“You call that a smile? You can better than that. Pretend you just gave your mother and her newest find the slip.”
It was scary how much he already knew about her. Defeated, Janet allowed a smile to wash over her face. She had to admit it felt good to let down her guard for a moment.
Gage ducked his head to Miranda’s ear. “Will you look at that! Isn’t that the most beautiful smile you’ve ever seen in the whole wide world?”
“Goo!” Miranda waved a fist.
“It’s unanimous.” Gage raised his head and met Janet’s gaze. “You simply must smile more often.”
She wanted so much to dislike the man, but it was next to impossible. She had to keep her mind on her goal—to reiterate that he was not to kiss her again, or even flirt with her. They were partners in a pediatric practice. That and nothing more.
Janet cleared her throat, sat up straighter in her chair, and drummed her fingers on the desk. “I need to speak to you. Alone. Schedule permitting, can we meet for lunch at Donovan’s?”
Hot dog, but Janet was sexy when she glared at him. From the moment Janet had walked into the office that morning, Gage knew she had a bone to pick with him, and he suspected it had something to do with that kiss under the canape table on Friday night.
If he hadn’t been in the middle of rescuing two damsels in distress—little Miranda and her harried mother—Janet would have lit into him first thing. As it was, he got to watch her stew for a good three hours.
No one looked prettier in a snit than Dr. Hunter, and nothing pleased him more than trying to turn that frown into a smile. He had done it once, with a little help from cooing Miranda, but now, without the baby, and he was on his own.
They were sitting across from each other in a booth at the down-home-cooking restaurant across the street from Saint Madeleine’s. Voices buzzed loudly around them. Silverware clinked. Delicious aromas filled the air, but apparently Janet didn’t notice any of these things. Her stern gaze riveted on him, and he found the attention disconcerting.
She had waited until they’d placed their lunch orders before straightening her shoulders, clearing her throat, and saying those four dreadful words men the world over shudder to hear.
“We have to talk.”
Time to turn up the heat on his charisma. Over the years, his aw-shucks-ma’am grin had gotten him an invitation into a lot of beds. Janet, however, seemed immune.
He nodded and tried not to notice how her tailored kelly green coat dress molded to her curves. “Fire away.”
Janet drummed manicured nails restlessly against the white Formica tabletop. A few tendrils of dark hair had sprung loose from her elegant chignon, framing her face and softening her features.
“I get the impression that you’re very accustomed to having your way with women.”
“Can’t argue with that,” he said lightly, his eyes never leaving her face.
“I’m sure it makes for a very exciting romantic life.”
“I’m not complaining.”
“That being the case, Dr. Gregory, may I suggest that from now on you do your skirt chasing far away from our office.”
“Skirt chasing?” Gage tried not to smirk—honestly, he did—but the serious look on her face, the stiffness of her vernacular was more than he could handle.
“This isn’t funny! We can’t have a repeat of what happened on Friday night. Such incidents could irreparably damage our reputations and I don’t know about you, Dr. Gregory...”
“Gage,” he interrupted.
“Dr. Gregory,” she reiterated firmly. “My career means more to me than anything else in the world. I’ve worked hard for what I’ve achieved, and I won’t allow you or anyone else to jeopardize it.”
She let out her breath. Her skin had reddened as she spoke, her eyes glowing with somber intent. This was a woman who took life far too earnestly. Idealism was one thing; inflexibility was quite another.
Gage, however, was prudent enough to hold his tongue. “Simmer down, Janet. I totally agree with you.”
“You do?” She stopped drumming the table and stared at him in suspicious disbelief.
Yes. No.
Hell, he knew they weren’t a suitable match. He had to stop rescuing women, and she needed to lighten up. Getting involved with her was lunacy. They worked together and as she had pointed out; they were both starting their careers, a daunting task.
But Gage wanted her as much as he had ever wanted any woman, and while he might have a tendency to fall for damsels in distress, no one could accuse Janet Hunter of being a helpless flower.
She was a powerful woman who stood up for what she believed in. A woman who challenged not only herself, but those around her to achieve their very best. Was this, after all, the kind of woman he needed? Hadn’t he learned the hard way he couldn’t rescue the world? Maybe he was the one who required rescuing.
It was a novel thought.
Gage glanced up to see Gracie Hunter come through the door of the restaurant, a Mr.-Universe-Wannabe looming behind her.
“Don’t look now,” he said, “but isn’t that your mother? She’s got some guy with her.”
“What?” Janet paled.
“Yoo-hoo, sweetheart.” Her mother waved and made a beeline for their booth.
Janet groaned and planted her face into her upturned palms.
“Here you are!” Gracie exclaimed, stopping beside them. “I dropped by your office, and the receptionist told me you’d popped over here for lunch. Hi, Dr. Gregory.”
Gage nodded and returned her smile.
“Mother.” Janet clenched her fists. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to introduce you to Oscar. He’s my personal trainer.” Gracie waved with a flourish at the tower of a man beside her.
Oscar dressed in black Lycra gym shorts and a muscle shirt, proudly displaying his buffed physique. Gage felt like the proverbial ninety-pound weakling, and he was glad they weren’t at the beach. He wasn’t crazy about having sand kicked in his face.
“See there, Oscar, didn’t I tell you that my little Jan-Jan was beautiful.” Gracie clasped her
