Private Partners (Doctors in Training 2)

“Yeah, it was kind of fun, wasn’t it? Not that I’d want to do it very often,” he added with a crooked grin.

He pushed himself to his feet and moved toward her. “I’ll go answer e-mail for a while and let you get back to work. But first…”

He leaned over to place a long, hard kiss on her mouth. “Thanks for cooking the ’ghetti,” he murmured when he finally released her.

Turning abruptly, he headed for the office. “Don’t study too late,” he said over his shoulder. “You need your rest.”

Blinking, she shook her head a little to clear her fuzzy mind and made herself look at her computer. The fact that it took her a moment to remember how to read was entirely Liam’s fault.

Chapter Nine

Liam was growing concerned about Anne the next evening. She’d told him she should be home around ten, but it was more than an hour past that time when he looked at his watch. It wasn’t like her to be out this late when she had ICM the next morning, and she had told him that she did.

He tried to focus on his revisions, but they were still proceeding with painful sluggishness. He still couldn’t figure out why he was having so much trouble finishing this project, though he found himself wondering if he was subconsciously stretching out the work as long as possible. After all, once he’d finished the book, he really should go back to New York and to all the projects he’d left hanging there.

While there was some grain of truth in that excuse, he knew it wasn’t the only reason for his difficulties. He just couldn’t quite identify the other problems.

Giving up on any attempt at working, he began to pace, trying to convince himself that it was foolish to worry about Anne. Her hours were always erratic, and it wasn’t unusual for her study group to lose track of time as they plodded through all their material.

He spent a few minutes wondering how other spouses and significant others of second-year medical students dealt with being pushed to the background so often. When they weren’t actually in class or buried in their books, med students seemed to be frequently tense and distracted and moody, from what little Liam had observed. It was no wonder so many relationships broke up during these years.

He didn’t want to think that his own marriage might not survive the pressure of their demanding careers.

She spent so much time with her study group. Haley and those three men, two of whom were single. They were probably getting to know each other very well. They had so much in common. He pictured her studying and laughing and teasing with her friends, bonding through pressure with them in a way outsiders would probably have a difficult time understanding. He remembered how fondly she had smiled when she’d talked about having to hide chocolate cake from her buddy, Ron. Were she and Ron sharing a late, sweet snack at that moment?

He pushed a hand through his hair in irritation as a surge of savage jealousy crashed through him. That was uncalled for—and totally unlike him. As much time as he spent away from Anne, they had to trust each other or they might as well give up now. He was just letting his worry about her get out of hand.

But he still didn’t like the thought of her being so chummy with those other guys.

His cell phone beeped to signal an incoming text message. Snatching it from its holder on his belt, he read the terse note. Hide. Dad w me.

“Great.” Shoving the phone back into its case, he glanced around the living room to make sure there was no evidence of his presence, then moved into the bedroom and closed the door, wondering what Anne’s father was doing with her at this hour. How long would he have to cower behind the door this time, holding his breath and hoping he wouldn’t be discovered?

Though Anne had assured him that she rarely had visitors, this apartment had been a very busy place during the past few days.

He found it grimly interesting that he was not particularly relieved to find out that Anne was with her father, rather than her single male study buddies. Liam was well aware who was most likely to come between himself and Anne—and it wasn’t her chocolate-loving pal.

He’d been in the bedroom less than ten minutes when he heard the door open in the other room.

“Just set that bag down on the floor, Dad,” he heard Anne say. “Thanks for bringing it up for me.”

“You shouldn’t carry so much stuff around in your car,” her father replied, his voice clearly audible through the thin bedroom door. “It’s not a rolling closet.”

Anne laughed ruefully. “I know. I kept meaning to clean it out, but I just never seemed to find the time.”

“How are you going to get to class tomorrow? Do you need me to come get you?”

“No, that’s not necessary. I’ll catch a ride with Ron or J

ames. My apartment is on the way for both of them.”

Liam felt his eyebrows lower into a scowl.

“You can’t get by without a car,” her father scolded. “Nor do you need to be distracted from your studies by trying to deal with this. I suspect that the repairs on your engine will be expensive—more than the car’s worth, most likely—not to mention time-consuming. Let me buy you a new car. I’ll pick one out tomorrow and have it delivered to you tomorrow afternoon.”

“No, Dad, you aren’t buying me a new car.” Anne’s voice was firm. “If I need a new car, and I won’t know that for certain until I hear what the mechanic says, I’ll take care of it myself. I still have my savings, and I have enough in student loans to cover a modest car payment. I told you when I started medical school that I wouldn’t let you support me financially, and I meant it. I’m an adult. I intend to act like one.”

“Fine.” Her father sounded annoyed. “Consider it a loan, then. When you’ve finished your surgical residency and you’re making a good salary, you can pay me back. With interest, if that makes you feel better.”