Before the Moon Rises Read Free

He
    brought it to his lips and kissed the back of it. Her pulse
    jumped. She didn't wear a ring. "Thank you for taking such
    wonderful care of me, Janet. But I really need to be on my
    way."
    She was blushing again, this time a smile laced her
    features. "You're going to have to sign out against medical
    advice." She removed her hand from his. "I'll go get the
    paperwork."
    She started to move from the room, but Max stopped her.
    "Miss O'Brien?"
    "Yes?"
    "Don't forget the clothes."
    She nodded, pivoted and left his side. His cheek twitched.
    Her cute little butt swayed in rhythm with her hips as she
    walked past the nurse's station and disappeared from sight.
    His eyes drew to thin slits. Gorman's steadfast stare followed
    the hot pink uniform as well.
    She emerged with an arm full of clothes. Then, quick as a
    snake, his rival's hand shot out and stopped her in her path.
    Every muscle in Max's body tightened. Gorman kept his
    grip on Miss O'Brien's arm while he spoke with her. When she
    backed up, Max saw her unease.
    He could smell her fear.
    She ended her discussion and turned Max's way.
    Gorman's eyes raked her frame when she walked away.
    Damn. He just picked his next target. The sexy little blonde
    17

    Before the Moon Rises
    by Catherine Bybee
    nurse won't stand a chance when Gorman makes the change
    later tonight.
    "Here you go," she handed him the scrubs.
    Max closed the drape behind her. "So, Miss O'Brien, when
    do you get off?"
    "Excuse me?"
    What was going on? Janet stared at Max in disbelief. In the
    six years of working in the ER, never had a patient asked her
    this question, and now it happened twice in less than two
    minutes.
    She rubbed her arm where the other man had grabbed
    her. If it wasn't for the fact that the medical staff and security
    surrounded her she would have been alarmed. Hell, she was
    alarmed. The man in the hallway had been anything but
    polite. She didn't reveal her schedule to him, resulting in a
    heated stare from the man. Janet tried to be nice about it,
    but it didn't seem to work. She told him she was involved,
    which was a complete lie.
    Now, Mr. Naked Man asked her the same question.
    "I asked when you got off work. Maybe I could buy you
    breakfast, for taking such great care of me."
    Janet stood back, folded her arms across her chest and
    made a show out of sweeping his body with her eyes. "I'll
    admit you're good looking, but looks won't buy you a cup of
    coffee in this town."
    He flashed his teeth and, dear God, the man had dimples—
    really cute dimples—which stood in dark contrast to his
    masculine features. Janet shifted to her other foot in an
    attempt to appear unaffected by his smile.
    18

    Before the Moon Rises
    by Catherine Bybee
    "I think I can afford to buy you a cup of coffee."
    "Really? So you choose to walk the streets of LA naked in
    the middle of the night?"
    Now it was him, shifting in his shoes, or rather, hospital
    slippers. He kept his smile in place despite his state of
    undress. "Maybe I can explain my, er, situation over eggs
    benedict."
    She was tempted, even with him dressed in a hospital
    issue gown open in the back, she was tempted. "I don't think
    so."
    "Why not? You said yourself I'm good looking, and I know
    you're curious about why I ended up here."
    Janet slid the paperwork she held in front of him and
    handed him her pen. "Even if I wanted to, I make it a rule not
    to date my patients."
    "Humm..." He took the paper and signed his name, then
    pushed it in her direction. "I'm no longer your patient."
    Janet couldn't stop the giggle that erupted. "Listen..." She
    picked up the paper and noted his name. "Mr. Ritter. I'm
    flattered, really I am, but I don't think this would be a good
    idea."
    "I suggested breakfast, not marriage."
    "You're wearing a hospital gown and a smile."
    "I'll change. We can drop by my house so I can get my
    wallet."
    Janet narrowed her eyes. "Is this some perverse way to
    get a free ride home?"
    "I'll pay for gas." His eyes