His gaze narrowed on her face. “I was in the neighborhood and wanted to see if you’re free for lunch.”
She nodded violently. “Yes. One o’clock, okay? I’ll need to catch up before I can leave.”
“Yeah.” Chad looked at Aidan again. “I’ll see you at one.” Then he dipped his knees and kissed her. Full on the mouth. With a soft swipe of his tongue across her lips for good measure.
Lyssa couldn’t look at Aidan as Chad walked back to his Jeep. Like a coward, she slammed her door shut, hit the alarm, and nearly ran to where Stacey waited with wide eyes.
“Holy shit!” Stacey hissed, as she passed her. “You are so fucked.”
“Noticed that, did ya?”
Unable to help it, Lyssa looked over her shoulder and saw Aidan coming after her, his long-legged stride even and rhythmic, almost a stalk. Hunter after prey. When she saw the flaring nostrils and smoldering eyes, she knew if she waited for him to get to her, she was going to be in big trouble.
“Which room is Mrs. Yamamoto in?” she asked quickly.
“Exam Two.” Stacey whistled, her gaze riveted and filled with a wholly feminine appreciation that made Lyssa’s teeth grind. “Would you look at the abs on that guy? Talk about sin on a stick. He’s delish.”
“Damn it. Get a lab coat for him. And bring me one, too.”
She went straight to Exam Two, purse and keys in hand, and got to work. Sometimes avoidance had its usefulness.
It took until a quarter to one to get caught up on her patients. The first few times she’d been forced to run past her office, Aidan had been waiting with wide-legged stance, crossed arms, and intimidating scowl. She had tried to look cool and collected, but she couldn’t forget that he was commando under those sweats. It did strange things to her nervous system just to think of it. Later he’d been seated at her desk, studiously poring over his books. And now that she needed to clean up for lunch with Chad, the door was closed.
All morning long she’d debated what to do about her predicament and had finally come to have some confidence in her decision. Regardless of what happened with Aidan, Chad wasn’t the guy for her. She’d always known it. She just hadn’t wanted to admit it. Breaking it off was the obvious answer, but guilt weighed on her heavily. In a perfect world, she would have ended things with Chad before hooking up with Aidan. But life wasn’t perfect, and she’d have to make amends as best she could. She hoped, in the end, they could remain friends.
But she hadn’t yet decided what to do with Aidan. All she knew was that every time she had caught sight of him today, her pulse rate picked up. Even with that grumpy, scowling face of his, he still drove her nuts in the best possible way.
So she would take care of Chad, wrap up the workday, and then listen to whatever Aidan had to say. She hoped like hell it would fill in the gaps of her memory and remove all the doubts she had.
Resolved, Lyssa caught the handle of her office door, and velocity took her to the center of the room before she realized it was empty.
Oh god, had he left?
Her heart racing, she turned to yell for Stacey……and found Aidan leaning casually against the closed door. The lab coat was hung on the rack beside him, leaving him once again bare from the waist up. Her gaze lifted to meet his, and she found a gleam in his eyes that told her he knew what the sight of his bare chest would do to her.
“Jesus!” she cried, her hand lifting to her chest. “You scared the shit out of me. What are you doing hiding behind the door?”
“I wasn’t hiding,” he said dryly. “I was about to hunt you down when you barged in. I barely got out of the way in time.”
“Oh.” She moved the short distance to her antique reproduction desk and leaned her butt against it. “Chad’s going to be here in a few minutes.”
“I know.” He crossed the room with a sultry stride that made her mouth water. It wasn’t blatant, like a swagger. It was simply predatory and sexually charged. Setting his hands on either side of her hips, Aidan caged her to the desk and nuzzled his lips against her neck. “I’m going to miss you.”
Beneath her palms she felt warm, silken skin stretched over hard, flexing muscle, and she melted inside. She groaned inwardly when his teeth nipped her earlobe.
“Tell me I have no reason to feel jealous,” he ordered gruffly.
Leaning back, Lyssa met his gaze. It was impassive except for the muscle in his jaw that ticced. “There’s no reason,” she assured him softly, appreciating him more for his honesty about his feelings.
He caught her close so that his big, hard body was literally wrapped around hers, his large hands holding her so sweetly. She knew how strong he was, yet he held her with such tenderness.