Holding Out for Doctor Perfect

“And you’re ready.”

“Yup.” There’d been lots of time to make sure of that, what with not sleeping much. And for good reason. There’d been no way to prepare for the fact that he smelled as good as he looked. She was such a sucker for a good-smelling man, but was doing her best to get over it. “Let’s go.”

He glanced at her small weekend suitcase on wheels with carry-on bag attached, then met her gaze. “Where’s the rest of your stuff?”

“That’s all there is.”

“You do realize we’ll be gone several days. Visiting several hospitals in the Dallas Metroplex?”

She nodded. “It’s all business meetings. Coordinate right, travel light.”

“Sounds like a marketing slogan.” The words were teasing, but his expression was puzzled. He lifted his sunglasses and hung them from his jacket pocket. Piercing green eyes grew intense as he studied her. “You’re not like other women, are you?”

“I’m not sure whether to be insulted or flattered, but … why do you say that?”

“It’s definitely a compliment. And I say it because, until now, I’ve never met a woman who could take a trip of this duration with only one small bag.”

“Considering the sheer number of your women—”

“My women?” One light brown eyebrow lifted.

“Hospital talk.” She shrugged. “There’s no way to stop it.”

“Ah.” He slid his hands into his slacks pockets. “The rumor network at Mercy Medical Center is as intricate as the capillaries, veins and vessels that comprise the body’s complex circulatory system.”

“News does travel fast.” She couldn’t help smiling because the comparison he’d made was accurate but leaned toward the brainy geek side. That was contradictory to his playboy image and oddly endearing.

He stared at her. “Wow.”

“What?”

“You smiled.”

“I do it quite often.” She knew where he was going with this.

“Not with me,” he said. “When I’m around, your good humor is as rare as rain in Las Vegas.”

And for good reason. He was brash, confident and just her type. The type who promised everything she’d always wanted then left without a word.

He glanced at the Rolex on his wrist. “We better go. There could be traffic.”

“Okay.” She pushed the handle of her suitcase down and started to lift it but he brushed her fingers aside.

“I’ll get that.” He settled his sunglasses over his eyes, hiding any expression that might be there. “And for the record … I do date, but the number of women I go out with is greatly exaggerated by the hospital’s rumor network.”

There was no response she could make to that, which was becoming an annoying pattern where he was concerned.

He opened the car door and handed her into the passenger seat. When he was behind the wheel, that sexy masculine smell surrounded her, even more potent than before. It felt like he’d wrapped her in his arms and overwhelmed her senses. Then he fit the key into the ignition and the car glided forward. It was like riding on a cloud.

Avery knew her best defense was to push back this out-of-control feeling with words but so far that hadn’t worked very well with him. Still, conversation was better than awkward silence. So she came up with a topic as innocuous and close to a man’s heart as she could.

“Nice car.”

“Thanks. It’s a terrific machine.” He glanced her way for a second. “And before you get your panties in a twist about boys and their toys, I’m going to again request that you be as objective as possible when we gather information about the surgery system.”

“I will,” she promised.

Whatever flaws Spencer might have personally, as a doctor he was beyond reproach. Objectivity wasn’t plentiful where his personal life was concerned, but without a doubt she knew that saving lives was profoundly important to him.

Avery remembered their conversation in her office less than twenty-four hours ago. They’d both agreed that kids deserve the best start in life. Part of her wasn’t talking about it in a medical way. She was a product of divorce and didn’t see her father after he left. At seventeen she’d gotten pregnant and her baby’s father disappeared. It broke her heart that her mother had refused to give her a home if she kept her infant daughter. Only with time had she gained the wisdom to realize that the baby was better off in a stable home with two parents. Still, a trauma like that left an indelible mark on the soul.

“You’re uncharacteristically quiet.” Spencer’s voice cut through her dark thoughts.

“I hate flying.” She loved the airport but dreaded getting on a plane. “I can’t wait for technology that can beam us where we want to go.”

“It will no doubt be expensive to demolecularize someone, transport them to another location and remolecularize them.” His tone was wry.

“In a perfect world there will be plenty of money.”

Spencer guided the BMW onto the 215 Beltway going west then took the Sunset exit toward McCarran. In minutes there were signs directing them toward Arriving or Departing flights and short- or long-term parking with blue, green and yellow triangles on the roadway. He went to valet, of course, which was the priciest option. So much for his soapbox stand on sticking to a budget and keeping expenses down.

After unloading their luggage, he handed the keys to the attendant and they wheeled the bags into the building and past the classic red Thunderbird on display, a nod to the fact that it was flashier and more fun in Vegas. After passing shops and slot machines, the escalator was on their right and went down to the next floor for check-in. Preferred, of course, where there was no waiting.

Since the two of them were traveling on the same reservation confirmation number, they walked up together. There was a very attractive blonde behind the high counter who was only too happy to help Spencer.

She looked at the computer printout and her smile grew wider. “So, you’re going to Dallas, Dr. Stone?”

“We both are,” he said.

“May I see your ID?”

“Of course.” He handed over his and Avery’s, which got a cursory look, as compared to a long perusal for his.

“Your flight is on time, Doctor, and leaving from Gate D14. If there’s anything I can do to make it more pleasant, please don’t hesitate to let me know.”

“Thank you.”

They followed signs for their gate and Avery said, “Doctor Awesome strikes again.”

“Oh, please,” he scoffed.

Before she could rebut, they joined the line to pass through security. After again presenting IDs and boarding passes, they fell in with people removing shoes, belts and watches as carry-on luggage went on the conveyor belt and into the screening process.

Spencer was waved through the metal detector by a—what else?—female uniformed agent. Naturally, she gave him a big, flirtatious smile as he went through. After gathering up everything, they proceeded to the waiting area and found seats side by side.

Avery looked at him in awe. “Being you must be extraordinarily wonderful.”

His expression oozed amusement. “What are you talking about?”