Risking the Crown

by Violet Paige

  “I’ll see you in two weeks, Doc.” I grinned as she closed the door.

  6

  Lennon

  I handed Wes Blakefield’s chart to the nurse to input into the system. I walked away from the station, ready to check on my next patient. I didn’t want to think about whether it was intentional that I had checked on him first. I tried to tell myself it was so I could escape if I needed to. I would have an excuse if those smoldering eyes of his got under my skin again. I pulled my shoulders back, knowing I kept things professional in there. I didn’t cross any doctor-patient lines.

  But I had heard his heart beat. I heard it pick up as I moved across his body. My fingers lingered on his skin, tracing the lines on the tattoo running up his forearm. He might be a notorious playboy, but I had made his heart race. I smiled before walking into Ms. Parish’s room.

  “Good morning. And how is that elbow today?” My seventy-five year old patient needed all my attention, and I had to stop thinking about the Wranglers’ quarterback.

  “Dr. Ashworth?”

  I was packing up my bag for the day in front of my locker. The shift had gone well. Two smooth surgeries and my patient recovery rate was stellar this week.

  I turned to look at the nurse in the doorway. “There’s a delivery here for you at the nurses’ station.”

  “Oh?” I wasn’t expecting anything, and the sales reps usually scheduled appointments with me.

  The nurse looked excited. “I think I know who it’s from.”

  “All right. I guess I’ll pick it up on my way out. I’m almost done.”

  But she stood in the doorway, waiting for me to walk with her. God, I wish I could remember her name. She was the one who always wore the brightest scrubs. The happy kind with rainbows and kittens. Oh right, she was Sonny.

  I followed her through the corridor to where the nurses were huddled together. All I could see were tufts of cellophane through the circle. The whispers stopped as soon as I appeared.

  “She’s here.” They giggled. “Looks like you have an admirer, Dr. Ashworth.”

  They stepped back, and I took a look at the contents through the clear wrapping. “What is this?”

  Sonny piped up. “It’s from Wes Blakefield. He sent you every possible Wranglers memorabilia there is.” She tapped at the basket. “Cups, koozies, a signed football, and it looks like that’s his jersey number.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding.” I hovered over the monstrosity of football crap.

  “Read the card. Read it,” they urged.

  This wasn’t how I wanted to receive a gift. Not with everyone gawking around me. And not from a current patient. This was wrong on so many levels.

  Sonny shoved the envelope into my hands. Cautiously, I pulled the card from inside.

  Thanks, Doc

  WB

  That was all it said. I pushed the note back inside. I wasn’t going to read it aloud.

  “You all can get back to work now.” I tried to shoo them from the basket as I wrestled it into my arms.

  “It is from him.” There was a chance half of them were going to faint right there. “Oh my God. Wes Blakefield sent you a gift. You know what that means, right?”

  I looked at them blankly. “It doesn’t mean anything. He’s a patient. Of course I’m going to donate everything in the basket.”

  They looked shocked.

  I scrambled for an explanation. “It’s against hospital policy. You all know that.” I held the basket tighter to my chest, wondering what in the hell had urged that man to send this to me.

  “Good night.” I marched out of the hospital, knowing how ridiculous I looked, trying to keep the cellophane from blowing back into my face.

  The next day wasn’t any better. As I was leaving for my shift, another delivery arrived. This time, the quarterback land-slided me with every type of chocolate on the planet. And these weren’t ordinary chocolates. They were imported from France, Switzerland, and Germany. Had I mentioned in conversation at some point that I was a chocoholic? I couldn’t think of a single personal thing I had revealed to him. I was professional toward him, even if he was a flirt and a player. I never encouraged him to send gifts or pursue me, did I?

  I scowled at the fancy boxes tied with exotic silk ribbons. There was another card attached. I read it in the silence of the doctors’ lounge. I crumpled it in my hand. Who was this guy? He thought he could send presents and chocolate and I’d what? Just fall into his arms and beg to get in his bed?

