PRINCE CHARMING M.D. (2 page)

She didn't have to turn around to identify the person. She knew the same way bats know how to fly in the dark or cats know how to land on their feet. She knew because, despite the years and the past, or maybe because of them, a part of her still recognized him.

She stopped and, without turning to face him, said, "Hello, Trevor."

"Dana!"

The pleasure in his voice made the heat return. It washed through her,
a liquid
warmth that dissolved will and purpose along with bones.

Because there was no way around it, she shifted until she was facing him,
then
glanced up. It was like tumbling out of a tree. For a moment she had a wonderful sensation of free-falling for eternity. Then she hit earth with a
thump
and had all the wind knocked out of her.

She couldn't move; she couldn't breathe. She could only look at him and wait for him to blow her away. He did. He smiled. A perfect mouth curved over perfect teeth, exposing a perfect dimple. The man should come with a warning label. Maybe something from the surgeon general or the military—lethal,
operate
at your own risk.

"I was hoping I would run into you," he said, and placed his hand on her arm, just above the elbow.

The polite gesture allowed him to guide her out of the room and into the corridor. She thought about protesting, but she hadn't gotten her breathing going again, so words were impossible. She could only stare mutely and try to figure out why on earth he sounded so pleased to see her.

People passed them. She had a sense of movement and bodies. By the time she had herself nearly under control, they were in the elevator, heading down. She forced herself to remember what had happened all those years ago. How he'd humiliated her in front of the entire school. The anger had long faded, but the sense of shame lingered. Now she focused on that, willing the emotions from the past to push aside the heat and desire she refused to acknowledge. No matter what, she would not want this man again. Ever.

"What are you doing?" she asked when she realized they were alone in the elevator and Trevor was staring at her with a smile tugging at his lips.

"Taking you for coffee."

She made a show of glancing at her watch. "I'm very busy."

He shrugged. "So am I, but this is important. Don't worry, it won't take long. I just want to get a few things straightened out."

She didn't like the sound of that, but before she could complain, the doors opened and two nurses stepped inside. They took one look at Trevor and simpered. There was no other word for their flirty expressions and open body language.

"Good morning, Dr. MacAllister," they said in unison.

Dana thought about sticking her fingers down her throat and making a retching sound, but doubted anyone else would appreciate the humor in the gesture. The attention was nauseating. How did the man stand it?

Silly question, she thought, glancing at his handsome features. He accepted the adoration with the equanimity of one born to greatness. Women had been fawning over him since he was in the cradle and no doubt they would continue until he was on his deathbed.

"Doesn't it get boring?" she asked as they exited the elevator, collected mugs of steaming coffee and made their way to a quiet table in the corner. She took the seat facing the rest of the room because she wanted to watch the reaction of the women already there. Most had already seen him and were staring hungrily.

Trevor settled next to her, oblivious to the attention. "Doesn't what get boring?"

"The women. Or have you grown so used to being worshiped that it's just matter-of-fact?"

Instead of responding glibly, he took a drink of his coffee,
then
set it on the small table between them. "I see my reputation has preceded me."

There was a trace of regret in his tone. Dana dismissed it as wishful thinking on her part. He was too pretty to have values or anything close to a conscience.

"What did you expect?" she asked. "Honeygrove isn't exactly a small town, but people do know one another. They remember what you were like growing up. Combine that with the hotbed of intrigue one normally finds in a hospital, throw in a fascinating and eligible surgeon—" she motioned to the room behind him "—it's high drama."

"You're right."

He leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table. The traditional doctor's white coat flattered his tan and made already broad shoulders seem wide enough to support a building. She told herself that her attraction was a meaningless physical response to having been without a date for months. In the past couple of years she'd thrown herself into her career. She had a great promotion and raise to show for her efforts, but her social life bordered on monastic.

A moment of silence fell between them. Dana used the time to compose herself, trying to still the faint tremors in her arms and legs and slow her heartbeat. She was a grownup. She could easily handle this situation. Her gaze settled on his face, on well-defined eyebrows and a straight nose. She bit back a sigh—okay, so he was a fine-looking specimen. But that extraordinary body hid the heart and soul of a rogue. She would do well to remember that.

Dana leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. "Well, Trevor, you called this meeting. What did you want to talk about?"

"You've been avoiding me for nearly a week. I want to know why."

His statement made her stiffen slightly. "I'm not avoiding you. I've been busy." She didn't make a habit of lying and had a bad feeling she didn't do it well. Hopefully Trevor wouldn't catch on.

"I've left several voice-mail messages about setting up an appointment so you and I could talk. My office is ready to start scheduling patients, but we have things to work out first."

Dana nodded. He was right. It was her job to keep the surgical unit working smoothly. There were dozens of details—personnel and their schedules, supplies, equipment, repairs, purchases. A new surgeon coming on staff required coordination between her team and his.

"I wasn't avoiding you," she said again, hoping repetition added conviction to her voice. "However, I'll be happy to set up a meeting for later today or tomorrow. If that's convenient?"

His hazel green eyes never looked away. The force of his attention was as tangible now as it had been earlier. She found herself wanting to promise him anything he requested. When she started to involuntarily lean toward him, she straightened quickly and forced a quick, tight smile. "Thank you," he said.

