Dr. Lincoln Watts. Head of Surgery. And ruler of his domain.
Not that she didnt appreciate his skill, because he was truly gifted. But that gift didnt extend to his people skills.
In short, out of the operating room, he was a jerk. The nurses hated him, the aides feared him. The other doctors merely tolerated him, mostly because he ruled over all of them, but also because it was too much trouble to cross him.
Oh, and he had the memory of an elephant.
As the youngest doctor on staff, Nicole had learned to keep a low profile. She did her job; she did it well. It was all shed ever wanted.
Even with Dr. Watts staring at her ass. Can I help you? she asked politely, turning to look at him so he had to raise his gaze.
He took his time about doing so, and for the first time she was glad she had small, unimpressionable breasts. She wanted to give him as little pleasure as possible.
Can you help me, he repeated with a little smile as he finally met her gaze. Why yes, I believe you can.
Damn.
Come with me to the benefit tomorrow night.
The benefit he referred to was an annual event designed to extricate money from rich patrons and deposit it directly to the hospitals coffers. It put critical funds at the hospitals disposal, as well as provided write-offs for the hospitals patrons. Everyone was happy.
However, it required an evening of stiff smiles for Nicole, who hated dressing up, hated being on and hated the forced mingling. This year shed arranged to be on shift so as to avoid the entire messy affair. Sorry, Im working.
I can rearrange that for you.
At a considerable cost, one she figured would involve him and his bed. No, thank you. I dont mind missing it.
I want you to come with me.
And what Dr. Watts wanted, Dr. Watts got. Im sorry, Dr. Watts, but that wouldnt be fair to the others.
Linc.
Excuse me?
He traced a finger over her shoulder and she just barely restrained her shudder. Call me Linc, he said softly. And Id consider it a personal favor if you went with me.
Nicole might have mastered calculus by the age of eight but shed never mastered basic political correctness 101. I said no.
His eyes darkened, and without another word, he strode off.
Uneasy, Nicole watched him go and wondered if shed just screwed herself by not screwing the boss.
SHE WENT HOME. On the front steps of the building sat a brass lion, its mouth open wide in a silent roar. Shaking her head, she walked past it. Just inside were a vintage-looking gramophone, an ornately decorated headboard leaning against the wall and a marble clock.
Taylor, the poor little rich girl. Shed inherited this building without any of the money shed become accustomed to in her spoiled youth, with the exception of the antiques shed been collecting all her life. Shed been selling off the beloved pieces to cover the costs of bringing the building back to its former glory. Resourcefulness. It was one of the things Nicole appreciated most about Taylor, as Nicole had been forced to be resourceful all her life.
A three-foot-high wooden carved bear holding a fish and wearing a grin sat on the first flight of stairs. Along the second flight were stacks of prints. Nicole was staring at one of a bowl of fruit, thinking she was just starving enough to actually eat fruit, when Taylor stuck her head out of her apartment.
Damn. More party plans. Im really tired, Nicole said pathetically, figuring Taylor would take pity on her.
Instead Taylor reached out, snagged her wrist and yanked her into her apartment. We need to talk.
But-
Youre tired, yeah, yeah. I know. I figured that much and planned the party without you.
Gratitude filled Nicole, and she felt a little bad about her peevishness. Thank-
Dont thank me yet, Super Girl. Youre going to need a dress.
Oh, no-
Oh yes. And know it up front, were going fancy on this one.
But-
Thatll teach you to leave me alone to plan things.
Well, unplan them.
No. Taylor leveled her stubborn gaze on Nicole. Suzanne deserves this.
Yes, but-
Fancy, Taylor said firmly. As in silk and lace and high heels and makeup and hairdos and everything.
Nicole had faced two life-threatening surgeries that day. Shed faced Dr. Watts. And shed rather face a fire-breathing dragon on top of all of it than get fancy. Youre kidding me.
Honey, I never kid about fashion.
Nicole paled. Fashion?
You and me. At the mall. Your next day off.
Nicole let out a string of curses that had Taylor laughing. Oh, and since you owe me on planning the party without you, you can pay up right now. I need a little favor.
Nicole thought of her bed and sighed. Taylor-
Dont worry, its not difficult. I just need you to run to Tys office and give him these. She dumped a large set of plans into Nicoles arms. And this. She added a file. Did you like him?
What?
Did you like Ty? Taylor laughed at her expression. Whats not to like, right? Hes sexy as hell, and in possession of a body I could just gobble up. She sighed dramatically. Its too bad were too much alike. Wed kill each other.
Nicole shook her head. Im not going to ask.
