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Whoever he was, he didn’t look nervous. Dark, sexy overlords probably didn’t get nervous. When the power of the universe was at your handsome fingertips, why sweat?
As she was doing. Her reaction had surprised her at the airport, on the plane, and even more so now that she’d seen the allure of his smile.
Applause filled the room. Natalie clapped, too. He’d done an excellent job, as if he’d been meant to give the presentation all along. She owed him for filling in when she wasn’t there.
At the applause, the workshop moderator stood. “Thank you, Dr. Coleman, for volunteering to present when the vacancy opened.” The moderator patted him on the back, shook his hand. “You did an excellent job, Matthew.”
“No problem.”
The man should really smile more because his face transformed into a work of art. Okay, so dark and dangerous had been a work of art, too, but smiling he was heart-stopping.
“I was glad to help, since I understand Dr. Sterling had travel delays,” he continued, not glancing her way, but Natalie felt his awareness of her. As if he had some sixth sense that let him know exactly where she was in the room without those amazing eyes having to focus her way. That sense pervaded her entire being and scorched her insides.
Good grief, the way he affected her. Maybe because she was on the cusp of a huge career leap, maybe because she still felt the sting from Jonathan’s betrayal.
Or maybe it was how pheromonally magnetic he was.
Another round of clapping and the group broke for a fifteen-minute break between sessions.
A few attendees moved forward to talk with Dr. Coleman. Natalie should thank him and introduce herself to the workshop moderator, who was also the conference chair, so she could apologize again for her delay.
Dr. Matthew Coleman. She’d never met him. No way would she have forgotten, so why did that name ring a bell?
Suddenly, her jaw dropped. Impossible. That Dr. Matthew Coleman had to be in his fifties at the absolute minimum. Surely. No way could this gorgeous doctor be that Dr. Matthew Coleman. It just wasn’t feasible that he could be the renowned pediatric heart surgeon whose work she so greatly admired.
No way.
Plus, he’d been on a flight out of Memphis. That Dr. Matthew Coleman lived in Boston and headed up a research team making great strides with a robotic laser being developed for surgical use, including in utero. There couldn’t be two pediatric heart surgeons by the same name doing innovative in-utero surgical repairs, surely?
That was when what he was saying caught her attention. He was making a comment about the robot that Dr. Matthew Coleman was one of the country’s leading experts on.
Yeah, she was about to have a fan-girl moment.
Holy smokes. The gorgeous man she’d been fantasizing about on and off ever since the airport was someone she’d idolized for his brain and surgical skills for almost a decade.
* * *
What were the odds of the pretty brunette who’d caught Dr. Matthew Coleman’s eye at the airport being his top competition for the hospital position he’d just interviewed for?
Not that Dr. Luiz had told him that, but he’d said there was another contender the hospital had been planning to offer the position to, prior to Matthew’s interest. Dr. Natalie Sterling was who the man had repeatedly praised for her surgery skills and dedication to pediatric cardiology. She had to be who the department head had meant and, possibly, why they’d not been willing to meet the conditions Matthew had required to relocate.
Those conditions were the deal-maker—or -breaker.
Relocating to Memphis would decrease his stress by leaps and bounds in some ways, but he still wasn’t sure he could give up everything he’d worked to achieve just to make the move in any case. Just because his life had been thrust into total chaos three months ago. Basically, he wanted what he had in Boston, but with less work hours and a new zip code that better fit his personal needs. Anything less and he’d stay where he was.
Which was why he’d contacted Dr. Luiz when a colleague had told him about the upcoming opening at Memphis Children’s Hospital. He’d already been toying with the idea of relocating to Memphis to be closer to family—for Carrie, the little girl he now had to take care of, to be closer to family. Closer to people who actually knew how to take care of kids. But he couldn’t just step away from his research and career. He wouldn’t.
