Prince Charming, M.D.

by Susan Mallery

  After dinner Dana helped Maggie clean up. “I do this just often enough to keep Walter guessing,” the older woman said as she loaded the dishwasher. “Sometimes I even do laundry.”

  “Whatever does he think?”

  Maggie laughed. “He thinks I’m amazing. And after thirty-five years I like knowing that.”

  Thirty-five years. Dana wondered what it would be like to be with someone that long. “You obviously love each other very much.”

  “We do, but don’t think it’s been easy. We’ve worked at this marriage.” She brushed her dark hair off her face. “There were times when I thought about leaving him—or killing him.” She smiled. “I’m sure he thought about strangling me in my sleep, too. But we got through it. Mostly, I think, because we were committed to each other. He makes me happy. Unfortunately, not enough of my married friends can say that about their spouses. But Walter is absolutely the one person I want to spend my days with. I think about him and I still smile. It’s lovely.”

  “I envy you that.”

  Maggie winked. “I suspect you have a little happiness of your own to be pleased about. I’ve seen the way you look at Trevor.”

  Dana didn’t know what to say. She wasn’t sure how she was looking at Trevor, but she knew she didn’t love him, nor was she planning to.

  “He’s a lot of fun,” she agreed, wondering how she was going to get out of the situation. She didn’t want to have to say anything that wasn’t true, but she didn’t want to hurt the older woman’s feelings, either.

  Maggie leaned against the counter. “Yes, he is. But don’t let that charming exterior fool you. He’s been hurt in the past.”

  “Trevor told me about his ex-wife.”

  Maggie’s expression hardened. “That one. It was so awful. Walter and I disliked her from the start. But what were we supposed to do? We didn’t want to say anything—after all, the worst thing would have been to force him to choose. Of course, being young and thinking he was in love, he would have sided with her. Then we could have lost him forever, or at least seriously damaged the relationship.” She sighed. “Children are a great joy, but they’re also a challenge. That was one of our challenging moments.”

  Dana told herself it was none of her business, but she couldn’t help being curious. “Why didn’t you like her?”

  “We were sure that Vanessa didn’t really love Trevor. She seemed much more interested in marrying someone attractive. A good catch. She wanted to be part of a ‘beautiful couple,’ but she wasn’t interested in commitment. She was horrified when she found out Trevor was actually interested in his work, and that he didn’t want to play all the time.”

  “It must have been hard for you to watch him involved with someone who didn’t really care about him.”

  Maggie nodded. “I can’t remember anything more difficult. The worst part was, we were right. Walter and I so wanted to be wrong about her. But that’s behind him.” She smiled. “We’re very happy that you and Trevor are going out.”

  Dana swallowed. “Uh—”

  Maggie held up a hand to stop her. “Don’t worry. I swear I won’t be an interfering mother. You don’t have to worry about that I just wanted you to know that Walter thinks the world of you, as do I. We’re both so thrilled that Trevor has found someone who believes in him.” She paused expectantly.

  “He’s very sweet,” Dana managed, not sure what else the other woman wanted. “He even lets me drive his car.”

  “Oh, really? That’s impressive.” Maggie laughed. “That boy and his car. I guess they don’t outgrow the need for toys, do they?” She folded her arms over her chest. “I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but Trevor hasn’t seen anyone since he and Vanessa divorced. For a while he was so hurt he could barely work. I don’t think it was that his heart was broken as much as he felt betrayed. He’d really believed in her and trusted her, and she let him down.”

  Dana was uncomfortable with the conversation, but she didn’t know how to stop it. Worse, she was starting to feel sympathetic toward Trevor. “I know that was really hard for him.”

  Maggie nodded. “It’s so strange how women always assume the worst about him. I don’t know why that is. We’re just so pleased that you’ve taken the time to see the man inside. I promise you, he’s worth loving, Dana. I know I sound like a proud mother, but I’m telling you the truth, woman to woman. You can’t do better than Trevor.”

  Dana was still thinking about her words when they pulled up in front of her town house. If Maggie was trying to do a sales job, she’d gotten the customer very interested.

  Trevor left the motor running as he came around and opened her door. “I had a great time tonight.”

  “Me, too.” Dana glanced back at the car and figured that, once again, he was not coming inside. What was going on? Why didn’t he want to make love with her? She bit back a groan of frustration. Damn the man anyway.

  He stopped in front of her door, gave her the smile that always left her weak in the knees, then kissed her cheek. She was still fuming when he disappeared into his garage. A thousand thoughts circled in her head. She was confused about her feelings for Trevor, she felt as if she’d just lied to his mother and, worst of all, her entire body was on fire and no one was around to put out the flames.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Trevor stepped out of the shower and stared at himself in the mirror. He needed a shave and there were dark circles under his eyes, the result of too many restless nights. Nights he’d spent lying awake, wishing he were with Dana instead of in his bed alone.

  After wrapping the towel around his waist, he reached for his electric razor, then stopped. He couldn’t keep doing this, he thought. Night after night of seeing Dana, playing the gentleman suitor, spending time with her, being close but not touching her. He was tired of waiting for her to come around, of waiting for her to want him. They were either in a relationship or they weren’t, and he knew the answer to that question. He might not like it, but he couldn’t avoid the truth forever. There was no point. Just as there was no point in them dating.

