Baby Bombshell For The Doctor Prince

“Good. Lead the way.” Lev took her hand and it sent a jolt of electricity through her. It just felt right to hold his hand. It made her forget all the rules she’d set up to protect her heart. It made her feel carefree. It made her feel hot and gooey, all the things she’d never really felt before. Or if she had, she’d forgotten and Lev had woken something up inside her.

And as they walked slowly along the waterfront toward the patio, it felt like they had been doing this walk for some time. They didn’t talk much, but then, during the whole week at the conference they hadn’t really spoken a lot. There had just been this instant camaraderie the moment they’d both walked into the robotic lab late. Like they knew each other, even though they’d never met before.

Kindred spirits. Although she didn’t believe in that. Not really.

Still, she felt at ease with him.

Like this was right.

You’re crazy. He lives halfway across the world from you.

She knew all her friends in Yellowknife had told her to let loose and live a little when she was down in Toronto, but this was ridiculous. She couldn’t be interested in Dr. Vanin. Long-distance relationships never worked and she wasn’t leaving Yellowknife. She couldn’t.

She’d tried it when she’d been a traveling doctor and it had crashed and burned, hard. She wouldn’t date someone from far away again.

Who said anything about dating?

All this was... Well, she didn’t know what it was, but she was enjoying herself. She couldn’t quite believe that she was here with Lev, walking along the waterfront, hand in hand, talking about the city, enjoying the summer evening.

She didn’t want to go to the patio and be around other people, because she liked this so much. It was as if they were in a little bubble together and she didn’t want anyone to burst it.

Of course, it would burst eventually when they both went home tomorrow, but for now, it was nice, just the two of them.

They stopped and Lev leaned over the railing, watching the water and the city lights reflecting in the lake.

“It’s a beautiful night. It’s nice out here. So calm. So quiet.”

“It is a nice night, though I would hardly call Toronto calm or quiet.”

“Well, it seems quiet here.”

“I prefer the country,” she said.

“Do you?” he asked, surprised.

“Why are you shocked by that?”

“I thought you were a city girl.”

“What made you think that?” she asked.

“You could navigate that traffic outside the hotel. You seem not to be bothered by crowds of people.”

“I went to school in Toronto for many years. I’m used to it, but I’m not a city girl. I much prefer a quieter setting. A smaller setting.”

“Tell me about it.”

“What would you like to know?” she asked.

“You’re a surgeon where you’re located?”

“Yes. I did some work with a flying doctor service, but now I’m based in a hospital.”

“Flying doctor?” he asked. “I have heard of this, but I’m intrigued about how it works.”

“There are so many small communities that have no other way to connect them. You’re at the mercy of the weather, though, as a flying doctor. Food and medical supplies are all brought in that way for some communities.”

“And if the plane can’t fly?” he asked.

“People can die.” She thought of her father again. Maybe if he’d been in a city...

She shook that thought away. His stroke had been so catastrophic that even if he’d been in a hospital, he would’ve died.

“You have to be tough to live there.”

She nodded. “Being a flying doctor is not for everyone.”

“It’s for you, though,” he said softly, and he touched her cheek as he said that, which caused a flush to bloom in her cheeks. “When you blush, you look so...beautiful.”

Imogen’s heart raced. Her body seemed to come alive at his touch. His compliments made her swoon. It had been a long time since someone had touched her so intimately, and the fact it was Lev made her heart beat just a bit faster.

It was like she’d been asleep for years, walking around in a haze.

Numb.

“Well, your job as a flying doctor is admirable,” he stated, breaking the heady tension that had fallen between them.

Another compliment. It caught her off guard.

“You could be so much more if you’d leave Yellowknife,” Allen huffed, annoyed with her.

“Why would I leave Yellowknife? My services are needed here.”

Allen shook his head. “Being a flying doctor? You could earn so much more if you came south.”

“Are you asking me to marry you and come south?” She was shocked and a little thrilled at the prospect of marrying Allen.

“No,” Allen said bluntly. “I’m going south. You can come if you want, but you know I don’t believe in marriage.”

“I’m not going south.”

Her heart broke, but she couldn’t choose a man who couldn’t commit.

“Then I guess this is it.” Allen turned his back on her and left.

“How is it admirable?”

“I take it not many physicians want to do what you do,” Lev said, interrupting her thoughts.

“No. You’re right. They don’t.” It was an ongoing problem that the north had a hard time keeping people. “I don’t anymore. I do like the hospital I work at.”

“Still, you amaze me.”

“I don’t know why. I love my life. Perhaps I’m selfish,” she said sheepishly.

