The Doctor's Private Visit (9 page)

“Come on over.” Tiberius was more grateful for the interruption than he realized.

Capri raised the basket she carried. “Cookies. I bake a lot for my crew, but this is a new recipe.” She pulled the paisley-print cloth from the basket. “I was hoping you’d tell me what you think before I give any to them.”

“Using me for a guinea pig, eh?”

“Well, a landlord’s gotta be good for something.” She laughed.

“Stay,” Tiberius ordered Droopey, who had already sniffed the incredible aroma of the baked treats. Droopey obeyed, though her eyes were fixed on the braided white basket and her tail thumped the ground in protest.

Tiberius helped himself to one of the warm cookies. Flavors of oatmeal, cinnamon, chocolate and a hint of something he couldn’t identify, all burst to life and then melted on his tongue.

“Unbelievable. You actually made these?”

Capri was beaming. “I did.”

“From scratch?”

“In that very kitchen.” She hooked a thumb across her shoulder in the direction of her home.

Tiberius finished the cookie in record time and reached for another.
Washes her own car, gardens, bakes from scratch…what more could you want?

“Thanks, Capri,” he said while silently ordering the voice in his head to stow it. “I’m sure your crew deserves those, but I’ll pay any price to keep the rest.”

“Don’t trouble yourself. They’re yours.” She lifted the basket. “That’s why I came over.” Setting the treats on the glass table near his lounge, she was about to move away when his hand circled her wrist.

“I’m sorry…for the other day. I guess I wasn’t acting much different than those guys you’ve been trying to get away from.”

Capri didn’t bother to tell him that she hadn’t been trying to get away from him. “It’s all right.” She slapped a hand to the side of her denim overalls. “We shouldn’t have tension between us. Not being neighbors and all.”

“I appreciate you saying that.” He blinked then, as if realizing he still wore the glasses. Clearing his throat, he removed them quickly and bowed his head. “Are neighbors, um…allowed to offer invites to retirement parties?”

“Hmm…” Capri folded her arms over her chest. “Yours?”

He chuckled and leaned back on the lounge. “If you’ve discovered a way to retire at thirty-three please let me know.”

“No such luck,” she said once they’d laughed for a solid forty-five seconds.

“It’s for the chief doctor at my hospital. We’re gonna have another event for him at a later time, but this is a shindig that his wife’s putting together at their estate.”

“An estate…does that mean I can dress up outrageously?”

Tiberius stroked his jaw and pretended to consider it. “It’s an elaborate estate on Key Biscayne, so I’d say dressing up outrageously is essential.”

Capri clapped her hands. “In that case, I accept.”

The neighbors spent the rest of the afternoon pigging out on the delicious cookies. Tiberius provided the milk.

A
lan Thomas was a beloved father, husband, friend, doctor and colleague mostly because of his easily approachable and down-to-earth manner. Still, the house he owned in Key Biscayne said anything but “down-to-earth.”

The jaw-dropping estate gave the word
palatial
a whole new meaning. It was complete with a set of elaborate fountains in both the front and back yards. The stables boasted two Derby winners and there were separate yet equally elaborate quarters for the house staff of twenty-two. It was well known that the Thomases threw a soiree like no other. Since the event that afternoon was in honor of the king of the castle, nothing was spared.

It took Tiberius and Capri at least twenty minutes to cross into the foyer once they’d arrived. Though still early in his career, Tiberius knew and seemed comfortable around a great many of the doctors in attendance. Capri asked him about that.

“My grandmother gave money to almost every hospital in this portion of the state. I’ve known most of these people since long before I ever thought about becoming a doctor.”

“Your grandmother sounds like she was quite a lady,” Capri noted as they followed the slow-moving line through the massive marble-floored foyer.

Tiberius’s handsome features softened with the memory. “She was incredible. My grandfather’s construction business put in him league with most of the big wigs down here.” He checked the inside pocket of his three-quarter-length, mushroom-colored suit coat and withdrew their invitation. “She refused to be a piece of arm jewelry and got busy making a name for herself as well. An invitation to a
party by Tiberius and Janice Evans was as coveted as one to Alan and Felicity Thomas.”

Capri was riveted as she listened to the story. Clearly, the man loved and missed his grandparents. “You were very close to them, huh?”

“They were like my parents.” Tiberius pressed a hand to the small of Capri’s back, left bare by the cut of her dress. The floor-length frock was stunning, to say the very least. The oval keyhole cut in the bodice offered fleeting yet tantalizing glimpses of the curve of her full breasts. Tiberius blinked away and focused on the conversation at hand. “My
actual
parents were usually off somewhere traveling for business. It wasn’t until I got older that I realized all those business trips were just excuses to stay away from each other.”

