LITMIR.BIZ

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had a quality that Lizza could never touch.

      A raw, honest sensuality that went to the very core of who she was. And Clay couldn’t believe no other man had snatched her up.

      Then again, maybe she hadn’t wanted to be snatched up. Tessa was so driven to succeed. Maybe that was enough for her.

      Except what he’d experienced in his bed said she wanted more.

      He ducked into Mr. Phillips’s room to check on the man’s leg. Brian Perry was there as well, reading the patient’s chart. He nodded to the other doctor, who returned the gesture. Tessa had mentioned that the care team had met about his melanoma, and the recommended treatment was a grueling course of chemo. Mr. Phillips had said no.

      “How’s our patient?” Clay asked. He wouldn’t admit that he was disappointed it wasn’t Tessa in the room. At least, not to the other doctor.

      Mr. Phillips was the one who answered. “I’m ready to go home, that’s how I am.”

      It was said with a smile but, still, he could hear a little note of impatience in the man’s voice.

      “I’m sure it won’t be much longer. But you’re going to need to visit a rehab center to get back on your feet. You realize that, don’t you?”

      “I think I’ll skip that, if it’s all the same to you, Doc.”

      Clay looked at the patient’s face and saw a tiredness and grim resignation that made his chest ache.

      In the end, it was Mr. Phillips’s decision, and Clay had to respect that. “Is your daughter still here?”

      The man nodded. “She’s going to stay for a while. Her kids are grown, and she said she’s wanted to take a vacation for the past year.” He shifted on his bed. “I don’t think this was quite what she had in mind.”

      Maybe not, but Clay was glad someone was going to be with him. Maybe she would even talk her dad into moving closer to them.

      “I’m sure she’s just happy to get to see you for a while.” He did a quick check, measuring function in his damaged leg. Dr. Perry stood a few feet back, watching the proceedings without saying anything. Clay assumed he’d already done his own assessment on the site where they’d removed the melanoma. But maybe not.

      Once he finished and told Mr. Phillips he’d return tomorrow with news about when he’d be released, he left the room, only to have Brian follow him.

      He turned toward the other man. Maybe he’d been right the first time he’d seen Dr. Perry and Tessa doing surgery together. He’d gotten a funny feeling that the other man might like her. Could be that he was going to ask about those damned jars or warn him off.

      To which he’d offer a warning of his own: that the man needed to mind his own business. He was in no mood to spare anyone’s feelings at the moment.

      “You and Tessa know each other from… before, right?”

      The question took him by surprise, and yet it was along the lines of what he’d expected. “We knew each other in medical school, yes.”

      He 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?”

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