Chapter Fifteen
DOC FELT HELPLESS. He had helped Julie with any overturned furniture, but he couldn’t assist her with the disorganized files. All he could do was stand by while her heart broke for each destroyed file. It took her and Mary three days to rearrange them and confirm they were all accounted for. Ultimately, Julie removed her sling to work faster. He knew it must have hurt, but she pushed through the pain.
It also took them that long to discover that the assistant she had fired—Mary’s twin, Gary—was the vandal.
HIS hadn’t moved in on him yet as the team investigated to see if he could also be the one attempting to end Julie’s life. So far, that didn’t seem to be the case. The vandalism suggested pettiness and inexperience, while the bomb and shooting represented an entirely different level of evil.
Doc was ready to hang him from the yardarm. The kid had made Julie cry. She landed in his arms, and he offered her comfort—until she realized what she had done by turning to him. The kiss he placed on her head might have been too much for this stage of their relationship.
Since then, she had become withdrawn, choosing to eat in her room instead of with him and the other men. He didn’t like this change. She was distancing herself, and he wanted to help her, but he didn’t know how.
That evening, Doc decided to act. He wouldn’t force her to join the men for dinner but instead try to dine with her. So, he brought his meal to her room and knocked, hoping she wouldn’t turn him away. It was time for them to grow closer. He wouldn’t let her pull away.
When the door opened, Doc’s breath caught. She had changed into pajama pants and a top that accentuated her curves better than the jeans and sweater she wore that morning.
“Rodney,” she murmured.
He raised his plate and drink. “I thought I’d join you tonight. We have a lot to talk about.”
Her eyebrows arched into a V, and she asked, “We do?”
Rodney nodded, pushed past her, and said, “We do.”
When Julie didn’t challenge him, he smiled and placed his plate of food on the small desk next to her dinner. He turned to her. “First of all,” he said as he reached for her, pulling her into his arms. “I’m going to kiss you like I’ve wanted to since the moment we met. If you don’t want this, you’d better speak up now.”
When Julie fell silent, he lowered his head and gently nibbled her lower lip. He smiled inwardly when she gasped for breath. “Your lips are so soft,” he murmured against them as he captured her mouth in a kiss. His lips moved over hers, and he knew he had won when she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Julie,” he whispered, pulling her tightly against him, his arousal twitching.
When Julie moaned, he thrust his tongue inside her mouth, stroking gently until her tongue joined in the dance of lovers. Their tongues swirled around each other—teasing and taunting the other.
Doc ran his fingers through her hair, tilting her head slightly to kiss her more deeply. Her flavor intoxicated him. Yes, she had a hint of their dinner, but her sweetness was irresistible, and he loved it.
As his dick decided to move and show her how he felt, and she didn’t push back, he ran his hands down her back to her butt and pulled her against him. She had to know this was more than a make-out session. He wouldn’t take her if she didn’t want it, but he was ready. He hoped she was also.
“Julie, you taste amazing,” he murmured against her lips.
“Hmm,” she said, her eyes closed and a blissful look on her face.
“Look at me, baby.” He waited until she opened her eyes, savoring the desire reflected in them. She wanted him, and she couldn’t deny it. “I want you.”
A different kind of fire ignited within her.
She jumped back in shock. “I—I can’t do this.”
Doc squinted. “Why not?”
“You know why.”
“That’s bullshit. I’m no longer your patient. It’s simply an excuse.”
She ran her fingers over her swollen lips. “I—”
Doc shook his head. He wouldn’t give up on this woman, but now wasn’t the time to push. “Okay.” He cleared his throat and adjusted himself, allowing her to see what she’d done to him. He didn’t want the men to see that, though. “I understand you’re returning to the hospital in the morning.”
Julie nodded. “Yes, I’ll follow up on Dr. Sanders’s patients while he takes his wife to visit her dying mother.”
Nodding, Doc walked to the door. “I’ll see you then.” He stepped outside and took deep breaths to calm himself. It wasn’t until he was almost down the stairs that he remembered he had left his dinner in her room.
Grits was finishing a call when he came back to the main floor.
“I’ve got some news,” the agent said. “Devon discovered significant transfers in Dr. Garcia’s bank accounts that align with the bombing and shooting. However,” he raised his hand to keep the agents from getting too excited. “He also has other substantial withdrawals that are similar in nature. Jesse and Brad are going to speak with him.”
Doc was eager to confront that bastard. Dr. Garcia walked in on Julie cleaning her office and offered no help. That had riled Doc, HIPAA or not.
