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“I am not jealous. Why would I be?”
He gave her a thoughtful look. “I don’t know. Maybe because you want me for yourself?”
She glared at him. “Now you’re making things up.”
Minutes later she finished the last bit of pancake and took a slip of coffee. She leaned back in the booth and yawned.
“I’d better get you home to bed,” Ty said, pulling out his wallet.
“Why Doctor, do you say that to every surgeon you work with?”
His heart skipped a beat. “Why, Doctor, are you flirting with me?”
Her eyes went wide and she squared her shoulders. “I’ve never flirted in my life.”
Ty could believe that. “Well, there’s always a first time for everything. And I do believe that you were.”
“It won’t happen again.” Her serious tone returned.
“I sure hope that isn’t true. I enjoyed it. Hey, before we go, draw me a map to your house.”
“I live in a condo.”
“Okay, condo.”
“Ma’am,” Michelle called to the server, “may I have a piece of paper and borrow a pen?”
She looked back at Ty. “I usually have a notepad with me.”
“I’m not surprised.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means you’re always prepared.” His tone implied he wasn’t impressed by her thoroughness.
When the server didn’t immediately fulfill her request, he picked up a napkin. “Here, just use this.”
“A napkin?”
“Yeah, you’ve never written on a napkin?
“No.”
“My pockets are full of notes I’ve written on napkins.”
“This time I’m not surprised.”
“I guess you wouldn’t expect anything different.” He’d let her believe whatever she wanted. It was just as well she wasn’t impressed by him. Still, it would be nice…
Ty threw a couple of tens on the table. When Michelle started to argue he said, “Don’t say anything about me paying. I’m the one who wanted to stop.”
Outside, beside the motorcycle again, Michelle was determined to show Ty that she could handle the bike. She picked up her helmet before he had a chance to hand it to her. Pulling it into place and snapping the strap, she waited.
His grin gave her a surge of satisfaction. After he climbed on, she joined him, not hesitating to wrap her arms around him.
“I might have to start sabotaging your car every night if I get to have you hug me.”
“I’m too tired to have a pithy comeback.”
He chuckled. It made a wonderful ripple of sensation against her chest. Her nipples hardened in response. The man had a sexuality that called to her on a level she’d never experienced before. Her body hummed with an urge to answer. Maybe just this once. He wouldn’t be here long. For once it could be about her. But she wouldn’t. That road would lead to nothing but heartache. That alone made her determined not to need a ride from him again.
“Michelle, you’re home. You can let go now.” Ty shook his shoulder, jiggling her. His voice held a note of humor.
Oh, no. She had dozed off against Ty’s back. She was so exhausted and he was so large, warm and comfortable she hadn’t been able to keep her eyes from closing.
She jerked upright. “Uh, yeah.”
“You were asleep, weren’t you?”
She slid off the bike. Holding onto him as she went. She would miss not touching those powerful shoulders. “A little maybe. Thanks for the ride.”
Ty put the kickstand down and began to climb off.
She removed her helmet and handed it to him.
“What’re you doing?”
“Making sure you get inside safely.”
“That’s not necessary. I come in at all hours and have done so for years. I can take care of myself.”
“Yes, ma’am. Just trying to be nice. Which one of these stately manors is yours?”
He made it sound like he wasn’t impressed with the brick townhouses with the manicured shrubs. Once again she had the feeling he was scrutinizing her life and finding it lacking.
“The second on the right. Thanks again for the ride.” She left him standing by the bike and headed for her front door. She pulled the key out of her scrub pants pocket, slipped it into the lock and was inside before she heard the roar of the motorcycle going down the road.
She couldn’t remember the last time someone had waited outside her door to make sure she was in safely.
CHAPTER THREE
MICHELLE ROLLED OVER and picked up her phone. “Dr. Ross.”
“Good afternoon, Michelle,” Ty’s deep-timbred voice said into her ear. Her treacherous heart leaped.
“Yes?”
“It’s Ty.”
“I know.”
“Is that the best greeting you can give at two in the afternoon?”
“Yes.”
He chuckled. “Not an afternoon person, are you?”
“Is there a problem with a patient?”
“No. I just wanted to let you know that I had Jimmy take care of your car.”
“Jimmy?”
“Yeah, one of the hospital security guys. Fine fellow. He needs the extra money so I had him look at your car.”
She’d worked at the hospital for years and she couldn’t call a single security officer by name, but Ty knew all about one. Suddenly she felt ashamed of herself.
“Your car is running now. He says you shouldn’t have any more problems. Just corroded cables.”
“Uh, great. Thanks.”
“You also left your purse in my bike. I’ve put it under the driver’s seat of your car and locked it. Oh, by the way, I had a look around and I now know your weight and how old you are.”
“You did not!”
His full-bodied laugh covered her like a warm blanket from the dryer.
“I thought that might get a reaction. No, I didn’t. But I did arrange for Jimmy to pick you up when you’re ready. Just call Security and ask for him.”
“I don’t think—”
“Michelle, he needs the money. Let him have his pride.”
Ty was really a good person. He saw a need and acted.
She didn’t say anything for a few seconds.
“Did you go back to sleep on me?”
A picture of her asleep with her head on his broad chest popped into her mind. “No,” came out squeakier than she wished. “Thanks, Ty. I appreciate all you’ve done.”
“No prob. See you soon.”
Between her mother and her patients, she’d spent so much time taking care of others she forgotten just how nice it was to be taken care of. Too nice.
* * *
Four days later, Michelle was preparing to tap on the door of her patient’s room when there was a burst of laughter from inside. Shawn had come through surgery well and after a short visit to CICU he was now in a room on the floor. She knocked.
A couple of deep voices could be heard then one called, “Come in.”
She pushed the door open to find her patient sitting up in bed with a video-game controller in his hand. He didn’t look at her. Instead, his focus remained on the bright animated characters on the TV. She glanced up to see what was happening. Every once in a while there was a white flash and a loud noise of something blowing up. Shaking her head, Michelle turned to her patient again.
Her eyes widened in disbelief. Sitting beside Shawn with another controller in his hand was Ty. She’d not seen him the last few days. With a sureness Michelle couldn’t ignore, she admitted she’d missed him. Now he was shifting his body from side to side in an effort to see the TV around her.
