Out Of Her League, An Erotic Romance by Ava Archer Payne

Author:Ava Archer Payne [Archer Payne, Ava]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: AAP Hot Historicals
Published: 2012-07-16T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Dr. Michaelson snapped his leather satchel shut and gave a satisfied sigh. “Remarkable,” he said. “I’ve never seen a patient progress so quickly. I had allotted four weeks time until you would be ready to move from crutches to a cane, but it appears you’re ready now.”

“A cane,” James repeated. “What a dashing figure I’ll be. Most men wait until old age to adopt that virile accessory.”

His tone was light and playful, mildly self-deprecating. Kate returned his smile with one of her own. “I predict it will be all the rage. You’ll have half the men in London sporting canes this season.”

He laughed. “Wouldn’t that be ghastly?”

Dr. Michaelson lifted his satchel and moved to the door. “I do apologize for not being able to stay longer. Once I’ve concluded my business before the Royal Academy, we’ll work out a satisfactory schedule for the remainder of our sessions.”

“Not to worry,” James replied. “You leave me in very competent hands.”

“Indeed,” Michaelson agreed. He hesitated a moment, then continued, “I hope I’m not premature in announcing this, but I received some very exciting news yesterday. Given the success rate of my treatment, I may be able to convince the Academy to allow me to bring a team of medical professionals to the Crimea.”

Kate and James offered their congratulations. Michaelson smiled proudly, then looked at Kate. “I find myself a bit short of available surgeons. I don’t suppose your brothers would be interested in joining me?”

“I...I’m not sure,” she stammered, caught entirely off-guard by the question.

“I’ve watched them work. Your father taught them excellent technique, but they seem to be lacking the proper discipline, don’t they? A tour abroad might be just the ticket to turn that around.”

Aware of James’s curious gaze, and anxious not to have her family’s dirty laundry aired in front of him, Kate sent Michaelson a curt nod. “I will certainly mention it to them.”

“Very good.” Michaelson lifted his satchel and turned toward the door. “Until tomorrow, then.”

The physician departed, leaving them alone. James waited a beat, then looked across the room at Kate. “Hungry?” he asked.

Relief poured through her that he was not pursuing the topic of her brothers’ character. She turned her attention to the delicious aromas that wafted from the dining room. For the past ten days, James had been an expansive host, stuffing them with savory food and generously refilling Michaelson’s glass. The effect on the good physician had been marvelously predictable: ample food and wine, when combined with a thick medical text and a comfortable chair, resulted in a decided need for the man to enjoy a restorative nap.

While he slept, James and Kate had been delightfully free to explore other pleasures. Those pleasures had been intense indeed, awakening in Kate a sensual hunger she'd supressed for years. But now that the physician had departed, the meal seemed an unnecessary ruse. Kate shook her head. “You?”

“Starving.”

“Oh.” She picked up the cane Dr. Michaelson had left and brought it to James. “In that case, we should adjourn to the—”

He caught her waist and pulled her firmly against him.

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