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Why? Because it’s not enough we’ve seen each other naked and had amazing sex during a one-night stand, and now I have to find a way to go back to making this casual between us? Because this morning is already awkward enough, and now you want to make me live through an entire day of it?

“Um, I don’t think that’s a very good idea, Tyler. I’ve got a lot of things to do, and . . .”

“Name three things you need to get done today,” he interrupted, leaning forward and propping his arm up on the table. He rested his chin on his hand and drummed his fingers along his cheek.

“Well, I have to clean my apartment, and I have to go grocery shopping, and . . . and . . .” Crap! I was drawing a complete blank.

“First of all,” he sounded bored, “Your apartment is already immaculate. Except, of course,” he winked, “where you dropped your dress on the floor last night.” I flushed, remembering how good it felt to have his hands touch my skin. He leaned forward as if he was going to share a secret. “I even made your bed for you,” he whispered and sat back. “As for grocery shopping, you live alone, so you can’t need that much. Just don’t forget your coffee,” he gave me a smug look. “Consider me available to help you carry your bags from your car into your building. Let’s see.” He pretended to count on his fingers. “That should take up a whopping hour of your day.” He shook his head as if perplexed. “However will you manage?” It was unnerving how easily he saw right through me.

“I have plenty of other things to do,” I snapped. “I just don’t see the need to spell out my entire schedule to you. What’s the big deal?”

“I don’t know, Jen. You tell me. Why don’t you want to spend the day with me? You seemed fine being with me yesterday and last night.”

“I was,” I hurried to answer. “Yesterday was . . .”Yesterday was a day I couldn’t hold my emotions in check, and you seemed to understand I needed, no craved, to not be alone. Because when you touched me I was able to forget, but today I need to remember.“Look, I’m sorry. I’ve put you in a situation where you feel you have to be different with me. I know this isn’t how you would normally spend the day. You don’t have to try so hard with me, Tyler,” I finished lamely.

“Are you afraid you might find out I’m not as bad as you claim I am?” he growled. “Maybe I’m not the jerk who doesn’t know how to spend quality time with a woman after he sleeps with her. That would upset the world as you know it, wouldn’t it, because then you might have to admit you’re the one who has the issue, not me.”

He seemed genuinely offended by my actions this morning. I’d made a big assumption about how he would behave once he woke up, assuming he’d awkwardly try to justify why he needed to leave as he practically ran out the door. I hesitated, then decided to go with the truth. “I thought last night would just be a one-time thing, and today we’d go back to just being friends-in-law, you know, for the sake of Kayla and Alex.” Asif that’s even possible at this point.

“I know you don’t do relationships, and I know you don’t do the sleepover thing,” I finally said. “And that’s not enough for me.”

He stared hard at me. He lifted his head from his hand and sat back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “So, let me get this straight. You think I’m the kind of guy who just goes around playing ding-dong-ditch with any pussy I meet?” He sounded offended.

A strong memory surfaced. Months before Kayla and I were officially introduced to him and Alex, it had been my turn to work in the ER. We had been slammed by one emergency after another, and it wasn’t until late in the afternoon when I finally had a chance to relax. I was walking down a hall in the back of the emergency room when I heard arguing coming from behind the closed door of a storage room.

“You knew the deal when I came over,” an angry male voice exclaimed.

“But, Tyler,” a sultry voice pleaded.

“No! I told you it was a one-time thing. I’m not interested in a repeat performance.”

Ouch! Harsh words. I felt sorry for whoever was on the receiving end of such a dismissal. However, a twisted curiosity caused me to slow my pace so I could continue to hear the soap opera-type dialogue taking place behind the door. I could hear more mumbling, along with a noise that sounded like scuffling.

