After the Christmas Party(129)

As much as he hated listening to that voice of reason, he trusted his instincts more than the body part that had him wanting to he-man his way into her apartment.

To do that would only satisfy him in the short term and although he had no clue exactly what he wanted with Trinity, he knew that one night would not be enough. If he rushed, she might shut him out for ever. Despite the tough front she attempted to put on, she was vulnerable in ways that made him want to fight every dragon that had ever taken a swipe at her. Although he didn’t understand or like how protective he felt about her, he refused to be yet another dragon for her to fend off, even if a well-intentioned one.

“We both know you shouldn’t open your door to me. Not tonight.” He straightened from the door before he gave in to temptation.

“Then why did you call?” She sounded irked, which pleased him because it meant she wasn’t immune to the chemistry between them. That he wasn’t wrong.

“Why call?” He loved her logic and her sass. Despite the rebellious throb in his body, he couldn’t help but smile. “To hear your voice. For you to tell me I’m crazy.”

“You’re crazy,” she replied, without hesitation.

“About you,” he admitted, knowing it was true, that she was different from any woman he’d ever known, and not just because she didn’t fall at his feet.

Which was why he’d leave, and smile while doing so. Yeah, he’d like to be on the other side of her door but there was no rush. He’d take his time, woo her, have her begging for more, and then give her more for however long the sparks between them flew.

“You don’t even know me,” she insisted, much as she’d done previously.

“A problem I intend to remedy.”

But not tonight.

Forehead against the door, Trinity held her breath. Surely, any second now he’d knock. He had to knock, right?

He was there.

Just on the other side of her door, teasing her. No, not teasing really. More of a temptation to reach out and take what she reluctantly admitted she wanted.

He did tempt her. Like fresh-baked cookies tempted a starving dieter.

She wanted a bite.

A big bite.

Before she could have biter’s remorse, she undid the chain, undid the deadbolt and flung the door open.

“Riley?”

“Hmm?” His response buzzed in her ear.

“Where are you?” Stunned, she glanced down the hallway.

The empty hallway.

“My car.”

His car?

He’d left?

Her heart sank.

“You were never really on the other side of my door?”

She might kill him. He’d gotten her all worked up for nothing, had…

“I was there.”

Frowning, fighting disappointment she didn’t quite understand and definitely didn’t want, she went back into her apartment. She should hang up now, before she incriminated herself.

Why was she surprised? Disappointed? She should be glad he’d left, that he’d had reason when she’d temporarily lost her mind. Her stomach knotted and her eyes watered. Great.

Why was she not telling him where to go and turning off her phone?

“Trinity?”

“Yes?” She slumped back against the door, fighting a sniffle. Was he seriously whistling? She might just throw her phone at him for real.

“I like you.”

Were they in grammar school or what?

Eyes squeezed closed, she sighed. “So you keep saying, but at the moment, Riley Williams, I don’t like you one bit.”

He surprised her by bursting into laughter. “There’s my funny girl.”

“Are you dating Dr. Williams?”

Putting her stethoscope into her scrub pocket, Trinity spun around to look at her coworker. Karen Mathis, Trinity’s favorite coworker by far—usually—grinned at her and waited with an expectant look that said she wasn’t going to be easily distracted.

“Why would you ask me that?”

“I saw you at the Christmas party,” Karen pointed out. “I’d been looking for you because I knew you didn’t know many people yet and I was going to have you join the group I was with. I didn’t spot you until you were all cozied up with the only cardiologist on staff who makes women’s hearts beat faster with just a flash of his smile.”

Trinity’s heart was beating pretty fast without the benefit of one of his smiles. “We just danced. It wasn’t a big deal.”

“And sang together,” Karen reminded her. “Plus, I hear you arrived at work with him yesterday morning when you both got called in. You rode home with him yesterday at the end of your shift. Despite many females’ valiant efforts, I don’t know of him ever dating anyone who works here. This all sounds like a big deal to me. So, are you two an item or what?”