Doctor's Delight Page 7

  The coordinator checked the roster as they passed, forcing Cherry to stop in politeness. She almost died on the spot when she saw Rick and Beth approaching from the opposite direction.

  Rick looked directly at her, his features grim as he mouthed ‘wait.’

  Like that was going to happen.

  “You have two days off from tomorrow anyway,” the coordinator said. “So if you’re coming down with something, it’s nicely timed.” She laughed.

  Cherry didn’t think it was amusing.

  Rick rounded the nurses’ station desk and looked directly at Cherry. “Sick, are we?”

  To the stomach. She could barely meet his cool gaze. “Just a little something,” she managed, staring at his chin.

  That very strong chin. That jaw line with the shadow of beard. The muscle that ticked in it. She gulped.

  “Step into the treatment room,” he said levelly. “I’ll have a look at you.”

  Oh God, that stirred up all kinds of images. He had looked at her, seen her, done things to her. Been inside her. Lifting her gaze, she met his eyes squarely and felt a flush of heat blossom in her cheeks. The bloody man knew exactly what she was thinking, she just knew by the glint in his eyes!

  “Thanks, but not necessary.” In one swift turn, she walked quickly down the corridor.

  She could feel his gaze burning into her back, but she knew there was no way he’d pursue her. He had patients to see, notes to write, and no gossip to stir up. She was safe. Until she came back to the hospital, anyway, and that was a problem for another day. For tonight and the next two days she could hide behind the safety of her closed door. And cringe and worry there.

  Arriving home, she parked her car in the garage and went up the path to the house. Locking the door behind her, she greeted Frizz and Sugar, who met her and complained at not having been fed since midday.

  “Yes,” she agreed dispiritedly, “You both have very hard lives.”

  Dropping her bag on the hall table, she went into the kitchen, the cats meowing and twining through her legs. Placing two bowls of fresh, raw meat on the floor, she emptied and refilled their water bowl and watched them eat for several seconds.

  No doubt about it, Frizz and Sugar had it good. Fresh food, fresh water, a soft bed, and they didn’t have to go to work or worry about making fools of themselves. Hell, they didn’t even care if they were fat or skinny, as long as they were loved and fed. What a great life.

  Leaving them to their dinner, she went down the short hall to the laundry where she took her clothes off and dumped them into the washing machine to deal with in the morning. Her shower was lukewarm, just the way she liked it, but her mind wasn’t on the water or the fragrant soap. Her mind was on Dr Rick Reed and the problem looming over her.

  It didn’t look like Rick was going to pretend he didn’t recognize her. He’d been almost challenging, his mouthed ‘wait’ a direct order he obviously expected her to obey. Not in this lifetime. The problem was, how far was he going to pursue this? Would he just give up? Decide after seeing her in the harsh light of - well, not day, but the electric lights – that she wasn’t really worth it? Why did he want her to wait? It certainly wasn’t to profess undying lust for her, not going by the grimness on his face. And it was that grimness that made her so glad she hadn’t hung around.

  Drying herself briskly, she glanced at her face in the mirror above the basin. She was okay in a fresh, apple-cheeked kind of way, but there was no way she was a raving beauty. Nor a slim seductress, far beyond that, in fact. Rick, on the other hand, was handsome and built like a wet dream.

  Feeling self pity well up, she pulled her nightgown on and went to sit on the end of the bed. Picking up the remote, she flicked on the small television and stared unseeingly at the late-night news. Thank God she was on days off and wouldn’t have to worry about facing Dr Rick Reed. She had two days to figure out what to do when they finally met again. By then, who knew, he might just be happy to forget about it and not refer to their little meeting. Once the shock wore off, she had no doubt he would be more than happy to forget about it.

  Yes, she comforted herself as she lay down and flicked through the channels, once he got over the shock of recognizing her, he’d see the wisdom in not referring to it again. Life could go on as before and as long as she avoided him—

  The phone rang.

  Thinking it was the hospital ringing with a query, she picked up the receiver. “Hello?”

  “Cherry Williams?”

