Tina Beckett - New York City Docs

Brian moved away from the wall. “Well, I thought you might know something. Our department would hate to lose her. She stands to be one of the best we have. I’m already hearing murmurs that the hospital wants to make sure it keeps her.”

Clay already knew she was good, but he had no idea why Brian thought he’d know anything about what she was planning.

Those damn collection jars. If his mom thought they were becoming involved again, even knowing their past, everyone at the hospital probably thought the same thing. Or worse. “I’ll direct her your way, if the subject comes up.” Not that he expected it to.

Except something in him wanted to make sure. Had to make sure.

They parted ways, Clay heading down the hallway toward the bank of elevators. The first car opened its doors, and he got in just as the one coming down opened. Tessa emerged from the pack, heading with purpose down the hall toward their patient’s room. Putting his hand out, he stopped the elevator doors from closing and murmured his apologies to the other passengers as he stepped off.

“Tess.”

His voice stopped her in her tracks, but she didn’t turn around right away. When she finally did, her face was pink. What the hell was going on?

“I just checked in on Mr. Phillips, if that’s where you’re headed. Brian Perry was there, as well.” No reason to beat around the bush, but he certainly didn’t want to do it standing here in the hall, where anyone could overhear them. “Would you come to my office for a minute? I’d like to talk to you.”

He thought she was going to refuse, but then she nodded.

Leading the way, he was careful not to touch her as they got back on the elevator and made their way up to the fifth floor. Neither of them said anything as there were a few other people in the car. Finally they got off and headed down the corridor to Clay’s small office. Once inside, he shut the door and motioned her to a seat, while he perched on the front of the desk.

“Like I said, I saw Brian Perry while I was in Mr. Phillips’s room.”

“Oh?” She looked up at him, clearly confused. “That’s what you wanted to talk to me about?”

“In part. He’s worried you might be changing specialties.”

“Changing specialties? What gave him that idea?”

He crossed one ankle over the other. “Your trip down to the obstetrics department.”

Her mouth popped open for several seconds before she closed it again, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip. Then she sat up a little straighter. “I—I’m not sure I follow. Why would he think I was changing specialties?”

She hadn’t denied going to Obstetrics. It was more as if she was avoiding the word altogether.

“Maybe because you had an appointment with Dr. Powers, who’s collecting fellowship applications until she retires.”

Every ounce of color leached from her face. “How did he find out about my appointment?”

“She thought you were applying for a fellowship as well and mentioned it. If Brian Perry knows, others probably do, as well.” He leaned forward a bit. “What’s going on, Tessa?”

“Nothing.” Her voice shook the tiniest bit, belying the word.

His brief moment of suspicion flared back up, finding new fuel and licking at it for all it was worth.

“Does this have anything to do with the other night?” He gripped the edge of his desk with both hands. “We still have capoeira practice to contend with, so we’re going to have to work to get past this.”

“I know. It’s just awkward. I don’t think either of us expected what happened.”

“I certainly didn’t expect to hear about you running down to Obstetrics within days of our encounter.”

“What do you mean?”

He studied her for a moment or two then decided to be blunt. “You said you were on the Pill. You are, right? Your visit to Faye Powers had nothing to do with our time together.”

“Clay, I…” He thought she was going to say something else, but she simply shook her head.

An eerie premonition began to march up his spine. Lizza had gotten pregnant with Molly unexpectedly, and he’d asked her to marry him to make things right. But Tessa hadn’t wanted to be married to him back when they’d been dating, and he didn’t expect her to want it now. Not that they’d need to.

She’s not pregnant.

Time to get that thought out in the open and verify it for his own peace of mind. “Did you take your Pill the night we were together?”

Her hands twisted in front of her. “I—I’d been so busy over the past week and had several night shifts. By the time I got off… I was exhausted. I should carry them in my purse, but I haven’t been involved with…” She shook her head. “The short answer is no, I missed a few days without realizing it. I didn’t do it on purpose, Clay, I swear it.”

A field of white danced in front of his eyes. He had no doubt she was telling the truth. He could see it in her face. Hear the anguish in her voice.

She might become pregnant. Hell, she might already be. And she’d said nothing.

“That was what your appointment with Faye was about?”

“Yes.”

She wanted to know what her options were. They ran through his head. Start back on the Pill and hope for the best. Morning-after pill. Abortion. Adoption.

Each of those made his gut churn and his throat tighten. But it wasn’t up to him. Although he damn well would have liked some kind of say in the matter. “What did Faye say?”

“She said since I missed several doses at this point…”

Her words trailed away.

A few tense muscles relaxed. Did that mean she hadn’t gone back on the Pill?

“What about Plan B?”

Her brows came together. “I’m right at the limit for time. I need to do it now, if I’m going to.”

Something made him lean forward. “Don’t take it, Tess.” In that moment a crash of realization had him off the desk and reaching for her, hauling her out of the seat and into his arms. He loved her. Had never really stopped loving her.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, unaware of the thoughts veering around inside his head. “I don’t know what to do. Please, believe me, Clay. I never meant this to happen. Any of it. Not that it has.”

“I know.” He pulled her tight against him, memories of the other night chasing him down a fast-moving stream. One he couldn’t seem to get out of. Tipping her head back, he kissed her. And just like that, things exploded between them. Mouths sealing together, hands traveling over each other’s bodies in a mixture of anguish and desperation.

Clay turned with her still in his arms and pressed her against the desk, not even attempting to hide what she did to him. He pulled his mouth free. “Say yes.”

He had no idea what he was asking for. Say yes to having sex with him in his office? Say yes to having his baby? He didn’t care. He just wanted to hear the word.

Her hands went to the back of his head. “Yes,” she whispered, just before she hauled him back to her.

Holding her against him with one hand, he swept papers and a pencil cup onto the floor and lifted her onto the desk. She leaned back, her light blue scrubs the only thing stopping him from finishing the job. He would soon remedy that. But first no more misunderstandings. “Stay right there.”

He grabbed his wallet out of one of the desk drawers and removed a condom. If she wasn’t already pregnant, he sure as hell wasn’t going to purposely try to make it come true. No matter what his heart was saying.

He pushed down the front of his own navy scrubs, sure there had to be some kind of rule against attendings having sex with residents, but he and Tessa weren’t just any mismatched pair. They had history. One that had repeated itself a few days ago.