Acrobat Read Free Page B

cross-training in different conditions. They do it a lot since Mercy Glen and County are partners.”
    I nodded. “Got it.”
    “Why?”
    “Why what?”
    “Did you not want to run into me?”
    “No,” I blurted out, “just the opposite.”
    “Opposite?”
    Shit.
    He was waiting, stepping closer so that the white hospital coat brushed my knees.
    “Dr. Qells?”
    “You’re the doctor.”
    “So are you,” he assured me, and I couldn’t help but notice the breath he took.
    “Sean, I….”
    “Yes?”
    He stepped closer, between my legs, and his hands—those finely boned, long-fingered hands of his—rested on either side of me on the bed. I swallowed hard.
    “I kept thinking,” he said, one hand reaching up, and the first touch of his fingertips to my jaw made me shudder, “when I saw you the other night at the grocery store that if I kept running into you, then maybe you’d eventually invite me over for dinner. I’ve been going there every night since.”
    Dear God in heaven.
    “I had the biggest crush on you when I had you for freshman English, Dr. Qells, but you knew that, didn’t you?”
    “No,” I said and smiled at him. “Not at all.”
    “No?” He seemed surprised. “Christ, I must be the shittiest flirt ever.”
    “I’m sure you’re very smooth,” I teased. “But you were very young.”
    “I wasn’t that young.” His eyes narrowed. “I was legal.”
    I laughed softly. “Just barely.”
    “Well, I’m all grown up now.”
    And suddenly I wasn’t laughing anymore.
    “Are you seeing anyone?” he asked pointedly.
    “No.” I tried to breathe around the lump in my throat.
    “Why not?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I mean,” he said with a shrug, “why not? A man like you, why aren’t you dating anyone?”
    “A man like me?”
    “You’re a catch, Dr. Qells; you don’t need me to tell you that.”
    I peered at him. “I wasn’t fishing.”
    “No, I know, I can tell. You were actually interested in my answer.”
    I cleared my throat as one of his hands settled on my knee.
    “So,” he prodded, “why isn’t there anyone special?”
    “I just got out of a relationship.”
    “How long ago?”
    And it was going to sound stupid. “Year and a half ago,” I confessed.
    He didn’t laugh or snicker or even smile, and I was surprised. “And it took you a while to get over it.”
    “Yes, it did.”
    “But now?”
    “Now I’m all fixed up.”
    He nodded. “So you’ve had the rebound guy, huh?”
    I cleared my throat. “I’m sorry?”
    “You’ve had a guy since him, right?”
    In what context?
    “Right?” he pressed me.
    Why would I play games and not just answer? “Are you asking me if I’ve been with anyone since my ex?”
    “Yessir, that’s what I’m asking.” He grinned.
    “Well, the answer is yes, Sean, I have.”
    The gorgeous blue eyes sparkled. “That’s good.”
    “Why?”
    “Because, Dr. Qells, I would love to take you home with me, but I do not plan on being the one-night stand rebound guy. I plan on being the guy who gets to take you out.”
    All the air was sucked from my lungs.
    His eyes followed his fingers as they traced over my jaw. “I know this is sudden for you, and maybe I’m freaking you out just a little, but Dr.—”
    “Nate,” I corrected him.
    “Nate,” he repeated. “Like I said, I know to you this is coming out of right field, but… I’ve been carrying this torch for close to fifteen years, and before I fall into something else, or you do, I would really like to have a shot at seeing you. I figure us bumping into each other at the store last week and now here… maybe I’m supposed to be paying attention.”
    I was concentrating on breathing.
    “And at least if nothing else, would you come home with me and get in my bed?”
    “I thought that wasn’t what you wanted?” I teased.
    “What?” He had stopped listening to me, too intent on my mouth.
    I chuckled because he was very good for my ego.
    “I’m usually