She snorted. She couldn’t help it. “Oh, that won’t be a problem.”
He didn’t seem to see the humor. “Good. I also plan on having my medical records shared with you after you visit my physician and have your own physical done.”
“Physical?”
Scout hadn’t seen a doctor since she was eleven and visited the hospital with pneumonia. It was a horribly frightening experience being that Pearl had left her there and taken herself on a five-day bender. They had to escape once she sobered up enough to realize her abandonment of a hospitalized daughter had attracted the notice of Children & Youth. She had no desire to voluntarily step into another medical facility ever again.
“If you can’t commit to having a screening, Ms. Keats, I’m afraid the entire arrangement is off.”
Back to Ms. Keats again. She sighed inwardly. What if they discovered something terrible? Her mom was sick and she never allowed herself to forget that, but what if she’d somehow contracted hepatitis or some other illness? Knowing what diseases did to people, she wasn’t sure if she could handle that kind of stress, but on the other hand she was rarely sick. Her body had a high threshold for pain and a fairly tough immune system based on her track record. If she were sick, there would probably be symptoms. Maybe it was best to know.
“Okay, I’ll see your physician.”
“Good. I’ll make the appointment for this afternoon. Are you on the pill?”
Everything was moving so fast. “The pill?”
“Birth control.”
“Um, no.” She couldn’t look at him, but sensed her answer disappointed him. He’d likely be disappointed about a lot of things once he discovered how ignorant she was about this sort of stuff.
Again, he jumped topics without warning. “Now that we have the majority of our agreement taken care of, how about if I order up lunch and make some calls? The concierge can get your room situated and I can inform Ms. Jones about your schedule change. After that I’ll have Dugan bring the car around and we can do some shopping for any personal items you might need.”
Before she could answer, he was already moving to his desk and ordering lunch. She thought about Parker. He’d be worried sick if she didn’t return to St. Christopher’s this evening. Why hadn’t she told him this was a possibility the night before? Oh, right, because he’d never understand.
Lucian put a call in to his physician and had lunch ordered and on its way within minutes. She excused herself to use the bathroom and when she returned, he was on the phone with someone else and room service was delivering lunch. This time they carried in a sharply dressed table and two chairs.
“Right there’s fine, gentleman,” Lucian said, and the men quickly placed the trays on the table and backed out of the room.
One man made eye contact with her before the door cut off his view. It was incredible, the amount of shame and judgment that swamped her in the span of that brief glance. Did they know?
“Wonderful, Ms. Jones, I’ll let her know.”
Scout turned at the mention of her general manager’s name.
Lucian hung up the phone. “Your new schedule’s been arranged and you’ll be occupying suite 3000, just below. A key’s being sent up.”
She simply stared at him. She always knew money made anything possible, but actually witnessing its influence was something else entirely. And now Tamara will know what she’d done.
Lucian stood and went to the table. He acted so nonchalant about all of this. Was this something he did all the time? How many women came before her? How many would come after? She figured ignorance was best in situations like this. Too much self-examination and she’d worry herself into a moral meltdown.
Chapter 6
Check UP
After lunch there was another visitor, Dr. Vivian Sheffield. Once Scout was over her initial shock that Lucian could arrange for house calls at the drop of a hat, she realized Dr. Sheffield was intimidatingly striking. The doctor also seemed to have a standing rapport with Lucian on more than a professional level.
They moved to the sitting area and she waited silently, not quite sure what would happen here.
“Did you bring it?” Lucian asked.
“I did.” Dr. Sheffield gracefully sat on the edge of the club chair, her one long leg crossing delicately over the other. She lifted her briefcase and removed a folder.
“Here are all your most recent test results.” She passed the file to Lucian who in turn passed it to Scout. “You’re in perfect health, Lucian, but you already knew that.”
She smiled charmingly at him, her deep red lips curling softly over her pearly teeth.
Lucian looked at Scout. “Go ahead and see for yourself.”
Opening the blue folder, Scout found a typed list of sorts and pretended to read it. Turning page after page at what she hoped was an appropriate reading pace. Somewhere around the fifth page, Dr. Sheffield gazed over at her, her long neck extended gracefully, and her sophisticated diamond stud earrings winked in the light.
“Oh, you don’t need to read that, Ms. Keats. That’s just the HIPAA contract.”
Scout blushed and shut the folder, handing it back to Lucian. He grinned and tucked the folder away on the seat next to him. “Ready?” he asked, looking at her.
Scout felt incredibly stupid. “For?”
“Dr. Sheffield came to take your blood work and give you an exam,” he said as if it were obvious.
“Here?” No hospital?
The doctor smiled empathetically. “I assure you it’ll be quick. And don’t worry. I’m excellent at drawing blood if needles bother you. It’ll be quick and painless.”
Growing up the way she had, needles were the least of her worries. She had gotten over any squeamishness years ago.
Scout turned to Lucian. “Where will you go?”
He frowned. “I’m not going anywhere.”
The doctor hesitated a moment then gently said, “Lucian, perhaps Ms. Keats would be more comfortable if she had a little privacy.”