  “Yes?” The deep tones of the caller didn’t sound like any of the male nurses she knew.

  “This is Rick Reed. I—“

  Cherry practically threw the receiver back onto the cradle. Heart thumping, she sat on the bed staring at the phone. He’d actually rung her home!

  Frizz jumped up on the bed and rubbed his head against her arm, purring energetically.

  The phone rang again, the ring a persistent peeling. Was it her imagination or did it suddenly have a decidedly masculine burr to it? If it was Rick again, she could ignore it, yep. But what if it was the hospital? Reaching over, she flicked on the answering machine and waited, her heart bumping uncomfortably in her chest.

  The phone stopped ringing and the message was clear. “Cherry.” Definitely a masculine burr. The deep tones sent a shiver through her. “We need to talk.” No, we don’t. “Give me a call on the following number and we’ll arrange a meeting somewhere.” He stated the phone number and rang off.

  No way was she meeting him anywhere. Hands trembling, she picked up the receiver and dialled the number before her nerve gave out.

  He answered on the second ring as though he’d been waiting for her. “Cherry.” The way that same deep tone sounded saying her name slipped through her senses and made her heart do crazy things. Cripes, she was going to have a heart attack any minute, but business first.

  “Dr Reed, we have nothing to discuss. Forget the other night. I don’t want to talk about it. Don’t ring me again.” Dropping the receiver back in the cradle, she bounded out of bed, fled to the kitchen, pulled out a can of Diet Coke, popped the tab, and gulped down the fizzing liquid.

  Sitting down at the table, she let out a long, unlady-like burp, and stared at the curtain-draped window. She felt numb. The man was ringing her to discuss the other night, she was so embarrassed she could just die, and how the hell had everything gone arse up?

  “Susie.” It was her best friend’s fault, her and her cockamie idea of hiring a man for sex. “Bloody Susie.”

  Grabbing a bag of chips from the cupboard, she ripped the top open, strode into the lounge, plunked down on the sofa and turned on the television. No way could she sleep now, and she needed to eat something nice and take her mind off Rick.

  It did no good. She practically inhaled the chips, barely tasted them, and drank her Diet Coke. By the time midnight arrived, she’d finished the bag of chips and three Diet Cokes, and she still couldn’t get the image of Rick Reed’s handsome face and green eyes from her mind. For once she wished she was a drinking woman, but alcohol had never been her choice of drink. Damn it. She could certainly do to get blotto right now, only then God knew what she’d do. She’d seen Susie and Maxie do some crazy things when they’d had too much to drink. She’d probably ring Rick and arrange a rendezvous, only to meet him and rip his clothes off his muscular body and ride him until the cows came home.

  Blood hell! Where had that thought come from?

  Forcing the disturbing – though admittedly delicious - thought from her mind, she took a deep breath and focused on the movie just starting. Good, it was a horror movie, just what she needed to take her mind off Dr Rick Reed. Right now, she’d take ghosts and vampires over him.

  Lying down on the sofa, she grunted when Sugar jumped onto her belly, and shifted over to make room for Frizz, who was demanding his share of attention. Watching the movie, she managed to push all disturbing thoughts to the back of her mind.

  ~*~

  Rick knocked
on the door then stood back and waited. He cast his eyes back down the garden path. The small yard was neat and tidy. Mainly some lawn, paving, and simple roses. Some pot plants on the veranda that were rather plain but flowering. Obviously Cherry Williams wasn’t a huge gardening fan, but she liked everything nice. The veranda boasted a swing chair and he imagined it would be pleasant to sit there on a summers evening. He had to remember to get himself a swing chair.

  Turning back to the door, he frowned a little. The stubborn chit wasn’t answering. He knew she was home, a peek through the small window of the garage revealed her car parked inside. Faint music came from somewhere inside the house. A cat meowed closer.

  He knocked louder.

  “Cripes, Maxie, it’s only eight in the morning and my day off to boot.” The door was jerked open. “If it was Susie, she’d just use my spare key to get in. You need to get a key.”