Capri didn’t expect to hear the dark edge suddenly coloring his voice, and was thankful that they were approaching their hosts.

Whether or not Tiberius had grown up around most of the big shots in attendance, she had to admit there was a natural ease in the way he handled them. He was a man confident in his abilities and the accomplishments made in his still-budding career.

Capri would’ve been more surprised to discover that she added a great deal of oomph to Tiberius’s popularity that day. Of course he was well-known and well-liked. Most everyone had taken him under their wing at one time or another. But Tiberius knew from the interest in his male colleagues’ gazes that they had ulterior motives for calling him over to chat. And how could he blame them for wanting to speak to the beauty on his arm? It was a wonder he’d even made it out the front door with her when he picked her up.

The chic designer dress she wore clung to her petite curvaceous form like a second skin. The coral material held a shimmer that accentuated the healthy gleam of her honey-colored skin. The bodice kept his stare from straying and kept him praying for just a glimpse of the full, perfectly rounded breasts beneath.

His every hormone had been crying out for her since the first day he saw her sitting in that restaurant. That seemed like a lifetime ago. So much had happened since then. Now they were neighbors, landlord and tenant. Friends? That was the one relationship that he truly wished could thrive between them. Ironically, it was the one relationship he couldn’t handle.

Of course his undying hope for setting the foundation for such a relationship was the main reason he’d asked her to join him that day. Inviting Capri instead of one of his many other friends would protect against mixed signals and waking up to a strange bedfellow the next morning.

At least that was his hope. Capri, however, was making that…well…hard, for lack of a better word. That dress of hers was certainly no help. While elegant and appropriate it was also chic and daring. The lovely cut of the frock was simply another form of torture.

“Tiberius, are you okay?” Capri couldn’t help but ask when she noticed the drawn-tight look on his face yet again.

“How ’bout a drink?” He was patting her hand where it rested through the crook of his arm

Capri reciprocated with a hand pat of her own and nodded toward the group of older gentlemen waving at them. “Doctors?” she guessed.

“What else?” Tiberius decided to put off the much-needed drink for a bit more socializing. He squeezed Capri’s hand, urging her to stop for a second. “I…um…I wanted to thank you for coming with me today.”

“It was a pretty tough offer to refuse.”

He remained serious. “Thank you anyway. Your company was very much appreciated.”

Capri was silent, her mind going blank at the honesty she glimpsed in his words, in his light eyes. She simply nodded and managed a soft smile before they moved onward.

Later, as they swayed along the edge of the polished hardwood
dance floor on the second-level balcony of the posh mansion, Capri rested her head against Tiberius’s broad chest and let herself be lulled by the beat of his heart. She believed she could have danced against him forever. Even in the midst of a party, she felt as if they were in their own private escape with only the waving palms and a view of the Atlantic for company.

“You asleep?” Tiberius angled his head and tried to get a look at her face.

Capri nuzzled her head into his chest. “Not yet.”

“Bored?”

“Not
even
.” She looked up at him. “Thank you for bringing me with you. Today has been like a dream. The atmosphere, the food, even your colleagues have been fantastic.”

A playful light gleamed in Tiberius’s eyes. “You know Dr. Prentiss was staring at your chest from the time he started that stale conversation with you about slipped discs.”

“I know.” She laughed. “I think it’s cute that a man his age still has an eye for the ladies.”

“Cute, huh?” Tiberius nodded, his deep-set gaze scanning the crowd. “I’ll remember that when I’m an eighty-two-year-old doctor.”

“If you’ve got
half
his spunk, look me up.”

The teasing moment gradually segued into something that hinted at being erotic. The fact was evident in Tiberius’s gaze. He needed something to rid himself of the urge to damn the consequences and sample what he yearned for.

“Dr. Thomas’s yacht.” He tilted his head toward the cove where the vessel was docked. “Sometimes, he takes friends all the way out to Cuba.” He nodded at the interest on Capri’s face. “Word is, he worked on some huge political figures in his day.”

“How huge?” Capri asked, her eyes wide. They grew wider still as Tiberius began to share.

Capri leaned against her front doorjamb and watched Tiberius as he called out for Droopey. They’d just returned from the party, and she’d promised coffee to take the chill off the evening, which had suddenly turned cool.

“Lewey’s gone, too,” she noted when Tiberius gave up his search and walked up to her door.

“She’ll stick around when she comes back and sees the car in the yard,” he decided while closing the front door behind him.

“I can’t believe she’s able to squeeze through those doggy doors.” Capri headed for her kitchen. “Are they in all the houses you own?”

“Every one.”

