by Janice Lynn
While the anesthesiologist chatted with his assistant about a recent sailing trip he had made, Justin painstakingly removed the femoral head with an oscillating saw, cleaned the acetabulum, then went about rebuilding the joint with prosthetics.
All in all, the surgery took just over two hours to complete.
When he was finished, Justin’s gaze lifted and sought Riley’s.
What she saw there had her stomach churning more than any bone-cutting surgical procedure she’d ever witnessed.
His eyes glittered with what she could only label as hurt because she’d pushed him away—although more likely that was just his wounded pride she was seeing. But there was also curiosity as to why she’d done so. And something more that she could only think of as warmth—not that that made any sense.
None of what she saw made sense except the curiosity. He probably wasn’t used to women walking away from him, so no doubt that did have him puzzled.
Leaving him had been her being proactive on preventing heartbreak. A pre-emptive strike. She’d left before he had.
Maybe if Justin hadn’t been quite so handsome, had been something more ordinary than an orthopedic surgeon, not quite so fabulous, she might have risked a relationship. Doubtful after what Johnny had done, but maybe.
Someone so good-looking, so successful, was destined to break her heart if she gave him the chance.
“Good job,” he praised the team, still holding her gaze.
Something flashed in the blue depths that suggested he saw more than she wanted him to see, that he knew she warred within. She wanted to look away, to mask her eyes from his. With each passing second her heart pounded harder.
Just as it reached the point of thundering in her ears, he broke contact and headed out of the operating suite.
“Wonder what was up with Dr. Brothers. He was quieter than usual,” the recorder said as soon as Justin was out of the room.
Riley stared down at the surgical tray.
“But he’s still a pleasure to work with. If only all orthopedic surgeons were as easy to be with in surgery as that man,” the assistant observed.
“If only all orthopedic surgeons were as easy on the eye as that man,” the surgical tech teased with a waggle of her brows.
Riley said nothing and prayed that Sheila, the scrub nurse, wouldn’t say anything either. Sheila and her husband had been at Cheyenne’s party.
“Looked like you were all cozy with him on Friday night, Riley,” said, Sheila giving her a knowing look. “I saw you leave together.”
Ugh. Of course Sheila had seen. And now she’d mentioned that. In front of the whole team.
“Really? Lucky you...” The surgical tech sighed.
Rather than answer Sheila, or acknowledge the surgical tech, who looked amazed that Justin had been with her, Riley shrugged and went about preparing the patient to be rolled to the recovery room.
What could she say?
Why, yes, that was me, all cozied up with Justin. And guess what? The man is pure genius between the sheets!
Yeah, that wasn’t happening.
Nor would she tell them that she’d left before he’d awakened and had the opportunity to tell her to leave.
Sheila was right, though. Justin had been particularly subdued. Normally he would have made chitchat, and most definitely would have said something directly to her. He’d have made small talk, teased her about Daisy and how she needed to get a real dog, or he would have lingered after surgery to chat for a few minutes.
He’d done none of those things.
As much as she hated to admit it, the fact that their Saturday night escapade had created this rift in their work relationship, leaving things awkward, stung.
Justin was used to one-night stands, so what had happened shouldn’t be a big deal. But the others were right. He hadn’t behaved normally. He’d been as tense as she had.
Was it because she’d been the one to leave? Or could she have misjudged how casually he saw sex and Saturday night hadn’t been quite as run-of-the mill for him as she’d thought?
CHAPTER THREE
IT HAD BEEN a long day, but Riley had made it through her first day at work after “that night,” as she’d dubbed Saturday.
She wasn’t sure what she’d expected, but she shouldn’t have worried. Except for that lingering look after he’d finished the surgery Justin had ignored her. That would hopefully put to rest the rumors flying around that they were an item after being seen together at Cheyenne’s party.
More than one person had questioned her about her relationship with Justin. The fact that people actually believed they might be an item floored Riley. Couldn’t they see she was nothing like the women he dated? She wasn’t tall, thin, bordering on perfect.
She’d be a sitting duck, just asking to be dumped again, if she got involved with Justin.
Grabbing her bag from the locker, she headed out of the nurses’ changing area and down the long hallway toward the elevator bank.
Just as she got into an open car Justin stepped inside—then realized who she was, and paused midway to pressing his floor number. His jaw tightened, and for a moment she thought he was going to either wait for the next elevator or take the stairs.
Riley bit into her lower lip, telling herself to let him leave, but then heard herself saying, “It would be silly for you to get out.”
He faced her. “You’re sure?”
She nodded.
The elevator was empty other than the two of them, and it was with reluctance that Riley watched the door close behind Justin.
“You did a great job on the hip replacements today,” she rushed out, feeling the need to fill the silence.
“Seriously? One minute you’re sneaking out of my condo and the next you want to make small talk?”