  Bemused, Rick gazed after Cherry as she walked back down the hall. The woman had opened the door while rubbing her eyes and pushing a wealth of thick hair off her face, and without looking to ensure who it was, she had turned away and gone back inside, leaving the door open and a tabby cat gazing up at him in equal bemusement.

  “Meow,” said the big tabby.

  Raising his eyebrows at the cat, Rick walked inside and shut the door behind him.

  “What brings you out so early, anyway?” Cherry called from the room into which she’d gone. “I thought you’d be bonking Ben’s brains out, seeing as he’s home this weekend.”

  Walking down the hall, Rick drawled, “I’m here to talk.”

  There was a crash, a foul word, and then Cherry dodged back out into the hallway, her eyes wide and her cupid lips parted in shock. And not pleasant shock, either, which was a little unsettling, seeing as how every woman in his life had always been happy to see him.

  Dressed in a nightgown that came down to mid-thigh only, her impressive bosom pushing out the lace around the low neckline most interestingly, she was a bewitching sight with her shiny brown hair tumbling around her shoulders and her blue eyes no longer sleepy. Cherry was enticing, all curves and softness, and he had a sudden desire to taste her again.

  But business first. Tamping down the little flame that flared some heat into his groin at just the sight of her in a flimsy nightgown with her luscious body enticingly peeking out at him, he maintained a cool professionalism. “Hello, Cherry.”

  “What the hell are you doing here?” she practically yelled.

  “We need to talk.”

  “The hell we do.” Her agitated breathing made interesting things happen to the bodice of her nightgown. “Go away.”

  “Not happening.” He looked her up and down, outside coolly contained, inside warming up. Damn, the woman was mouth-watering and she didn’t have a clue. Or did she?

  Cherry hunched her shoulders, obviously trying to make her nightgown dip lower towards her knees, and her cheeks were flushed. Hmmm, interesting.

  “Go away right now,” she hissed, “Or I’m calling the cops.”

  “Fine. You can explain to them that I’m the man you paid to take your virginity the other night.”

  Apple cheeks flushed and blue eyes flashed in mortification, but she stood her ground. “You’re trespassing.”

  “Oh, I know I did more than trespass.” Moving forward languidly, Rick observed in private amusement as she retreated. “I invaded you totally.” Her eyes widened when she bumped against the wall, but she couldn’t bounce forward, not when he was right in front of her.

  Bracing one hand on the wall above her, he leaned down to lazily scrutinize her face. Her breasts rose and fell with every uneven breath she took, the front of the lace nightgown brushing across his shirt.

  He could just imagine what it would feel like if it were her pink nipples brushing across his bare skin. Just the thought was enough to make his nostrils flare and his eyes close, and his intake of breath sucked in the delicious scent of her, the faintness of soap and powder and flowery scent.

  In response, his shaft started to harden. And something was happening inside him, an awareness of—

  “Dr Reed.” Her voice trembled.

  Rick opened his eyes and ensnared her gaze with his. “Rick.”

  She swallowed. “Dr Reed, I want you to leave. Now.”

  “No.”

  Her pupils dilated slightly in alarm. “Please.”

  “No.” He continued to gaze steadily at her. “We have things to talk about.”

  “No, we don’t.”

  “Yes, we do.”

  “I have no intention—”

  “You have several choices, Cherry. You can sit down and talk to me now, go and get dressed and then talk to me, or maybe we should just let our bodies do the talking.” Oops, he hadn’t meant that last part to slip out, but hell, it wasn’t so easy remaining cool and calm with her scent invading his senses, and her sweet curves so enticingly near him, not to mention the memories of those curves undulating against him…and under him.

  Now Cherry looked panicked.

  That didn’t do his ego much good, and to tell the truth, that intrigued him even more.

  Taking pity on her, Rick placed his finger beneath her chin and titled her head back slightly. “Go and get dressed and we’ll talk. I’m putting on some coffee.” When those lush lips opened in surprise, he almost threw all caution to the wind to ravish her mouth with his, but he retained his control and straightened, taking a step away from her. “Go, Cherry. I’ll be waiting in the kitchen.”

