like I’d let a little detail like that dissuade me. “I’ll sing.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Can you sing?”
“I can carry a tune,” he promised, placing a hand on her waist. “Care to try me?”
His eyes zeroed in on the rapidly beating pulse in her neck, and he smiled. Good, he did affect her. For a moment, he thought she was going to take him up on his offer, but then she shook her head and stepped back. He reluctantly allowed his hand to drop to his side.
“Maybe another time,” she responded a little breathlessly.
“I’ll hold you to that,” he promised. “So how about it?”
She blinked. “How about what?”
“Go out with me,” Cam reiterated his previous request.
“I don’t think so.”
“Don’t you think it’s about time we see if this spark between us will flame?” He heard, saw and felt her quickly indrawn breath at his suggestive statement.
“Speaking of the time, I think I’ve done my duty for tonight.” She skillfully avoided answering his question. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to say good-night to Derrick and Alesha. I have to be at the hospital very early tomorrow.”
“May I take you home?”
“No, thanks, I have my car.”
“That’s a pity.” He sighed heavily, and she smiled.
“Sorry.”
“It’s okay.” He took a step closer, watching her gorgeous eyes constrict at his proximity. “But just so you know, I’m not giving up until you agree to go out with me, Angela.”
“No.” A smile played about her mauve-colored lips that begged to be kissed. “I’m sure you won’t.”
“Do you want me to?” He studied her carefully as she mulled over his question—a question that really wasn’t a difficult one to answer. Her hesitation both intrigued him and gave him hope. “Well?”
“I like you, Cam,” she slowly admitted. “But I’m afraid my plate is entirely too full right now to add anything else to it.”
“But you still have to eat.” His eyes slowly raked over her, and his hands longed to do the same. “Don’t you?”
Confusion lit up her expressive eyes as if she didn’t know exactly how to respond to his question. Good, he had her off balance. Taking advantage of that fact, he moved in closer and trailed a finger down her bare arm, watching her closely the entire time. He felt the shiver that ran through her, heard the soft gasp that escaped from her slightly parted lips and witnessed the noticeable darkening of her brown eyes. She wasn’t as indifferent as she would have him believe.
There was definitely something between them, and the time was finally ripe to explore it. He hadn’t aggressively pursued her when they first met a year ago because frankly he hadn’t had the time to devote to wooing her the way she deserved. However, that wasn’t the case anymore. His commitment to Derrick’s senatorial campaign was fulfilled, and his successful law firm was sailing along smoothly, which left him free to cultivate his personal life—and he was itching to see if Angela Brown would be a good fit in said personal life.
“I...” Angela shook her head as if to clear it and took a step away from him. “It was good seeing you again.” Her voice was breathless and made his skin tingle with excitement.
“You, too.” He grasped her hand, almost groaning at the feel of her soft skin against his, and brought it to his lips. “I look forward to our next encounter, which will be soon, if I have my way.”
She tilted her head to the side, studying him as if she was trying to figure out what to do with him. He had a few ideas he would love to share with her. The thought coerced a wicked grin from him.
“Good night, Cam.” She arched an eyebrow when his grip tightened on her hand before reluctantly releasing it.
“Good night.” He smiled and watched her walk across the room, then say a few words to Derrick and Alesha before heading for the door. She paused, seemed to wage a silent battle and then turned and stared at him. Everything stopped as their eyes met and held for a few electric seconds that seemed like hours. Then she broke eye contact and walked out of the room, taking the light with her.
She was like a breath of fresh air, and he had been deprived of oxygen for far too long. His smile widened, and he rubbed a hand across his bald head before scratching his hair-covered chin. What a beautiful, intriguing woman Angela Brown was. He felt more alive than he had in a long time after being in her presence, and he couldn’t wait until he saw her again.
He felt ridiculously happy and almost giddy from their impromptu meeting, which had him planning his next move. He grinned widely. Oh yeah, it was definitely on.
* * *
Cam shifted the gears of his apple-red Corvette as the car ate up the road. His fingers lovingly caressed the leather-covered steering wheel. He adored this car and found himself wishing he was on the open road so that he could really let her go. However, cognizant of the fact that he was traveling through city streets, he reduced his speed to acceptable levels before coming to a halt at a red light.
He couldn’t wait to get to George Washington University Hospital. There was a gorgeous nurse there with whom he had special business. He grinned as he thought of Angela. She’d be surprised to see him, but he had meant what he said to her a few nights ago—now that the craziness in both their lives had settled down, he had every intention of getting to know her better because he felt alive in her presence, and he was now convinced that she felt the strong attraction between them, too.
He planned on persuading her to have dinner with him—even if it was just cafeteria food. He had done some checking and knew she was on duty tonight, and unable to suppress the need to see her right now, here he was, prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice and eat hospital food if it meant he could spend some time with her.
Wow, he really did like her.
He chuckled as the light turned green and his foot depressed the accelerator. He had barely moved when out of the corner of his left eye, he saw a black blur speeding toward him. Turning his head, his eyes widened as a car barreled through the red light.
“I’ll be—”
He tried to maneuver out of the vehicle’s destructive path but was unsuccessful as it collided with his, sideswiping him. He cursed while turning the wheel, trying to right his suddenly out-of-control car.
The entire accident only took seconds that stretched out like interminable minutes. The sounds of crunching, grinding twisted metal, tires screeching, and exploding glass filled his ears as his car went into a tailspin. He frantically tried to control the spinning vehicle, but despite his best efforts, it hit something hard; the airbag deployed, blocking his vision, and then blackness enveloped him.
* * *
Angela Brown walked through the busy halls of George Washington University Hospital toward the emergency room feeling right at home. If there was one place she loved
