Page 45 of Egotistical Jerk
"That may be so," she replied a little too smoothly. "But out of the four doctors currently on your team, only one can stay. So, if it's true, if you are involved with one of them, she can't stay on in diagnostics at the end of her proof period. She needs to go to the ER."
"That's a load of bullshit, Diana."
She gave me a look, and I didn't need to be a genius to know she didn't like the way I was speaking to her.
"She's the best damn doctor on this team."
"You should have thought about that before you jumped into her bed." She pushed to her feet and smoothed her hands down her skirt. "I will not allow you to put this hospital's reputation on the line."
I stood too. "Reputation? Seriously, Diana?"
"Tell me, what do you think people will say when they find out the woman you choose as your right hand is also the woman you're sleeping with? What message does that send to the doctors who want to work here at Memorial?" She flicked her left wrist and touched the face of the golden watch strapped to it with her right hand. "As long as she is sharing your bed, you can't keep her."
Without another word, she pivoted and marched back out of my office, not even bothering with shutting the door behind her. By the time my brain caught up, I wanted to slam my hands down on the table. Wanted to yell and throw things in frustration.
No matter how I looked at it; Mia was going to end up hurt.
It wasn't freaking right. Planting my hands on my desk, I angled my head toward the board where I'd stuck photos of all four of them. Yes, there was no denying that any one of them would be able to step up and do a good job.
The problem was that the other three didn't want it as much as Mia did. Caring for people wasn't a part of them like it was ingrained in Mia's DNA. I let out a long, heavy sigh and dropped my chin to my chest.
"Shit! What the hell am I going to do?"
"Long day?"
My head whipped up and there was no stopping my lips from curving upward at the sight of Mia standing inside my doorway. I straightened with a nod.
"The longest. But it's certainly starting to look better now."
When she smiled, the weight on my chest lifted. I wanted to take her in my arms and kiss her until nothing but the two of us existed. As if reading my thoughts, Mia looked over her shoulder before stepping inside and closing the door behind her.
I couldn't wait. The instant the door clicked shut; I pounced, reaching her in a couple of easy strides. Taking her face in my hands, I pressed my mouth to hers. There was nothing sweet or gentle about the kiss. Every ounce of frustration and need I felt came through with each rough swipe of my tongue.
Walking backward until her back connected with the door I crushed her body with mine, pressing all my hard planes into her soft curves. I wanted, no needed, to lose myself in her. My hands slid down her body before slipping beneath her shirt. A tight fit since scrubs weren't particularly stretchy.
Still, up and up they went until I could cover and squeeze her breasts. Mia let out a low moan that hit me straight between the thighs and pushed my hips forward. I needed more though. Needed to see her. Feel her. Tearing my mouth away from hers, I trailed a hot path along her jaw and down the column of her throat. Nipping and sucking as I went. The sweet sounds she was making were equivalent to pouring gasoline on the raging fire of need burning inside of me.
Mia pushed her fingers into my hair, but instead of holding my face to her skin, she tugged my head back and panted, "We're at work."
My gaze swept over her heaving chest and swollen, parted lips while I desperately tried to get my hormones under control.
What was it about this woman that made me so irrational?
Breathing somewhat steadied, I leaned my forehead against hers. "Sorry."
One of her hands came up and caressed my cheek so tenderly, I had to fight the urge to close my eyes and press into her touch. "We need to be careful. People are already talking."
And just like that the entire conversation Diana and I'd had moments ago came crashing into me. What the hell was I going to do? Call me selfish, call me whatever the heck you wanted to, I didn't want to lose Mia. Thisthingthat had barely started was showing me how much more there was to life. That my work didn't need to be my only source of happiness.
But, shit, me holding on to her was also me holding her back from her dreams.
"Hey." Mia's fingers moved through my hair. I freaking loved it when she did that. "Where did you go?"
That right there was my opening. My chance to tell her the truth. Only I couldn't.
"I was just counting the hours until our shift ends." I forced a smile to my lips for good measure.
Mia saw right through it. Since our heads were still touching, I felt her skin move against mine as a deep frown formed on her forehead. "You're lying," she admonished softly.
