gone to the bar alone less than an hour ago and was returning with a man.
They got into the elevator and she hit the button to her floor.
“Penthouse?” he remarked.
“It’s the best.”
The elevator stopped and they walked down the hall to her apartment. She was shaking. She was very nervous about what was going to happen, but she wanted it to happen.
“Here it is,” she said, hoping that her voice didn’t wobble too much.
Get a grip on yourself, Mindy! You’re not some inexperienced virgin. You’ve done this before.
“Are you nervous, Mindy?” he asked.
“A bit.”
“Look, we don’t have to do this. I won’t be mad.”
He was being a gentleman. He was giving her a way out, but she didn’t want a way out. She wanted this. She needed this night. Tomorrow she was going to start her new job and she wouldn’t have time for moments like this.
As of tomorrow she planned to focus solely on building her career and her patient list at West Manhattan Saints. There would be no time for dating, gorgeous men or trysts. It was now or never.
“No, I want this. It’s just that I’ve… I’ve never done this before.”
He smiled at her tenderly, stroking her face. “I have a confession.”
“Oh, yes?”
“I haven’t done this for a very long time, and if you want to stop at any moment, I’ll stop. I won’t force you, I won’t pressure you.”
Mindy smiled and then kissed him, just like she had in the bar. His arms came around her, their bodies pressed together.
“I want this.” She unlocked the door to her apartment and pulled him inside.
There was no turning back now for her.
SAM HURRIED DOWN the hall of West Manhattan Saints at a quick pace, but considering he was late it was a pace that wasn’t quick enough for his liking. He’d been reluctant to leave that temptress’s bed this morning, but he had and before she’d woken up.
Which was good. He didn’t want to deal with any aftermath. At least her apartment was close to the hospital, but he was still late. He was never late and people would notice. It wasn’t good.
Not when today was the day the new head of maternal-fetal medicine was being introduced to the peds floor. He’d barely made it to the hospital in time for a shower and a fresh set of scrubs. His sweater, currently hanging in his locker, still smelled strongly of Scotch. He straightened the collar of his white lab coat and slung his stethoscope around his neck without missing a beat.
“Holly said you didn’t make it home last night,” Rebecca, their new roommate, teased as she fell into step beside him.
“Since when did you become my keeper?”
“You’re tetchy this morning. What happened last night?”
“Nothing. Look, shouldn’t you be on the trauma floor?” Sam asked, trying to get rid of Rebecca before she pried too much deeper. His roommate didn’t need to know that he’d had a one-night stand. He didn’t know her well enough yet and she seemed to report everything back to Holly, Tessa or Kimberlyn. And those three were always purporting to know nice girls to set him up with. The three of them were in cahoots.
Sam figured it had something to do with the fact that he had been the only male in the brownstone for some time. Not to mention that they were all loved up themselves and seemed determined to push soulmatedom on everyone else.
“Heading there now. Just wanted to wish you good luck with the new head. I hear she’s tough.”
Sam grunted his thanks as Rebecca headed down another hallway that led back to Trauma and he kept on his course to Peds. Before he pushed open the rainbow-colored double doors that led into the pediatric department, he straightened his hair in the reflection of the mirror.
There was already a crowd gathering in the main thoroughfare of the department, right in front of the main charge desk. Sam could see Dr. Amelia Chang talking calmly to the group of surgeons who were all vying for the two coveted fellowship positions in Peds.
As he moved into the group he caught Dr. Chang’s gaze and could see she was quite aware that he was late. Her quiet disapproval and disappointment was hard to miss.
Mother would not be impressed.
At least Dr. Chang wouldn’t humiliate him and call him out on the carpet for being late. His mother’s way of teaching her residents was shaming them so they didn’t do it again. Dr. Chang would probably put him on scut duty. Labs and charting he could deal with.
“Now that we’re all here, we can finally get down to business. As you are all aware, this pediatric fellowship is one of the top five on the eastern seaboard, and we can only open this fellowship to two worthy residents. Because of that, the hospital has always felt that those two positions should not be decided solely by the pediatric head. That’s why the head of Neonatology, Dr. Hall, taking over from Dr. Powers, the head of Obstetrics, Dr. Finn, and also the new head of Maternal-Fetal Medicine will all have a say in who gets those two spots.” Dr. Chang leaned against the charge desk, her eyes scanning the crowd, silently assessing them in that unnerving way she had before continuing.
“I know some of you have questioned the need for Maternal-Fetal Medicine to have an impact on your career as a pediatric fellow at West Manhattan Saints. We don’t see a lot of births that require a need for that, but that is changing. West Manhattan Saints hopes to become an innovative leader in maternal-fetal medicine and high-risk pregnancies. We will be expanding our birthing center to accommodate high-risk pregnancies.”
Sam was stunned, but pleased that this new head wasn’t a waste of resources and he could see the potential of Labor and Delivery, Neonatology and Pediatrics hand in hand to become one of the best hospitals on the eastern seaboard. Still, how many high-risk pregnancies could they possibly see?
“As you know, Dr. Powers retired, and after many years of excellent service we wish her the best. Thankfully, Professor Langley was able to find a replacement for the maternal-fetal role, which means the selection for fellowship won’t be delayed any longer. Dr. Walker is one of the top maternal-fetal surgeons from California.”
A knot of dread formed in Sam’s stomach and he quickly scanned the room and then saw Dr. Walker approaching the group. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
Mindy.
The vixen from last night, the bumbling yeti who had spilled his Scotch and then seduced him, was walking with Dr. Finn. She looked so different from last night. All that glorious, silken mahogany hair was tied back and she wore black square glasses with only light lip gloss. Her look was demure, professional, but as Sam let his gaze rove over her, her appearance didn’t