Maybe he should try to convince his mother to move to Boston, again. He wasn’t sure what he’d have done if she hadn’t been able to stay those first few weeks of Matthew’s unexpected push into fatherhood. She’d been so good with Carrie. Why couldn’t she have stayed longer?
Or maybe he’d resume interviews for a live-in nanny for the precious four-year-old who was now his sole responsibility. Some older woman who’d successfully raised multiple children and could get a child out of bed, have her dressed, fed, looking presentable, and to preschool on time. Something he continued to struggle with on a daily basis. None of the nannies he’d met so far had clicked, but surely there was someone out there he’d trust with Carrie?
His gaze connected with Natalie’s golden one and he let out a long breath. Prior to Carrie’s new role in his life, he’d have gotten her number at the airport and made plans to meet.
Instead, for the first time ever, despite his many previous flights, he’d been sweating getting onto an airplane, his mind filled with all the things that could go wrong—and recently had.
Plus, he had a four-year-old girl to think about.
Pursuing relationships with pretty brunettes wasn’t on the cards. He could barely juggle his current schedule, much less adding someone else to the bedlam. He’d always excelled at everything he’d done. Who’d have thought it would be an adorable little kid who’d have him ready to pull his hair out?
He turned back to the portly gentleman from Shriner’s Hospital, smiled as they exchanged business cards, then heard a voice behind him.
“Why didn’t you tell me who you were?”
Knowing who it was even before their eyes made contact, Matthew turned, his gaze connecting to the brunette’s. He could feel her presence as succinctly as if he had sonar outlining her shapely curves. “Excuse me?”
Her face took on a sheepish expression. “Sorry, I guess there was no reason for you to tell me, but I can’t believe the coincidence that you’d be on my plane.”
Not a coincidence, but there wasn’t a reason to tell her about his meeting with Memphis Children’s Hospital and that the job she was vying for had been offered to him. He’d turned it down when his terms couldn’t be met. Natalie need never know she wasn’t always the top contender.
He smiled, thinking she was even more attractive up close. Her eyes sparkled like sunshine hitting honey. Her skin was smooth and naturally tan with a few light freckles scattered across her nose. Her hair flowed silky and dark to just beneath her shoulders.
She wore a red skirt suit with a crisp white shirt that loosely hugged her curves.
“I see the airline was able to book you another flight.” Perhaps it was wrong to tease, but he couldn’t resist. Something about her made him want to tease, to watch her facial expressions and burn every detail into his memory.
“Too late to make it on time, though,” she mused, her painted red lips curving into a smile. “Thank you for filling in.”
Matthew resisted the urge to loosen his collar. “No problem. I was with the conference coordinator when he was discussing what to do with your time slot. Pediatric heart surgery of any kind is a subject I’m passionate about, so I offered to step in.” He grinned. “He jumped at my offer.”
“I’m sure.” Another flash of those sparkly eyes and dynamic curving of her full lips. “Are you staying for the next presentation?”
At her smile, all his blood traveled south and brain operations came to a halt, making logical thought impossible. Did she have any idea of the power her eyes held to bewitch a man? Absolutely stunning.
“If so, there’s an open seat next to mine,” she continued. “Maybe you’d like to join me?”
Matthew stared at the biggest temptation he’d ever faced, wished the timing of meeting her had been prior to three months ago, when his life hadn’t been in such upheaval. “If not?”
Uncertainty flashed across her face, but then with a determined look, she lifted her chin, stared straight in his eyes, and said, “If not, then maybe we could meet later for the conference opening dinner reception and you could tell me all about your work, because you fascinate me. Your work does, that is.”
CHAPTER TWO (#u978f3030-8443-59f3-9421-65fa059c9cbd)
NATALIE WAS WAY outside her comfort zone. But her BFFs would be proud, right? She had walked up to a man she found enthralling on paper, sexy in real life, and she’d expressed her interest in him.
And in his work.
He might think her a fool. For all she knew, he had a girlfriend.
