Private Partners (Doctors in Training 2)

She was supposed to meet her study group later, but she was thinking of canceling. She could study here today, and that way she would be available if Liam wanted to talk about his dad.

He’d said he’d come back to Little Rock because he hadn’t wanted to be alone in New York after his loss, she thought guiltily. And yet she had spent very little time with him since he’d returned. He didn’t seem to blame her for that, but she blamed herself for not making the time to be there for him if he needed her. She could make up for that today, even if it was only to keep him company while they both worked on their own pursuits.

When she’d been rushing between classes and frantically trying to make her family celebration last night, it had fleetingly occurred to her that it would have been easier, perhaps, if Liam had gone back to New York. Yet she was still pleased that he hadn’t.

Liam had a way of keeping her head spinning with conflicting emotions, she thought with a weary sigh.

She had just set up her computer when she heard the shower running. Maybe she should make something for breakfast, she thought. Liam would probably be hungry.

She gulped when someone tapped on her door. She hoped fervently that it was Rose, the only person for whom no awkward explanations of Liam’s presence would be necessary.

But it was Haley who stood on the other side of the door, wearing an expression that was both harried and apologetic. “I’m sorry to drop by like this. I should have called, but I panicked.”

“What happened?” Anne asked, instantly alarmed.

“My hard drive crashed. I had another one installed first thing this morning, but I didn’t have all those slides from yesterday backed up. Would you let me make copies from your computer, please?” She held up a portable storage device. “It won’t take long.”

“Of course you can copy my files.” Anne stepped out of the way to allow Haley to enter. She’d have been just as upset if it had been her computer that had crashed, she acknowledged, shuddering at the very thought. Especially now, with so much material to be memorized. “I could have e-mailed it to you, though.”

“I know. But I just left the computer store, and I thought I’d just drop by. You’re sure you don’t mind?”

The shower had stopped. Anne hoped Liam would hear her talking with Haley and stay in the room until the coast was clear. “Of course I don’t mind,” she said, raising her voice just a fraction and hoping Haley wouldn’t find that odd. “I just turned on the computer. We can—”

The bedroom door opened and Liam wandered out, his shower-glistened body bare except for the towel wrapped precariously around his waist. “Anne, I forgot to take my jeans out of the dryer last night. I—”

Suddenly realizing that she wasn’t alone, he skidded to a halt, making a hasty grab for the loose knot of the towel.

Her eyebrows raised, Haley gave Liam a rather lengthy once-over while Anne stood there like an idiot, trying to think of something reasonably intelligent to say.

Haley was the first to recover her voice. “Well, hello, there.”

Liam shot Anne a grimace of apology. He looked as though he expected her to strangle him on the spot—and she had to admit, that was an option.

She swallowed hard when Haley turned slowly toward her. Haley’s eyes danced with mischief and speculation when she murmured in a suspiciously neutral voice, “Apparently I came at a bad time.”

Anne sighed in resignation. “Haley, this is—”

“Lee,” he supplied helpfully, obviously hoping to get away with the ruse a second time.

“Liam,” she finished firmly. She’d had few qualms about keeping the whole truth from the virtual stranger who lived downstairs, but she would not lie to her best friend. “Liam, this is Haley.”

Though he gave Anne a quizzical look, Liam spoke to Haley. “Oh, yes. I’ve heard all about you.”

“Wish I could say the same.” Haley gave him another look that made his cheeks go even redder as he stood there with only a big, fluffy towel covering him from waist to knees. His dark hair was still damp, he wasn’t wearing his glasses and the muscles in his bare chest and arms were beautifully molded, adding up to a delicious and thoroughly masculine image. Which would have made his blush all the more amusing to Anne had the circumstances been different.

“I’ll just go get dressed,” he muttered, backing into the bedroom. “Please excuse me.”

The door closed quickly between them. Anne suspected Liam stood on the other side punching himself in his head for his recklessness.

“Well, well.” Haley set her computer bag on the floor and crossed her arms over her chest, eyeing Anne with exaggerated accusation. “Someone has been holding out.”

“I have,” Anne admitted, “but it wasn’t because I didn’t want to tell you. I just didn’t quite know how.”

“You didn’t know how to tell me that you’re sleeping with that gorgeous guy from TV? Gee, I can’t imagine why.”

So, Haley had recognized him—and Anne had confirmed the identification by giving Liam’s real name.

“It’s even more complicated than that, I’m afraid.” She drew a deep breath before blurting, “Liam is my husband.”