Seducing Chase (11 page)

Nate and Val walked out the door. Once Val had closed it behind her, she spun to face Nate. “Manage his expectations? How could you do that to him?”

“I didn’t want to see him get his hopes up, only to be disappointed.”

“How do you know he’d be disappointed? Now he sure the hell is, and there may not even be reason for it. I don’t understand you at all.” She shot down the hall away from him, her heels clicking on the tile. He sped up to catch her before she reached the elevators, trying valiantly to ignore the way her pert bottom swayed in the flippy little skirt she was wearing. Was it weird arguing with her turned him on?

“We need to find out if Doug wants anything released to the press.”

Val stopped dead and Nate lurched to the side to avoid plowing into her. “Damn.” She glanced back at the closed door. “Should we bother him now?”

“No, let’s get some things done and then we’ll call him from your office in a bit.”

“Fine.” She pushed the button and then asked, “What are you doing for the remainder of this afternoon?”

“Proofreading those releases you gave me and then I’m not sure.”

“Oh. Okay.”

“Did you need me to do something else?” He still wasn’t used to taking orders, rather than giving them, but he’d learned quickly that Val didn’t do well in situations she didn’t feel she could control.

“No, that’s fine. Those need to go out.”

They stepped into the elevator and both turned toward the front. Nate’s hands itched to take her in his arms and kiss her senseless, but, recalling prior events, he knew what a stupid idea that would be. Val would probably draw back and slap him this time.

When they returned to the public relations offices, Nate went to his desk to check in with his own company before starting in on the releases Val had given him to look over. A few hours later he knocked on her door. She motioned him in with one hand as the other furiously scribbled notes.

She hung up the phone and pressed her hands into the small of her back.

“Sore?”

“Too much hunching over.”

“Want me to rub your back?”

Val sent him a sardonic look. “No thanks.”

Nate grinned. It was worth a try. “Anything new?”

“Nothing of note.”

“So what do you think we should do?”

“Aren’t you the one who’s supposed to tell us that?”

“Well, it’s what Doug hired me to do, but I didn’t want to step on your toes.”

Val made a derisive sound. “Too late for that.”

“I figured there’s a first time for everything.” Val’s phone rang again and Nate settled into a chair, gesturing toward the phone. “Go ahead.”

Val picked up and then put the phone on speaker. “It’s Doug.” She spoke into the microphone. “We’re both here, Doug.”

“I’ve been thinking about how to handle this new information,” Doug said. “I don’t think we should announce any specifics, if and when we get them, but I do think we should say publicly that there’s been progress on the investigation. What do you both think?”

Nate remained silent, and Val spoke first. “I think you’re right. People need to hear that we’re not sitting around on our hands, but I don’t think it’s necessary to give away the farm.”

“A good approach to take,” Nate said.

“Then we’re all in agreement. Should I make the announcement or would you like to do it, Val?”

“If you feel comfortable, why don’t you handle this one? Everyone wants to hear from the head of the hospital, to feel as if he’s engaged in the wellbeing of the center. I’ll set it up for you, though.”

“A good plan. And you’re right, they do want to hear from me.”

They made arrangements and then hung up, and Val leaned on her forearms, cocking her head and regarding him with narrowed eyed. “So agreeable.”

“For you? Always.”

Val’s head pounded. They’d made the announcement about the lead and Doug had given interviews to a few media outlets. By the time she and Nate had left last night it had been nearly nine. She’d tossed and turned in bed, alternating between worrying about whether or not they’d find the doctor and what she would do about her attraction to Nate. Much as she wanted it to, it wasn’t waning. If anything, since they’d slept together, it had gotten worse. Things seemed to be coming to a head and she wondered when he’d take off, and then got cranky when she realized how much the thought upset her.

She woke groggy and lightheaded. Where usually that was helped by a big cup of coffee, the venti caramel macchiato she’d picked up on her way in just wasn’t doing the trick today. And things only went from bad to oh-my-God-when-will-it-end when one of the board members burst into her office, scaring the hell out of her.

“Tell me about these leads.”

