didn’t acknowledge him. Eli smiled, tapping her on the shoulder.
She turned.
The woman had the most beautiful eyes. Deep brown rimmed in a lighter
hazel color.
Eli extended his hand. “Although we’ve run into each other a few times
already, I don’t think we’ve ever been officially introduced.” She clasped his
hand in a firm shake. Goodness, her palm was softer than silk.
“Actually, Dr. Holmes, you’re the one who has nearly run into me several
times. And, one of the ER nurses did introduce us.”
He acknowledged her barb with a smile. “You can call me Elijah, or Eli.”
She nodded, but Eli noted she didn’t give him permission to call her
Monica. He sensed she was about to walk away, but he was determined to keep the
conversation afloat.
“So, how do you like Methodist Memorial so far?” he asked as he leaned
against the window.
“I’ve been very pleased, for the most part. There have been a few
situations that leave much to be desired.” The look on her face left no doubt
as to what she was referring.
He was sinking. Fast.
“I do apologize about the near accident in the parking lot.”
“Both of them?”
Eli bit his tongue, took a breath. “Yes, even the one I don’t remember.”
“I remember it.”
“I’m sure you—”
She held up her hand, sufficiently halting his rebuttal. “Before you go
any further, Dr. Holmes, I should let you know I’ve heard about you.”
That tone didn’t sound good at all. Eli decided to play dumb.
“Really? After only a few days?” he asked. He hit her with a full
megawatt smile.
“Yes, your reputation precedes you, both the professional and the
personal one.”
His smile dimmed a few watts.
“I can only hope you’ve heard good things.” Eli tried to keep the caution
out of his voice. He knew there was nothing untoward that could be said about
his work as an OB. He couldn’t be all that sure about the personal side.
“Excuse me, Monica” Dr. Slessingler called, capturing their attention. “Apparently,
this conference room is booked for another meeting. If you could meet me in my
office in twenty minutes, that’d be great.”
Monica turned her attention back to Eli, sending him a half-hearted
smile. “Sorry, but I have to go.”
Elijah caught her by the forearm. “Hold up. You can’t just leave me
hanging like that. So, have you heard good things, or do I need to seek some
people out for sullying my name?”
She shook free of his hold and took a step back, folding her arms over
her chest. There was a playful gleam in her eyes as she looked him up and down.
“I hear you’re an exceptional doctor who has a knack for delivering babies in
the most unusual places.”
“I’ve had a couple of adventurous births, but they turned out okay,” he
said with a modest shrug.
“Yes, well, I also spoke with Dr. Johnson in Cardiology, and he says with
the trail of broken hearts you leave behind, they get more business from you
than from the nursing home down the street.”
Ouch.
Eli leaned in close. “This may come as a shock, but there’s something you
should know.” In a conspiring whisper, he said, “Dr. Johnson drinks. Heavily.
You can’t trust a thing that man says.”
“Is that right?” Her mouth tipped up in a smile. It was about the sexiest
thing Eli had seen in all his life.
“Very sad, but true,” he answered with feigned sorrow.
“Well, since I know neither of you all that well, I can’t be sure whom to
believe.”
“Between an upstanding obstetrician and a drunk like Johnson?”
“Stop that,” she said with a teasing smile. She looked as if she were
about to comment further, then something changed. Her silky brown eyes became
lackluster. She checked her watch and said, “I want to look in on a patient we
sent up to the OR before I go to Dr. Slessinger’s office.”
Before Eli knew what had happened, she was gone.
***
Monica apologized as she backed out of the wrong office and shut the
She turned.
The woman had the most beautiful eyes. Deep brown rimmed in a lighter
hazel color.
Eli extended his hand. “Although we’ve run into each other a few times
already, I don’t think we’ve ever been officially introduced.” She clasped his
hand in a firm shake. Goodness, her palm was softer than silk.
“Actually, Dr. Holmes, you’re the one who has nearly run into me several
times. And, one of the ER nurses did introduce us.”
He acknowledged her barb with a smile. “You can call me Elijah, or Eli.”
She nodded, but Eli noted she didn’t give him permission to call her
Monica. He sensed she was about to walk away, but he was determined to keep the
conversation afloat.
“So, how do you like Methodist Memorial so far?” he asked as he leaned
against the window.
“I’ve been very pleased, for the most part. There have been a few
situations that leave much to be desired.” The look on her face left no doubt
as to what she was referring.
He was sinking. Fast.
“I do apologize about the near accident in the parking lot.”
“Both of them?”
Eli bit his tongue, took a breath. “Yes, even the one I don’t remember.”
“I remember it.”
“I’m sure you—”
She held up her hand, sufficiently halting his rebuttal. “Before you go
any further, Dr. Holmes, I should let you know I’ve heard about you.”
That tone didn’t sound good at all. Eli decided to play dumb.
“Really? After only a few days?” he asked. He hit her with a full
megawatt smile.
“Yes, your reputation precedes you, both the professional and the
personal one.”
His smile dimmed a few watts.
“I can only hope you’ve heard good things.” Eli tried to keep the caution
out of his voice. He knew there was nothing untoward that could be said about
his work as an OB. He couldn’t be all that sure about the personal side.
“Excuse me, Monica” Dr. Slessingler called, capturing their attention. “Apparently,
this conference room is booked for another meeting. If you could meet me in my
office in twenty minutes, that’d be great.”
Monica turned her attention back to Eli, sending him a half-hearted
smile. “Sorry, but I have to go.”
Elijah caught her by the forearm. “Hold up. You can’t just leave me
hanging like that. So, have you heard good things, or do I need to seek some
people out for sullying my name?”
She shook free of his hold and took a step back, folding her arms over
her chest. There was a playful gleam in her eyes as she looked him up and down.
“I hear you’re an exceptional doctor who has a knack for delivering babies in
the most unusual places.”
“I’ve had a couple of adventurous births, but they turned out okay,” he
said with a modest shrug.
“Yes, well, I also spoke with Dr. Johnson in Cardiology, and he says with
the trail of broken hearts you leave behind, they get more business from you
than from the nursing home down the street.”
Ouch.
Eli leaned in close. “This may come as a shock, but there’s something you
should know.” In a conspiring whisper, he said, “Dr. Johnson drinks. Heavily.
You can’t trust a thing that man says.”
“Is that right?” Her mouth tipped up in a smile. It was about the sexiest
thing Eli had seen in all his life.
“Very sad, but true,” he answered with feigned sorrow.
“Well, since I know neither of you all that well, I can’t be sure whom to
believe.”
“Between an upstanding obstetrician and a drunk like Johnson?”
“Stop that,” she said with a teasing smile. She looked as if she were
about to comment further, then something changed. Her silky brown eyes became
lackluster. She checked her watch and said, “I want to look in on a patient we
sent up to the OR before I go to Dr. Slessinger’s office.”
Before Eli knew what had happened, she was gone.
***
Monica apologized as she backed out of the wrong office and shut the
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