Well, that and his easy charm and Ken-doll good looks, complete with killer smile. It was the reason women literally sighed in his wake. Normally, the gorgeous doctor was the picture of confidence. “So, what brings you down into the bowels of the hospital this afternoon?” He cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. God, why couldn’t she be smooth and put-together like other women? Like the kind Stephen dated. Finally she gave up and just plopped the pile into her chair before turning her attention to her guest. Stacks just like the one she held lined the walls of her office on the floor and over every square inch of desk and filecabinet space. Spinning in a quick circle, she searched for a place to stash the mess. Not for the first time, or even the hundredth time, she wished she weren’t so disorganized. Here, let me just-” “That’s all right, you don’t have to-” “No, I insist.” She gathered the haphazard paper mountain in her arms. She swore she felt her cheeks actually change color as she bolted around her desk. “Please, have a seat.” “Uh…” Lucie glanced to the single visitor chair piled high with file folders, old newspapers, and research articles. Trying hard not to jump to conclusions, she gestured in front of her. But not once had he ever closed the door.

“No, not today.” He turned to close the door, and her pulse raced.Īs an orthopedic surgeon, he’d visited her less-than-impressive office in the Rehab and Sports Med Center plenty of times to discuss mutual patients. I didn’t forget another meeting, did I?” Twin dimples winked at her. At warp speed, her brain performed an unsolicited catalog of her appearance, spitting out the usual diagnosis of “plain and disheveled.” Holding back a disappointing sigh and the urge to smooth a hand over the strands of hair that escaped her ponytail, she gave him her best smile. Stephen Mann, Director of Sports Medicine and major hottie at Northern Nevada Medical Center. “Hope I’m not disturbing you.” Before she could order her heart to behave, it skipped a beat at the mellowy-smooth voice of Dr. Dropping her pen to the sheaf of papers in front of her, she called out, “Come in.” A head of perfectly styled dark hair popped around the edge of the door. He could just cool his heels in the hallway for the next ten minutes while she fini- The knock came again, a little more insistently this time, and her resolve to not cater to someone else’s wishes crumbled, as usual. She pushed her glasses back in the proper place.

Her next physical therapy patient was early, which irked her since she hadn’t even completed the paperwork from the previous appointment. LUCIE MILLER DIDN’T BOTHER LOOKING up when she heard the knock on her office door.

Skyscraper Cinderella by K. Webster