Midnight Kisses Page 5

  He felt alive.

  Fire blazed inside. Not just the flame of desire, but something more, something exciting. He immediately sought to control his body.

  She turned to the doctor, said something to him and then headed in his direction. From the redness on the doctor’s face, Daniel suspected she’d scored the winning goal.

  When she reached him she smiled, but he could tell that she was angry about what had happened between her and the doctor.

  “Daniel,” she acknowledged.

  “Renée,” he responded, amazed that he sounded so calm when inside his heart raced so quickly.

  “Jamie has been moved from the room I assigned her. She has no insurance. I tried to see if I could get something worked out but that…idiot has already moved her.”

  “But she’s still in the hospital, right?”

  “Yes, she is.”

  “Then there is no need to be feeling like you do. He didn’t put her out.”

  “Sorry, I try not to get emotional about patients, but it’s easier said than done. Especially if it’s a young girl.”

  “Remember, I work with kids, too, and there is no day when I don’t feel like I’m fighting against the rigid bureaucracy. So I do know exactly how you feel.”

  “You’re right. I need to cool down a bit, I suppose,” she replied.

  “You’re going up to see her now?” he asked.

  “No, I just came from seeing her. I’m on my way downtown to a meeting.”

  “So what about dinner?” he asked. “I was disappointed you couldn’t make it the other night.”

  Renée looked at him strangely and replied, “I really did have an emergency.”

  “I understand, but we do need to talk about Jamie. I’d like to find out who she is, who her parents are.”

  “Okay, we can still do dinner, but it is going to be strictly business,” she said firmly.

  He couldn’t help but smile. “I promise,” he said, knowing she must have heard the laughter in his voice.

  She looked at him strangely, and then tried to plaster a stern expression on her face.

  “I’m not sure I like the look on your face. I’m tempted to conduct business with you only in my office, but I haven’t eaten out in a week, so it’ll be a nice change. So don’t think it’s because I want to spend any time with you.”

  “I won’t think that at all. Now I can get back to work and you can get on to your meeting. I suggest you be getting on your way.”

  She smiled, turned quickly and walked away, the sway of her hips drawing him like a magnet.

  Yes, he could see that he was in trouble. She was nothing like his wife. Lorraine had been a beautiful woman, but he could never define her as sexy. Yes, they’d made love often and sometimes passionately, but sometimes he’d felt like she was being the dutiful Christian wife, and he had been happy with that.

  Now Renée tempted him in a totally unexpected way. She didn’t even seem aware of the effect she was having on him.

  He finally moved, heading toward the elevator. A short ride later, he was stepping out and moving toward the nurses’ station. He’d forgotten to ask Renée for Jamie’s new room number.

  “Hi,” he told the older nurse. “I’m trying to find the room number for a patient. Her name is Jamie Fenty. I’m not sure of her previous room number, but she was brought into the hospital last week. Renée Walker will vouch for me if you call her.”

  “That’s no problem, Mr. Buchanan. We all know who you are. You may have saved that girl’s life. She’s in room 402.”

  “Thanks,” he replied. So they were calling him some kind of hero. He really didn’t like that.

  Back down the elevator and four floors below, he entered the ward. The room held three beds. One was empty, the other held a sleeping woman. Jamie, oblivious to the world, seemed engrossed in the book she was reading. Despite that, she must have heard his footsteps. She turned in his direction and then quickly looked away, but not before he saw the flash of happiness.

  “Nice to see you, too,” he said.

  Her head turned, and she stared at him for a long time before she spoke.

  “Isn’t your time for being a hero over?” she said, her voice laced with sarcasm.

  For some reason he wanted to reach out and hug her and tell her everything was going to be all right, but he suppressed the feeling. He didn’t want to feel like this, didn’t want to care. So why was he here? Why did he keep coming back?

  “So is there something wrong with caring about people?”

  She started to speak, but stopped abruptly. She hadn’t expected his response.

  “Care? You’re just being sly. You’re just like all those other guys. Rescue me, be nice and then take what you want? You want a freebie?”

  She continued to look at him and her stare didn’t waver. Neither did his. He couldn’t let her think he was weak. Eventually, she looked away.

  “I’m tired. My head hurts,” she said, her face showing her discomfort. “I need to get some sleep. You can go. Your good deed for the day is done. God must be pleased with you.”

  “I’m sure he’s pleased with you, too. You seem to have been a bundle of joy for the day. I’ve been told you’ve been surly to the nurses.”

  And then she laughed, a loud heartfelt laugh that transformed her from a scared little girl hidden behind a wall of bravado, into an angel.

  It was unexpected and he just watched her, until she stopped, her wall rebuilt higher.

  “Don’t say anything.”

  “I wasn’t going to,” he said.

  “You always seem to want the last word.”

  “Seems that I am getting the last word. Comes with years of practice.”

  She did not respond, only rested her head back onto the pillow. Daniel could see that she was avoiding responding.

  “Look, I just came to check in on you. I need to get home now.”

  “Have a big date?” she said with a sly smile.

  “In fact, I do.”

  “With Ms. Walker?”

  He felt the heat against his face, but responded.