But he wouldn’t abandon Julie now. He would leave the preliminary questioning to his bosses but would see things through to the end once they found the culprits.
“Also,” Grits said with a smile, “they found the SUV that held the shooter. It belongs to a lowlife who claims to know nothing. Chief Wise is giving us some leeway with him, so I’m sure we’ll uncover who the shooter was and who hired him.”
Progress. Doc couldn’t be more satisfied, especially after the disappointment upstairs. He hadn’t expected to make love to her tonight, but he had looked forward to spending more time with her and getting to know her better.
He wanted to run up and tell Julie everything, but figured she wouldn’t answer the door. He’d save it until morning. Or should he hold back on Dr. Garcia? He didn’t want her to ruin any chance he had to change his course, and they wouldn’t be able to catch him. He’d think about that after a good night’s sleep.
After Grits, Pup, and Doc talked about the recent developments, Grits departed, leaving Pup on duty with Casey while Doc tossed and turned in his bed, wishing he were across the hall in Julie’s room.
The next day arrived far too quickly, and Doc was irritable from lack of sleep. When Grits met him downstairs with coffee and a smile, remarking that he looked like shit, Doc felt like punching him. “Get out,” he muttered.
“No can do. We have a busy day, and Dr. Garcia is in today.”
That caught Doc’s attention and made him turn his head. Why were they letting that madman work alongside Julie?
“Relax, Doc. I can see your wheels turning,” Grits said.
The front door swung open as Cowboy strolled in, his face all bright smiles. “Boy howdy, you look like shit, Doc.”
Doc responded by flipping him off.
Pup and Casey slipped out the door, the kid yawning as if he had never slept a day.
“Why on earth is everyone so cheerful?” Doc asked as he poured himself a cup of coffee. “She’s going to be working next to a man who might want her dead.”
“Because we’ll be there to catch every move he makes,” Cowboy said, opening the refrigerator. “Whose turn is it to get breakfast?”
“Yours,” said Doc.
“Ah, hell. I had to deal with that tooth fairy situation last night, and this morning was chaos at home.” Cowboy pulled his phone from his pants pocket. “Hang on.”
He walked away.
Doc looked at Grits. “So, tell me why?”
“First, we’re not sure if it’s Dr. Garcia. Second, if it is, this is the perfect time to watch his activities and protect your woman from him.”
“She’s not my woman,” Doc grumbled. He wanted her to be his but would scream if she didn’t get past this patient ethics thing.
“Keep telling yourself that.”
“What does he keep telling himself?” Julie asked as she walked down the stairs in blue scrubs that highlighted the vibrant blue of her eyes.
“Nothing,” Doc replied tersely. “Want some coffee?”
“Yes, please.” Julie tossed her purse over her shoulder and walked up to him, accepting the cup he had poured.
Cowboy reappeared, smiling at Julie. “Good morning, Dr. Banks.” Then he turned to Doc. “Ballpark is bringing us something.”
Grits snorted. “You’re lucky you didn’t arrive last.”
The rest of the morning flew by in a blur. Doc found himself more focused on Dr. Garcia than on Julie. He didn’t trust the man, fearing he might have bribed someone to hurt her. How long would it take to trace where the payments went? Devon was supposed to be the best there was.
Julie hadn’t received approval to perform surgery, but she spent the day checking in on Dr. Sanders’s surgical patients. She exhibited a fantastic bedside manner that put every patient at ease—sometimes perhaps a little too much.
Mr. Watkins, a high school history teacher in Room 405, spent half an hour lecturing him about World War I, during which Rodney found himself yawning. However, she smiled and took her time with him. When he asked her why she devoted so much time to this patient, she explained that some of her patients were lonely.
“Some patients have no visitors or calls to check on their well-being. He’s alone, and I have the time.”
Doc’s pride in her grew with every patient they saw. Of course, he didn’t care for the trailing students since he had to play second fiddle, but he remained by her side in the rooms.
She was an exceptional professor. He wondered why she only took on the supervisory role at the hospital and didn’t teach classes. Still, he recognized that she dedicated extra time to patients instead of seeking additional income.
After Julie dismissed her students, she gathered her belongings from the doctor’s locker room and followed the agents toward the exit. Rodney stayed by her side, ready in case Dr. Garcia attempted something at the last minute.
As the overhead speaker blared, “Code Blue. Room 405. Code Blue. Room 405,” Doc felt a surge of urgency. He followed closely behind Julie as she rushed to the stairwell, yanked the door open, and climbed the stairs two at a time.