Chapter 15

The rest of the day passed uneventfully until sundown, but I couldn't help but wonder about Crissy and what role Lance had played, if any, in her recovery. As I promised Drake, I had said nothing about it to anyone. Drake kept watching me throughout the day, frowning as he passed, but I brushed it off and focused on my work. He was always upset about something. Throughout the day, I couldn't help but think of Lance and how he had connected with Crissy. It's impossible that he had anything to do with her recovery, isn't it? But Drake's reaction made me wonder how Lance could have been involved. I pushed the thought aside and went back to working with patients.

I headed toward the waiting room to see how many patients were waiting, when I spotted Lance, sitting in a far corner of the room. My heart involuntarily leapt when I saw him, and then took in his magnificent features, his firm chin, his dark brown hair, high cheekbones and stunning green yes. I could study his features for a lifetime and it still wouldn't be long enough.

His mouth curled into a half smile. "I was waiting for you," he said without pretense.

"Why?" I asked as my heart thumped within my chest.

"Actually," Lance replied as he closed the magazine and placed it on the end table. "I noticed that you haven't eaten anything."

I laughed. "You're always trying to feed me."

"Because you never eat," he countered, smiling. "Look, we can just eat here in the cafeteria again, even though I'd rather take you out." He sighed as his lips curled into a mischievous grin. He rose to his full height and reached for my hand. "How much harm could it be? I just enjoy your company."

I laughed, shaking my head. "You, Mr. Steel, are hard to resist."

He smiled triumphantly. "That's what I'm counting on."

I laughed, sure that he meant every word. When I turned around, the girls were standing behind the reception desk with their mouths open, ogling his rugged good looks again. "I'll be in the cafeteria if an emergency arises," I said to them. They all nodded, but said nothing.

I walked past Lance and he placed a guiding hand on the small of my back, sending an electric current through my body once again. Then, he moved his hand to mine and gave it a gentle squeeze. This time, I didn't pull away and a broad smile spread across his face. I had no idea why he affected me this way. I had never been this attracted to anyone in my life. I took a deep breath to regain my composure. "Have you lived in Las Vegas long?" I asked, clearing my throat, trying to make small talk.

"I've been here for a while," he replied, guiding me toward the cafeteria, sending a thrill through me. He walked with a hidden strength, regal in nature. "You told me that you grew up here and went to Harvard. When did you come back?"

"After I graduated. I just couldn't stay away. I love Las Vegas. It's my hometown," I said, turning my attention to the outstretched hallway ahead. My breathing came faster, but I quickly brushed my obscene thoughts aside. In the cafeteria, I took a tray from the stack, but he gently took it from my hands.

"Please, allow me," he said seductively, placing the tray on the counter before us.

"No, Lance, I can pay for myself."

"Not when you're with me," he said in his smooth, sexy voice. I nodded, relenting. "Take anything you want," he said, then turned his attention to the short-order cook, Bernie, behind the counter. "I'd like a steak, please," he said then added, "Rare." Bernie nodded, halfway paying attention, and then he turned to face the grill. "You aren't taking anything," Lance noticed. "Are you not hungry?"

"Well, maybe just a bite," I replied. I thought about the steak and it sounded good. "I'll have one, too," I yelled to the cook, then added, "but make mine medium, please."

"You got it," Bernie, a portly man with short, dark brown hair, yelled over his shoulder, signaling with his spatula.

"Where would you like to sit?" Lance asked, holding the tray containing our drinks and silverware.

I looked around the room and the cafeteria was almost empty. It was getting late, which meant that many people were at home or in the patients' rooms with their loved ones. Visiting hours had long been over. I picked a secluded table toward the edge of the room near a row of windows and sat down.

He slid my coffee across the table to me, reached across the table to hold my hand, and smiled. This time, I didn't pull away. I knew this was a turning point for us. I had no idea which way it would go, but the thought of never seeing him again hurt more and I couldn't walk away. "So, tell me more about yourself," he said.

"Well, before taking the position here at Southside Medical, I had thought of going into private practice," I replied, not completely sure why I was telling him about my life. "I had just completed my internship when they offered me the ER Attending position here and I accepted."

"Why?" he asked, very direct. As he looked into my eyes, my heart skipped a beat. He was truly the most beautiful man I'd ever met.

"I don't know," I replied with a shrug, looking down at my coffee. "Perhaps I like working in the ER."

"Do you?" he asked. "After all, there's a lot of blood and carnage here daily and probably many severe emergencies." He took a sip of his coffee and set it down on the table before him, then turned his lovely green eyes back to mine. "It would take a strong person to deal with that degree of trauma on a daily basis."

I laughed at the picture he painted. "Yes, there's a lot of blood, but I love thinking on my feet, having to be ready for anything at a moment's notice and I love saving lives."

Suddenly, Bernie approached the table, brandishing two plates. "Here are your steaks," he said, proudly placing them on the table before us. "One medium and one rare."

"Thank you," I said, eyeing my plate. Suddenly, my stomach churned and my mouth watered in anticipation. I was hungrier than I had thought.

Lance nodded and the cook walked away.

"Lance, how did you save Crissy?" I asked, eyeing my steak. I really wanted to know.

"Be careful what you ask, you just may get the answer, but not the one you want," he said, pulling his steak toward him.

"So, you admit that you had something to do with it?" I asked, watching him, but he said nothing. "You won't tell me?"

"No, not yet," he said, cutting his steak without looking up.

"I won't tell anyone," I said. When people made the comments about Crissy's recovery, I had just agreed that it was a miracle.

Lance looked directly into my eyes. "Again, be careful what you ask. You may not like the answer you get." Then, he popped a bite of steak into his mouth.