North of Heartbreak (9 page)

Virgil smiled benignly. “Right.”

Liam stared at him for a second longer then, with a nod to Willa, walked out past his father. Edward inclined his head mockingly and followed his son.

“Time to go, Virgil.” She helped him into a sitting position. “Button your shirt.”

His fingers grasped the buttons and tried to push them through the holes, but they shook so hard he kept losing his grip.

“Here,” she said, shaking her head. “I’ll do it.”

“Thanks, ducky. You’re a lot nicer than that boyfriend of yours.”

“He’s not my boyfriend.”

Virgil giggled. “You’d better tell him that because…” He leaned forward and whispered, “He thinks he is.” Virgil nodded and touched the side of his nose. “It’s a man thing.”

She resisted the urge to laugh. “Really? I had no idea. Thanks for letting me in on the secret.”

“No problem. After all, you fixed up my side.” He flexed his arm and grinned. “Did a fine job too.”

“Virgil, you shouldn’t swing your arm around like that. You’ll pull your stitches.”

“It don’t hurt.”

“It doesn’t hurt because there’s anesthetic in your side, but that’ll wear off in an hour or two and then it
will
hurt.”

“You’re no barrel of laughs.”

“No,” Willa said with a sigh. “I don’t suppose I am.” She finished buttoning his shirt and helped him off the examination table. “Try to stay out of trouble from now on okay?”

“Spoilsport,” he said, swaying on his feet.

Willa tugged him toward the door. “And don’t fight with Sam anymore.”

“I didn’t plan on fighting with him today, until he got all uppity about that money that is.”

“Stay away from him, then.”

“But Sam’s my best friend.”

“With friends like him you don’t need enemies.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing,” Willa said, shaking her head. “I see Sam’s asleep.” Sam was draped over the back of the waiting room chair, making his neck look as if it had snapped in half. A deep resonant snore sounded from his nasal cavities like the foghorn of a ship.

He wasn’t going anywhere fast.

She pushed Virgil toward the door. “Out you go.”

“But I don’t want to leave Sam here.”

“He’ll be fine. Off you go, or do you want to stay until Liam can take you to the police station?”

“Uh, no. That don’t sound like fun at all.”

Virgil shuffled out the door with more speed than Willa would have thought him capable of in his present condition.

She glanced over at Sam, who snored loud enough to rival an orchestra, then at all the waiting patients who had managed to move their chairs as far away as possible.

“Maybe we can speed things up here,” she said to the crowd. “Put your hand up if you think you have the flu.”

Chapter Nine

Liam surprised her by returning after a few minutes and staying for most of the day. Pulling charts for her and triaging new arrivals. He’d been a much bigger help than she’d imagined he could be. For someone who had never used his medical training he was remarkably good at managing the chaotic mess an overcrowded waiting room could be.

He even made her sit down to drink a glass of juice and eat a cookie between patients, winking at her when she complained she had too much work to do.

The wink had her imagination conjuring up all sorts of interesting ideas. In great detail. Great, sensual, playful detail. But shortly before she finished with her last patient he’d put on his coat and disappeared. Maybe it was for the best. She was getting far too attached to him.

Willa locked the front door then moved around the clinic slowly, straightening the magazines and washing down the chairs, doorknobs and reception desk with a diluted bleach solution. She tidied her exam room, giving it a once-over with the bleach, as well.

Someone knocked on the door. She sighed and ambled over to open it. As tired as she was, she couldn’t turn any emergencies away. She opened the door expecting to see another ill person, but instead, a plate covered in plastic wrap was thrust at her. Her hands came up automatically to take it.

She stared at the plate for several seconds. The bottom felt warm-hot. The plastic obscured the contents, turning whatever it was into muted white, brown and green blobs.

“It’s food.” Liam stood close, taking up most of the doorway. “You should sit down to eat it,” he added, flashing her a testosterone-charged half grin.

“Right.” She turned, walked a few steps and sank into one of the waiting room chairs, looking up only when she heard the lock click into place.

Willa glanced at her plate again. “What is it?”

He reached into his back pocket and pulled out two sets of cutlery. “Here you go.” He sat next to her, unwrapping his own plate. “Nothing fancy. Steak, potatoes and peas.”

She pulled off the plastic and closed her eyes, savoring the smell of richly spiced steak. “It smells delicious.”

“Wait until you taste it. You’ll be singing my praises everywhere you go.”

Instead of responding, she cut off a sliver of meat and placed it in her mouth. Her eyes closed again and she moaned in sheer delight at the delicious morsel.

“This is fantastic. What did you put on this steak?” She opened her eyes.

Liam stared at her, his eyes glittering with something explosive. He leaned toward her. “You looked like you just had an oral orgasm.”

