Dr. Hot Stuff - Tawna Fenske Page 0,26

knew my name. Perhaps it’s the accent? Warmth moves through my veins like syrup, and I remind myself not to read too much into the fact that he’s spoken of me to his staff. I’m aware that having a member of a foreign royal family here is something of a novelty, so surely that’s all it is.

Turning away, I search for something to distract me. I study a neat rack of brochures and grab one at random, intending to practice my grasp of medical English.

This drug is in a class of antiviral medications known as synthetic nucleoside analogues developed to promote healing of sores and zosters…

All right, perhaps not the most practical conversational vocabulary. I turn to place it back on the rack when Bradley strides through the doors.

“Izzy.” His smile spreads wide, lighting up the whole waiting room. As his gaze falls to the paper in my hand, his smile falters the tiniest bit. “Are you here for an appointment?”

“What? Oh.” I look down at the brochure and nearly die.

Living with Genital Herpes.

I shove it back into the slot as heat floods my face. “No. No, I don’t have an appointment. Or herpes!” I say this much too loudly, as evidenced by the patient who looks up from her magazine. I lower my voice and fight to ignore the heat rushing to my cheeks. “I was just running errands with Lily, and when I saw your name on the door, I thought I’d say hello.”

“Hello.” He grins like I haven’t just made a complete ass of myself. “It’s really great to see you.”

“It’s great to see you, too.” He has no idea. Night after night, I’ve been waking from sweaty dreams involving Bradley wearing nothing but his lab coat. It doesn’t help that he’s wearing one now, his broad shoulders making the garment look much sexier than it has any right to.

I need to stop staring.

“So, Kevin.” I force myself to swallow. “Any news on Kevin the pig?”

“Nothing new.” His blue eyes flash like he recognizes my ridiculous excuse. “The foster paperwork sometimes takes time.”

“I see.” Time is one thing I definitely don’t have.

What was I thinking coming in here? Or worse, drooling over Dr. Parker like some lovesick teen. I know better than this.

In the back of my mind, my mother’s voice is stern. “Only fools let emotions rule their personal relationships.” She said this just moments after I confronted her with the DNA report showing the Duke couldn’t possibly be my biological father.

“The occasional slip is understandable,” she continued. “But don’t let your heart make strategic decisions on your behalf.”

I shake off the echoes of her voice and force myself to meet Bradley’s curious gaze with my haughtiest royal composure. “It was wonderful seeing you. I—I should get back to Lily.”

He smiles, and my insides turn to mush again. “I’m really glad you stopped by. You’re a definite bright spot in my day.”

“Yes, you, too.” If he only knew how pathetically giddy I feel just hearing his voice. His hands are shoved in the pockets of his lab coat, and my whole body twitches with the thought of feeling them on my body.

I have to get out of here.

I back away slowly, no longer trusting myself not to lunge for him. “I have to go. Lovely seeing you. Take care, now.”

I turn and flee like a scared little girl.

Like a woman who knows exactly how much she stands to lose by ignoring her mother’s counsel.

Chapter 6

Bradley

Of all the things I’ve done to woo a woman, arriving on her doorstep with a pig in a sweater takes the prize.

“Bradley.” Izzy blinks at me, then looks down. “Oh my goodness, Kevin!”

She stoops to scratch his ears, and I try not to feel jealous the pig gets a warmer greeting than I did.

“The county’s still processing your application to be a foster, but my mom needed someone to take him off her hands for a few hours,” I explain. “Thought you might like to see him again.”

“Oh my gosh, this is so wonderful.” She scratches under the collar of his red wool sweater and Kevin grunts with pleasure. “I didn’t know people dressed pigs in clothing.”

“People don’t.” I shrug. “My mother does. She was worried he might get cold since he used to be a house pig and all.”

“That’s very thoughtful of her.” She stands and gives me a smile that melts my heart. “And you. Thank you for bringing him to see me.”

“My pleasure. Had a pretty full day