A Dose of Passion, page 7
Thirty minutes later, after consulting with Amber’s doctor, Macy hung out with Amber and her mother until the little girl fell asleep. Her father, stationed overseas, was expected back in the States later that day. Macy found solace in knowing the staff was doing everything it could for Amber, though her health was quickly declining.
Macy promised Amber’s mother she would return after her meeting. She had an appointment with Derek in twenty minutes to go over the latest plans he had drawn up, and the last thing she wanted to do was be late. Besides, she was looking forward to seeing him. They had met twice since the day they had lunch together. So far she was glad she hadn’t written him off. Though she didn’t like the way Noah had thrown them together, she could honestly say she liked Derek and was glad they were becoming friends.
Now, here she was sitting in a long line with other drivers who were trying to exit the parking lot.
“Come on, people,” she said into the quietness of the car. She’d been sitting for twenty minutes and was reluctantly getting ready to call Derek when her pager went off.
Groaning, she stole a quick glance at it: 911.
Her heart dropped. She hated when her service sent her 911 messages, knowing the news wouldn’t be good. Instead of calling Derek, she called the hospital.
“Hi, this is Dr. Carter.”
Tears pricked behind her eyes as she sat stunned, listening to the call. Oh, Amber. Knowing the little girl wasn’t doing well only minutes ago still hadn’t prepared her for this moment.
Macy swiped at a few tears that slipped through and pulled out of line. She couldn’t leave. There was no way she could abandon Amber’s mother right now. If she was asking herself why, she knew she couldn’t begin to know what that child’s mother was going through.
She dried her face and took a few cleansing breaths. Time to put on a brave front.
* * *
An hour later, Macy climbed back into her car and stared out the front window, her hands tightly gripping the steering wheel. She knew as well as anyone that there was a thin line between life and death, but lately she’d been feeling overwhelmed with the latter. First Noah and now Amber. Noah had assured her he was ready for what God had in store for him and was excited about seeing his late wife on the other side, as he had put it. But Amber, she was just a baby.
On one hand, Macy appreciated every breath she’d been given, but on the other hand, she would have gladly given Amber her remaining breaths if it could have saved her life. Too bad it didn’t work like that. She felt so helpless. She had committed her life to help save others, but today it didn’t seem to be enough.
The downpour of rain slamming against her car fit her mood. Depleted of energy, she just wanted to go home, crawl into her bed and sleep for a month. She rested her head on the steering wheel and closed her eyes. She loved being a doctor, but it was days like today that made her wonder if she should consider a different line of work.
Her cell phone beeped again. According to its various tones over the past hour, she had received several calls and just as many text messages. Not in the mood to speak to anyone, she remained where she was but then thought better of not checking her messages.
She dug the phone out of the side pocket of her bag and glanced at the screen.
Derek.
* * *
Derek paced in front of his drafting table and rubbed the back of his neck. This was the third time that Macy was late for one of their appointments and her last chance to have him work on her project. His time was too valuable to waste on someone who clearly didn’t respect it.
He couldn’t understand it. How could someone who was so intelligent and pulled together be consistently inconsiderate? Had it not been for the stipulations in Noah’s will, he would have already assigned a different architect to Macy. He didn’t have the patience or the time to work with someone who wasn’t serious about getting her project done, regardless of his attraction to her.
His cell phone rang from where it sat on the desk. Not bothering to look at the screen, thinking it was Macy, he picked it up and answered right away.
“Hello,” he growled, his patience spent.
“Well, hello to you, too, little brother,” Keith said, the humor in his voice coming through loud and clear. “What’s got you riled up? Oh no, wait. Let me guess. It’s that gorgeous neighbor of ours, right?”
Derek didn’t bother answering the question. Instead, he asked, “How’s my son doing?”
“He’s fine, but he says Tania is a better babysitter than I am.” Keith laughed, not offended in the least bit by Jason’s crush on her. “He’s planning to ask you if she can watch him from now on.”
Derek smiled. He couldn’t blame his son’s choice in babysitters. Tania always came with projects for them to do, as well as microwave popcorn, another one of Jason’s favorites.
“So, why are you calling?”
“Just wondering when you were planning to head home. If you’re going to be a while, I was thinking of taking Lil’ Man out for pizza.”
Derek glanced at his watch. “Actually, I should be...” His voice trailed off when he heard the door to the outer office open. Most of his team had left for the day, and Louise had gone home an hour earlier. Still holding his cell to his ear, he took a few steps toward the door but stopped. Macy stood in the doorway. Not only was she soaked from the downpour outside, she looked as if she’d been through hell.
“Uh, Keith, let me call you back. As a matter of fact, maybe you should proceed with your plans with Jason.” Derek disconnected the call and laid his cell phone on the desk, not taking his gaze from Macy.
Without speaking, she blew out a breath and ran her hand over her long, limp hair. Her shoulders hung low as if she carried the weight of the world on her back. Seconds passed and she still didn’t say a word.