  I knew his type. I’d met them all over D.C. Funny thing was, once they found out I was a surgical resident, I suddenly seemed less attractive. That was until I met Ben.

  Ben was another resident in my program, and after studying and working together, it seemed to make sense to be roommates. Roommates turned to sex when we were both in the apartment together. Somehow that felt like enough of a relationship to me. After a year, I knew we were a good match. He was handsome and smart and not intimidated by my work. We had everything in common. He was the perfect guy on paper. I could go through a list and check off all the things I wanted in a partner. Except one. The most important one.

  But all of it changed the day I found out my roommate was fucking another woman.

  I couldn’t help it. I ripped into the chocolates and started eating one of the pretty pink ones. By the time I looked down, I had eaten six. I crammed the lid on top and lifted the boxes in my arms. I needed to get home. Thinking about Ben pissed me off. It reminded me why I was here alone. Why I had left D.C. Why I didn’t bother to split things in the apartment and had driven to Texas with only a car full of clothes.

  I wiped an angry tear from my cheek and raced past the nurses. I didn’t want to hear about my admirer. I wasn’t up for girl talk. They didn’t know what I was going through. Broken by one asshole, just to be pursued by another.

  The next day, I slammed the cabinet to my locker, eager to get out of the hospital so I could make it home and take a shower. I had been in surgery for six hours putting a twenty-year-old’s leg back together after it was smashed in a car accident. The concentration and focus it took had wiped me out, but the surgery was a complete success. With rehab and physical therapy, he’d be able to walk again, and we were able to give him hope for more than that.

  Sharing the news with his parents after the surgery was a relief. Their faces lit with joy, and I knew I could leave the hospital knowing I had kicked ass today.

  I stood to leave the doctors’ lounge and stopped when I saw Sonny. She was holding a long white box.

  “Oh no. Not again.” This was the third day in a row.

  “These just came for you.” She approached me, her eyes giddy.

  I took the box from her arms and placed it on the bench next to me. There was a card on top, but I was afraid to read it.

  “Thanks.” I dismissed her with a frown.

  I could tell she wanted to stay and see what was inside and who it was from, but I needed the lounge to myself. We both knew the Wranglers’ quarterback had sent the surprise.

  I pulled the lid from the box. I stared at the dozens of orchids spilling from the tissue-lined center.

  “Oh my God.” I covered my mouth. They were delicate and gorgeous. And expensive.

  I touched the petals of purple and white. They felt like butterfly wings. And my stomach felt like butterflies were dancing inside. I was excited and nervous and slightly horrified. I couldn’t accept another gift like this from a patient. Especially a patient that made me feel the way he did.

  I covered the flowers, not sure what to do with them. It wasn’t like I could toss them in the trash. They were too beautiful. And I certainly couldn’t leave them with the nurses—the gossip would never die down. I tucked the box under my arm. My only choice was to take them home. Damn that Wes Blakefield. Damn him.

  I walked through the door, carefully placing the delicate package on the counter. I searched through the cabinets for a vase. I didn’t even know if I had one here. E
verything came standard with the apartment. I spotted one in the cupboard over the refrigerator. I stood on a stool and retrieved it from its high perch. After filling it halfway with water, I arranged the flowers. The purple and white petals floated in the air. I couldn’t help but grin. No man had sent me flowers like these before. I could only imagine what he had spent on them.

  I took out a bowl, ready to heat some soup, when my phone rang. I dug through my bag until I found it.

  “Hello, this is Dr. Ashworth.”

  “Hey, Doc.”

  My stomach gripped. The butterflies came to a full screeching halt.

  “How did you get my number?” My mind raced. Did I give it to him? Did he somehow hypnotize me with his eyes to get it?

  “Pulled a few strings.” He laughed on the other end. “Did you like the flowers?”

  “Oh, the flowers.” I stared at the exotic blooms. “They’re beautiful, but you can’t send me things like that. I’m your doctor.”