Duh. Of course a man as gorgeous as Matthew had a girlfriend. What had she been thinking? She’d practically been drooling prior to finding out who he was, and after? Well, the man mesmerized.
Not that she’d dreamed in a million years that she might act on their suggestions, but when Suzie and Monica told her to have a fling to put Jonathan out of her mind once and for all, they should have been more specific. As in, making sure who she wanted wasn’t already taken. Yes, she had noted at the airport that he didn’t have a wedding band, but even that didn’t mean anything beyond that he wasn’t wearing a ring. The star-struck look in her eyes had probably terrified the poor man.
Still, he didn’t look the type to easily scare.
“I have a seat.” He turned, gesturing to a spot on the front row.
Ouch. Married, dating, or whatever, she’d been shot down.
Trying not to let her disappointment and embarrassment show, she glanced around and was grateful to see the next speaker at the podium. “Okay, well, it’s time to restart, so...”
Awkward.
Not waiting for a response, she high-tailed it to her back row seat to shrivel up and die of humiliation. So much for going after what she wanted.
Ugh. Could this day possibly get worse?
Later that evening, Natalie stared at her reflection in the hotel room mirror.
For a few insane moments, she had let herself be guided by pure feminine interest and she’d made a fool of herself with Matthew Coleman.
Because he was a sexy beast or because of his surgical skills?
Or both?
He was brilliant. She’d read enough of his articles and research to know the man was a genius. That alone would have had her introducing herself, wanting to discuss his work, pick his brain and soak up everything he said.
That he was utterly gorgeous, well, that was a bonus.
Or could have been, had he been interested. She’d thought she’d seen interest, but she must have been wrong.
He wasn’t. Had shot down her offer. End of story. Major embarrassment and utter failure at her first show of interest in the opposite sex since her and Jonathan’s split, but not the end of the world. The opposite sex wasn’t a priority. Her career was and she had that—so no big deal, right?
Still, the conference wasn’t so big that she wouldn’t bump into Matthew. She’d act as if her invitation had been casual, that she’d only been interested professionally. She was Dr. Natalie Sterling, a pediatric heart surgeon with some pretty fabulous credits to her name, thanks to having met Dr. Luiz during her residency and his having pulled her onto his research team.
No harm done in asking Matthew to dinner. It wasn’t as if she’d verbalized that looking at him made her want to take off his clothes and do wild and crazy things.
With one last look in the hotel bathroom mirror, she applied a fresh coat of lipstick, checked to make sure she didn’t have any smeared on her teeth, and left the safety of her hotel room to go to dinner. Maybe she’d get lucky and she wouldn’t see Matthew this evening.
Or, as her luck for the day would have it, he’d be the first person she saw when she stepped off the elevator.
Seriously, the elevator door slid open and there he was, just outside the elevator bank.
Sometimes life wasn’t fair.
The man’s looks weren’t fair. Those eyes. So unusual. So mesmerizing. So zoned-in on her.
How was she supposed to act professional when he made her giddy as a schoolgirl? Ha. She hadn’t been a giddy schoolgirl. She didn’t recall ever having felt so inferno-hot inside.
His gaze raked over her red heels, up her bare legs to where her red skirt brushed the tops of her knees. His visual perusal continued, up and beyond to where her waist dipped in beneath her white blouse and matching red jacket. The fire burning in his icy blue eyes had her insides battling the urge to run back to the elevator versus leaping into his arms and ripping off his clothes.
He made her feel alive, hot, very female. That scared her. Probably because she wasn’t one for letting her body dictate her actions and he made her body want to act. Logic. That was what dictated her life. Logic, and...
Those wicked blue eyes connected with hers.
Forget logic.
Her breath caught. Her skin prickled with awareness. Her thighs clenched. Any moment her heart was going to pound its way free of her chest. She might spend most of her time locked away in the sterile confines of the hospital, but she wasn’t a fool or oblivious. Desire shone in his eyes and matching want burned within her.
