Snowed in with the Doctor

He found himself thinking of her skin, which was the color of roasted cocoa beans. Her lovely light brown eyes were warm like the sun shining on a white sandy beach. He’d already pictured her naked more times than he could count. At first he’d tried to stop himself, but then he just indulged. Now he couldn’t stop, and he’d started adding details he was eager to verify. This was not good. Women had never been a strong point for him. Facts, statistics, hypotheses he could grasp. But the female mind was a mystery. With three older sisters it wouldn’t seem so, but they’d been more like aunts than siblings. They were older and nurturing of the youngest and only boy in the family.

In his career, he felt safe. Now Lora had taken that safety from him. He couldn’t predict her. She was like a wild variable in a controlled experiment. Why did she have to change her hair? He couldn’t stop staring at the golden highlights that glistened when she moved. He noticed how strands brushed against her neck. It was very distracting.

He knew she hated him and he wanted to change that, but she always met any attempt at a truce with suspicion. He’d just have to try harder. He couldn’t make her forget the past, but perhaps he could get her to forgive him. Hell, he shouldn’t even care. He didn’t want to. After all, she wasn’t just a personal threat, but also a professional one. Lora was a viable opponent in the race for the Poindexter Fellowship, and he had to make sure that he kept his record in place. That’s what he needed to focus on. Not a pair of beautiful brown eyes he wanted to see dilate with desire, or soft full lips he wanted to taste.

Justin glanced out the window. It was a bright, sunny day, but it didn’t disguise the late November chill. People were bundled up as they marched down the street. Holiday wreaths decorated buildings, and strings of colored lights draped around the trees, ready to light the darkness when evening came. Ah, he loved the holidays. He was looking forward to his nieces’ holiday pageant, the food, the gift giving and spending time with his family. They were the only people who seemed to understand him and with whom he could be himself and relax.

But this year would be different; he had to up his game for the fellowship, which meant spending long days and nights, and even weekends, in the lab. His poor dog, Louis, a three-year-old American bulldog, was showing signs of frustration from not having him around. The past two evenings Justin had come home to a house full of shredded paper. Louis had gotten into his study and emptied his trash bin. But for now, he couldn’t worry about his dog—he had something more urgent to worry about. Yes, he’d forget about Lora Rice. He had to.

* * *

Oh, how she hated the holidays. It was the last week of November, and holiday madness had begun. Lora navigated her way through the crowded mall, regretting her decision to help her older sister, Belinda, go shopping. Her sister seemed to have an ever-growing list of people she had to shop for.

When they were kids Lora had nicknamed her “The Bullet” because sometimes she could hit you right between the eyes with a tactless remark or demand. Her sister was beautiful and knew it, and she took advantage of her looks to get her way. She had one failed marriage behind her and was already planning for husband number two.

“Can you make it to my party?” Belinda asked, handing Lora another bag to carry while she studied the mall map.

“I have a cold.”

Belinda looked at her sister, unconvinced. “You don’t have a cold.”

Lora rubbed her throat. “I feel one coming on.”

“You had a cold last year.”

“It’s coming back.”

“And the year before that.”

Lora shrugged. “What can I say? I’m susceptible.”

“To the same cold around the same time each year? Come on, you’ll have fun.”

“No, thanks. You know I hate the holidays.”

“Still? I thought you’d gotten over that. I know as kids we didn’t have many happy memories, especially around the holidays, but we can make up for it now.”

“By drinking with a bunch of strangers?”

“They’re friends.”

“Your friends. Sorry, but my schedule is full.” Full of false cheer, she thought. She didn’t look forward to the office party or her parents’ holiday gathering or her grandmother’s holiday dinner, where she’d be asked again and again if she was seeing someone. She didn’t want to add Belinda’s bash on top of them. She wanted this holiday season to be different. Something had to change.

“I won’t take ‘no’ for an answer,” Belinda said. “You have to come, or I’ll get Mom to force you.”

Lora inwardly shivered. Whereas her sister was like a bullet, her mother was like a pair of handcuffs. Once she locked into you, you couldn’t escape. “Okay, you’re right,” Lora said quickly. “I wasn’t being honest with you.”

“I knew it.”

