Midnight's Captive(11)

His gaze fell upon a woman in a white lab coat leaning forward as she looked into a microscope and jotted down notes on a pad of paper beside her.

Her golden blond hair was pulled back in a ponytail at the base of her neck and loose curls flowed to the middle of her back. It seemed at odds with the picture of Dr. Barbara Smith he’d seen on the computer.

He shrugged, figuring the good doctor had changed her hair in the hopes it helped to soften her middle-aged look.

Aiden knocked once on the door, but Dr. Smith didn’t turn around.

He sighed and said, “Excuse me.”

“Go away,” came the muffled reply.

He narrowed his gaze on the woman. He’d expected it to be difficult to get her help, but he hadn’t anticipated this. “Nay.”

When she ignored him, Aiden walked into the lab and leaned his hip against the first table he came to. “I’ve got all day to sit here and bug you until you at least look at me.”

She fiddled with the microscope for several minutes before she said, “I’m busy. Bugger off.”

Her accent, muffled before, was clear to him now. He didn’t remember reading anything about Dr. Smith being from America, not that it mattered. She was the only one who could help him, and he wasn’t leaving until she did.

Aiden decided words weren’t doing the trick. He made a great show—and lots of noise—when he removed his messenger bag, set it down, and then pulled out the stool. He ensured the stool scrapped the floor long and loud before he took his seat.

There was a loud sigh before Dr. Smith slapped her hands on the table and lifted her head.

Aiden’s breath caught in his throat. It wasn’t Dr. Smith staring at him, but some siren come to seduce him into doing her bidding.

Her bright blue eyes blazed with fury, which was so at odds with the strands of loose curls framing her cheeks. Her heart-shaped face tilted to the side as she lifted one golden brow.

“Well?” she demanded. “I’m looking at you. What else do you want?”

“You.”

The word was out of his mouth before he realized it. What was worse was that it was the truth. He wanted her. Wanted her as he had never wanted anything in his life.

Her lips compressed as she rolled her eyes. “Really? That’s the best you could come up with?” She turned back to the microscope and murmured, “I need to start locking the damn door.”

“Wait,” Aiden said as he jumped off the stool and started toward her.

Her blond head swiveled back to him, her eyes suddenly wary. “Look. I don’t know who sent you up here, and I don’t care. Just leave, and no one gets hurt.”

Aiden couldn’t help it, he smiled.

“You think that’s funny?” Her brow furrowed as fire blazed in her blue eyes. “Shall I show you what I can do?”

“I’ve no doubt you can handle yourself, lass. I’m just surprised is all. I thought I was meeting Dr. Smith.”

“Ah. Well, she’s on sabbatical for the next month.”

Aiden squeezed his eyes closed for a moment. “Bloody hell.” As much as he wanted the woman, he couldn’t waste the time talking to her when the lives of his family were at stake. “Thank you,” he said, and turned to grab his bag.

“What did you need Dr. Smith for?”

Her words halted him in his tracks. Aiden slowly turned to her. “It’s … confidential.”

“You expect me to believe that?” she asked, and leaned an elbow on the table. “We’re microbiologists. What could be so secretive?”

“Forget I came.” Aiden pulled his messenger bag back over his head. “Do you know another microbiologist with pathology experience?”

“Yes.”

She answered without hesitation. A shiver went down Aiden’s back as he looked into her bright blue eyes. They were the color of a summer’s sky, brilliant and bottomless. He knew he should walk away, but he couldn’t. Nor could he stop his next words from falling from his lips.

“Who?”

“What’s your name?” she asked instead.

He glanced at the door. “Aiden MacLeod.”

“Wow. A real Scottish name. Well, Aiden MacLeod, I’m Britt Miller. Dr. Britt Miller, actually. I’ve got my PhD in hematology and my undergrad in microbiology.”

“Hematology,” he whispered.

She grinned. “Yeah. You know, the study of blood disorders.”

“I know.” Could this have worked out any better? Aiden was almost afraid to even think that question. “I thought you were too busy.”

Britt shrugged and crossed one jean-clad leg over the other, dangling one of her gold flats by her toe. “I’m offering to help. Not something I do all the time.”