was not about to admit that he’d been ready to propose to her back then.
“Did she ever express any interest in obstetrics while you were in school?”
His brows came together. “Obstetrics? No. Why?”
Brian leaned against the wall. “I expected her to apply for a fellowship in either cutaneous oncology or Mohs, but Faye Powers mentioned Tessa had an appointment with her today. When I asked her what it was about, she said she assumed it was about the fellowship positions, since applications are about to start coming in. Faye’s still officially the head of the department, at least until she retires next week. She’s decided to accept paperwork until they appoint a replacement, although she won’t be making the actual decisions about who gets the fellowships.”
Brian scuffed a toe on the linoleum. “Tessa did a rotation in Obstetrics, but I didn’t think she was headed in that direction.”
Clay tried to wrap his head around that.
“Obstetrics? Are you sure?”
The other man shrugged. “I can’t think of any other reason Tessa would want to speak with the head of Maternal Fetal medicine, can you?”
“No.” Tessa was always full of surprises, but he couldn’t imagine her wanting to change specialties midstream. Especially not with her mom’s illness driving her in the other direction. But what else could it be?
Something clicked in the back of his head, a few gears engaging the problem.
If she hadn’t been on the Pill, he might have wondered if the appointment had anything to do with the night they’d shared together. But she’d assured him she was.
Could she have been so caught up in the moment that she’d lied?
He couldn’t imagine her being that irresponsible. Besides, he’d wanted to use a condom, and she’d countered by saying she was on the Pill.
He hadn’t argued, accepting the unspoken message—they were both clean, and she was protected.
Brian moved away from the wall. “Well, I thought you might know something. Our department would hate to lose her. She stands to be one of the best we have. I’m already hearing murmurs that the hospital wants to make sure it keeps her.”
Clay already knew she was good, but he had no idea why Brian thought he’d know anything about what she was planning.
Those damn collection jars. If his mom thought they were becoming involved again, even knowing their past, everyone at the hospital probably thought the same thing. Or worse. “I’ll direct her your way, if the subject comes up.” Not that he expected it to.
Except something in him wanted to make sure. Had to make sure.
They parted ways, Clay heading down the hallway toward the bank of elevators. The first car opened its doors, and he got in just as the one coming down opened. Tessa emerged from the pack, heading with purpose down the hall toward their patient’s room. Putting his hand out, he stopped the elevator doors from closing and murmured his apologies to the other passengers as he stepped off.
“Tess.”
His voice stopped her in her tracks, but she didn’t turn around right away. When she finally did, her face was pink. What the hell was going on?
“I just checked in on Mr. Phillips, if that’s where you’re headed. Brian Perry was there, as well.” No reason to beat around the bush, but he certainly didn’t want to do it standing here in the hall, where anyone could overhear them. “Would you come to my office for a minute? I’d like to talk to you.”
He thought she was going to refuse, but then she nodded.
Leading the way, he was careful not to touch her as they got back on the elevator and made their way up to the fifth floor. Neither of them said anything as there were a few other people in the car. Finally they got off and headed down the corridor to Clay’s small office. Once inside, he shut the door and motioned her to a seat, while he perched on the front of the desk.
“Like I said, I saw Brian Perry while I was in Mr. Phillips’s room.”
“Oh?” She looked up at him, clearly confused. “That’s what you wanted to talk to me about?”
“In part. He’s worried you might be changing specialties.”
“Changing specialties? What gave him that idea?”
He crossed one ankle over the other. “Your trip down to the obstetrics department.”
Her mouth popped open for several seconds before she closed it again, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip. Then she sat up a little straighter. “I—I’m not sure I follow. Why would he think I was changing specialties?”
She hadn’t denied going to Obstetrics. It was more as if she was avoiding the word altogether.
“Maybe because you had an appointment with Dr. Powers, who’s collecting fellowship applications until she retires.”
Every ounce of color leached from her face. “How did he find out about my appointment?”
“She thought you were applying for a fellowship as well and mentioned it. If Brian Perry knows, others probably do, as well.” He leaned forward a bit. “What’s going on, Tessa?”
“Nothing.” Her voice shook the tiniest bit, belying the word.
His brief moment of suspicion flared back up, finding new fuel and licking at it for all it was worth.
“Does this have anything to do with the other night?” He gripped the edge of his desk with both hands. “We still have capoeira practice to contend with, so we’re going to have to work to get past this.”
“I know. It’s just awkward. I don’t think either of us expected what happened.”
“I certainly didn’t expect to hear about you running down to Obstetrics within days of our encounter.”
“What do you mean?”
He studied her for a moment or two then decided to be blunt. “You said you were on the Pill. You are, right? Your visit to Faye Powers had nothing to do with our time together.”
“Clay, I…” He thought she was going to say something else, but she simply shook her head.
An eerie premonition began to march up his spine. Lizza had gotten pregnant with Molly unexpectedly, and he’d asked her to marry him to make things right. But Tessa hadn’t wanted to be married to him back when they’d been dating, and he didn’t expect her to want it now. Not that they’d need to.
She’s not pregnant.
Time to get that thought out in the open and verify it for his own peace of mind. “Did you take your Pill the night we were together?”
Her hands twisted in front of her. “I—I’d been so busy over the past week and had several night shifts. By the time I got off… I