“Fine...” she breathed, knowing she deserved his question. But how could she explain that she’d missed their usual camaraderie when she’d been the one to leave? “I won’t say another word and we’ll ride the elevator in complete awkward silence.”
Her insides trembled. So did her lower lip. She felt Justin’s shoulders sag more than saw them as she refused to look up.
“I’m sorry.”
She didn’t respond, just willed herself to be strong. But how could she hold tough when just being near him was setting her nerve-endings on edge? Setting her memories ablaze? When the taste of him lingered on her lips and in her mind? When she craved his mouth against hers?
Ugh.
She would not put herself through this. She just wouldn’t.
“Hell, Riley...” He sounded as upset as she felt. “This isn’t easy for me, you know.”
That had her gaze lifting. “You think it’s easy for me?”
His eyes searched hers. “Isn’t it?”
Was that what he thought? She must be a better actress than she’d given herself credit for.
“People were talking about us today. I didn’t like it.” She hesitated, and then, glancing away, admitted, “More than that, I didn’t like it that you didn’t talk to me.”
“I didn’t know what to say.”
“You normally have no trouble talking to me,” she reminded him.
“I normally haven’t had sex with you, then woken up in bed alone.”
“There is that.” Riley leaned back against the elevator wall, looked up—and lost her breath as her gaze locked with his emotion-filled one.
He really did seem to be struggling with this as much as she was. He looked as torn and confused about what had happened as she was, and wondering where they went from here.
She sank her teeth into her lower lip as she considered him—as she considered her own conflicted thoughts and emotions.
She’d looked into those eyes when they were filled with passion, had laughed with him, smiled at him, felt so a
t ease with him Saturday night.
His seeing her naked could have been so awkward—could have triggered so many negative memories of Johnny’s harsh comments about her size and many other failings. Instead Justin had made her feel beautiful, sexy, confident. Not once had he looked at her or responded to her with anything other than complete and utter fascination.
And Justin being fascinated with her—her body, her words, her desires—had been heady. Addictive. Making her want more. Lots more.
She still wanted more. As evidenced by the heat building inside her at being near him, alone, in an elevator, and knowing what he was capable of.
She gulped.
As if he had read where her mind had gone his gaze dropped to her lips and his eyes darkened. “Riley, I really am sorry. I—”
The elevator came to a stop and the door slid open. Two suited men boarded, nodded toward them, then went back to their conversation.
Justin didn’t resume speaking—for which Riley was grateful. She didn’t want the suits privy to their conversation. But she wanted to know what he’d been about to say.
When they got off the elevator they headed in silence toward the employee parking area. She bit her already sore lower lip as they walked near to one another and yet so far away.
She should have known this would happen. This horrible awkwardness.
She had known.
* * *
Justin had never been one for dancing around an issue, and he truly didn’t understand why Riley hadn’t woken him.
He’d had to bite his tongue in the elevator. He wanted to talk to her—needed to talk to her to understand what had happened between them. But he knew Riley wouldn’t appreciate their having a serious conversation in front of others.
Once they got outside the building they’d headed for the employee parking lot. Although only a few feet apart physically as they walked together toward their cars, miles separated them in every other way.
He couldn’t hold back any longer. “Why did you leave?”
“There was no reason to stay.”
Ouch. Did she truly believe that? “I can think of a few.”
She sighed. “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, Justin.”
Confused, he stopped walking. “Not sure I follow.”
“My leaving made things simpler for both of us.”
“By...”
“By letting us not have to pretend what happened meant anything.”
Having to remind himself that they were in the hospital’s parking lot, Justin contemplated what Riley said. “Who says it didn’t mean anything?” he asked.
Her gaze cut to his. She looked stunned for such a brief moment that he thought he might have imagined the flash of vulnerability.
“Good sex counts for something, eh?” she said.
His faltering ego surged a little. “You admit the sex was good?”
Her cheeks went bright pink. “Would you believe me if I denied it?”
“No.” He knew better. “Which is why I was shocked to find you’d left. We could have spent the day together.”
She shifted her weight, looking more and more uncomfortable with their conversation. No wonder. They were still standing in the employee parking lot.
“This isn’t the best place to have this conversation,” he admitted. “Maybe we could grab a bite to eat?”
Obviously shocked at his suggestion, she met his gaze and appeared ready to tell him no. It wouldn’t be the first time.
“No strings attached,” he added. “Come and talk with me so we can get past this weirdness between us. It seems neither of us likes it.”
“I—I have to let Daisy out. Sorry.”
He started to point out that they could meet up afterward, but she’d already taken off toward her car.
Well, that hadn’t gone the way he’d hoped.
Then again, what had he expected? She’d left his bed without waking him.
* * *
Riley tapped her fingers against the steering wheel as she drove toward the park. She’d have plenty of time to hit the trail before sunset. She had to get out of the house and burn some of her nervous energy. And she needed to run as she hadn’t exercised over the weekend.
