Robin Gianna - It Happened in Paris...

Taken off guard, she felt herself blush as Jack turned, gesturing to her with his hand, then actually began to clap, a big smile on his face, as the others in the room joined him. She’d been keeping a low profile, and most of the hospital had just assumed she was a Crilex representative. Most cardiologists she knew—most definitely both of her old boyfriends—loved to play the big shot and preen at any and all accolades. Neither one of them would have shared the glory unless they had to.

“I appreciate your nice words, Dr. Dunbar,” she said, feeling a silly little glow in her chest, despite herself. “I have every hope that the new design you’ve helped develop will be the one that works. Congratulations on your first procedure going smoothly.”

“Thank you.” His warm eyes met hers, reminding her of the way he’d looked at her yesterday, until the doctors observing converged on him to ask questions and he turned his attention to them.

Avery took off her gown, mask and hat, and caught herself watching Jack speak to everyone. Listening to his deep voice and the earnest enthusiasm there. She wanted to stay, to listen longer, but forced herself to move quietly from the room to go through her notes. Limiting her interactions with him to the bare minimum had to be the goal, and since there was just one surgery scheduled today, there was no reason to hang around.

Satisfied that her notes were all readable, in order and entered correctly into her database, Avery walked toward the hotel, feeling oddly restless. She’d planned to work in her room, but a peculiar sense of aloneness came over her. Since when had that ever happened?

Still, the feeling nagged at her, and she stopped to work for a bit at a little café, which seemed like a more appealing choice. After a few hours she headed to her room and settled into a comfy chair with her laptop. Projects on her computer included ideas on how to fix her previous TAVI design if the one Jack had in trial had significant issues.

That unsettled feeling grew, sinking deep into the pit of her stomach, and she realized why.

If she had to recommend the trial be discontinued, would Jack think it was because she wanted Crilex to develop one of her designs instead? That her concerns would be from self-interest instead of concern for the patients?

She’d been doing freelance work ever since abruptly leaving the company that had funded her first TAVI design. They’d insisted on continuing the trials long after the data had been clear that the leakage problems had to be fixed first, which was why she’d been glad to observe this trial before that happened again.

If only she could talk to Jack about it, so he’d never think any of this was underhanded on her part. But her contract with Crilex stated she was to keep that information completely confidential.

She pressed her lips together and tried to concentrate on work. Worrying about the odd situation didn’t solve anything and, after all, Jack knew she’d designed the original. Wouldn’t he assume she was likely working on improvements to it and observing his with that in mind?

She couldn’t tell Jack the power she had over the trial. But maybe she should tell him she had concerns with the design. To give him that heads-up, at least, and maybe nudge him to look for the same issues she would be as the trial continued.

Avery caught herself staring across the room for long minutes. With a sigh she shut the lid of her laptop and gave up. Clearly, she needed something to clear her head. Fresh air and maybe a visit to somewhere she hadn’t been for a while. A place popped into her head, and she decided it was a sign that it might be just what she needed to get back on track.

A half hour later, jostling with others passengers as she stepped off the metro, she saw the sun was perilously low in the sky. She hadn’t torn out the door in record time to miss seeing the Sacré Coeur at sunset and headed in that direction in a near jog, only to bump into the back of some guy who stepped right in front of her.

“Oh, sorry!” she said, steadying herself.

“No, my fault. I’m trying to figure out how to get to the Sacré Coeur to see it at sunset, and I…”

She froze and looked up as the man turned, knowing that, incredible and ridiculous as it was, the man speaking was none other than Jack Dunbar. Saw his eyes widen with the same surprise and disbelief until he laughed and shook his head. “Why is it that whenever I need a tour guide, the best one in Paris shows up to help me?”

Fate. It was clearly fate, and why did it keep throwing her and Jack together? Should she even admit that was exactly where she’d been going? “I wish I had the answers to the universe. But somehow I don’t think you’ll be surprised to learn that’s where I’m headed, too.”

He looked at her a long, serious moment before he gave her a slow smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and the warmth in them put a little flutter in her chest. “You know, somehow I’m not surprised. And who am I to argue with the universe? Guess this means we’re going together.”

A buoyant feeling replaced the odd, unsettled feeling she’d had for hours. Bad idea? Yes. Something she could walk away from? Apparently not.

“Then we’ve got to hurry.” She grabbed his hand, knowing she was throwing caution away again. But how could she say no to the happy excitement bubbling up inside her? And after all, it was just a visit to the Sacré Coeur, right? “The sun’s setting soon, and we don’t want to miss it.”

“Lead on, Ms. Tour Guide. For tonight I’m all yours.”

JACK LOOKED AT the adorable woman dragging him through the streets and wondered, not for the first time, how he could have gotten so lucky to have met her before they’d started working together. A personal connection before a professional one got in the way of it.

The professional part was unfortunate, since he’d vowed he’d never again get involved with a woman at work. For just one more night, though, he’d let himself enjoy being with Avery. After all, here they were, together. And, smart or not smart, he just couldn’t resist.

“A lot of people think it’s really old, but did you know the Sacré Coeur was consecrated after World War I in 1919?”

“I didn’t know. Are you proving again to me that female scientists are well versed in many subjects?”

“I don’t have to prove anything about women in science,” she said in a dignified tone, “seeing as I’m not wearing orthopedic shoes.”

He laughed. “True. And they’re even bright green, which I’ve never seen in leather ankle boots.”

“Clearly, you live a sheltered life. Maybe you should get yourself some brightly colored shoes.”

“Somehow, I think my patients would worry about my skills if I dressed that way.” His eyes met her twinkling ones, an even more vivid green than her boots, and just looking at her made him smile. “You get to hide in your lab and behind your computer. I don’t.”

“You could wear them while your patients are under anesthesia.” She had that teasing look in her eyes that he’d found irresistible yesterday when they’d gone up the Eiffel Tower, then spent that magical time in his hotel room. That he’d found irresistible since the moment she’d grabbed his hand and led him to breakfast. That he had to somehow learn to resist, starting again tomorrow.

“Except most of my patients are awake during procedures, so I’ll stick with black or brown.”

“Where’s your sense of adventure?”

“Here with you tonight.”

She looked up at him, an oddly arrested expression on her face. “Mine, too.” She stepped up their pace. “We’re almost there, and since January’s off season, hopefully there won’t be big crowds. Good thing the sun’s peeking through. I think it just might be a beautiful night.”