Mine at Last (9 page)

She looked at him. The question was innocent enough, but she knew it was loaded with sexual innuendo. And she had a feeling he knew it, even though his expression was innocent. “No, not right now. So, I’ll see you Monday morning.” She turned to walk out.

“Wait, I’m headed out, too. I’ll walk you to your car. Safety first.”

“That’s not necessary,” she said, knowing he was going to anyway. She was right. He didn’t respond. He just stepped up to walk by her side. As they passed the check-in desk, both the nurse and security guard said good-night.

Shauna had been in enough hospitals and medical centers to know that the rumors would be flying as soon as the sliding glass doors closed behind them. Hospital rumors usually spread faster than germs. And unlike germs, they were seldom, if ever, completely eradicated.

“You know they’re gonna talk,” she said.

“Nah, of course not. Not at all.”

She glanced at him, not sure if he was being naive or facetious. They stepped outside into the hot, muggy night air. The sweltering heat was a stark contrast to the air-conditioned waiting room. “How long will this take?” Dominik asked.

“Two weeks, maybe three or more,” she said.

“And you decide the final evaluation?”

“My job is just a small piece of the whole process.”

“But a very important piece, I would gather. If you fail us, then the buyout doesn’t go through. Am I right?”

“You’re giving me too much credit.”

“Somehow I don’t think I’m giving you enough. Everything was ready to go with the Cura Group and then they brought you in. I presume for your final approval.”

“Interesting thought.”

“You do that well,” he said. She looked over at him questioningly. “Not answering any of my questions.”

She chuckled. “Most people don’t realize that.”

“I’m not most people,” he said.

“Yes, I know. I remember.”

“There it is again—the subtle innuendo. Do we know each other?” he asked.

“No. I can honestly answer that we do not know each other.”

“Did we and I don’t remember?” he specified while smiling.

“I’m sure your memory is better than that.”

“And again you didn’t answer the question.”

They got to her rental car and she clicked the key to unlock the driver’s side door. “Well, this is me,” she said, then turned and looked up into his dark, sexy eyes. The muted lights around them were just enough to make her body begin to sizzle again. “Thanks for walking me to my car.”

“Have you eaten yet?”

“Yes, I ate earlier.”

“Where are you staying?”

“The Key West Gateway Inn,” she said.

“I’ve never stayed there. Is it nice?”

“Yes, it’s very nice. I always liked the look of it.”

“So, you’ve been to Key West before.”

She hesitated, realizing her error. She was making too many of them. Being with Dominik was obviously knocking her off guard. “Yes, a very long time ago.” She tossed her purse onto the passenger seat.

There was a rumbling in the distance and a few raindrops began to fall. He nodded and looked up at the sky. “Looks like we’re gonna have some rain and maybe a storm,” he said.

Shauna nodded. “Well, I guess this is good-night,” she said. “Thanks for walking me. I’ll see you Monday.”

“Good night.” He turned to walk away.

“Dr. Coles,” she called out. He turned around and walked a few steps back to her. There was another rumble. This time it was closer. Shauna hesitated, fighting back the urge to surrender to what she really wanted. She shook the fantasy of their bodies pressed together writhing in hot, sweaty sex aside.

Dominik smiled. “My turn,” he whispered. Then he kissed her.

This kiss was tender and inviting. As their lips touched, the fire began to burn through her body. Neither raised their hands or arms to embrace; it was only their lips that connected. Touching over and over again, they pressed softly and then firmly, tasting the sweet essences of passion they knew they had indelibly stamped on each other. When the kiss ended, he stepped back and smiled again. “Get some rest,” he said.

She nodded. “Good night,” she said again.

He nodded. “Good night, Ms. Banks.”

Dominik watched her car drive off. He then turned and headed to his own car. He wondered what it would take to open Shauna’s hard outer shell and find the woman he knew was inside. She pretended the only thing she cared about was her job and the bottom line, but he knew better. A brief glimpse into her eyes when that man brought his wife, Anna, into the E.R. told him differently. There was a lot more to Shauna Banks and he wanted to crack her shell.