Even his voice was tempting, she thought with disgust. Low and sexy, the well-modulated tones were designed to make women whimper. It wasn't Trevor, she told herself firmly. Maybe her flu shot had worn off early and she was coming down with something. That was it. A mild case of food poisoning or the plague. Anything but him.

"If that's all…" she said, pushing to her feet.

"It's not." He put his hand on her forearm to hold her in place.

Dear God, he was touching her. Heat flared again, racing from the point of contact to the rest of her body. Fire collected in her breasts and between her legs. She would never survive this. Never. After all this time, nothing had changed.

She sank back weakly, wondering why her body had to betray her. Hadn't the lesson been painful enough? Weren't the emotional scars a reminder of all he'd done? She shook her head. Apparently her hormones didn't care about broken hearts or shattered dreams.

Slowly, she pulled her arm free and placed her hands in her lap. "What else, Trevor? I can't afford to extend this break much longer. I have a pile of work waiting for me on my desk."

"This won't take long." He stared at her. "I suspect you'll deny it, but I can tell you're still angry with me. It's been years, Dana. You need to let the past go. We're going to have to work together, and it's time to put our history in perspective."

He spoke calmly, but it was all she could do not to shriek at him. How dared he bring that up? "Perspective? Easy for you to say. You're not the one everyone talked about for weeks afterward. You went on with your life, while I was left to deal with a ruined reputation."

Not to mention a broken heart, she added to herself. She was still shaking, but this time from reaction to his words rather than from attraction. Her face felt hot. No doubt she was blushing. She kept her head high, refusing to let him think he was going to get the best of her.

"I'm not that innocent young woman anymore," she continued. "I don't care what you do with your personal life, but while you're dealing with me, you will remember we are business associates and nothing else."

He'd handled the whole situation badly. Trevor cursed silently. He'd been a fool to think Dana would have let go of the past. It might have been a long time ago, but obviously the memories were still fresh in her mind. The worst part was
,
her anger was justified. Unfortunately, he couldn't do anything about it.

"If I could change the past, I would," he told her.

"How nice for both of us. Tell me. What would you change? Would you still pretend you cared about me to get me to sleep with you, only this time you wouldn't tell the entire school? Or would you just avoid the whole messy entanglement?"

Fire flashed from her blue eyes. She kept her chin high, her gaze steady. She'd always been tough … that was one of the many things he admired about her. Dana had a survivor's strength. Life hadn't always treated her well, but she'd come through. If he told her he admired her though, she would throw his compliment right back in his face.

"I would change two things," he said. "This time I would make you listen to the truth. You wouldn't hear it then, but I'm hoping you'll hear it now."

"As you said, it's been a lot of years. Why should any of that matter?"

Because you're still hurting,
he thought. Instead he said, "Just listen. Please."

She continued to glare at him, but she didn't move from her seat. He took that lack of action as assent.

He sucked in a breath. After all this time, he was finally going to tell her what really happened that weekend. The hell of it was
,
she wouldn't believe a word.

"I really cared about you, Dana," he began. Cared. What a silly word that didn't come close to describing his feelings. She'd been his whole world—only she'd never known. She'd seen what everyone else had seen. The handsome facade, the easy laughter. Not the young man he'd been or the tender heart he'd done his damnedest to hide.

"That weekend meant the world to me."

She snorted in disbelief, but he ignored her and went on.

"I didn't tell the whole school that we'd been lovers."

"Then why did everyone know?" she asked. "It was all anyone talked about for a week. That Dana had done it with Trevor." She pressed her hands to her cheeks. "I was humiliated."

"I know." He leaned toward her. "I'm sorry. I never wanted for you to be hurt."

"Yeah, right."

"Dana, I give you my word. I only told one person. Joel Haddock. He spread the rumors, not me."

Her gaze narrowed. "That's low, even for you. Joel was your best friend."

Trevor nodded. "Definitely.
Was.
Our friendship ended that Monday when I found out what he'd done." He studied her face. "You don't believe me." It wasn't a question.

"Of course not. Joel was good to me. After everyone knew what we'd done, the boys wanted to talk to me only because they thought I was easy. They tormented me, cornering me in the halls, trying to touch me." She shuddered at the memory. "Joel was there. He listened and he kept me safe."

Trevor felt old anger surfacing. He knew what Dana had gone through and he'd been helpless to protect her. "Joel was there because he always had a thing for you. He started the rumor to break us up." He laughed harshly. "It sure worked. You never spoke to me again. Until today."

"You said you would change two things," she told him. "The first was to get me to listen to the truth, such as it is. What's the second?"

She didn't believe him. He could see it in her eyes and read it in her body language. He told himself it didn't matter. He and Dana had to work together, not be friends. But he'd hoped for more. Maybe some
forgiveness,
or at least a little understanding.

"I wouldn't have told Joel," he said. "That was my other mistake. If he hadn't known what happened, or how I'd fallen for you, he wouldn't have tried so hard to break us up." He rose to his feet. "I know that semester was difficult for you. I'm sorry for my part in what happened. But I won't apologize for that time we spent together. I've never forgotten it or you." He flashed
her a
smile. "Not that I expect you to believe me."