“That’s ridiculous. I’ll be reading all her results anyway—”
“But I’m sure you can understand this must be a bit awkward for her. I’ll take her to your spare room and we’ll return in a few moments.”
The way Dr. Sheffield handled him amazed Scout. The next thing she knew they were sitting alone in the spare bedroom of the suite and Lucian was waiting, alone, in the common area of the suite, sulking.
They sat on the edge of the bed and Dr. Sheffield softly said, “Do you mind if I call you Evelyn?”
Scout shook her head and the doctor’s kind eyes softened.
“Okay, Evelyn, let’s start with a few questions. Be as honest as you can and I want you to know that if at any time you change your mind about sharing this information with Lucian I’ll respect that. You’re my patient and as such, how much information I share is completely up to you. However, I won’t lie. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” The doctor opened up a new folder and picked up a pen, quickly jotting down some words.
“How long since your last physical?” She waited with her pen poised just above the paper, eyes on the folder.
“I’ve never had a physical.”
Dr. Sheffield moved to write then stilled. “Excuse me?”
“I’ve never had a physical. When I was eleven I was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia, but that was it.”
“Surely, you had physicals when you were younger in order to get your vaccines.”
“If I did I don’t remember.”
Dr. Sheffield blew a deep breath past her red lips. “Okay, let’s start with some general background information.”
Dr. Sheffield asked her about her family’s medical history. Scout didn’t want to tell her about Pearl and other than that she didn’t have many answers. For
almost everything the doctor asked, Scout said she didn’t know, and she could see her frustration mounting, but the doctor never became short with her.
After she’d asked Scout a long line of questions, she listened to her heart, looked in her nose, mouth, and ears, examined portions of her skin and pressed her fingers along her spine. It was odd being touched in so many places by a stranger.
Dr. Sheffield wrapped a cuff around Scout’s arm and pumped it full of air until it hurt. After making some notes she asked, “How much do you weigh, Evelyn?”
“I don’t know.”
Her brow puckered. “Okay, let’s have a look at your legs and stomach. Do you mind lying down for a moment?”
Scout scooted onto the soft bed and eased onto her back. It was the most comfortable place she’d ever rested her head. Shutting her eyes and going to sleep was tempting.
The doctor gently lifted her legs and bent her knees, checking her range of motion. “I’m just going to feel around your organs for a moment. My hands may be a little cold.”
Scout’s back pressed into the mattress as if she could somehow save herself from being touched in such intimate places. Dr. Sheffield’s contact was clinical and quick. She pressed into her stomach at various places, asked if anything hurt.
“When was your last menstrual cycle?”
“It ended three days ago.”
“Have you ever been pregnant?”
“No.”
“Are you on any form of birth control?”
“No.”
“Are you currently sexually active?”
“No.”
Her pen quickly moved across her notes as she recorded each of Scout’s answers.
“I know they don’t have a scale here, but I’m a bit concerned about your weight, Evelyn. You’re quite thin. Do you diet?”
“Not by choice.”
Dr. Sheffield stilled. Her gaze slowly met Scout’s and understanding dawned. “When’s the last time you’ve eaten, sweetheart?”
“We just had lunch.”
“And before that?”
She swallowed. “The day before, when Mr. Patras offered me lunch.”
“Do you usually only eat once a day?”
Tears of humiliation blurred her vision. Refusing to be ashamed of who she was, Scout looked the beautiful doctor in the eye and admitted, “When I’m lucky.”
She closed her folder. “I see. Does Lucian know this?”
“I don’t believe so. Are you going to tell him?”
She sighed. “No, I don’t believe I am. Lucian’s been my friend for many years. I think you’ll find he can be difficult and demanding most of the time, but he’s a good person. I promise to keep this between us if you promise to see me in another two weeks and have a little more meat on your bones by then. Fine dining’s a vice of Lucian’s so it shouldn’t be a difficult task.”
“Okay.”
“Now, I was going to ask about your last gynecological exam, but I’m assuming you never had one of those either.”
Scout shook her head.
“Would you mind if I examined you quickly? I can’t perform a pap, but I can at least see if everything looks healthy.”
“Do I need to undress?”
“Only partially.”
“Okay,” Scout said and Dr. Sheffield stood to lock the door. Scout unbuttoned her dress and the doctor directed her to lift her arms. Dr. Sheffield examined her breasts and Scout’s cheeks flushed with heat. She explained how she should perform her own breast exams monthly and then instructed her to button back up.
Once her gown was back in place, true mortification set in. Lying back, she lifted her skirt and Dr. Sheffield looked at parts of her no one had ever seen. She wanted to crawl into a hole and die. The doctor touched her there and Scout thought she’d pass out from embarrassment. It lasted too long, but at the same time didn’t take more than a few minutes.
Dr. Sheffield removed her gloves and tossed them into the wastebasket as Scout adjusted her clothes back in place. Looking at her, worry marred the doctor’s otherwise perfect face. Her lips pressed together as she seemed to consider her next words.
