The Rebel Doc Who Stole Her Heart (14 page)

CHAPTER SEVEN

T
HE
NEXT
WEEK
was the longest and most difficult of any Michelle had experience since her father had passed away. She’d never felt more alone.

Her mother had been released from the hospital and was doing well. She asked about Ty often but Michelle dodged her questions. How could she tell her mother what had happen between her and Ty?

Work was the worst. She saw Ty but then really didn’t. To her great surprise he was no longer assigned to her OR. They might pass at the scrub sink or at the nurses’ station but they had become strangers. For two people to have shared such closeness, they were a world apart now.

She would never have thought she would miss Ty so much. He’d gotten under her skin. Had become part of her life in such a short time.

“Dr. Ross, is everything okay with you?” Jane, her surgical nurse, asked after one of their cases.

“Yes, why?” She didn’t dare admit that she was pining for Ty.

“You just haven’t been yourself the last week or so. I’m…concerned about you.”

Michelle stopped what she was doing and looked at Jane. “You’ve never asked me anything personal before so why now?”

“I don’t know. You seemed to have changed somehow. Like you’re giving me a chance to ask.” She hesitated then said, “I know what’s said about you but I also know you care about the patients above all else, even to your own detriment. I see it in the way you worry over them. Don’t let what some of the nurses say get to you. There are those of us who know differently.”

Michelle was speechless. She and Jane had worked together for years and this was the first time Michelle had ever heard anything like this from her. “Thank you, Jane. That means a lot to me.”

The woman gave Michelle a reassuring smile.

A few days later, Michelle overheard a group of the nurses talking about going to Buster’s to hear the surgeons’ band play.

Taking a breath, she asked, “Do you mind…uh…if I join you?”

The shock on the nurses’ faces would have been comical if not for the fact it was so sad that she had chosen to be so remote that she received that type of reaction.

Jane stepped forward. “We’ll save you a place at the table.”

The other nurses murmured their agreement.

“Thank you. I’d like that.” She gave them all a sincere smile as they headed toward the locker room.

“Jane,” Michelle said.

The nurse stopped and turned back to Michelle with a questioning look on her face.

“May I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“I saw the looks on the others’ faces just now. Have I really been that bad?”

“Yeah, I guess you have. You’re a great surgeon but not very personable.” Jane reached out and placed a hand on Michelle’s arm. “But I think that’s changing.”

Michelle gave her a weak smile. “Thanks, Jane.”

She gave Michelle a reassuring smile. “I’ll see you this evening.”

A couple of hours later Michelle groaned when she looked at the growing pile of clothing on her bed. Since when did she have such an issue with dressing? She’d always laid out her outfit for the next day, had everything organized. She looked at the rows of suits and dresses hanging in the closet in perfect order. For some reason she wanted to shake things up a bit. Wanted to live a little differently. Wanted Ty’s attention again.

She’d hurt his feelings unintentionally. Their time together had been earth-shattering for her. If she let herself care he’d break her heart, she had no doubt about that. Nothing about Ty said permanence. No stability. She had to have that. There was her mother to consider. Her job. Even if she wanted to she couldn’t pick up and follow him if he asked her to, which he hadn’t. Her practical side couldn’t help but remember that he was only here for a few more weeks.

Right now he wouldn’t even have a conversation with her. Their time in bed together had been wonderful, but she found she yearned for their discussions. His sharp wit when they disagreed. His smiles, making her laugh, getting her to have a different perspective on things. She missed their friendship.

Wow. They’d had a friendship. She’d not had a real friend in years. Someone who knew what was going on in her life. She’d actually confided in Ty. That was something she’d even had difficulty doing with her mother.

Maybe tonight he’d speak to her. See that she was trying to say she was sorry, attempting to make a change. Maybe they could get back on a better footing. What she wanted was for them to at least be friends.