“No. Not selfish. Not to live like that. I’m envious of you. In Chenar, I work in the capital city and deal with...the elite of my country. It’s not what I like. Not at all.” His tone was one of dissatisfaction. “I much preferred my military work, but that came to an end and I was discharged.”

“You don’t sound happy.”

“No. I’m not. I enjoyed it, but...my time was up.”

“You could always leave,” she offered. “Go somewhere else.”

“If I could, I would.” He took her hand again. “I wish I could be free like you, Imogen. I envy you.”

Was she free? She didn’t feel free.

“Last time I checked, Chenar was a free country. Sure, there’s a king...but I don’t think he’s cruel.”

A strange smile passed over his face. “No. Not at all. But let’s not talk about it anymore. You promised me a drink.”

“I did. It’s just over here.”

It was a short walk to the patio that she had been thinking of, but when they got there, it was closed. Instead, a small boutique hotel had opened up in its place. And though it didn’t have a public bar, it had a rooftop patio for guests.

“Well, that’s a shame. We can find somewhere else,” she suggested.

“Didn’t you say this was a good place?” he asked.

“I did, but the bar is only for hotel guests.”

He grinned, a devious look in his eyes. “Let’s get a room together.”

Her pulse quickened. “What?”

“Get a room so we can have a drink.”

“You’re crazy.” It was a mad idea, but still kind of thrilling.

“What do you think? We get a room, have a drink and then leave.”

Live a little.

“Okay,” she said excitedly. “Let’s do it.”

This was perhaps the craziest thing she’d ever done, but this whole night was so out of the norm for her, it was exciting. Her heart was not in danger and then she’d return to Yellowknife and her normal routine.

Lev was going to take a room just so they could have a drink on the rooftop. All that was left was a penthouse suite, but he paid for it anyway.

Soon they were on the rooftop patio of a penthouse suite that overlooked the lake, drinking glasses of champagne, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“I still can’t believe we did this,” she said.

“Have you never done this?”

“No.” She laughed.

He grinned and clinked her champagne flute against his. “Well, there’s a first time for everything.”

“Oh?” she asked, intrigued. “You do this a lot, do you?”

He took a sip and shook his head. “No. This is my first time too.”

Her blood heated when he said that and she tried to swallow the bubbly liquid, but it was hard to do that with her heart racing, her body trembling, while the rational part of her brain was still trying to process why she was here.

The limbic part of her brain told her she was in the right place and it keenly reminded her that Allen had left a long time ago and she was single and had been alone for quite some time.

One glass of champagne led to another and another. It was a beautiful summer evening and somewhere they could hear the muted strains of jazz music from some piano bar, somewhere down there.

“I would like to dance,” Lev announced, setting down his flute and standing up. “Dance with me.”

“Does everyone follow your orders?” she teased, although she wanted to dance with him too. She’d been swaying to the music because she couldn’t help herself. The champagne was getting to her.

“Yes. Because where I work I am the Chief of Staff.” He grinned. “Dance with me, Imogen, and then we’ll get a cab back to the conference hotel.”

She set down her flute and took his hand, letting Lev pull her into his strong arms. It felt so good to be held by him, one hand holding hers and the other on the small of her back as they slowly moved together to the echoing music that was intermixed with the sounds of the waves lapping against the shore. Her body thrummed with desire.

It was magical and she didn’t want the night to end. She didn’t want the moment to end and she didn’t want to go back to the conference hotel.

Warmth bloomed in her cheeks as she thought about kissing him.

She wanted to kiss him.

He smiled down at her. “You look so beautiful I almost don’t want to leave.”

“I don’t want to leave either.” She bit her lip and then leaned in, standing on her toes, because she’d worn flats and he was so much taller than her. She pressed her lips against his for a quick kiss.

She was doing what she had always been afraid of doing—getting involved with a doctor.

You don’t work with him. He won’t hurt you.

This was out of her comfort zone, but she was really enjoying what it felt like to live a little. There had been so many times that she’d been afraid to take a chance on something she’d wanted and had let the moment get away. This time, with Lev, she wasn’t so afraid. She was only afraid she would regret not having this stolen moment with him.

The kiss was light at first and then deepened. His arms went around her back, pulling her close, and suddenly it was no longer a light, butterfly kiss but something deep with longing.

It had been so long since a man had made her feel this way. Since she had felt this need to relinquish her careful control and just feel.

The kiss ended.

“I’m sorry, Imogen. I didn’t mean for that...” he whispered against her ear, his voice deep and husky.

“Don’t apologize,” she whispered, and kissed him again, running her hands through his overlong blond hair, wanting to have more of him.

Even if it was just for one night.

She didn’t care. She wanted something to remember him by. She pressed her body against him, not wanting an inch of space separating them as she melted in his arms, his hands hot through the thin fabric of her summer dress. She couldn’t help but wonder what they would feel like on her skin.

