Page 3 of Tempted By the Handsome Doctor

"What are you doing here?" The question comes out harsher than I intended. Sleep deprivation has taken away all my social niceties.

"What am I doing here?" She lets out a hollow laugh. "That's rich, coming from you. You disappeared. Without a word."

I drag a hand through my hair, aware of how disheveled I must look. "I know. I'm sorry about that. It was a crazy morning, and then—"

"Save it," she cuts me off. "I don't care about your excuses."

The cafeteria suddenly feels very small and very public. Megan from Pediatrics is watching us from two tables over. Dr. Reeves, the Chief of Surgery, just walked in and is eyeing us as he heads to the coffee station.

"Look, can we talk somewhere private?" I nod toward the hallway. "My shift just ended."

Maya hesitates, clutching her teacup like it's the only thing keeping her upright. Then she nods once, a sharp, decisive movement. "Fine."

I lead her down the corridor toward the small doctors' lounge, hoping to God it's empty. My mind races as we walk in silence. It's been a month since that night—a night I've replayed more times than I care to admit. A night I'd deliberately tried to forget by burying myself in work.

The lounge is mercifully vacant. I hold the door for her, and she brushes past me, the faint scent of vanilla and old books hitting me with unexpected force. The same scent that clung to my sheets. To my skin.

I shake the thought away.

"Have a seat." I gesture to the worn couch against the wall.

She remains standing, arms crossed over her chest. "I'll stand."

"Suit yourself." I set my coffee down and mirror her stance. "So, what's this about?"

Maya stares at me for a long moment. Her eyes, usually so warm and expressive behind those wire-rimmed glasses, are unreadable now. Then she reaches into her purse and pulls out something small, placing it on the table between us.

It takes my exhausted brain a moment to process what I'm looking at.

A pregnancy test. With two pink lines.

My world narrows to those two lines, and suddenly I can't breathe. Can't think. Can't move.

"I'm pregnant," Maya says, her voice steady despite the slight tremor in her hands. "And before you ask—yes, it's yours. Yes, I'm sure."

The room tilts slightly. I grab the edge of the table to steady myself. "That's... that's not possible."

"Evidently it is." Her laugh is brittle. "Believe me, I've spent the morning trying to convince myself of the same thing."

I sink into the nearest chair, my legs suddenly unable to support my weight. "I don't understand. We were careful."

"Condoms aren't foolproof. They break, they slip. Haven't you had this conversation with patients before, Doctor?"

The way she says "doctor" makes it sound like an insult.

"Of course I have, but—" I stop, forcing myself to take a breath. "I'm sorry. This is a shock."

"You think it's a shock for you?" Maya's composure cracks for just a moment, her voice rising. "I didn't even know if you were real! If Daniel Morrison was your actual name, or if you worked here like you said you did!"

Guilt slams into me. "I didn't lie about who I am."

"No, you just left without a word after—" She cuts herself off, cheeks flushing. "After what happened between us."

The memory of that night flickers between us. Her skin under my hands. Her soft moans in my ear. The way she'd curled against me afterward, trusting and warm.

Until my pager went off at 5 AM. Until the multi-car pileup on Route 16 sent the ER into chaos and pulled me away before she woke.

"I got called in for an emergency," I explain, knowing how pathetic it sounds. "A major accident. Multiple traumas."

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