Running out of time, she settled on a pair of designer jeans. She’d not worn them for months and was pleased to discover they fit perfectly. After adding a red short-sleeved shirt and red patent heels, she was pleased with the effect. When was the last time she’d spent this much time fussing over what she wore? She usually did it with confidence and very little thought. Had she ever dressed to get the attention of a man before? She took longer than usual with her make-up and hair. After adding some swinging earrings and jingly bracelets, she was ready. She looked into the mirror and smiled. Surely Ty would notice her.

With an unfamiliar nervous flutter in her belly, she picked up her keys and headed out the door. By the time she reached Buster’s much of her confidence had waned. She drove an extra trip around the block in an effort to fortify herself.

What if Jane and the others didn’t talk to her? What if she had to sit at a table alone? Worse, what if Ty was there with a date?

For heaven’s sake, when had she become so insecure? When Ty had shown up.

She was a well-respected heart surgeon in a large metropolitan hospital. She’d been taking care of herself, her mother and patients for years, so why was she having such a difficult time going into a public place and having a drink? Because she was scared.

She pulled into the first parking spot open. Enough of that.

Entering Buster’s, her eyes needed to adjust to the dim lighting. She stood to the side of the doorway, pushing away the urge to turn and run. Just as she’d made up her mind to do so, Jane appeared beside her.

“Hey, Dr. Ross. I’m glad you came. We have a table right up front. Been saving you a seat.”

“Hi Thanks.” Michelle followed Jane through the crowd to the table.

Six other OR nurses Michelle recognized were already there.

“Hey, everyone. Dr. Ross made it,” Jane announced.

Each said hi and gave Michelle unsure smiles. They were obviously uncomfortable about sharing their table with the ice queen. She’d have to work on changing that. “Hello. Please call me Michelle.”

That request brought on jaw-dropping looks from almost everyone. Jane took one of the vacant chairs and Michelle squeezed into another. The serving girl wearing short shorts and a tight T-shirt came by and asked for their drink order.

Michelle looked around but didn’t see Ty. Lauren, one of the nurses sitting on the other side of her, leaned over and said, “I’ve been wanting to ask you where you buy your clothes.”

A ripple of pleasure went through Michelle at the unexpected question. The others around the table leaned in closer to hear her answer. She smiled at them all. “I shop at a number of places. But I really like this particular boutique over in Winston-Salem.”

“You’ll have to give us directions. You always look so put together.”

“Thank you.” She gave them a bright smile.

“Maybe we could plan a girls’ day out and you could show us where it is,” Jane suggested.

Girls’ day? That sounded kind of nice. “Sure,” Michelle said.

“Then let’s plan it for some time soon,” the nurse across the table said.

Michelle smiled. “Okay.”

The band started filing onto the tiny stage area in the back of the room and to the right of them. Michelle was acquainted with all the band members but the one who had her complete attention was Ty.

He wore his usual jeans and T-shirt that she’d come to recognize as his favorite clothing, even though she’d only seen him briefly and even then in scrubs in the last few weeks. His attire tonight suited him. Even in dress, they were opposites.

Ty stood to the side of the leader of the band and focused on tuning his guitar. Minutes later the band broke into their first song. It was an upbeat rock-and-roll number that everyone was familiar with. The crowd went wild.

They moved from that song right into the next. The band was quite good. Ty had a real flair for the dramatic on the guitar, which wasn’t unexpected. His playing was an extension of his personality. The crowd showed their appreciation a number of times and most of the women couldn’t keep their eyes off him.

The band was well into the third number when Ty scanned the crowd. Michelle saw the instant he became aware of her. His gaze had gone past her and quickly returned. His look didn’t waver from where she sat. She smiled. Good. He’d been shocked to see her. For once, he was the one off balance.

For a moment his fingers hesitated on the strings of the guitar. Seconds later his attention was forced to return to the number he played. During the rest of the set, his eyes continued to drift her direction.

After one of the times Ty had stared at her, she glanced at Jane to find her watching her. Jane leaned over and said into Michelle’s ear, “Ty sure is interested in someone at our table.”

She shrugged. “I guess so.”

* * *

Michelle made her way to the restroom during the band’s break. Exiting the restroom, she stopped short when she saw Ty standing with his back against the wall, hands in his pockets and one foot over the other. He gave her a level look.

