neighbors to show me
different apartments. And I ruined your evening with my depressing story.”
“On the contrary.” She chuckled
and pointed at the empty platters. “It makes me very proud we both honored my cooking.
And I appreciate your trust.”
A pang of guilt stabbed her soul.
He’d shared the secret of his birth, and yet she couldn’t get herself to tell
him about her medical problems.
It’s not the same . By
confiding in her, he’d treated her as a real friend. If she confessed her
sickness, she’d be addressing her boss, the director who’d have to put his
patients’ welfare above personal friendship. And maybe fire her. Or relegate
her to administrative chores.
She couldn’t tell him anything
now. Besides, she was doing well as long as she didn’t forget to take her pill
on time. After a meal. Right now.
“Can you help me clear the
table?” She needed him busy for a few minutes while she took her medicine.
“Sure.”
While he carried the plates to
the kitchen, she strolled to her bathroom, closed the door, and swallowed her pills.
“Much better.” She checked her hair in the mirror and reapplied her lipstick.
When she ventured back to the
kitchen, Nick had cleaned the platters and set the silver and china in her
dishwasher.
“I didn’t mean for you to wash
everything.”
“It’s the least I could do after
you cooked for me and listened to my ranting.” He caught her shoulders and met
her gaze. “Thank you, Madelyn, for letting me vent my frustration. I’ve buried
it for so long.” He was too close, stealing her breath.
The flame burning in his eyes
warmed her insides and scared her. He might kiss her very soon and she’d
probably return his kiss with too much passion. And spoil their burgeoning
friendship.
With a swift movement, she eased
out of his grasp and smiled. “Hey what are friends for.” A glance at the
kitchen ceramic clock alerted her they had spent too much time together.
His gaze followed hers. “Ten
thirty already. I need to go. Time flies in your company, Madelyn.” The words
full of longing touched a sensitive cord.
“Why don’t I walk you downstairs?
I’ll show you the rest of the building.” At least it was safer then kissing him
and ending on the living room rug or even on her comfortable bed. She yanked
her keys from the horseshoe key holder and rushed to the door.
“Good idea.” Disappointed
crinkles formed around his mouth.
With a nervous finger, she pushed
on the elevator button and waited, staring at the door. Nick’s warm breath
fanned her nape and created unbearable yearning in her heart.
Please, don’t touch me. He
didn’t. But she almost sighed in frustration.
Thank God the elevator stopped at
her floor a minute later. “I’ll give you a quick tour of the gym, lounge,
library, ping-pong room, and then we’ll go to the pool and the beach.”
“Isn’t it too late now?” His gaze
held hers, speculating.
She understood his silent
question. “There won’t be anybody around.” An uneasy chuckle escaped her. “We
don’t need a chaperone, do we?”
A groan answered her, just as the
elevator stopped at the lobby level. He followed her quietly. She accelerated
her pace, eager to get it over with. Tonight was straining her nerves. Dr. Lu
had advised her to avoid stress at work, but Nick generated a different kind
with his special charm—a tension no one would think Dr. Ramsay could be
susceptible to.
“Here is the gym.” She opened a
door with her master key, switched on the lights, and turned them off less than
thirty seconds later. “Next to it, are the men’s room and women’s room, and in
this corner the ping-pong and pool tables.” She blabbered about various
activity rooms without even stopping in front their doors. Nick didn’t protest.
“Up there is the pool.” She
pointed to a set of stairs leading to a lit terrace.
“Can we see it?”
She stiffened. Why would he want
to see the pool by night?
“You
different apartments. And I ruined your evening with my depressing story.”
“On the contrary.” She chuckled
and pointed at the empty platters. “It makes me very proud we both honored my cooking.
And I appreciate your trust.”
A pang of guilt stabbed her soul.
He’d shared the secret of his birth, and yet she couldn’t get herself to tell
him about her medical problems.
It’s not the same . By
confiding in her, he’d treated her as a real friend. If she confessed her
sickness, she’d be addressing her boss, the director who’d have to put his
patients’ welfare above personal friendship. And maybe fire her. Or relegate
her to administrative chores.
She couldn’t tell him anything
now. Besides, she was doing well as long as she didn’t forget to take her pill
on time. After a meal. Right now.
“Can you help me clear the
table?” She needed him busy for a few minutes while she took her medicine.
“Sure.”
While he carried the plates to
the kitchen, she strolled to her bathroom, closed the door, and swallowed her pills.
“Much better.” She checked her hair in the mirror and reapplied her lipstick.
When she ventured back to the
kitchen, Nick had cleaned the platters and set the silver and china in her
dishwasher.
“I didn’t mean for you to wash
everything.”
“It’s the least I could do after
you cooked for me and listened to my ranting.” He caught her shoulders and met
her gaze. “Thank you, Madelyn, for letting me vent my frustration. I’ve buried
it for so long.” He was too close, stealing her breath.
The flame burning in his eyes
warmed her insides and scared her. He might kiss her very soon and she’d
probably return his kiss with too much passion. And spoil their burgeoning
friendship.
With a swift movement, she eased
out of his grasp and smiled. “Hey what are friends for.” A glance at the
kitchen ceramic clock alerted her they had spent too much time together.
His gaze followed hers. “Ten
thirty already. I need to go. Time flies in your company, Madelyn.” The words
full of longing touched a sensitive cord.
“Why don’t I walk you downstairs?
I’ll show you the rest of the building.” At least it was safer then kissing him
and ending on the living room rug or even on her comfortable bed. She yanked
her keys from the horseshoe key holder and rushed to the door.
“Good idea.” Disappointed
crinkles formed around his mouth.
With a nervous finger, she pushed
on the elevator button and waited, staring at the door. Nick’s warm breath
fanned her nape and created unbearable yearning in her heart.
Please, don’t touch me. He
didn’t. But she almost sighed in frustration.
Thank God the elevator stopped at
her floor a minute later. “I’ll give you a quick tour of the gym, lounge,
library, ping-pong room, and then we’ll go to the pool and the beach.”
“Isn’t it too late now?” His gaze
held hers, speculating.
She understood his silent
question. “There won’t be anybody around.” An uneasy chuckle escaped her. “We
don’t need a chaperone, do we?”
A groan answered her, just as the
elevator stopped at the lobby level. He followed her quietly. She accelerated
her pace, eager to get it over with. Tonight was straining her nerves. Dr. Lu
had advised her to avoid stress at work, but Nick generated a different kind
with his special charm—a tension no one would think Dr. Ramsay could be
susceptible to.
“Here is the gym.” She opened a
door with her master key, switched on the lights, and turned them off less than
thirty seconds later. “Next to it, are the men’s room and women’s room, and in
this corner the ping-pong and pool tables.” She blabbered about various
activity rooms without even stopping in front their doors. Nick didn’t protest.
“Up there is the pool.” She
pointed to a set of stairs leading to a lit terrace.
“Can we see it?”
She stiffened. Why would he want
to see the pool by night?
“You
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