  “It’s just a thank you.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Well thank you for the thank you, but…”

  “And did you like the Wranglers gear? How about the chocolates?” he asked.

  “They were all great. And delicious.” I had almost devoured the entire chocolate collection last night, drowning my misery in the candy. “But none of this is necessary. Really. A simple thank you is enough.”

  “You know what I do think is necessary?” His voice was deep and low in my ear. I couldn’t help the chill it sent to my toes.

  “Don’t tell me you’re already out of your prescription?”

  His laughter was warm. “No, this isn’t a medical call.”

  My stomach flipped. “It’s not?”

  “No, I haven’t been able to get you out of my head for the past few days.”

  “Oh,” I whispered. I wasn’t about to tell him I had the same problem. It didn’t help that every day he sent me a reminder.

  “I want to take you out.”

  I shook my head. “You can’t. That’s not going to happen.”

  “Come on, Doc. It’ll be fun. You seem like the kind of girl who could use a little fun.”

  “And what does that mean? I’m fun.” Since I had left D.C., there was nothing fun about me. But he didn’t know that. Or did he?

  “It’s only dinner.”

  “So that’s what the flowers, chocolates, and jersey were all about? This is your way of asking me out?”

  “Did it work?” I could hear the sexiness dripping off his lips without even seeing him.

  “I-I—” He had me completely flustered. Damn it. “The gifts were nice, but—”

  “How about this? I’ll have a car pick you up tomorrow night at seven at your place. Wear something sexy, unless you just want to wear your white coat or my jersey.” I pictured him waggling his eyebrows at me.

  I blushed, feeling the heat spread through my body. “This is not happening.”

  “It is. The driver will be at your door at seven. See you then. Good night, Doc.”

  Before I could protest, he hung up. I stared at the blank screen in my hand. I was outraged. He had my phone number and my address, and he clearly knew how to make my panties wet. I growled, tossing the soup into the sink.

  I was not going out with a patient. No. It wasn’t happening.

  7

  Wes

  I paced in front of my view of the city. She hadn’t said yes, but I was confident she would be here. I gave the driver her address and strict instructions not to show up without the hot doctor. I’d have his ass if he didn’t deliver her to my door.

  It was bold. It was cocky. But I knew what I wanted. I wasn’t going to be satisfied until I had a taste of that hot surgeon. And I was going to get it. I would lick every inch of her. I would have her begging for my cock. She was so uptight, she didn’t know what she needed. But I did. She needed to be fucked by Wes Blakefield.

  Sitting around my apartment for the past few days, I didn’t have much to do but come up with ways to seduce her. One thing led to another, and after three days, I had spent a fortune just to get the woman to my apartment. If tonight went as planned, it would all be money well spent.

  I had been cooped up in here while the Wranglers training team came up with a plan to get me back to practice. I was starting to feel desperate. With the first game for which I would be on the bench only days away, I needed a distraction. Something to make me forget I wouldn’t be on the field. That distraction was Lennon.

  I crossed the room when I heard a knock on the door. Right on time.

  I opened it to find Lennon Ashworth glaring at me.

  “Hi, there, Doc.”

  She was sexier than fuck. She was wearing a tiny black dress that showed off her sculpted waist and long legs. I stared at her breasts, inhaling sharply when I saw her nipples poking against the thin fabric. She wasn’t wearing a bra.

  “I’m here.” She barged past me. “Okay. All your tricks and tactics worked. I’m here.”

  I took in the heels that laced up around her ankles. Yes, those were definitely staying on tonight. I smiled at her.

  “I’m glad.” I offered her a glass of wine.

  “This is totally against hospital policy.” She gulped half the glass. “And I don’t even know why I’m here, except I knew you wouldn’t take no for an answer and you were going to send that driver whether I dressed up or not, so I dressed up, and here I am and…”

  I laughed. She was beautiful mad. I was going to enjoy tonight. Most women tried to seduce me. It had been a while since I got to play chase.

  “You think this is all funny?” she smarted off, eyes blazing.

