Читать книгу Hot Docs On Call: Surgeon's Seduction - Carol Marinelli - Страница 17

MINDY PEERED THROUGH the binoculars on the top of the Empire State Building. Usually she wasn’t one for heights—she wasn’t afraid of them, but she didn’t go out of her way to visit tall buildings and ride an elevator to the top of one.

At least the Statue of Liberty had stairs, but the Empire State Building had an elevator and she didn’t really like elevators or their enclosed spaces too much, but she just squeezed Sam’s hand tight.

He gave her an encouraging smile and squeezed her hand back, but once they were at the top it was fine and she was glad she was able to have a nice vantage point of the city. It was truly beautiful.

She could only imagine what it would be like to be at the top of the Empire State Building as the sun was setting. From her penthouse apartment, when she actually looked out her window at night, she would stare at this building all lit up. Another true icon of the city she was slowly growing to love.

And she was.

She may not be used to the winters yet, but she could see the appeal of living and making it in New York.

Sam shivered beside her.

“Now who’s cold?” she teased, as she focused the viewfinder on him. The money had run out so she couldn’t see anything anymore, but he didn’t know that.

He tutted under his breath. “Well, it’s a bit windy up here. At least when we were at the top of the Statue of Liberty we were in an enclosed space. This is out in the open.”

“Okay, well, how about we head down? I’m a bit hungry. Do you want to grab a slice of pizza? Isn’t that the traditional thing to do in New York City?”

“We’re not going for a slice.”

“We’re not?” She was a bit disappointed.

“No, I have somewhere better we can go.”

“But you’re not going to tell me, are you?”

He shook his head and grinned in that annoying but sexy way of his.

“Did anyone mention that you’re a pain, Dr. Napier?”

“Aye, several times. Especially my roommates. Remember, most of them are female.”

“Right. You did mention that. Oh, didn’t I see one of your former roommates on the OB/GYN list for an appointment? Uh, Dr. Camara?”

Sam frowned. “Yes, she’s pregnant, but she’s seeing you? Is something wrong?” There was genuine concern in his voice.

“No, nothing is wrong. I happened to be a licensed OB/GYN as well. I was covering for another doctor. There’s nothing wrong there.” She smiled. “It’s nice, you know?”

“What is?” he asked, as they stood in line, waiting for the elevator to go down.

“That you care about your friends so much, but I don’t think you show it much.”

Sam snorted. “Of course I care. She’s pregnant. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to her or the baby.”

“Okay, now you’re putting the accent on thick, and as you’re not annoyed you’re doing it on purpose.”

“Does that bother you?” he asked, a twinkle of devilment in his eyes.

Yes. It turns me on.

And Mindy could distinctly remember the last time his thick accent had turned her on. She’d jumped into his arms when he’d been a perfect stranger and had begged him to go home with her. When they’d been at her apartment his brogue had been thick the more aroused he’d become, and just thinking about it made her hot under the collar.

“No, it doesn’t bother me in the least.”

Liar.

“Then why even bring it up?” Sam teased.

“If you don’t shut it soon I’m going to…”

Sam leaned over to whisper in her ear. “You’re going to what, Dr. Walker?”

Mindy was going to retaliate but the doors to the elevator opened and they shuffled on and were surrounded by other people. So she kept her mouth shut, but she could see Sam smirking to himself, because he knew she wouldn’t continue the conversation on an elevator crammed full of people.

He was such a pain in the butt.

At least it was a fast ride down. Once they were out on the street and the crowd of people leaving the lobby of the Empire State Building dispersed she turned to him.

“What now?”

“Now I’m going to take you for lunch,” he said with a wink.

“How do I even know I’m going to like this lunch? I mean, you won’t tell me where we’re going,” Mindy groused.

“You’ll like it. Well, maybe you won’t. I don’t know what kind of food you like. Perhaps I should’ve asked you that before I made reservations.”

“I like pizza.”

Sam winced. “Sorry, no pizza where we’re going.”

“Am I dressed okay, then? You said you made reservations.” She was dressed casually. She wasn’t dressed in her yoga attire, but still it wasn’t business casual. “Will jeans and a nice sweater do for wherever it is you’re taking me?”

He stood back and rubbed his chin while she spun around. “Well, I don’t know. I guess you’ll do.”

Mindy punched him playfully in the arm. “I’m so putting you on scut duty for a month.”

He laughed out loud and grabbed her mittened hand. “You can’t do that, Dr. Walker. I’m not on your service.”