Shauna stopped at the first traffic light and glanced in the rearview mirror, seeing the medical center behind her. She shook her head. This was going to be much harder than she expected, but all she needed to do was control her feelings.

Years ago she’d made herself strong and she learned how to seal her emotions from the outside world. She could do this. And as soon as this job was over, she’d leave Key West for good and never look back.

The rain began to pour. She drove quickly and steadily, getting back to the hotel just before the storm hit.

Chapter 8

Six hours later, Dominik sat straight up in bed and looked around his still-dark bedroom. He reached over and turned on the bedside lamp. His body was drenched and the cotton sheets were entangled with his legs. He got up and took a cold shower but it didn’t help much. He remembered the dream completely—every touch, smell, feel and sound of it seemed so real. Now with a fluffy white towel wrapped around his waist, he went out onto the balcony.

Dreams never bothered him much. They were just stray images and thoughts left over from the day that manifested themselves in subconscious, meaningless mental pictures. Most times he didn’t even remember them, but when this one had not only sat him straight up in bed, but sent him into a cold shower, he knew to pay attention.

It started with him walking into his office and seeing Shauna sitting at his desk. There were stacks of papers piled up everywhere. She looked up and smiled at him. Then without speaking, she stood, licked her lips and began unbuttoning her suit jacket. When she finished, he could see she wore nothing underneath. His mouth went dry as he stood watching the slow, sultry seduction.

She reached back to unzip her skirt as she walked around to the front of the desk. It dropped to the floor and she kicked it aside. All she wore were dark blue lace panties and her open jacket and high spiked heels. She turned around. The sweet swell of her ample rear made his body tighten and tense. His hands itched to touch and feel her generous brown cheeks. She leaned over, pushed aside a stack of papers. They fell to the floor. With her body still turned away from him and leaning over the desk, she looked back over her shoulder and raked her teeth over her lower lip. This was his invitation to come closer.

He walked over as she turned and sat back on the desk, waiting with her hands gripping the desk’s front edge. He reached down and opened her jacket. Two beautiful breasts beckoned to him. He leaned down and licked her nipple. Her areolae were milk-chocolate Hershey’s Kisses and he licked and tasted his fill. She gasped but didn’t move. He kissed and licked the other nipple, vibrating his tongue just enough to make her body tremble. He ran his fingers over her forehead, down her face and neck, across her chest, and down her arms and hands. Then he whispered to her, “Turn around.”

She stood up and turned for him. Seeing the perfect rear in the blue lace panties up close sent a spike of wanton passion through his body. He ran his hands over her shoulders, down her back to her rear. He grasped and caressed each cheek—massaging, rubbing until he couldn’t stand it anymore. He quickly removed his clothes and rubbed his naked body against her as she slowly leaned forward over the desk.

His body trembled with desire as he bent down and slowly eased her blue lace panties down her long, luscious legs. She turned and sat back on his desk and spread her legs for him. He cupped the nape of her neck and tilted her head upward. Her lips parted as his tongue plunged deep into her mouth. They kissed. It was madness. Certainly nothing like he had ever experienced. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held him tightly. He slipped his hand down between her legs and touched her wetness. She moaned to express her pleasure as her hips gyrated to his probing strokes. He was hard and thick and they were both ready.

One finger. Two fingers. Three fingers. Then he grabbed his penis and entered her in one firm thrust. Instantly, an explosion of passion. She gasped loudly and screamed his name as she lay back on the desk. He encircled her rock-hard nipples with the palms of his hands and she wiggled and writhed in pleasure. She wrapped her long legs around his waist and he lifted her from the desk, then pressed her up against the side wall. His large hands grabbed her butt cheeks as his pelvis pressed into her over and over again.

The fierce, intense swell of their passion surged higher and higher. Their bodies tensed, tightening with each gyrating thrust. She dug her nails into his shoulder as their unrestrained climaxes approached. They came, climaxing in a blast of mindless rapture. Their bodies tensed and they peaked again. After the third mind-
boggling orgasm, their bodies soared on sated bliss.

