I choke on the sip of coffee I’ve just taken, my eyes widening as I look down at the diminutive, yet no less powerful woman in front of me.
“Excuse me?”
She places her hands on her hips and cocks her head at me. “You heard me. I might be the only one who’s noticed your ogle session today. But I’mnotthe only one who noticed that, up until last week, you were treating Heidi like she’s nothing more than a thorn in your side. She’s a damn good doctor, and I think you know that. Which begs the question why the lovely Max Donnelly, who charms everyone and always has, is being the grumpiest, most foul human ever to our sweet Heidi.”
My mouth opens and closes in disbelief. And shame. And panic.
“I…”
Ginny holds up her hand to stop me. “I don’t want to hear it, Max. I don’t need to. I trust you to do your job as a doctor and as the head of this department, the same way you always have. We’ve got many years working together under our belt, and so far, you’ve never given me cause to question your judgment. But if you don’t figure out what’s going on in your head —” her eyes sweep me from top to bottom “— either of them, then we might have a problem.”
“Ginny,” I start lamely, feeling utterly chastised. Of all the nurses, she’s the only one who’s never pushed me or made comments about my personal life or my rejection of all the attempts to set me up with someone. So for her to see right through me, and to call me out in such a blatant way, is a hot poker straight to my gut.
“I’ve said my piece, Max. And all I have to add is this: Heidi is one of the most wonderful women out there. And she doesn’t deserve whatever messed up game you’re playing. So figure yourself out, and stop being an ass.”
I stand there, dumbfounded, as Ginny walks away, heading straight to Heidi and the other nursers. She claps her hands and says something, and they all disperse. Heidi makes her way over to me, a guarded expression on her face.
I hate that I did that. That I’ve dulled her glow, her energy, her vivacity in any way. Because Ginny is right — about a lot of things — but most importantly, that Heidi is one fucking incredible woman, and a damn good doctor.
Somehow, I need to get my brain to accept that and find a way to keep appropriate boundaries in place around her. She deserves that and more.
“Hi, Dr. Donnelly,” she says softly, and for the second time in a short period I almost choke on my coffee. This time it’s simply from the sound of my name and her voice. “Are you okay?” she asks, her hand lifting as if to touch me. She doesn’t, thank God.
“Yeah. Yeah. Sorry. I’m fine.” I give her what I hope is a reassuring smile.
“Listen,” she starts, glancing around before settling her gaze on my face. Her spine is ramrod straight and her voice is firm. “I just want you to know that running into you at the hot springs was completely unintentional, and I have no plan to tell anyone about it. As far as I’m concerned, it never happened.”
My mouth flaps open and closed a couple of times before I can stop it. Of all the things I thought she might say, that wasn’t even on the list. And the idea of her pretending she never saw me, even though IknowI didn’t misinterpret the attraction in her eyes when she saw my bare chest, well that just fucking stings.
But. She has a point. We have to be professional.
“Right. Of course. That sounds fine.”
Our gazes stay locked on each other. Something passes between us, crackling in the air. But it’s gone in an instant. Yet, I don’t stop myself from lifting my hand up to slide a piece of her hair through my fingers. Fuck, it’s soft. As is the tiny gasp I hear from her. I drop her hair. “Tie this up,” I say gruffly. “And let’s go.”
Her wide green eyes are locked on mine as she loosens her ponytail. The second her hair cascades down her back, my fingers twitch at my side.Don’t. Don’t think about wrapping that hair around your fist and…
I shake my head to clear the dark and dirty thoughts clouding my mind, just in time for Heidi to finish tying off her hair.
“Let’s go.”
But something has shifted between us. Something significant.
I’m not the only one affected by whatever passed between us in those fleeting moments at the hot springs. And I’m clearly not the only one who’s unsure what to think about it.
The stakes have been raised. There’s a line we cannot cross, not without it possibly having consequences on both our careers. But that line is looking very blurred right now.
Chapter eleven
Heidi
“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
“It’s fine, Heidi.” Water droplets cascade down his torso as Max slowly emerges from the steaming water. I trace the path of one drop down his tattooed chest, over the hills and valleys of his abs, until it’s lost in the thatch of neatly groomed hair at the base of his deliciously stiff cock. My tongue darts out and licks the corner of my lips. It’s impossible not to look at it, jutting out from his lean, muscular body, demanding my attention.
“Max,” I breathe as he comes closer. He reaches his hand out and I take it. My clothes are gone. I don’t remember taking them off, but they’re gone.
“Your body makes me want to do some very dirty things to it, Dr. Morgan.”
