Sizzling Nights with Dr. Off-Limits

“You’re right,” she agreed. “Too many people get married who shouldn’t. Probably because they’re too young to know any better or one of them wasn’t committed to the relationship to begin with. My guess is that when those people become involved in their next serious relationship, they are a lot choosier.”

The arrogant look in his eyes flickered just a little, as if she’d delivered a damaging blow and won that round. Good. He needed taking down a peg or two.

“I bet you’re right.” He turned to Meghan and gave her a smile so charming that it was a wonder she didn’t swoon. “Hi, I’m Dr. Lucas Cain. I work at Children’s with Emily.”

Ugh. He sounded so nice, so polite, and Meghan was tripping over herself trying to form coherent sentences. He’d always had that effect on women. Even her.

But that had been in the past. These days her sentences were freaking pieces of grammatical art. She’d been inoculated against his sexual mojo.

Well, mostly. He was a sexy beast and her body wasn’t dead. Good thing her mind knew better and ruled.

“Me, too,” Meghan practically stuttered. “At Children’s. I mean, I work at Children’s, too.”

Lucas’s brow lifted. “On the neuro floor with Emily?”

Hearing her name on his lips caused tightness to squeeze Emily’s chest. Darn him that he was here creating chaos in her world, not to mention making a blabbering idiot of her best friend.

Meghan nodded, still stammering and stuttering. “I’ve taken care of a few of your patients.”

He flashed one of his most potent smiles and Emily had to forgive her friend. When he was more handsome than anything Hollywood had ever put on the silver screen, how was Meghan supposed to resist? Her friend didn’t know he had a heart of ice and a soul as black as coal.

“Ah,” he said. “That’s why you look familiar.”

Emily wasn’t buying that he hadn’t known who Meghan was. No doubt he knew everything about her best friend.

Meghan’s lashes swooped downward. “I guess you heard what I was saying about how you looked.”

Her best friend was flirting with her ex. Not that Meghan knew, but still. Gag. Gag. Gag.

Just take Emily out and push her in front of a taxi driver right now. She couldn’t take any more.

“If you’ll excuse me, I need to go find a ladies’ room.” She went to move past Lucas, but the photographer chose that moment to appear.

“Hello,” the overly friendly guy said, smiling and motioning for Lucas and Emily to pose. “Get together for a photo for our website.”

Emily clenched her teeth and moved one step closer to Lucas.

The photographer frowned. “Smile. Look happy. You just brought in more money than any of the others.”

There was that. Raising money for a good cause did make her happy. She sighed and focused on the help that would be provided to her patients’ families because of Lucas’s generosity.

Surprisingly, he looked a little hesitant. Lucas off guard. Now, that was something new. Still, he put his arm at her waist and smiled for the camera.

Trying to ignore the fact that he was touching her, Emily curved her lips upward.

The photographer’s flash went off a couple of times.

“Thanks.” The photographer turned to Meghan and her winner, who’d joined them. “Your turn, Pretty Lady.”

Meghan curled up next to the stockbroker she’d gone on a couple of dates with.

Which moved everyone’s attention off Emily and Lucas.

Her throat suddenly tight, she glared at him. “Congratulations. You’re such a winner.”

CHAPTER TWO

THAT HADN’T GONE anywhere near the way Lucas had mentally rehearsed his first encounter with Emily outside the hospital.