All she knew was that she wanted more.

“Imogen, are you sure?” he asked.

“I am.” She had never been so sure of anything. Even if nothing came of this, even if she never saw him again, she wanted this moment.

She’d been wandering in a fog for too long and Lev had awakened something deep inside her. He scooped her up in his arms and carried her off the patio into the room. She was glad it was just the two of them, far from the rest of the conference, far from what they both knew.

Just the two of them in this moment.

CHAPTER TWO

LEV WATCHED HER SLEEP. He couldn’t help himself—she was so beautiful.

He’d thought so the moment he’d first laid eyes on her at the conference when he’d arrived late. She’d been the only friendly face in the crowd.

And a beautiful one at that.

Usually he avoided women.

He’d been so in love with Tatiana.

His father hadn’t approved of her, but he hadn’t cared. He’d believed they were meant for each other. He’d been about to propose to her when he’d caught her cheating.

She’d acted like it was no big deal. His father had cheated on his mother. It was all about position and wealth in Tatiana’s eyes. There was no such thing as love.

To the world they had seemed perfect, but Lev remembered how sad his late mother had been in her marriage and he felt that same sadness and hurt too. He’d broken it off with Tatiana and joined the Chenarian armed forces as a trauma surgeon.

He’d been burned before. They never saw him, only his position.

His plan had been to keep far away from Imogen, but the fates seemed to have another plan, because every time he turned around, there she was.

And he was glad to see her, even though he knew he should keep away, but there was something genuine about her.

He knew he shouldn’t have gone to that mixer, he knew he shouldn’t have engaged with her, but he couldn’t help it. She was beautiful, with long, soft, silky light brown hair, big expressive blue eyes, and her pink full lips were ones he could kiss for a long time. He liked it that she was tall and could almost look him in the eye. She held her head high with confidence, and she was funny, intelligent and dedicated to learning and furthering her career as a surgeon.

When they had been working in the simulation lab, he’d seen her ace the new surgical technique with skill, and the way she’d handled a laparoscope with such grace had been admirable. And she’d been willing to help him.

As a trauma surgeon, he had to get in fast and do repair work, but he wanted to learn all he could.

Imogen’s had been the only friendly face in the crowd.

Everything about her was admirable.

His father and brother would not find that particular quality, intelligence, something to admire in a woman, but that was what he always looked for. He wanted an equal partner, and in his circle of Chenar society, that was almost impossible to find. Especially after Tatiana.

Imogen was a rarity in his world and he wished he could stay here forever with her. He hadn’t planned on making love to her tonight, but he was glad it had happened. It had been a momentary lapse when he had forgotten who he was and who his family was. He had been caught up in the moment with her.

One stolen moment with her...

He reached out and touched her arm. She murmured in her sleep but didn’t wake up. He smiled and couldn’t help but think of how it felt to taste her lips against his, have those arms wrapped around him and be buried deep inside her.

Everything else in his life was a complete blur.

It was just her and him at that moment. It was an escape. One he desperately wanted.

Lev’s phone buzzed and Imogen stirred in her sleep. He cursed inwardly, angry that it was intruding on their time together, and picked up his phone, to see a stream of texts that he’d ignored all night.

The last one made him angry as he realized that they had tracked his phone’s GPS and were in the lobby. His bodyguards. Lexi and Gustav had been plastered to his side all weekend, not giving him a chance to breathe, and he felt bad for them. He knew they were bored out of their skulls, attending a medical conference, but his father had insisted when he’d given Lev permission to attend.

Lev wasn’t to leave Chenar without Lexi and Gustav. His father had become so overprotective lately, not that his father really showed any affection. It was all about preserving his male heirs.

It was why his father had forced him to leave the military. His father had ordered it so. In his father’s words, it was high time he used his foolish medical degree for the benefit of the cream of Chenar society.

He was actually surprised he’d been able to slip away from them at the mixer with Imogen. It had been an act of defiance, and a thrill of freedom to do that.

He didn’t want Imogen to know who he really was. He didn’t want the truth of his family to cloud her judgment of him, like it almost always did when women found out that Dr. Lev Vanin was just an alias. He was a doctor, but he tried to keep it quiet that he was the spare to the heir and really Prince Viktor Lanin of Chenar.

Women, once they found out who he was, changed. They wanted the fantasy. The prestige and power of being with a prince. Women like Imogen put their careers first, instead of duty to a country, and he couldn’t begrudge them that. He envied Imogen’s freedom and he would give almost anything to stay here in Canada and move to the north to get lost.

He loved the wilderness and loathed the pomp and ceremony surrounding his birth. Especially his ever-present bodyguards.

