked his cheek. “I’m so glad you came.”

  He kissed her. “I couldn’t stay away.” His hands roamed. She arched closer, rubbing against him, wanting him inside.

  He tore open the condom and rolled it on. Brianna opened for him and groaned softly as her body tightened around him. She matched each thrust, craved the closeness. She was his and he was hers. Her heart filled to overflowing.

  She tried to hold on, but the pressure built and slipped out of reach as they climaxed. Slick with sweat, they held each other and let their breathing and their heart rates slow. A tear slipped down the side of Brianna’s cheek, and she brushed it away before Matt could see. How could something that felt so right be so bittersweetly hard to hold onto?

  BRIANNA SET a candle on the kitchen table and lit it.

  “That T-shirt looks better on you than me,” Matt said from behind her, running a hand up underneath the edge from her thigh to her bare breast.

  Brianna pressed into his touch and closed her eyes. “I love that it s
mells like you.” She set the lighter down and turned to face him. She ran her hands up the back of his neck and through his hair. “I think this is the first time I’ve seen you in jeans.” She hummed in the back of her throat. “Very sexy.” The top button was undone, and dark hair in a vee on his abdomen dipped below the waistline. She pressed a kiss to his collarbone.

  “I’m sorry that I didn’t get back in time to say good-bye before you left the island. When I got home, I realized that I didn’t have any way to contact you.”

  “How did you find me?”

  “I contacted your parents. They say hi, by the way.”

  Brianna blinked. “What?”

  Matt smiled. “Let’s get some food, and I’ll explain. I hope you like Indian.” He retrieved the bag from the front door and arranged the cartons on the table. Brianna grabbed plates and cutlery, and they sat down together.

  “My parents? Really?” Brianna asked as they filled their plates.

  Matt nodded. “I didn’t have your address or cell phone number. Luckily, your dad remembered me. Although he checked with the higher authority before releasing any info.”

  “He asked my mom.”

  He waved a fork. “Exactly.”

  “And since my mom knew I was moping around, she was probably all gung-ho.”

  “Very enthusiastic.” He tore a piece of naan and handed it to her. “I really like your mom.”

  Brianna smiled and then sobered, asking the question but not really wanting to hear the answer. “How long can you stay?”

  “That depends on you. I arranged a three-week locum. I’m hoping you’ll come with me when I go back.”

  Her heart raced and her eyes filled with tears. She picked at her food, shifting it around on her plate, and then looked up at Matt. “I want to say yes. I’ve missed you so much. But nothing’s really changed. My life is here.”

  Matt reached for her hand and linked his fingers with hers. “We’re together; that’s a start. I can be patient and wait for you to finish and write your exams.”

  “I love you, Matt. I’m happier when I’m with you. But I want to make sure you’ve fallen in love with the real me.” She took a bite of the lamb korma and rice. “I can be cranky and irritable at the end of the day.”

  “I don’t believe that,” he said, tongue-in-cheek, and smiled wryly. “You can put your feet up and relax while I make dinner.”

  “My hours won’t always be nine to five. And for the next two months, I’ll be studying every evening.”

  He leaned over and kissed her. “I know. I’ve been there.”

  “I don’t wear make-up. And my hair gets frizzy.”

  He brushed a strand of hair from her face. “Did you wear make-up on the island? I don’t think so.”

  “And the sun doesn’t always shine. Sometimes it rains.”

  He laughed. “I don’t need sunshine, I just need you in my life.” He sipped his wine. “I’m in it for the long haul, and we were meant to be together. Island, mainland, Mars,” he said with a shrug. “Doesn’t matter to me.” He swirled the wine in his glass. “My feelings for you are real, Brianna. Good, bad, and everything in between. You can’t discourage me.” Brianna’s heart skipped a beat at the look of love in his eyes. “The university asked me to give a talk on hyperbaric medicine, and there’s some business I could do here in Rivermede. I could stick around, take it slow, and … be patient.”

  “You’ll stay here? In my apartment?”

  He smiled. “Might be hard to take it slow that way. I’ve got a place at Bennett Suites on the Water.”

  She sighed. “Probably best, but don’t be a stranger.”

  “Never.” He stood up and pulled her into his arms. “Do you have studying to do tonight?” He trailed kisses along her jawline.

  She shivered with pleasure. “I think there’s room to adjust the schedule.”

  CHAPTER 16

  M att slipped out in the wee hours of the morning, and Brianna slept soundly until her alarm went off at six. She yawned and stretched, thinking it was the best sleep she’d had since she’d returned home from her vacation. She showered and dressed and went into the kitchen for coffee, where she saw Matt’s note on the counter.

  Have a great day. I’ll bring dinner tonight. Text me when you’re done for the day. Love you. He’d included his number.

  Brianna sent off a text. Miss you already. See you tonight. xxoo

  She walked to work thinking about how love was so tricky. How could this feeling last and stay strong? It was so intense.

