She’d already been attracted to Steele. Fascinated by the side he presented to the world. But now that she’d gotten a good look at the man behind the hard-ass exterior? She was doomed with a capital D.
She’d liked him before. Had wanted to pull back those layers that surrounded him. But where she’d liked and admired him before? She was already falling hard for the man behind the brick wall.
CHAPTER 11
MAREN sat across from Steele at the tiny garden table that overlooked her small backyard. It was merely a clearing before the landscape plunged into dense foliage and thick trees. She’d always been mesmerized by the burst of green all around her. Everything was lush and vibrant and the air smelled clean.
No, she wasn’t a city girl nor could she ever imagine having a private practice with a cushy office and making rounds in a hospital. She loved what she did. It was immensely rewarding. It was who she was.
She’d traded her cup of tea for a glass of wine she saved for rare occasions, such as Steele cooking her a steak and their being immersed in actual conversation. If she’d had champagne, she’d have broken it out because this was definitely a moment that would likely never happen again. And though she normally removed her glasses as soon as she got home, she left them on this time. For him. Because he found them cute and sexy, and she liked that.
She sipped and savored the taste before lowering her glass to look over at Steele, who’d just pushed back his plate.
“Am I allowed to ask you personal questions, or am I supposed to just sleep with you and remain ignorant of everything but your sexual prowess?”
He’d just raised his own glass to take a sip, and he made a choking sound and set the glass back down with a clunk.
“What kind of personal questions?” he asked warily.
She grinned. “I haven’t decided yet. I just wondered if they were off-limits or if you’d actually tell me something nobody else knows about you. It’s a girl thing. We like to think we’re special. Especially if we’re sleeping with the guy.”
His teeth flashed as he relaxed and smiled. “I think it depends on the question.”
“Hmm, okay. Let’s do something general. Tell me about you.”
He blinked. “That covers a hell of a lot of territory. Where do you want me to start?”
She leaned forward. “Do you have family? Are you married—please don’t tell me you’re secretly married and have a wife squirreled away somewhere.”
He shook his head and uttered a sigh. “If you were worried that I was married, wouldn’t that have been a question to ask before I got your clothes off?”
“At the time I wasn’t thinking too straight since you already had your clothes off.”
He chuckled lightly. “No, I’m not married. Never even been close.”
She cocked her head to the side. “Really? So you’ve never been serious about a woman?”
He shook his head. “Nope. My career hasn’t exactly been conducive to forming any lasting relationships.”
She frowned at that. “It sounds kind of lonely, if you ask me.”
He lifted one eyebrow. “What about you? I could say the same for you. At least since I’ve known you. At least I have my team. You’re out here on your own with only your patients to keep you company. Don’t you miss being around people? Dating? Having regular sex?”
“Who says I don’t have all that?”
His eyes narrowed. “Do you?”
She grinned. “No, but it wasn’t very nice to assume that I have no sex life and that I’m practically married to my job.”
He shrugged. “I can’t judge. I’m married to my job absolutely. She’s a fickle bitch too.”
She nodded in acknowledgment. “I hear that. Definitely has its shitty moments, as I’m sure it’s the same for you.”
He raised his glass and clinked it to hers. “Fuckin’ A.”
“So what about family? You weren’t hatched, I’m assuming. Someone had to give birth to you.”
He sobered immediately and darkness flashed in his eyes. “Don’t have family.”
She waited, expecting him to say more. But he just went silent and brooding, his gaze focused in the distance, either remembering or refusing to remember something painful.
“What happened?” she prompted softly.
He glanced back at her, almost as if he’d had to jerk himself from the past. His lips quirked downward into a grimace. “I don’t ever talk about it.”
It was said in a way that told her to back off. But curiosity was killing her. She wanted to unravel the mystery of Steele, and she might never get another chance like this when he was relaxed, warm and open to her. He was being nice. And approachable! She’d never tell anyone because they’d never believe her. They’d likely think she needed psychiatric help.
“You could talk about it now,” she said quietly. “I’m a good listener. And it’s not like I’ll tell anyone. I’m not exactly flush with people to converse with around here.”
He was silent a long moment, his unease broadcasted like a neon sign. She wouldn’t push him any further, but she really hoped he’d open up to her.
Then he sighed and ran a hand through his hair, spiking it up in a messy arrangement that had her dying to smooth it down with her fingers. But if she got close enough to do that, the last thing she’d be wanting to touch was his hair. She’d be too busy with other portions of his anatomy.