Val shrank back in her chair. The bear of a man intimidated her at the best of times, and this certainly didn’t make it onto her list of top moments at CCC. Jabbing the sharp end of a letter opener into her palm a few months ago was more fun than this. “There’s not much to say.” She concentrated on wiping off the water she’d spilled on herself, not meeting the man’s eyes.

“Bullshit.”

Val took a precious few seconds more to rub her aching temples before speaking. “Look, the FBI might have a few leads, but they haven’t told us much and we decided to tell the public even less.”

“I’m not the public! The Board of Directors is not the goddamn public! Why are you keeping us in the dark?”

“It wasn’t our intention to exclude you–”

The man scoffed. “Why should I believe that?”

“Because I don’t have any reason to lie to you. What good would it do me?” She tried to put her hands out in a placating gesture but the man advanced another step.

Nate slipped in through the door to her office and closed it behind him. “Problem?”

The man rounded on him. “I don’t like the way I’m being treated. As a member of the Board of Directors of this hospital, it’s my right to know what’s going on with this investigation.”

Nate nodded. “I agree. And Doug is planning to reach out to the board, he just hasn’t had a chance to yet. We had to get to the media before someone else did, considering the leaks we’ve already experienced. Now, I understand you want to be kept in the loop but, frankly, your hurt feelings are the least of our worries right now.”

Val knew her eyes were big as saucers, but Nate didn’t even glance her way. Instead he held the man’s gaze with his own steely one, and finally the man backed up a step.

“Fine. But we expect to be kept informed.”

“Of course,” Nate answered in a soothing tone. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, Val and I have some things to discuss.”

The man left and Val rested her head on her steepled fingers for a moment before looking up. “Thank you. I don’t know why, but for some reason that guy rubs me the wrong way.”

Nate finally turned to look at her. “You look pale.”

“I’m fine,” she answered automatically, and tried not to shrink under his scrutiny.

He came around and leaned on the desk, his groin entirely too close for comfort.

“Have you eaten?”

“Breakfast? No. I rarely do.”

“How did you sleep?”

Ugh. Nate being sweet and concerned irritated the hell out of her for some reason. “What are you, my mother?”

Nate smirked. “Most assuredly not. But if you aren’t going to admit you’re not taking very good care of yourself I won’t bug you any more about it. For now.”

“Thank you.”

She looked up at him, wetting her parched lips. His gaze followed the movement, and when she focused on his eyes she saw the unmistakable heat lurking in their depths.

“I want you.”

“Nate–”

“What excuse are you gonna use this time? I’ve made a catalog of sorts from them.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Pardon me?”

He leaned down, so close that his hot breath fanned across her face. “You heard me. What reason is it this time? Are you running away again?”

“I’m not running.”

“Only because I’m blocking the way out the door.”

“That isn’t why.”

“Then tell me, Val. Tell me you don’t want me.” Val wanted to say that, but couldn’t force the words out. She wasn’t a liar. Wanting him and it being a smart idea were two totally different things. He gave her a humorless smile. “That’s what I thought.”

Nate pulled Val out of her chair, wrapping his arms around her. Much as her brain screamed at her to, she didn’t protest. It felt good, right to be in his arms, and she was too frazzled and exhausted to fight it. His head lowered and he captured her lips, groaning as he deepened the kiss. Her arms found their way around his neck and pulled him closer. She moaned as his wicked tongue snaked into her mouth, plundering her depths before withdrawing again. Before she could get a good breath in he was back, covering her lips once more.

“I want you,” Nate said, his voice husky and thick.

“I want you too.”

He lifted her onto the desk and spread her legs, pushing between them before kissing her again. His hands were under her shirt and roving over her breasts with teasing strokes before she even comprehended the movement, and her head fell back as he pinched her nipples lightly.

“You like that, huh?”

“Yes, God, yes.”

“Do you want more?”

“Yes, don’t stop. Please, Nate.”

“I’m not going to. I’m going to make you come, Val, without even being inside you.”

“Oh, God.” Endorphins rushed through her addled brain, making it even harder to process the sensations crashing over her. He pressed his hardness against her belly, as he swept her hair to the side to attack her neck with lips, teeth, and tongue. Val moaned again.