“I was beginning to think you’d changed your mind about dinner.” He smiled, his voice deep, warm, drawing her further under his spell. “I’m glad I waited.”
Natalie’s legs liquefied. She remained upright. Somehow. Matthew had just given her a complete once-over and now he was saying he’d been waiting on her? Had she really awakened from the light nap she’d taken, sitting on her room’s balcony?
“I have a table near the front and asked a couple to save our seats,” he continued. “I hope that was okay.” When she nodded, he placed his hand low on her back and guided her toward the hotel ballroom, where their dinner keynote presentation would take place. “You look lovely, by the way.”
His hand burned through the material of her suit, searing her skin with its warmth and making her feel a little woozy. His actions were familiar, as if he had the right to touch her. Obviously he did, because she wasn’t complaining.
“I looked for you after Dr. Epsteiner’s lecture, but never spotted you, not then or at any other point this afternoon.”
Insides rattled at his admission, Natalie focused on each step she took and prayed she didn’t stumble in her heels. Carefully, she made her way across the room. Why hadn’t she slipped on her trusty flats prior to coming down?
She’d skipped the rest of the afternoon’s sessions to sit on her balcony, eyes closed, listening to the surf, letting the breeze and sun compete against each other to caress her skin, to de-stress from the day’s events. From life.
And to think about Matthew.
“Were you avoiding me?”
She stumbled, but recovered quickly enough that she hoped he hadn’t noticed. She had been avoiding him, but she wasn’t admitting that.
“Why would I avoid you?” Because she’d acted foolish. “I don’t know you.”
He shook his head. “I thought... Never mind. You’re here now.” His lips curved. “Let’s have an enjoyable evening and remedy you not knowing me by our getting to know each other.” Although he was smiling and charming, his face took on that dark and dangerous look that, no doubt, made women fall to their knees to do his bidding, as he added, “A lot better.”
Willing her legs to keep her upright, Natalie gulped, accepting that she was powerless to resist his powers, and that, even if she could, she didn’t want to. He was a fantasy come to life. Never would she have imagined he’d been looking for her.
She wasn’t sure what had changed from his earlier decline of her offer, but now he wasn’t attempting to hide his interest, his intent.
Good. Neither was she. Life was too short for silly games.
Getting to know each other better should have been easy enough during the delicious meal since their chairs were next to each other, but there were six other people at the table. Two couples who’d introduced themselves, and two male pediatricians who had gone to medical school together and met up once a year at a continuing medical education conference for old times’ sake and a catch-up. All six people vied for Matthew’s attention. He included her in the conversation, stopped several times to ask her opinion, but with the others at the table Natalie could barely get a word in edgewise.
Which was okay by her. She sat back, watching and listening in fascination as Matthew discussed his work. Part of her wasn’t quite able to believe she sat next to the Dr. Matthew Coleman she’d quoted in several of her medical school papers. Another part wasn’t able to believe she sat next to the sexiest man she’d ever met. All of her was dazed that both could be the same man, and that when he looked at her his eyes burned with pale blue fire.
Soon after their table had finished the meal, the moderator took the podium and called the room’s attention to the front, silencing conversations around the room. Ending his discussion with the two pediatricians, Matthew turned, caught Natalie watching him—probably with a goofy I want you expression on her face—and grinned. Dark and dangerous had been right, because that grin threatened all her good sense.
Then again, sitting next to him made perfect sense.
Why wouldn’t it? Despite her three-year relationship with Jonathan, they weren’t together any more. With his devotion to his career matching hers, he’d easily fit into her life because he didn’t mind the large amount of time her job ate up. Or so he’d said, right up to the moment he’d defended his sleeping with another woman by pointing out Natalie’s refusal to commit more time to him and marry him.
Fine. Good riddance and thank God she hadn’t been willing to marry a man who’d so readily cheat. She wanted marriage, to connect completely with another person, to someday have a family, but something had held her back from saying yes to Jonathan. Maybe it had been that she was still building her dream career.