Startled, she squeaked, “I wish.” The words just slipped out, her brain too slow to realize the invitation telling the truth would issue.

“Yeah?”

“It’d been years before, you know, the other day.”

His gaze intensified. “Years?” He took her plate from her nerveless hands and placed it on the floor along with his own.

Too late to pretend otherwise now. She shrugged.

“Hmm, then I’d say you’ve earned another one.”

Willa gasped as he leaned toward her, his arms caging her in her chair. “We can’t. Not here,” she said, putting a hand on his chest to push him away.

He covered her hand with his and moved it to his neck. “We’re just going to have fun.”

“But…”

“A kiss, that’s all.”

“Just a kiss?”

He seduced with a smile. “I promise, no sex at the office.”

Liam might be even more handsome than her ex-husband, he might be using her for his own pleasure, but he gave pleasure too. She was in control, free to leave, to protect herself.

Willa sucked in a shaky breath and nodded.

He closed the distance between them, one hand capturing the back of her head, the other braced on the side of the chair, bracketing her body. His lips touched hers with fleeting, gentle touches that did little to satisfy the sudden craving blossoming inside her.

She pulled his head down and opened her mouth to run the tip of her tongue along his bottom lip.

A firestorm swept through her veins, burning away her barriers, leaving a warrior princess behind. A woman who knew what she wanted and wanted it now.

She explored him; her hands discovered his chest, then slid down his back to grip his buttocks.

He groaned and pulled her closer, but the chairs were in the way. He stood, bringing her with him, stumbling to kneel on an open stretch of floor. One hand pinned her to his chest while he searched out the sensitive spot at the base of her tailbone with the other. He rubbed there, gently at first, then applied pressure.

Willa jerked, her hips undulating against his thigh as he hit a hypersensitive bundle of nerves over and over again. Their message: Burn.

She rubbed the hard ridge she found in the front of his pants.

Burn.

He moaned and he fondled her breasts, teasing the nipples.

Willa used her free hand to push him over. She straddled him, rubbing the hot, needy core of her body against that wonderfully hard part of him.

He pushed up her shirt and bra and latched on to one nipple with a greedy mouth.

Burn.

He rubbed between her legs slow at first, then fast and it happened. Like an avalanche, intense pleasure roared across her body, sweeping away all thought. It lasted several seconds, leaving her feeling bare, her nerve endings raw. She panted, exhausted, drained and more relaxed than she’d felt in months.

“Beautiful.”

She opened her eyes.

Liam gazed up at her, his eyes deep, dark pools. Pleasure curved his lips, wrinkled the corners of his eyes. “That was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” His smile widened. “And look, we kept our clothes on.” He winked. “Well, most of them anyway.”

She giggled. “I thought you were just going to kiss me.”

“Hey, you broke the rules first.”

“True.” They may have broken the letter of the rules, but neither had broken the spirit. They’d had fun, but no one got naked and no one got hurt.

“You’re forgiven.”

“Am I?” She rubbed herself against the rock pushing against his pants. “Feels like some unfinished business here.”

“Keep going like that and I’ll be done in no time.”

“Sounds good to me,” Willa said, diving down to kiss him. She rode him hard and fast, letting friction do its magic.

“You’re going to have a fabric burn on your—”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got panties on.” She used her fingers to tease the very tip of him through his jeans while she mercilessly rode his base.

“Oh, Lord in heaven,” he moaned. “What color?”

She nipped at his lips but retreated when he tried to kiss her.

“Pink,” she whispered.

He grabbed her hips and held her down while he thrust up rapidly then shuddered and groaned, his face a portrait of pleasure.

“You’re right,” she said, kissing him. “It is beautiful.”

Liam opened dilated eyes and smiled at her, making it hard to catch her breath.

For several moments he just stared at her, then he sat up and kissed her long and slow. Looking down at the front of his jeans, he grinned sheepishly. “I haven’t done this since I was a lonely teenager.”

Willa laughed. “Lonely? You?”

“Oh yeah. I was all arms and legs until I turned eighteen. Spindly like a stick.”

She tilted her head. “Seriously?”

“Scout’s honor.”

“You’re pulling my leg.”

“I’m not. I was a real ugly duckling.”

“But look at you now. You’re so pretty.”

The way it came out didn’t sound like a compliment and he knew it. She could tell by the arch of his eyebrow. She should apologize and opened her mouth to do it, but he spoke first.

“Pretty? Men aren’t pretty. We’re handsome, or better yet, studly.”

That made her laugh out loud and something tight deep in her gut relaxed again. She stood and held out her hand. “Well, Mr. Studly, I’m hungry enough to eat two of your totally delicious steaks.”

Liam glanced at the two plates of abandoned food then smiled at her. “I’m willing to negotiate.”

