My One and Only: A Bad Boy Secret Baby Second Chance Romance

by Weston Parker

  "Alright, you two. Now isn't the time," I barked and walked around them with my hands in the air as Karen moved in and put my gloves on for me. "Karen, this is Elizabeth. She'll be working as my shadow for the next three years. Say hi."

  Karen lifted her eyebrow at me. She was too much like a motherly figure in my life. I would be peppered with a million questions later that day, and it would be best to avoid her if I could. I smiled at the thought.

  "Until next time, princess," Parks called after us, and I shook my head at him. If his antics worked, then good for him, but I had a hard time thinking that a woman would fall for his shit.

  "Friend of yours?" Elizabeth asked me as her pretty mouth pulled up into a smile. She was stunning, and I wanted to tell her, but I simply shook my head.

  "No, but don't tell him that. I think he was calling me princess, by the way. Not you."

  She laughed and the sound was delightful, warming me and calling me into a desire I hadn't experienced in a long time. I needed to know her, and to become friends. I wanted far more than that, but I forced myself not to think about it. There would never be anything between us other than a working friendship, but I could see her become the female equivalent of Parks in my life.

  "Interesting," she chuckled and moved up toward Karen. "Good morning. I'm Elizabeth. Nice to meet you."

  "You as well, dear. Watch out for this one. His mood swings are like the wind. You never know when they're coming, and they often have the power to knock you off your feet," she laughed. I turned back to give them both a look.

  "Watch it." I smiled and walked into the OR to find a group of nurses and another doctor waiting for us to start. "My resident is observing today. Answer her questions and give her hell, please."

  The nurse beside me pulled up my mask, and I looked over to Elizabeth, loving the challenging smile on her face. She was going to be fun. Maybe too much.

  ***

  "Wow. That was incredible." She walked beside me down the hall back to my office. I couldn't help but notice how her hand rubbed across the top of her chest, just over the top curve of her breasts. My body hardened, and I had to find some way to get rid of her.

  "It was a great surgery. I love the ones that provide a bit of challenge." I walked into my office and sat down, crossing my legs and pulling a file into my lap as I opened it. I didn't need the girl knowing that her praise turned me on far more than her looks might. She was an intellectual, and would be my equal within the next ten years.

  Her knowledge in the OR when questioned on next steps was impeccable. She came up with a few thoughts that shortened the surgery time and were new to the teachings at NYU this last year. I wanted to pick her brain just before I forced her to stretch out on my bed for a long night of hearing her cry out in pleasure.

  Stop it. Shit.

  "Well, you were fantastic. I'm so far beyond turned on by the idea of being that calm and collected in the middle of the chaos." She gave me a huge smile and tugged her bun down. Her hair cascaded down her shoulders, and I stifled the urge to groan. The girl was going to be the death of me.

  "Turned on? I'm not sure that's the appropriate verb." I smirked and glanced down at the file.

  "Of course it is." Her voice was steady, and forced me to look back up, though I'd rather she just left sooner rather than later. I needed her to. If anyone was turned on, it was me. Her features were beautifully complementary to each other, from her button nose to her long eyelashes and full lips. She held her shoulders back, and there was a gleam in her eye that beckoned me to push her, to challenge her, to force her to greatness. She wanted my title, my position, and I wanted her.

  "How so?" I kept my tone steady and quite academic around her.

  "Being turned on isn't just sexual. It's the idea that you're alive inside, buzzing with a tingling need for more of whatever stimulated you so intensely." The innocence on her face left me grasping for straws. Did she know she was incredibly sensual? A tease even. Or was she just so in tune with herself that she didn't have to placate anyone, least of all, herself?

  "Very true. I'm quite stimulated by my career. It's my mistress." I winked at her and glanced back down to the file. "We're having a dinner tonight at my house. It's several of the cardiologists and their residents. It was last-minute, and pushed on us by the head of our department. You'll be there? Six on the dot."

  She leaned back in her chair and tilted her head a little to the side. "Of course I will. Do I need to bring anything?"