Derek sat on the edge of his desk and folded his arms across his chest. He perused her attire, taking in the wet, pink blouse plastered to her upper body, emphasizing her voluptuous breasts. It had been raining for the past half hour and she clearly had gotten caught in it. His gaze went lower to where her wet pants stuck to her firm thighs. And even lower to where she now stood in a small puddle of water on the floor, wearing sandals that showed pretty feet with pink polish on her toes.
Derek’s gaze traveled back up to her face. Once again, his body betrayed him as he zoned in on her enticing lips and imagined what it would be like to kiss her. Despite the dark smudges under her eyes, as if she hadn’t been sleeping well, she was still one of the most beautiful women he’d ever met.
He rubbed his eyes and exhaled a loud breath. He was never going to find out whether or not her lips were as soft as they appeared. Whatever attraction he had for Macy was going to stop there; it was just attraction. They could be friends, but it couldn’t go any further. Or at least that’s what he kept telling himself. He had too much going on in his life to even consider getting involved with someone, especially her. Besides, she lived next door and he never got involved with anyone who lived within walking distance of him. If the relationship didn’t work out, he didn’t want to risk running into the person on a daily basis.
“I don’t think this is going to work, Macy,” he said finally. “You’re two hours late. Monday, I’ll assign a different archi—”
“Derek, I...” Her voice cracked and her face contorted as if she was in pain. She cupped her hand over her mouth and smothered a sob as tears rolled down her face.
What the hell? Surely she couldn’t be that broken up about him assigning someone else to her project. No, something else was going on.
Derek pushed away from his desk. “What happened?” She didn’t appear to be hurt, but he didn’t want to assume. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “Are you okay?” he asked close to her ear; her intoxicating fragrance drifted up to his nostrils and he breathed in deep. Rubbing her back, he realized how dumb his question sounded. Clearly, she wasn’t okay.
He pulled her even closer as her sobs grew louder, ignoring the fact that she was getting his dress shirt wet. Placing a kiss against her temple, he berated himself for loving the way she felt in his arms.
Her sobs eventually quieted and she frantically wiped the tears from her face. Derek stood back and shoved his hands into his pockets.
“Tell me what’s going on.”
“I’m so sorry for this.” She dug through her purse and pulled out a small pack of tissues. “And I’m sorry I missed our meeting. It’s just...” She dabbed at her eyes, seeming to struggle with forming her words.
“It’s just what?” Derek asked, thinking it had to be something pretty bad to make her break down the way she had. She came across as a pillar of strength, the person that people went to when they had a problem. Now she looked so vulnerable.
“One of my patients died a couple of hours ago.” She tossed her tissue into the trash can near the drafting table and pulled another from the small pack in her hand. “I don’t usually break down like this when I lose a patient, but she wasn’t just any patient. This little girl was six years old and...and she was very special to me.”
“I’m so sorry, Macy.”
He gently held her elbow and guided her over to the seating area of his office, helping her to one of the upholstered chairs while he took the other. A heavy weight settled around Derek’s heart. His son would be five soon, and the thought of going through anything like what the little girl’s parents were dealing with scared Derek to death. He couldn’t imagine a life without Jason.
His heart went out to the child’s parents...and to Macy. He wasn’t the squirmy type when it came to seeing blood or anything like that, but he didn’t know how doctors did it day in and day out. Granted, they saved many lives, but he had no idea how they dealt with so much loss.
“Amber had been diagnosed with leukemia months ago. Until recently, we thought she could beat it. I wanted her to beat it.” She sobbed. “She got pneumonia and today...”
When Macy stood suddenly, Derek stood, as well.
“I’m sorry to lay this all on you. And again, I’m sorry about missing our appointment. I know you have a lot going on these days.” Her voice sounded as if she was going to break down again. “Maybe you should assign me to someone else.”
“Wait.” Derek gently grabbed her arm before she stepped out of his office. “I can’t let you leave like this.” She started crying again. Derek wondered if something else was going on with her. It hadn’t been long ago that she’d lost Noah, and Derek didn’t know if she had lost any other patients in between then and now.
He held her at arm’s length. Her head was down; lifting her chin with the tip of his finger, he forced her to look at him. His heart clenched inside his chest. He couldn’t stand to see her like this. She had the prettiest brown eyes he had ever stared into, and right now they were some of the saddest ones he’d ever stared into.
He stepped closer and cupped her face; the pads of his thumbs wiped at her tears. When his gaze settled on her plump lips, it was as if a magnetic force was at work between them.
Leaning forward, he lowered his head and touched his lips to hers. At first, the kiss was a gentle peck, but he wanted more. He moved one of his hands to her waist and the other to the back of her neck, deepening the kiss. Her soft moans spurred him on and he savored her sweetness.
Derek, surprised by her eager response, knew if he didn’t stop kissing her right then, he wouldn’t be able to stop. He abruptly pulled his mouth from hers but didn’t let her go. Instead, he rested his forehead against hers, trying to catch his breath. He didn’t regret the kiss, but part of him felt as if he should apologize, especially since she wasn’t herself tonight. But if one kiss ignited a flame within him the way that one did, he had no doubt they would spontaneously combust if they ever hit the sheets together.
