He's the Man (The Alexanders 3)

She’d never been the type to go googly-eyed over a guy. Matt, however, had made her almost forget her own name. She didn’t consider herself to have a “type,” but if she did—he would be it. Tall, dark, and handsome was more than just a cliché in this case. It was a recipe for disaster. It was probably best that they wouldn’t be working together. She’d never been tempted by a patient before.

You’ve also never had a patient who was six feet tall and two hundred pounds of pure masculine temptation, either.

Then she thought back to all the athletes she’d worked with. They were all tall, heavily muscled, and in peak physical condition. Georgia had panted after plenty of them. So why was she so affected by Matt in particular?

“Knock knock. Are you busy?” Georgia leaned around the door frame. “Everyone’s gone now. Are you almost done?”

She closed Matt’s file. “I am now. I was just daydreaming.” She grabbed her coat and bag and followed Georgia to the front of the building, then waited while her friend gathered her own things and locked the outer doors. They walked out to the parking lot in companionable silence.

“This was a long day.”

They stopped next to her friend’s minivan and Georgia clicked her keychain so the side door opened automatically. There were two car seats in the back and a mess of books and toys on the floor.

“It’ll all be better soon.” There was a curiously sly note in Georgia’s voice.

“What does that mean?” Penny asked. Georgia wasn’t meeting her eyes all of a sudden.

“Just a hunch. That’s all. Go home. Get some sleep. Wear some makeup tomorrow. And for God’s sake, do something with that hair besides the prison-warden bun. A soft ponytail wouldn’t kill you.” Her friend gave a jaunty wave and then hopped into the driver’s seat.

“What? Georgia, what did you do?” Penny rapped on the window. For a moment she thought her friend was going to drive away without responding. Finally, the window lowered a few inches.

“I just gave Sergeant Sexy a few things to think about. He’ll be back.”

* * * * *

THE NEXT AFTERNOON, Penny could barely concentrate. Her cell phone rang and she picked it up. Scott’s picture flashed across the display. She ran her thumb over the screen. She really should answer. Scott didn’t call during the day often. But it seemed disloyal to talk to him when she was thinking about another guy.

She ran her fingers through her hair, dislodging her ponytail. The loose hairstyle had been irritating her all day. She couldn’t believe she’d dressed up for a guy. She had to get Matt Simmons out of her mind. She couldn’t help someone who didn’t want to be helped.

It was time to let it go.

“Um, Penny? You have some visitors.” Georgia’s voice crackled over the intercom system.

She snatched up her handset. “Georgia, I need a minute. Can you ask one of the other therapists to get the patient started? I’ll check in on them in a few.”

“I would, but these aren’t patients. You have visitors. Scott is here.”

“What? He’s here? I guess that’s what he was calling about.”

“You have another visitor, too. Sergeant Simmons is here to speak with you as well.” By the clipped tone of her assistant’s voice, Penny could only assume one or both men were nearby.

“They’re both here? Okay. I’ll be there in a moment.”

Penny dropped the phone in the cradle and then pushed her chair back. “Crap. I do not need this right now.” She pulled open her desk drawer and took out her handbag. There wasn’t a lot of damage control she could do in just a few minutes, but at least she could smooth her hair and make sure she didn’t have anything in her teeth.

After her emergency primping session, she emerged from the patient corridor into the waiting room. Scott jumped up from his seat. He looked like he’d just come from court, his light brown hair lightly gelled back and his suit as crisp as the day he’d bought it.

“Hey, there’s my girl.” Scott pulled her against him and kissed her passionately.

“Whoa! Uh, hello to you, too.” Penny glanced around and several of the waiting patients averted their eyes. Her face burned as she turned around. She’d never been into public displays of affection and Scott wasn’t either. She put her hands on his chest to keep him at a proper distance. “What’s gotten into you? You’re awfully friendly.”

“Just missed you. I’ve been calling you all morning. For a minute there, I thought you weren’t going to come out. I was hoping we could do lunch.”

“Sorry. I’ve been a little preoccupied today.” Penny turned, startled to see Matt leaning against the reception desk watching her.

The same feeling she’d experienced yesterday rolled through her, forcing the heat of another blush to her cheeks, picking up her pulse, and shortening her breath.

Scott followed her line of vision. “Who is that?”