“I have a date,” she said, hoping her lie sounded convincing.

Belinda frowned. “With a man?”

Lora nudged Belinda with her elbow, affronted. “Of course with a man.”

“Not necessarily. Knowing you, you could be talking about a rat or monkey.”

“My experiments don’t involve animals.”

“What’s his name?”

“Just somebody at work. What’s the next store?” Lora asked.

“Who?” Belinda pressed.

Lora adjusted one of the five shopping bags she was carrying, feeling like a beast of burden. “If it works out, you’ll know.”

Belinda tapped her chin, looking intrigued. She was only carrying two bags because she said she needed to keep her hands free to hold the map and organize their shopping expedition. “You never talk about the people at your workplace except that guy you hate, Dr. Sliver.”

“Silver,” Lora corrected.

“Whatever. So what makes this guy so special?”

“When you meet him you’ll know.”

“Let’s double date.”

“No.”

“But I’m curious. This is your first date in—” She stopped. “Wait...have you ever had a first date?”

“Of course.”

“No, I mean a date you got on your own. Not one set up by me or Mom or Uncle Rudy.”

Lora curled her lip. “Never mention that again.”

“His heart was in the right place.”

“Maybe, but I don’t know where he’d put his brain.” Her uncle Rudy, her mother’s brother, had set her up on a date with a dock worker forty years her senior, whose main topic of conversation was his low libido and fear of dying alone.

“That was a mistake I’ll never repeat.”

“So this isn’t a blind date?”

“No.” Lora gestured to one of the window displays. “Doesn’t that dress look like something perfect for someone on your list?”

Belinda ignored her. “Did he ask you out, or did you ask him?”

“It was sort of mutual.” At least that’s how she hoped it would be one day.

“I want to hear all about this mystery man after your date.”

“You will.”

“And he had better be real.”

Oh, he was real all right. He just hadn’t noticed her yet. When she’d first laid eyes on Dr. Warren T. Rappaport, she’d had to stop herself from staring. She soon discovered that not only was he good looking, with rich caramel skin and chestnut eyes, but he also laughed easily, had a warm smile and always had a kind word. But the best part was the fact that he was single.

Suddenly, Lora spotted him only a few feet away, as if just by thinking of him she’d conjured him up. She had to act fast or he’d be gone. She waved. She didn’t expect him to see her at first, but he waved back and then started toward them. If her arms hadn’t been loaded down with bags she would have clutched her chest. Remember to breathe. Remember to breathe.

“Hi Lora,” he said.

“Hi. This is my sister, Belinda.”

“A pleasure to meet you. I see good looks run in the family.”

“And you are?” Belinda went into her “do you see me” mode. She wasn’t used to being ignored, and Rappaport was surprisingly focused on Lora.

“Sorry,” Lora said, ashamed that she hadn’t introduced him. “This is Dr. Warren Rappaport.”

“There’s quite a crowd here today,” Warren said. “I was just going to escape the madness by getting something to drink. Care to join me?”

Belinda shook her head. “I wish we could, but we have loads more shopping to do.”

“Can’t we finish it another day?” Lora said under her breath.

“No.”

“I’ll call you.”

“But I’m your ride.”

“I’ll find my way home,” Lora said, sending Warren a quick glance. She knew he could hear them.

Belinda made a face. “You said you’d help me.”

Lora clenched her teeth. “I’ll make it up to you.”

“Is he the one you have a—”

“I’ll tell you later.”

Belinda shot Warren a suspicious glance, then grabbed some of Lora’s bags. “All right. Be careful and call me when you get home.” She kissed her sister on the cheek. “Nice to meet you, Warren,” she said as she walked off.

Warren looped Lora’s arm through his. “I thought she’d never leave. Is she always that overprotective?”

“She likes to look out for me.” Lora said, pleased by his charm.

They took the escalator to the third floor and went to the food court, where they were fortunate enough to find a table currently being vacated by a group of teenagers. He asked her what she wanted, then left to get the beverages.

“It’s been a crazy day shopping,” he said, returning with a plate of chips with nacho cheese and two drinks.

“I do most of my shopping online, but Belinda dragged me here.”

He grinned. “I’m glad she did.”