Lev quickly got dressed and texted Lexi that he was on his way down, that there was no need to come up. He’d get rid of them and then he would go back to Imogen and tell her he had to leave and why—because of who he was.

It would change everything. He was sure it would—it always did, even if part of him wanted to think that Imogen was different.

He slipped out of the room and headed downstairs. He knew that Lexi and Gustav, who had been with him since medical school, would be more than annoyed that he’d managed to give them the slip and go to an unsanctioned hotel with a woman.

And he was sure his father, once he found out, would be none too happy, but Lev didn’t care. He didn’t regret a single moment of his stolen freedom. It had been worth it.

The moment he got off the elevators he could sense there was something in the air. Lexi was acting strangely and his stomach knotted. Something was wrong. Gustav was on the phone, Lexi’s gun was visible on his holster, and he was pacing. Outside, through the glass doors connecting the small lobby to the outside world, he could see black SUVs waiting and more guards.

Canadian bodyguards.

Something was wrong.

“Lexi,” Lev said, coming forward, speaking Chenarian, which had developed over centuries from a blend of Norse and Romanian, so that no one else would understand. “What’s wrong?”

“There’s been a coup,” Lexi responded, his face somber. “Your father... I’m sorry, Viktor.”

Lev couldn’t breathe for a moment as Lexi’s words sank in. That his father had been overthrown and was dead. It was something his father had talked about. It was one of the dangers of ruling a country with an unstable government, and though Lev had logically known something like this could happen, he’d never really thought it would.

He lived in an idyllic bubble where his father and his family were impervious to the machinations of those who sought power.

“What about Kristof?” Lev asked.

“Missing in action and presumed dead, but in reality he’s safe. He just wants the world to think he’s dead...and he wants you to go into hiding. Here,” Gustav responded, ending his phone call. “It’s a mess in Chenar. We’ve been speaking with the Canadian government and we need to protect you in case...”

“In case something happens to Kristof,” Lev finished.

“The insurgents don’t know where he is or where you are, because they don’t know your alias. They don’t know you’re a surgeon,” Lexi said. “The Canadian government has agreed to hide you. Embassy cars are outside and a plane is waiting. We have to go.”

“I can’t go into hiding. My father, my brother...our people.”

“There is no choice, Your Highness,” Gustav responded. “Our allies are sending in troops. This will be resolved, but until then we need to keep you hidden and safe.”

“I cannot hide away. Not when there’s trouble in Chenar. I need to go and—”

“Your Highness, there is no other option. This plan was put in place by your father if something like this were ever to happen.”

Lev was furious. It was just like his father to do something without telling him or Kristof what was going on. And even though he had no desire to be King or even a prince, for that matter, he hated knowing that his people were in danger.

That there was suffering, violence, and he was powerless to do anything.

He was safe and that was not right. He clenched his fists in frustration, but he knew he couldn’t make a scene. It was late at night and he didn’t want to draw attention to himself or his bodyguards, who were just as worried, upset and powerless to do anything to help their country.

They are helping their country by keeping you safe.

And then it really hit him that his father was gone and he didn’t know where his brother was. At least Kristof was safe, or that was what he’d been told. He really didn’t know.

He was being selfish by standing here and arguing with Gustav and Lexi about what needed to be done. Even though it drove him mad that he couldn’t be on the front line, giving help to his people during this time of crisis, he had to do his duty and he had to go into hiding.

Imogen.

He looked back to the elevator with regret. He wanted to tell her everything now more than ever. He wanted to tell her why he was disappearing, but that wouldn’t be safe.

It certainly wouldn’t be safe for her.

Lev knew he had no choice but to leave. He was glad the room was paid for and that Imogen could just check out. He grabbed a piece of hotel stationery and quickly scrawled a note, apologizing to Imogen for his abrupt departure but not telling her why.

“Would you please give this to my guest when she leaves tomorrow morning?” he asked the concierge.

“Of course,” the concierge responded, taking the envelope.

“Thank you,” Lev said.

He wished he could go up to the room and tell Imogen in person why he was leaving. He wanted to tell her everything, but couldn’t. She was the sacrifice he had to make for his country.

He couldn’t let his people down. He couldn’t let his brother down.

He couldn’t let his father down.

“Your Highness,” Gustav said gently. “We have to go.”

“I know.” Lev sighed. “Let’s go.”

Lexi and Gustav walked beside him. Their guns were visible at their sides, and Lev felt ill as he exited the hotel and saw the heavily armored dark SUVs waiting. The Canadian government had come to take him away to who knew where.

He just hoped that, wherever he went, he could still practice medicine while he waited for news from Kristof about when he could safely return to his country and mourn his father.

Properly.

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