Janice Lynn - The Doctor's Damsel in Distress

“Really?” That surprised her. She’d figured he lived in some fancy neighborhood for doctors and lawyers. Then again, that stereotypical image didn’t fit. Levi didn’t fit into any box.

“You ever run at the park?”

She nodded. Running was her stress relief. She’d never excelled at sports, but running didn’t require any special skills or co-ordination. Running was just her and the wind and her thoughts. Since moving to Angel Creek, running had involved her, her motivational downloads on her iPod, and her overactive imagination as she’d fantasized about Levi.

She told him about her early morning runs—excluding her downloads and fantasies, of course—and how she’d walk the greenway sometimes at night after getting off work to unwind.

“Sounds like we miss each other by about thirty minutes each morning,” Levi mused, scratching his lightly stubbled chin.

“Sounds like.” If only she’d known, she’d have crawled out of bed earlier just to get a glimpse of those legs of his each and every day. Who needed sleep? She’d sleep when she was old.

“Well, if you ever make it out earlier, you’ll have to look for me. We could run together.”

Exactly. She’d be looking for him. His legs. His narrow hips. His—She turned and looked out her window, willing her thoughts away from his body yet again. How could she keep relegating him to the physical when he’d been interesting and gallant and the perfect date?

Except this wasn’t a date. Not really.

He’d saved her life, X-rayed her ribs, taken her to dinner, and was now driving her home. Not a date. Except…except when he looked at her, she felt like she was on a date. Or on the set of a movie where the two characters were on fire for each other and could barely keep their hands to themselves, where just one tiny spark would send them up in flames. Poof.

She wanted to burn.

To smolder.

To go up in smoke.

“This the right place?”

Blinking, Madison glanced at the pretty little white frame house with its navy shutters. “Yep, this is me and Karen. You know Karen. She’s the charge nurse on the medical floor.”

Lord, she was babbling like an idiot. Of course he knew Karen. They’d talked about Karen and her at nursing school quite a bit that evening. Doh!

Be smooth, cool, sexy, Madison. Not a dork.

He just smiled though. “Nice.”

The park and close proximity to the hospital had been major selling points Karen had used in her arguments to get Madison to relocate. Madison liked the house well enough, too.

“Thanks for dinner and for driving me home…” Madison’s mouth dropped open and she shook her head in dismay. The man really messed with her mind. “Only I’d appreciate it if you drove me back to the park so I can pick up my car.” She looked him square in the eyes, willed herself to be strong, to be a modern woman and go for what she wanted. “Unless you’re planning on staying the night and dropping me off at my car in the morning? “

Levi pulled his car into the parking spot next to Madison’s powder-blue convertible VW beetle. He’d thought the car an odd choice for her the first time he’d noticed her driving it. Now, after spending the evening with her, he’d reconsidered. The convertible was the perfect combination of practical and impractical.

A car that would last and get great gas mileage, but that had a bit of whimsy and a generous helping of spunk.

A car that said, Put my top down and take me for a ride.

Just like Madison.

He shook the thought away just as she turned to him and smiled so brightly that he was certain she’d outshine the sun.

“I’ll have to try that pizza place again some time. Everything was delicious.” She licked her lower lip.

Nervously or in a seductive move? Either way, he swallowed, wondering if something had lodged in his throat that Madison was going to have to rescue him from.

“The food was good.” He managed to sound normal. “But, then, that pizza place is one of my favorites.”

He ran his palms over the steering-wheel, counted to ten. He wanted to lean across the distance between the driver and passenger seat, to pull her into his arms and taste those full pink lips.

But what would that accomplish? That is, other than him completely losing his head and taking her up on that offer to spend the night?

How he’d managed to put the SUV into reverse and drive to the park rather than bust her front door down in a rush to get her into bed he had no idea. Definitely he deserved applause, because he’d shown more restraint than he’d known he possessed. Still, he was a man who could see the big picture.

The big picture was that he wanted more with Madison than a one-night sex fest in her bed.

Much more.

Even now he could feel her gaze gliding over him, conveying invitation, conveying that she’d like him to let back her seat and crawl on top of her for a hot and heavy make-out session.

He tightened his grip on the steering-wheel, started counting again.

“I should go,” she said hesitantly, placing her hand on the passenger door handle, but she didn’t get out of the car. Just sat in the seat of his sports utility vehicle. Waiting.

“You should.” But he didn’t want her to get out of his truck. Not really. No more than she really wanted to get out. They sat in silence, staring at each other, the tension mounting, thumping through his head. Kiss her. Kiss her. Kiss Madison. Kiss her now. Kiss her until she’s clinging breathlessly to you.

No, not kiss her. He was going to make her want him long term.

Which required patience.

Which required willpower.

Which required sainthood.

Knowing he was no saint and in serious danger if he didn’t put some distance between them, Levi sucked in a deep breath and jumped out of the Ford. He rounded the front of the truck to open Madison’s door.