“Slumming tonight, Michelle?”

Her heart constricted. She might have deserved the shot but that didn’t mean she liked hearing it. “You invited me. Remember?”

“That was weeks ago.”

She shrugged a shoulder. “So I was a little late showing up.” He wasn’t going to make this easy. “The band is good. You’re good.”

He lips tightened and he nodded, not taking his eyes off her, as if he was having to plan his response.

She waited, not sure what would happen next or even what she wanted.

“Why are you here, Michelle?”

Apparently he wanted her to spell it out.

A woman came down the hall heading in their direction.

Michelle glanced at her, unsure about baring her heart in front of a stranger.

“Come with me.” Ty grabbed her hand and pull her further down the hall.

“Where’re we going?”

He paused and pinned her with a look. “For once, just let me lead.”

They stopped in front of a door. He knocked. There was no answer so he opened it, pulled her in. It was an office. A lone small lamp burn on the desk. Ty closed the door behind them.

“I’ll ask it again. Why’re you here, Michelle?”

“Don’t you know?”

“Maybe. But I want you to tell me.”

She took a deep breath. Ty’s gaze slipped down to her chest and quickly returned to her eyes. At least he still found her desirable. That was a positive sign.

“I’m sorry I hurt you. I didn’t mean to. Please forgive me.”

Ty stood looking at her long enough that she feared he would reject her.

“I shouldn’t let you off so easily.” Suddenly he closed the few steps that were between them. He pressed her against the back of the door with his body while his hands burrowed though her loose hair. His lips swooped down to capture hers.

With a moan she circled his waist with her arms and pulled him closer. Ty didn’t have to request entrance into her mouth, she offered it. Michelle grabbed the whirling and unfurling sensations flowing through her and hung on for the ride, having no idea how much she’d missed Ty until that moment.

“Mmm,” she moaned.

“Missed me, did you?” Ty said as he left kisses on her nose and eyes.

“Maybe a little.”

He chuckled and pressed his hips into her. “I missed you just a little too, Michelle, ma belle.”

Ty lips took hers again, but this time the kiss was more restrained, making her beg for more.

There was a knock at the door. “Hey, Ty, you in there? We’re on in five.”

“I’ll be right there,” Ty called, then leaned his forehead against hers.

The sound of their panting filled the small area.

“I’ve got to step away from you right now or I won’t be presentable in public.”

It was empowering to know she had such an effect on Ty. It was an intoxicating feeling.

He stepped back, letting his hands caress her cheeks as he did. He moved to stand beside the desk well out of her touching distance. Her hands itched to have him close again.

His eyes started at the top of her head and moved slowly down her to stop at her shoes. “You sure look incredibly sexy tonight. I particularly love those hot red shoes. I hope all that effort was for my benefit.”

“Could be I came to see one of the other band members play.”

He growled. “Even if you did, you’ll be leaving with me.”

Was he jealous? “Nice to know that your ego hasn’t deflated any over the last few weeks.”

“You might be surprised how easy it is to damage my ego.”

Michelle’s heart skipped a beat. Was she really that important to him?

“I’ll leave with whoever I wish.”

In two quick steps Ty had her in his arms again. “I don’t think so,” he said before his lips met hers. When he pulled away his mouth hovered just above hers. “I’ll tell you what, you promise I’m the only person you’ll leave with and I’ll buy you a burger after the last set. Maybe tell you which table Buster dedicated to your father.”

Her eyes widened. “What?”

“You heard me. We’ll talk about it over that burger.” He gave her a quick kiss. “Now I’ve got to go.”

Michelle moved so Ty could open the door. He allowed her to leave ahead of him. As they walked down the hall, Jane approached them. She looked from Michelle to Ty and back again. A large grin formed on her face. “Hello, Ty, Michelle.”

“Hey, Jane,” Ty said as they passed her.

“Ty,” Jane called above the sounds of the band warming up.

“Yeah?”

“You might want to wipe that red lipstick off before you go on stage.”