Memories of the night before and the dream still with him, Dominik went into his home gym and stepped up onto the treadmill climber. He had some excess energy to release and this was the best way he could think to outrun what he was feeling.

An hour later, he got dressed and headed to the medical center. If there was information on Shauna Banks, the hospital records were the best place to find it. As soon as he got to his office, he sat down at his desk and scanned the hospital computer files. As he expected, Shauna’s name was there. She was brought into the E.R. fifteen years ago by her mother with a fever and a sore throat. She was treated and released. There was nothing else noted. Then he checked her mother’s name. She was listed as deceased.

All other information was in the hospital records room on the lower level. He headed down and requested her file. He signed it out and took it back to his office. He sat at his desk and read through the file. Her death certificate didn’t elaborate on cause of death. It just listed natural causes. He shook his head. It didn’t make sense. He read through the next few papers. They didn’t list much, either.

“Dominik, what are you doing here? I thought you had the weekend off,” Margaret said, pausing in his office doorway.

Dominik looked up. “Yeah, I do. I just needed to find out about a patient.”

“I was just in the E.R. Which patient?” she asked.

“No, it was fifteen years ago. It’s Shauna Banks’s mother. She died here, but there’s not a lot listed on the death certificate and the case file has been sealed. I’ve never seen a patient’s file permanently sealed before and certainly not after so much time has passed.”

Margaret walked over to his desk. “The only reason a file would still be sealed is because there was some type of legal proceeding surrounding the case and it is still enforced. We have litigation going on now with Dr. Bowman. Several of his cases have been pulled and sealed by the attorneys.”

“Why would it still be sealed after fifteen years?”

“It shouldn’t be, but it might still be legally protected.”

“How do I find out what’s in the file?” Dominik asked.

“You don’t,” Margaret said. “I do.” She held her hand out for the file. Dominik closed it and handed it over. “What exactly are you looking for?” she asked.

“That’s just it—I don’t know. There’s something in her eyes that says there’s more going on between her and this facility than just a review. This is personal for her. I’d like to know just how personal.”

She nodded. “I’ll find out. In the meantime, get out of here. The last thing I need is a burned-out doctor because he doesn’t know how to take time off.”

Dominik stood to leave. “All right, I’m headed out now. I’ll see you Monday.”

“Carry on,” she said with her usual quick wave.

He left and drove east on the Overseas Highway to the Big Coppitt Key, just on the other side of Boca Chica Key. There was a free medical clinic there in desperate need of medical assistance. He volunteered his time every other weekend from seven until noon and it always made him feel good. He drove to the clinic and parked in the small alley beside the building. It was old but not run-down. It was a godsend to many. When he walked through the front door, he saw that four people were already in line waiting for medical assistance. Dominik spoke, then went inside to start his day.

This labor of love had now become the only thing he did related to being a doctor. His position at the hospital was mainly administrative. This gave him the opportunity to be a doctor again. He enjoyed helping people and making a difference in their lives. He went into the main lounge. One of the lead doctors was already there. While they were talking, another doctor came in. They had a short meeting to catch up and then they prepared to start their busy day. Dominik washed his hands, grabbed the first patient file and walked into the exam room.

From morning until noon, his focus was solely on his patients. He cared for the sick, bandaged the wounded and reset broken bones. Thinking about Shauna was the furthest thing from his mind, but every once in a while, she was there—like a dream, his dream. Monday was in two days. He’d see her again and he couldn’t wait.

Chapter 9

Saturday morning, Shauna rolled over in bed and stared at the lackluster drapes at the window. Perfectly pleated, they looked like every paisley, plaid, polka-dot, striped print pattern she’d seen in the past five years. Although she lived in Maryland, she was on the road nine months out of the year. She was proud of what she did for a living. She performed a valuable service by keeping hospitals and medical professions accountable to the people they served. But the constant travel was definitely getting to her.

Waking up in a hotel room bed alone promised her no future except more of the same year after year. She glanced at the illuminated numbers on the clock radio beside the bed. It was six o’clock in the morning. Even though the day before had started well before dawn and she’d worked a full day late into the night, she felt well rested. As a matter of fact, she felt fantastic, even energized.