In the Doctor's Bed Read online

  Isabelle lifted a dubious brow. “Yeah, right. And I guess there’s no reason why you’re up at the crack of dawn when you don’t have to go in to work today, or there’s no reason why I heard you humming in the shower earlier.”

  Isabelle then crossed her arms over her chest and looked at her pointedly when she added, “And no reason why your car is missing. I noticed it was still at the hospital when you left yesterday which was before me. However, when I got off work at noon your car was still there. How’s that?”

  Jaclyn swallowed under the intensity of Isabelle’s gaze. In as calm a voice as she could muster, she said, “I was tired and got a ride home.”

  Isabelle nodded slowly, still keeping her gaze on her. “And where did you go? You weren’t here when I got home.”

  Jaclyn took a sip of her coffee. “Why the questions?”

  “Why the secrecy? Are you seeing someone behind my back?” Isabelle asked in a voice laced with humor.

  Jaclyn wasn’t sure what gave her away. It could have been that she didn’t answer quick enough to suit Isabelle or that she had a blush of guilt on her face. Regardless, Isabelle’s mouth dropped open and she pointed a finger at her. “You are seeing someone,” she exclaimed.

  Jaclyn knew she was in hot water. When Isabelle wanted to know something she was like a dog with a bone. She wouldn’t let up until she got her fill.

  “Don’t you think you’re getting carried away, Belle?”

  “Um, you tell me, Jaclyn. I’ve never known you to be so secretive about a man. To be quite honest, I’ve never known you to get serious about a man period.”

  What Isabelle said was true. “We’re taking things one day at a time and until we test the waters to make sure it’s going to work for us, I prefer keeping things private.”

  Isabelle sipped her coffee and then said, “So in other words you’re not going to tell me a thing about him.”

  “No, for now it’s best.” Like Jaclyn had decided last night, the less her best friend knew the better. “You’re just going to have to trust me on this one, Belle. And before you ask, no, he isn’t married.”

  Isabelle shrugged. “Hey, I couldn’t stop that possibility from running through my head. But for once I’ll mind my own business until you decide to let me in on what’s going on.”

  “Thanks.”

  “And if you ever need me for anything, let me know. From what you told me you haven’t dated much since that guy you broke off with a few years back. Things have changed. Men have changed. They are more of a dog than ever.”

  “All of them aren’t that way, Belle.”

  “True, but finding a good one these days is like looking for a needle in a haystack. So I hope you know what you’re doing.”

  She hoped she knew what she was doing as well. But all it took was the memory of their time together yesterday to convince her that although she might be doing the wrong thing, it was for the right reason…if that made any sense.

  Jaclyn glanced over at Isabelle who was studying her over the rim of her coffee cup. It took all her willpower not to squirm under her best friend’s scrutiny. “There is something I might need your help with, Belle.”

  Isabelle placed her cup down. “What is it?”

  “I’m going out on a date and would like your opinion on an outfit to wear.” Jaclyn watched the smile spread over Isabelle’s face. She of all people knew that next to practicing medicine Isabelle’s other love was clothes. She could hook an outfit together like nobody’s business. Even though Jaclyn wasn’t a total flop when it came to working an outfit, she knew for this date she needed help. First of all, she’d never been on a boating date.

  “Sure I’ll help. Where are you going?”

  “Sailing on the Chesapeake and possibly dinner later. And…”

  Isabelle lifted a brow at her hesitation. “And what?”

  “And I might need an overnight outfit. You know, a nice piece of lingerie.”

  Isabelle covered her face with her hands and literally groaned. “Please don’t tell me you’re planning to spend the night with this guy.”

  Jaclyn stood to place her cup in the sink. “Okay, I won’t tell you, especially because I haven’t decided. Right now we’re getting separate rooms. But I want to be prepared just in case.”

  Isabelle crossed the room to where she was standing and placed her coffee cup down on the counter. “What do you know about this mystery man of yours? Are you sure you want to go that far already? I think we need to talk about this,” she said with a scowl on her face. “Sounds to me you’re moving too fast, letting your hormones get out of control.”

  Jaclyn chuckled. “Possibly, but last time I looked at my driver’s license I was twenty-six and you don’t look like Hattie Campbell to me. Even if you did favor my mom, I’ll tell her the same thing I’m about to tell you. I’m a grown-up.”

  “Yes, but you know so little about men. You’re like a fish out of water. A shark is getting ready to gobble you up.”

  Jaclyn smiled. “And how do you know I won’t be gobbling him first?”

  Isabelle stared at her, speechless, for a moment and then she threw her head back and laughed. “Okay, you got me there.” She slowly shook her head. “You’ve become a bad girl right before my eyes.”

  Jaclyn grinned. “No, I’m finally going after something that I truly want.”

  “If I didn’t know better I’d think you’re trying to get rid of me.”

  Lucien couldn’t help but chuckle at the accuracy of his sister’s words. She had called right after he’d gotten out of the shower. Last night had been the best sleep he’d gotten in months—at least since the nightmare with Terrence Matthews had begun—and all because he’d known he would be spending the next two days with Jaclyn.

