The Doctor's Damsel in Distress

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.

CHAPTER FOUR

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?”

“With you?” Her eyes widened, big green gems beckoning to him with the power of an enchantress.

“I’m not asking for anyone else, if that’s what you’re wondering.” He chuckled wryly, ignoring that looking at Madison had him feeling a little crazy. Had him wondering if she was going to say no. Had him wondering what it would feel like to kiss her.

Her mouth bowed, her lips almost pouty. How could he ignore how full and lush they were? How downright kissable? How downright nibble-able? He wanted to sink his teeth in and.

“Okay,” she agreed, her irritation melting away and her smile illuminating her pretty face, making his ribs tighten around his lungs to the point he could barely catch his breath. “Thanks for asking. That would be nice.”

Nice. There was that word again. A word that had guilt dredging up deep in his soul.

Yes, he wanted a more settled relationship with Madison, a committed relationship, but what if that didn’t work out? Then what? He should be upfront and warn her just in case?

If what he’d overheard was true, would she even care if he was more like Jonathan Fielding than he would have ever thought possible? And if she were that woman, then why had he chosen her as the woman he wanted a more serious relationship with?

Because Madison felt different.

Everything about her felt different from any woman he’d ever known.

Maybe he’d heard wrong that day. Maybe she really was the innocent he sometimes thought he caught a glimpse of.

Maybe he should give her the opportunity to come clean, to tell him once and for all what type of person she was.

“Madison?”

Her gaze lifted to his, all soft and expectant, making him hopeful that she’d tell him to go to hell, that he couldn’t have her without giving her his heart first. “I should warn you…” he leaned in closer to her. “…I’m not a nice guy. Not when it comes to women, and particularly not when it comes to you. Think you can handle that?”

Madison stared at Levi, trying to figure out why she felt like he was saying one thing and asking another. Wondering at his hot/cold attitude. Was he trying to scare her off? Or was he truly just warning her not to expect anything of him? Not to think that she was any different from other women?

That was the great thing about being a player. Madison no longer thought she was different from any other woman. Just as he wouldn’t be different from any other man.only he sort of was.

But that was probably just because she wanted him so much physically. Because he was the first guy she’d chosen to try out her new persona.

“I’ve heard that about you.” Even to her ears, her tone was hardly condemning, more of an acceptance of who he was. Did he think his way with women a secret? Hardly. She’d heard tell of the irresistible Dr. Fielding from Karen prior to even starting at Angel Creek.

“Normally, I’d say you shouldn’t believe everything you hear,” he drawled lazily, his to-die-for-hot-fudge-sundae eyes not leaving hers, “but in my case, maybe you should.”

Madison gulped down the baseball wedged in her throat. “Because you’re not nice to women?”

A startled look passed over his face. One that held a hint of darkness that surprised her, but almost as fast as the look appeared it disappeared and his gaze took on one of possession.

“Oh, I’m nice.” His eyes defined nice in a way that made her inner thighs clench. “It’s just that in the past, women have always wanted more than I was prepared to give.”

Which said it all.

What woman could be with Levi and not want more? More of everything him? Was she a fool to think she could really be a player with someone like Levi? Was she a fool to have ever thought she could move to a different town and start over as someone new? Someone who was impervious to having her heart broken? Would she end up just wanting more from Levi, too? Recalling how badly she’d wanted him to kiss her on Saturday night, she admitted she already wanted more from Levi than he was prepared to give.

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