The Rebel Doc Who Stole Her Heart. Susan Carlisle

shower. Stripping off and turning the water on, he stepped under the shower head. Not all the places he’d stayed had had great showers but having one available was more than he’d had growing up. Rain barrels and creeks just didn’t compare to a hot spray with excellent water pressure.

      A muffled ring came from the clothes he’d dropped on the floor. He pushed the shower curtain back, picked up his discarded jeans and dug into the pocket for his phone. His partner had texted earlier that he would be calling about an issue with the business.

      “Smith here. Let me call you right back. I’m in the shower.”

      “Uh, Dr. Smith. It’s Dr. Ross,” came a soft, stilted voice.

      “Who?”

      “Dr. Ross.” Emphasis and impatience surrounded the enunciation of the name.

      “Oh, Michelle. I thought you were someone else.”

      “Obviously.”

      He could just see her nose turning up as she said the word. The woman was far too stuffy. “How can I help you, Michelle?” He did like the sound of her name. It suited her.

      “Our case has been moved up to first thing in the morning.”

      He held the phone with two fingers to keep water from running over it. “I thought that the anesthesia department clerk made these calls.”

      “Normally she does, but I was called and couldn’t get her, so I’m calling.”

      If nothing else, she was thorough. He couldn’t fault that. It no doubt made her a good doctor. “How did you get my number?”

      “I make it a point to have the numbers of everyone on my team.”

      “I see.” He let the words drag out for emphasis. “You have it for no other reason?”

      “No. There is no other. I’ll see you at seven sharp.”

      He chuckled at her haughty tone. It sounded as if she were saying the words through a clenched jaw. He couldn’t help taunting her. She seemed like the kind of person who always rose to the bait. If only he could see her face.

      “I’ll be there. Now, if you don’t mind I’ll finish my shower.”

      “Oh. Uh … sure. Bye.”

      So the frosty woman could be rattled. Stepping back into the shower, he thought he might have to do that more often. But what had him giving the stiff, buttoned-up woman even a second thought? She certainly wasn’t his type. Everything about her screamed of stability.

      He’d been accused on more than one occasion of being the love-them-and-leave-them type. No woman got promises or commitments from him. That way he didn’t hurt them. Others could plant roots but they weren’t for him.

      There had been a couple of women he’d dated who had made noises about him settling down. When that had happened it hadn’t taken him long until he’d been on his way to the next hospital in the next town. He wasn’t the type of person someone should depend on. When the going got tough he’d only let them down.

      He liked women who enjoyed life, laughed, had fun and that was all they were interested in from the relationship. Michelle seemed far too serious about everything. She didn’t strike him as a short but enjoyable affair type of woman, even if he had been interested in having one with her. Which he wasn’t.

      Enough about her. He needed some rest, especially if he was going to have to face her early in the morning and be on his best behavior. Which he wasn’t sure he could do.

      He turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. Snatching a towel off the rack, he dried off. Thank goodness he’d requested maid service to start yesterday. Minutes later, naked, he slipped between cool sheets.

      Dr. Ross’s strut across the parking lot came to mind. His weeks in Raleigh might be far more fascinating than he’d anticipated.