  “Not that I’m trying to rush you off the phone, kiddo, but this is my day off and I’ve made plans.”

  “What kind of plans? You sound excited.”

  He pulled the belt through the hoops of his jeans while cradling the phone against his face with his shoulder. “I’m going sailing on the Chesapeake.”

  “Mmm, nice. It would be even nicer if you had female companionship on this voyage of yours.”

  He smiled. Lori was always trying to hook him up with someone. “And what makes you think that I won’t have someone with me?”

  He heard his sister’s sharp intake of breath. She was surprised. “If I’m wrong, then by all means correct me. I’d love for you to do so.”

  He chuckled. “Yeah, I bet.”

  “Is it serious?”

  “I would love for it to be serious, but already there are roadblocks and they’re almost insurmountable.”

  “Then come up with a plan to get them out of the way. If anyone can do it, you can.”

  If Lori was here with him, he would have hugged her. She always had more confidence in him than he had in himself. “I hope you’re right because failing is not an option for me.”

  Lucien thought about those words again a short while later as he drove across the Francis Scott Key Bridge on his way to pick up Jaclyn. Failing wasn’t an option for him. He wished he could explain what was compelling him to spend the next two days with her and basically risking everything to do so. And he was risking everything. Dr. Dudley could make things pretty damn difficult for him as well as for Jaclyn if word got out about them.

  He had called her before leaving home to make sure her roommate had left for work as scheduled. Jaclyn had answered the phone in an excited voice, one that had stirred emotions inside of him the moment he heard it. He’d known at that moment, short of death, nothing would keep him from spending whatever time he could with her.

  Because it was well after the morning rush hour, it took no time at all to reach Jaclyn’s home. He pulled his car into the parking space in front of her town house. As he got out of his car he glanced around to make sure the coast was clear. He didn’t like the fact that he had to sneak around to see his woman.

  His woman?r />
  He stopped walking and inwardly grimaced. Why would he think of her as such? Hell, if you wanted to count yesterday as an official date, that meant this was only their second. She hardly belonged to him. She was merely someone he was intensely attracted to, but they both knew the attraction had a dead end.

  Then why are you here? he couldn’t help asking himself. Why are you willing to put your career on the line for an attraction that’s a dead end?

  He forced himself to start walking again, refusing to answer that question just yet. He rang her doorbell and felt the rate of his pulse increase when he heard her fiddle with the lock.

  And when she stood there after opening the door, he knew the answer to his questions. He knew why he was there the moment he felt heat emitting between them in a connection so electrifying that they could only stand there and stare at each other.

  Without saying anything, she took a step back, and drawing in a deep, steadying breath he followed, entering her home.

  He filled her doorway and for the life of her, Jaclyn couldn’t avert her gaze from his. Nor could she stop the way her pulse was thudding as he stared at her. His eyes were darker than usual and she continued to feel heat—the kind that was giving off an erotic energy. It was an energy she wasn’t used to.

  She held her breath when he closed the door and slowly covered the distance separating them. He reached out and brushed loose stands of hair back from her face before cupping her chin and tilting her eyes up to his.

  It was then that he said, “Good morning, Jaclyn,” before slanting his mouth over hers.

  She wasn’t given the chance to respond when his mouth began mating with hers with a possession she felt in every part of her body. Instead she returned his greeting in a physical way. She wrapped her arms around his neck and drew her body flush with his. This kiss was more powerful, forceful and ignited more passion within her than anything she’d ever experienced, and that included the kisses they’d shared yesterday. She’d thought nothing could top them. But there was something about this one, a confidence or determination or possibly both, that seeped through to her bones.

  And just when she thought he had released her mouth to end it, he took her mouth again, deepening the kiss as a low, guttural hum vibrated in his throat. She heard it. She felt it. And she responded to it, letting him take charge of her tongue while she all but melted into his arms. The way his wet and greedy tongue was sliding against her own made her moan. Desire filled her unlike anything she’d ever felt.

  And then he suddenly released her mouth. He continued to hold her while his breathing calmed, regained a semblance of control. So did hers…at least it tried to anyway. She felt his hands gently stroke her back, and all she could do was stand there and rest her head on his shoulder and draw in deep, rapid breaths.

  “Around you my control gets blown to hell,” he whispered in a low, husky voice close to her ear.

  She figured whenever she was able to catch her breath, she would admit her control around him wasn’t much better. She lifted her head and her breath got lodged in her throat when she looked into his features. The rays from the sun shining through her living room window hit him dead in the face and made him appear even more devastatingly handsome. She wasn’t sure what she liked the most—his sculpted cheekbones, his sensual lips or the tempting darkness of his eyes.

  Jaclyn decided she liked all three, but his sensual lips had the ability to make her panties wet just looking at them. And she didn’t want to remember how they’d tasted.

  “We’re getting deeper and deeper into this, aren’t we?” he murmured softly against her lips.

  Ignoring the shiver that lapped at her nerve endings, she said, “Yes, but don’t ask what we can do to stop it because I haven’t a clue.” Was Isabelle right? Was she moving too fast? Thinking with hormones raging out of control?