  "Just your winning personality and cocky sarcasm," I chuckled and sat up, tucking my lower half under my desk. The delicious pulse that shot through my stomach danced along my erection and left me starving for attention. It was a disturbing place to be, and yet my mind had already walked through how easy it would be to close the door and reach for her.

  Would she reach back? Let me touch her? Taste her?

  "Funny, doc." She stood up. "Anything else from me right now? If not, I know you have plenty to do. I'll use the small office down the hall to type up my report from the surgery. I'll need it for my advisor at NYU."

  "We're good for now. Tell me, who is your advisor? I might know him."

  "Her. Dr. Cynthia Martin." She watched me as if I might have some reaction.

  "She sounds familiar, but I can't place her in my memory. I must be getting old." I glanced down and flipped through the patient file in front of me.

  "Let's hope we all age as gracefully." She walked out the door, leaving me with far more desire than I appreciated.

  "Right. Keep it up, you little sexy tart," I mumbled softly under my breath. "I'll get Parks on you and you won’t live to tell about it."

  Funny enough, the thought of my only friend in the hospital hitting on Elizabeth left me with something bordering on rage. Not good. Not good at all.

  Chapter 7

  Elizabeth

  I walked down the hall and tried to catch my breath. I wasn't being saucy or trying to tease him, it just rolled off my tongue without thought. Wrapping my arms around myself, I let out a short yelp as someone turned the corner and plowed into me.

  "Oh! Shit. Sorry, Lizzy." Parks.

  "It's Elizabeth, and watch where you're going, playboy." I gave him a cheeky grin. I'd never date a guy like him in a million years, but he seemed like the right man to know. He was outgoing from what I could tell, and I had no doubt that he knew everyone in the hospital.

  "Now, look... if you get to call me playboy, then I get to call you Lizzy." He extended his hand. "Come on. Shake it. You know you wanna."

  I laughed and shook his hand. His energy was contagious, his smile wide and welcoming. With what was sure to be a killer personality and his light green eyes and spiky dark hair, I had no doubt that Steph would be talking about him soon. Him and Aiden.

  Aiden. Just the thought of him had my heart racing, my body aching for something I'd never in a million years get.

  "Better? Satisfied?" I pulled my hand back and started to move past him.

  "I figured your hands were soft." He moved in beside me.

  "Why's that? Do I look like a soft type of gal? Fluffy and squishy?" I gave him a sideways glance as he visibly paled. I couldn't help but laugh at his discomfort.

  "What? No. Ugh. You girls are so damn difficult." He held the door open for me to the girl’s locker room.

  "This one especially." I glanced over my shoulder as he stopped. He wasn't allowed in the girl’s side, which was a perfect getaway for me.

  "Come have a drink with me tonight." His eyes moved down me, and where I should have felt something, I didn't.

  "I will!" Stephanie moved up beside me and extended her hand. "I'm Stephanie, Elizabeth's best friend."

  "Well... this day just keeps getting better." He reached in as far as he could while keeping one foot out in the hallway, and shook Steph's hand. "Come have a drink with me tonight, and bring your uptight friend."

  I growled and lifted my eyebrow. "I'm not here to have fun."

 
; "She's always like this. I'll drag her along. Give me your cell and I'll put my number in it." Steph moved away from me, and I turned my back and walked to my locker. She'd be pissy about me not going, but hopefully it would be a good time for her to win Parks over. They'd be cute together, though I was pretty sure the hospital had rules against that sort of thing.

  "Give me Lizzy's digits too."

  I turned and narrowed my eyes at both of them. "Don't you dare. I'm dating someone. Stop being a flirt, playboy."

  "Come on, Lizzy. I just want to be friends." He gave me one of the cutest looks I'd ever seen. He was a panty-melter no doubt. The sound of Steph's girlie sigh had me barking out a sharp laugh.

  "You're corrupt. Stay away from me. I'm not available for anything, including a friendship." I turned back to the locker and rolled my eyes, unable to help myself. There was no way in hell I would ever consider dating someone like Parks. He was looking to score, and then he’d be on to the next victim.

