“In my line of work, often enough.” Mindy leaned back against the booth. “Those mono-amniotic twins, however, those are rare.”
“I’d like to assist if I may.”
Mindy grinned at him. “When the time comes. I am trying to keep those babies inside her for a bit longer. I don’t want them to be born too premature.”
“So the quints are the only thing on your docket tomorrow?” he asked.
“No, not the only thing. I have a few client consultations. I’m considered one of the top infertility doctors in the country, so it keeps me pretty busy.”
“You’re a surgeon of many talents.”
“I should hope so. I spent enough time in my fellowships.” She looked a little wistful. “Missed out a bit on things.”
“Aye, but it must’ve been worth it.”
“Oh, yes, it was. I wouldn’t change my education for anything.”
Sam leaned across the table. “You studied at Stanford?”
Mindy nodded. “Like I said before, I’m a native Californian. Never really traveled much. I liked the west coast too much.”
“Which begs the question again, why did you leave?” He knew he’d touched a part that was hidden behind one of her walls. The sparkle in her eye disappeared and her spine stiffened. She wouldn’t look him in the eye either, just traced her long, delicate fingers over the filigree on her cup.
“I told you, the chief made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.”
Sam knew better than to press the subject. He didn’t want this day to end on a sour note. If he couldn’t have her the way he wanted her, he wanted them to remain friends. He wanted to continue to work with her, learn from her because she was a brilliant surgeon.
“Right. I forgot.”
The waiter brought a tray of assorted sandwiches and blinis with caviar. Sam thanked the waiter and then held out a blini with caviar on it.
“So, you said you were how adventurous when it comes to your food?”
The smile returned to Mindy’s face. “No way out of this, is there?”
“Nope.”
She held out her plate and he gave her one. The rest of the tea went well. They talked about the hospital, about cases, about New York, and neither of them pried further into the other’s personal life.
It was a nice, friendly tea.
When it was over he hailed a cab and they took a taxi back to her apartment. He walked her to the door and stood under the canopy with her, not wanting their day to end but knowing that it must.
“I had a great time today, Sam. Thank you for showing this California girl around New York.”
“It was no problem. I’d been meaning to revisit some of those spots myself. I hadn’t been to the Statue of Liberty since I was a young boy.”
“Well, I’m glad you took me.”
“Me too.”
An awkward silence fell between them. They just stood there. He wanted to reach out, run his hands over her cheek and pull her into a kiss. That’s usually how he ended dates when he was dating.
Only he couldn’t with her.
“I’ll see you in the morning, Sam.” Mindy turned and disappeared inside.
Sam sighed, jammed his hands into his pockets and left to catch the subway back to his lonely flat in Brooklyn.
Not that he’d be alone as most of his roommates were off tonight, but without Mindy the world seemed like a pretty hollow, lonely and empty place.
It was the same world he woke up in every day, but after spending one day with Mindy he realized just how lonely he was.
MINDY TRIED NOT to let her gaze wander to Sam as she walked into the boardroom. It had been a week since their day in New York together. When he’d walked her to the door of her apartment she’d lingered.
She didn’t know why. Perhaps it had been habit. She had been waiting for him to kiss her, even though kissing him again wouldn’t have been wise.
Yet she’d waited there and he hadn’t done anything. Just stood with her, his blue eyes dark, his face unreadable.
She actually didn’t know why he’d waited there either, but the more he’d lingered the more she’d fought herself over inviting him up to her apartment. Of course, the last time she’d done that they’d slept together and she couldn’t do that again.
Though she’d wanted to.
Being with Sam was so easy. She admired and respected him as a surgeon; he was fun, sexy, intelligent. Sexy.
Stop thinking about sex and his sexiness.
Only she couldn’t when she was around him.
Focus.
Right now she had in front of her a skilled team of pediatricians, neonatologists, nurse practitioners, residents, anesthesiologists, just about anyone who could possibly help with her quint case. Mindy had been keeping an eye on Mrs. Jameson for about a week, but it was apparent to Mindy that with Mrs. Jameson’s condition they would have to prepare an elite team of practitioners in preparation for the quints’ birth.
It was coming sooner rather than later.
She glanced up quickly to see that Sam was sitting next to Dr. Chang, leaning back in the chair, focused on her intently. When their gazes met he smiled, just briefly.
It sent a zing through her.
Before she could get started, though, there was a knock and Professor Langley stepped into the room.
“My apologies, Dr. Walker. I hope I haven’t missed anything.”
“No, of course not. Come in.”
He nodded and then waved to someone else who was standing just outside the door. “I hope you don’t mind, but I read the case file on the quints. I noticed one of them had a brain bleed that might need to be addressed.”
“Yes. I was about to talk about the medical conditions of the babies.”
“I thought you might want the help of one of the finest neurosurgeons. So I brought in Dr. Hanley.” He stepped aside and Dr. Hanley stepped into the room.
Mindy’s eyes widened. There was a collective gasp. Everyone knew who Dr. Hanley was. Who didn’t? She was one of the