  She put aside her misgivings and focused on work. The clinic was steady all day. She had a quick break for lunch but wanted to finish on time, so she kept going. Late afternoon, she escorted a patient back to the waiting room and was stopped by a nurse.

  “Dr. Scott, could you sign this form for a patient? It’s an application for a handicap permit.”

  “Sure.” She looked over the paperwork.

  “Look at this, Tash – Forbes’ list of billionaires under thirty.” Two young women, one in a pink jacket, one dressed in black from head to toe, sat in the waiting room with their heads close together looking at a magazine.

  “One point two, one point six billion.” Tasha shook her head. “How do they make that kind of money by thirty?”

  Her friend snorted. “How do they make that kind of money ever. It’s a good month when I can cover my share of the rent. Look at them.” She pointed at a photograph. “They’re all gorgeous to boot.” She flipped to the next page.

  Tasha stopped her. “Okay, there’s mine. Dr. Matt Gaelen. The man of my dreams.”

  Brianna’s ears perked up. Did she say Matt Gaelen?

  “Worth a cool two billion.” Tasha’s friend grinned at her. “Nice round figure. Plus, he’s a doctor. Can’t go wrong there.”

  “Now, if I only knew where to find him,” Tasha said wistfully.

  He’ll be at my apartment at six o’clock making me dinner, Brianna thought in shock. She must have misheard the name. That was crazy.

  Tasha’s friend nudged her with a grin. “Yeah, that’s your biggest obstacle.”

  The nurse walked into the waiting and called Tasha’s name. Tasha grabbed her friend’s hand and pulled her along. “Celine, you have to come with me.” Celine dropped the magazine on the side table and followed.

  Brianna signed the forms and left them on the desk to be faxed, and then she slipped into the waiting room and picked up the magazine. She took it back to the doctor’s office and flipped through it.

  She stopped with a double-take at Matt’s smiling face. There he was. Page fourteen, front and center.

  Dr. Matt Gaelen, age twenty-eight. Net worth: two billion dollars.

  It was her Matt. Her Matt was worth two billion dollars?

  She couldn’t even comprehend how much money that was. He didn’t act like he had two billion dollars. She grimaced. Not that she knew any billionaires to compare him with, but he was so down-to-earth, so friendly. He rode a bicycle, cooked his own dinners, and did his own grocery shopping. Jeez. No wonder he could afford fresh produce on the island, and that would explain the room at Bennett Suites on the Water. He could probably buy the building.

  Two billion dollars. She never would’ve guessed.

  And he hadn’t mentioned it. Why not? She frowned. Not the easiest thing to slip into a conversation, she supposed. Hey, I’m worth a cool two bil. How about you? Not classy. I happen to be one of the wealthiest bachelors in the world. She’d have run for the hills. He was completely out of her league.

  In fact, she should still run for the hills. She couldn’t date a billionaire. It had fantasy written all over it, and that’s exactly what she feared. None of it was real. She was right all along.

  The nurse poked her head in the room. “The next patient is waiting for you.”

  “Thanks, Margaret. I’ll be right there.”

  She tore the page out of the magazine and stuffed it in her backpack.

  Dinner t
onight should be interesting.

  CHAPTER 17

  Brianna finished work at six o’clock and texted Matt. Just heading home.

  The reply was quick. Great. See you in twenty.

  She was home in ten minutes and changed into jeans and a thin sweater. And then quickly stripped, found her lacy bra and matching thong, and dressed again.

  Just in case.

  She shook her head. No just in case, she told herself sternly. She had three chapters of internal medicine to review that night. No excuses. If she didn’t have any self-control with Matt, there’d be no more dinners. She could not afford to fail these exams. It might not seem so important when Matt was there, but what would happen when reality set in and he left? There’d be no billionaire boyfriend (if that was even true) making her dinner. She’d have no degree, no license, no job, and no income. And the chances of that happening were greater than the odds of Matt sticking around, no matter what he said. She sighed. And of all of those, she’d miss Matt the most. She wished it could work.

  She went into the kitchen to make a cup of tea. The knock on the door made her heart skip a beat. She blew out a breath and went to answer it.

  Matt, carrying two paper bags in his arms, smiled and leaned in to kiss her. “Hi.”

  She could write the exams again next year.

  No.

  She stepped back to let him in. “Hi. Let me help you.” She reached for one of the bags.

  He followed her into the kitchen. “How was your day?”

  One hundred per cent better since you stepped through the door. “Busy. Learned a lot. Is that scary? That I’m still learning?”

  He shrugged. “Par for the course. That’s the way medicine is. You should be learning something every day.”

  “I’m on the right track, then.” She gave a crooked smile and set the bag on the counter. “What’s in here?”

  He pulled out two plastic containers and a foil package. “I thought we’d have chicken and black olive tapenade quesadillas, with a spicy tomato salad, and pie for dessert.”