by Laura Iding
“But...” She stared at him, confusion mirrored in her gaze. “Don’t you even want to know what I took?”
“Hannah, it doesn’t matter. Nothing you can say will make me change how I feel about you.” He knew how he felt, but he wished for some sort of sign from her to understand where she was coming from. Was she looking for a way to let him down gently? He was determined to get the second chance he’d asked for. “I know you might not return my feelings yet, but I’m willing to be patient. To give you the time you need. Because I love you and I know that together we can make it work.”
“Clothes. I took clothes from a department store.” She acted as if she hadn’t heard a word he’d said. “I knew shoplifting was wrong, but the popular kids kept teasing me about the holes in my clothes so I gave in to a moment of weakness. I got caught, of course, but the cops were pretty decent, all things considered. They could have put me into juvenile detention, but they didn’t.”
“Dear God, Hannah,” he murmured, appalled at her story. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.” And he could imagine that wasn’t the only hardship she’d faced.
“They put me in a special high-school program that saved my life. For one thing, I wasn’t near all those pretty, popular pom-pom girls who hated me. And I managed to graduate with honors and get into college.”
“You make me feel like an underachiever,” he admitted. And it wasn’t a lie. For Hannah to get through that and accomplish what she had so far was nothing short of a miracle.
“No, don’t you see? It’s why I feel so bad about Tristan. For years I’ve thought it might be my fault that he took the same route as I did. Stealing. And like me, he got caught.”
“Hannah, your brother is responsible for his own actions, just like you were.”
“Maybe,” she said uncertainly. “I just saw him, and guess what? He has a job. I’m so happy for him.”
“That’s wonderful news, Hannah.” He gave her an exuberant hug, truly thrilled for her. “I’m happy for him, too.”
“You really don’t resent the fact that he’s an ex-con,” she said in a surprised tone.
“No, I don’t.” And he wished there was some way to make her believe in him. In what they shared. “And I’ll tell you that a hundred times more if that will help you to believe me.”
For several long moments she stared at him. “You’re right, Jake. You’ve made me realize how I’ve used my past, and my family’s troubles, to push people away who try to get close.”
So was that good? Or bad? “It’s understandable, Hannah. But I’m asking you to please give me a chance.”
A smile bloomed on her face. “Of course I will, Jake. I want a second chance, too. Because I love you. I’ve loved you from the moment you came down to my call room after we lost Christopher. But I am a little afraid. I have such a long residency ahead of me and you’re in a completely different place. I don’t want to rush into anything. What if we don’t make it?”
“Wait a minute—back up.” He wasn’t sure he’d heard her correctly. “You love me? Really love me? Are you sure?”
She laughed and nodded, tears glistening in her eyes. He loved the way she wasn’t afraid to let her emotions show. “Yes, Jake. I love you. I think I’m the luckiest woman in the world to have found you.”
He swept her tightly into his arms. “Thank God,” he murmured against her hair. And in that moment he knew—everything was going to work out.
She pulled away, just enough to look up into his eyes. “Jake, you know this isn’t going to be easy, right? I have a long haul ahead of me. Five years of residency plus a fellowship.”
He kissed her hard and quick, and then raised his head. “Yes, Hannah. I do realize we have a long road ahead of us. But it doesn’t matter, because I’m in this for the long haul. And you know as well as I do that anything worth having is worth fighting for. Isn’t that why you chose to become a surgeon? There were certainly easier pathways to take if you only wanted to be a doctor.”
“You’re right, Jake. And I really do love you,” she said in a serious tone. “More than you’ll ever know.”
“I love you, too, Hannah,” he murmured before lowering his mouth to capture hers in a long kiss.
He planned to fight for Hannah. Now and always.
EPILOGUE
Eleven months later...
HANNAH couldn’t believe she’d made it through her first year as an intern. Standing at the welcome reception next to Jake, she watched the new group of interns milling around with a sense of amazement.
Not too long ago she’d been as green as they were. It was incredible how much she’d learned over the past year.
Of course, there were times she’d wondered if she’d make it. But she always had Jake there, cheering her on. Coaching her. Mentoring her.
Loving her.
Not that he’d given her any special favors, but just having him there to talk to after a difficult night on call was more than she ever could have asked for. Having someone supportive at home, being there no matter what, was something she’d never experienced. She’d always been the strong one in her family.
She wasn’t sure she’d be standing here right now if it weren’t for Jake. And not because he’d spent hours helping her study for her boards.
Which she’d passed—her scores amongst the highest in the top quartile for the entire program.
“Almost ready to go?” Jake asked in a low voice. He’d made dinner reservations at Antonio’s, which had quickly become their favorite Italian restaurant. And even though she’d moved into her tiny efficiency apartment, she’d spent more nights at his place than she did at her own.
“Sure.” She glanced at him curiously, still somewhat amazed that the handsome chief of trauma surgery loved her.
There were times she still pinched herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming.
By mutual agreement, they took the subway to Antonio’s. Inside, Gina and Antonio greeted them like lost children they hadn’t seen in ages, rather than mere weeks.
“I have your table ready and waiting for you. Come! Sit! You’ll have wine, yes?”
“What’s up with them?” Hannah whispered to Jake once their wine and dinner had been ordered. “I’ve never seen them like this. It’s like they’ve both been doing speed or something.”
Jake smiled, took a sip of his wine and shrugged. “Beats me. I just hope it doesn’t affect the meal. I’ve been looking forward to this all day.”
She laughed and shook her head. “Men are so simple,” she teased.
Suddenly, a small Italian man, who looked old enough to be Antonio’s father, came over with a violin. He stood right next to Hannah and began to play a soft, romantic melody.
She was a little surprised as Antonio’s didn’t offer music on a regular basis, but she sat back, enjoying the song.
Jake stood and came around the table, dropping to his knee in front of her. For a moment she didn’t get what was going on. Until he opened the tiny square velvet jewelry box and handed it to her.
“Hannah, you’ve made it through your toughest year as a resident, and I still love you, more now than ever before. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?”
Tears sprang to her eyes when she saw the beautiful diamond pendant inside. It wasn’t a ring, because surgeons didn’t wear rings while they were operating. Plain gold bands would suffice. Touched, she brought her gaze up to his and smiled. “Yes, Jake. I’d be happy to marry you.”
Gina and Antonio and the rest of the restaurant staff burst into applause. Shyly, she waited for Jake to place the diamond pendant around her neck.
“I love you, Hannah. You’re going to be a great surgeon someday.”
“Only because I had a great teacher.” Ignoring the whistles from the other patrons, she pulled him close and planted a firm kiss on his mouth. “I love you, too, Dr. Holt,” she whispered.
“My heart is yours, Hannah,” he promised. “Now and always.”
She sm
iled. She could live with that. Forever.
* * * * *
ISBN-13: 9781460378083
DATING DR. DELICIOUS
Copyright © 2015 by Laura Iding
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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Table of Contents
Back Cover Text
About the Author
Title Page
Dedication
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Epilogue
Copyright