Before the Moon Rises (2 page)

more vicious. Besides, if he'd been mauled by a dog I would

have started sneezing the minute he came in." Everyone in

the Emergency Department knew about Janet's allergy to

dogs. Whoever worked triage understood not to give her

patients who had run-ins with biting dogs.

Jack scanned the pictures and shrugged his shoulders. "I

don't see anything."

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"Let's get him back to his room. I need to get a Foley in

him before day shift arrives. I don't need them bitching about

me leaving work for them."

Alone with her patient, Janet removed the catheter kit

from the supply cabinet and placed it on the bed. She closed

the curtain to insure privacy. Not that he would complain; he

was still completely out.

She tossed back the covers and took the time to dress the

man in a hospital gown. The stranger was built. Tan,

muscular and good lord his package was something to be

reckoned with. Janet didn't make a habit out of really noticing

her patients 'packages', in fact, she couldn't remember ever

really looking before. Okay, maybe she looked, but she never

ogled. This man was well worth ogling.

Embarrassed over where her eyes landed, she opened the

Foley catheter kit and prepared to insert the tube to collect

his urine.
Good thing he's out.
She'd hate to be caught

staring at the man's assets.
How unprofessional.

Gloved up, she lifted his penis and lubed the end of the

catheter tubing. Out of habit she murmured, "This is going to

hurt you, more than me."

A strong voice from the top of the bed stopped her mid

stride. "Don't you think I should know your name first?"

Shocked, Janet let out a little shriek. Her grip tightened on

the man's penis, her eyes shot up to his face. Deep blue eyes

swirled and sparkled with a hidden smile, yet his lips

remained in a thin line.

She opened her mouth to speak but no words came.

"Well?" he asked, his voice thick and drawn out.

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"The doctor needs a urine sample," Janet blurted.

John Doe's eyes traveled to his private parts. In that

second, Janet felt his penis twitch and start to harden.

"Oh, God!"

She jumped back, dropping his erect penis in her haste.

Her face turned red so fast, Max thought she might

spontaneously combust right in front of him.

She was utterly frazzled, it took every effort for him not to

bust out laughing. She couldn't be more than five-feet-six,

her body shape hidden by the outfit she wore. Small but

mighty, he thought. Obviously, she wasn't used to being

caught off guard.

He'd awoken in some crazy places, some outrageous

situations. But this was a first. "I'm in a hospital?"

"Yes, County General."

Her eyes refused to meet his. They did, however, scan his

body. Unable to control the reaction to her open stare his

body responded. Her scent filled his brain. He stifled an

audible sniff, but he smelled her nonetheless. Her eyes hid

her desire, but her scent didn't. Something else permeated

the air, but he wasn't certain what it was.

She started clearing away the catheter tray, her

composure returned. In a casual gesture, she covered his

exposed frame and tossed away her supplies. "You can give

the doctor a sample, now that you're awake."

"A sample of what?"

"Urine."

"Oh, yeah." Max sat up and removed the patches from his

chest.

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"Hey, what are you doing?"

"Leaving."

"You can't do that."

Max continued to dislodge the medical equipment, ignoring

her words. "I'm not sick. I don't need a hospital."

"You were unconscious a minute ago. And have been for at

least a half an hour. I think you should have a workup."

Max stood up, the cold hospital floor met his feet.
Half an

hour? How the hell did that happen?
He peered through a

small slip in the curtain, which gave him a view of the busy

emergency department. It was then he saw him, off in a

corner in deep conversation with another patient.

Instantly on alert, Max stepped back out of view, his mind

raced for an escape. He took a glance at his naked knees and

bare feet. He needed clothes. "Is there an extra pair of scrubs

I can borrow?"

The nurse cocked her head to the side and took a step

closer to him. "Do you remember your name?"

He tore his eyes from his enemy and settled his gaze on

her. "What's your name?"

"I asked you first."

His chuckle caught him by surprise. Her scent made his

body ache.
Damn after effect of the change.
This time it

seemed so much more powerful. "Max. My name is Max."

"Do you know why you were unconscious, Max?"

He couldn't stop from moving closer to her, something

radiated off of her that drew him in. He towered over her, all

six-foot-two of him. "I think you need to tell me your name."

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Her eyes drifted to his chest, her lower lip sucked in.

"Janet O'Brien."

Max reached out and placed her left hand in his. He

brought it to his lips and kissed the back of it. Her pulse

jumped. She didn't wear a ring. "Thank you for taking such

wonderful care of me, Janet. But I really need to be on my

way."

She was blushing again, this time a smile laced her

features. "You're going to have to sign out against medical

advice." She removed her hand from his. "I'll go get the

paperwork."

She started to move from the room, but Max stopped her.

"Miss O'Brien?"

"Yes?"

"Don't forget the clothes."

She nodded, pivoted and left his side. His cheek twitched.

Her cute little butt swayed in rhythm with her hips as she

walked past the nurse's station and disappeared from sight.

His eyes drew to thin slits. Gorman's steadfast stare followed

the hot pink uniform as well.

She emerged with an arm full of clothes. Then, quick as a

snake, his rival's hand shot out and stopped her in her path.

Every muscle in Max's body tightened. Gorman kept his

grip on Miss O'Brien's arm while he spoke with her. When she

backed up, Max saw her unease.

He could smell her fear.

She ended her discussion and turned Max's way.