“Evelyn, are you being coerced into this?”
“Excuse me?”
“Are you here of your own free will?” she asked, as if the words pained her to say.
Scout recalled her mentioning that she and Lucian had been friends for a long time and understood her discomfort at asking such a thing.
“I’m here because I agreed to be. Mr. Patras didn’t blackmail me or anything like that if that’s what you’re worried about. Why, is something wrong?”
“I hope you don’t mind my saying this, but you do understand that he expects to be intimately involved with you, to my understanding.”
Scout nodded. “That’s why he wants me to have a physical. Am I sick?”
“No, sweetheart, you’re not sick. You’re a virgin.”
Well, duh. “I know that.”
Dr. Sheffield’s little red mouth hung open for a moment, and Scout imagined this was likely the weirdest checkup she had ever performed.
“Does Lucian?”
“Well, no, but I don’t see why that’s any of his business.” And it wasn’t.
Dr. Sheffield rested her head in her hand and massaged her forehead. “Oh, Lucian,” she mumbled to herself. Taking a deep breath she sat up, professional mask back in place and said, “Okay, all we have left is the blood work. How are you with needles?”
“Fine.”
After her blood was drawn and capped off in neat, tiny vials, and the doctor had given her some reading material on birth control, which Scout would never read, they returned to the common area of the suite. Lucian was pacing by his desk and pivoted the moment they stepped out of the room.
“What the hell took so long?” he demanded.
“I do a thorough job. Don’t fret, Lucian, I’ll bill you for every minute of it.”
The doctor’s charming demeanor was back intact and her finesse with Lucian soon had him calming down. Scout admired the way she could maneuver him with such unfaltering poise. The doctor collected her belongings.
“So far, everything looks good. I’ll have the blood work back by the morning. You can call my office for the results. I’ll be sure to leave instructions with my front desk.”
“Thank you, Viv. I appreciate your promptness.”
Dr. Sheffield paused for a moment. She turned to Lucian and cryptically said, “You know, Lucian, a little patience never hurt anybody. Sometimes things are worth not rushing into.”
As soon as the doctor left, exhaustion set in. Scout’s shift would’ve ended hours ago. She had been running nonstop for days and wanted to lie down.
Turning, Lucian said, “Let’s go shopping.”
Scout tried not to wince. Did this man ever stop?
Chapter 7
Just a Kiss
Scout’s shoulders drooped as she wearily accepted her status for the next several days. Everything would be according to the wants and needs of Lucian Patras.
“Evelyn? Is something wrong?”
She sighed. “No. I just . . . I’m still in my uniform. My bag’s still in my locker downstairs. I can’t go shopping until I change.”
He stepped closer and a wicked gleam set into his dark eyes. “I find myself quite fond of your little maid’s uniform.”
His finger reached out slowly and he gently caressed her cheek. Her breath filled her chest and held as his hand moved to her hair and removed a pin from her bun. It landed silently on the plush carpet. He removed another and then another, until her dark auburn hair was tumbling down her back.
Lucian sucked in a breath. “Evelyn, your hair . . . I had no idea it was so long.” His hands lifted the wavy curtain and spread it over her shoulders. “It??
?s beautiful.”
His feet shifted and he stepped closer. He’d never been this close to her before. Her heart raced. She could see the shadow of hair beneath the tanned skin of his jaw, the fine fleshy line that outlined his full lips, the dark onyx flecks in his chestnut eyes. They were more deep ebony than black or brown.
His eyes appeared softer in that moment. Stunning. He had lashes so thick they were almost feminine. The dark crests gave his visage a pirate’s sharpness as if his piercing eyes were lined with soot, making his penetrating gaze all the more menacing. His tanned skin was smooth. He really was quite striking.
His scent cocooned her, made her slightly light-headed. Scout’s lips parted as his thumb gently traced the plump curve of her lower lip.
“I’m going to kiss you, Evelyn.”
Her pulse jumped as his head lowered. His palm sifted through her hair until he cupped the back of her skull. Chills skittered down her collar and underneath her clothing. A warm pinching sensation tickled her belly. It was like falling; frightening, but slightly more pleasant.
He pulled her into him. His breath coasted over her lips, warm. Barely making contact, his lips brushed over hers and her belly pulled tight. Scout’s thighs suddenly felt oddly disconnected from her numb knees, and then his mouth was on hers.
Her eyes opened wide as his closed. She squeaked, as the kiss grew firm. His other hand trailed below her arm and around her back. He pulled her closer until her front was pressed into his, her breasts crushed against the hard muscle of his chest. Then his mouth opened.
Lucian’s head tilted and the kiss became moist. She tensed as his tongue traced the seam of her slightly parted lips. He nuzzled her cheek and sealed his mouth over hers, his slowly opening and closing coaxingly.
His touch was gentle. Her arms hung lifelessly at her sides as his palm slid possessively low on her back. His teeth closed over her lower lip and her neck extended. Scout gasped and he took full advantage, plunging his warm tongue deep into her mouth.