  “No.” I shook my head. “I think you’re beautiful.”

  She sighed. “See? That’s the problem with you. Lines, and more lines. And you think gifts and flirting and all those forlorn looks are going to get to me, and you think you can buy me and seduce me and impress me and…”

  I stepped toward her and she suddenly stopped her tirade. She looked up at me and I couldn’t hold back. My lips crashed down against her mouth, inhaling her. My tongue slipped against hers, tasting the wine on her lips. She moaned the sweetest sound as I sucked against her lip and wrapped my good hand around her waist.

  “Wait, wait.” She pushed back. “This is exactly what I was talking about.” Her eyes flared, but she wasn’t mad. I’d seen that look a thousand times. She was turned on.

  “We both know why you came here tonight.” A woman like her never would have left her apartment if she didn’t want to. Driver or not. Persistence or not. She was interested in what I had to offer her.

  “And why is that?” She put her hands on her hips.

  “Because you know you want to get fucked properly.”

  Her eyes turned to round saucers. “Excuse me? Are we going back to that nurse bit because I thought we had that all cleared up.”

  I shook my head. “No, we’re doing the fucking hot, sexy doctor bit.” I kissed her neck and her head rolled back.

  “This isn’t good. I know your type. I know this doesn’t mean anything to you. I’m just another conquest to the great Wes Blakefield.”

  “And what exactly does it have to mean?” I held her chin with my finger and thumb. “Haven’t you ever had sex because you’re attracted to someone and you know it’ll feel fucking incredible?”

  She lowered her eyelashes. “I don’t think so.”

  “Then you’ve been missing out, Doc.” I brushed my lips over hers. It took everything in me not to devour her on the spot.

  “I can’t.” She closed her eyes. “I’ll get fired.”

  My left hand found the zipper on the back of her dress and threaded it down to her ass. The sleeves slipped off her shoulders.

  “And who’s going to tell them?” I asked, peeling the fabric from her skin. Her breasts pointed toward me as the dress fell to the floor around her ankles. She was wearing a black lace thong.

  Her chest heaved with heavy
breaths. “I’ve never—this isn’t a good idea.”

  “Shh.” I placed my finger over her bottom lip before pushing it into her mouth. She started sucking lightly and groaned as I pulled it out.

  Her eyes opened. “I can’t sleep with you. This is a mistake.”

  “Who said anything about sleeping?” I crushed my mouth over hers again, pulling her naked body against mine. My dick twitched inside my pants. All I had to do was bend her over the kitchen counter and with a flick of my zipper, I could thrust deep inside her. I slapped her ass and she squealed.

  “Wes, I don’t think this is me. I’m not like your other girls.”

  I whispered in her ear. “Why don’t you try it?” I slid my hand over the roundness over her ass. “Let me show you how much fun we can have.”

  “And what kind of fun is that?”

  “The dirty kind.” I grinned. “The kind that will make you feel so good, you’ll forget everything else in your life.”

  She sighed. “You can do that?”

  “Oh, yeah.” I nodded. “But you have to do as I say.”

  Her sapphire eyes darted back and forth. “One night,” she stated.

  I wasn’t going to give her a chance to change her mind. She was going to be mine.

  “I want you to sit on the couch,” I ordered.

  For a moment she hesitated, but stepped out of the dress and walked to the couch, slowly sitting on the center cushion.

  I smiled. “Now I only have one good arm, Doc.” I sauntered over to her. “So you’re going to have to help me.”

  She stared at me as I sank into the seat next her. I pushed against her chest until she was lying on the couch.

  “Spread your legs.” My hand ran over her nipples and down the soft skin of her stomach. She didn’t move. “I said, spread your legs.” My voice was firm. I wasn’t used to repeating myself.

  She moved one leg and then the other until I could see her beautiful center. I traced over the small patch of lace covering her clit and slid it to the side. She moaned as I slipped a finger inside her and curled it deep. She bucked off the couch. Damn, she was tight.