  "Alright, but don't deny me the right to say that I told you so when you're asking for my digits," he laughed, and I ignored him, giving Steph a chance to hopefully take his attention off of me.

  "Don't forget to text me where and what time," Stephanie called after him.

  I glanced back and lifted my eyebrow as she approached. "He's nothing but trouble."

  "I know. I love it," she giggled and wrapped me in a side hug. "How are you? Working different shifts than you is killing me."

  "At least you got the evening shift." I bumped my forehead against hers softly. "I miss you too, though."

  "Come with me tonight. This guy is obviously interested in you, but just deny him, and I'll clean up the mess you leave behind." She gave me a silly smile and moved back. "Please?"

  "I really can't. I have a dinner at Dr. Crawford's house tonight. It's something I'm not missing." I turned from her and finished putting my stuff up before grabbing a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. "I'm running home to shower and change into something a little dressier."

  "I'm still jealous over you getting Dr. Crawford as your mentor. Mine's a mean old woman with a thick accent that I can barely understand. Who'd you sleep with to get your good deal?" She pushed against my shoulder with hers.

  "No one. I haven't had sex in at least a few months." I glanced over at her and shrugged. "And I'm not sure it was worth talking about the last time I did."

  "Oh, Liz. That's horrible." She turned to me, but I diverted. I'd spent too much of my time talking about my relationship with Jackson. It was time to do something about it.

  "Yeah. I'm going to swing by and see him on the way home." I pulled my hair into a ponytail and quickly changed. "Have fun tonight. We'll catch up when you get home. I'll try to stay up and wait for you."

  "Alright. Good luck with Jack. You know you've tried to break up with him a million times. He's not going to let you go."

  I chuckled. "How did you know I was going to try to break up with him?"

  "Please. Why else would you stop by to see him?" She cocked her eyebrow at me and put a hand on her hip.

  "That predictable?" I groaned and closed my locker.

  "Yep, but go take care of it. You'll feel better after you get it over with. It's beyond time for both of you to move on. You're just comfortably stuck together. That's not love, nor is it fair." She rubbed my back soothingly.

  "Thanks. You're right." I gave her a quick hug and walked out into the hall, to find Aiden and Parks standing at the far end, laughing about something. It was nice to see Dr. Crawford smiling and relaxed. His laugh was warm, and wrapped around me, pushing me toward them. I forced myself to keep walking, but he glanced at me and waved me over.

  "Elizabeth. We're cardiologists. We're here to save hearts, not destroy them." The cheeky grin on his handsome face left me breathless.

  "Yeah, Lizzy." Parks clamped his hands over his heart and stumbled back. "You're killing me."

  "You should be cupping your crotch, not your heart." I winked at Parks and walked to the door. "I'm not sure it's love you're after."

  Aiden's laughter filled the hall, and several of the nurses just ahead of me stopped what they were doing and looked back, smiling much like I was.

  "Alright, princess. That's another one for you. You're up by two, but I'm coming after you," Parks called after me.

  I turned and winked at him as I stopped by the exit. I was playing so far out of my normal comfort zone that it was comical.

  "Bring it, playboy, but you should know that you're not getting anywhere with me." I shrugged, caught Aiden's eye for a second, and turned, walking out into the warm autumn afternoon.

  I wanted my teasing to be with the handsome doctor who pretended to be stern and unyielding. He wasn't going to be an easy nut to crack, but I wanted to give it a go. Even if it were just for a fun friendship like he and Parks had.

  I was jealous of the younger doctor who had Aiden's attention. I wanted it too.

  ***

  "Wait, what?" Jackson stood in front of me in the parking lot of his office building. His black slacks and white button-down fit him well, and I had no doubt that all of the women on his floor had noticed. He was a handsome guy, and would find someone else in no time. Some part of me was surprised that he hadn't already found several somebodies.

