Jill Shalvis - Luke

"Or for any of a hundred other things. With essential oils you can treat sinus problems or use the oils as a sedative. Or even stimulate cell regeneration. They're also useful as an antiseptic-"

"You realize there are conventional medicines for such things."

"Conventional medicine hasn't worked for this patient."

"Have you tried-"

"Yes."

"You don't even know what I was going to say."

"She's tired of drugs, Luke." And she was tired of this argument. "She's done with the pain, and our methods are working for her. This is what she wants from us, Dr. Universe. Are you in or not?"

"Dr. Universe?" His eyes darkened. "What the hell does that mean?"

"It means that you, like most doctors, have a God complex."

His mouth fell open a little before he snapped it shut. Then, without another word, he turned and stalked off.

Faith waited for the surge of triumph. She'd actually won a round.

But it never came.

When the last patient was gone, Faith headed toward her office. She hadn't seen Luke in a little while, not since they'd dashed again-in patient room five this time-over whether or not acupressure could ease the chronic pain of a man who'd broken his back the year before in a car accident. Luke had wanted to try muscle relaxants, but the patient, sick of drugs that didn't work, wanted to heal in a more natural way.

Luke had been gracious about it, with his usual warm bedside manner, and hadn't let one single iota of his frustration show. Not to anyone but Faith, of course, from whom he never seemed to try to hide a thing.

He was probably in the staff room now, waiting for her, brooding, pouting, and she sneaked past, heading for her office. All she wanted was five minutes on her couch with the lights off. She wanted that more than she wanted a candy bar, and that was saying something. Her head hurt, her body trembled, and she wanted to cry in frustration at the thought of getting sick now.

She opened her office door and made a beeline for her couch. She was so intent on this, it took her a moment to realize it was already taken.

Luke lay there, on his back, sprawled out, fast asleep. His feet hung off, as did one arm, making him look cramped and uncomfortable, but he lay there, head turned to the side, dead to the world.

At least he didn't snore. She eyed his long, lean, muscular body, now dressed in those ridiculous flowered scrubs she'd given him, and had to let out a soft laugh. He made them look… fun. He'd made a lot of things look fun today, all from the viewpoint of her patients. She had to admit, the man had a way with people.

Patients, she corrected. The man had a way with patients. Not with people.

Certainly not with her.

He sighed in his sleep, and shifted, pulling his arm back up. His usually intense face was slightly softened, and… well, boyish. She could almost forget that he had a sharp tongue and even sharper wit. Almost.

His arm fell off the edge again. What a waste of incredible God-given masculinity, she thought with a roll of her eyes and nudged his foot with her own.

"What?" He sat straight up, eyes open and alert, like most medical professionals, quite used to being woken for any variety of emergencies.

"What's the matter?" he asked. The only sign of lingering grogginess was a wide yawn that revealed teeth as perfect as the rest of him.

"You're on my couch."

"Sorry." He stood, and once again stretched that long, magnificent body. "More patients?"

"No, I just need the couch." His yawn was contagious and she fought her own.

"Is that it for today then?"

"Yes. Thank you," she added. "I know we had a few differences of opinion-" He laughed, and she glared at him. "I was trying to be nice."

"What we have is more than a difference in opinion, Faith. Try major differences in life philosophies." His eyes met hers in a long, knowing look. "There's no prettying that up."

"But you stayed."

"Not much of a choice," he pointed out.

"Yeah, because you're a marketing nightmare."

His smile was grim. "Don't you know it."

"And because you like your position and prestige at the hospital."

He eyed her for a heartbeat during which time she wondered why in the world she was baiting the tiger. "Yes," he said eventually. "I like my position at the hospital. I like it a lot."

"So… after a day of being here, after seeing what we do for our patients, can't you maybe admit you were wrong about the clinic?"

Another long moment. "I can admit you help people," he allowed.

Was that the most she was going to get? Apparently so. And yet really, what had she expected? That he'd thank her for proving him wrong today? Yeah, right.

Exhausted, frustrated, she sank to the couch and nearly moaned out load at the delicious body heat he'd left her. A good amount of her resentment faded, and snuggling in, she let out a serrated sigh.

"Good?"

"Better than good." She sighed again, softly, blissfully.

His eyes heated at the sound and her tummy fluttered.

He leaned over her, a long, warm arm on either side of her hips.

The tingle in her tummy spread. She considered how she'd feel if he kissed her, and had just decided she might actually let him when the blanket drifted over her. "What are you doing?"

"Tucking you in. Need a bedtime story?"

Oh boy. "Doctor of the universe and a comedian, too."

He tilted his head in a mocking bow.

She closed her eyes so she wouldn't stare at his mouth, which was wide, firm, and she suspected, quite talented. Damn distracting. Every part of him was damn distracting. "I just want a quick catnap."

"Will it improve your disposition?"

She opened her eyes again. "Did it improve yours?"

Stunning her, he smiled, and quite frankly, it took her breath. "My disposition is perfect," he claimed.

"Uh-huh."

His smile faded and he traced a finger over her temple, exactly where it throbbed. "Maybe…" He shifted even closer, and her heart stopped because surely this time he was going to kiss her. "Maybe you should give yourself some sort of…" He waved his hand. "Stinky treatment or something."

"Stinky?"

"You know… your smelly oils."

With a groaning laugh, she lay back. "Aromatherapy." No, she wouldn't be disappointed he hadn't leaned in and put his mouth on hers.

"Like I said, stinky stuff."

"I'm going to hold that against you."

"Yeah." He stared at her right back, an unreadable expression on his face. "I feel the same way." Then he moved toward the door, shutting it behind him.

She stared at the closed door, her heartbeat still a little unsteady. His disposition was perfect, was it? Before he'd turned on that amazing bedside manner just now she would have laughed out loud at the thought, but all she could do at the moment was feel his hands on her as he'd tucked the blanket in, the heat in his gaze as he'd run it over her, the touch of his fingers on her face… Oh, God.

She was lusting after Dr. Universe.

Maybe Shelby and Guy were right, maybe she just needed sex. This thought was both thrilling and terrifying.

Emphasis on the terrifying.

Luke drove home that night, going over the day in his head. Naturopathic healing. Utilizing energy and scents and massage for healing.

And people paid for that stuff!

It baffled him that the patients at Healing Waters had seemed so clearly impressed with their treatments, so certain they were getting the best out there. Not a single person had voiced discontent or bitched at the staff. Not a single soul had left unsatisfied.

In comparison was South Village Medical Center, where on an hourly basis someone threatened to sue, yelled at the receptionist, or was positive the hospital was out to get them.