The Surgeon's Favorite Nurse Read Online Free PDF Page A

sides of the money-versus-medicine debate and she’d skewered his last nerve with her stiletto. The next he had her up against the wall and both of them were breathing hard while he kissed her senseless.
    And she kissed him right back.
    Another thirty seconds and he’d have been inside her. He’d been almost grateful when his partner’s call interrupted what would have been a huge mistake. But he carried around a big fat regret that he would never know what loving Hope would feel like.
    “Yes,” he finally said. “You passed the test. Obviously you’ve been through a trauma situation with no one directing traffic.”
    She nodded. “You do the best you can to think of everything, all the medical consequences. Sometimes you forget to factor in human nature. Basic curiosity.”
    “Speaking of that—” He was so damn curious about her. If only he had internal security to direct that somewhere it wouldn’t bite him in the ass.
    “Yes?” She tilted her head and her hair swung sideways, revealing the smooth expanse of sexy skin on her neck.
    “Edwards is a pain in the butt. I’ll speak to him and make sure he backs off.”
    “Why would you do that?”
    Good question. He hadn’t planned to offer his help. Watching his own back had been top priority for a long time. “I know him. It might help.”
    “Thanks. But it’s my job to deal with him.”
    He nodded. “Okay, then.”
    She was right; not his responsibility. Since when did he run interference for anyone? That was way too easy to answer. Hope Carmichael had tripped the switch on his protective instincts. There was something fragile about her that made him want to keep her safe when she should be dead last on his priorities list.
    He hadn’t worked his ass off and scraped out a living all his life just to let sex with a tempting coworker derail his career plan.
    “Okay, then,” she echoed. She straightened from the table and started to walk away. “I have work to do and I’m pretty sure you do, too.”
    “Wait, Hope…”
    She stopped and looked up. “Yes?”
    “We need to talk.”
    Something flickered in her eyes. Heat? Awareness? Regret? “I really have to go, Jake. You’re the one who ended the meeting because there was no other business.”
    “It’s not about the hospital.”
    She tucked a silky strand of honey blond hair behind her ear. “Then this must be about last night.”
    She’d blamed herself, but he’d been a more-than-willing participant. He hadn’t meant for it to happen. He’d told her common sense was highly overrated, but that was lipservice. No pun intended. Common sense had gotten him to where he was now. His career trajectory was right on target.
    “Yeah. About last night—” He pushed his suit jacket aside as he rested his hands on his hips. Kissing Hope came under the heading “Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time.” They’d even agreed that kissing common sense goodbye was a very bad idea. Then they’d turned the bad idea on its ear and went for each other again.
    It was time to clarify the mistake, clear the air and put the personal behind them. Get back on a professional footing because he had a lot at stake.
    “Our priority needs to be getting the hospital open and running smoothly. At a profit,” he added, bracing for her reaction.
    “You’re absolutely right,” she said.
    “Anything of a personal nature between us would distract attention from that goal.”
    “I agree completely.” She nodded so eagerly that it made his head hurt.
    “This is important for the community.”
    Not to mention himself. Success equaled power and security. Only someone who’d been powerless and insecure could understand how vital those intangibles could be.
    “I’m really glad you brought this up,” she said seriously. “It’s like lifting a heavy load from my shoulders. What happened was a momentary, involuntary, reflexive, impulsive, spontaneous, inconsequential, insignificant—thing.”
    “Agreed.” And yet her