“Out you go.”

Looking a little stunned and very disappointed, she climbed out of the SUV with her hand tucked into his for assistance.

Knowing his limitations, he practically pushed her to the driver’s side of her car, waited for her to unlock and open the door.

“Thanks again.” She smiled at him, a mixture of confusion and invitation shining in her eyes. “I had a lovely time.”

Yes, so had he, which was why he ignored the enticement of her lips and high-tailed it into his SUV.

Despite the fact he was heading home to a cold shower, he had to admit he had enjoyed the evening with Madison. He looked forward to savoring her like a fine wine meant to be sipped slowly, enjoying each drop to its fullest.

See, nothing like his old man. Nothing. Jonathan Fielding would never have walked away from Madison. Never.

But Levi didn’t plan to walk away for ever. No, he’d bide his time, ensconce himself in every aspect of her life so she couldn’t imagine him not being there.

He’d have his steady, stable relationship, prove he wasn’t a damned thing like his father, and he’d have Madison, too.

She might think she just wanted hot sex with him, but before he was through she’d need him over and over, always needing just one more time.

Always needing him just once more.

Madison crawled in between her sheets, taking little pleasure in the smooth Egyptian cotton caressing her bare skin.

Had her breath been bad?

Had she had pizza sauce on her face?

Had she had a big “L” tattooed on her forehead?

Nope, none of those things, but Levi had rejected her. And he wasn’t the kind of man who rejected a willing woman he was attracted to. So what did that mean? That he’d just been being friendly, had realized she’d taken things all wrong, and he’d scampered backwards as quickly as he possibly could?

Maybe. Maybe not.

She just didn’t know.

What she did know was that Levi’s rejection left her feeling way too much like Simon had on numerous occasions. Left her feeling raw and achy on the inside. Left her resolved to make sure that barrier always stayed up around her heart.

Especially where Dr. Levi Fielding was concerned.

ON MONDAY morning, Levi spotted the petite blonde stepping out of room 217. The very beautiful petite blonde he’d looked for at the park Sunday morning and again this morning to no avail when he’d gone for his run. Despite how he’d lingered much longer than his usual run time, he hadn’t bumped into Madison either morning.

She wore bright pink scrubs with cartoon characters on them. Her short blonde hair was fluffed slightly and tapered in at her chin as if the strands wanted to cup her face.

When she glanced up and spotted him watching her, a shade of pink similar to her scrubs spread across her high cheekbones.

Did women who ate men for breakfast blush so readily?

She was too far away to touch, or even to speak to, really, but not so far away that he didn’t recognize the uncertainty in her eyes, that he couldn’t tell she was trying to figure out exactly where their dinner on Saturday had left them.

Pacing himself was one thing, but seeing the uncertainty in her eyes made him think he should have done something besides tell her to call him if she had problems with her ribs or throat. And here he thought he’d deserved a medal for the restraint he’d displayed as he’d scribbled his cell number on the back of a business card. She didn’t look like she wanted to give him a medal. Or even the time of day.

Well, hell. He made his way toward where she stood in the hospital hallway.

Gaze narrowing, her expression changed, became defiant. She lifted her chin and turned away from him as if to send that proverbial “take a hike” message.

“Madison?”

She ignored him, continuing with what she was doing as if she hadn’t heard him behind her.

“Nurse Swanson?” he tried again, his tone harsher than it should have been, but he didn’t like being ignored. What man did?

“Dr. Fielding?” She turned to face him. Her eyes sparkled like big green jewels glittering in sunlight. Her voice sounded breathy, a little like she’d run a sprint.

“Levi,” he corrected, despite the fact he’d just called her Nurse Swanson, reminding himself that they were at work and of his no-touching-Madison-yet policy. Maybe the combination of reminders would cause him to keep his hands off. Because he’d really like to pull her to him and kiss that pert mouth until she melted against him, until that look of annoyance fled her face and was replaced by wanton need.

“How are you feeling?” His gaze raked downward, taking in the fine lines of her body, lingering at her. ribs. “Ribs okay?”

“They’re fine.” Rose stained her cheeks, contradicting so vividly with the woman she’d claimed to be. Was that part of her allure? That contradiction between good girl and bad girl? She glanced away, pulled her look of annoyance back into place. “I was a little sore yesterday, but nothing too bad.”

“I started to call to check on you.” True. He’d picked up the phone a dozen times, but had decided not to push too much too soon.

She shifted her feet. “There wasn’t a need. Thanks, though.”

She took a step back, putting more distance between them.

Apparently he’d royally ticked her off when he’d hightailed it on Saturday night.

Which meant he needed to do some backpedaling of his own.

“How late are you working?”

“Shift change is at seven.” She gave him an odd look and added, “Same as always.”

Yeah, he’d known that, but obviously wasn’t thinking clearly. “You want to go to dinner?”