Lovers by Night
A Tempting Signs Novella
By
Virginia Cavanaugh
Lovers by Night
Tempting Signs Novella
By: Virginia Cavanaugh
Published by Fated Desires Publishing, LLC.
© 2015 Virginia Cavanaugh
ISBN: 9781623222154
Cover Art by Charity Hendry
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person or use proper retail channels to lend a copy. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. To obtain permission to excerpt portions of the text, please contact the publisher at [email protected].
All characters in this book are fiction and figments of the author’s imagination.
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Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Epilogue
A Thank You from Fated Desires
About the Author
For Heather Chavez. Thanks for everything you do.
I would like to thank Carrie Ann Ryan and Lia Davis for everything they do behind the scenes. My editor, Devin, whose red pen keeps me from looking like an idiot. My family for their never ending support. Jennifer LaRose, for being an awesome CP. (She also helps me to not look like an idiot) Dena Garson for always being my conference buddy. Hailey Edwards, because if you hadn’t pushed me so hard to give writing a shot, I may have never taken this journey.
Lovers by Night
12 Authors. 12 Zodiac Signs. 1 Explosive Series. What seductive, contemporary romance will you find today? SAGITTARIUS.
Paige Sutton was never one to believe in birthday luck, but when Dr. Brandon Kline starts flirting with her she is forced to reevaluate her thinking. The sexy doctor is only working for the clinic temporarily until the hospital can find a full time replacement. So what’s the harm in giving in to the temptation of a quick affair?
Brandon isn’t sure what it is about Paige that has him lusting after her like a teenage boy. He’s never before indulged in a fling while on a contract assignment, but she has him wanting to break all of his rules for just one taste.
Things heat up between the pair, and soon Paige wonders if she will be able to step away from this affair with her heart intact.
Chapter One
“Happy birthday to you!”
Everyone cheered and clapped as Paige Sutton blew out the candles. Her co-workers totally surprised her with a party during their lunch hour. All the nurses and aides had brought a covered dish, and Madeline, a clerk from the front desk, made a beautiful cake. Somehow they’d even found time to put up decorations. Red streamers lined the edges of the white plastic folding tables and a Happy Birthday banner in all the primary colors lined the back wall. Nothing big and fancy, but the effort touched her heart.
“Thanks so much, everyone. It was nice of you to think of me.” Paige smiled at the collected group as they all said various forms of “no problem” and “you’re welcome.” Turning twenty-nine wasn’t bad. Of course, the big 3-O was right around the corner. It could be a totally different story next year, but why fret about it now?
Her mother had asked why she hadn’t taken the day off to stay home and relax, but sitting home alone didn’t sound any fun. And her mother had to work this evening so they’d already made a date for Sunday afternoon to celebrate her birthday. It had become a routine thing to have dinner together, followed by homemade cake and ice cream. Paige always looked forward to eating her mother’s cooking. Even though she’d taught Paige all she knew about preparing meals, Paige never could get recipes to turn out exactly like her mother’s.
“Looks like I missed one hell of a party.”
Paige’s gaze darted to the doorway of the break room. Doctor Brandon Kline walked into the room. Her heart rate sped up. He was seriously one hot doctor. Dark brown hair swept across his forehead, trimmed in a preppie style. His hazel eyes took in all sights as he crossed to the time clock. Paige resisted the urge to bite into her bottom lip as she watched him pass by. Damn if he didn’t make those green scrubs look good.
He’d come to work at the clinic as a contract doctor a few weeks ago on a temporary assignment. He’d agreed to fill the position of Dr. Hank Fredrick, who retired a couple of months ago, while management searched for a full-time doctor to take his place. Dr. Fredrick had also happened to be the doctor Paige had worked for. Now she was the nurse of Dr. Stud Muffin, as some of the nurses had started to call him. Day in and day out, she’d been working with Brandon, and what exciting days they’d been.
“I didn’t know it was your birthday today.”
Paige quickly swallowed the cake she’d popped into her mouth and nodded. “Yep. The last year of my twenties is ahead of me.”
He laughed. “You know, most women wouldn’t admit the part about their age though. But you still look really young, so there’s no reason to bring out the cane yet.”
His smile and laughter did things to her insides. Tickly, arousing things. “I’m not bashful about my age, so it’s nothing really.”
“Happy birthday. I’ll see you in the clinic,” Brandon said before leaving the break room.
A few eyebrows raised in her direction, accompanied by curious smiles.
“What?” Paige laughed, pushing away from the table. She quickly gathered her trash and shoved the plastic and metal folding chair back into place. “Nothing’s going on. He was just being nice.” Of course, she didn’t admit she wished something was going on. He seriously had to be the most attractive man she’d ever been around. “Time to get back to work.” She slid her badge through the time clock. The beep indicated she’d clocked in.
