Pleased, she nodded. “I’ll reheat some for you.”
“Great.” He followed her into the kitchen. As she got the casserole out and spooned a generous helping onto a plate, his bold stare seemed to assess her. “You look like you’ve been having a good day so far,” he commented.
“I have.” She flashed him a quick smile before turning and placing his plate in the microwave. “I’ve been baking a little, spent some time on the internet, and...”
“And?”
“Worked on trying to regain my memory,” she admitted, aware he’d told her specifically not to try to force it. “I went to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and started poking around. I hoped something would jar my brain, but nothing did. I couldn’t find my accounts on any of those social media sites, which felt pretty disappointing.”
He came closer. When she saw the intense look darkening his eyes, she froze. Every sense leaped to life.
The instant their gazes met, he smoothed out his expression, but it was a little too late. She realized whatever this thing blossoming between them might be, it definitely wasn’t one-sided.
Which would make it that much more difficult to resist. Still, the knowledge filled her with a warm glow.
“Are you really hungry?” she asked, trying to pretend she didn’t want to dance for joy.
One corner of his mouth quirked and the spell was broken. He looked around and sniffed. “What is that smell? Whatever it is, I bet it’s delicious.”
“I made a flourless cake for dessert after dinner tonight.”
A slow smile spread across his handsome face. “Are you trying to fatten me up?”
The teasing glint in his eye flustered her. “No, not at all. I just...”
“You really do like to cook, don’t you?”
“Apparently.” The timer beeped on the microwave and she placed his plate on the counter. “Dig in.”
“What about you?”
“I made myself a sandwich,” she admitted. “And I’ve already eaten it.”
“Ah, well.” He shrugged, digging in. After his first bite, he moaned with pleasure, which made her pulse skip. “This is so good.”
Clearly oblivious to his effect on her, he continued to eat, not stopping until he’d cleaned his plate.
“This is the first time I’ve ever come home for lunch since I bought this town house a few years ago,” he announced. “I have to tell you, your cooking is so good, you ought to consider opening your own restaurant.”
A pang went through her at his words. “That’s a thought.” Though she kept her tone light, something about the idea made her sad.
Blinking, she pushed away the thought and focused. “Do you want more?” she asked.
His eyes narrowed, as if he were considering, and then he shook his head. “Regretfully, no. If I eat too much at lunch, I’ll be fighting the urge to take a nap all afternoon.”
“How about dessert? We still have apple crisp and that cheesecake from yesterday.”
His mouth twitched with amusement. “Sorry, I’m out of time.” He glanced at his watch. “I’ve got to go back to work. I have a ton of things I need to clear up. We’ll talk more tonight, okay?”
“Wait,” MW said. When he hesitated, she grabbed some cellophane and wrapped him up a piece of cheesecake. “Take this for later.”
Accepting her offering, he met her gaze. Something intense flared between them, the pull so strong she took an involuntary step back.
Just like that, his expression became shuttered. “I’ll see you tonight.” As he turned to go, someone knocked on the door. They both froze.
“Stay right here,” he said. Crossing to the door, he looked through the peephole and shook his head. “It’s my neighbor Dave.” He kept his voice low. “Stay out of sight while I see what he wants.”
She nodded and Eric opened the door.
Though she couldn’t see the man outside, she heard every word.
“I just wanted to let you know that there have been several break-ins,” Dave said, “all of them to town houses in our building and surrounding buildings.”
“Robberies?”
“That’s the weird thing. So far, nothing’s been stolen. People are coming home to find their town house trashed, ransacked, like whoever broke in is looking for something.”
Or someone. MW shuddered. She couldn’t help but wonder if the break-ins were somehow related to her.
“Better get an alarm system,” Dave continued. “I just had one installed. I’d be happy to give you the name of the company.”
“Thanks.” Eric sounded distracted. “I’ll call you later. Right now I’ve got to get back to the hospital. I’ll call my brother Ryan and see what he can find out.”
“That’s right, he’s on the Tulsa PD.”
Eric nodded. “Yep. He’ll know what to do. Thanks again.” And he closed the door, standing with his back to her, so still, MW knew he was thinking the same thing.
Panicked, she swayed.
* * *
A strangled cry made Eric turn. He took one look at MW’s ashen face and rushed to her, enfolding her in his arms. “It’s not because of you,” he said, wanting to reassure her while he battled with the knowledge of how good she felt held so close to his body.
“How do you know?” She pulled away. “If the break-ins were robberies, than I’d have to say you’re right. But since even your neighbor said the intruders appear to be searching for something, I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch to assume that something is me.”
Her husky voice broke, ruining him. Muttering an oath, he pulled her back into his arms.
This time, she buried her face into his throat, clinging to him as if she thought him a life raft in a turbulent sea. He felt a jolt as her hip brushed his thigh, and he clenched his teeth.
Even her scent—whatever fragrant shampoo or lotion Greta had purchased for her—aroused him.
She didn’t cry, nor did she move. Instead she stood as still as a statue, her expression far away as if she was lost in thought while she accepted the comfort he offered.