Gorman's eyes raked her frame when she walked away.

Damn. He just picked his next target. The sexy little blonde

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nurse won't stand a chance when Gorman makes the change

later tonight.

"Here you go," she handed him the scrubs.

Max closed the drape behind her. "So, Miss O'Brien, when

do you get off?"

"Excuse me?"

What was going on? Janet stared at Max in disbelief. In the

six years of working in the ER, never had a patient asked her

this question, and now it happened twice in less than two

minutes.

She rubbed her arm where the other man had grabbed

her. If it wasn't for the fact that the medical staff and security

surrounded her she would have been alarmed. Hell, she was

alarmed. The man in the hallway had been anything but

polite. She didn't reveal her schedule to him, resulting in a

heated stare from the man. Janet tried to be nice about it,

but it didn't seem to work. She told him she was involved,

which was a complete lie.

Now, Mr. Naked Man asked her the same question.

"I asked when you got off work. Maybe I could buy you

breakfast, for taking such great care of me."

Janet stood back, folded her arms across her chest and

made a show out of sweeping his body with her eyes. "I'll

admit you're good looking, but looks won't buy you a cup of

coffee in this town."

He flashed his teeth and, dear God, the man had dimples—

really cute dimples—which stood in dark contrast to his

masculine features. Janet shifted to her other foot in an

attempt to appear unaffected by his smile.

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"I think I can afford to buy you a cup of coffee."

"Really? So you
choose
to walk the streets of LA naked in

the middle of the night?"

Now it was him, shifting in his shoes, or rather, hospital

slippers. He kept his smile in place despite his state of

undress. "Maybe I can explain my, er, situation over eggs

benedict."

She was tempted, even with him dressed in a hospital

issue gown open in the back, she was tempted. "I don't think

so."

"Why not? You said yourself I'm good looking, and I know

you're curious about why I ended up here."

Janet slid the paperwork she held in front of him and

handed him her pen. "Even if I wanted to, I make it a rule not

to date my patients."

"Humm..." He took the paper and signed his name, then

pushed it in her direction. "I'm no longer your patient."

Janet couldn't stop the giggle that erupted. "Listen..." She

picked up the paper and noted his name. "Mr. Ritter. I'm

flattered, really I am, but I don't think this would be a good

idea."

"I suggested breakfast, not marriage."

"You're wearing a hospital gown and a smile."

"I'll change. We can drop by my house so I can get my

wallet."

Janet narrowed her eyes. "Is this some perverse way to

get a free ride home?"

"I'll pay for gas." His eyes locked with hers sending a chill

up her spine.

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Before the Moon Rises

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"Hey Janet," a voice called from beyond the closed curtain.

"I've got to go. Day shift needs report." But her feet didn't

move. Instead, she stared at him, knowing somehow she

would give in to his request, and if nothing else give him a

ride home.

Something she had never done before.

"I'll meet you outside, by your car."

On a sigh she said, "Yeah, okay." Janet turned away. "How

do you know what I drive?"

"I don't, but I'll figure it out."

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20

Before the Moon Rises

by Catherine Bybee

This was crazy. No, it was stupid. Even attractive men can

be serial killers.

Janet changed into a simple pair of jeans and loose knit

top. She ran a brush through her hair and slapped on some

lip-gloss. Before leaving the women's locker room, she

checked her purse twice, assuring herself the mace sat at the

bottom of her bag.

At the last minute, she dialed her home phone number and

left a message. Just in case she ended up dead, the police

would have an idea of who did it. "I'm leaving work to take

Max Ritter, a patient from last night's shift, home. I've got to

be crazy." She tossed the phone into her purse.

"Oh, God," she groaned.
This really is stupid.

She walked to the parking lot slower than normal. Sure

enough, Mr. Naked Man leaned against her car. This time

dressed in scrubs, slippers on his feet.

"I started to think you changed your mind."

"I should." Janet clicked her alarm key and unlocked the

doors of the car. "Get in before I do."

Tucked behind the steering wheel, Janet fastened her

seatbelt. "Where do you live?"

He rambled off a few directions and a street address. Janet

put the car in gear and left the parking lot.

"Nice car."

"I like it," she said, trying her best not to look at him.

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"I didn't see you behind the wheel of a 'Vette. You seemed

to be more like a sub-compact kind of girl."

"What's that suppose to mean?" She dared a glance. His

smug expression turned to one of innocence.

Max put his hands in the air. "It wasn't meant as an

insult."

Janet rounded the corner a little fast; Max held the side of

the door in an obvious attempt at avoiding injury.
Sub-

compact my foot!
She smiled. "I like fast cars. My dad used to

race when I was a kid. It's in my blood, so-to-speak."

"Humm... I'll bet you work on it yourself."

Janet glanced over at him again, not sure if he was

mocking her. "As a matter of fact—"

"I would think after all the experience you must have

taking care of accident victims, you would drive something

safer," he interrupted.

"Stupid drivers and unkempt cars get in accidents. Seldom

is it solely the car's fault. Besides, just because it will go fast,

doesn't mean I drive it fast." She glanced down, noticed the

speedometer inch toward 85 MPH, then eased up on the gas.

"Tell me, Mr. Ritter."

"Max."

"Okay, Max. If you didn't think I drove a Corvette, then

how did you know which car was mine?"

"I have a keen sense of smell."

Janet peered over the brim of her sunglasses. "You could