She sensed many sets of eyes trained on her back as she exited the room. The girls were probably wondering if she’d told them the truth. And honestly, the way gossip spread in this place, she wouldn’t admit it if something was going on. Why even waste time thinking about it? She was determined to enjoy her birthday and not let rumor material of any sort fill her head.
They had a full schedule this afternoon. On her desk sat three charts of patients who’d already checked in and were waiting to be brought back. She pulled the chart from the top and ambled to the waiting room to call on Mrs. Cutshaw. The woman in her mid-fifties rose from her seat, then walked toward Paige smiling. Her short, bright red hair gleamed in the sunlight streaming through the large windows. Having undergone three years of treatments, the woman was the picture of health now. No one would know she was a breast cancer survivor.
“Back for my annual exam. I hate that Dr. Fredrick retired though. What do you think of this Dr. Kline who I’m seeing today?”
Paige smiled. She sure as hell couldn’t tell Mrs. Cutshaw everything she thought about Dr. Brandon Kline. “He is really nice, and all of Dr. Fredrick’s patients have been happy with the care they’ve received.”
“Well, if you trust him, honey, he’ll be good enough for me.” Mrs. Cutshaw patted Paige’s shoulder then stepped on the scale.
Paige dug in her scrub pocket for a pen and wrote the numbers down then escorted her patient to an exam room. Once she had her vitals logged, she exited the r
oom and shut the door. She reached up to place the chart in the box on the door and felt a presence behind her. A large, powerful hand touched hers. A mixed scent of man and antibacterial soap entered her nose.
“I’ll take that,” Dr. Kline said, slipping the chart from her fingers.
Paige turned, noticing his warm smile. It made him even hotter. “Okay. I’ll get the next one.” She slid from her position between him and the door and sauntered over to counter, retrieving the next chart. Lately, there seemed to be more and more of those slight touches. Or maybe she just paid better attention now. Or maybe she wished he was attracted to her.
Time ticked by quickly. Before she knew it, she was cleaning the exam room after the last patient for the day left. She walked out in the hallway and noticed other nurses gathering their belongings.
“Happy birthday, Paige.”
Paige turned and waved to Heather Lords, one of the front desk clerks. Her long blonde hair swung against her shoulders. She was such a sweetheart, always smiling. “Thanks.”
“Are you heading home soon?”
“Hopefully. Have a few things to discuss with Dr. Kline first.”
“Okay. Drive safe and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Will do.” Paige scooped up the charts that Dr. Kline needed to review and headed down the hallway to his office. Newly remodeled, a hint of fresh-paint smell still lingered in the air. But the new soft green color on the walls was so much better than the drab light brown that used to be there. Even the busy-patterned carpet beneath her feet helped brighten the area with its swirls of light purple, yellow, and green. She walked around the corner and found the door open. She peered inside and noticed the doctor sitting at his desk. His backside faced the hall. Broad shoulders led to thick back muscles. She could see their power beneath the cotton scrub shirt. The movement of his hand on the computer mouse caused them to flex.
With painstaking effort, she tore her stare from his body and gazed at the screen. “Carlsbad Caverns?”
He turned the chair around and smiled. A dimple made an appearance beneath the fine looking dark stubble on his cheeks and chin. A low swirl of desire danced through her belly. She really needed to stop lusting after him. It wasn’t very professional.
“Yeah. Have you been?”
She blinked. What? Oh, the Caverns. “Yes. Pretty much anyone raised in this area has been multiple times. Most family members who come to visit want to go see them.”
“Is it not worth the trip?” He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest.
The material hugged his large biceps, making it difficult not to stare. Somehow she resisted and met his gaze. “I didn’t say that. They’re beautiful.”
He let loose a small laugh. “You sounded kind of bored.”
She felt her lips tip up at the corners. “I guess it’s a been-there-and-done-that kind of thing. But for someone who’s never seen them, it’s great.”
“I want to go sometime before I leave.”
Paige nodded. “You totally should.”
“So, would you be interested in going with me this weekend?”
Her heart fluttered then increased its pace. Yeah, she’d seen them a bunch, but going with him would be a new adventure. One she didn’t want to miss. “Sure.”
His smile increased. Damn, looks like his should be illegal. And she’d signed up to spend a whole day alone with him. Today was a good day. And this weekend promised to be even better.
“Did you need me to do something with those?” Brandon pointed to the charts in her hands.
Her eyes opened wide, and she blinked quickly, trying to escape the wonder fog she’d fallen into. “Yes. I need your approval on these refill requests so I can get them faxed into the pharmacy.” When she handed him the files, his warm fingers brushed against hers, sending an electric current of awareness zinging up her arm.
He examined the requests paper-clipped to the top of each chart. One would think the clinic would get on board and utilize electronic technology, but area health care in their rural town hadn’t made the leap yet.
The chair creaked as he turned and handed her the charts. “They’re good to go.”