Lora sipped her drink, feeling her face grow warm. “It must not be like home,” she said, trying to recover. Warren had transferred from a small town in Georgia, and it seemed like he hadn’t gotten used to the big city yet.

“No. I had to fight with somebody for Digital Dilly.”

She adjusted her glasses. “Digital what?”

“It’s this new robotic horse that’s all the craze with little girls. You can feed it and take care of it and play games with it on your computer. I wanted to get it for my young cousin who’s sick, but this guy beat me to it. Although I offered him double the price and told him why I wanted it, he refused. He said he wanted it for his beloved niece and nothing could change his mind.”

“Some people are so selfish.”

Warren dipped a chip into the cheese and sighed. “I didn’t expect it from him. But I guess I should have.”

“Why?”

“Because...” He stopped, ate his chip, then reached for his drink. “Never mind. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“Why?” Lora asked, now even more intrigued. “What won’t you tell me?”

“Because you know him. We both do.”

“Really? Who is it?”

“Silver.”

“What? He’s here? In the mall? I never thought of him participating in normal activities like shopping in a mall.”

“Yep, he can be ordinary sometimes, but he’s a hard bastard to bargain with.”

“I know,” Lora said. Although this was worse than even she had imagined. Why couldn’t he give up a toy for a sick little girl?

“Uh, oh.”

“What?”

“I really shouldn’t have said anything,” Warren said, lowering his head and lifting his hand to hide his face.

“Why?”

“Guess who’s coming our way.”

Chapter 2

“Hello, Rice. Didn’t expect to see you here.”

There was nothing warm about his greeting. It was just a series of stated facts, but somehow it was unnerving. He always unnerved her, and she didn’t know why. He looked more relaxed and less threatening out of his white lab coat, wearing a pair of dark blue jeans and a black leather jacket. Damn, he was a good-looking man. Lora had always suspected it, but now it was even more evident. She caught a woman sending him a glance. She didn’t blame her—she would have done the same if she didn’t know what he was really like. She plastered on a smile.

“I see you’ve been shopping,” Lora said, just to fill the silence.

“Yes.” He lifted the bag, as if in triumph. “My niece wanted this popular toy, and I was able to snag it for her.”

Lora glanced at Warren, who still hadn’t raised his head. Because he wouldn’t mention the incident, she would. Silver had no right to look so proud. “And there’s another little girl who won’t get it. But perhaps you don’t think she needs it.”

He furrowed his brows. “What?”

“I just heard about what you did.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Let me clarify.” Warren lifted his head. “Hey, Silver.”

“Rappaport,” he said, his tone turning to ice. “Still charming the ladies with stories, I see.”

“It’s what I do.” He motioned to a chair. “Care to join us?”

“I have more shopping to do.”

“And more presents to take,” Lora added.

Silver sent her an odd look—a mixture of confusion and disappointment—which for a second made her regret her petty words. But she quickly brushed the feeling aside. She had nothing to feel sorry for. She knew he was a bully who liked to get his own way, and she knew how he really felt about the sick. They were merely “experimental” lab specimens to him. She’d seen his callousness in the past. She didn’t even know why he was still working in medical research. He could get better paid positions elsewhere. Perhaps he just liked the prestige.

“I’ll see you,” he said frowning, then left.

“I seriously hope not,” she muttered, wishing the restless feeling that had seized her would leave. Silver had a strong visceral effect on her that she couldn’t understand.

Warren gave a low whistle once Silver was out of view. “I’d hate to get on your bad side. I see you dislike Silver as much as I do. What’s your story?”

It was too personal to share. “A personality clash.”

“I can see that, but people usually overlook it.”

“Why?”

“He’s a brilliant man.”

Lora played with the straw in her drink, drawing it up and down so it squeaked. “He’s all mind and no heart.”

“That sounds serious. Were you two lovers or something?”

Lora stared at him, outraged. “Absolutely not. Why would you suggest something like that?”

Warren shrugged. “I don’t know. There just seems to be this energy between you two, as if you have a history.”

“We have a history but not as lovers.”

“And you’re not ready to tell me about it?”

“Not yet.”

Warren winked. “I like a woman of mystery.”