“Hmph, a serious dog lover.” She chose a hazelnut blend and held it up for Tiberius’s approval. When he waved his hand, she began to prepare the coffeepot. “Well I love ’em even though my
little
Lewey hasn’t been all that little in ages.”

“So how’d you get him?” He leaned back in the cream-cushioned, high-backed chair and watched her at the S-shaped counter.

“Lewey? Some kids were selling puppies on the street.” She shrugged and smiled at the memory. “I looked at him and we chose each other. He was so tiny. The kids tried to get me to choose another, but I wanted Lewey. I knew he was a mixed breed but I didn’t care about his pedigree until he gained fifteen pounds in two weeks.”

Tiberius whistled.

Capri chose matching metallic-blue ceramic mugs from a small cabinet above the coffeepot. “I took him to a vet who was able to decipher the breeds. When he asked how big my house was, I knew I was in trouble.”

Laughter filled the kitchen.

“So how’d you come by Droopey?” she asked while loading a wooden tray with cream and sugar.

Tiberius grinned, pulling the black suspenders from his shoulders
as he remembered. “She was in one of the houses my grandmother left me. People just left her behind.” A flash of anger tinged his words and face before he shook his head. “I saw her trying to hide in a corner. Small, terrified, and sad.
So
sad…
droopy
. I guess you could say she took my heart before I knew what hit me.”

Capri didn’t realize she was staring until Tiberius cleared his throat. “Sorry for keeping you in the kitchen,” she said glancing across her shoulder. “This’ll be done in a sec, but we can wait out front.”

Silently, they headed out and were barely past the archway of the living room when Capri found herself in his arms.

“I thought you said—”

“Forget what I said.”

Capri whimpered when his tongue thrust deeply and repeatedly inside her mouth. She let herself surrender to what had methodically invaded her thoughts over the last several weeks. Tiberius kept her there against the wall for what felt like hours. A brush of his hand sent the wispy straps of her dress falling past her shoulders and beckoned his attention to the bodice.

In one fluid motion, he lifted her and settled them both in the nearest armchair. Keeping her straddled across his massive frame, he buried his handsome face in the valley between her breasts and breathed in her scent.

Capri threw back her head when Tiberius tugged at the front of her gown and bared her to his gaze. His suckling on her nipples forced gasps and weak cries from her lips.

Tiberius relished the feel of the buds growing rigid against his tongue. His big hands roamed up her dress, pushing it higher to bare her legs and thighs. His fingers found their way to her panties. When Capri felt them curving into her, she gasped his name and fought against riding his nimble index and middle fingers.

“Tibe…Tibe, wait…Tibe…”

“I can’t.”

“Tibe, wait.”

“Capri…” His forehead fell to her shoulder. “You’re killing me.”

“I want this, I swear I do,” she admitted, her voice ragged with breathlessness.

A small furrow formed between Tiberius’s sleek brows. “Then why—”

“I’m a virgin.”

Tiberius pulled back as though he’d been burned.

“I thought you should know before…” She watched him blink incessantly. “It’s not contagious.”

Capri’s attempt to lighten the mood didn’t work. Tiberius was a picture of disbelief as his stare raked her face and body.

“You know, you
are
a doctor. You could see for yourself.” Capri tried again to dispel the sudden tension between them.

Tiberius rolled his eyes. “Not funny.”

Slowly, she pulled the bodice of her dress up. “I just thought you should know before we…”

He stood then with her in his arms and waited for her to slide down the length of his body. Capri watched as he awkwardly began to pat his pockets before extracting his keys.

“You’re leaving?” she blurted.

“I…um…I should go find Droop.” He gave her arm a quick squeeze, followed by an even quicker peck on the cheek and then he was gone.

Capri was greeted by a sloppy kiss when she opened her front door to get the paper the next morning.

“Where were you? Out all night without even a phone call,” she admonished in a playful voice as Lewey simply nuzzled his massive head beneath her chin. She couldn’t help but laugh, though her ease faded when she noticed Tiberius in his driveway. Her heart lifted when she saw him cross into her yard.

“Good morning.”

“Hey.” She stood watching Lewey race over to greet Tiberius.

“Capri, um, about last night. I’m sorry—”

“I shouldn’t have told you.”

“No, you should have.” He weighed a set of keys against his palm and then slipped them into his trouser pocket. He shifted awkwardly.

“You’re thinking differently about me now.”

“It was just a surprise, Capri, that’s all.”

She tugged at the flowing cuffs of her gold chiffon robe. “You’re having second thoughts now, though…about us being friends.”

“Why would you think that?” His heart melted and inwardly he was wondering if he’d ever really wanted to be her friend. Still, he regretted that he’d given her that impression because of his own hang-ups.