  Turning, he left her near the wall and went to the kitchen directly opposite. Crossing to the bench, he picked up the kettle and filled it with water. The whole time he could feel her gaze on him, but he ignored her. He’d just plugged in the kettle when he heard her curse. Grinning, he glanced over his shoulder to find her gone.

  Searching through the cupboards, he found two mugs with pictures of cats on them, and the coffee. Placing them on the bench, he started for the fridge to get the milk, only to find his way barred by two tabbies. One was bigger than the other, and both were gazing up at him unblinkingly.

  “Hi,” he said.

  When neither did anything, he skirted around them to open the ‘fridge door. Immediately the big tabby stuck his head inside and looked around. The smaller tabby let loose a cry and twined around his ankles.

  His parents had always had animals, so Rick knew exactly what they wanted. Picking up the carton of cat milk and a can of opened cat fish, he went back to the sink where the clean cat bowls sat in the draining board, dished out the food and milk, and placed the bowls on the floor next to the bowl of water. The big tabby ploughed into the food like he hadn’t eaten in weeks, but going by his slightly larger-than-should-be girth it was obvious he was far from starving. The smaller tabby ate delicately, giving several little ‘merps’ of pleasure.

  Leaning back against the bench, Rick surveyed the kitchen. Café curtains at the window with bright yellow sunflowers on a white background, light-blue laminate bench tops created to look like marble, and white kitchen cupboards. The table was dark wood, the chairs had blue cushions. The room was bright and cheerful. Not much clutter on the benches, but a few assorted items that were used regularly and a vase of roses.

  Curious, Rick crossed the small hall to check out the lounge. Just as he’d suspected, neat and homely without clutter. He’d bet her bedroom would be the same.

  Her bedroom where she was getting dressed right now. He could just about imagine her in the nude, all lush curves. He had images of those lush curves, but only vague images. He could definitely feel them under his hands, but seeing them...he sighed inwardly. He hadn’t been able to see a lot due to the combined effects of whiskey and the dim lighting.

  I’m sure as hell going to set that to rights.

  Now where had that thought come from?

  He returned to the kitchen. He was here to find out what Cherry had been up to that night, not pursue her, though… He gazed out the kitchen wi
ndow at the plain lawn, paving, and yet more roses in the backyard, his mind ticking over. He was attracted to Cherry, no doubt about that, but circumstances being what they were, pursuing her wasn’t on the cards.

  And if that was so, why was he here? Why didn’t he just forget the whole thing and walk away?

  Because he wanted to find out what she’d been up to, why she’d given her virginity to a perfect stranger. Why she’d hired a male prostitute to do the deed.

  Why did it matter to him?

  Frowning, he poured two cups of coffee, leaving hers black and without milk or sugar because he didn’t know how she drank it.

  He was still frowning when he heard her enter the room. Turning, he couldn’t stop his grin at the sight of her. Cherry was obviously in defensive mode. Dressed in pedal-pushers, a loose t-shirt, flat ballerina pumps, and her glorious hair pulled back in a ponytail, she was as mad as hell and embarrassed.

  Her cheeks reddened when she looked at him, and marching across to the bench beside him, she poured milk into the cup and added two sugars. Looking at him, she raised her brows challengingly.

  The chit might be embarrassed, but she wasn’t going to back down. Damn, he liked that about her. Almost as much as he liked her curves.

  “What do you want?’ she asked bluntly.

  You. On me, under me. Pushing the thoughts aside, Rick replied coolly, “To talk.”

  “There’s nothing to talk about. The other night was a mistake that I just want to forget.”

  “The other night left me with some rather decadent memories and your virgin’s blood on me.”

  He could have sworn those apple cheeks were going to go on fire, they went so red. But she held her chin up and met his gaze steadily. “Everyone loses their virginity at some time. Big deal.”

  “Not everyone hires a male prostitute to do it.”

  “That’s my business.”

  “It’s become mine since I was the one who took your virginity.” He could still remember how tight she was, how slick… Ignoring the flare of heat in his loins, he took a sip of coffee while watching her over the brim. “What happened to Damien?”