“Enough!” The volume and sharpness from the man caused me to jump. I saw the door handle turn and hurried to move down the hall as it was wrenched open. As I continued walking, I looked over my shoulder in time to see a fashionably dressed woman with black hair storm down the hall. In one hand, she held a very large black purse with clenched fingers, while her free arm swung rigidly, keeping time with the clicks of her spiked heels on the tile floor. A very frustrated looking Tyler Cranston blew out a long breath in the doorway before turning in the opposite direction of the woman. His long strides brought him beside me in only a few steps. He glanced at me and nodded awkwardly. I noticed a lipstick imprint near his mouth. I almost didn’t say anything. After all, anyone who dished out a rejection with such coldness after a night together deserved the teasing he was sure to receive. As he began to walk away, my conscience kicked in. He might deserve it, but our patients deserved our full attention, and they weren’t likely to receive it with such a distraction.

I reached out a hand and gently grabbed his elbow. “Dr. Cranston, you have a bit of . . . um . . .” I started to reach my hand toward his face then changed my mind. Instead, I pointed toward the side of my mouth and made a wiping gesture. He instantly caught on.

“Damn it!” He quickly rubbed his fingers over the lipstick stain on his face. He moved his fingers away and stared quizzically at me.

I nodded. “It’s gone.”

“Thanks.” He smiled and continued on his way.

“Well, aren’t you? You’re never with the same woman twice, and I’m sure you’re a guy withneeds,so I assume you aren’t going without. Hit it and quit it, right? I just made it easy for you last night. But no worries, I don’t hold you accountable. That one was on me, and I admit it was great.”

“Do you honestly think so poorly of me? I thought of all people you might know the guy who hangs out with Alex. The same guy whom Kayla invites over and thinks of as a brother—her words, not mine.” I couldn’t help but notice his hand clench on the table and his mouth tighten as he paused to take a breath. “I didn’t realize you paid so much attention to the gossip that takes place at the nurses’ station. I honestly thought you might have a clearer picture of the real me over the rumor mill’s version, the man who tried to do the right thing last night and again this morning. I guess now you have your own story to take back and share.” He didn’t raise his voice, but the defeated tone and truth of his words packed an enormous punch.

I stared at the table, shamed by his words. He was right. I knew exactly how the rumor mill worked at the hospital, and yet I allowed it to feed my perception of Tyler. The women liked to gather around the nurse’s station or in the break room and chatter about the newest intern or resident. A particular favorite topic was Dr. Tyler Cranston, the resident turned staff member in the ER. He was the stereotypical tall, dark, and handsome guy whose lack of a wedding band made him an instant target for the single or unhappily married ladies. Unlike some of the older doctors, he had a quick wit and was appreciative of the nurse’s efforts which made him a pleasure to assist. I usually worked on the pediatric floor, but occasionally there was a need in the ER, and one of us would be rotated to help out. I’d seen Dr. Cranston at work and admired how he praised and thanked anyone who assisted him for their help after whatever trauma was over. I was used to doctors who just snapped off their gloves, threw them in the trash, and moved on to the next patient. So it was normal, I supposed, that all the women noticed him, myself included.

Returning my thoughts to the man across from me, I lifted my head to look at Tyler. He was leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed over his chest, staring out the window. More like brooding. My low opinion seemed to bother him. And he was right; I had direct access to see just how great a guy he could be. I cleared my throat, and he shifted his eyes toward me.

“You’re right, Tyler. I have seen a different side of you, but you seem to reserve it for only a small group of people, like Alex and Kayla. Last night was probably a mistake, one for which I’m responsible. You tried to warn me. I’m sorry. I promised you today wouldn’t be awkward, and it seems I’ve made it just that. But I think spending the day together would only make it worse.”

“Maybe I don’t think last night was a mistake,” he said. His eyes glittered like gold as he held my gaze.

I quickly shook my head. “No. No, I don’t think so,” I denied. “I never see you with the same woman more than once. That part of the rumor mill is true, Tyler. And I can’t be with someone like that, even though I recognize the hypocrisy of that statement since I’m now one of those women because that’s all it can be, Tyler.”

“And just how many women do the gossip mongers have me seducing?” he asked. His lips quirked up as if the whole idea amused him. “I’ll tell you if they’re true. And I will tell you the truth. I won’t ever lie to you, Jen.”