her back and the silky fabric fit snugly around the bodice and hips to drop into a cloud of folds. The dress bolstered her confidence, which she desperately needed tonight. She pushed her hair over one shoulder and licked her lips. Having done all she could to brace herself, she went in search of Ryan.
She spotted him leaning on an elbow at a high cocktail table. A champagne flute sat in front of him and the other he held by his fingertips. He was like James Bond, dashing and just as dangerous. She’d have to remind herself constantly of how disenchanted she was with him or he’d sweep her off her feet before she knew what had happened.
Ryan watched a group of people standing across the room before his head turned and his focus rested on Lucy. He blinked then straightened to his full height. He stared. Lucy’s heart fluttered. He took a long draw on the liquid from the glass he still held before he set the flute down. With long strides he came to meet her.
He stopped in front of her and leaned in intimately close. “You may get angry, and I know this will step over into the personal area, but, damn, you’re beautiful.”
Heat flooded her neck and face. Grateful for the low lighting, she smiled. “Thank you. I think I’ll let you get away with it this time.”
He laughed. The deep, rough sound flowed over her.
It was dangerous to be out with him. They’d been together less than an hour and she was already having difficulty keeping up her guard. To have someone tell her she was beautiful and look at her as if she belonged to him, as Ryan was doing now, was all she’d ever wanted. To belong. Be accepted. To have a little niche in the world that was hers alone. Like her sister had.
Ryan’s pleasure remained on his face and her stomach did a loop the loop. That smile was for her.
“Come on, have some champagne. Then we’ll make the rounds and do our duty.” He led her back to the table where he’d stood and handed her a flute.
She glanced at the floor, forcing her emotions under control. How could he look at her like that while the words out of his mouth said he’d like to be as far from her as possible? She took the champagne. Maybe the liquid courage would help with the confusion she felt.
“Just try a sip or two. It’ll help calm your nerves.” Ryan raised his glass to his lips.
“How do you know my nerves need calming?”
“Your hands are trembling.”
Great. After days of making her feel like a wall ornament he passed without notice, now he was paying attention to her. She did need to settle her nerves.
She sipped the gold liquid and enjoyed the bubbles playing a melody in her mouth before she replaced the flute on the table. Clasping her hands to appear calm, she said, “The email invitation implied that we should sign a pledge card to help raise money for the clinic in Harlem.”
Ryan grinned. “Yeah. It didn’t take Jack long to get on board, with Nina doing the convincing.”
“I’d like to take care of that before I forget.”
“Good idea. I think that’s being done at a table over there.” He pointed to the other side of the room.
“You lead,” Ryan told her. Lucy turned and stared in the direction he’d suggested. Ryan placed a hand at her back and shock waves rippled through him. He’d touched bare skin. He jerked his hand away as if he’d been branded. One more surprise and he would be dragging her out of here to someplace private. She looked like sin and smelled like spring.
Lucy didn’t slow down as she worked her way through and around the people standing in groups, talking. He drew in a breath and followed her. He’d have sworn he’d been sucker-punched when she’d walked towards him. The simply but functionally dressed family counselor had transformed into a sultry siren of sensuality. Nothing about her indicated she’d once carried a baby.
He didn’t care if she thought it was being too personal to say she was beautiful. He couldn’t help himself. He’d not been the only one staring at Lucy. And he didn’t like it. Suddenly he wanted her all to himself. That wasn’t a realistic wish.
Lucy and he had just broken out into an open area and were headed towards the pledge table when his name was called.
“Ryan O’Doherty. I had hoped to see you here.”
He turned to find Alex Rodriguez standing behind him. “Alex,” he said, more tartly that he should have.
Lucy waited patiently beside him. He guessed she wasn’t missing a single nuance of his and Alex’s interaction.
“We need to have a quick talk. Be in my office tomorrow morning before your first case.” Alex’s veiled dictate didn’t go over Ryan’s head.
The only answer he could give was, “Sure, I’ll be there at six-thirty. I’d like to speak to you also.”
They stared at each other like two alpha wolves deciding how they were going to share the same space. Ryan knew Alex had already won. He was the head of the neuro department now.
“Good,” Alex said, and looked at Lucy.
“Have you met Ms. Edwards?” Ryan asked Alex.
“I have. Glad to have you working with us, Ms. Edwards.”
“Thank you.”
“Dr. Woods.” Ryan waved at the blonde woman walking past.
She stopped. “Hello, Ryan.” She smiled but when her gaze fell on Alex it dimmed.
Had Alex crossed swords with her also? “Layla,” Ryan continued, “I’m sorry I wasn’t here when the announcement was made that you’re going to be the new pediatric head. Congratulations.”
“Thanks, Ryan.”
He looked at Lucy. “Have you met Lucy Edwards, the new neuro family counselor, and Dr. Alex Rodriguez, our new neuro head?”
“Hello, Lucy.” Layla offered her hand to Lucy then turned to Alex, hesitating before she took the hand Alex extended. “Alex.”
She gave his name a hard edge and their handshake was almost over before it had begun. Did they have some history? Interesting. Maybe Ryan wasn’t the only one that Alex had rubbed up the wrong way.
“Hello, Layla,” Alex said, his tone almost as cutting as hers.
“You two already met?” Ryan asked, looking from one to the other.
“Yes,” Alex answered, but his attention remained on Layla. “How’re you?
“Fine. And you?”
“Well.”
If there was an iceberg between Lucy and himself, it was nothing compared to the frigid fog gusting off the two people in front of him.
“Is your husband here with you?” Alex asked, glancing around the room.
Even in the dim light Ryan could see Layla blanch. “No, we’re divorced.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Alex said, but his response lacked a ring of sincerity. “If you’ll excuse me, I see someone I need to speak to.” He nodded curtly to the group and was gone.
“Lucy and I are on our way to sign pledge cards. Would you like to join us?” Ryan asked Layla.
“Thank you, but I’ve already stopped by. I need to speak to Jack a second so I’ll see you around,” Layla answered, not looking at him. Instead, her gaze rested on Alex’s back as he moved across the room.
“Then we’ll see you later.” Ryan put his hand at Lucy’s waist. A thrill went through him when she didn’t move away.
“Nice to meet you, Dr. Woods.” Lucy said. When Layla was out of earshot, Lucy whispered, “What was that all about?”
“I don’t know but I’d