“Good, because I have plenty of secrets.”

Warren folded his arms and studied her for a moment, then said, “Have you ever met his family?”

“Why would I want to?”

“So is that a no?”

“A definite no. Have you?”

“Yes.” He leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. “His whole family is that way—proud, arrogant and determined.”

“That’s no surprise.”

“His niece is the worst. She’s spoiled, vain but brilliant and condescending to anyone who she thinks is inferior.”

“How do you know so much? How did you meet them?”

“I did an extended study after graduate school, and Silver and I shared a room. I thought he was okay at first, until he got me kicked out of the program because I won an award he wanted.”

“He got you thrown out? How could he do that?”

“He had connections and a vindictive streak. I’m telling you this so you’ll watch out. It’s not good to aggravate him, no matter how much he annoys you. Don’t get on his bad side.”

“Too late.” Lora shook her head, amazed. “How can you stand to see him every day?”

“He can’t really touch me, so there’s no threat. Dr. Yung loves my work and he’s been at Ventico a lot longer than Silver. Although Silver is the director, he doesn’t mess with Dr. Yung for one main reason—his research is the largest and most lucrative of the three projects. And he has seniority and some powerful allies in Washington.

“So I guess your evaluation was better than mine.”

“Depends.”

“He doesn’t like my methods. He said I was undisciplined and tended to ‘jump to conclusions.’”

“Yes, that’s Silver for you. Every statement you make must be backed up with undeniable proof. He doesn’t seem to understand that science also has an element of art and instinct.”

“Exactly.”

“It’s nice to meet a like-minded colleague. We’ll change the world and leave the others behind. Just stay close to me—I won’t steer you wrong.”

Lora planned to stay close. Very close. Her face flushed as she briefly thought of them in a romantic embrace, lying naked together on her queen-size bed with rose petals sprinkled all around. She shook the fantasy off and regained her composure. “Thanks for the drink and the nachos. It was nice.”

“We should do this again. Perhaps in a place less noisy and crowded.”

Yes, like my place or yours. “I’d like that,” she said, hoping she didn’t sound too giddy.

“Me, too. Call me.” He gave her his number, flashed a heart-melting smile, then left.

Lora hummed all the way home, and when she exited the taxi, she gave the driver a large tip and wished him “Happy Holidays,” which she never did. Yes, this holiday would be different. This year she wouldn’t be shy and alone. She’d found the right guy, and it would stop her family from setting her up or feeling sorry for her. She now had Warren’s interest—and his cell number. It was time for Chapter 4: Catching His Attention and Chapter 5: Reeling Him In. She was ready to put her plan into action and win his heart.

* * *

If Warren was a man who smoked, he’d light up a cigarette. As he walked away from Lora, he realized that he felt better than he had in years. He was going to have a lot of fun with her. He needed some excitement, and she was just the type of woman to give it to him. It wasn’t easy to find a woman who despised Silver as much as he did. It had been bad luck that he’d ended up at Ventico and under Silver’s watch again. But this time, he wouldn’t be vulnerable. And working with Dr. Yung provided him the protection he needed. If he played his cards right, he’d rule that place one day. Getting to where he wanted to be was number one. And he now knew that Lora was the key. He’d use her to put Silver exactly where he wanted him.

* * *

Lora and Rappaport! Justin marched through the parking lot as the sight of the pair burned in his mind. He gripped his shopping bags until their plastic handles bit into his palm. He should’ve guessed. Rappaport always had the good fortune of showing up in the right place at the right time. It was a talent of his. Justin piled his purchases into the trunk of his car, his sense of victory now gone. He’d gotten the toy for his niece, Monique, but he may have lost the woman he wanted. Not that he’d ever had her, but he’d been hopeful. Justin slammed the trunk shut, then got inside his car and headed to his office. He could think clearer there. This wasn’t the outcome he’d pictured when he’d first spotted Lora sitting in the crowded food court.