Take care of her. Noah’s deathbed request invaded Derek’s thoughts. Macy came across as very strong and independent, but maybe his mentor knew something Derek didn’t.
Derek lifted his head and caressed her soft cheek. “I’ll take you home so you can get out of those wet clothes.”
“Thank you, but I drove my car.”
“Leave it.” He grabbed his keys and cell phone. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to drive tonight.”
Chapter 7
Macy stared out the passenger window of Derek’s car and watched as the city went by in a blur. Her fingers went to her lips as she thought about the kiss she and Derek had shared in his office. Nothing could have prepared her for the heat that consumed her when his mouth touched hers. How had she gone from telling him about Amber to being wrapped in his arms, her tongue tangling with his?
Her body turned hot with the memory of his lips against hers, his strong arms cradling her body. No one had ever kissed her so thoroughly, leaving her lusting for more. The dull ache between her thighs hadn’t been awakened in a long time, and it was all because of an impromptu kiss. But then he’d pulled away just as quickly.
She dropped her hand to her lap and laid her head against the headrest, closing her eyes. She didn’t want to read too much into their intense lip-lock, but she couldn’t help it. She’d be lying if she said that she hadn’t wanted that kiss.
“You okay?” Derek’s baritone voice seemed even deeper than usual. Chill bumps crawled up her arms that weren’t caused by the blast of air from the air conditioner.
“I’m fine.” She sat up and stole a glance at him, shadows from the streetlights casting a romantic glow inside the car. The velvety sounds of Alex Bugnon stroking his ivory keys played through the car speakers, adding to the smooth ride. “Thanks for driving me. I’m sure I could have gotten myself home, but I appreciate you offering.”
“Not a problem. It’s not like it’s out of my way or anything.” He turned to her, a slight smile bringing her attention to those amazing lips. “Besides—” he returned his attention to the road “—you weren’t in any condition to drive.”
She knew he was right. “I’m not sure what happened. Granted, losing a patient is never easy, but I can’t ever remember feeling this...this helpless and sad. I thought for sure Amber had made a turn for the better, and then poof.” She snapped her fingers. “She’s gone. And all I can think about is her poor parents. Her father is in the military. He was able to take an emergency leave a few months ago, but when Amber started making improvements, he returned to duty. He was expected back today.”
Derek gripped the steering wheel tighter. “I can’t even imagine going through something like that with Jason. He means everything to me. How does someone move on from losing a child?”
Macy shook her head. “I don’t know. And God knows, I hope I never have to find out.” She had wanted children for as long as she could remember, but her window of opportunity was slowly closing.
“Have you ever thought about having children?” Derek asked out of nowhere.
Macy stared at his profile before turning to the passenger window. “I think about it all the time. I would love to have at least three, but at my age, the chances of that are pretty slim, especially since I’d prefer to be married first. I know too many single parents out there trying to do it on their own, and that’s not what I want.” The moment the words left her mouth, she realized what she had said. “I’m not saying it’s impossible to raise children on my own. I’m just—”
“Don’t worry. I understand what you’re saying. Trust me, I never thought I’d be a single parent.” He put his blinker on and changed lanes. Macy had hoped he would say more about how he came to be one but he didn’t.
“Are you still in contact with Jason’s mother?” She really didn’t have a right to ask, but curiosity got the best of her. If he didn’t want her to know, he could always tell her to mind her own business.
“No. My ex-wife walked out on us when Jason was six months old, claiming she couldn’t handle being a wife and mother. As far as I’m concerned, she doesn’t exist anymore.”
* * *
Derek gripped the steering wheel tighter. Each time he thought about his ex, it felt as if he was being stabbed in the heart with a knife over and over again. He was no longer in love with her, but the pain she had caused when she walked out was something he had forgiven, but he would never forget.
“I am so sorry.” Macy placed her hand on his thigh and that usual electric charge he felt whenever they touched stormed through his body. Unlike previous times, she didn’t snatch her hand away. “That had to be devastating.”
He released a noisy sigh and didn’t speak right away. Yet there was something about Macy that made him want to tell her about that time in his life. A time he rarely discussed with anyone. Maybe it was her compassion, which he had witnessed on more than one occasion. Or it could be he felt he could trust her.
“That was one of the worst days of my life,” he mumbled, debating just how much he wanted to share. “We had dated for a couple of years, made all types of plans of how perfect our life would be. We had talked about having three children—” Derek glanced at Macy “—but three or four months before Jason was born, I started noticing some changes in her. She was withdrawn, stayed out late with some of her friends, and there was one time, when she was eight months pregnant, when she stayed out all night.” His voice hitched and Macy ran her hand up and down his thigh, as if that would relax him. If anything, the movement of her hand was driving him crazy.
“What happened when she showed up?” Macy’s question was spoken so softly, but Derek didn’t miss the concern he heard in her words.
“She gave some excuse about time getting away from her and that she had stayed the night with one of her friends.” Anger reared its wicked head as the words took him back to that morning. Livid wasn’t a strong enough word to describe what he’d felt for his wife that day.
