George Pappas. Alec’s chest grew a little heavy, thinking of the man who’d been more of a father to him than his own. Knowing how hard it had been on every one of the man’s family when he’d died. And on himself too, despite not being a real member of the Pappas tribe.
“Your dad would be proud of you.” He reached for her soft hand and squeezed it. “He was proud of each one of you, but I think he had a special place in his heart for his youngest.”
Tears filled her eyes, and he kicked himself. The last thing he wanted to do was make her sad. Then she smiled through the tears, and the jab of guilt eased.
“Thank you. I know I don’t have much experience yet—that I have a crazy amount to learn. But I think you’re right. I think he would be proud that I’m at least trying.”
Trying? The Katy Pappas he knew never tried. She worked until she accomplished whatever damned goal she’d set for herself, from the most simple to the most difficult.
“There’s no question about that, Katy,” Nick said, his voice a little rough. “Here’s another toast to you for always making him proud.”
“To you, Katy.” Alec raised his glass to hers. Maybe it was because she couldn’t see too well through the tears in her eyes, but for whatever reason, as she tried to clink her glass to his, she completely missed. And managed to toss most of her glass of wine straight onto his lap.
“Oh! I’m so sorry, Alec!” Katy leaped from her seat, grabbing her napkin to dab vigorously at the wine staining the bottom of his shirt, moving down to dab even harder at the biggest pool of liquid in a place he didn’t want her dabbing.
Or maybe he did, because seeing her hands on his groin, feeling them pressing against him, shortened his breath, stepped up the beat of his heart and invited an instant physical response he couldn’t control.
“Let me handle it, Katy,” he said, firmly grabbing her wrist before she could feel exactly what was happening to him and embarrass them both.
“But the stain is setting, and—Oh!” Suddenly her motions stilled and her widening eyes met his. Obviously, his body’s response to her hands all over him was plenty clear.
“Yeah. ‘Oh.’” What else could he say? Except maybe, Touch me some more, please.
“Katy, having you around sure livens things up.” Laughing, Nick headed to the kitchen. “I’ll get a wet towel.”
‘I’m … sorry. Really sorry. So, so sorry.” Her face was nearly as red as the wine, and she stood staring at him as though she was frozen.
“It’s okay. Really.” He should be sorry, too. Sorry that she felt embarrassed, sorry that his clothes might be ruined, and sorry that his body had responded the way it had. In spite of all that, though, he found he didn’t feel sorry at all. In fact, his primary feeling at the moment was wishing the two of them were alone so he could strip off his wet clothes and see if that led anywhere good.
As soon as the thought came, the heat that had surged throughout his body was quickly replaced by ice, and he wanted to pummel some sense into himself. Not only was Katy Nick’s little sister, she was his student, damn it. He absolutely could not think of her in that way, ever, despite the fact that, right now, he clearly was. But that was not acceptable. Not under any circumstances, but especially while he was her superior at the hospital.
He’d already tried to blow up his own career with that kind of mistake, and had succeeded all too well in blowing up someone else’s. The last thing he wanted was to lose the respect he’d tried so hard to regain since his stupidity of the past.
And risking Katy’s career and reputation with the same kind of stupidity? Never.
* * *
Had she really rubbed her hands all around and pressed down on Alec’s privates?
Katy walked down the hospital corridor, face burning as she thought about the reality that, yes, she sure had. Even worse, she now knew something she hadn’t before. Which was that he apparently became aroused easily and was more than well endowed.
Long ago, she’d fantasized about—well—all of that. But she knew last night’s impressive reaction had had nothing to do with her. Lots of men might respond that way to any woman fondling them, inadvertently or not. And since Alec had gone through girlfriends in high school like a patient with a bad cold went through tissues, she shouldn’t be surprised he was one of them.
What was a surprise had been her own reaction. That in addition to feeling beyond embarrassed, she’d also found herself fascinated by the swelling beneath those jeans of his. As though she was some innocent kid and not a grown woman. She was quite sure Alec’s swelling—and what a ridiculous way for her, a doctor, to be thinking of his erection—was no more impressive than any other man’s. Well, she wasn’t sure, but she no longer had any desire to find out. Did. Not.
For the tenth time that morning she shoved down thoughts of any and all of Alec’s body parts and headed to her next patient’s room. “Good morning, Helen!” Katy stepped to Mrs. Patterson’s bedside and patted her thin shoulder. “Ready to go home?”
“I wish I could. But I’m heading back to rehab at the nursing home until I’m stronger.”
“I know. But you’re going to be out of there before you know it.” She took her stethoscope from her neck and pressed the bell to her palm to warm it before she placed it against the woman’s chest. “Do you have someone to help take care of you when you’re home?”
“My daughter’s coming for a bit after I’m home. Today, though, my son is taking me back to rehab.”
“That’s good.” The woman didn’t look too excited about that, but who would be? “I know it’s not much fun doing rehab, but knowing it’s going to make you independent again makes it worth it.”
“I don’t mind it, really. The nurses and physical therapists are lovely. But all this has been very depressing.” Helen sighed. “Until I broke my hip, I was pretty strong and walked my little dogs every day. Now I feel just awful with this stomach pain. It’s enough to make me want to move on to heaven to be with my Albert.”
The sadness and frustration on the poor woman’s face squeezed Katy’s heart. She wrapped her arm around Helen’s shoulders to give her a hug. “I can imagine how hard it is to feel weak and not well when you’re used to being up and about. But your tests don’t show any problems, so I bet you’re going to be feeling good again soon. Hang in there.” A tall, skinny man with long hair knocked on the doorjamb, which surprised Katy. It couldn’t be any later than seven a.m. “Can I come in?”
“Hello, Jeffrey.” Helen shifted her gaze from the man to Katy. “Dr. Pappas, this is my son. Jeffrey, this is Dr. Pappas. She’s been taking good care of me.”
“Thanks for that,” Jeffrey said, then came to stand between Katy and his mother, rather rudely. “Mom, I need a little cash to fix my car. Can you front me a loan? I brought your checkbook.”
“I just gave you money for your car last week.” Helen frowned, but took the checkbook he handed her.
“I know, but there’s something else wrong now, so I’ve been driving yours. I’ll pay you back soon.”
“This has to be the last time. My medical bills are adding up.” Helen scribbled out a check. “Please remember I need you to pick me up whenever I’m released today.”
“Okay. Call me.” He dropped a quick kiss on her forehead and headed out the door. Katy couldn’t believe he hadn’t even asked his sweet mother how she was feeling.
She squeezed Mrs. Patterson’s hand one more time. “If I don’t see you again before you’re released, I hope you’re back to walking your pups very soon.”
Katy left the room and looked at her patient notes. Next was a seven-year-old boy