He lifted her breasts out of the delicate cups of her bra and began to pinch and pull at her nipples in earnest. “You like having your breasts played with, don’t you, honey?”

“Yes, Nate. I need you.”

“You have me.”

With desperate hands she grabbed the sides of his face and pulled him down for another soul-stealing kiss. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she exalted in the ragged breath he expelled. “Come for me, Val. Come just from my hands on your breasts and my kisses.” All she could force out was an unsteady moan, but it seemed to spur him on even more. “Give it to me, Val. Give me your orgasm.”

“Yes!” she cried just before he was able to cover her mouth with his and swallow the sound. Heat erupted into an inferno. She clung to him as her release slammed into her and took her right to the edge of insanity. Wave after wave of incredible sensation sizzled through Val’s veins. Finally she unwrapped her legs from around him and gently pushed him away.

Nate ran a hand through his hair, breathing hard. His hardness was apparent through his dress slacks, and she bit her lip. She repositioned her clothes and was about to slide bonelessly off the desk when the door burst open and Doug flew into her office. Nate swore, turning toward the window in what was probably a vain attempt to hide his erection, and she spun to face Doug. He looked from one to the other and she prayed she didn’t look like a woman who’d just had an explosive orgasm.

Yes, an orgasm. In my office. In the middle of the day.
She barely tamped down a groan.

“What’s wrong, Doug?” Val was surprised by how steady her voice sounded.

“My secretary told me one of the board members was on a witch hunt and when he couldn’t find me he stomped away. I figured he might’ve come here. I’m, um, sorry if I interrupted something.”

Lifting shaking hands to grip the desk in front of her, Val nodded. “He did come here. But we handled him.” She glanced at Nate, who she could only see in profile. His expression hadn’t changed and he remained silent.

Huh. He’s letting me take some credit for something I didn’t have much to do with. Interesting.

“What did you tell him?”

“Nothing specific. We placated him.”

“Should I be on my guard?”

Nate spun and stepped forward. Val’s eyes darted downward of their accord. He seemed to be perfectly in control again. She envied him his ability to do that—to compartmentalize his life in that way.

“I think he’s okay now. We told him you were planning to update them, but dealing with the media took precedence. He seemed to buy it.”

“Okay. I was worried I’d come down here and find an angry crowd wielding pitchforks.”

“Not this time,” Nate answered with a half-smile.

“I’ll leave you guys to whatever you were doing then.”

Nate’s eyes shifted briefly to regard her before returning to Doug. “Sounds good.” He led Doug to the door and closed it behind the man before turning to face her. “Are you all right?”

Val fell into her chair with a plop. “We can’t keep doing this. I really can’t believe I let myself get carried away like that. Again.” Any of the good feelings her release had brought on had long since flown out the window, and she blew out an exasperated breath. Nate began to approach and she held out her hand to stop him. “Don’t.”

“Come on, Val. That was a fluke.”

“We’re at work! Well, I’m at work. You’re–”

“What? On vacation? Because as far as I can tell there’s not an umbrella drink in sight.”

Val rubbed the bridge of her nose. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Do you think this is all a game? That my career is a game to me?”

“No, of course not.”

“My work is important to me too, but I’m here, trying to help an old friend I owe a debt to. Trying to help
you
out.”

“I know, I just…” Tipping her head back, she stared at the ceiling, as if it had the answers she so desperately sought.

“Just what?”

She looked at him. “This job is important to me. This hospital is important to me.” Tears welled in her eyes and Val swiped at them, annoyed at the swing of hormones.

“It’s important to me too.”

“Why?”

He reached out and grabbed her by the back of her neck. Staring into her eyes, he said, “Because it’s important to you. And to Doug.”

“Then let’s concentrate on that.”

Nate frowned, his eyebrows drawing down. “If that’s what you really want.”

“It is.”

With a sigh, Nate went to the door. After placing his hand on the knob, he turned around. “I will make love to you again, Val. Count on that.” With one final, heated look, he left the room.