“You were supposed to come back after the x-ray but you sent in some schmuck instead. You blew me off.”
She snickered as her eyes flickered to her drink. “Michael, I don’t remember blowing you off. It gets hectic and another patient probably needed my attention more than you.”
“I don’t envy you, Doc. You work a stressful job. I couldn’t do it.”
“Some days are harder than others.” A flash of sadness splashed across her face before quickly disappearing. “It has its rewards too.”
“I give you a lot of credit. To hold someone’s life in your hands is some heavy shit and a lot of responsibility.”
“Some days I question my sanity. I wonder why I didn’t settle for a nice family practice with an office treating the flu, but I’d probably grow bored quickly.”
“Ah, you like the rush,” I said, rubbing my chin and studying her body language.
“Yeah, I guess I do. What do you do, Michael besides fighting?”
“Ah, you remember me now. I’m part-owner of a tattoo shop where I pierce the willing, but my true love is fighting.”
“I spend my nights repairing damage that people like you inflict.” I saw the flash of sadness again before it disappeared.
That wasn’t the reaction I expected. “I never do anything that isn’t asked of me whether it’s in the shop or the cage. Which one are we talking about here?”
“The fighting.” Her face hadn’t changed.
Most women cooed when they find out, but Mia, nothing.
“I don’t street fight – cage matches MMA style. They’re professional. I have a big one coming up.” I smiled and felt proud to be able to utter those words, but Mia still didn’t seem impressed with her lips set in a firm line as she brought the martini glass to her lips.
“Still, it’s the opposite of my job. I help people and heal them and you injure them. Maybe they spend more time injuring you. I don’t know.” She cocked her eyebrow at me and took a sip.
“Don’t be silly, woman. It’s a job. We all go into the cage knowing someone isn’t coming out looking as pretty as they did when they went in. All injuries heal. And wait a minute here… you just injured the hell out of that douchebag. He’ll probably never be able to have children because of that wicked knee.”
“Fighting for money is barbaric.” She shook her head but I didn’t buy her distaste for the sport. “What I did was self-preservation. There’s a difference.” She looked me straight in the eye and didn’t blink.
A bullshitter could smell another bullshitter a mile away.
“Liar.” I brushed my fingers against her arm and she shivered with the contact.
Maybe she didn’t like what I did, but I could tell it turned her on.
She didn’t smile, but there was a twinkle in her eyes. Her body responded to mine… no matter how hard she tried to deny it.
Chapter 5
“I don’t condone violence.” The words fell from my lips in a flat tone even as my body still vibrated from his touch.
Traitor.
My body betrayed me when Michael touched me. I tried to play it cool.
“Not buying it.” He lifted the beer to his lips and took a sip.
I stared at them as they hugged the rim of the glass.
I wanted to smack the cocky grin off his face. His rich brown eyes sparkled and were filled with mischief as he called me a liar. His words were true no matter how hard I wanted to deny them. Michael was pure man – strong, sexy, and self-confident.
“Can we agree to disagree?” I asked, pretending not to look at his mouth.
He licked the beer from his lips. I had the overwhelming urge to use my tongue to capture the few drops of liquid still left behind. “Want a taste?” he asked with a hearty laugh as he tipped the beer in my direction.
I could feel the blush as it crept up my neck. I wanted to avoid his eyes but couldn’t give him the satisfaction. I always believed in fighting fire with fire.
“You missed a little,” I said before I reached up and used my thumb to wipe the few drops on his lips.
His eyes stayed locked with mine as I touched his soft flesh, slowing dragging my fingers from across.
I placed my thumb in my mouth, closing my lips around it.
He leaned in close enough for me to smell the musky cologne on his neck. “You’re wicked,” he whispered, his lips brushing against my ear.
Pulling my thumb from my lips I replied, “I’m just getting started, hot stuff.”
He backed away and stared at me before giving me a giant smile. “I may have met my match with you, Mia.”
“I’ll drink to that.” I couldn’t help but smile. I forgot how much fun it could be to flirt with someone, especially when they were handsome and a smooth talker.
He made it easy and made me feel sexy.
At work I never felt sexy wearing my drab scrubs, knee length lab coat, and my hair up in a ponytail. I looked half dead by the time my shift ended at the hospital.
“Shot?” he asked.
“I’ve given thousands,” I replied, laughing at my hospital humor.
“You’re difficult, Mia.” He eyed me as he fiddled with the beer.
“You have no idea, Michael.” I laughed, wanting to throw myself at him and give in to any wild sexual ideas he currently had, but I wouldn’t allow myself to be so reckless. “What do you have in mind?”