“Call me tomorrow. And make sure you tell your uncle where you’re going tonight. I’m sure if the doctor works for him, he’s fine, but you can never be too careful.”
She hung up, but thought: You can be too careful. She walked back into the clinic and down the long hallway that led to the records office. You can be so careful that you turn around and you’re a twenty-six-year-old virgin.
Helene came to a skidding stop when she recognized the derriere of the man standing outside the door to her office. Her mouth went dry with nerves as she forced herself to approach him. “Can I . . . May I help—?”
He turned and her question fell right out of her head. Up close he was even more impressive. The curl of his lips said he knew it, too. “I’m looking for the records department.”
“I’m that. The department. I’m her. She’s me.” She took a deep breath. “I work in that office.”
“Then you’re the person I’m looking for,” he said with a sexy smile that made her thighs quiver. She sighed audibly when his strong hand closed around hers. “Andrew Smith.”
His voice was deep and rough, matching her earlier assessment of him. Although he was dressed in casual business attire, he filled out his clothing in a way few men did. The cotton material clung to his chiseled chest just enough to highlight the breadth of it. The short sleeves were stretched to accommodate biceps so firm Helene was tempted to give one a squeeze with her free hand. A hint of a tattoo showed at the edge of one of his sleeves. She wanted to uncover it, hell uncover all of him.
“And your name?” he asked, still holding her hand.
“Me?” She swallowed hard and blinked a few times. “My name is Helene Franklin.”
“It’s nice to meet you.”
Yes. Yes, it is. Helene shook her head and pulled her hand free. “Is there something I can do for you?”
“I hope so.” The way he said those three words sent a searing heat straight through her. Her body didn’t care that she didn’t know him; it hummed for him.
He leaned in, and she swayed closer. “Most of the staff is out on training today, but I should be able to help you,” she said.
“Good.”
The only orgasms she’d had up to that point were ones she’d brought herself, but she couldn’t help but crave knowing how good things could be with a man who made her that excited simply by standing next to her.
Stop. For all I know he’s awful in bed.
This is nothing more than pheromones. We’re mammals at the end of the day. What I’m feeling for him is Mother Nature’s way of acknowledging that he’s a healthy male in his prime, and I’m still within prime mating age.
“What kind of records do you need?” Her voice was husky and revealed enough of what she was thinking to light a spark of real interest in his eyes. His nostrils flared, and she shivered when he breathed in the scent of her. “I’ll give you a form to fill out. We can send the information directly to your insurance company.”
“That won’t be necessary. The information I’m looking for is merely to appease a curiosity. What can you tell me about a woman named Pamela Thorsen? She worked here twenty-nine years ago. Would you be able to tell me if she gave a forwarding address or a reason for leaving?”
His question was like a bucket of ice being thrown over her revving libido. “Who did you say you were?”
“Andrew Smith.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Smith, I’m not allowed to give out personal information regarding employees, present or past.”
“I’m sure you can make one exception.” He raised a hand and tucked one of her curls behind her ear in a tender move that would have sent her heart beating wildly if adrenaline hadn’t rushed in at his earlier question. Could this man be the one who was trying to get dirt on her uncle?
“I cannot, but I would like to see your ID.” The stillness that settled over him tore through her haze of attraction. She held her breath and waited.
“Why would I need to show you anything if you’ve already said there’s nothing you can do for me?” He leaned closer still, until his mouth hovered an inch above hers. “Unless there’s some way I could change your mind?”
All sorts of wonderfully filthy ideas of how he could try momentarily hampered her ability to speak. His breath caressed her lips. Clinging to her last bit of sanity, she whispered, “No, and if you don’t leave I will call security.”
Looking amused by the threat, he asked, “Do you call them about everyone who asks a question, or is there something about me that scares you?”
She licked her bottom lip. “Why would I be afraid of you?”
“Exactly,” he purred, once again reminding her of the big cats back home. They, too, could lure a person into believing they could be trusted. Forgetting even for a moment the nature of a beast was how people got hurt.
Summoning strength, Helene held his gaze. “This department does not give out personal information about employees or patients. It’s the law. If you’re not sure if your question can be answered by us, you’re welcome to fill out a form and we’ll review your request.”
He raised his head and smiled. “What if my question is about you? Should I still fill out the form?”
Even that slight withdrawal was a reprieve that allowed her to gather her thoughts. “I suppose it would depend on the question.”
If he asks me out, I have to say no.
Don’t I?
“What are you doing tonight?”
Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God. “I have a date.”
“Break it.”
Yes. Yes. Yes.
No. No. No.
“Why would I do that?”
“Because you deserve better than the self-absorbed sliver of a man I saw you talking to.”
She searched his face and shuddered. “You were watching us?”
“I was outside and saw him with you. Trust me, once he fucks you, he’ll quickly move on to someone else.”
She let out a harsh breath. “Maybe that’s how you operate, but he’s a doctor. They take a vow to honor the well-being of people.” Her hands went to her hips. “Plus, there’s no need to be crass.”
“Crass or honest?”
She waved a finger at him. “Either. I didn’t ask for your opinion.”
He raised his hands in mock surrender. “Just trying to save you from making a huge mistake. He’s not the one you’re waiting for.” He leaned in and grazed his lips across her parted lips. “Unfortunately, neither am I.”
The surprise of his kiss was followed by a surge of desire that had her kissing him back, even if only for a second before sanity returned. Lust battled with embarrassment and finally lost. She pushed him away. “Get out of my office.”
“We’re in the hallway.”
Bringing her hand up to her mouth, she backed away from him to the door of her office and fumbled to open it behind her. “I’m calling security.”
“No need. I’m leaving.”
She was still clutching the doorknob. He’s not really into me. Uncle Clarence said that whoever was trying to set him up had gone as far as bribing people. What’s a little flirtation compared to that? This is nothing more than an attempt to confuse me into saying something he can use against my uncle.
She glared at him as a second possibility occurred to her. Or he heard what I said to my mother and decided to amuse himself by taunting the oldest virgin on the planet. Either way, he needed to know she wasn’t playing along. “And don’t come back. Whatever you’re looking for, you won’t find it here.”
“That’s what I keep telling myself,” he said with a slanted smile before turning to walk away. Just before he turned the corner, he stopped and met her eyes over his shoulder. “Don’t give yourself to that douche.”
“I could sleep with everyone in this clinic, and it would be none of your business,” Helene called out, but he’d already rounded the corner.
“Should I come back later?” Tina, the department’s intern, asked timidly,
while clutching a stack of folders to her chest.
Fighting the desire to slam the door shut and pretend Tina wasn’t there, Helene forced a smile. “No. Come in. I was just practicing a line from a play I might audition for.”
“Oh, okay,” Tina said with a nervous laugh. “I figured it was something like that. I mean, otherwise, who would run around yelling that?”