While he tried like hell not to let it become more than that.
Holding her had been a mistake. He never should have come home. He didn’t take lunch or leave the hospital. But all day, she’d been on his mind, and he’d found himself thinking of her when he needed to be concentrating on something else. Plus that casserole... Still, he would have been better off if he’d remained at work.
“I don’t like this,” she finally said, sounding as if her teeth were clenched.
“Me neither,” he admitted. Dave’s news had worried him, though he truly didn’t think the break-ins were related to MW.
Somehow, he managed to drop his arms and casually step away. “I need to phone Ryan,” he managed. “I’ll call him on my way back to work. Meanwhile, keep the dead bolt locked and stay out of sight.”
She inhaled sharply. “Could I go with you?” she asked, wincing as she spoke. “I won’t bother you while you work. I can sit with a book in one of the waiting rooms. I just don’t want to be here alone.”
Though he could hardly blame her, he couldn’t have her just hanging out at the hospital all day. “That won’t work,” he told her. “I’m sorry. While I honestly don’t feel you need to worry—they’re not home invasions, just break-ins—what I can do is ask Ryan to have one of his patrol cars circle the area the rest of the day. And I’ll leave you his number. If you have the slightest worry, call him. Okay?”
Lowering her thick brown lashes, she nodded. “Sorry. I don’t think I’m normally a big chicken like this, but since I have no idea what’s going on...”
“It’s understandable.” Resisting the urge to hug her again, he gave her a reassuring smile instead. “Let me jot down the number before
I go.”
Once he’d done that, he turned to find her standing near the entrance to the kitchen, hugging her arms around herself. Her safe place, he realized. Where she felt most at home.
“You’re going to be fine,” he promised, even as he wondered if he should bring her to the hospital after all. “We’re probably overreacting.”
“Maybe so.” Her calm expression fooled neither of them. “I’d be interested to see how many break-ins have occurred, though.”
Conscious of the ticking clock and mindful he had a surgery scheduled that afternoon, he pulled out his cell phone. “Now, that I can find out.”
Luckily, Ryan answered. As soon as Eric told him the information Dave had passed on, Ryan looked up the incidents. “Two break-ins,” Ryan said. “The only thing unusual about them is that nothing appears to have been taken. No one was home. Both times, the place was tossed, vandalized. Windows broken. We’re lucky no one was hurt.”
“Do you think this is going to happen again?”
“There’s no way to tell.” Ryan didn’t seem concerned. “If I were you, I’d install a burglar alarm.”
“That’s what Dave did. I’ll get on that, but for right now I want to make sure my houseguest is safe.”
Silence. When Ryan spoke again, he sounded serious. “Is she still there?”
With sheer effort of will, Eric avoided glancing at her. “Yep.” And then he put in his request for a marked squad car to patrol the area.
“I’ll see what I can do,” Ryan promised. “Do you have any reason to believe she’s in danger?”
“No, but we don’t have any reason to believe she isn’t either.” Eric made the mistake of looking at MW. Shifting from foot to foot, she watched him, her cornflower-blue eyes wide. She looked so vulnerable that he ached.
“I’m sure she’ll be fine.” Clearing his throat, Ryan promised to send a car around every thirty minutes.
Thanking him, Eric hung up. He had to get back to the hospital, but he didn’t want to leave MW. Not like this, trying so hard to be brave despite her obvious fear.
“I’ll be fine,” she said softly, looking anything but, despite the way she’d squared her shoulders and raised her chin in an obvious effort to appear strong.
Uncertain, he wavered. Finally, though, duty called. “How about I drop you off at the library? It’s just past the hospital, and you could stay there until I get done. That way you’ll be around other people rather than here alone in the town house.”
“I’d love that.” Visibly cheered, she hurried over and smiled up at him. “I’m ready whenever you are.”
In that instant, as heat spiraled through him, he knew he’d do just about anything to keep that smile on her face.
As he opened the door and let her precede him, he took her arm. “Maybe tonight when I finish up at work, you and I could go out to dinner. We’ll drive across town, in case whoever is looking for you is still in the area.”
Her pale blue eyes lit up. “I’d really like that,” she said, her mouth curving into yet another beautiful smile. He managed to continue walking, though his pulse had begun racing again. He wondered how this woman he barely knew could make him feel more alive than he had in years.
“All right,” he said, clenching his hands into fists to keep from touching her. “Don’t leave the library until you see me. I’ll try to get there as quickly as I can and we’ll walk back here and pick up my car to go out to dinner.”
“Sounds wonderful.” As she beamed up at him, he realized her light blue eyes had little flecks of silver in them. In fact, she had the most beautifully colored eyes he’d ever seen. His gaze fell to the creamy expanse of skin on her chest and he swallowed tightly.
“Are you all right?” Her smile had changed into a frown.
Quickly, he rearranged his expression. “Just trying to decide where we should have dinner. Do you like Mexican food?”
Too late, he realized she couldn’t remember.
