Dr. Destiny

She allowed him a few moments of silence. With Brendan, she had learned not to push. Eventually he would come clean without any persuasion on her part, if luck prevailed.

His sigh came out rough, frustrated. A hint of sadness passed over his expression, clouding his eyes. ‘‘I don’t think the Neely baby’s going to make it.’’

Cassie struggled for something consoling to say. Something that might lessen his pain. ‘‘Mrs. Neely delivered at what, twenty-nine weeks?’’

‘‘Twenty-seven. The baby’s a little over two pounds with too many problems.’’ He sat in silence for a few moments, his torment almost palpable. ‘‘Sometimes I wonder why I do this.’’

So did Cassie, but Brendan had never been forthcoming with that information. It wasn’t the first time she’d seen him worried about one of his patients. In fact, it troubled Cassie that at times he seemed to worry too much. Not that he readily revealed his concern.

Despite the stress, something drove him. Something personal, she suspected. She had never asked, and he’d never even hinted at his reasons for subjecting himself to such a high-pressure field.

‘‘You do this because you’re wonderful at it,’’ she said in her optimistic voice. ‘‘You do it because you’re the best.’’

‘‘So you say.’’

‘‘So I know.’’

‘‘I do have some good news,’’ he said.

Cassie leaned forward with interest. ‘‘You found the girl of your dreams?’’

He hinted at another smile. ‘‘Matthew Granger’s going home with his parents tomorrow.’’

She wanted to shout with relief, not only because the Granger baby had survived his premature birth, but also because Brendan hadn’t found his life partner. That shouldn’t concern her in the least. From the moment they’d met six months ago, she’d known they were destined to be only friends, though at times she found herself wishing for more. But Brendan had made it more than clear he wasn’t looking for anything beyond friendship, and she certainly didn’t intend to complicate their relationship by making her feelings known.

‘‘Wow, Brendan, that’s great,’’ she said. ‘‘Dr. Granger and Brooke must be thrilled. You need to concentrate on that. You’re responsible for that little miracle, and so many others.’’

‘‘Losing even one isn’t good enough for me.’’ He dropped his feet from the table and stood. ‘‘I’m getting out of here. I’ve had about all of this place I can stand.’’

One thing Cassie knew for certain, he didn’t need to be alone tonight, considering his present state of mind. And what did she have to go home to? An empty house and a cocky cat. Not at all appealing at the moment. Not when compared to spending the evening with Brendan O’Connor in some friendly competition.

All she could do was make the offer and hope that he accepted. ‘‘So you’re through for the day?’’

Brendan paused at the door. ‘‘Yeah. My shift’s up. Segovia’s taking over.’’

‘‘Good. Meet me at the tennis courts in an hour.’’

He checked his watch. ‘‘It’s late.’’

‘‘We’ve played later than this before.’’

‘‘I’m not sure what kind of company I’d be.’’

Time to bring out the big guns. Brendan was as driven as Cassie when it came not only to work but also to sports. She would shamelessly use that to her advantage, or at least try. ‘‘Nothing like a friendly game to alleviate stress.’’

‘‘Thanks for the offer, but I’m not in the mood.’’

‘‘Come on, Brendan. Be fair. It’s my turn to kick your cute butt.’’

His expression softened and the familiar competitive gleam flashed in his eyes. ‘‘You think you can kick my butt, huh?’’

‘‘Yep.’’

‘‘So you say.’’

‘‘So I know.’’ She rose from her chair and smiled. ‘‘And your answer is?’’

He let go an exaggerated sigh. ‘‘I guess if you’re determined to kick some butt, it might as well be mine.’’

‘‘Great.’’ She sauntered over to him and patted his whisker-shaded jaw. ‘‘You might want to wear extra padding in order to protect your derriere.’’

‘‘That’s not necessary. You’re not going to win.’’

‘‘Whatever you say, Doctor.’’

His smile reappeared, deeper this time, revealing the prominent right-sided dimple creasing his cheek. She loved his smile. Loved it when he let down his guard and morphed from doctor to man. Loved it when he laughed, which didn’t happen too often lately.

That would be Cassie’s goal for the evening. To make Brendan O’Connor laugh—and, of course, to win.

‘‘I won! I won! I won!’’

Brendan stood at the net and chuckled as he eyed Cassie strutting around the court, racket held above her head as if it were a Wimbledon trophy. Her short white tennis skirt bobbed up and down with her revelry, revealing a nice glimpse of tanned thigh. A few strands of her shoulder-length silky blond hair escaped her ponytail and ruffled in the cool October breeze. That effervescent smile, those mischievous dark eyes, that prime athlete’s body, could disinte-grate any man’s resistance. Even Brendan’s.

But he wouldn’t spoil their relationship by considering anything other than friendship, no matter how tempting she could be. He also wouldn’t spoil her moment of victory by telling her that he had let her win. Okay, not exactly let her, but his heart hadn’t been in the game. Considering what the next day would bring—the anniversary of an event he would just as soon forget—he had his mind on little else. He hadn’t been able to forget, even after years of trying.

Cassie rushed to the net and taunted him some more. ‘‘I told you your butt was in trouble, didn’t I?’’

‘‘Would you just leave my butt out of this?’’ He tried to sound serious, but he couldn’t stifle more laughter or resist her joy.

She pointed and grinned. ‘‘Aha! You did it twice in one day.’’

‘‘What?’’

‘‘Laughed.’’

He shrugged. ‘‘So? Are you keeping score?’’

‘‘Yes, and as promised, I did what I set out to do.’’ She reached over the net and gave him a hefty slap on the part of his anatomy in question.

‘‘You’ve really done it now, Cassandra Allen.’’

Brendan scaled the net but Cassie was too quick. By the time they’d made it to the commons area near the club’s rear entrance, he’d caught up to her. He grabbed her around the waist and spun her several times, then turned her into his arms and held on fast.

‘‘Let me go, Brendan O’Connor.’’ She sounded winded, but not all that threatening.

‘‘Not until you apologize for taking advantage of my exhaustion, and my vulnerable buttocks.’’

She jutted out her chin in determination. ‘‘Bully.’’