“Thanks.” A slight touch again. She wanted to prolong it, but she sure didn’t want to look needy or sappy. Playing with him could get her burned, but damn if the temptation didn’t ride hard. She wasn’t looking to get tied down. She enjoyed her freedom too much. But then again, he was here only temporarily. Would it be so bad to indulge the fantasy? “I’ll get these taken care of. Do you need anything else from me before I leave?” A massage? Maybe an orgasm or two? Really, she needed to stop thinking that way.
For a moment, he stared at her. “No. Go enjoy the rest of your birthday.”
She could have sworn he was thinking about asking for something. What kind of something had her dying with curiosity. But she didn’t feel it appropriate to ask him. It would put him on the spot, so she chose to ignore it. “Okay. See you tomorrow.” She left his office and headed for the fax machine. Thankfully no one was around to notice the slight spring in her step. Naughty thoughts of Dr. Kline filled her head as she waited for each paper to slide through.
Every inch of him portrayed sexy man. And should be totally off limits. But where was the harm? It wasn’t as if he’d be here forever. If something went badly, she’d have to deal with him for only a short time. And what could go badly? She had a feeling anything with him would be great.
The fax machine took forever—another downside of small-town health care—but the forms were finally sent. Deciding not to cook dinner tonight, she stopped by a famous sub sandwich deli. The parking lot was pretty empty, indicating she could order her sandwich quickly and get out.
Shocks sparked through her veins when she stepped inside and realized she stared at Dr. Stud Muffin’s back. He turned at her audible indrawn breath and bestowed her with a devastating smile. She felt the desire coiling in her nether regions.
“Are you following me now?” he asked.
“No.” But you being here has me changing my mind about believing in birthday luck. “Just grabbing dinner before I head home.”
“What can I get started for you?”
Paige redirected her stare to the young man working the front part of the line. He couldn’t be more than sixteen. Acne covered his chin and cheeks, but underneath, Paige could see the facial features that would bring him good luck with the ladies once he’d outgrown this hormone-controlled stage in life. “I’ll take a six-inch club on wheat.”
From her peripheral vision, she watched as Dr. Kline paid the woman at the register and then moved to take a seat at one of the booths. She tried to ignore the urge to turn and look fully at him. Hell, she wanted to do more than stare at him. She fisted her hands at her sides as her palms tingled with the desire to touch him.
She concentrated on picking out the veggies to top her sandwich and then grabbed a bag of kettle chips to go with her meal. While digging in her purse for her debit card, the woman at the register stopped her.
“Ma’am, the man in front of you paid for your meal.” The dark-haired lady handed an empty paper cup to Paige.
Paige whipped her head in his direction. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“A sandwich isn’t going to break me. Besides, I didn’t get you anything for your birthday.”
“I didn’t expect you to get me anything.” She removed her order from the counter and stepped over to the fountain machine to fill her cup with ice and soda.
“A simple thank you would be fine. Or, if you’re truly thankful, you could sit down and eat with me.”
She wasn’t sure how to respond. Usually, she was the one making people speechless with her direct comments.
“Come on. It sucks to eat alone, especially on your birthday. And I’m guessing, since you only ordered one sandwich, there isn’t a partner waiting for you at home?”
He had a point,
and she wasn’t obligated to answer the question. She walked over and slid into the opposite side of the booth. “Okay. You win.” She unwrapped the paper from her sub.
“I like winning.” He smiled.
Her lower tummy tingled with sexual hunger. She tilted her head to the side and studied his handsome face. “Why do I get the feeling you are used to getting your way?”
Brandon shrugged. “Not always. But I do when it counts.”
She rolled her eyes and laughed.
“So tell me something about yourself that isn’t work related,” he said.
What did he want to know? And what could she say that wouldn’t make her sound completely boring. She had to wonder about the women he socialized with in New York. Probably interesting people with busy lives. “I’m a Sagittarius.”
“That’s cheating.”
“It isn’t work related.” She pinched off a piece of bread and popped it into her mouth.
“But I already knew that. So tell me something else.”
She liked how his eyes sparkled and took on a darker green hue as he stared at her. What could be the harm in playing the getting-to-know-you game? It didn’t mean they were entering a relationship. Friends wanted to know about each other. And she was definitely curious about him. “Are we doing tit for tat?”
He shrugged. “Why not?”
“Okay. I’ve always lived in a small town.”
“I’m a Leo.”
She smirked. “You didn’t count me being a Sagittarius as an answer.”
He smiled. “Because I already knew.”
“Did you know that my sign is ruled by the hips and thighs?”
He laughed. “No. But that sounds interesting. Basically according to my sign, I’m a control freak with a high sex drive.”
Laughter parted her lips. “Alrighty then.”
“Sounds like we are a good match.”
She couldn’t stop smiling. “Okay. Zodiac sign aside, give me something else.”
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