9781631052347OnCallKenyan (16 page)

Chapter
Fourteen

Might have a chance.
Katherine frowned at those
words. That’s what Senior had told AJ. With her father she dealt with the
definite, words like
might
automatically meant defeat. She took out her stick of rouge lipstick, applied a
healthy coat and smiled. She had her mini red bandage dress on, with her gold
stilettos. She was looking sexy and determined to turn the word
might
to a definite. All she needed was
AJ to commit to being in the trenches with her. Sure, her father would
definitely cut her off, but she had her inheritance from her grandparents plus
the Rosses as family. There was no downside to her relationship with AJ.

Tonight
was date night. They had established one every week. It was hard with AJ having
family lunch on Saturdays and their 24-hour day careers. So Sunday was date
night. She looked at herself in the mirror and was proud of what she had
accomplished. Grabbing her gold clutch from the bed, she moved to the living
room where AJ waited.

He had
his back toward her, so Katherine had the luxury of a few moments to admire the
man she loved. Her heart broke and yearned for him. The wide expanse of his
back and shoulders were covered in a black silk suit jacket. He strained the
material, testing it for strength, as his muscles seemed to stretch the seams.
She shuddered at the sight of him, strong, carrying his muscular frame with
confident ease. Dear God, she didn’t think they would be able to make it out
the door. All she wanted was to sink her nails in his back in the throes of
passion. Katherine’s tug toward AJ was stronger than anything she had ever
felt.

He
turned around and her breath hitched in her chest. His eyes darkened with lust,
his head tilted to the side as an impressed grin claimed his lips. AJ took
three giant steps and he was standing inches away from her. His gaze never
dropped from hers as he took her hand in his. She felt a visceral tightening in
her stomach as she watched her creamy dainty hand disappear into his large
chocolate ones. Even holding her hand he did with perfection.

“You
look beautiful.”

“
Tha
…
ank
you.” Her voice shuddered
out and she had to command herself to draw it in slowly. “Thank you. You look
great.”

“I
try.” He drawled. AJ lifted her palm to his lips, and brushed them over her
knuckles in an absent gesture of intimacy.

“Jeez.”
she muttered under her breath as her stomach dipped at the sensual attraction
echoing from him. “I think we should go to the restaurant, before I decide not
to let you out of this apartment.”

AJ
chuckled then studied her for a second. Katherine’s heart beat out of her chest
as her breathes were reduced to gulps. If he had given her the tiny indication
that he would lead her to the bedroom instead of the restaurant she would take
off that dress in a New York minute.

“Tempting,
but I think we should get something to eat.”

“Oh!”

“Don’t
look so disappointed. Baby steps, remember.”

Katherine
nodded and forced a smile on her lips. She was disappointed, who wouldn’t be.
Now she knew how those nurses at the hospital felt. But unlike them, AJ and his
delectable body and his earth-shattering sexual skills were all hers. She let
him lead her out of the house, a part of her whining about the loss.

* * *
*

Katherine
felt uncomfortable. Her skin crawled from the lustful glances men in the
restaurant were giving her. Thank God, they didn’t have to wait at the bar for
their table. But knowing AJ’s need for privacy, she knew their table would be
in the back, where the lights were dimmed. Unfortunately that meant walking
past a couple more tables. Katherine gasped in shock and bit back a grin as she
watched a man turn crimson in shame. His girlfriend had slapped the back of his
head. At first he was shocked, but when he noticed that half the dining room
had witnessed it, he shrank back.

She
breathed a sigh of relief when the host stopped in front of a curtained area.
With AJ’s gentlemanly help she took her seat. Katherine watched as he moved
with natural grace as he took off his suit jacket and hung it on the back of
his chair. He took his seat with suppressed strength that was easy to admire.

“Would
you like something to drink?” the host asked.

“A
glass of red wine.” Katherine noticed his suggestive grin. Sure the host was
easy to look at. He had a boyish smile and although his face spoke innocence,
his eyes gave him away.

Katherine
turned to face AJ when he cleared his throat. His patrician, calm face suddenly
darkened. Clearly he wasn’t amused by all the attention the host was giving
her. His jaw tensed and a muscle twitched in his cheek before he schooled the
hard planes of his face into a composed expression, clearly for her benefit.

“If you
don’t mind, is it possible to get a waitress to take our orders?” Katherine
said with a pleasant smile.

“Sure…if
you wish.” The man was clearly taken aback by her request. It was obvious he
was used to women wanting him around and not sending him away.

“I
wish.”

The
host nodded then spoke in precise clipped tones. “I will send your waitress
right over. I hope you enjoy your evening.” With a curt nod he left.

“That’s
what you get for asking a smoking hot girl on a date, out in public.” AJ said
with a smile.

Katherine
couldn’t help the sigh of relief escaping her lips. For a second, she thought
AJ would assume she had asked for the attention. She had purposefully dressed
seductively to please him, and she hoped he knew the only man she wanted to
attract was him.

“I
realized you’ve never seen me this made up.” Katherine shrugged as if it didn’t
matter. She had spent over three hours trying to look this hot. She was glad AJ
and the male population of the restaurant appreciated it. “I just wanted to
look hot for you.”

“I
appreciate it.” His smile deepened the grooves framing his mouth.

Katherine
wished he would appreciate the effort in a different way. She hadn’t had sex in
two years before running into AJ again. And now all of a sudden it was the only
thing she could think about. Her body seemed to hum when AJ was around, her
legs weaken and her bud begged to be filled. She wanted AJ in the worst way.
But she was going to take her punishment. She only wished AJ’s love for sex
would win out in the end and do them both a favor.