  “Now that is certainly not any of your business. You have a good night,” he said and turned to leave, but not before he saw the laughter in her eyes, the same loud uninhibited laughter, and it made him happy. Before he closed the door, he looked back. Her eyes were still on him. “I’ll be back tomorrow and the next day, and the day after that. Be sensible and get accustomed to it. You won’t drive me away.”

  The look of bewilderment on her face was priceless.

  He turned and walked away. At least he knew she’d got his message.

  Renée put the phone down. She finally called him to let him know she could go out with him on Sunday, after having had to cancel their date on Friday night.

  She wanted to go, but an emergency at work had forced her to remain there well into the evening. She wanted to get to know him. It wasn’t about her attraction to him. That was a given, but she knew the best way to deal with what was happening.

  She’d use their time together to find out about him. What made him seem so controlled and caused those occasional glimpses of sadness.

  She shook her head, rose from the stool and walked over to the oven. The decadent whiff of chocolate chip cookies filled the room. Before the night was over, they’d all be gone.

  Renée poured a glass of milk, a nightly habit, and walked to the sitting room. For some reason cookies and milk seemed to be the only thing to calm her, and tonight, her trepidation at the upcoming date left her feeling edgy.

  She used a remote control to turn the home theater system on. Strains of smooth jazz filled the room. Perfect for her milk and cookies and the perfect time to look over the important cases she had to deal with; allowing her mind to focus on something besides Daniel Buchanan.

  Sometimes she wondered why she continued to do the work she did. Working with children and teenagers haunted her at night.

  Where had her childhood dr
eam of being a singer gone?

  She’d woken up some time in high school and realized that life was more than a great voice. That she wanted to help people. She’d known that being a doctor had been out of the question. She and blood did not mix and it had taken her a while to accept that she could not do what her mother wanted. In fact, she’d finally realized that much of what she had wanted to do had been what her mother wanted her to do. She realized now that she’d found a purpose for living.

  And that was what she planned to do with Daniel Buchanan. Help him on the road to recovery. She could tell that he’d suffered, but with time she knew that she could help him to heal.

  Without warning the phone rang, making her jump with its shrill ring.

  She had already picked it up when she checked the caller ID and saw that it was Cheryl.

  “Yes, girlfriend. I did promise I would call. What you doing?” Cheryl asked.

  “Eating. Reading.”

  “Cookies, right?” Cheryl asked, her voice expectant.

  “I confess.”

  “Chocolate chip?”

  “Yes.”

  “Girl, want some company?’

  “Sure. But if you want some of these, I suggest you get over here soon.”

  “I’ll be right over. And please make sure you keep a plate full for me.”

  Forty-five minutes later, Cheryl opened the door with her spare key and entered, her hands laden with several bags and a large box.

  “Chinese,” she responded when Renée raised her brow. “I know for sure that if I didn’t bring something else for you to eat, you’d settle for those cookies for dinner. Cookies are dessert, Renée. How many times do I have to tell you that eating all those sweets will be your downfall?”

  Renée laughed. “Look who’s talking?” she accused. “It’s a good thing I’ve encouraged you to join the gym. At least we get to work off all those calories.”

  “Well, let’s not waste time chatting. Where are those suckers?”

  They both laughed.

  “Come, let’s get a couple sodas, watch a movie and have dinner. Of course, those cookies are dessert.”

  “I’m with you, girlfriend. Something exciting and fun. No soppy romance for me.”

  Several hours later, tired but not ready to sleep, Cheryl finally got down to business.

  “So how’s the ex-minister?” Cheryl asked.

  “Now, why do you have to go there?”

  “You know me. I can’t resist a sexy man, even if he was a minister. And note, the word is was. So you plan on jumping his bones.”

  “Cheryl!” Renée said with a laugh.

  “Don’t Cheryl me. I’d have had his body all racked and exhausted ten minutes after meeting him. You’d think he was created so beautiful for nothing. I mean, he’s a bit too serious for my liking, but he’s one hot specimen of manhood.”

  “You are so dirty, girl. Is sex the only thing you think about?”

  “Of course not. Not when I can take home a few of those cookies you have left over.”

  They laughed. Then Cheryl got serious and looked at her with a stare that suggested she knew exactly what was going on in Renée’s head.

  “So you like him?”

  There was no sense in denying what was obvious to her friend.

  “Yes, I like him,” she replied. “Cheryl, you know me. Relationships and I don’t work.”

  “I know it hasn’t been easy, but suppose you were to find happiness with him? He seems like a good guy.”

  “I don’t believe he’s ready for any kind of relationship yet. He’s a widower. His wife died just three years ago.”

  “But I see the way he looks at you.”

  “Look, I like him, but nothing is going to happen between us. And I’m definitely not interested in a relationship. Besides, he needs help. He needs someone to help him deal with his wife’s death. I suspect that he hasn’t yet. I’m sure he still loves her.”

  “You know what you need? A good curl your toes session of uninhibited sex.”

  Renée rolled her eyes.

  “Don’t roll your eyes at me. Lately, everything for you is work.”

  “And you don’t spend all your time at the hospital?”

