It occurred to her that if he would just see reason and fall in love with her, everything would go so much easier. But that was about as likely as her fantasies at age thirteen of all the guys in One Direction fighting over her between concert sets, with Harry usually emerging as victor.
Unfortunately she was dealing with reality these days, and Houston wanted her for one thing only. As much as she wanted to give it to him, she also wanted to respect herself in the morning.
So now they had to figure out how to reestablish a workingrelationship between them without any awkward feelings, and possibly coffee was a first step in that direction.
“Thanks,” she said, ducking through the door. Then, wanting him to sit down and get off his bad leg, she headed for the coffeepot. “You sit down and I’ll get the coffee.”
Expecting him to argue, she hurried forward without waiting for an answer. She went to the large pot simmering in the corner and poured two cups of black coffee, then stood in line to pay for them. She was amazed to see on her way back that Houston had actually taken her advice and sat down. He looked relieved to be off his leg, lounging back in his chair.
That obvious relief on his face only exasperated the uneasiness she had been feeling.
“Listen,” she said as she sat down across from him, placing their coffee on the table. “Are you sure you’re ready to come back? I don’t think anyone expects you to be back so soon. I mean, you’re probably still in a lot of pain. You just had surgery a little over a week ago...” she trailed off as he stared at her coldly.
“I don’t feel anything in my hand. It’s numb,” he said.
“Oh.” It was a rebuff, plain and simple.Leave me alone,his words said.
He pulled her in, he pushed her away. Houston wanted her on his terms only, and she was getting a little tired of it. But he spoke before she could think of anything to say.
“Yes.” He gave a wry and tight smile.“Oh.There aren’t exactly any words for it, which is good because I don’t feel like talking about it.”
And he never would, she was sure. “Houston, I’m sorry. I know that doesn’t mean a whole lot but?—”
He held his good hand up. “No, please, don’t. I’m not ready to hear condolences yet. We won’t know anything for sure until the four weeks are up and the tendons and nerves have healed. Then PT, and with a little luck, three months from now you won’t have to be sorry for me.”
“Of course.” She dredged up a smile, even though she thought he was being a little optimistic. But it must be hell to face what Houston was, and she suspected he would have to come to terms with his new life little by little.
“So, did Dr. Stanhope actually approve your return? I’ve heard he’s a little prickly about malpractice.” Josie strove to keep her voice light as she changed the subject.
Houston grunted. “Any chief of staff should be prickly about malpractice. It could bankrupt the hospital, and Acadia Inlet isn’t exactly rolling in money. Stanhope just barely approved my return, and even that was with conditions.”
Josie took a sip of her hot coffee, and sighed with pleasure as the warm liquid coated her throat. She was feeling cold, a chill deep to the bone.
“Maybe he was just concerned about your recovery.” Houston ran his finger back and forth over the napkin Josie had set his coffee cup on. “Maybe. But I’m not really in any pain, you know. My leg is just stiff, and the sutures are starting to itch like crazy. But nobody seems to want to believe me.”
“I believe you,” she said quietly.
“Stanhope forced me to agree to only six-hour shifts for the next month. That only leaves time for one or two surgeries a day. I hope you’re a fast learner.”
Geez, so did she. Fear of being found inadequate rushed through Josie. Here was her big chance. The opportunity to prove to Houston that she was as capable as the next at being a surgeon. To prove that despite her appearance and quirky personality, she was a brain to be reckoned with.
“I’ve done a lot of fractures already, you know, given my year in ER, and a wide variety of other cases.” Which he had to be aware of. “But yes, I am a very fast learner.”
“Good.”
They settled into silence and Josie watched Houston sip his coffee, wondering if he had any idea howattractive he was. Any idea of how much she wanted him and how hard it was to keep saying no to him.
It sucked to be right. She had known it would be a mistake to sleep with him, and it had been a doozy. And now she had to pretend it had never happened, because she was determined to earn his trust in the OR. Starting tomorrow.
“So what’s on the schedule?” she asked.
He stared into his mug and shrugged. “We can go down and take a look if you want.”
“Not right now. I’ll check in an hour or so. I’ve got to head back now,” She had only abandoned six tasks to come and have coffee with him, and they couldn’t wait another ten minutes.
Houston nodded, looking distracted. He said suddenly, “So what did I really say when you were stitching me up?” Josie thought about his loopy sexual innuendos and smiled. “Are you sure you want to know?”
He groaned. “That bad?”