“I hope
you understand why we are taking things slowly.” AJ’s voice cut into her
thoughts.

“I do.”

“I hope
so. I can see the wheel of your mind turning. I bet you are thinking and wondering
when I will give in to my libido?”

“I
didn’t—” Katherine huffed, but why deny it? Even a blind man could see she was
ripe and ready. “I just seemed to be aroused every time I’m with you. But don’t
worry. I’ll learn how to tame my desires.”

“Don’t
tame them too much. I still love your passionate side.” AJ’s slow lazy grin was
the last straw.

Katherine
changed the topic before her wet panties soaked through her dress. “Do you
think the problems between our fathers will interfere with what we have?”

“Definitely
not. I won’t ever let you get away from me, Katherine Henry.” AJ’s hand reached
across the table and held onto hers. Katherine watched as her small dainty hand
got swallowed into his. That simple gesture made her feel safe, protected and
immediately she knew everything would be okay. “I love you.”

“I love
you too.”

The
rest of the night passed without incident. Apart from the waitress who seemed
charmed by AJ, she had the perfect date night. The ride home was tense.
Katherine still held a sliver of hope that AJ would want to make love to her.

“I’m
telling you, AJ, for a minute there I thought she would come back to the table
with just her panties and bra,” Katherine joked as she opened the front door.

“It
wouldn’t have mattered. Do you know why?” AJ reached for her, spun her around
and crushed her tiny body to his chest. “I don’t need any other woman because I
have you. You complete me.”

“That
means a lot, Jerry Maguire.”

AJ
threw his head back and let out a bark of laughter. Katherine pushed the door
open and walked into their dark apartment. She reached for the switch to turn
the light on, but AJ stopped her.
Yes,
her hormones broke out in celebration. Her heart beat hard against her chest as
AJ led her to her room. But when she went in AJ hung back. Holding onto her
hand he pulled her in for a passionate kiss. He rested his forehead on her when
he finally pulled back, his breaths turned into short pants. He wanted her. She
could feel him grow against her belly. But AJ stepped back, and with a barely
audible good night, he retreated to his room. The coward.

* * *
*

“I had
a great time last night.”

AJ
turned around at the sound of her voice, abandoning his patient’s charts and
the nurse he was briefing. He hadn’t seen her when he woke that morning. She
had left before him for her early surgery. And when he saw on the roster she
had a bypass to perform, he knew he wouldn’t see much of her that day. But
finally, twelve hours since he had reported for work, Katherine was standing
before him. His smile faltered when he noticed the droop of her shoulders, and
the exhaustion in her eyes. The surgery must have really taken a lot out of
her.

“How
did it go?” He asked cautiously, half expecting her to tell him that the
patient didn’t make it.

“It was
great. I practically did it solo. It was a rush,” she said in a broken whisper.

“I
don’t get it. If it you did a great job and your patient is still alive, why do
you look like someone stole your lollipop?”

“I
really don’t want to talk about it.” Quiet settled as quiet does before she
said. “May I get a hug?”

“Sure.”
AJ tucked her into the comfort of his arms. He felt her lean into him, she was
exhausted. A smile tugged at his lips as his heart swelled in pride. Katherine
had successfully performed a bypass surgery and her exhaustion was a
demonstration of how hard she had fought to keep her patient alive. She was his
little warrior.

“Henry.”

AJ
looked over her head and saw Lyle walk toward them a Cheshire smile on his
face. “Good job in there.”

AJ
heard Katherine groan as she unlatched herself from his body. For a second she
glanced up at him and he read the guilt in her eyes. She turned to Lyle, her
body rigid, her fingers balled into fists by her side.

“Thanks.”
she mumbled begrudgingly.

“How
about we go celebrate? Drinks are on me?”

Anger
sizzled beneath AJ’s skin. Lyle could see him standing there. He had to have
seen Katherine in his arms as he walked up to them. But one would never tell,
judging by how he behaved as if AJ wasn’t even in the hospital, let alone standing
beside Katherine.

“No.”
Katherine spat out. “You and I aren’t dating. We are never going to have drinks
together ever again. Besides, I’m exhausted.”

AJ took
in the shock that registered on Lyle’s face. For some reason the man still
thought he had a chance with Katherine. Just to add insult to injury, AJ
wrapped his arms around Katherine and pulled her back into his embrace.

“If you
want to take off, I’ll cover for you,” AJ offered.

“What
time do you get off?”

“In two
hours.”

“I’ll
wait for you. I’ll take a nap in the on-call room, alone.” Katherine stressed
the last word and AJ knew it was for Lyle’s benefit.

“Rumor
is the two of you are an item.” A treacherous smile claimed his lips. “But then
again, you were together when we—”

“I was
half asleep, and I thought you were AJ. I should have figured it wasn’t him by
the lacking size of your…but not everyone is gifted.”

AJ let
out a mocking chuckle. He didn’t believe in hitting a man below the belt, but
Lyle deserved it. AJ knew if he didn’t have Katherine in his arms, he would
probably be pounding Lyle into the marble floor. The last thing he needed to be
reminded of was that Katherine had let Lyle defile her body, especially now
that they were having a fresh start. AJ was relieved when Lyle left. He didn’t
know how long he could use Katherine as a buffer.

“I’m
sorry about that.”

“Don’t
worry about it. I can’t blame him for wanting you. Hell, I want you. I can’t
wait for our third date.”

Katherine
spun around, her face a mask of disbelief. “Are you trying to say that on our
third date we could make love?”

“That
is exactly what I’m saying.”