He’d felt his pulse pick up speed but didn’t care as he watched her happy and inviting smile. He imagined buying her a drink, telling her about his niece and maybe asking her out. He hadn’t noticed the man sitting at the table until he was almost upon her, and he’d foolishly thought he was a brother or a cousin because he knew she was single. Then Rappaport had turned with the same smug look Justin remembered, and he’d seen how Lora’s happiness had disappeared. Not because of Rappaport, but because of him. She’d never looked at him with any warmth or joy. He’d hoped to change that, but obviously that wouldn’t be today. It didn’t matter. This was good; he shouldn’t think of her that way anyway. He needed to remember that she was his competition.

He wasn’t concerned about working late in the office. There was no one at home worrying or waiting for him. He’d already fed and walked Louis, so he knew he’d be fine for the night.

A half hour later he sat in his lab and glanced over his notes. He’d hit a wall in his research, which was unusual for him. Some of what he was doing was more speculative than factual, and he needed to find and add more proof to back up his hypothesis. He knew it would be worth it in the end but, at that moment, he wasn’t sure which direction he wanted to go. He’d been working for almost an hour when he heard a knock on the door. “Come in.”

“This is not good.”

Justin smiled at the man who’d entered. He looked like a misplaced librarian who should be surrounded by books instead of lab equipment. He kept his glasses pushed up over his gray and thinning hair. Dr. Oliver Rollins, who also worked at Ventico, was a renowned scientist from the UK who was both a mentor and a friend, even though he was twenty years his senior. “Nice to see you, too.”

“You can’t push like this.”

“I have to.”

“You know your health is more important than a competition.”

“You don’t have to worry about me.” Oliver was one of the few people who knew all about him. At times it was a relief, but at times like this, it was a burden. Justin didn’t want anyone to use his health as a reason he shouldn’t do what he wanted to. He didn’t want pity or concern. As a child he was diagnosed with moderate to severe sickle cell anemia, and at nine, he’d had to have his spleen removed. It had been diseased from a shortage of oxygen during one of his many pain crises. In elementary school, although his parents were extremely worried and overprotective, he was determined to participate in sports. As a result, he experienced several pain crises and had to be put on strong pain pills. One of the side effects was that he fell asleep often, and by the time he was in high school, the few friends he had thought he was taking drugs. That’s what he hated most growing up— being extremely tired and in extreme pain. But he kept it hidden so no one ever saw him in agony.

The painful crises lasted from 7 to 10 days, and often took about a week for him to recuperate and get back his strength. The hardest part was wondering when another crisis would occur and realizing that, no matter what medication they gave him, the pain would always come back. It felt like being stabbed with a knife in the same place, over and over again. During one particularly brutal month, he had had more than three blood transfusions. As a result, he’d lost a lot of time from school and had to be tutored at home. Fortunately, he was swift and academically inclined and stayed on top of his courses. Being the only person in his whole family with the disease made him feel felt like an outsider.

“I know how to take care of myself,” he said.

Oliver tapped the table. “You haven’t in the past couple years. Your life has only been your work.”

“I’m a passionate man.”

“Who’s living a passionless life. When’s the last time you’ve been with a woman?”

Justin looked at him, stunned. “Oliver.”

His friend shrugged and tapped his chest. “I’m a man. You’re a man. This is not a hard question to answer.”

“I don’t have time for this kind of talk.”

“Justin, you won’t live forever. Make time. You need the soft feel of a woman’s touch. Her warm embrace.”

Justin laughed. “Do you have someone in mind?”

“No, but if you want...”

“I was joking.”

“This is not a joking matter. I am serious. You’re a good man. I don’t want to see you alone.”

“I’m not alone. I have my family.”

“I remember you once saying you wanted a family of your own.”

“That was when I was young and naive.”

“You’re still young.”

“Not young enough to be naive. Let’s talk about something more interesting.”

“What’s more interesting than this?”

“Actually—”

“That was a rhetorical question.”

“I tried a relationship, remember? It didn’t work out.”

Justin had been working at the Johns Hopkins University Medical School as a research fellow when he’d met Devina. She was of African-Mediterranean descent, and although not a great beauty, she was very bright. It was love at first sight. Because of his illness, he had never really dated in high school and college—which didn’t mean he hadn’t gone out with girls. Quite the opposite. The girls asked him out, and his sisters and parents were always fielding calls from one girl or another. But he had never fallen in love or anything even close. With Devina, it had been different.