“Oh, I can. I can have a few choice words with Dr. Chang…”

“Blackmail. I see.”

They both laughed and Mindy let Sam lead her wherever he was planning on taking her. Not that she was too impressed they were walking but, then, she found the wind wasn’t biting as much anymore.

Maybe she was really getting acclimatized, which was a scary thought. She’d never thought she would ever get used to winter.

“You’re frowning,” Sam remarked.

“The cold isn’t bothering me.”

He chuckled. “I knew you’d get used to it.”

“Well, just because I’m used to it doesn’t mean I like it. Why couldn’t we have taken a cab?”

“It’s not that far away.” Sam pointed. “See, it’s just across the street.”

Mindy looked to where he was pointing and saw the red canopied entranceway to The Russian Tea Room.

“Oh!”

“I take it that meets your approval?” Sam asked.

“It does.”

“Come on or we’ll be late for our reservations.”

They dashed across West Fifty-Seventh Street, dodging cars and taxi cabs. The door was opened for them by the doorman, who doffed his hat as they entered the exquisite entrance of the world-famous Russian Tea Room.

“Wow,” Mindy whispered, as she pulled off her knitted hat. She’d seen pictures of it, heard about it and knew it was featured in several famous television shows, but standing in the lushly red decorated Russian Tea Room in person, well, she realized pictures and television didn’t do it justice. The dark green walls, with gold imperial eagles emblazoned on them, gave the room a vibe of decadence and mystery.

Sam spoke to the host and they were escorted to a corner booth, which was offset and away from some other afternoon diners. They settled into the booth.

“I thought it would be busier,” Mindy said, shrugging out of her jacket.

“We missed the lunch crowd, it’s time for early tea.”

“Tea?”

“Well, I do come from Scotland. We do have tea and I frankly haven’t had a proper tea in a long time.”

Mindy leaned on her elbow. “You know, the more you use the word ‘tea,’ the more it loses its meaning.”

“Tea, tea, tea.” Sam opened the menu. “How adventurous are you when it comes to cuisine? I mean, you did tell me your favorite food was pizza.”

“I think I’m pretty adventurous, but I draw the line at blood sausage. I know exactly what that is and I’m not interested.”

“Oh, come on, it’s not that…you’re right, but it sounds worse than it is. Black pudding is more English than Russian, though.”

“So what do you want me to try?”

“How about caviar?” Sam asked. “It’s been a while since I had some.”

“Are you serious?”

“Very.” He cocked his head to one side. “Does the idea of caviar gross you out?”

“No it doesn’t gross me out. I’m willing to try anything. Once.”

Sam grinned and when the waiter came he ordered a royal afternoon tea for two. When Mindy glanced at the menu she had no idea where she was going to put all that food. She was hungry, but blinis, assorted sandwiches and caviar sounded a little rich.

As she watched Sam conversing in a friendly way with the waiter, she smiled. She couldn’t help herself. When she and Dean had gone out to dinner, he had treated the wait staff, or anyone in the service industry, with disdain, like they were beneath him, no better than the dirt under his shoe. It had got to the stage that Mindy hadn’t actually liked going out with Dean half the time. Even after the awkward relationship with their waiter there hadn’t been much to talk about. They’d just eaten, possibly talked about cases.

There had been no spark.

She was spending the day with Sam and not once had she thought about when it would end. It was easy being with him. So easy.

Too easy.

No, she’d sworn now was the time she was going to focus on herself. She was going to find herself again.

They could only be friends. Nothing more.

It was a nice thought to entertain, because that’s all it could be. Just a fantasy.

Sam was totally relaxed for the first time in…well, he couldn’t remember when. Mindy, when she wasn’t Dr. Walker, was a vivacious and funny woman to be around. The more time he spent with her the more he wanted to be with her.

“You’re lonely. You need to find someone.”

Kimberlyn’s words seemed to strike a chord with him once again. Maybe she was right after all. Settling down, having someone had never been on his radar. At least, not until after he had his career set, but even then he wasn’t sure if he could give his all to his career and a family.

He hadn’t had the best role model when it came to surgeons and families.

Then again, he knew colleagues who made it work.

All he had to do was start by looking at his roommates. Especially Enzo and Kimberlyn. A relationship that had started with them being competitors. Then they’d both turned down a fellowship with Dr. Ootaka in favor of the other getting it. Now, that was love. And those two were joined at the hip.

Maybe I can have it all?

He shook that thought out of his head as fast as he could.