But Im going to tell. Ty and I, were fellow wanderlust spirits.
Youve got wanderlust?
Through and through, until I came here and found home. But Ty hasnt found his home yet. Fighting our own prospective and warring needs would be like living in a battlefield. Nope, much as Id like a good, naughty affair-and Im quite certain Ty can do good and naughty-hes not for me.
Nicole put her hands over her ears-or at least she tried to around all the stuff in her arms-and Taylor laughed again. Just go. Tell him Im giving him the job. The address of his office is on the label, and its only three minutes from here.
Before Nicole could blink, shed been turned around and shoved out the door. She whirled, but only to hear Taylors lock click into place. Im not doing this, she said through the wood.
Then come back in and help me pick out napkins and plates and menus for the party.
Nicole stared down at Tys name and address and felt a peculiar flutter in her belly. Why was it that every time she thought of him her skin went all hot and itchy and her nipples got happy? This is a bad idea, Taylor.
Since when are you afraid of anyone, much less a man? Taylor asked through the door.
Since that man could simply look at her and make her feel things she didnt understand. Icant.
Just drop the plans off, Nicole. You dont have to marry him.
Yeah, Nicole. You dont have to marry him. Somehow that didnt make her feel any better. With a sigh, she headed down the stairs instead of up, and got back into her car.
TY HAD a headache and another e-mail. This was not what he needed after a long day at work. He stood staring at it. He shut his eyes, swore, and stared at it again.
I think youre Ty Patrick OGrady of Dublin.
I think you were born to Anne Mary Mulligan of Dublin. Please confirm.
Margaret Mary
Why a Margaret Mary would be looking for him was anyones guess, only none of them were good.
Who was this formal-sounding woman, and why did she care who he was? What did she know of the boy hed been? And he had been a boy when hed left Dublin, a young boy whod never looked back. Why should he? He had nothing to look back for, no roots, nothing. His father had taken himself to an early grave in a drunken brawl when Ty had been a year old. His mother had run a tavern with rooms above it shed used as an inn when theyd needed the money. Which had been all the time. Ty had been nothing more than a mistake she didnt like to be reminded of.
That had often worked in his favor, as hed had the freedom to do as he pleased. And since his mother rarely remembered to feed him, much less clothe him, and only begrudgingly gave him a mat to sleep on, the freedom pleased him plenty. He borrowed clothes, stole food and ran with a crowd that made the L.A. gang-bangers look friendly.
When hed turned ten hed witnessed his first murder. Over a pair of boots. When hed turned eleven, his mother had sold the inn and moved on.
Without him.
By the time hed turned sixteen, hed been beyond redemption. Or so hed thought. Thats when hed made the mistake of trying to pick the pocket of a vacationing Australian. The man, Seely McGraw, had been a cop, of all things, and instead of dragging Ty off to jail, hed dragged him home with him. To Australia. Ireland had been happy to see him go.
In Australia, Seely had seen him through the rest of his school years. Civilized. Humanized. And yet the vagabond within him had survived.
When Seely had died, Ty had given in to his wanderlust, going wherever he wanted, when he wanted. Europe, Asia, Africa. Even South America. Then hed come here, to the States, and had landed in California.
For the first time in his life, hed fallen in love with a place. Created a home for himself.
He wondered how long that would last before the wanderlust yearning overcame him again. Given his past, he didnt figure it would be long. But for now he enjoyed himself, occasionally marveling over how far hed come.
Life was good right here, right now. He had a job he loved, and money with which to do as he pleased when he pleased.
But now someone wanted him to think about his past, where hed been a son-of-a-bitch Irish runaway.
Rare temper stirring, he hit Reply and typed:
Who wants to know?
No, that would only encourage this, when he wanted nothing more than to forget all about it. But before he could delete it, he heard a knock at the front door, which hed left open for the pizza hed ordered. He needed that pizza. Back here!
Hopefully they hadnt forgotten the beer this time, he seemed to be in a mood for it. Standing up, he stared down at the computer one more time, stared at his response, finger still poised to delete
Ty?
Not pizza, but Nicole. Her wide gray eyes stared into his, and in a flash, pure lust sped through his blood.
And between his thighs.
Whether it was the monster headache he had, or the unwanted hunger for this woman, it was a weakness, and he hated weaknesses. He wanted the taste of her mouth, the feel of her body beneath his hands, and given her expression, every bit of his wanting showed on his face.
Her mouth opened, then carefully closed. On instinct, he looked down at himself and realized he hadnt put on a shirt after his shower or fastened his jeans.