  After his call inviting her to spend the next two days with him, she hadn’t gotten much sleep. Anticipation had overtaken her senses. And when she had opened the door and seen him standing there, it had hit her just how far gone she was where he was concerned. He was right when he’d said they were getting deeper and deeper into it.

  “You look nice, Jaclyn. Extremely nice.”

  His compliment made her smile and she glanced down at herself. “Thank you.”

  With Isabelle’s help they had rummaged through her closet and drawers and found an outfit appropriate for sailing—a pair of white shorts and an aqua blue top. And she had prepared an overnight bag. Once Isabelle had seen her mind was made up about the overnight trip, her roommate had gotten naughty in selecting the outfit to wear this evening and another to sleep in tonight. Although Jaclyn had tried convincing her that sharing a bed with her mystery man wasn’t a done deal, Isabelle hadn’t wanted to hear it. She’d even put a couple of condoms in the bag, saying it was always best to be prepared.

  “Ready?”

  “Yes, I just need to grab my overnight bag,” she said turning to quickly go to her bedroom.

  When she returned he was still standing in the same spot but was glancing around. He looked at her and smiled. “Nice place.”

  “Thanks.”

  He then crossed the room to take the bag from her hand. Their fingers touched during the transfer and something inside her rocked. Every sense she possessed was in tune only to him. He met her gaze and she was held captive once again by the darkness of his eyes.

  A horn blast from a passing vehicle made her jump, and her lips firmed as she drew in a deep breath. This was crazy. When had an attraction affected her to such a degree? When had it gotten so potent?

  “I think we need to get the hell out of here.”

  She couldn’t agree with him more. If they stayed even a second longer there was no telling what they might be tempted to do. “All right.”

  As they headed toward the door to leave, she had a feeling when she returned in two days her life wouldn’t be the same.

  “I see you got your car from the hospital,” Lucien said as he steered his vehicle toward Annapolis. It was a beautiful day and although the sky appeared filled with dark clouds, the weatherman had indicated there was no rain in the forecast.

  “Yes, I got it late yesterday. Because Nurse Tsang saw us leave together, I didn’t want to give her any ideas about us. Had my car stayed there all night she would have assumed…”

  When she didn’t finish what she was about to say, he glanced over at her and asked, “Assumed what?”

  He saw the blush staining her features when she said softly, “That we spent the night together.”

  He didn’t say anything for a minute and then, “Yes, I can imagine her assuming that.”

  For a long moment he tried not to think of the implication of that. Not only would the woman think it, she would tell others of her assumptions. He’d worked at Hopewell long enough to know that for some reason Kayla Tsang had Dr. Dudley’s ear when it came to hospital gossip. If Ms. Tsang concentrated more on what she was supposed to do rather than what the hospital personnel were doing, things at Hopewell would run a whole lot better.

  “Do you go sailing a lot, Lucien?”

  He nodded and smiled while keeping his eyes on the road. It was tempting to look at her, glance down at her pair of gorgeous legs. She looked good in shorts. “Yes, whenever I can get away. The guy who owns the marina where I rent the boat teases me about being his best customer.”

  “It must be nice getting away from the hospital every now and then,” she said softly.

  “It is.”

  He knew as an intern that first year was grueling for them. Most of the time the interns spent the night at the hospital and rarely got to sleep in their own beds at home. Working a double shift was routine. He could remember those days.

  “If I don’t escape somewhere, I’ll find an excuse to drop in to the hospital to check on my patients like I don’t think someone else can take care of them besides me.” He shrugged his shoulder. “Everyone needs a life outside th
e hospital to do the things they enjoy. You deserve it. Your patients deserve it. There’s nothing worse than a doctor in a bad mood.”

  “You’re a good doctor, Lucien.”

  He glanced over at her when the car came to a stop at a traffic light. “You think so?”

  She chuckled and he liked the sound of her voice. “Yes, and I’m not just saying that because you are my boss. Getting brownie points isn’t my style.”

  “And what is your style, Jaclyn?” he asked, letting his gaze leave her face to trace a path down her body to her legs. He didn’t want to think of all the things he would like doing with those legs.

  “Mmm, I’d like to think my style is pretty straightforward. I learn not only by observing but by listening as well. I know to ask questions when I don’t understand something and won’t hesitate to disagree if I truly believe I’m right and someone else is wrong.”

  She didn’t say anything for a moment and then said, “And I don’t think there is anything wrong with a person being wrong sometimes. Nobody is perfect. So I guess my style is to always remember that everyone should be treated with respect. When a person comes to the hospital it’s because they need us to do what it takes to make them better. We should tend to their needs individually and not collectively and not think we don’t need them because we do. I think a dedicated doctor knows that.”

  Lucien remained quiet as he dwelled on what she’d just said. Her beliefs were going to make her a good doctor, a cut above the others. He had observed certain things about her from the first. In addition to just how good-looking she was, he’d known that she had compassion for those she treated, wasn’t quick to diagnose anyone and didn’t mind going the extra mile to see to her patients’ comfort.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to get on my soapbox,” she said apologetically.

  “You didn’t. I asked a question and you answered it the best way you knew how. I don’t have a problem with that.”