  “Yeah, I do, but at least I’m getting some when I’m not there.”

  “Maybe you’re right,” Renée said. “Maybe I do need to concentrate on my life outside of work a little more.”

  “Now, that’s my girl,” Cheryl said happily.

  For a while there was silence, and then they looked at each other and smiled.

  Chapter 5

  Renée took her time dressing. She’d found the perfect little number in her closet—a dress she had purchased on a whim a few months ago. Despite the cost, she couldn’t resist the earthy tone of the Ellen Tracy design.

  Now, looking at herself in the mirror, she realized she had made the right choice. The dress fit her perfectly, accentuating her slenderness. Its color complemented her mahogany hair, which she’d left loose, instead of secured in the serviceable bun she usually wore to work. Renée knew she looked her best. She’d often wished she had the height and body of a model, but the face looking back at her was attractive.

  She turned away from the mirror, glancing at the clock on the bureau—another twenty minutes before Daniel arrived. Renée felt her hands tremble. She looked back at the mirror. She hoped Daniel didn’t get the wrong impression. She looked ready for seduction, but that was not the first thing on her mind. She just wanted to look good.

  The sound of the doorbell echoed in the distance and she grabbed her bag and coat and hurried to the door. There, she paused, breathing deeply, finding control. She opened it…and almost lost it.

  Daniel was beautiful.

  He oozed sinful sex and she wondered again how on earth he could have been a minister.

  He reached behind his back and handed her a small, short-stemmed, pink rose, soft and pale.

  She took it from him, her body tingling when his hand brushed hers.

  “Thank you. I love roses,” she said. She placed it in her hair.

  “Is it okay?” she asked.

  “You look lovely.”

  She smiled and thanked him again.

  “You ready to go?” he asked.

  “Whenever you are, I’m ready.” She wanted to ask where they were going, but decided that she preferred to be surprised.

  “Do you like soul food?” he asked, while she locked the front door.

  “I love it,” she responded.

  “Good,” he said with delight. “Have you ever been to Edna’s?” At her nod, he continued. “I try to eat there as often as I can. There is nothing like Edna’s biscuits.”

  She smiled. “I know what you mean. Or the peach cobbler. I can almost taste it.”

  “I’m glad you like my choice.”

  They reached his car and he moved to open the door for her. She pulled her coat closer. It was a typical autumn night, a cool wind blowing through her hair. She shivered. She could do with some heat.

  When she slipped inside the car, the warmth of the heater was welcome, but when his leg touched hers, the resulting heat, which coursed through her body, was overwhelming. Renée tried to focus ahead, trying to ignore to feel of his leg on hers.

  For a while they drove in silence.

  “You seem to enjoy your work,” he said firmly.

  “Yes, sometimes, but the bureaucracy often makes it difficult. Even this case with Jamie is frustrating me. I have a few days to find accommodations for her. There is some state funding for cases like hers. Fortunately, the headaches she’s been having are less frequent. The medication seems to be working.”

  “I’m going to see her tomorrow,” he said. “She’s talking to me but she still hasn’t said too much about herself. And if the funds are a problem, I can cover the hospital bill.”

  “Well, that may not be necessary yet, but it’s extremely kind of you to offer. You seem to be good at this kind of work
. Talking to people.”

  “Came with past territory. I did spend the first fifteen years of my life after college as a minister. Counseling comes second nature.”

  “Why did you stop being a minister?” she asked. When his body stiffened noticeably, she realized she had touched a nerve.

  “I didn’t have much use for God in my life anymore. I wanted to do something else,” he said without emotion.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.”

  “You’re not prying. It’s just something I don’t talk about much. I’ve learned to deal with it.”

  “You’ve been working at the Center for how long?”

  “About two years. Before that I did a bit of drifting from city to city.”

  Renée wanted to ask more questions but suspected that she shouldn’t. The tension in the car was like a pall, so she decided against pushing the issue. She didn’t want the evening to be over before it even started.

  His reaching over to turn on the radio only confirmed her suspicions. His past was definitely off limits.

  “What’s your pleasure? R & B, jazz, pop?” Daniel asked.

  “Jazz, definitely.”

  “My thoughts exactly.”

  Soon the sultry voice of Anita Baker filled the car. Maybe something so romantic was not the best choice, but it did take her mind off their brief conversation. Someday she’d really have to press him if she planned on helping him deal with whatever has affected his life so much.

  They remained quiet for the rest of the drive, the music helping to soothe their troubled thoughts, but both very aware of each other. Tension crackled in the silence of the car’s interior. While he drove, she couldn’t keep her eyes from straying in his direction.

  When the car pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant, Renée exhaled deeply, trying to hide her relief. If she’d stayed in the car for another minute, she was sure she would have begged him to take her right there in the car. Her attraction to him continued to startle her with its power. Her whole body felt alive. The woodsy scent of his cologne tempted her with its masculine subtlety and she ached to draw near to him, bury her head in his chest and inhale deeply. She closed her eyes. If she wasn’t careful, she would probably end up in bed with him. But she was smarter than that. She may be attracted to the sexy ex-minister, but she was strong and determined not to make love to him.