  "Jack. You know that we've grown apart. You and I have been trying to hold this thing together for far too long. I'm done. I don't want to keep you from someone who might be a good fit for marriage for you." I reached for him, but he jerked back.

  "That's you, Elizabeth. You're supposed to be my wife. I've spent my whole adolescence with you. I don't want another woman. I want you. You know me. You get me. You love me." His eyes filled with tears, breaking my heart. "Please don't do this."

  "I have to go. We're better friends than we are lovers. We have been for the last ten years. I love you as I would family, like I do Steph, but I'm not in love with you. Find someone who will be. She's out there." I pulled my keys from my pocket and turned, only to have him jerk me back and wrap his arms around me tightly.

  "It's because we haven't been together in a while. Come home with me. Let me make love to you." He brushed his lips by mine, and I wanted so fucking badly to feel something bubbling deep inside of me, but I didn't. It was awkward, borderline disturbing to think of having sex with him again.

  "No. Find a woman who's crazy about you. I'm focused on my career, and it's unfair to you. It's not me who is supposed to build a life with you, Jack. You know that." I forced my hands up to his chest and pushed back a little. "Please let me go. I want us to be friends for the rest of our lives. It's not going to happen if we don't start moving on. We're in our late twenties. You should be getting married."

  "Yeah, to you." He took a step back and shrugged. "Whatever. If you change your mind, call me."

  I started to respond that I wouldn't, but I simply held my tongue. There was no talking sense to him. He wasn't going to move on for a while, and the only way I could force it was by moving on myself. That didn't mean finding someone to replace him, but simply diving even deeper into my career and ignoring him altogether for a while.

  After getting in my car and pulling away, I let myself cry. It wasn't for the loss of having someone. I didn't need anyone in my life. It was too convoluted by my career. I hurt for Jackson and what he thought he was losing. It was depressing to see him clinging to a life he thought we could have together instead of the one we did. Maybe he lived in a fantasy where things were great, but I didn't, and the time for a change was long overdue.

  I cleared up my tears as I drove home from his office building, forcing myself to think about the dinner that night instead of my regrets where Jack was concerned. I didn't have Aiden's number, but I wished that I did. I had no clue what to wear to the event. Was it dressy or professional? Casual or fancy?

  "Ugh." I pulled up to the apartment and got out of the car, walking languidly to the door as the memory of his laughter rolled through me. I needed to mind m
y actions and silly flirting around him. He was blowing it off beautifully so far, but it was day two of a three-year engagement.

  I texted Steph, asking what she thought I should wear as I dug through my closet looking for something that might be attractive and yet still professional.

  She was being cheeky, and informed me that the tight red dress I'd worn to a gala we went to a few years back was the winner.

  That wasn't happening. It screamed, 'Take me upstairs and fuck me against a wall'. Not that I didn't want that to be the ending to my night with Aiden, but I wasn't so sure my strict mentor would appreciate me much afterward.

  I settled on a black skirt and silky blue top. Hopefully I would fit in just enough not to be noticed, and yet stand out to my newest fantasy. He'd yet to give me more than a few brief nods and tight smiles. I wanted more from him that night, and I was praying that I could figure out how to get it.

  Chapter 8

  Aiden

  I walked around the house, trying to think through anything else I might need as the time for everyone to show up drew near. I was glad to find Peter at the door first. He had been my mentor when I started at the hospital, and we'd become solid friends since that time.

  "Aiden. How are you?" Peter walked into the large foyer of my home and extended a bottle of wine. "I brought this. It's not much, but you know Martha won't let me out of the house without a gift for whoever I'm visiting."

  I smiled. "Good woman. I haven't seen her in forever. How is she doing?"

  "Good. Still as pretty as the day I married her." He gave me grin. "Not sure why she's with me."

  "Yeah, you are an ugly old goat." I took the wine and walked into the kitchen to the sound of him laughing. "You guys meet in college or what?"

  "Actually..." he took a seat at the breakfast nook that ran along the center of the kitchen, "… she was a nurse at the hospital when I first started at St. Mark's."