Amazing, Lee thought The man really did have an ego every bit as hefty as the two-hundred pound barbell he bench-pressed each time he worked out. But then, he was a doctor, after all. Lee recalled an old joke she’d heard back in nursing school: Imagine an arrogant doctor. But I repeat myself....
Derek went on, a little bewildered, but still utterly sure of himself and his power over disease, injury—and the feminine gender. “I guess what I’m saying is, I think this is something we might as well just go ahead and deal with straight out. I think we can see each other in private and still maintain a viable working relationship. Because I really do believe this is something we’re just going to have to get out of our systems.”
“Like a viral infection, you mean? Something that has to run its course?”
Lee had meant to inject a note of irony, but Doctor Taylor failed to pick up on it. “Yeah. You could say that. We could agree that whatever happens between us, we won’t allow it to affect our work at the clinic.”
“Whatever... happens?”
“Yes.” He narrowed his eyes at her, in one of those reproving looks he reserved for patients who balked at the course of treatment he’d prescribed. “And what’s the problem? Am I not making myself clear?”
“Well, no. I think I’m getting the picture just fine.”
“You do?” He looked doubtful.
“Yes. You want to...date.” The word sounded so incongruous to her that she had to choke back a burst of hysterical laughter as soon as she said it.
He blew out a breath and gave her a reproachful frown. “Lee. You’re behaving very strangely about this.”
Strangely. He thought she was behaving strangely. Well, all right. Maybe she was. Derek Taylor was her fantasy. Her mind candy. She’d had a very good thing going with him. A safe, secret, harmless, one-sided, totally mental love affair. It had been great.
But he just couldn’t leave it that way. Oh, no. He had to go and make it dangerous. Make it real.
And beyond that, there was the little matter of his attitude about the whole thing. His arrogance and his ego simply knew no bounds. It was written all over his too-handsome face; he thought he was doing her a big favor to give in and go out. with her.
Well, she didn’t need any favors from him.
What she needed was out of here, stat.
“Lee. Say something. Please.”
Carefully, she pushed her glass and her plate toward his, in the center of the table. Easy, she thought. Tread cautiously. Remember, you do have to work with the man.
“Lee?”
“I, um....”
“Yeah?”
“Well, Dr. Taylor—”
“Derek.”
No. She was not going to call him that. “Dr. Taylor.” she repeated, a real edge in her tone.
They stared at each other. At last, he said too quietly, “Go on.”
She reached for her shoulder bag a few inches away on the Naugahyde bench of the booth. She pulled it into her lap, all ready to go. And then, choosing each word with agonizing care, she told him, “Dr. Taylor, I’m sorry if you imagined I had some...romantic interest in you. But I promise you, I never intended for you to think I wanted anything more than a strictly professional relationship with you. I love my work. And going out with you is way too likely to cause problems—for me, for you, and most important, for the work we do.”
His fabulous face had taken on a totally blank, disbelieving expression. She thought of how a Ken doll might look if Barbie went and told him she was leaving him for GI Joe. “You’re telling me you won’t go out with me.” Clearly, getting turned down was a new experience for him.
“Yes. I think it’s for the best. I think that we—”
“Just a minute.” The words were pure ice. She did her best not to flinch at the sound of them. And the blank look was gone. Suddenly, he bore no resemblance to a Ken doll at all.
“Yes?”
“Are you saying you’re not attracted to me in the least? That I imagined those looks you’re always giving me?”
Lee knew what she should answer: That’s exactly what I’m saying. But she just didn’t have it in herself to tell a lie that big. So she hedged. “Whether I’m attracted to you or not isn’t the issue here.”
“I think it is.”
“Well, I’m sorry, but I can’t agree with you.”
“You are attracted to me. Admit it. I just want the damn truth, that’s all!”
ISBN : 978-1-4592-6590-5
ACCIDENTAL HERO
Copyright © 1998 by Edie Hanes
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Silhouette Books, 300 East 42nd Street, New York. NY 10017 U.S.A.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Maggie scanned the crowded dance floor for a long, lean cowboy with a gorgeous
Letter to Reader
Books by Lauren Nichols
About the Author
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Epilogue
Teaser chapter
Copyright
Accidental Hero Page 23