zone when done in front of an audience.
She couldn’t meet Matherson’s gaze, and she sure wasn’t going to look at Ryan. Appalled at their actions, she still wanted to step back into Ryan’s arms and have his generous lips find hers again. She desired more than a kiss. Her body shook with the need to draw him to her. “I have to go.”
Her knee hit the chair leg in her fervor to leave the room. Not sure how she did it, she made her way out of the office and the department. Wishing for her old sensible shoes back, she walked as fast as her new heels would allow. At the first bank of elevators she pushed the button for the eighth floor. Getting in the first door that opened, she rode up. Not until they opened again did she realize it was the eighth floor of a different wing of the hospital.
She wanted to stomp on the floor and scream Ryan, Ryan, Ryan. Instead, she took her frustration out on the down call button and punched it with the end of her finger. Why had he done it? Why had he kissed her in front of Matherson? She’d never been more embarrassed in her life. Did he mean anything by it other than to kiss her into submission? Regardless, it had been heaven to have his mouth on hers again.
* * *
Ryan lounged against the wall outside Lucy’s office door. He crossed his hands over his chest and prepared to wait. This time he didn’t mind doing so. The taste of Lucy lingered on his lips. She’d returned his kiss. Held nothing back, even in front of Matherson. Maybe there was hope after all.
When she turned the corner of the hall a few minutes later, he suppressed a smile. The Lucy that had stood up to him was back. He’d seen some evidence of it in Matherson’s office but by the look on her face now, he knew he was in for it. The best part was that he was looking forward to the fight and hopefully the making up. The last week had been one of pure misery.
As she stalked toward him he said, “You got lost again.”
He smiled when she mumbled, “Darned elevators.” She stopped beside him and shoved her key in the door. “I don’t need you making fun of me. You’ve hardly spoken to me in a week.” She turned to face him. “Then you pulled that stunt in front of Matherson.”
Lucy flung her hair back as she turned to fiddle with the key. “How could you?”
Her wildflower scent touched his nostrils. He wanted to bury his nose in that warm, silky spot on her neck that he knew so well and inhale all of her. Pushing down a groan, he leaned towards her. “If you don’t talk sweeter to me, I just might do it again right here.”
She jerked her head up to look down the hall toward the nurses’ station. “Don’t,” she muttered.
“Why, Lucy? Because you’re afraid you might like it? I thought you were the one who believes in sharing feelings.”
She pushed the office door open and entered. He followed, not giving her a chance to close the door on him.
“You might not lose your job, but I could.”
“No, you won’t. I told Matherson I’d be glad to continue working with you. That I thought he made a much better matchmaker than HR director.”
“You said that?” she squeaked.
He shut the office door behind him. For once he appreciated an automatic lock. “Okay, maybe I left that last part off.”
She turned to face him, hands on her hips. “If we continue to work together you can’t kiss me every time I voice my opinion.”
“Yes, I can.” He grinned, stepping a pace closer, grateful the office was small.
“Huh?”
“I think you love me.”
She blinked. Then a smile formed on her lips. “Pretty sure of yourself, aren’t you, Dr. O’Doherty?”
He moved closer until her breasts touched his chest. “Kiss me again, Lucy.”
She placed her hands on his shoulders and looked into his dark blue eyes as she touched her lips to his. Heaven. He opened for her and she slipped her tongue in to meet his. He greeted and encouraged it. Her hands moved to wrap around his neck as he became master of the kiss, drawing her to him and heating her so that she melted against him.
Divine minutes later he pulled away and looked into her face as he combed his fingers through her hair. “You cut it.” He groaned with disappointment.
“It was time and I needed to make a statement I’d changed.”
His other hand went to her waist. “You did that with your wardrobe alone.”
“You noticed? The way you’ve been giving me the cold shoulder, I thought you might not have.”
He trailed his fingers over her hip. “Oh, I noticed and so did the male interns. I might have spoken a little harshly to one after I caught him watching you walk away.”
“So, I’m not the only one who has jealousy issues.” She cupped his face. “I’m sorry I hurt you. I just couldn’t get things straight in my head. I was so eaten up with envy and confused about my life that I couldn’t think straight.”
“Have you got it figured out?”
“You were right.” Her hands ran over his shoulders to stop at his biceps as she looked into his eyes. “Alexis had no idea. She and I had a long talk. I discovered I’ve being using her as a security blanket all my life. I needed to find my own identity.”
“Do you still want what Alexis has?”
“No.”
His heart fell, taking his hope with it. She didn’t want a family any more. Which meant that even if she loved him, which she hadn’t said she did, it would never work between them. He wanted children. He wasn’t staying around to have his heart trampled twice.
He took a step back and let his hands fall to his sides. “I understand. I just came by to apologize for embarrassing you. I won’t let it happen again.”
“Ryan.” She caught his hand as he turned. “I don’t think you do understand.”
He looked at their hands then up at her face.
“I don’t want what Alexis has. I want more. A husband of my own and lots and lots of children.”
His heart fluttered and started to live again. “And who do you plan to have father these children?” he asked, moving close again.
“I was hoping you might consider the job,” she said with a flicker of shy lashes that he found alluring. “I love you, Ryan O’Doherty. With all my heart. Do you maybe still care for me?”
He swept her up into his arms again, holding her as tight as he dared. Joy surged through him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him just as tightly.
“I love you,” she said over and over.
He moved so that he could see her face. It was killing him to have to ask but he had to know. “You’re sure that you’re not just replacing Alexis with me?”
She