No. He couldn’t have it all. At least, not with Mindy. It was bad enough that his mother’s reputation could ruin him if people found out he was her son, but to start up a relationship with an attending when that surgeon was responsible for deciding if he got a fellowship or not could not happen.

He would not have that haunting his career.

The waiter brought their tea and set down two glass tea cups that had ornate pewter handles and delicate pewter carving wrapped all around them.

“Oh! So pretty,” Mindy gushed, and then set the cup down to let the waiter pour her tea.

Sam couldn’t help but smile as he watched her.

Dammit. Why her?

Why had she had to walk into that bar that night? Why had he gone with her back up to her apartment? Why did he have to want the one woman he couldn’t have?

“You never do things the easy way, son. You always take the hardest road to hoe.”

Sam took a sip of his tea, mulling over his father’s words. It was true. Nothing ever came very easily for him. He had to work hard for things, but it made him appreciate it all the more when he achieved his goal.

Sure, he could’ve done his fellowship at his mother’s hospital. He could’ve had his surgical training handed to him on a silver platter. Lord knew, he knew enough children of physicians who did just that, but he hadn’t wanted his training to be handed to him.

And he most definitely didn’t want to work with his mother or be under her thumb.

“This is really great,” Mindy said with a contented sigh. “It almost makes me not want to go into work tomorrow. Almost.”

“Really? I didn’t think tea would have that effect on you.”

“I have a busy caseload tomorrow. I have a mother being transported in from upstate. She’s pregnant with quintuplets.”

Sam raised his eyebrows. “Quints? Do you need a resident tomorrow?”

“I thought you had tomorrow off as well?” Mindy teased.

“I can also switch a shift. How often do you come across quints?”

“In my line of work, often enough.” Mindy leaned back against the booth. “Those mono-amniotic twins, however, those are rare.”

“I’d like to assist if I may.”

Mindy grinned at him. “When the time comes. I am trying to keep those babies inside her for a bit longer. I don’t want them to be born too premature.”

“So the quints are the only thing on your docket tomorrow?” he asked.

“No, not the only thing. I have a few client consultations. I’m considered one of the top infertility doctors in the country, so it keeps me pretty busy.”

“You’re a surgeon of many talents.”

“I should hope so. I spent enough time in my fellowships.” She looked a little wistful. “Missed out a bit on things.”

“Aye, but it must’ve been worth it.”

“Oh, yes, it was. I wouldn’t change my education for anything.”

Sam leaned across the table. “You studied at Stanford?”

Mindy nodded. “Like I said before, I’m a native Californian. Never really traveled much. I liked the west coast too much.”

“Which begs the question again, why did you leave?” He knew he’d touched a part that was hidden behind one of her walls. The sparkle in her eye disappeared and her spine stiffened. She wouldn’t look him in the eye either, just traced her long, delicate fingers over the filigree on her cup.

“I told you, the chief made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.”

Sam knew better than to press the subject. He didn’t want this day to end on a sour note. If he couldn’t have her the way he wanted her, he wanted them to remain friends. He wanted to continue to work with her, learn from her because she was a brilliant surgeon.

“Right. I forgot.”

The waiter brought a tray of assorted sandwiches and blinis with caviar. Sam thanked the waiter and then held out a blini with caviar on it.

“So, you said you were how adventurous when it comes to your food?”

The smile returned to Mindy’s face. “No way out of this, is there?”

“Nope.”

She held out her plate and he gave her one. The rest of the tea went well. They talked about the hospital, about cases, about New York, and neither of them pried further into the other’s personal life.

It was a nice, friendly tea.

When it was over he hailed a cab and they took a taxi back to her apartment. He walked her to the door and stood under the canopy with her, not wanting their day to end but knowing that it must.

“I had a great time today, Sam. Thank you for showing this California girl around New York.”

“It was no problem. I’d been meaning to revisit some of those spots myself. I hadn’t been to the Statue of Liberty since I was a young boy.”

“Well, I’m glad you took me.”

“Me too.”

An awkward silence fell between them. They just stood there. He wanted to reach out, run his hands over her cheek and pull her into a kiss. That’s usually how he ended dates when he was dating.

Only he couldn’t with her.

“I’ll see you in the morning, Sam.” Mindy turned and disappeared inside.

Sam sighed, jammed his hands into his pockets and left to catch the subway back to his lonely flat in Brooklyn.

Not that he’d be alone as most of his roommates were off tonight, but without Mindy the world seemed like a pretty hollow, lonely and empty place.

It was the same world he woke up in every day, but after spending one day with Mindy he realized just how lonely he was.