For a moment she wrinkled her brow, clearly trying to think. Finally, she shrugged. “I guess I’ll find out.”
They walked past the hospital to the library. Eric barely resisted glancing at his watch, aware he needed to get back so he could prep for surgery.
Made of the same color brick, the two-story building almost seemed an extension of the hospital. Only an alley separated them. Except the library had lots of windows and the bright light shining inside made the place appear cheerful.
Just outside the double glass doors, he stopped. “Here you are. You should be safe here. I’ll meet you sometime after five.”
MW nodded. She turned and wrapped her arms around him in a bear hug. “Thank you, so much,” she told him. “This is so much better than staying inside your town house. I can find a lot to occupy my time here. And I have dinner out to look forward to. You have no idea how much that means to me.”
He froze. Her lush body had all the right curves in all the right places. Though he moved his arms around her automatically, he had to forcibly stifle the urge to let his hands roam.
As his body stirred, he realized he might have to do more than keep her safe from the men who were after her. He might also have to protect her from himself.
“Go on, now,” he told her. He stood and watched until she’d strolled safely inside before turning and hurrying back to the hospital, where he could lose himself in his job.
* * *
Inside the library, MW took her time looking around. The huge library was the kind of place she would enjoy exploring, and she thought the hours until Eric returned would pass very quickly and safely.
Somehow, she doubted whoever was hunting for her would think to search here.
Up and down row after row of books, she wandered. Once she happened upon the cookbook section, she felt like she’d found heaven. Pulling several from the stacks, she carried them over to one of the reading tables and began leafing through them. She didn’t understand why she found herself so drawn to cooking, but she figured it had something to do with her past.
One of the books had a chapter on how to open a restaurant. As soon as she found that, her heart began pounding. Reading the first few paragraphs, she knew she’d seen this before. Studied it, in fact.
Did she own a restaurant? Or only dream of owning one?
Frustrated, she closed the book. As she did, something flashed in her memory. She heard a gunshot, saw a man jerk as he was hit. She got her hand to her mouth, barely stifling a scream. Had that really happened? A true memory? Or the product of an overactive imagination, fueled by the dramas she’d watched with Eric on television?
As her heart raced, she tried to think. What did this mean? Had she shot someone? Could she really be a criminal, a murderess as she’d wondered before? Wouldn’t a person know if they were capable of such things?
Her head began to ache. She remembered Eric’s words, telling her not to try to force it and not to jump to conclusions.
Standing, she gathered up the cookbooks and carried them back to the shelves to put them away. She sighed. Next, she thought she’d go peruse the fiction. Because until she got her memory back, that’s all her past could be to her. Fiction.
* * *
After finishing up his last surgery for the day, Eric touched base with the ER. Things were relatively quiet there, the triage nurse told him cautiously. They both knew making statements like that could sometimes boomerang, and chaos would immediately ensue.
He hoped that wasn’t the case today. He wanted to get out of there fairly early. All afternoon, the idea of having dinner with MW had exhilarated him.
Since overanalyzing her effect on him wouldn’t accomplish anything, he’d reached a conscious decision to just go with the flow.
As soon as he could, he finished up at the hospital and, still wearing his scrubs,
headed down the street to the library.
He found her totally engrossed in a book, her wavy hair reflecting red in the fluorescent lights. Standing still, he watched her, again admiring the graceful flow of her neck and shoulders, the lush swell of her breasts and her tiny waist.
When she looked up—apparently sensing his presence—and smiled, his heart began to sing. He wanted to kiss her right then, among the stacks of books and the scent of paper, just bend her over backward and claim her as his.
Of course he did no such thing.
“Hey,” he said, speaking quietly since they were in a library after all. “Are you hungry?”
Cheeks pink, she nodded. “I could eat. I think you mentioned Mexican food earlier?”
“I did. There’s a great Mexican restaurant a few minutes’ drive from here.”
“I’ve been thinking about that.” Her light blue eyes lit up. “I adore Mexican food.” She frowned. “Or at least I believe I do.”
“Then, come on.” Holding out his hand, he waited for her to take it. Which she did, but as they began to walk toward the door, reluctance showed in her steps.
“What’s wrong?” he asked as they neared the exit.
“I hate this, but I’m wondering if it’s safe.”
“It should be.” In this he felt confident. “It’s a short walk home and there will be tons of people out and about. My car’s in the enclosed garage. We’ll just get in the car, go eat and come right back. There won’t be enough time for you to be in any sort of danger, I promise.”
And there he went again, giving his word. Ever the omnipotent surgeon, he supposed. Old habits were hard to break.
Yet his absolute confidence must have finally convinced her. “I’d like that,” she said, smiling up at him. “I confess I did enjoy getting outside and enjoying the sunshine on the walk here and back, even though it’s hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk.”
The warmth in her smile made his chest feel tight. Shaking off the unfamiliar feeling, he nonetheless continued to hold her hand all the way to the town house and his garage.
The Temptation of Dr. Colton Page 7