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“Come in,” London practically growled.
The door opened about six inches. “Umm…Dr. Kelley?”
“Yes, come in,” she repeated, this time in a calmer voice.
It opened all the way, and a baby-faced blonde wearing green scrubs and a white coat that was shorter than London’s stepped into the office. “Sorry to disturb you, Dr. Kelley, but Nurse Beverly in Obstetrics sent me. She wanted to know if you’ve had a chance to discuss the staffing issue with Dr. Waller?”
London threw her head back and sighed up at the ceiling. “I haven’t,” she admitted. “Tell her that I’ll talk to Waller before the end of the day. I promise.”
The other doctor smiled before turning and closing the door behind her.
“Well?” London asked once she and Drew were alone again.
He hooked his thumb toward the door. “You’re in pediatric surgery. Why are you handling an issue for Obstetrics instead of someone from that department?”
“Because their nurses don’t feel as comfortable with some of the residents and attendings as they do with me,” she said. “And we’re not talking about the nurses in Obstetrics right now. You were about to explain why I had to find out you were working at County this morning in front of half the hospital.”
“I have no excuse,” Drew said, lifting his hands in surrender. He hadn’t been straight with her this weekend, but he would do so now. His honesty would likely earn him a black eye, but that’s the price he would have to pay. “I should have told you about Trident’s new contract with County at the reunion. If not at the reunion, then definitely once we went up to my room. Or when you came back to my room to get your purse on Sunday.”
The anger that flashed across her face was so intense that, for a moment, Drew feared for his safety. But being a surgeon, she wouldn’t use her hands to hurt him. They were too precious to her profession. She was more likely to deliver a swift kick to his groin.
Lucky for him, London had more restraint than a lot of women he knew.
“You are such an asshole,” she said. “Iknewbetter than to trust you.” She folded her arms across her chest and perched on the edge of the desk. “You know, I called this,” she continued. “I figured this was all some elaborate joke for you. A stupid game of one-upmanship so that you can have the upper hand.”
“Wait a minute. You think I slept with you as a joke? To try to get the better of you?”
“Don’t try to deny it.”
“You’re way off base here.” He shook his head. “You want to believe I’m an asshole for keeping you in the dark about my work at County? Go for it. That’s fair. But I would never sleep with you under false pretenses, or as part of some twisted game to gain a competitive edge against you. I’m notthatmuch of an asshole.”
“So, why didn’t you say anything? We talked for hours Saturday night. I must have mentioned the hospital a dozen times. Not once did you think to say, ‘Oh, hey, guess what, London? I’ll be there on Monday.’”
He had no answer.
“I’m sorry,” Drew said, because hewassorry for not being totally honest with her. But he would never be sorry for Saturday night. Or Sunday afternoon.
“I messed up and I’m sorry,” he said again. She stared at him, her face impassive. “And, obviously, you’re not ready to accept my apology at the moment.”
“If ever,” she stated.
Drew tilted his head back and sighed. “Look, London, I know things may get a bit awkward now that we’ve seen each other naked, but we don’t have to make a big deal out of this. This weekend was something that happened. We both enjoyed it. Now we can move on.”
She pointed to her chest. “Idecide what is or isn’t a big deal for me, okay? You don’t get to tell me how I should feel about any of this.” She looked him up and down. “And I didn’t enjoy itthatmuch.”
“Bullshit,” Drew flung out before he could stop himself. He held up both hands. “Fine, you’re pissed. And with good reason. But I have marks on my shoulders from you biting the hell out of me when you came. You can lie to yourself if you want to, but I have no problem admitting that was some of the best sex I’ve ever had. And don’t think for a minute that I’ll believe it wasn’t the same for you.”
He propped his hands on his hips and stared at her, challenging her to deny his words. London’s chest rose and fell, her nostrils flaring with each breath she took.
“You arrogant bastard,” she ground out between clenched teeth. “I can’t believe I fucked you while sober.”
“Multiple times,” Drew shot back. If he was going to be on her shit list from now until eternity, there was no need for him to pull any punches.
But, dammit, that’snotwhat he wanted.
He wanted to go back to Sunday afternoon, when she lay in his bed basking in post-orgasmic bliss. If he’d told her about Trident’s contract with the hospital then, she would have been upset, but not this upset. Then again, this was London. She may have had this same reaction no matter when he’d told her.
It was irrelevant at this point. He was here to do a job, one that was crucial to this community. He wouldn’t allow London’s feelings to get in the way of completing the task at hand.
