NYC Angels: The Wallflower's Secret

He had the phone to his ear. From the questions he was asking, he was speaking to someone at the hospital. His dedication to his job was one of the many facets of his personality she admired. Caring for his patients was his top priority. That compassion extended to her.

Looking up, he gave her a smile of encouragement. She made an effort to return it but she didn’t think she pulled it off when his brows dipped in concern. The self-conscious feeling when he watched her intensified while she gathered her underwear. She wasn’t used to that kind of scrutiny from anybody, particularly from a devastatingly sexy man.

She stepped into her tiny closet and pushed clothes around on the rack, unable to make up her mind about what to wear. A long arm reached past her. She squeaked.

Ryan pulled a hanger supporting an aqua-colored sweater dress off the pole. “I like you in this one.” He hung it on the hook on the closet door. “You wore it the third day you came to work.”

“You noticed?” She’d had no idea he’d observed her that closely.

“Yeah, I noticed a lot of things about you.” Ryan reached an arm around her waist and pulled her back to his front. His fingers splayed over her robe to cover her stomach.

She rested against him, enjoying the warmth and strength of him that seeped through her. He kissed her neck. She shivered.

He moved upwards and found that spot behind her ear. The one he’d discovered the night before. He kissed it. “You’re so tense. Honey, you’ve got to ease up on yourself or you’re going to make yourself sick. I know just what to do to relieve that stress.” The hand on her stomach pressed her back against him even more, leaving her in no doubt what he meant. He continued to nibble at her ear.

Her head fell against his shoulder. He slipped a hand beneath her robe and cupped a breast. She panted softly as his fingers teased, working their magic. His hand slid downwards as he pushed the robe open, leaving a trail of heat along her skin. Pulling at the belt of her robe, he gained access to her bare body. His hand inched further down. His index finger flirted with her opening then retreated. She moaned. Warm heat pooled in her.

“Lucy?”

“Mmm?”

He whispered against her ear. “What do you want?”

“More.” She felt his smile against her skin.

His finger slipped in to find her core. She went up on tiptoe and leaned back against him.

“How do you feel?”

“Good.”

“How good?” His finger moved again.

“Oh, so good.”

Ryan watched as Lucy nibbled at her bottom lip. Her unease had increased as they’d waited for the elevator that would take them up to Alexis’s floor. Letting go of his hand, she pushed at her hair. It wasn’t necessary because she’d swirled and curled it, pulling the mass into a messy knot at the back of her neck. “How’re you feeling?” he asked. “I was better earlier.”

She still sounded more stressed than he would have liked. She was going to scare her sister if she didn’t lighten up some.

“Do we need to find a closet?” he asked.

He laughed at her stricken look. “We can’t have sex every time I’m upset.”

“I don’t know. I’m available.”

She gave a real smile for the first time since he’d left her at her apartment that morning. “Thanks for the offer. I’ll keep that in mind.”

He’d watched the movement of her lips and had immediately wanted to find somewhere private. Getting enough of her was becoming a problem.

As they rode up in the elevator, her frantic look became more pronounced. She fumbled with her purse, dropping it. Picking it up, Ryan handed it back to her. “Honey, take a deep breath.”

She did so.

Where had the woman gone who had marched into his office and told him off in no uncertain terms?

“Now, give me your hand.” He held out his hand palm up and gave her his most reassuring grin.

The door of the elevator slid open and they stepped into the hall. Lucy’s grip tightened as they neared the door of her sister’s apartment, as if she was drawing strength from him. Standing in front of the door, she tried to pull her hand from his. She was going to run.

He brought her close, kissing her until she melted against him. “You can do this.” He gave her another quick peck.

She nodded and squared her shoulders. Ryan knocked on the door.

CHAPTER EIGHT

LUCY WAS STILL under Ryan’s spell until the door opened and Alexis rushed out, wrapping Lucy in a bear hug.

“Oh, Lucy, it’s so good to see you. I’ve missed you.” Alexis sounded as if she was choked up with happiness.

Shame washed over Lucy as she stiffened in her twin’s embrace. Afraid Alexis would pick up on the slightest vibe, she returned the hug. She didn’t want her sister to know, wouldn’t let her know. She couldn’t hurt her sister.

Alexis released her and looked at Ryan.

Lucy gathered her thoughts enough to say, “Alexis, this is Ryan O’Doherty. A…uh…friend of mine.”

Ryan smiled his killer smile. “Hi, Alexis. It’s nice to meet you. I knew you weren’t identical twins but I still see the family resemblance in the eyes.” The O’Doherty charm was flowing.

Alexis grinned.

Lucy appreciated him picking up the introduction. It gave her time to gather herself.

“Y’all come in.” Alexis turned and opened the door wider.

Ryan’s large warm hand rested on Lucy’s back, a reassuring reminder that he was there for her. He had her back figuratively and literally.

“Your sister has a nice drawl but it isn’t as sweet as yours,” he whispered into her ear before closing the door behind them. As they entered the living area, a smiling Sam was carrying little Emily to meet them. Lucy froze. Ryan almost stumbled into her. Gracefully, he recovered and stood beside her. His hand brushed up then down her back, letting her know that he was aware of her response.

“Lucy, we’re so glad to see you. We thought if you were too busy to come see us we’d just come see you.”

“Hi, uh…Sam.” She faltered with his name, her attention so completely focused on Emily.

“I’m Ryan O’Doherty.”

She barely registered Ryan speaking. The two men shook hands.

Only because she’d lost the warmth of Ryan’s hand did her gaze break away from the baby. She had grown so much and become more beautiful since she’d seen her.

Sam pulled her into a one-armed hug and she returned it quickly. She never wanted to see that unsure look on Alexis’s face again.

Alexis’s attention turned to Ryan. “So, are you the doctor who keeps Lucy so busy that she doesn’t have time to call us?” She moved to stand beside Sam.

Ryan glanced at Lucy and winked. “We’ve been busy.” His look suggested something different than hospital business.

Lucy couldn’t help but give him a small smile. His wink always made her feel as if she belonged. He was trying so hard to ease her out of her worries but the intense jealousy stuck like chewed gum. Her attention turned back to the little cherub in Sam’s arms. She itched to reach for Emily and pull her close to inhale her baby fresh smell. But she couldn’t. It would be too hard to let her go. She stepped away to put some space between her and the child.

“This is Emily,” Sam proudly said to Ryan. “Our baby girl.”

For the first time the deep searing pain she normally felt when Sam made that statement wasn’t as strong. Thankfully the ache was easing. Becoming what it should be. Although everything in her still begged to reach out and take Emily, but she dared not do it.

“Come on in and have a seat.” Alexis directed them to the living area. Two sofas faced each other with a low table between them. “Let me take your coats. We thought we’d just have dinner catered in. It would be so much easier than going out with Emily. That way we can really talk.” She placed the coats over a chair near the door.

“That sounds nice.” Lucy forced out

the polite comment as she took a seat on the sofa.

How had she let her feelings get so out of control that she had to make an effort to have a conversation with her sister? She didn’t like it but didn’t know what to do about it. It was as if she and Alexis were old friends trying to find common ground again.

They’d been everything to each other before Emily had come along. Alexis marrying Sam had changed things between them but that had been nothing compared to how they’d been after Emily had arrived. They’d once shared everything but now Lucy hid a crippling ugly secret.