Saving Forever - Part 3 Read Free Page B

her hearing. She reminded herself to ask him in the morning what he had said.

Chapter 4
     
    After a night of passion, Charity didn’t want to wake up. She heard Elijah moving about his room: a drawer opening and closing; a closet door sliding; clothes rustling and the water running in the en suite bathroom. She rolled over and watched Elijah come out of the bathroom with just a towel wrapped around his hips.
    He reached for the clothes he had laid at the edge of the bed and smiled when he met her gaze. “Mornin’ sweetie.”
    She smiled, wondering if her hair shot out in every direction. “What time is it?”
    “Half past five. I have to be at the hospital at six.”
    She sat up and tucked the duvet under her arms. Compared to last night, she was now shy. “I need five minutes and I’ll be ready to go.”
    He crawled across the bed and kissed her nose. “Go back to sleep. I’ll take my car in. I usually catch the subway, but then I can meet you after work.”
    She set her pillow so she could lean back against it and brought her knees up. “What time do you… finish?” She was distracted watching him dress. She could feel herself grow warm and hugged her legs to stop the sexual train of thought her brain and body were trying to head down.
    “I’ve got a twelve-hour shift. Barring anything crazy happening, I should be done by seven at the latest.” He sat down on the edge of the bed beside her, tucking a chunk of hair behind her ear. “I should have tried to switch my shift last night, but I was too distracted.” He winked at her.
    “Nice excuse, except no one would have offered to take your shift on Christmas Day.”
    He made a face. “True. Your dad and I did the same shifts last year and agreed to do them again this year. We’re both on tomorrow as well. What are you doing Friday?”
    “I’m flying back to Atlanta tomorrow afternoon. I have a meeting in the morning with the architect-owner of the hall where we are hosting my Dad’s gala. I booked my ticket for after that.”
    “Want to call today and change it?”
    She couldn’t. “I can’t.” She didn’t want to tell him why. Please don’t ask, please don’t ask–
    “Why?”
    “I’m meeting Malcolm – er, Dr. Parker, Friday evening.”
    “On a date?” He jumped off the bed and ran fingers through his hair.
    “No! It’s to go over stuff for the Valentine’s Gala with Forever Hope Hospital.”
    “On a Friday night?”
    She didn’t like the tone of voice he was using. “It’s the holidays. We went with whatever time worked.” You and I hadn’t been speaking at the time. How was I to know I’d be in your bed?
    “Where are you meeting Malcolm ?”
    Seriously? She was not going to answer Elijah. He would never understand. Malcolm and she were going to meet at his place but it was completely platonic. The guy was still in love with his ex-wife. She slipped out of the bed and grabbed a shirt sitting on Elijah’s dresser. It was an Under Armour top, one of the tight-fitting shirts that barely managed to cover her bum. Her dress lay somewhere in his living room. She had no idea where.
    “Where are you meeting him?” Elijah repeated.
    She walked past him to the hall. “It doesn’t matter. It’s not important.”
    He followed close behind her. “Why won’t you answer? You have a thing for doctors? Is that why you were so hush-hush about going to New Zealand with me? And then left so suddenly?”
    Furious, she spun around and crashed into Elijah’s chest. He caught her, their faces inches apart. They glared at each other, both their chests heaving. 
    “Dammit!” he swore. He crushed his lips against hers and pulled her tight against him.
    She tried to pull away, but barely made the effort. Her body responded and she was kissing him back before her brain realized what was happening. It took all her concentration to step back. She held him at arm’s length, both of them panting, but this time for an entirely different reason.