Several minutes later, after a quick trip to the bathroom to clean up, the two of them sat, ate and had the most relaxed conversation Willa could remember having in years.

They discussed her workload and flight schedule for the next week. She asked how much time he’d need for regular maintenance. He asked if she needed help with her clinics. Maybe he could act as an assistant when things were busy.

He didn’t ask any personal questions and neither did she.

For the first time in her life she felt free to enjoy a man’s company without the pressure of being someone she wasn’t. There was no future to worry about, no relationship to nurture, no cause for jealousy.

So why did she feel disappointed?

A knock at the front door had Willa up and putting her nearly empty plate on a chair. She opened the door a crack then held it open wide. A policeman strode in.

“Evening, Willa.” He looked at Liam. “Liam Reynolds?”

“That’s me.”

“I’m Officer Noonan.” He glanced at Willa then at the plate in Liam’s hands. “You two got a minute?”

“Sure,” Liam said.

“Of course,” Willa agreed. “We’re finished anyway.”

“Appreciate it,” Noonan said, removing his hat. “You brought in Virgil Sweetwater, correct?” he asked Liam.

“Yes. I broke up a fight between him and his buddy, Sam, here in the clinic.”

“I’d like to get a statement from both of you. Have you got time right now?”

Willa and Liam nodded in unison.

The policeman took off his parka and pulled a notepad out of a pocket. “How did you meet Virgil and Sam?”

“They were in the middle of a fistfight when I walked in.”

“Did you see the fight, Willa?”

“Yes, but not how it started. I was with a patient when I heard shouting. I went to investigate and discovered the two of them trying to beat the living daylights out of each other in the middle of my waiting room. I asked them several times to stop, but they ignored me, even when I grabbed one by the ear.”

“Is that when you got your black eye?”

She nodded.

“I guess that must have been when I walked in,” Liam said. “I saw Willa go down, so I stepped in and broke it up.”

Noonan wrote fast. “Did you injure either man?”

“No, I pulled my punches.”

Physical violence. No matter where she went, it seemed to find her. Energy drained from her limbs until her hands weighed more than the rest of her. “Excuse me,” Willa said, standing. Her face and ears tingled with the beginnings of unconsciousness. “I’ll be right back.” She darted off to the bathroom.

As soon as the door was closed, she splashed cold water on her face until the tingly feeing went away. She stared at her reflection and the bruise forming around her eye. Liam protected her and ended the violence. Though her gut churned, spurred on by old memories, Liam was
not
the cause.

Willa came out of the bathroom and sat in her chair, determined to finish the interview. She could purge the bubbling cauldron of feelings with a good cry later.

“Willa, what’s your assessment of Virgil’s injury?” Noonan asked.

“A shallow stab wound. As long as he keeps it clean there shouldn’t be any problems. Both men were drunk.”

“Yeah, we could tell. Stunk up the whole station. Okay, I think I’ve got all I need for now.” He nodded at her. “I was sorry to hear the council turned you down again. We could use a bigger building and more staff.”

“Tell me about it. Let me know if you need more information.”

“Jason at Tundra Air always knows how to get a hold of me,” Liam added.

“Thanks, folks,” Noonan said, putting his notebook away and his parka back on. “I doubt we’ll need more, but you never know.”

Willa got up and escorted him to the door. As soon as he was gone she turned to Liam. “Well, it’s been a tiring day. I’m sure you have lots to do.”

“I take it I’m leaving?”

“That’s not a problem is it?” She yawned. “I’m exhausted.” She’d had a long day with all those flu patients to take care of, not to mention an even longer day yesterday. And they’d just done their own share of rolling around on the floor.

Liam cringed. “I’m sorry. I’m not much of a gentleman am I? Why don’t I help clean up then walk you home.”

“Thanks, but that’s not necessary. You go on. I’ll only be another five minutes.”

“You’re sure?”

Her smile wavered then solidified. “Of course.” She tried to relax, but her shoulders wouldn’t go down.

He took a step toward her. “What’s wrong?”

She flinched and prayed he didn’t notice. “Nothing.”

“You look like I just caught you with your hand in the cookie jar.”

She laughed hollowly and walked across the room to stand behind the reception desk. “I’m just really, really tired. I can hardly stand up without feeling like I’m going to fall down.”

“You’re sure there’s nothing else bothering you?”

She hesitated. “I keep seeing Virgil and Sam in my head battering each other with their fists.” Her smile turned sad, but at least it didn’t feel fake anymore. “I’m probably going to have nightmares.”

Liam winced. “I wish I’d gotten here sooner. Maybe I could’ve prevented the fight before it got started.”

“Prevented it?”

“Yeah.” He picked up his stuff and walked over to her. “Get some sleep, okay?” He kissed her. “See you tomorrow.”

She blinked and swallowed. “Yeah, tomorrow.”