Sex with Justin had burned more than few calories, though.
Ugh.
“I have to stop thinking about him,” she said out loud, hoping that would make it happen.
Not true. She needed to think about him and figure out what his odd behavior in the OR meant. What his asking her to dinner meant. Even more, she needed to figure out why it mattered so much.
Shouldn’t she just let it go? Not worry that their working relationship felt changed forever and just be grateful she’d escaped unscathed otherwise?
Only she didn’t feel grateful. She felt bereft of his friendship.
So why had she refused dinner?
She gripped the steering wheel tighter. He’d said no strings attached when she’d hesitated. Why hadn’t she gone?
For the same reason that for so long she’d only interacted with him at the hospital.
Justin was dangerous to her peace of mind.
To her peace of heart.
Seeing him in the elevator had flustered her, so that she hadn’t even thought to ask about her necklace. She’d ugly-cried at the loss, so how could she have not remembered to ask? Then again, if he’d found it, he’d have told her, surely?
She pulled into an empty parking space, happy to have found one so quickly as the lot was almost full.
Daisy whimpered from the back seat, where she was inside her carrier.
“I know, girl. Give me a minute and I’ll have you out of there,” she promised, opening the door, then Daisy’s crate. She snapped a leash to Daisy’s collar.“We’re going to work off some steam, aren’t we?” she cooed as she put the car key fob inside the zipped pouch at her waist.
Car locked. Dog on leash. She ticked the items off in her head before turning toward the trail.
Were her eyes playing tricks on her?
Not twenty feet away Justin was stretching.
She’d not told him where she was headed. Had she subconsciously chosen this park because she’d gotten glimpses of him running there in the past? If so, was she crazy? Why would she do that?
He hadn’t seen her yet. She could leave without him knowing she’d been there.
Instead, she took a deep breath and went to face what seemed inevitable.
Because she needed to ask him about her necklace—not because she’d latch onto any excuse to talk to him.
* * *
Justin stretched his hamstrings, then straightened, planning to take off down the trail.
Instead, he almost fell over.
“Riley!” he exclaimed when she jogged over to him. She must have parked on the far side of the lot. Then his gaze dropped. “Who do you have here?”
At his question, the living white mop that was wearing pink bows just above its ears barked.
Looking uncomfortable, Riley squatted down to pet the Maltese terrier with its big dark eyes. “Meet the infamous Daisy. She’s here to protect me.”
Wishing he knew how to make the awkwardness between them go away, he decided to keep it light, so he arched a brow at the dog that couldn’t weigh more than six or seven pounds. “What’s she going to do? Yap someone into submission?”
Still rubbing the dog’s neck, with a slight smile Riley warned him, “Don’t underestimate the annoyance factor of a small dog’s bark. From experience, I assure you there are times you’ll do most anything to quieten it.”
“You run with her?”
“She’s home alone all day while I’m at work. I’m not leaving her there again while I run.”
Justin was impressed by her thoughtfulness. Was even more impressed th
at she’d come over to him and was carrying on a semi-normal conversation.
He eyed the dog, who had stopped barking and was now sniffing his running shoes. “She runs?”
“Sometimes.” Riley laughed. “She’s quite the princess, but I adore her.”
Her confession eased the tension that he’d been carrying from the moment he’d realized she’d bailed on him and that had multiplied ten-fold after their conversation at the hospital. He still needed to unwind, though. And nothing did that the way running did.
“But no worries,” she assured him, her pretty green eyes sparkling. “If we can’t keep up with those long legs of yours we’ll just lag behind.”
She planned to run with him?
Earlier she’d told him not to look a gift horse in the mouth. At that time he hadn’t agreed. Currently he was going to take her advice and go with it.
“For that matter,” she continued, “Daisy gives me the perfect excuse if I fall behind.”
He’d walk if that was what it took to spend time with her. They needed this. At least he did. From the moment he’d awakened to find her gone he’d been trying to figure out where he’d gone wrong.
“How many days a week do you run?” she asked as they fell into step beside each other, Daisy trotting along beside them.
Moving more slowly than he normally would, he shrugged. “Depends on my surgery schedule. Every day, if I can. I enjoy running. It keeps me sane. How about you?”
“I don’t run because I enjoy it.”
He glanced toward her. “Then why?”
“It’s part of my weight-loss plan.”
Her weight-loss plan? “I’ve seen you naked. You don’t need to lose weight.” Realizing what he’d said, worrying she would shut him out, he grimaced. “Sorry.”
Jogging, Riley remained silent.
Wanting to move past what he’d said, he asked, “What kind of weight-loss plan are you on, Riley?”
“Low-calorie, low-fat, low-carb, regular exercise, water only—and weekly séances and exorcisms to rid me of the starving little demons inside me who love to eat. You name it, I’m trying it.”