  He put the shaver down, then walked into his bedroom and dressed quickly. He didn’t bother with shoes and barely ran a comb through his wet hair. On his way out the door, he stopped long enough to pick up his keys, then went across the walkway to her front door and pounded.

  He’d heard Dana pull up just as he’d stepped into the shower, so she hadn’t been home long enough to change. She’d stepped out of her shoes and now stood in her foyer in her stocking feet.

  “Trevor?” She glanced at her watch. “I wasn’t expecting you for another hour. Is there a problem?”

  She was so damned beautiful, he thought grimly as he walked into her town house and stalked into the living room. How was he supposed to say goodbye? What choice did he have? They couldn’t keep on this way forever. It would kill him.

  He turned to glare at her. “I can’t do this.”

  “Go out tonight?” Her expression softened. “I know you had a grueling day today. We can stay in or just reschedule. Either is fine with me.”

  She looked so damned earnest, he thought. Staring at him as if his every word mattered. This would have been a whole lot easier if she’d been surly or at least mildly unattractive. But no, she had to go and be all sweet and understanding. Worse, despite the fact that she’d had a long day, too, she looked adorable, with her hair mussed and most of the makeup long since faded from her face.

  She moved toward him and placed her hand on his upper arm. “You don’t have to be entertaining all the time,” she told him. “I like the evenings when we stay in and relax. You’re very easy to just spend time with. Does that sound like fun, or would you rather be alone?”

  He felt himself weakening because he liked what she said. She made him want to believe that she cared about him...the man he was, not the reputation. But he couldn’t change his mind. Too much was on the line. Besides, it was impossible. He couldn’t stand being this close to her, smelling the
scent of her, wanting her. The situation was driving him crazy.

  “I can’t,” he said forcefully as he took a step away from her. “This isn’t going to work.”

  “What isn’t? Trevor, what’s happened? I can tell something is wrong. This isn’t about work or being tired, is it?”

  He looked at her. Lord help him, why did he have to fall for her? Life could have been a whole lot easier if he’d just been able to forget all about her.

  He took a step toward her and grabbed her upper arms. “It’s been over a month,” he said. “We’ve seen each other more nights than not and we’ve reached the limit of my ability to act like a gentleman.”

  Her mouth parted in surprise and it was all he could do not to kiss her right then. Not the casual kisses he’d played with in the past few weeks, but a real kiss, the kind that engaged the heart as well as the body.

  “I thought I could make you...” He released her and turned away. What was the point. “I have to go,” he said, and started for the door.

  A hand on his back stopped him. “You thought you could make me want you?” she asked.

  While he hadn’t been responsible for what had happened in high school, perhaps she thought he deserved punishment and this was her revenge. Fine. Let her have it. “Yes. That’s what I thought.”

  “Oh, Trevor. I have a bad feeling we’ve been working at cross-purposes here.”

  She moved in front of him. The expression on her face wasn’t triumph or even pleasure at his discomfort. Instead, she gazed at him, as if making sure what he said was true. Whatever she saw when she looked at him must have confirmed her suspicions, because she nodded, then raised up on tiptoe.

  “I’ve always thought the whole idea of a man acting like a gentleman in matters such as these was highly overrated,” she said, then pressed her mouth to his.

  At first he was too stunned to react Her lips moved against his, touching, discovering. Her hands clutched at his shoulders, pulling him closer.

  “This would be so much better if you would cooperate,” she murmured.

  Then he got it. The message that she wanted him—wanted him with the same fire and intensity that he wanted her—came through. Desire and need, ignored and suppressed for weeks, flared to life. He wrapped his arms around her and hauled her hard against him. He angled his head, opened his mouth and invaded her.

  She met him, welcomed him, circled around him, stroked him, explored him. Her fingers cupped the back of his neck, as if she were concerned about keeping him in place. Had he been able to talk, he would have reassured her that he wasn’t going anywhere. At least not without her. The only place he wanted to be was in her arms.

  He pulled back enough to trail kisses along her jaw and down her throat. Her head rolled back and she groaned her pleasure.

  “Yes, Trevor,” she whispered. “I want you, too. If you only knew how much.”

  The words eased the pain inside. He hadn’t been wrong to trust her. Perhaps she didn’t care as much as he did, but she was interested in a relationship, interested in him. That was enough...for now.

  He returned to her mouth and devoured her. Moving his hands up and down her spine, he rediscovered shapes and heat and curves. When she tugged on the front of his T-shirt, he went with her, allowing her to lead them to her bedroom.

  They tried not to break the kiss, which meant they stumbled slightly on the half flight of stairs leading to the second level. Her bedroom, like his, was in the back of the town house. He had a brief impression of a floral print comforter covering a queen-sized bed, light wood furniture and open drapes. She cupped his face.

  “Don’t move,” she told him, then stepped to the window and pulled the cord, drawing the thick fabric shut.

  The room darkened like twilight falling. He could still see her, but not as distinctly. She crossed to the bed and pulled back the covers, then returned to his side. But instead of stepping into his embrace, she twisted her hands together in front of her and wouldn’t meet his gaze.

