“What?” Chloe said eagerly.
“Nothing. Just that I found a pair of four-inch heels that matched perfectly.”
There was no point in sharing that Spencer had looked her up and down as if he liked what he saw. His gaze had lingered for a while on her chest and there was a shade of curiosity in his expression as he’d studied her. At that moment she’d been dying to know what was going through his mind, then reality reasserted itself and she let the question go. The saying that curiosity killed the cat was a saying for a reason.
“Tell me what the doc was wearing.”
“Nick had on a dark suit and—”
“Not that doc. He’s spoken for.” Chloe rolled her eyes. “The other doc.”
“Also a dark suit. Crisp cream-colored dress shirt and matching satin tie.”
Chloe fluttered her hand in front of her chest. “Be still my heart.”
No kidding. Avery had seen him in scrubs, jeans and slacks with sports shirt. The wedding was the first time she’d ever seen him in a suit and tie. It was memorable, and that was an understatement. If he wasn’t so good at what he did, a career in modeling wasn’t out of the question. That was a sentiment Avery would take to her grave and now it was time to change the subject.
“Pretty is as pretty does,” she said.
“I don’t even know what that means.”
“Just that it’s not smart to judge a book by its cover.”
One of Chloe’s dark eyebrows lifted questioningly. “You’re just full of clichés today. That man is fine and friendly.”
“Does your boyfriend know you have a crush on Dr. Stone?”
“Admiring a good-looking man is not cheating. My heart belongs to Sean, but I’m not blind.”
“So he doesn’t know your secret?”
“No. And speaking of secrets, I want to know how Dr. Stone somehow manages to stay friends with all of his exes.”
“You think that’s an admirable quality?”
“Yes. You don’t?” Chloe shook her head. “Why do you dislike him, Avery?”
“Think about what you just said. All his exes being the key phrase. Doesn’t the sheer quantity of women give you any pause at all?”
“Not when a man is that charming,” Chloe said. “You could take lessons from him.”
Spencer had implied as much when he’d asked why she disliked him. That wasn’t a detail she chose to share—or the fact that he’d wanted to clear the air between them. What was that about? Or asking her to meet his family in Dallas? And what was the point? She’d all but told him he was barking up the wrong tree. A personal relationship wasn’t a prerequisite for working together.
She looked at her assistant. “Charming is as charming does.”
“I cannot even believe you said that to me.” Chloe sighed dramatically. “How about this? One picture is worth a thousand words. Throw me a bone here. Tell me you’ve got at least one.”
“Okay. Yes, I’ve got one.” Avery pulled her cell phone from her pocket, pushed some buttons until she found a snapshot of the bride, groom, best man and maid of honor. “Knock yourself out.”
“What a beautiful couple.” Chloe took the phone and her dark eyes went dreamy just before that damn gleam returned. “You and Dr. Stone aren’t too bad, either.”
“There is no me and Dr. Stone.”
“Uh-huh. This picture tells a different story.”
“What are you talking about?”
Chloe handed back the phone. “It’s all there in living color. The way he’s looking at you. Like he could just eat you up.”
Avery saw what the other woman meant. It was hard to miss the determination Spencer had been peddling, up to and during the wedding festivities. The intensity in his eyes as he looked at her had tingles dancing up her spine and unleashed the always lurking shivers of awareness. The feeling of not being in control unleashed her inner prickliness.
“He might try to take a bite out of me, Chloe, but I’m awfully tough to chew. Better men than him have tried.” She put her phone in her pocket. “Now, we’ve got work to do.”
Chloe tapped her lip. “Speaking of work, I just got a memo from administration authorizing your trip to Dallas with Doctor Hottie.”
“I wish you wouldn’t call him that.” Even though truer words were never spoken.
“Be that as it may, do you want me to make reservations?”
“Yes. But coordinate with Dr. Stone’s office manager on dates, flight arrangements and hotel rooms. Also, my meeting with the Regional Vice President the Friday before we get into the robotics technology on Monday. And before you ask, that was definitely plural on the room thing.”
“Will do, boss. A lot of women would love to be in your high-heeled pumps.”
“Chloe, it’s business.”
“Just saying—”
She pointed to the doorway. “Back to work before we both get in trouble.”
Her assistant saluted and left without another word.
Avery sat down behind her desk and turned on the computer. She knew Chloe was right about a lot of women who’d like to be walking in her shoes, but a lot of women hadn’t been through hell and had their trust stomped out of them. Spencer Stone was just a little too perfect for someone like her, someone who had a secret she didn’t talk about. And there was a good reason.
It was a painful lesson, but she’d learned it well. When everything looks like it’s falling into place, it’s actually falling apart.
Still in his scrubs after an emergency surgery to open up a blocked vessel in a patient’s heart, Spencer Stone took the elevator to Mercy Medical Center’s administration offices located on the second floor. It had been two weeks since the wedding and that was the last time he’d seen Avery O’Neill. The memory of her in that sexy, see-through lavender dress had never been far from his mind and he was looking forward to seeing her again. No matter what she was wearing.
There was a flash of adrenaline as he wondered what she’d say to get his blood pumping this time. How would she surprise him?
When the elevator opened, he stepped out and walked down the carpeted hall. Her door was the third one on the right and he went inside. Her assistant, Chloe Castillo, was on guard duty behind a desk in the reception area. She did a double take when she recognized him.
“Hi, Dr. Stone.”
“Chloe. How are you?”
“Great. Yourself?”
“Never better.” Couldn’t hurt to get the controller’s assistant on his side. “Have you done something different with your hair?”
She automatically touched the dark curls by her cheek. “No. Same as always.”
“And, as always, you’re looking beautiful.”
“Thanks. It’s not true, but very charming of you to say so.”
“I’m a charming guy.”
“Preaching to the choir, Doctor.” With her thumb, she indicated the closed door of the office behind her. “I’m not the one you have to convince.”
“Yeah. I sort of picked up on the fact