  “This is a silly thing to mention,” she said. “But I am a nurse and it’s really important. However, I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about me. It’s been a long time since I, well...” She shrugged. “You know.”

  He didn’t know. If they weren’t standing in her bedroom and her breathing wasn’t still unsteady, he might be concerned. As it was, he cupped her cheek. “What are you talking about?”

  “Protection.” She said the word, then sort of hunched forward as if expecting an attack.

  Protection? He swore silently. “I didn’t bring any.” Going to his place to get his recently purchased condoms might break the mood, but he cared about Dana too much not to respect her body that way.

  “I figured as much, what with you wanting to end it and all.”

  He swept his thumb across her lower lip. “I was a little premature with that idea.”

  “I’m glad you think so.” She smiled, but still couldn’t meet his gaze. “Um, the point is, I have some.” She pointed at the nightstand. “It’s a new box,” she continued in a rush. “I was sort of hoping we would do this and I didn’t want to get caught without them, but I don’t want you thinking that I—”

  He swooped down and covered her mouth with his, cutting off the rest of what she had to say. He’d gotten the point and the details didn’t matter. It was enough that she’d wanted him and had planned for them to be lovers. Contentment filled him. Contentment and desire.

  As she kissed him back, she tugged on the hem of his T-shirt, pulling it up, then running her fingers from his stomach to his chest Every muscle rippled, first in anticipation, then in delight When her fingertips grazed his nipples, he thought he might explode right there. She moved her hands around and repeated the caresses on his back, then slipped lower and cupped his rear. Responding to the silent invitation, he pressed against her, rubbing his hardness against her belly. Her breath caught in her throat and she laughed.

  “Do that again,” she whispered.

  Her words were as exciting as the feel of her body. He repeated the action, rotating his hips, cupping her behind and pulling her up so that he could excite her, as well. Her thighs parted slightly. She brought her hands up to his shoulders and clung to him.

  “Trevor.”

  She said his name as though it were an incantation and he the source of the magic. But this wasn’t about him; they created the fire and need together.

  “I want you,” he told her, then licked her ear.

  “Yes. I want you, too.” She shuddered. “Trevor, please.”

  She didn’t define her plea, but he knew what she wanted, because he wanted it, too. That he never stop. That they spend the rest of eternity in each other’s arms. That the desire never end.

  He reached for the zipper at the back of her dress and pulled it down. She shrugged and the navy fabric pooled at her feet. He quickly tugged off his T-shirt, shoes, socks and sweats while she stepped out of her panty hose. Then he took her hand and led her to the bed.

  He touched her face, stroking her cheeks and outlining her mouth with his fingers. Her eyes were huge and dark, the pupils so dilated he could barely see the blue irises. She rubbed her hands against his chest His hardness tightened with every touch. Pressure built inside, but he was in no hurry. For some reason, he felt as if they had eternity.

  He drew her onto the bed and stretched out next to her. This time, when he reached behind her and unfastened her bra, the tiny hooks released easily. He chuckled. “I’m getting better.”

  “Have you been practicing?”

  “Only in my mind.”

  She sighed. “Good answer.”

  He drew away the bra and gazed at her breasts. They were perfectly shaped, with peach-colored nipples that puckered into tight buds. He cupped her throat, then drew his hand down the center of her chest. He stopped at her belly.

  “Do you remember when we did this all those years ago?” he asked.

  She looked at him and smiled. “Of cour
se. I think I remember every detail of that night You made my first time wonderful.”

  “Ditto.”

  She sat up and stared at him. Her breasts bounced with the action and he had trouble keeping his attention on her face.

  “What did you say?” she asked.

  “You made my first time pretty wonderful, too.”

  She shook her head. “Are you telling me you were a virgin that night?”

  “Yes. Why is that so hard to believe?”

  “I don’t know.” She braced herself on her arm and angled toward him. “I guess there are a lot of reasons.”

  He rolled onto his back. “Don’t tell me it’s because of what everyone said about me. Go ahead and think that if you must, but I don’t want to hear about it.”

  “That’s some of it,” she admitted. “Trevor, you were the most popular guy in high school. You had a million girlfriends.”

  “No. I had two. Including you,” he added, before she could ask.

  “But I thought you were going out all the time.”

  “You thought wrong.”

  He said the words lightly, but Dana sensed the truth in what he told her. She was having trouble concentrating on the conversation while trying to remember all that she could about their first time.

  “A lot of girls in high school claimed to have slept with you,” she reminded him. “I can think of five or six right off.”

  “Cheap talk. I’ll admit to having a lot of female friends, but that’s not the same thing. We talked, we hung out, but there wasn’t anything physical between us. With my first girlfriend, we did a lot of petting, but never went all the way.”

  She remembered so much about that night. How she’d been excited and scared at the same time. Things had gone fast between them, but she’d been as responsible, if not more responsible, for that. She’d been so desperate to show him she loved him. As if becoming lovers would somehow prove their feelings. Now, with the hindsight of an adult, she knew that making love with him hadn’t proved anything. But that wasn’t something she would have understood then.